ACT I., Scene i., of the tragedy of "Hamlet" opens at midnight and

continues until dawn, and at its close, Marcellus, speaking of Hamlet, says:

I this morning know Where we shall find him most conveniently.

In Scene ii. Horatio says of the ghost:

My lord, I think I saw him yesternight,

and Hamlet declares:

I'll watch to-night. Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve I'll visit you.

This watch and its events are given in Scenes iv. and v., while the third scene fills out the day, before the night comes on.

Between the first and second acts, one--and the principal one--of the two intervals in the play occurs; a lapse of time, as will hereafter be shown, of a little more than two months.

In ACT II., Scene i., Polonius says:

I will go seek the king.

and in Scene ii. he enters the Audience Chamber and announces that he has found

The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

In the same scene the players arrive, and Hamlet says of the play of "The Murder of Gonzago:"

We'll ha't to-morrow night.

This act, therefore, covers but one day, while the first scene of the next act occurs on the following day, as is proven by the words of Rosencranz in reference to the actors:

They have already order This night to play before him.

In Scene ii. this mimic drama is given, and Scenes iii. and iv. occur the same night, Hamlet's interview with his mother taking place, in accordance with the message brought to him, immediately after the breaking up of the play:

She desires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed.