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[Illustration: ELSINEUR, FROM HAMLET'S GARDEN.]
We augur that the above will prove one of the most interesting of our
Shakspearian Illustrations, inasmuch as the garden where Hamlet was
wont to revel in the fitful dreams of his philosophic melancholy, is
holy ground. "The lapse of ages and the fables of the poet," says a
delighted visiter, "were all lost in the reality of Shakspeare's
painting: the moment of his scene seemed present with me; and eager to
traverse every part of this consecrated ground, I had already followed
Hamlet every where; I had measured the deep shadows of the platform,
encountered the grey ghost of the Royal Dane, had killed Polonius in
the queen's closet, and drowned poor Ophelia in the willowed stream.
The modern aspect of Elsineur is, however, far from inviting, and not
a single vestige presents itself that bears the smallest trace of this
town ever having been hallowed by the mausoleum of an Ophelia, or
proudly decorated with the stately walls of a royal palace."
About a mile from the town is a place that bears the name of Hamlet's
garden. Here is no relic of ancient interest, excepting the tradition,
which affirms that to be the spot where once stood the Danish palace,
and where was enacted that tragedy, which has been so gloriously
immortalized by the genius of our great dramatic bard.
The present edifice is erected on the brow of a gently rising hill,
the summit of which is gained by means of a winding walk cut through a
small shrubbery. In the surrounding prospect, the town of Elsineur, on
the plain beneath, presents itself ill-built, red, and without any
public building, or spire, to vary its sameness. Far to the left of
the city stands the castle of Kronenberg, a bold and fine feature;
the waves of the Cattegut roll at its feet; and are bounded on the
opposite side by the Swedish coast. When the annexed sketch was made,
400 sail of merchants' ships were lying there at anchor, which added
greatly to the interest of the picture. The small village on the
distant shore is Elsenberg. The forest of Kronenberg is indeed proudly
situated; the form of the building, with its spires and minarets, is
nobly picturesque; the fabric is of grey stone; and its innumerable
windows, varied towers, and other architectural ornaments, make it a
striking and beautiful contrast to the dull uniformity of the town.
Sir Robert Ker Porter, in his visit to this sacred spot, collected
a few interesting circumstances at the fountain-head, relating to
Shakspeare's northern hero, from the very source whence our poet must
have drawn the incidents of his tragedy, viz. the "Annals of Denmark,"
written by Saxo Grammaticus in the twelfth century. The work is in
Latin, and in our next number we intend inserting a short abstract of
Hamlet's story. It will be curious to compare the dialogues of the
original with their counterpart in the play.
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ON THE APPEARANCE OF AN AURORA BOREALIS, ON THE NIGHT OF THE 25TH OF
SEPTEMBER.