346-55 Anon. (1789, p. 7): “In the greatest part of the next scene, where Horatio informs him [Hamlet played by Kemble] of the appearance of his father’s spirit, his action and expression are admirable, the reception of his friend is warm and animated, and his sudden change of countenance at the recollection of his father’s death, (from which he had been for some time diverted by the entrance of his friend,) is well managed; and his surprise at Horatio’s telling him he saw his father’s spirit, and his agitation, during his recital of the strange story, is just and natural.”

346-55 White (1854, pp. 408-9): <p. 408> “Richard Jhones, who published Promos and Cassandra, is the best commentator on the passage. I have quoted this sentence from his advertisement once before; but it is worth quoting here again:—‘and if by chaunce thou light of some speache that seemeth dark, consider of it with judgment, before thou condemne the worke: for in many places he is driven both to praise and blame with one breath, which in readinge wil seeme hard, and in action appeare plaine.’

“No other clue is needed. How can any one with the scene in his ‘mind’s eye’ avoid intuitively understanding it thus? Hamlet has three visitors, who find him alone: being a well bred gentleman he speaks to all of them; and being a prince, he addresses each one in a manner suited to his degree. In his old friend and schoolfellow he expresses interest, and asks, ‘And what make you from Wittenberg?’ But breaking off, to bestow civility upon his other guests, he, says, interrogatively, to one (whom he thinks he recognizes, and who, by the present, the preceding and the subsequent Scenes, is show to be the more important of the two), ‘Marcellus?’ On finding by the rely of Marcellus that he is right, he bestows a brief welcome, </p. 408><p. 409> ‘I’m very glad to see you;’ &c. and then turning to the third and least important person, whom he does not recognize, he merely says, ‘Good even, sir.’ Having thus satisfied the demands of courtesy, he returns immediately to that which interests him, and says to Horatio, ‘But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?’

“The passage is natural, simple, and colloquial in the highest degree; its sense palpable, it would seem, to the dullest perception.” </p. 409>

346 well] Collier (ed. 1858): “The old corrector of the folio, 1632, omits ‘well’ at the end of this sentence. It spoils the line, and is not mere surplusage, for how was Hamlet thus early to know whether Horatio were ‘well,’ or not?”

346-55 Swifte (1875, p. 181), referring to an earlier piece in 5 N&Q 3:444, “His recognition of Horatio and Marcellus is dignified, but of the one it is cordial, of the other it is courteous. Horatio announces himself the prince’s ‘poor servant ever,’ which His Highness royally and readily ‘changes with him for ‘my good friend,’ and inquires what brought him to Wittenberg [sic]. Seeing Marcellus, a notus nomine tantum, he merely utters his name; and cutting short the Quidam’s reply—‘My good lord’ with ‘I am glad to see you; good even, sir,’ reiterates the question to Horatio. . . . Edmund Lenthhall Swifte.”

Ed. note: He continues with nonsense that goes in 355.

346 well]

346 Dowden (ed. 1899): “Sir Henry Irving, as Hamlet, delivers quotes] as a conventional greeting to unrecognized intruders: Hamlet then looks up and perceives his friend.”

346 Gollancz (ed. 1901): "Sir Henry Irving, as Hamlet, delivers [quotes] as a conventional greeting to unrecognized intruders: Hamlet then looks up and perceives his friend.”

346-7 Kittredge (ed. 1939): "A courteous greeting, mechanically uttered before Hamlet sees who it is. The next line is spoken in enthusiastic recognition of his friend."

346 Spencer (ed. 1980): “At first, Hamlet merely gives a polite reply; then he recognizes Horatio.”

346-7 Thompson & Taylor (ed. 2006): “Hamlet at first offers an impersonal general greeting, perhaps because he is still preoccupied with his own thoughts, then he recognizes Horatio.”