count of whatever is most curious and remarkable in the World. By the Rev. Thomas Smith, vol. V. This volume comprises India and the Indian islands CORRESPONDENCE. On the Antiquarian Society. MR. EDITOR, 3s. The qualification requisite in candidates who offer themselves to become Fellows of the Antiquarian Society, consists in a knowledge of British antiquities. A Certificate, attesting their proficiency in this knowledge, must previously be obtained, and signed by some of the Fellows; which is suspended in the chamber of the Society, until a sufficient number have added their names to allow the election to take place. Now, as I have been able to discover very little in the island of Great-Britain, that can possibly form a class of Antiquities sufficient to occupy the attention of a literary Society in the first nation of the world; I wish to ask some of your readers, whence it originates, that what might have been great, and respectable, is become little and insignificant? Is it not that the promoters of this establishment, wished to confine its researches within the limits of their own acquirements, that Ignorance might never be exposed to Wisdom? I had some reason to form conjectures of this nature, when upon a visit paid to the Antiquarian Society, I found the walls of their apartment hung with drawings representing objects which then formed the immediate subject of discussion; and these were the windows of Gothic cathedrals-Gothic spires -Gothic arches-British coins, and Roman pottery. Can any thing be more degrading to Science, than at a moment when other European nations occupy their literary Societies in the investigation of general Antiquity, the Antiquarian Society of England should fetter enquiry, by confining it to a single Island, un'known in the remote periods to which those enquiries ought to be directed. Excepting Stonehenge the Phenician Temple, perhaps it would be difficult to select a single monument in our Island worthy the study of a learned Antiquarian: for I cannot think that Mosaic pavements, and the other relics of the Romans in this country, merit the attention that has been shewn them. RHADEGUNDA. Arabian Night's Entertainments. The following are the titles of the MS. of the Arabian Nights, the Elf Leela Olila, which Mr. E. D. Clarke of Jesus College, Cambridge, purchased at Grand Cairo; it belonged to a Mameluke Bey. The whole was contained in four thick quarto cases, and was in separate numbers that were not sown together. Mr. Hammer, who accompanied Sir Sidney Smith to England, and is now secretary to the German internuncio at Constantinople, translated the heads of the Tales, and extracted them one by one from the margin of the Arabic manuscript. This Catalogue was wrecked with the M.S. in the Princessa, but was afterwards recovered, and the following copy made with great difficulty. The Arabic is given exactly as it appeared to be pronounced to English ears, and of course must be read according to English pronunciation. Catalogue of the Tales in the MS. Elf Leela Olila, or Arabian Nights. 1. The Bull, and the Ass. 2. The Merchant, and the Hobgoblin. 3. The Man, and Gazala. 4. Merchant, and two Dogs. 5. The old Man, and the Mule. *6. The history of the Hunters. *7. The history of King Unam, and the Philo 8.7 sopher Reinam. *9. History of King Sindbad, and Elbase. *10. History of the Porter. *11. History of Karanduli. 12. Story of the Mirror. 13. Story of the three Apples. *14. Of Shensheddin Mohammed, and his brother Noureddin. *15. Of the Taylor, Little Hunchback, the Jew, and the Christian. 16. The History of Noureddin Ali. 17. The History of Gaumayub, &c. 18. The History of King Omar, and Oman, and his Children. This Tale is extremely long, and occupies much of the Manuscript. 19. Of the Lover and the beloved. 20. Story of the Peacock, the Goose, the Ass, the Horse, &c. 21. Story of the pious Man. 22. Story of the pious Shepherd. 23. Story of the Bird, and the Turtle. 24. Story of the Fox, the Hawk, &c. 25. Story of the Lord of the Beasts. *26. Story of the Mouse, and the Partridge. 27. Story of the Raven, and the Cat. 28. Story of the Raven, the Fox, the Mouse, the Flea, &c. and of the Beaver, &c. 29. Story of the Thief. *30. Story of Abul Hassan, and the Slave Shemsney Har. *31. Of Kamrasamau, &c. 32. Of Naam, and Nemeto la. *33. Of Aladin Abushelmah. The Scene of this Tale is in Cairo. *34. Of Hallina Die. 35. Story of Maan Imnizida. 36. History of the Town Litla. 37. Story of Hassem Abdalmela. 35. Story of Ibrahim Elmachdi, brother of Haroun Al Raschid. *39. History of the famous Garden Erem. (Paradise.) 42. History of Mohammed Eli Ali. 50. History of Shar, and the slave Zemroud. 51. History of the Lady (full moon) and Mr. Vic- 52. History of Mammoon, and Mohanimed of Bas- sora. 53. History of Haroun Al Raschid, and his Slave. 