sacrificing the beauties of the author, and to present Hamlet clearly without keeping him too long in the public eye, will not, at least, be thought an injudicious endeavor. The tragedy is here set forth precisely as it is presented by Edwin Booth: that is to say, with the arrangement of scenes and the stagedirections made and used by him. The Appendix, for which, of course, the Editor is alone responsible to critical judgment, contains remarks upon the character and information respecting the tragedy of "Hamlet," which it is hoped may prove useful-at least by way of suggestion-to theatrical students. New-York, Feb. 7th, 1878. W. IV. "Shakespeare is a being of a higher nature, to whom I do but look up, and whom it is my part to worship and to honour."-GOETHE. "Once more assay The bitter-sweet of this Shakespearean fruit."-KEATS. "Gervinus remarks that whenever the name of Shakespeare is mentioned, the play of 'Hamlet' first comes to remembrance: and John Kemble observed that in every copy of Shakespeare's works it appeared that 'Hamlet' had been the play most read."-DR. CONOLLY. "Flame trembles most when it doth highest rise."-DAVENANT. "We have here an oak planted in a costly vase, fit only to receive lovely flowers within its bosom: the roots spread, and burst the vase."-Goethe. "Self-disgust Gnaws at the roots of being, and doth hang A heavy sickness on the beams of day. * * * "He has the desire and the power to accomplish great things, but it must be in obedience to the dictates of his own thoughts, and by his own independent, original, and creative energy. The poor plans and intentions of man do not miscarry through the weakness of their authors, but their baseless projects are also, by an intrinsic necessity, as frequently crossed and frustrated by the equally baseless empire of chance."— ULRICI. "Wide yawns the grave; dull tolls the solemn bell; + CLAUDIUS, KING OF DENMARK. HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK, NEPHEW TO CLAUDIUS. GHOST OF KING HAMLET, FATHER TO THE PRINCE. POLONIUS, THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN. LAERTES, SON TO POLONIUS. HORATIO, FRIEND TO HAMLET. GERTRUDE, QUEEN OF DENMARK, MOTHER TO HAMLET. OPHELIA, DAUGHTER TO POLONIUS. LORDS, LADIES, OFFICERS, SOLDIERS, PAGES, etc. Place and Time. SCENE.-Elsinore, in Denmark. PERIOD.-The Eleventh Century. TIME OF ACTION.-Between Two and Three Months. |