[804] V. 56. wast, PC.
III.
JEPHTHAH JUDGE OF ISRAEL.
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, act ii. the hero of the play takes occasion to banter Polonius with some scraps of an old Ballad, which has never appeared yet in any collection: for which reason, as it is but short, it will not perhaps be unacceptable to the reader; who will also be diverted with the pleasant absurdities of the composition. It was retrieved from utter oblivion by a lady, who wrote it down from memory as she had formerly heard it sung by her father. I am indebted for it to the friendship of Mr. Steevens.
It has been said, that the original Ballad, in black-letter, is among Anthony à Wood's Collections in the Ashmolean Museum. But, upon application lately made, the volume which contained this Song was missing, so that it can only now be given as in the former Edition.
The Banter of Hamlet is as follows:
"Hamlet. 'O Jeptha, Judge of Israel,' what a treasure hadst thou?
Polonius. What a treasure had he, my Lord?