55. History of Hassoun Medin, the Governor. 57. History of the Banker, and the Thief. 58. History of Aladin, Governor of Constantinople. 60. History of a certain King. 61. History of a pious Man. 62. History of Abul Hassan Ezeada, 63. History of a Merchant. 64. History of a Man of Bagdad. 65. History of Modavakil. *66. History of Virdan in the time of Hakem Veem- 67. History of a Slave, and an Ape. *68. Story of the Horse of Ebony. *69. Story of Insilvoujud. 70. Story of Eben Was. 71. Story of an Inhabitant of Bassora. 108. Of Emmin, brother of Mammoon. 110. Of an old Woman. 111. Of a wild Girl. 112. Of Hassar Elgeveri of Bagdad. 114. Of a King of Israel. 117. Of a Judge, and his Wife. 119. Of Malek Imnidinar. 120. Of a devout Man of the Children of Israel, 122. Of a Blacksmith. 123. Of a devout Man. 124. Of Omar Imnelchatab. 125. Of Ibrahim Elchabas. 126. Of a Prophet. 127. Of a pious Man. 128. Of a Man of the Children of Israel. 130. Of Sultana Hayaat. *131. Of the Philosopher Daniel. 、 *132. Of Belukia. *133. The Travels of Sindbad, containing sever Voyages, &c. 72. History of a Man of the Tribe of Arabs of *134. Of the Town of Copper. *135. Of the seven Virgins, and the Slave. *136. Of Judais. 137. The wonderful History. 138. Of Abdullah Imni Mohammi. 139. Of Hind Imni Naman. 140. Of Chazimé Imni Beshés.. 141. Of Jonas the Secretary. 142. Of Haroun al Raschid, 144. Of Ebon Isaac Ibrahim.. 145. Of Haroun Al Raschid, Mesroor, and the Poet. 147. Of Haroun Al Raschid.. 148. Of Isaac Imni Ibrahim. 149. Of Ebwi Amér. *150. Of Achmet Ezeuth, &c. and of the old female Pimp. 151. Mr. Hammer could not make out the Title. 152. Of Erdeshir, and Hiaker, of Julnar el Bacharia.. *154. The Same. *156. Of Hassan, &c. *157. Of Caliph the Hunter. *158. Of Mesrir and his Mistress. 159. Of Noureddin and Mary. 160. Of a Bedouin and a Frank. 161. Of a Man of Bagdad, and his female Slave. *164. Of Abousir and Aboukir. *165. Abdulak El Beri, and Ablulak El Bachari. 167. Of the Merchant Abul Hassan, el Omani. 169. Of Moted Bilá. *170. Of Kamari Zemuan. The number of Tales then in the Elf leela Olila, according to Mr. Clarke's MS. amounts to 172. One Tale occupies many nights in the relation; so that the whole are divided into one thousand and one Nights. But though the division is always into the same number of parts from the who'e, in the Arabic copies, it should be observed, that the whole is not always exactly 172. The number of Tales may be more or less; but the number of nights is made the same; and hence the title of the work Elf leela Olila,ferently disposed: One thousand and one Nights. This circumstance has not been hitherto known. The Elf leela Olila is a compilation of Arabian Tales, formed according to the judgement, the caprice, the opportunities of the writer, or the commands of his employer; and must depend on their taste, or power of collecting materials: it therefore happens that no two copies of the original Arabic ever resemble each other. Some Tales will be found in both, and one copy, or collection, will possess Tales which are not found in another. Thus with every new acquisition of this kind, new Tales may be obtained. Another MS. copy of the Elf leela Olila was seen by Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Hammer, at Rosetta, in the Arabic library of a young man, a nephew of the late Wortley Montague. His two sisters marrying French officers, the whole family went with their mother to Marseilles, on the evacuation of Egypt by the French. This is the only instance I could ever learn of another copy in the world, and I know not if it at present exists. What is very singular, D'Herbelot in his Oriental Dictionary never once notices the existence of any such work; and the whole scope of Arabic Literature seems to have been familiar to his view. Very few of the Tales in the copy at Rosetta, are the same as those in Mr. Clarke's M.S. and those few are distinguished in this Catalogue by a star: by which it appears that only 37 Tales out of 172 were common to both copies. I shall conclude this account with copying the following note, from the first volume of the translation of Pausanias. (Lond. 1794. p. 309. vol. 3.) ་ the play of Hamlet, and the Antigone of the Greek tragedian, v. 1084, which it does not appear was ever translated into English in our poet's time, though the tract on death by Eschines, appeared in an English dress time enough for Shakspeare to have used it for his famous speech in Measure for Measure of Ay, but to die,' &c. which is too much like the Greek to suppose that our bard had not seen it; yet as hie certainly never saw the Greek I am about to produce, he might not have seen Æschines. The words in Hamlet are the famous ones. Unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd, and those in the Antigone are the same