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child-as a lady, you shall take the fork, I'll use the spoon, and the knife shall be considered, like the fortunes in the Agapemone, common to all. Now, allow me to help you.

Mary. [bringing the chicken.] But I want a plate to put the chicken on.

Peter. Are plates absolutely necessary, eh?
Mary. Why-

Peter. I have it! here's the bill of a theatre to let-put the chicken on it, and we'll consider it dished.

Mary. Well, all is ready, now to supper.
Peter. I'm enchanted.

[They sit. Mary. There's no bread. But stay, I've some captain's biscuits.

Peter. They are heavy for the stomach, but never mind, let us enjoy ourselves. [Beginning supper.] Well, you will allow this is the strangest Would you do me the favor to lend me your fork?

Mary. With pleasure. [Gives it.] And [tears a second play-bill in two] here's my plate.

Peter. Allow me. [Helps her.] Well, fate is strange and capricious. Now, if any one had told me this morning that I should have supped with a lovely young girl tête-à-tête

Mary. Well, it's nothing very extraordinary or frightful for you.

Peter. [eating.] Oh! my poor chest. [Aside.] I have certainly a palpitation of the heart! wish she wouldn't look at me so.

[Pours out water. Mary. I beg your pardon, but you will leave

me no water.

Peter. I require it all-I've a fire to extinguish. Mary. Well, your situation may be strange, but mine is far more so, to pass a night in a bachelor's apartment, tête-à-tête with a young man within a few days of my marriage.

Peter. Indeed! you are then about to be married? Of course it's a love match? Heigho! Mary. Why that is my intended is a very respectable, tolerably well-looking young man. Peter. But his mind-that is the point. Mary. Oh! you mean his wit-his cleverness! as to that he has given good proofs by cutting out a rival who had prior right to my hand.

Peter. And was the latter fool enough to allow himself to be supplanted? May I ask you to lend me the knife?

Mary. [laughs.] Oh! he made way for him in the most amiable manner. Will you lend me your spoon?

Peter. I drink to the health, not of mine, but your spoon, for he must have been one to have thus given you up. [They laugh.

Mary. He must have been rather soft. Peter. Do tell me all about it-it will amuse me, [aside] and keep me from thinking of more dangerous matters.

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Mary. Nay, don't interrupt me. Well, you see this condition did not at all daunt my young man. Peter. Hem! the clever young man you spoke of? [Aside.] Hang him!

Mary. Yes! so he arranged so well, that the other

Peter. Meaning the soft fool, your cousin? Mary. Has formally rejected me and thus made the property mine. Ha, ha, ha!

Peter. [aside.] Double Iago!

Mary. But you can never guess the mode he took to effect his object. You would die with laughing if you heard it.

Peter. [savagely.] I've no doubt I should-pray tell it me-you've no idea how interested I am. Mary. Imagine, he made poor Peter believe— Peter. Peter?

Mary. Yes, Peter-poor Peter, as Edward calls him-he made him believe he was in a consumption. Ha, ha, ha!

Peter. [dropping his glass.] And he made him believe this without any foundation? Ha, ha, ha! Mary. To be sure he did, and poor Peter Follet swallowed it all, and at once fancied himself an invalid.

Peter. And you really think there was nothing the matter with him?

Mary. No more than there is with you or me; so to get rid of him, Edward Brown—

Peter. Hang Edward Brown!

Mary. Now come-it's not a pretty name, but it's not so bad-well, to get rid of him, he sent him traveling to every watering-place in England, and next month means to send him to Madeira-is it not funny?

[She laughs heartily. PETER tries, but fails. Peter. [aside.] I shall choke with rage. [Aloud.] Devilish funny! [Aside.] What an ass I have

been!

Mary. The poor fellow is only allowed to eat vegetables and drink water; he goes to roost with the cocks and hens. Oh, can you conceive how a man can be

Peter. Such a d- -d fool!

Mary. [laughing.] Nay, don't be too severe on the unfortunate simpleton.

Peter. [in a rage, forgetting himself.] Yes, I'll soon show him I'm no invalid!

Mary. Gracious goodness! what's the matter? Peter. [in a gruff voice, walking up and down.] Yes, yes! I'll show him my strength is not gone! I'll annihilate him-me consumptive, indeed!

Mary. [alarmed.] Do tell me, sir-I'm afraid I've offended you. [Aside.] He's decidedly mad.

