ACT FIRST.

In the opening scene of the Play of Hamlet we have an instance, among the innumerable instances in the plays of Shakspeare, of a colloquy as entirely natural as if the writer had been a bystander and auditor, and had taken down every word uttered. Scarcely are the first few sentences of the play read, before the reader's attention is secured, and from the first few and simple sentences it remains, to the last words of the last scene of the final Act, riveted to the story. The few cheerful expressions in this first scene, also, and even Horatio's jesting announcement of himself, have a peculiar impressiveness, when often reading has made us familiar with all that is to follow, as the farewell words of pleasantness of ordinary life before fear and sorrow come, and before cheerfulness is banished from the principal personages of the play, so as never to be

restored. castle, at Elsinore, and at midnight. Bernardo, Horatio, and Marcellus relieve Francisco who has kept guard. Bernardo arrives at the post first he comes most carefully upon his hour; and his first words, the first words of the play, commonplace as they seem, have been remarked to be yet significant of some kind of agitation in the speaker; for, as he approaches the spot, and before he is challenged by Francisco, he calls out "Who's there?" to which Francisco, whose duty it was to challenge any one approaching, replies, “Nay, answer me stand and unfold yourself:" on which Bernardo gives the countersign, "Long live the king!" He might well, indeed, be under some previous apprehension, having already on two former occasions, and near the same spot, and about the same hour, witnessed what was fearful and inexplicable. asks the soldier whom he relieves, if he has had quiet guard; and begs him, if he meets Horatio and Marcellus, the rivals, or companions of his watch, to bid them make haste; not desiring, it would seem. to be left on the platform long

The scene is on the platform before the

He

alone. Marcellus, meantime, approaches, and is chal

lenged by Francisco, who then departs.

Marcellus

BER. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus.
MAR. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night?
BER. I have seen nothing.

Horatio is sceptical as to the thing said to have appeared. His temperament is cheerful; he is a man free-minded and cheerfully disposed, and not given to dreaming of shadows. His companions have previously told him that they have twice seen a spirit, resembling the lately deceased king. He thinks they have merely been deceived; and fearing nothing, he has consented to take this night's watch with them.

MAR. Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy; And will not let belief take hold of him,

Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us :

Therefore I have entreated him, along

With us to watch the minutes of this night;
That, if again this apparition come,

He may approve our eyes, and speak to it.
HOR. Tush! tush! 'twill not appear.
BER.

And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.

HOR.

Sit down awhile;

Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

BER. Last night of all,

When yon same star, that's westward from the pole,
Had made his course to illume that part of heaven
Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself,

The bell then beating one,

MAR. Peace, break thee off; look where it comes again!

And thus, scarcely commenced, Bernardo's simple relation, delivered it may well be supposed to ears intently attentive, is awfully broken off. The solemnity of this scene is usually marred on the stage, where, generally, not only all the subordinate characters, but even the ghost, are conventionally little more than figures under an injunction not to make themselves too interesting to the spectators: and thus it eventually arises that the effect produced by an appearance from the grave fails to be appreciated in the general con

sideration given to the character of Hamlet himself. But the ideas of Shakspeare were truer to nature; the sudden appearance of the ghost causes even Horatio to be speechless with wonder and dread. Bernardo and Marcellus appeal to him, exhort him to speak; and for a time in vain; and when he does speak his brief words only betoken his consternation.

Enter GHOST.

BER. In the same figure, like the king that's dead.
MAR. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.

BER. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.
HOR. Most like:-it harrows me with fear, and wonder.
BER. It would be spoke to.

MAR.

Question it, Horatio.

it

At length Horatio becomes collected enough to address this awful appearance, but the ghost disappears; it stalks away; they fancy it is offended; will not answer entreaty however passionate; it vouchsafes no reply. It leaves Horatio trembling and pale : he acknowledges that this is something more than fantasy; and that he could not have believed it without the sensible and true avouch of his own eyes.