difἀκτίμιστα, ἀνόσιον, νέκυν. disappointed, unanel'd, unhousel'd, dead. These are the words of Teiresias to Creon, telling him he detains a dead body, unportion'd, or disappointed, that is, without the share or portion allotted to the dead; unhousel'd, or without the holy rites; unanel'd, without the last offices. Αμοιρον, The passages are singularly alike, and it is worth while to observe that they are so, were it only to shew that in the same circumstances, the same thoughts will arise, the same phrases occur, and the same words be used, and produce the strongest marks of imitation without derogating in the smallest point from the claims of originality. Hamlet, Sc. 2, Act I. says, I shall not look upon his like again.' Where the critics seem to wish much to read Eye shall not, &c.' but in Sophocles it is, (in Hyllus's speech to Deianira) you have killed the best man in the world, and you ne'er shall look upon his like again.' Κτείνασ ̓ ὁποῖον άλλον οὐκ ὄψει ποτε. V. 812. Trachinix, Brunck. Ed. Macbeth, Act III. Sc. 4. "never shake thy gory locks at me." Orestes, v. 225, speaks thus, in Euripides, to his mother's ghost, (Orestes had murdered his mother,) "O mother, mother, shake not thy bloody eyes μη 'πισειέ μιας τὰς αιματώδες και το όρος ο Second part King Henry IV. Act 2. Sc. iii. p.71. Edit. STEEVENS. The passage I am about to produce, it is highly probable that Shakspeare might have read when he wrote And by his light "The readers of that most ingenious and entertaining work, the Arabian Night's Entertainments will doubtless be surprised to find that the interesting account of the preservation of Aristomenes in the deep Chasm, has been taken from Pausanias, with some al- Did all the chivalry of England move teration, by the author of those Tales; and forms one To do brave acts: he was, indeed, the glass of the most curious parts of the History of Sindbad Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves. the Sailor. As the Arabians a little after the year of Hollingshed says of Henry Sixth, that he was the Christ 820, under the auspices of the Caliph Almai- Myrroure of Christendome, and the glorye of his mon translated the best works of the Grecian philoso- countrey, the floure of kings passed, and the glasse of phers and mathematicians into Arabic, perhaps Pau-them that would succeede. Vol. ii. p. 1218. First Edit. sanias was translated by them at the same time." RHADEGUNDA. Macbeth. P. 504.-The Wood of Birnam. The origin of the walking wood is in Palphatus, where the Bacchanalian women in their return from the mountains, bore each a branch, which to the inha bitants of Pieria, at a distance, appeared like a wood marching towards them. There was no translation in our author's time of Palæphatus, but Shakspeare read it in some other book most likely. Perhaps the History of Literature does not present a more extraordinary fact, than that an illustration of the writings of Shakspeare, supported by the strongest historical evidence, should so long have remained undeveloped by his numerous Commentators: and it is not less remarkable that the honour of this discovery should be reserved for a young student of one of the smaller colleges in the university of Cambridge; or that having made it, and established the truth of it by the most indisputable Authorities, his work should fall, as it were, dead born from the press, checked in its progress to public notice, either by the amiable diffidence of its author, or the jealousies of his numerous opponents: In 1796, Mr. Plumptree, M. A. of Clare-Hall, Cambridge, published his Observations on Hamlet; and on the Motives which most probably induced Shakspeare to fix upon the Story of Amleth, from the Danish Chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus, for the Plot of that Tragedy: being an Attempt to prove that he designed it as an indirect Censure on Mary Queen of Scots. "Shakspeare, says our Author, had a story in hand, most admirably adapted for this purpose, in the Danish chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus: a story which was, in many respects, so exactly the counterpart of the calumnies circulated against Mary, that it seemed, (as Mr. Malone observes of that of Dorastus and Fawnia which furnished the plot for the Winter's Tale,) almost to force the subject upon him; and, where he has made alterations, they appear to be for the purpose of adapting the story still farther to his design. The story indeed is so extremely pointed, that, unless Shakspeare wished to apply it to Mary, its similarity would have been a sufficient reason for rejecting it." Mr. Plumptree then proceeds to insert the following brief abstract of the story of Amleth, taken from the third and fourth books of the Danish chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus. "In the reign of Roderic, king of