ABSTRACT
As soon as the Play, which was Hamlet Prince of Denmark, began, Partridge was all Attention, nor did he break Silence till the Entrance of the Ghost; upon which he asked Jones, “What Man that was in the strange Dress; something,” said he, “like what I have seen in a Picture. Sure it is not Armour, is it?” Jones answered, “That is the Ghost.” To which Partridge replied with a Smile, “Persuade me to that, Sir, if you can. Though I can't say I ever actually saw a Ghost in my Life, yet I am certain I should know one, if I saw him, better than that comes to. No, no, Sir, Ghosts don't appear in such Dresses as that, neither.” In this Mistake, which caused much Laughter in the Neighbourhood of Partridge, he was suffered to continue, ‘till the Scene between the Ghost and Hamlet, when Partridge gave that Credit to Mr. Garrick, which he had denied to Jones, and fell into so violent a Trembling, that his Knees knocked against each other. Jones asked him what was the Matter, and whether he was afraid of the Warrior upon the Stage? “O la! Sir,” said he, “I perceive now it is what you told me. I am not afraid of any Thing; for I know it is but a Play. And if it was really a Ghost, it could do one no Harm at such a Distance, and in so much Company; and yet if I was frightened, I am not the only Person.” “Why, who,” cries Jones, “dost thou take to be such a Coward here besides thyself!” “Nay, you may call me Coward if you will; but if that little Man there upon the Stage is not frightned, I never saw any Man frightned in my Life. Ay, ay; go along with you! Ay, to be sure! Who's Fool then? Will you? Lud have Mercy upon such Fool-hardiness!—Whatever happens it is good enough for you.—Follow you? I'd follow the devil as soon. Nay, perhaps, it is the Devil—for they say he can put on what Likeness he pleases.—Oh! here he is again.—No farther! No, you have gone far enough already; farther than I'd have gone for all the King's Dominions,” Jones offered to speak, but Partridge cried, “Hush, hush, dear Sir, don't you hear him!” And during the whole Speech of the Ghost, he sat with his Eyes fixed partly on the Ghost, and partly on Hamlet, and with his Mouth open; the same Passions which succeeded each other in Hamlet, succeeding likewise in him.
