5-6 Thirlby (1723-) : “Forte |”

Ed. note: Thirlby sees a strong case for line division.

5-7 me . . . King] Jennens (ed. 1773): “The emphasis should be laid on me; for Francisco is the centinel upon guard; therefore he, and not Bernardo, had the right of insisting upon the watch-word; which we find by Bernardo’s answer to be, Long live the king.”

5 me] Steevens (ed. 1778): “i.e., me who am already on the watch, and have a right to demand the watch-word.”

5 me]

5 me]

5 me]

5 me]

5 me] Rann (ed. 1791-): “who am already on the watch, and have therefore a right to demand the word”

5 me]

5 me]

5 me]

5 vnfolde] Caldecott (ed. 1819): “Announce, make known.”

5 me] Boswell (ed. 1821): “i.e. me who am already on the watch, and have a right to demand the watch-word [as Mr. Jennens has remarked]. Steevens.”

5 me]

5-7 me . . . King] Knight (ed. 1839): “Answer me. I, the sentinel, challenge you. Bernardo then gives the answer to the challenge, or watch-word—‘Long live the king!’ ”

5-7 me . . . King] This sentence [7] appears to have been the watch-word given in answer to the demand of Francisco, ‘Nay, answer me,’ he being already on the watch.”

5-7 Delius (ed. 1854): “ist schwerlich, wie Malone meint, die abgeforderte Parole, sondern, unserm Gut Freund! entsprechend, ein beruhigender Beschied. Horatio und Marcellus erwidern bald nachher auf disselbe Frage: Friends to this ground und liegemen to the Dane.” [The exchange hardly yields a demanded password , as Malone understands, but corresponds to our expression "Gut Freund,” a reassuring answer. Soon after, Horatio and Marcellus respond to the same question: Friends to this ground and liegemen to the Dane.]

5 me]

5 me]

5-6 Clarke & Clarke (ed. 1868):

5 me] Clark & Wright (ed. 1872): “Emphatic.”

5 me]

5 me] Rolfe (ed. 1878): “Emphatic: as the measure shows.”

5-6 MacDonald (ed. 1885): ”—on the post, and with the right of challenge.”

5 me]

5-6 vnfolde your selfe

5-7 me . . . King,] Dowden (ed. 1899): “Perhaps the watchword . . . .”

5 me]

5 me]

5 Nay] Travers (ed. 1929): for no when denying an affirmative statement or refusing to obey an order.

5-6 Kittredge (ed. 1939) believes that Francisco speaks “with a touch of humour.”

5 vnfolde] Kittredge (ed. 1939): "disclose."

5 Asimov (1970, rpt.1978, 2:80): The name “is an example of Shakespeare’s penchant for Italian or Roman names, even under the most inappropriate circumstances.”

5 answere me] Kermode (ed. 1974): “i.e. you answer me. [. . . ].”

5-6 Spencer (ed. 1980), in addition to the usual stress on me, thinks that yourself might also be stressed.

5-6 vnfolde your selfe] Mowat & Werstine (ed. 1992): “disclose your identity“

5 Nay] OED adv. 1d. Occas. used as an introductory word, without any direct negation.

c 1460 Play Sacram. 586 Master Brundyche. I haue gyven hyr a drynke made full well..Colle. Nay than she ys fulle saue. 1610 B. JONSON Alch. II. iii, Well said, father! Nay, if he take you in hand, sir, [etc.].

5-7 Edelman (2000) on word or watchword: “When Barnardo and Francisco meet in the opening moments of Hamlet, each challenges the other, but only Francisco demands the word with ‘Stand and unfold yourself [6].” Barnardo, obviously a sentinel trustworthy enough to know the watchword answers appropriately.

5-6 vnfolde your selfe] Holderness (2005, p. 161): “Of all plays a play of bereavement, Hamlet begins with a command to ’unfold.’ Whether we turn and ’unfold’ the leaf of a book, or sit in a theatre and watch the scene ’’unfold’ before us, the word unfolds itself in multiple layers of divested meaning. . . .

“The obscurity against which Barnardo is asked to individuate himself is a darkness of the imagination, an ’artificial night’ created by the reader, spectator, or director.”

5 me] Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006):