With the greatest astonishment he found the bed empty, and the pillow and counterpane quite undisturbed. He looked about, searched everywhere, hunted in every corner, but could find no trace of the rogue. Behind the bed, behind the stove, in the presses, there was nothing to be seen, though he searched with the greatest diligence. A malicious spectator might have supposed that he was seeking with a wish to find. Sleep had now quite forsaken him. He placed the slippers upon the table, walked hastily up and down the room; he then stood still-and a wicked spirit who observed him, maintains that Wilhelm spent the greater part of the night playing with those pretty slippers, that he regarded them with deep interest, took them in his hands, toyed with them, until towards morning he threw himself upon the bed in his clothes, and fell asleep amid the strangest fancies. In fact he was still asleep, when Serlo entered his apartment, exclaiming, "What! still in bed, impossible! I have been looking for you at the theatre, where so much still remains to be done." CHAPTER XI. THE morning and the afternoon passed rapidly awayThe theatre was already crowded, and Wilhelm hastened to dress for the performance. But he did not now feel the joy which he had experienced when for the first time he had assumed the character-he dressed for no other purpose than that he might be ready in time. Upon joining the actresses in the green room, they exclaimed unanimously that no part of his attire became him-that his beautiful feather was awry-the buckle of his hat did not fit : and they accordingly commenced to rip, to sew and to remodel his dress. The music began-Philina had some objection to make against his collar, Aurelia found fault with his mantle. kind friends," he at length exclaimed, "this appearance of negligence will make me more resemble Hamlet." But the ladies would not consent to leave him; they continued their "Leave me, my attentions: The music had now ceased, and the piece commenced. He looked at himself in the glass, pressed his hat upon his brow and retouched his cheek with rouge. At this moment a person rushed in with a cry of " the Ghost, the Ghost!" Wilhelm had not found time all day to think of the important question whether the ghost would appear or not. But his fears were now removed, and he waited for the appearance of some strange assistant. The manager came in frequently, asking various questions, but Wilhelm had no time to enquire about the Ghost; and he proceeded to appear before the throne where the King and Queen shone in full splendour, surrounded by their brilliant court; he just caught the last words of Horatio's address, who was speaking in a confused manner of the Ghost's appearance, and seemed to have almost forgotten his part. The curtain rose. He saw a crowded house before him. After Horatio had delivered his address and had been dismissed by the king, he hastened to meet Hamlet, and as if for the purpose of introducing him to the Prince, he exclaimed, "the Devil stands there clad in armour, and has fearfully alarmed us all." In the Two men attired in white mantles and hoods, were in the mean time observed standing in the side scenes. embarrassment, hurry and distraction of the moment, Wilhelm had failed in his first soliloquy, but loud applause had nevertheless accompanied his exit, yet it was with a certain uncomfortable feeling of dissatisfaction, that he commenced the scene in which he describes the nipping air of the cold wintry night. But he took courage and gave the appropriate passage respecting the feasting and drinking of the Danes with proper composure, forgetting, like the rest of the spectators, the appearance of the Ghost, till he shrunk back in alarm when Horatio exclaimed, "Look, my lord, it comes!" He turned round suddenly, and the tall, noble figure, which advanced with slow and inaudible step, the noiseless movement notwithstanding the heavy armour, all impressed him so powerfully, that he stood petrified and could only say in a half audible voice, "Angels and ministers of grace defend me!" He stared at the apparition, gasped for breath, and pronounced his address to the Ghost in a style so confused, so interrupted and so constrained, that the greatest art could not have succeeded half so well. His own translation of the passage now rendered him good service. He had kept close to the original, as the very order of the words seemed to him to express a mind surprised, alarmed, and seized with horror. "Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damned, Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com'st in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee-I'll call thee Hamlet, The audience was deeply affected. The Ghost beckoned, and the Prince followed him amid the loudest applause. The scene changed, and when they had both reached a distant spot, the Ghost suddenly paused and turned round, when Hamlet was brought into close proximity to him. Wilhelm peered with anxious curiosity between the bars of the lowered helmet, but could only discern two deeply seated eyes and a well formed nose. Timidly he surveyed the Spirit, but at the first sounds