Peter. Then I may indulge in my fondest dreams. Oh, Charlotte, Mary, Jane, how I have slighted thee; but I'll make up for it all now-yes, I can drink, too. [Pours out two glasses rapidly and drinks them.] Devilish good, upon my life. Mary. [aside.] Unhappy lunatic! he's evidenta drunkard also.

Mary. You must know, then, I live at Reading-ly
Peter. At Reading? how very odd.
Mary. I live there with my aunt-
Peter. Strange coincidence!

Mary. Indeed, I have a small property in the neighborhood which I inherit from an old uncle who died in India-the knife, if you please-he left it to me on condition that I should marry my cousin; if not, I am to forfeit it, unless, indeed, he rejects me

Peter. [uneasily.] Stay, stay-I would ask

Peter. Yes, I don't care; I can

[Walks up to her. Mary. [frightened.] Sir-sir! [Retreats. Peter. Send me to Madeira, indeed! Diet me on green food-fool that I have been-egad, I'll begin a new life! [Rushes at MARY, who runs screaming round the table; he pursues her; she throws down the chairs; he jumps over them; by accident he breaks the dispatch box; she seizes the key and rushes to the door.

Mary. Thank providence, I'm saved! Peter. No, no, I'll not let you. [Runs after her; slips over a chair; falls into a seat.] Oh, oh! I've sprained my ankle-I've lamed myself for life. Mary. I'm glad of it. Peter. I can't move. Mary. Serves you right.

Peter. [cries as if in great pain.] Oh, oh!
Mary. Poor fellow!

Peter. No, go along; mock me as much as you like.

Mary. I don't mock you; I'm really very sorry. Do I look like a savage?

Peter. No, I wish you did, and then I should not regret your departure so much. Good-by! Mary. Nay! I won't go while you are in pain. Peter. How kind! [Aside.] Hang it, she's the loveliest woman I ever saw! Charlotte is not to

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Mary. Pardon me; he has light hair. Peter. Ah, carrots! I have you there. I know something of him; rather knock-kneed-speaks with a Scotch accent, and takes snuff all day.

Mary. Why, I must confess but I must not listen to this. [Takes away her arm; he affects to be falling; she runs up and gives it him again. Peter. Now instead of this poor devil, if you would only deign to look upon a handsome, fresh, strong, hearty young man-you understand? hem!

Mary. Eh?

Peter. Hush! [A knock at the door.] Some one knocks.

Mary. It's Edward Brown.

Peter. Yes, Edward -done Brown!

Voice. [outside.] Miss Mary, are you ready? I've a cab at the door.

Mary. La, I had forgotten all about him.

Peter. Had you? That's all right, then. Voice. [outside.] The cabman can't wait-so make haste; the train starts in twenty minutes. Peter. [in a gruff voice.] You may send him away-we shan't go.

Voice. [outside.] Holloa, what's that? A man locked up in Mary's room?

Peter. You mistake, my excellent friend, Mary is locked up in mine.

Voice. [outside.] Villain, villain !

Peter. Pray be calm; I'm not in a passion.
Voice. [outside.] If I were only inside, I'd—
Peter. You'll get cooler outside.

Voice. [outside.] Tell me your name. I insist on satisfaction! Your name, sir, I say!

Peter. [thrusting his card under the door.] There it is. Peter Follet, at your service-late your consumptive patient.

Mary. Yes, my dear cousin Peter.

Voice. [beating and kicking the door.] Done! By all the powers I'm done

Peter. Aye, done and done; enough between two gentlemen; but it's a cowardly trick to strike and kick a poor inoffensive door.

Mary. Then after all you are—

Peter. Your cousin Peter; rather soft, perhaps rather easily deceived on some points-but no longer an invalid; strong as a horse, and as to love I'm[Rushes towards her. Mary. [surprised.] But what has become of your lameness?

Peter. [capering about.] My darling little wife that is to be-oh!

Mary. [slyly.] Your wife? You have then got over your fear of matrimony? Peter. Good fortune, good address, well known Peter. What! after talking with you, supping in London, and considered, I think, rather favora-with you, singing with you, and-eh! you won't bly by his friends.

Mary. And where am I to find this paragon? Peter. [falling on his knees.] Here, here, here! Mary. But

Peter. [starting up.] No buts; I have been a butt long enough. Yes, my friend, Edward

Brown.

Mary. You are then

say no?

Mary. I will not, but still this has been such a queer courtship.

Peter. But still it may have an agreeable termination if you and our friends before us will excuse any little impropriety that may have resulted from being "LOCKED IN WITH A LADY.”

