The Best of Shakespeare:. William Shakespeare

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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

       JULIUS CAESAR

       THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

       MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

      HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK

       Table of Contents

      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