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CHAPTER XIV 
' THE HAMLET PASSAGE ON THE BLACKFRIARS CHILDREN 
TuHeE Shakespeare student has already anticipated conclusions 
made possible by the documents treated in the foregoing pages. 
I have little more left to do than to transcribe those conclusions 
in the briefest possible manner. 
Shakespeare’s reference to the Children-players is at once the 
_ best known and yet the newest record touching contemporary 
- stage conditions. Explanations have been attempted by every 
student of Hamlet. These range from the guess of dilettanteism 
to the plausible hypothesis and occasional statement of fact. 
Not only does the evidence now at hand explain practically 
every item in this passage, but in turn Shakespeare’s record be- 
comes available thereby as one of the most important contribu- 
tions made to the history of this royally favored company of 
Children-actors at Blackfriars. 
For purposes of comparison, I here subjoin the passage? as it 
appears in Q,, Q.,, and F,. 
*For a convenient collection of ness, Variorum Shakespeare, Hamlet 
representative é¢xamples from fore- (1877), I, 162-168. No collection 
most scholars to the date of that of the recent and better interpreta- 
publication, see Dr. H. H. Fur- tions has been made. 
*The passages are quoted as they appear in H. H. Furness, Variorum 
Shakespeare, Hamlet (1877), II, 59, and I, 162-68. 
Q: (1603) 
968. Ham. Players, what Players be they? 
Ross. My Lord, the Tragedians of the Citty, 
Those that you took delight to see so often. 
Ham. How comes it that they trauell? Do they grow restie? 
Gil. No my Lord, their reputation holds as it was wont. 
Ham. How then? 
Gil. Yfaith my Lord, noueltie carries it away, 
For the principall publike audience that 
Came to them, are turned to priuate playes, 
And to the humour of children. 
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