The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-12
THE ORIGINAL OF "HAMLET
Drew His Plot From an
Old Danish History.

New York Sun.
The historical character of Hamlet has
always been, and will always continue 70
be. a subject of controversy, for the very
good reason that It's only basis, the account
In the chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus. the
Danish historian. is itself OF the shakiest
character. the mere hearsay, very likely.
of a dark. superstitious age that knew
nothing OF historical criticism, and mingled
gods and men and demons without dis
elimination in its hero tales. However. in
taking that view of the Hamlet of histo-
~. 1t is not to be forgotten that the hear
say" OF those days was largely history it
self-the way It was transmitted from
generation 10 generation. No doubt the old
Mortimer were great braggarts, just as
they were great fighters, but they took
care. as a rule TO keep their family re-
cords straight, and that. after an. Is the
important coint in the matter OF Hamlet.
So, II the melancholy Dane was. In truth,
Danish all through, there might be less
reason for doubling him. but even that IS
disputed. Some investigators have held
that the whole thing Is a myth OF Celtic
origin, and that there never was such a
person. Others. equally learned, have
found In Saxo evidence that there was
not one, but two. Hamlets, who have got
so mixed up that now to separate them Is
impossible: while yet others. Or. Vigfus-
son among them maintain that the Ham,
let legend was contained IN the Skjoldunga
Saga. now lost, and was. therefore, more or
less historical.
Whether Saxo wrote from such records.
Of which we now know nothing or whether
the first part OF his chronicle Is mere
collection of legends and tales OF his day.
NAV never be decided. His manuscript Is
long since lost What may be a fragment
Of II was found some years ago In An
gers. In France and is now In the Royal
Library In Copenhagen. 1t Is IN the cler'-
cal Latin OF that day. and Is fuil OF
erasures and interpretations In the same
handwriting. which makes II more than
probable that 1t Is part OF the original
Chronicle"
How and where Shakespeare got hold of
the story r. not much clearer than any or
the rest. He might have read II In
French translation then published. There
mas none in English. HIS transferring the
scene from JutIand heath TO the castle OF
Kronborg Is poetic license pure and SIM
pie Il Is not impossible that Shakespeare
may have been In Denmark with a COM
pany OF strolling actors and have seen the
castle OF Elsinore which he afterward
made famous. OF course II Hamlet lived
nj all II must have heen some so years
n, Icast before Eronborg was built: but
that has made no difference at all TO the
good people OF Elsinore. who VIII show
YOU today, on the hluH overlooking the
sound Haniet's grave. with a faith In
Shakespeare as a historian. as against their
own Saxo that is beyond all praise.
Sayo from whom this account Is taken.
was a monk Of warlike ancestry, the sec
rotary Of Bishop Absalon. friend and coun-
sellar OF va,lemar the Great. and wrote
his history at the request of his patron. so
that the great deeds 81 the fathers should
no. be lost 10 posterity. as he SAYS him
self The account IL literally sprinkled
with fnonkIsh and moral reflections that
ara funny enough. He finished his work
toward the cpd Of the twelfth century. and
died IN the first decade of the thirteenth.
probably about 1876 His chronicle re-
manned untranslatei until the sixteenth
century, though II was often quoted. We
HAl who made the first popular transls-
ton. found himself. when ID was iore un-
able to put Il In press for the want Of
means The price Of the paper especially
In those days was so great as to threaten
the whole enterprise with wreck In this
emergency his friend T,yrho Brahe. the
renowned astronomer issue2. an appeal In
Latin verse To- the Danish women. asking
them 20 send their linen TO the paper mill
It was before the day Of wood pulp-rath-
- than 20 let the patriotic work lsngulsh
Was ever such appeal male by ha-assed
poet or publisher However II helped
The funds were forthcoming and the
chroaieie saw the Light.