which came from the helmet, when a deep toned and sonorous voice uttered the words, "I am thy father's spirit!" Wilhelm started back several paces in dismay, and the spectators shared his terror. It seemed as if everybody recognized the voice, and Wilhelm thought he could detect a resemblance to that of his father. These extraordinary sensations and recollections, the curiosity he felt to discover his mysterious friend, and his unwillingness to offend him, and even the error into which he had fallen of approaching him too nearly, affected Wilhelm with conflicting emotions. He changed his place so often during the long address of the Ghost, his air was so confused and perplexed, he seemed so attentive, yet so absent, that his acting excited universal admiration, whilst the Ghost inspired the spectators with a general horror. The latter spoke with a voice of subdued anger rather than of sorrow, but his anger was spiritual, calm and enduring. It was the disappointment of a noble soul, separated from all earthly cares and yet succumbing to eternal woe. At length he disappeared in a remarkable manner. A light grey transparent gauze arose like vapour from the chasm, seemed to envelop him and sank down with him to the shades below. Hamlet's friends now entered, and took their oath upon the sword. And the spirit was then so busy under ground, that wherever they stood, the cry of "Swear!" always seemed to come from beneath their very feet, whilst they hastened from place to place, as if the ground under them was on fire. A little flame, which, upon these occasions, shot up from below, seemed to increase the effect, and produced a deep impression upon the spectators. The play now proceeded uninterruptedly, without any tendency to failure. Its success was complete. The audience testified their satisfaction; and the pleasure and the courage of the actors increased with every scene. CHAPTER XII. THE curtain fell; and tumults of applause resounded from all parts of the house. The four royal corpses sprang up, and joyfully embraced each other. Polonius and Ophelia came out of their graves, and listened with the greatest satisfaction, as Horatio, who announced the repetition of the play, was received with the loudest marks of approbation. The audience would not permit any other play to be spoken of, but loudly required the present piece to be repeated. "We have succeeded at last," cried Serlo, " and so we must not utter another sensible word this evening! Everything depends upon the first impression. No one can blame an actor for being provident and self-willed upon his first debût." The box-keeper now made his appearance, and handed Serlo a large sum of money. "We have made a capital beginning," he exclaimed, "and the favourable opinion of the public will now assist us. But where is our promised supper? We must enjoy it this evening." They had arranged that the whole company should assemble in their acting dresses, and have a feast. Wilhelm had made the arrangements, and Madame Melina had laid out the entertainment. An apartment, which, upon other occasions was used as a painting room, had been properly prepared, and adorned with all sorts of decorations, and looked partly like a garden, and partly like a colonnade. The company upon entering were dazzled with the brilliancy of the lights, which shed a radiance over a highly ornamented and well-furnished table, from which a vapour of the most fragrant odours ascended. The preparations were universally praised, and the guests took their places with an assumed air of dignity. It seemed as if some royal family had assembled together in the kingdom of the shades. Wilhelm was seated between Aurelia and Madame Melina, Serlo between Philina and Elmira. No one was dissatisfied, either with himself or with his place. Our two theatrical patrons, who were also present, added to the happiness of the company. During the representation, they had several times appeared upon the stage, and could not sufficiently express their own delight or the satisfaction which animated the public. They condescended now to enter into details, and the exertions of the whole company were loudly extolled. The services of all the actors, and the beauty of every passage were in turn commended in the most hearty manner. Even the prompter, who had modestly taken his place at the end of the table, was warmly praised for the passage of "the rugged Pyrrhus." The fencing-scene between Hamlet and Laertes was highly admired. Ophelia's sorrow had been inexpressibly beautiful and exalted. Of Polonius, one could scarcely say too much, and in fine every individual present received an appropriate tribute. Even the absent Ghost received his share of applause. He had pronounced his speeches with a most impressive voice, and with a lofty conception of his character; but it excited general surprise that he had seemed so well informed about the affairs of the company. He resembled the portrait as closely as if he had sat to the artist for his picture, and the two amateurs, highly approved the effect which had been produced by the spirit when he entered, near the picture, and crossed over the stage before his own |