Denmark, Horwendillus and Fengo, sons of Gerwendillus, had the garrison of Jutland committed to their care. Horwendillus, who was the bravest pirate on the seas, was envied by Coller, king of Norway, for the glory of his actions. Coller sailed in pursuit of him, engaged him, and was slain. Horwendillus put to death the king of Norway's sister, Sela; and, having given proofs of his valour for three years, he presented his spoils to Roderic, to secure his friendship. After living some time in intimacy with him, he obtained the king's daughter Geruth in marriage, and had a son named Amleth, by her. "Fengo, fired with envy at his brother's happiness, resolves to ruin him by treachery. An opportunity * Robinsons, Paternoster-row. Egerton, Whitehall. VOL. II. offers, and he imbrues his hands in his blood. He wins over his brother's wife by dissembling the motives of his villainy, and adds incest to the horrid crime of fratricide. Amleth feigns madness, that he may not awaken suspicions in his uncle's breast, by an over-prudent care for his safety, and covers his real designs by that artifice. "Amleth's madness being suspected as feigned, various stratagems are tried to ascertain the truth of it, but without success. It is at last suggested to Fengo, that he should withdraw himself, under the pretence of business of importance, and Amleth be shut up with his mother in her apartment; first taking care to have some one concealed in a secret place, unknown to either of them who should over-hear all their conversation, thinking Amleth would discover his real state to his mother. Fengo acquiesces in the plot, and the framer of it conceals himself in the chamber where Amleth and his mother meet. Amleth suspecting the design, dis covers and kills him. "Fengo at length resolves to destroy Amleth, but being afraid of his grandfather Roderic and his mother, he purposes to have him put to death by means of the king of Britain. "Amleth, desiring his mother to report him dead at the end of a year, and to celebrate his obsequies in the hall, which he directs to be hung with hangings for that purpose, and promising to return at the time; departs with two of Fengo's officers, who carry with them letters to the king of Britain, desiring him to make away with the young man in question. "Amleth discovers these letters while they are sleeping, and substitutes others in their place, desiring the death of the attendants, and that the king of Britain would give his daughter in marriage to Amleth. "After a year Amleth returns to Jutland, and enters the hall, while his obsequies are celebrating. He plies the Nobles with wine, 'till they fall asleep with the excess, when he secures them all by means of the hangings, which are let down upon them and fastened, and setting fire to the room, destroys them all except Fengo, who had retired to his apartment; he follows him, and there stabs him with a sword.- -Amleth convenes the Nobles, justifies his conduct to them, and is proclaimed king.— Let us now compare the leading circumstances of this story with the falsehoods circulated of Mary. "It was said that she had concurred in the murder of her husband, and immediately married his murderer, the earl of Bothwell: By her former husband she had a son, James the Sixth, who married the princess of Denmark. After James's return from the marriage, he was conspired against by many of the nobles.**** "Great and various were the exertions made by Elizabeth in the course of her reign, for the augmenta. tion of her warlike resources. The art of making gunpowder was introduced, brazen cannon were cast, and many ships were built. "Elizabeth was likewise involved in wars and troubles, which had their origin in the death of Lord Darnley. These circumstances, no doubt, were in the poet's mind, when he wrote the following lines:2 M "Elizabeth interfered both in the marriages of Mary, and of her son James. She broke off the intended match between Mary, and the Arch-duke Charles, that between James and the eldest daughter of the king of Denmark, and wished to have prevented the marriage of James, and the Princess Anne of Denmark: these marriages suited not the policy of Elizabeth, and the following lines, as spoken of Hamlet, would then exactly suit her sentiments: His greatness weighed, his will is not his own; For he himself is subject to his birth; He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for himself; for on his choice depends The safety and the health of the whole State; And therefore must his choice be circumscribed Unto the voice and yielding of that body, Whereof he is the head: Then if he says he loves you, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it, As he, in his particular act and place, May give his saying deed; which is no further, Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. "Nor