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William Shakespeare
The Best of Shakespeare: Hamlet - Romeo and Juliet - King Lear - A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Macbeth - The Tempest - Othello - As You Like It - Julius Caesar - The Taming of the Shrew - Much Ado About Nothing
11 Unabridged Plays
e-artnow, 2021EAN 4064066441975
Table of Contents
HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
ROMEO AND JULIET
KING LEAR
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
MACBETH
THE TEMPEST
OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE
AS YOU LIKE IT
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
By William Shakespeare
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
Claudius, King of Denmark.
Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the present King.
Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.
Horatio, Friend to Hamlet.
Laertes, Son to Polonius.
Voltimand, Courtier.
Cornelius, Courtier.
Rosencrantz, Courtier.
Guildenstern, Courtier.
Osric, Courtier.
A Gentleman, Courtier.
A Priest.
Marcellus, Officer.
Bernardo, Officer.
Francisco, a Soldier
Reynaldo, Servant to Polonius.
Players.
Two Clowns, Grave-diggers.
Fortinbras, Prince of Norway.
A Captain.
English Ambassadors.
Ghost of Hamlet’s Father.
Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother of Hamlet.
Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius.
Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other
Attendants.
SCENE. Elsinore.
ACT I.
SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the Castle.
[Francisco at his post. Enter to him Bernardo.]
Ber.
Who’s there?
Fran.
Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.
Ber.
Long live the king!
Fran.
Bernardo?
Ber.
He.
Fran.
You come most carefully upon your hour.
Ber.
‘Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
Fran.
For this relief much thanks: ‘tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.
Ber.
Have you had quiet guard?
Fran.
Not a mouse stirring.
Ber.
Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.
Fran.
I think I hear them.—Stand, ho! Who is there?
[Enter Horatio and Marcellus.]
Hor.
Friends to this ground.
Mar.
And liegemen to the Dane.
Fran.
Give you goodnight.
Mar.
O, farewell, honest soldier;
Who hath reliev’d you?
Fran.
Bernardo has my place.
Give you goodnight.
[Exit.]
Mar.
Holla! Bernardo!
Ber.
Say.
What, is Horatio there?
Hor.
A piece of him.
Ber.
Welcome, Horatio:—Welcome, good Marcellus.
Mar.
What, has this thing appear’d again tonight?
Ber.
I have seen nothing.
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.
Sit down awhile,
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.
Hor.
Well, sit we down,
And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.
Ber.
Last night of all,
When yond 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!
[Enter Ghost, armed.]
Ber.
In the same figure, like the king that’s