THE END.

COSTUMES.-MODERN.

THE NEW YORK DRAMA

TRAGEDIES,

A CHOICE COLLECTION

OF

COMEDIES,

WITH

FARCES, ETC.,

CASTS OF CHARACTERS, STAGE BUSINESS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, &c.,

ADAPTED TO

THE HOME CIRCLE, PRIVATE THEATRICALS, AND THE AMERICAN STAGE.

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Osrick..

Priest.

Marcellus...

Bernardo.

Francisco..

First Actor..

Second Actor

First Grave-Digger..

Second Grave Digger...

Ghost of Hamlet's Father.

Queen...
Ophelia

44

Archer.

Webster.

"Coveney.
Penley.

"J. Stark.

F. G. Maynard.

" G. F. Learock.

"J. P. Denel.

"N. Decker.

"S. W. Glenn.

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.Mrs. Glover.

Miss Povey.

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H. A. Weaver.

Miss Mary Wells.

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Bella Pateman. Master Frank Little. Nobles, Lords. Courtiers, Ladies, Guards. Pages, Priests, etc.

Actress..

EXITS AND ENTRANCES.-R. means Right, L. Left; R. D. Right Door, L. D. Left Door; S. E. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door. RELATIVE POSITIONS.-R. means Right; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C.

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Hor. What, has this thing appeared again tonight?

Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. [L. C.] 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. [R. C.] Tush! tush! 'twili not appear.
Ber. Come, let us once again assail your ears,

Right Centre; L. C. Left Centre, &c. The reader is supposed to be on the That are so fortified against our story,
Stage, facing the audience.

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Mar. It is offended

Ber. See it stalks away.

Hor. Stay; speak, speak, I charge thee, speak!
[Exit GHOST, R.
Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer.
Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble and look
pale;

Is not this something more than fantasy?
What think you of it?

Hor. [R.] I might not this believe,
Without the sensible and true avouch
Of mine own eyes.

Mar. [c.] Is it not like the king?
Hor. As thou art to thyself;

Such was the very armor he had on,

When he the ambitious Norway combated. Mar. Thus, twice before, and jump at this dead hour,

With martial stalk he hath gone by our watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work I know not;

But in the gross and scope of mine opinion,
This bodes some strange eruption to our state.
Re-enter GHOST, L.

But soft; behold! lo, where it comes again!
I'll cross it, though it blast me.

to R. Stay, illusion!

[GHOST crosses

If thou hast any sound or use of voice,
Speak to me!

[GHOST stops at R.
If there be any good thing to be done,
That may to thee do ease, and grace to me,
Speak to me! [L. C.]

If thou art privy to thy country's fate,
Which, happily foreknowing, may avoid-
Oh, speak!

Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life
Extorted treasure in the womb of the earth,

For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,
Speak of it; [exit GHOST, L.] stay, and speak!
Mar. 'Tis gone!

We do it wrong, being so majestical,

To offer it the show of violence.

Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. Hor. [R.] And then it started like a guilty thing

Upon a fearful summons.

I have heard

The cock, that is the trumpet of the morn,
Doth, with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat,
Awake the god of day; and, at his warning,
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
The extravagant and erring spirit hies
To his confine..

But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,
Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill;
Break we our watch up; [crosses L.] and by my
advice,

Let [L. C.] us impart what we have seen to-night
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.

[Exeunt L. SCENE II.-The Palace. Flourish of Trumpets. Enter POLONIUS, the KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, LADIES and ATTENDANTS, L., LAERTES, R. King. [c.] Though yet of Hamlet, our dear brother's death,

The memory be green; and that it us befited To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom

To be contracted in one brow of woe;
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature,
That we with wisest sorrow think on him,
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore, our sometime sister, now our queen,
The imperial jointress of this warlike state,
Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,
Taken to wife; nor have we herein barred
Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone
With this affair along; for all, our thanks.
And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?
You told us of some suit. What is 't, Laertes ?
Laer. My dread lord,

Your leave and favor to return to France;
From whence, though willingly, I came to Den-
mark,

To show my duty in your coronation;
Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward
France,

And bow them to your generous leave and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?

Pol. He hath, my lord;

I do beseech you, give him leave to go.
King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be
thine,

And thy best graces; spend it at thy will.
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son-

Ham. [aside.] A little more than kin, and less than kind.

King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

Ham. Not so, my Lord; I am too much i' the

sun.

Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off,
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not, forever, with thy veiled lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust;
Thou know'st 'tis common; all that live must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.

Ham. Aye, madame, it is common.
Queen. If it be,

Why seems it so particular with thee?

Ham. Seems, madame! nay, it is; I know not

seems.

'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor the dejected 'havior of the visage,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief,
That can denote me truly; these, indeed, seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within' which passeth show,
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
King. "Tis sweet and commendable in your
nature, Hamlet,

To give these mourning duties to your father;
But you must know your father lost a father;
That father lost his; and the survivor bound
In filial obligation for some term

To do obsequious sorrow; but to persevere
In obstinate condolement is a course
Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief;
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven.
We pray you, throw to earth

This unprevailing woe, and think of us
As of a father; for let the world take note,
You are the most immediate to our throne,
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.
Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers,
Hamlet.

Hor. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.
Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked
meats

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven,
Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!
My father-methinks I see my father.
Hor. Where,

I pray thee, stay with us-go not to Wittenberg. I think it was to see my mother's wedding.
Ham. I shall, in all my best, obey you, madame.
King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply;
Be as ourself in Denmark. Madame, come;
This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet
Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof,
No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day,
But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
Re-speaking earthly thunder. [Flourish of Trum-
pets. Exeunt in the following order, viz., 1st,
POLONIOUS, with a white rod, formally leading
the way; 2d, the KING and QUEEN; 3d, LAER-
TES; 4th, MALE and FEMALE ATTENDANTS.
Ham. [standing alone, L.] Oh, that this too,
too solid flesh would melt,

Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on 't! Oh, fie! [c.] 'Tis an unweeded garden,
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in

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A little month; or ere those shoes were old
With which she followed my poor father's body,
Like Niobe, all tears,

She married with my uncle,

My lord?

Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio.

Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. Ham. [L. c.] He was a man, take him for all in all,

I shall not look upon his like again.

Hor. [R. C.] My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

Ham. [L.] Saw! who?

Hor. My lord, the king, your father.
Ham. The king, my father!

Hor. Season your admiration for awhile
With an attent ear, till I may deliver,
Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
This marvel to you.

Ham. [c.] For heaven's love, let me hear.
Hor. [c.] Two nights together had these
gentlemen,

Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,
In the dead waste and middle of the night,
Been thus encountered.-a figure like your
father,

Armed at point, exactly cap-a-pie,

Appears before them, and, with solemn march,
Goes slow and stately by them; thrice he walked
By their oppressed and fear surprised eyes,
Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, dis-
tilled

Almost to jelly with the act of fear,

Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me
In dreadful secrecy impart they did;

My father's brother; but no more like my father And I with them, the third night, kept the watch; Then I to Hercules.

It is not, nor it cannot come to, good,

But break my heart; [L.] for I must hold my
tongue!

Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS and BERNARDO, R.
Hor. [L.] Hail to your lordship!
Ham. I am glad to see you well;
Horatio or I do forget myself?

Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor ser

vant ever.

Ham. [R.] Sir, my good friend, I'll change
that name with you.

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?-
Marcellus?

Mar. [R.] My good lord—

Ham. [c.] I am very glad to see you-good
even, sir-

But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?
Hor. [L. C.] A truant disposition, good my lord.
[MARCELLUS and BERNARDO stand, R.
Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so;
Nor shall you do mine ear that violence,
To make it truster of your own report
Against yourself; I know you are no truant.
But, what is your affair in Elsinore?
We'll teach you to drink deep, ere you depart.
Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's
funeral.

Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-
student;

Where, as they had delivered, both in time,
Form of the thing, each word made true and
good,

The apparition comes.

Ham. [to BERNARDO and MARCELLUS, R.]
But where was this?

Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we
watched.

Ham. Did you not speak to it?

Hor. [L.] My lord, I did;

But answer made it none; yet once, methought,
It lifted up its head, and did address
Itself to motion, like as it would speak;
But, even then, the morning cock crew loud,
And, at the sound, it shrunk in haste away,
And vanished from our sight.

Ham. 'Tis very strange.

Hor. As I do live, my honored lord, 'tis true;
And we did think it writ down in our duty,
To let you know of it.

Ham. [R. c.] Indeed, indeed, sirs; but this
troubles me.

Hold you the watch to-night ?
Mar. We do, my lord.
Ham. Armed, say you?
Mar. Armed, my lord.
Ham. From top to toe?

Mar. My lord, from head to foot.
Ham. Then saw you not his face?

Hor. Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver up.

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