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might eafily reach his time, of a declaration made by ShakeSpeare, that be was obliged to kill Mercutio in the third act, left he Should have been killed by him. Yet he thinks him no fuch formidable perfon, but that he might have lived through the play, and died in his bed, without danger to a poet. Dryden well knew, had he been in quest of truth, that, in a pointed fentence, more regard is commonly had to the words than the thought, and that it is very feldom to be rigorously understood. Mercutio's wit, gaiety and courage, will al ways procure him friends that with him a longer life; but his death is not precipitated, he has lived out the time allotted him in the conftruction of the play; nor do I doubt the ability of Shake

Speare to have continued his exiftence, though fome of his fallies are perhaps out of the reach of Dryden; whofe genius was not very fertile of merriment, nor ductile to humour, but acute, argumentative, comprehensive, and fublime,

The Nurfe is one of the characters in which the Authour delighted: he has, with great fubtility of distinction, drawn her at once loquacious and fecret, obfequious and infolent, trufty and dishoneft.

His comick fcenes are happily wrought, but his pathetick ftrains are always polluted with fome unexpected depravations.. His perfons, however diftreffed, have a conceit left them in their mifery, a miferable conceis,

HAMLET,

HAM

A MLE T,

PRINCE of DENMARK,

CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark.
Fortinbras, Prince of Norway.

Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the pre-
Jent King.

Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.

Horatio, Friend to Hamlet.

Laertes, Son to Polonius.

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Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamle

Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius.

Ladies attending on the Queen.

Players, Grave-makers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, ELSINOOR.

The Story is taken from the Danish Hiftory of Saxo Grammaticus.

Of this Play the Editions are,

1. Quarto, 1605. J. R. for N. L.

2.

3.

4.

1611. W. S. for John Smethwicke.
1637. R. Young, for John Smethwicke.
No date. W. S. for John Smethwicke.
I have only the third Quarto and Folia

HAM L LE E T,

PRINCE of DENMARK.

* A C T Í. SCENE I.
ACT

A Platform before the Palace.

Enter Bernardo and Francisco, two Centinels.

W

BERNARDO.

HO's there!

Fran. Nay, anfwer me. Stand, and unfold yourfelf.

Ber. Long live the King!

Fran. Bernardo?

Ber. He.

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now ftruck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francifco.

Fran. For this relief, much thanks. 'Tis bitter

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