have arisen, whose difficulties lie in their spleen' (Hermann Grimm), their 'temperament' (Gessner), or their 'sluggish blood' (Loening); or in the restraints imposed by external sanctions of law and politics. If modern psychology lives in Loening's 'lazy Hamlet,' the political Teuton of to-day is reflected in Werder's scornful 'dismissal' of the dreamer Hamlet to limbo in company with the dreaming Germany of which Freytag proclaimed him the type. Finally, to the 'realistic' eyes of our time Hamlet has become a veiled allusion, and his spiritual profile an ineffectual disguise, for Essex,1 Montaigne, or James the First. 1 This is the contention of Hermann Conrad in a series of elaborate articles recently re printed in his Shakspere's Selbstbekenntnisse, 1897. HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. ACT I. SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle. FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO. Ber. Who's there? Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself. Ber. Long live the king! Fran. Bernardo ? Ber. He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Fran. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there ? Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Hor. Friends to this ground. And liegemen to the Dane. Ber. Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Mar cellus. Mar. What, has this thing appeared again tonight? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us : With us to watch the minutes of this night; 20 Sit down awhile; 30 He may approve our eyes and speak to it. Well, sit we down, 13. rivals, partners. 29. approve, confirm the evidence of. And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Last night of all, When yond same star that's westward from the Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Enter Ghost. Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. Hor. Most like it harrows me with fear and Ber. It would be spoke to. Mar. Question it, Horatio. Hor. What art thou that usurp'st this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak! Mar. It is offended. Ber. See, it stalks away ! [Exit Ghost. Hor. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak! Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy? 42. a scholar, i.e. one. 50 40 What think you on't? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king? Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated; 'Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before; and jump at this dead With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. But in the gross and scope of my opinion, Why this same strict and most observant watch 57. avouch, warrant. 62. parle, parley. 63. the sledded pole-axe, the 'pole-axe weighted with a sledge or hammer at the back.' Malone proposed Polacks,' i.e. the Poles in their sledges; which many editors adopt. But there is little doubt that, as the advocates of 'pole-axe' urge, the tenor of the description suggests a momentary outburst of fury rather than a prolonged fight. The chief difficulty in this view is the word 'sledded.' 'Sled' is a dialectic and archaic 60 70 |