[Footnote 11: This line said thoughtfully--as the text of the
observation following it. From the _eerie_ discomfort of their position,
Marcellus takes refuge in the thought of the Saviour's birth into the
haunted world, bringing sweet law, restraint, and health.]

[Page 14]

Some sayes, that euer 'gainst that Season comes [Sidenote: say]
Wherein our Sauiours Birth is celebrated,
The Bird of Dawning singeth all night long: [Sidenote: This bird]
And then (they say) no Spirit can walke abroad,
[Sidenote: spirit dare sturre]
The nights are wholsome, then no Planets strike,
No Faiery talkes, nor Witch hath power to Charme:
[Sidenote: fairy takes,[1]]
So hallow'd, and so gracious is the time. [Sidenote: is that time.]

_Hor._ So haue I heard, and do in part beleeue it.
But looke, the Morne in Russet mantle clad,
Walkes o're the dew of yon high Easterne Hill, [Sidenote: Eastward[2]]
Breake we our Watch vp, and by my aduice [Sidenote: advise]
Let vs impart what we haue scene to night
Vnto yong _Hamlet_. For vpon my life,
This Spirit dumbe to vs, will speake to him:
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,
As needfull in our Loues, fitting our Duty?

[Sidenote: 30] _Mar._ Let do't I pray, and I this morning know
Where we shall finde him most conueniently. [Sidenote: convenient.]
_Exeunt._

SCENA SECUNDA[3]

_Enter Claudius King of Denmarke. Gertrude the
Queene, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister
Ophelia, Lords Attendant._[4]
[Sidenote: _Florish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmarke,
Gertrad the Queene, Counsaile: as Polonius, and his
sonne Laertes, Hamelt Cum Abijs._]

_King._ Though yet of _Hamlet_ our deere Brothers death
[Sidenote: _Claud._]
The memory be greene: and that it vs befitted
To beare our hearts in greefe, and our whole Kingdome
To be contracted in one brow of woe:
Yet so farre hath Discretion fought with Nature,
That we with wisest sorrow thinke on him,

[Footnote 1: Does it mean--_carries off any child, leaving a
changeling_? or does it mean--_affect with evil_, as a disease might
infect or _take_?]

[Footnote 2: _1st Q_. 'hie mountaine top,']

[Footnote 3: _In neither Q._]

[Footnote 4: The first court after