class="character">Heracles.
The Chorus, who appear to have borrowed their metre from “Atalanta in Calydon,” sing as follows:—
Chorus.
Is this really to put
An end to our cares,
To the toils where our foot
Was caught unawares?
Will Heracles really put straight this unfortunate state of affairs?
Will he overthrow Death
For the second time here?
Will he do as he saith
And in due time appear
With the news which will lay fair Alcestis a second time out on her bier?
She will die, she proclaims,
With the utmost good-will,
And she calls us all names
In a voice that is shrill
While she vows that the sight of Admetus, her husband, is making her ill!
It hardly seems wise
To spurn and reject
Your husband with cries—
To which all men object,
But Admetus is scarcely the husband to inspire any wife with respect.
Lo, Heracles comes,
A hero confessed!
But he twiddles his thumbs
And looks somewhat depressed.
Can it be that at last he’s been conquered? Well, all I can say is, I’m blest!
[The Chorus sit down in dejection.
Enter Heracles.
Heracles.
First I salute the gods, great Zeus in chief....
Admetus.
[Interrupting.] Oh, skip all that. Tell us about the fight.
Heracles.
Iou! Iou!
Admetus.
Don’t yap like that. Speak up. What is your news?
Heracles.
My friends, I saw Death slinking down the drive.
I stopped him, told him that this lady here
Was anxious for his escort to the Shades,
Reminded him that I had once before
Rescued her from his grasp, and pointed out
How generous I was thus to restore
What then I took. In fact, I put the best
Complexion on the matter that I could.
Alcestis.
Well? Did he say that he would take me back?
Heracles.
By no means. He declined emphatically.
He will not take you upon any terms.
Death is no fool; he knows what he’s about!
Admetus.
But did you not compel him to consent?
Heracles.
I did my best. We had a bout or two
Of wrestling, but he threw me every time.
Finally, out of breath, and sadly mauled,
I ran away—and here I am, in fact.
Alcestis.
You stupid, clumsy, fat, degenerate lout,
I positively hate the sight of you!
Out of my way, or I shall scratch your face!
If Dejanira feels at all like me,
She’ll borrow Nessus’ shirt and make you smart!
[Exit angrily.
Heracles.
Oh, what a vixen! Can you wonder Death,
When I approached him, would not take her back?
Admetus.
I can’t pretend I’m very much surprised
Although, if you will pardon the remark,
I think you might have made a better fight.
Better not stay to dine. It’s hardly safe.
Alcestis isn’t to be trifled with,
And if she murdered you I should be blamed!
[Exit sorrowfully.
Chorus.
[Rising fussily.] How ill-natured of Death!
What a horrible thing!
It quite takes my breath
And I pant as I sing.
If Alcestis is really immortal, what a terrible blow for the King!
[Pg 20]
[Pg 21]
Curtain.
Hamlet.
Among the plays which seem specially to require a sequel, “Hamlet” must certainly be reckoned. The end of Act V. left the distracted kingdom of Denmark bereft alike of King, Queen, and Heir-Presumptive. There were thus all the materials for an acute political crisis. It might have been imagined that the crown would fall inevitably to the Norwegian Prince Fortinbras who, being on the spot with an army behind him, certainly seems to have neglected his chances. It is clear, however, from the sequel that Fortinbras failed to rise to the occasion, and that Horatio, being more an antique Roman than a Dane, seized his opportunity and by a coup d’état got possession of the vacant throne. Nor would Fortinbras appear to have resented this, as we find him subsequently visiting Horatio at Elsinore. There is, however, a Nemesis which waits upon Usurpers, as the sequel shows. The sequel, by the way, should have been called “Ghosts,” but that title has been already appropriated by a lesser dramatist.
THE NEW WING AT ELSINORE.
Scene I.—The Platform before the old part of the Castle as in Act I. Horatio and Fortinbras come out of the house swathed in overcoats, the former looking nervously over his shoulder. It is a dark winter’s evening after dinner.
Fortinbras.
[Shivering slightly.] ’Tis bitter cold——
Horatio.
[Impatiently.] And you are sick at heart.
I know.
Fortinbras.
[Apologetically.] The fact is, when I get a cold
I often can’t get rid of it for
