St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-03-07

s~SA
eutrapped BY him into an embassy to Eng
land. He sent along with him two cour-
tiers. who bore private letters to the Eng
lish monarch. requesting him. as the grcs-
test favor he could confer on Denmark, TO
compass, ysseefpt @id |tsc means, the
death Of the Primes eils sooss. ID he landed.
Hamlet, during the voyage. had ressdas
to suspect the luissisn OF bin companions !;
and. by a stratagem, obtaining their cre-
dentisls. he found the treacherous man.
date, and, changing it for one where he
had ordered the execution Of the two
lords, he quietly proceeded with them.
On landing, the papers were delivered,
and the King, without further parley,
"beyed what he believed to BE- the request
of his royal ally; and thus did treason
meet the punishment due to its crime.
The daughter of the King being
charmed with the person and manners of
the foreign Prince, evinced such marks of
tenderness that Hamlet could not but per-
seive the depth Of the conquest lie was
not insensible to her attractions, and re-
ceiving the Kings assent in the course of
u few days, led her to the nuptial altar.
Amid all joys he was, however, like per-
tufbed ghost that could not rest; and be-
fore many suns had risen and set, he OBJ
tanned hard-wrung leave frsm his bride,
once more set sail, and appeared at Elsi-
more just in time to be witness of the
the splendid rites which Fcngo (suppos-
ing him to be mnrdered) had prepared for
his funeral. On the proclamation of his
arrival, he was welcomed with enthusiasm
by the people. whose idol be was, and who
had been overwhelmed with grief when
Fengo announced to them his sudden
death in England.
The King intlamed with so ruinous
disappointment, aud bueo,ning doubly
Jealous of his growing popularity, now ut
tected no conciliatioli but orcnly manifest
ed his hatred aud hostility. Hamle,
again had recourse to his pretended mad
ns-s. aud committed SO many alarming
acts. that Fengo. fearing their direction.
ordered his sword to be locked in its seab-
bard, under the plea of guarding the luna
tic from personal harm. After various
adventures the Prince accomplished the
death of his uncle's adhcrents and vengs-
ance on the fratricidr himself, by setting
fire to the palace during the dcbauch of
midnight banquet. Rushing in amid the
flames. he kills Fengo with his own hands.
rcproachng him at the luoment with his
murder, adultery and incest llnlncdiate-
ly on the act of rctribution he was pro-
claimed lawful SUCCESSOR TO the throne.
and crowned with all due solemnisy.
Thus far Shakespeare treads in the steps
of the ahualst. The only difference is
in the fate of the hero: in the one he finds
a kingdom, in the other grave Saxo-
EXAMINATIONS carries the history further;
and, after the crowning of Hamlet as
King, brings him again into Britain;
where, In compliment to that land OF
beauty, he nIarries second wife, the
daughter of Scottish King. Hsmle,
brought both his wives back to Denmark,
and prepared for long life of prosperity
and peace. But the sword hung over his
head; war burst around him. and he fell
in combat by the hand of Vigelo,es, son
of Ruric. Saxo-Grammaticus sums up
his character in a few words: He was q
wise Prince and great warrior" Like
Achilles. he had the principal actions OF
his life wrought on bis shield. The
daughter of the King of Scotland, casting
her eye on it, loved him for the battles
he had won, and became his bride.