New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-16
Original Story of Hamlet.

Original Story of Hamlet.
From the Lstu of saro- -Gramnaicns, inersersed
Florwendillus, King of Jutand, married Geru-
thra, (or Gertrude) the only daughter of Rnrie,
King Of Denmark. The produce of this union was
a aon called Amlettas. When he grew toward
cited the envy and hatred of his uncle, who, be-
fore the birth of Amlettus, was regarded as pre-
sumptive heir to the throne. Fengo, which was
the name of this naughty prince, conceived pas
sion for his sster-in-law, the Queen and, meeting
with reciprocal feelings, they soon arranged q
plan, which, putting into execution, he ascended
the throne of his brother, and esspoused the
widowed princess, Amtettus, (or Hamlet) suspect
ing his father had died by the hand or devices of
his uncle. determined to be revenged; but, per
ceiving the Jealousy with which the usurper eyed
his superior talents, and the better to conceal his
hatred and Intentions he affected gradual de-
rangement of reason, and at last acted all the ex.
travagance of an absolute madman.
Fengos guilt induced him to doubt the reality of
malady favorable to his security-and, suspi-
cous Of some direful project being hidden beneath
assumed insanity, he tried by different stratagems
to penetrate the truth One Of them was to draw
him into confidential interview with young
damsel, who had been the companion of his infan-
cy, but Hamlet's sagaety, and the timely caution
of his intimate friend, frustrated this design. In
these two persons we may recognize the Ophelia
and Horatio of SHAKESPEARE: a second plot was
attended with equal want of success. 1t was CON
certed by Fengo that the Queen should take her
son to task in private conversation, vainly fatter-
ing himself that the Prince would not conceal his
true state from the feelings of mother Shakespeare
has adopted every part of this scene, not only the
precise situation and circumstances but the senti-
ments, and sometimes the very words themselves.
The Queens apartment was the appointed place
of conference, where the King, to secure certain
testimony, had previously ordered one of his
courters to secrete himself under heap of straw.
So says the historian; and though Shakspere, in
unison with refinement of more modern times,
changes that rustic covering for the Royal tapestry
yet it was even as SaXo- examinations relates it.
In those primitive ages, straw, hay, or rushes,
strewed on the floor were the usual carpets in the
chambers of the great. One of our Henrys, in
making o progress to the north OF England, pre-
viously sent forward courier to order clean straw
at every house where he was to take his lodgings.
Bat, to return to the subject:
The Prince, suspecting there might be a con-
ccaled listener, and that it the King, pursued
bis wild and frantic acts, hoping that, by some
lucky chance, he might discover his hiding place.
Watchful of all that passed in the room, as he
dashed from side to side, he deserted little move
ment of the uneasy courters covering. Suddenly
| Hamlet sprung on his feet, began to crow like a.
cock, and Tapping his arms ains his sides leaped
upon the straw feeling olpethng under him, he
snntched out his sword and thrust it through the
| unfortunate lord. The barb3rism of the times is
most shockingIy displayed in the brutal manner he
| treats the dead body; but for the honor of the
| Danish Prince, we must suppose it not merely
q wanton act, but done TIC nore decidedly to con-
vince the King, when the strange situation Of the
corpse was seen, how absolutely he must be
divested of reason. Being assured he was now
alone with his mother, in II most awful manner he
| turns upon her. and avows his madness to be as
sumed he reproaches her with her wicked deeds
and incesuous marriage, and threatens mighty
vengeance upon the in,tigatOr of her crime.
In the historian, VIC find that the admonitions of
Hamlet awakened the conscience of the Queen,
and recalled her to pcnitenCe and virtue. The
King, observing the change, became doubly sus-
picious of the Prince; and battling some prelimi-
nary steps, he took to vengeance. Hamlet was en-
trapped by him into an embassy to England. He
cnTfn nj ,1,,h bn,,
vate letters to the English monarch. requesting
him. as the greatest favor he could confer on
Denmark, to compass, by secret and by sure
means the death of the Prince as soon as he land
ed Hamlet, during the voyage, had reason to
suspect the mission of his companions and, by
stratagem, obtaining their credentials he found the
trcacherOus mandate, and, changing it for one
where he had ordered the execution of the two
lords he quietly proceeded with them both. On
landing, the papers We're delivered, and the King.
without further parley, obeyed what he believed
to be the request of his royal ally; and thus did
treason meet the punishment due its crime.
The daughter of the King being charmed with
the person and manners of the foreign Prince,
evnced such marks of tenderness that Hamlet
could not but perceive the depth of the conquest.
He not insensbe to her attractions, and re-
| ceving the Kings assent in the course of few
days, led her to the nuptia altar. Amid all joys
he was, however, like perturbed ghost that could
not rest; and before many suns had risen and set,
he obtained hard-wrung leave from his bride,
once more set-sail, and appeared at ElsiGore just
in time to be witness OF the splendid rites which
Feug0 (suppOsing him to be murdered) had pre-
pared for his funeral. On the proclamation of his
| arrival, he was welcomed with enthusiasm by the
people, whose idol he was, and who had been over
whelmned with grief when Fengo announced to
them his sudden death in England.
The King ini1amed with SO ruinous sappoint-
ment, and becoming douhy jealous of his growing
popularity, now affected conciliation, but
openly manifested his hatred and hostility. Ham
let again had recourse TO his pretended madness,
| and committed so many alarming acts, that Fengo,