New-York tribune., 1911-01-14
"AMBLETO"
An Italian Hamlet in the
Eighteenth Century.

Lacy Collision Morley, in The Athenaum.
In connection with Professor Robert
sons interesting article on shakespeare
on the Continent" I'm Volume V Of the
Cambridge History OF English Litera-
ture," there could hardly be stronger
proof Of the absolute ignorance OF our
greatest poet that prevailed in Italy in
the early part Of the eighteenth century
than the fact that man OF Apostolic
Zeno's vast learning could write play
on Hamlet without, apparently ever
having heard Of Shakespeare's tragedy.
"Ambleto' was a 'melodrama' in the
true sense Of the term-i e., q play for
music-which was written before ZenO
went 10 Vienna as court poet, with the
assistance OF Pariati, also man OF
great learning, and produced at the san
Cassiano Theatre in Venice In lIo6, win
music by Francesca Gasparini
The story is based on Saxo Grammat-
icus. with some truly remarkable varia-
tions. introduced 20 bring 1t into line
with the traditions OF melodrama. These
are the characters:
Ambleto, in love with Veremonda.
Veremonda, Princess Of Allanda. In love
with Ambleto.
Tengore. the usurping King. also in love
GeriIda, the Queen, who has married her
husbands murderer against her will.
| Ildegarde. a Danish princess, who, besides
being In love with Ambleto. has played
II part in Fengone's past
Valdemaro, the general who has conquered
AlHnda, also IN love with Veremonda.
SifridO, Captain OF the Kings guards.
The plot may be summarized as fol-
lows: Ambleto knows that the King
has murdered his father. Orvendillo, and
therefore pretends madness TO allay all
suspicious. The play opens with Gerilda
hetraying a plot to her husband, whom
she really hates, from sense OF duty
toward the King. Valdemaro returns
victorious. and asks for Veremonda's
hand az IA reward. Ncremonda begs the
King not 10 give her to her cOuntrys
conqucrOr He gladly consents. and pro-
poses to make Ildegardc Naldemaros
wife: but they agree to leave each other
free, owing to the existence OF prior at
tachments
The King who suspects Ambleto's de-
signs. decides To put him to the tests
recorded by Saxo. First he is left with
VeremOnda, while the King watches
them In hiding: but she warns him of his
/ danger by writing on the ground with a
! SPEAR and he leaves the stage before
betraying himself. The King now makes
! violent love To Neremonda, who rejects
/ his suit Then the King decides 10 90
| away, leaving the Queen in command in
| his absence, with orders that faithful
| guard shall be in hiding I'm the Queens
apartments and listen to any talk she
| may have with her son. But Siffrido be-
| trays this design to Ambleto. who kills
! the guard before speaking to his mother.
/ The interview, like Shakespeare's. Is
! based on Saxo. and is the one scene In
| the play where there is any similarity
! between "AmblctO" and Hamlet"
! Lurna real
A. novelli imenei cansiando In ara,
/ in this scene, family suggests the
! funeral bakd meats"
| Suddenly Siffrido enters and tells Am
| bleto that Naldemaro has carried oil
Veremonda Ambleto ovcrtakes them
and tells them that he is only feigning
madness. He commands Naldemaro's
| obedience al his King and Eardons his
I offence. Naldemaro goes, when the King
! finds Ambleto and Neremonda together
/ and remarks that a man who has sense
enough TO carry off Veremonda is not so
very mad, after all. Luckily Valdemaro
returns to explain matters, and is again
| pardoned, Ia he is too powerful for the
! King to punish.
| In Act 3 the King decides 10 repudi-
ate his wife In order to marry Vere-
monda. She again refuses, when she is
! told that AmbletO's life. which Is forfeit
| for the Staying OF the guard, depends on
! her answer. Ambleto bids her accept
the Kings offer. as he Is nearly ready TO
act; and Valdemaro. at Ambletos conf
mand. now consents to take lldegarde as
his bride. Siffrido tells the Queen Of the
| plot. and she determines to pretend to
| sympathze with It. as she hopes that by
| betrayng il at the last moment she
may regain her influence with the King
Ambleto enters with n chorus, dressed
n nhtFg ha I,rr 70, ~
| n pledge in n cup given him by Sinrido.