The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-02-16
structures on Ha m e t.

read, digested and criticised than that masterpiece
of Shakspeare's genius, the tragedy of Hamlet
This fact was impressed upon our notice while fol-
lowing >favorite pastme of examining the con-
tents O. secondhand book stores Our researches
brought us to the numerical conclusion that in eight
different editions of Shakespeare offered us at little
more than the value of waste paper, we could only
find one copy of the original text of Hamlet, the
missing volumes having evidently been purchased
by parties anxious as ourselves to become pos
sessed Of them. We have the book, and promise
ourselves much rational amusement in its perusal.
A glance at the text convnces us that much of the
authors meaning is either lost OF perverted in the
common or acting edition.
| The numerous talented gentlemen of the dramatic
profession who portray this difficult character upon
the stage, have all their own conceptions of the va
rious points features, whether they be right or
| wrong One imagnes that
| Lady, ShaH lie in your lap"
iusties him in rollickng upon the floor at Ophelias
feet; another without any regard to the sense of
the scene, takes possession of chair close to the
| lady. Our own idea is that t would be more in
| keeping with the character of the princely Dane,
more becoming him polished gentleman,
| nc stnSs " JnShfOH, uHu Tue Hs0Wu " JOW
a man, in his own opinion, introduced into the world
for the express purpose Of setting to rights dsonted
times-were he, during the play scene, to take an
position Immediately behind the solitary chair
which must certainly have suggested to him the
| merry proposition of sitting on lady's lap. The
low rbaldry which follows this is of omitted
in the acting edition. Pity that Shakespeare ever
wrote it.
In the same scene much argument has arisen on
| the correctness of certain eminent tragedian's
| method of rendering the text
~ must be iNe.'
In our hot youth, when George the Fourth was
king, we saw this same talented individual, who
has certainly closely studied the original text per-
form this same character of Hamlet. We presume
he has not altered his sereotyped business, which
was to meander the stage, gracefully waving
pocket handkerchief over his head. We did not
understand it at the time, but now give him credit
for introducing the hobby-horse of which he speaks
little further on in the original text. Perhaps
is misplaced. Doctors differ in opinion-critics
should be allowed the same latitude Perhaps the
pas de mouchoir )" would be more in its place if
t were executed when Hamlet says
" Your only Jig maker
This scene, play within play, is, in our opin-
ion, seldom or ever properly represented upon the
stage-the parts which require as much acting, for
the time being, the character of Hamlet himself
are generally one, sometimes all of them, entrusted
to novces in their profession for whose benefit the
address to the players was probably written, and
by careful perusal and application of which, they
would be much benefited. We aliude more parii-
cularly to one " Lucidnus, nephew to the King" who
is often represented by young gentleman in high
state of Stage excitement, under the influence of
which, he utters some such nonsense as
Lucianns, Hands ck-Pve thought fit and time
agrees confederate spnts-tpaMse1
Py0npter, Outside-Sea,on!
Lueidn -t,onfedeate season else creature seeing
Thou mkt up ranks
Stage Manager, outside-sotto voiesYoure fool. ss
Hanairt, on stage-Thy natural magic
mfsIc %oG peeay
tPoisons himself instead of the King and rushes off,
The above is not true story, but is as near to
the purpose some would-be tragedians have often
rendered Shakspeare's words, which We bave every
reason to presume are, with the whole of the play
enacted before the Court borrowed from some other
author, whose works have thus outlived his fame
some poor dramatist, whose monument cannot be
found in Poets Corner We may be justified in
dSsciuHS ulOu TIC dutuOIity VI lIdiuIet ONu
words:
:. Can you play the murder of Gon-ago."
Player --Ay, my lord
Hamlet have it Tomorrow night" Chen with
study speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which
would set down. and insert in it. Could you not ~
1t is evident that Hamlet did introduce a speech
into the old play which he refers to in the address
Speak the speech, 1 pray you, c.,'-and very
little reflection brings us to the conclusion that
those lines were the following, which are not in
the acting copy:
Purpose is but the slave 10 memory
Of oent birth. but poor validity
Which now. like fruit unripe, sticks on the tree
Most necessary its that forget
Topay ourselves what to ourselves is debt;
What to ourselves in passion on we propose
The violence of either grief or JOY
Where JOY most revels. grief doth most lament.
This world is not for aye nor - us NOT strange
For It's question left us vet TO prove |
T Mheths. love lead fortune or ese fosnne love
The poor advanc d make friends of enemies
For who not needs shall never lack FRIEND
And who in want hol ow friend doth try
Our wills and fates do so contrary run
That our devices still are 0verthrown;
Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our
This presumed Interpolation is quite in keeping |
with the character of Hamlet's thoughts during |
several portions of the play; and with his usual
skill and careful study of nature, Shakespeare, to
render them naturally the writing of prince, has
made the poetry royalty irregular, and grated
them on to the play in very ingenious manner.
Perhaps The Murder of Coinage is free trans.
lation from the Italian: this may in some measure
account for the difficulty of Lucianus's speech:
Thoughts black" etc.
BE these matters as they may, this play ought to be
performed in manner which would evidently make |
an impression upon the consciences of King Clau-
dius and Queen Gertrude, all the efforts of Ham,
let are thrown away upon the audience who are
watching them.
In the original teyt. Ophelia's question,
What means this. my lord z"
relates to pantomimic prelude which is there set |
down as being performed. This is judiciouslv |
omitted on the modern stage anti climax but |
the inanisitiye wight who wonders what relation