mystical parts before you at a taverne, when you, most knightly, shall for his paines, pay for both their suppers.” If all these paines do not produce a proportionate modicum of inspiration, then know I nothing of Parnassus. Let us now proceed to business. In the very first scene of this celebrated tragedy, I find matter of discussion. _Bernardo._ Who’s there? _Francisco._ Nay, answer me--stand and _unfold_ yourself. This word has never (_mirabile dictu_) excited a single comment; but in my opinion it implies that _Bernardo_ enters with his arms _folded_. The judicious player will remember this, and when thus accosted will immediately throw back his arms, and discover his under vestments, like the “_Am I a beef-eater now?_” in the critic. _Bernardo._ Long live the king. _Francisco._ Bernardo? _Bernardo._ He. Mr. Malone merely observes that this sentence appears to have been the watchword. So it was; but, in my mind, the watchword of rebellion. The times, as _Hamlet_ afterwards observes, were out of joint, and the ambitious _Bernardo_, as it appears to me, was desirous of mounting the throne, having doubtless as good a right to do so, as the murderer _Claudius_. The answer of _Francisco_ favours my construction. If the loyal exclamation had been pointed at king Claudius, Francisco would have said _Amen_; instead of which he says, “_Bernardo_,” signifying, What! _you_ king? and Bernardo cooly answers, “_He_,” signifying “Yes, _I_.” _Francisco_ contents himself with replying, “_You come most carefully upon your hour_,” and the rejoinder of the future monarch puts my reading out of all doubt. _Bernardo._ ’Tis now struck twelve, get thee to bed _Francisco_. This so exactly resembles the charge of the usurper, _Macbeth_, to his torch-bearing domestic, _Go bid thy mistress when my drink is ready She strike upon the bell--get thee to bed._ Thus the guilt of _Bernardo_ is proved by all laws of analogy. Here then we have two _beef-eaters_ in disguise. Ay, beef-eaters! and I’ll prove it by the next sentence. _Francisco._ For this relief much thanks: ’tis _bitter_ cold And I am sick at heart. Thus all the editors, without a single comment--Oh the blockheads! Listen to my reading. _Francisco._ For this _good beef_ much thanks: ’tis _better_ cold, &c.