would the following lines be unpleasing to the ear of her, who had failed in her endeavours to prevent James's marriage, and was displeased with the Court of Denmark: Meet it is I set it down, That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark. "The manner of Hamlet's return, and the King's practising on him after his return from the projected embassy to England, is the alteration and introduction of the poet. "James on his return from Denmark was conspired against by many of the nobles. "Here again are traces of the strong impression which all the circumstances relative to Mary, and those concerned in her tragic story, had made upon the mind of the poet. "Among other remarkable coincidences between the plot of Hamlet and the circumstances attendant on Mary and James, we may enumerate that of Dr. Wolton being sent into Scotland by Elizabeth, as a spy upon the actions of James; and who afterwards entered into a conspiracy to deliver him into her hands. This is pretty much the part which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern play against Hamlet. Yet this similarity appears too palpable for Shakspeare to have introduced designedly, as it must have given offence to Elizabeth, and it is likewise too obvious to have been introduced without his observing it. "There is one circumstance attending the publication of this play, and which belongs to this alone, of all our author's dramas published in his life time: viz. that it was augmented to near as much again in the second, as in the first edition; which is supposed to have been published in 1602. Unfortunately there is no copy of that known to be extant. The second, published in 1604, sets forth in the title-page that it was newly imprinted, and enlarged to almost as much again as it was, according to the true and perfect copy." No doubt there was some particular reason, for either suppressing a part of the original at the first publica. tion, or enlarging his design at the second, whichever it was, that caused this difference between the two editions; and, could the first edition be discovered, it would most probably throw some new light on this hypothesis. is, is the Queen in the play dying by poison, of which The last circumstance to be noticed, trifling as it her husband is the involuntary administer. He is the cause and punisher of her guilt: another hit of the Poet's. "Bothwell had poisoned Mary's cup of happiness, and it was her marriage with him which was the cause of her sorrows, and her death." -On whatever side the learned may determine re specting this question, certain it is, that the more we consider the hypothesis of Mr. Plumptree, the more it appears to bear the character of truth. Nor can we avoid calling to mind, that it was the practice of Shakspeare, as of Aristophanes, to make his Plays the vehicle by which living characters were extolled, or ridiculed, censured, or flattered. Whatever in the Poet's mind seemed calculated to gratify the passions of Elizabeth, became the theme of his writings, Many of these allusions have been developed by his Commentators-many remain yet unnoticed; and doubtless, some were addressed to his Royal Mistress with so much delicacy and courtly application, that she only felt the compliment. There are passages in the play of Hamlet, which, without such illustration, cannot be comprehended The speech of the Player to Hamlet is most pointedly wrought to describe the situation, and conduct of Mary when receiving intelligence of the blowing up of the House, near Edinburgh. Act. II. Scene II: 1 Play. But who, ah woe! had seen the mobled queen— Ham. The mobled queen? Pol. That's good! mobled queen is good! 1 Play. Run barefoot up and down, threat'ning the Flames with bisson rheum; a clout upon that head, Where late the diadem stood; and for a robe, About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins, A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up; Who this had seen; with tongue in venom steeped 'Gainst fortune's state would treason have pronounc'd: But if the Gods themselves did see her then, When she saw PYRRHUS make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her Husband's limbs... Can any thing be more striking than this allusion to the character of Bothwell, and to his conduct when that event took place! Shakspeare had shewn a disposition to make events in our History the subjects of his Dramas, whenever the vices, or the virtues, which had disgraced or honoured the English throne, afforded him an opportunity. He had even the boldness to represent the father of Eliza beth upon the stage; and can we believe that when events of such importance were passing in Scotland, deeds the bare record of which in our times wear the appearance of an interesting romance-they would escape his notice, and not give exercise to his pen? |