Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, April 25, 1891 by Various
page 21 of 45 (46%)
page 21 of 45 (46%)
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intimating that the_ GHOST _is to_ "Speak!" _and he is_ "bound to hear."
_Ghost explains that he is his father's spirit by stroking_ HAMLET'S _face, and then his own, and then shrinks about the stage to weird music, descriptive of his prison-house. He concludes by appealing to_ HAMLET'S _love for him by pressing his clasped hands to his own heart, and then pointing towards the left-hand side of his son._ _Hamlet jerks his hands passionately upwards, as if saying_, "Oh Heaven!" _Ghost then asks for revenge by touching his dagger, and pointing towards the sky. He acts the murder in the garden, showing the serpent who stung him by gliding about the stage on his chest, like the boneless man. He shows his murderer to be of his own blood by walking up and down as himself, and then in the same way, but with a slight limp, as if he were his brother._ _Hamlet might here exhibit_ "_Zadkiel's Almanack" as_ "prophetic," _and slap the sole of his shoe for_ "soul;" _for_ "my Uncle" _it would be sufficient to produce a pawnbroker's ticket_:--"Oh my prophetic soul! Mine Uncle!" _Then the Ghost in great detail acts the murder in the orchard, imitating the apples and the singing birds, the setting sun, &c., &c. He shows the composition of the poison after its plucking from a bush, and its arrival in the laboratory. He represents the actual pouring of the poison in his ear. He hints too (by suggesting the action of the bell-ringer) that he was never really mourned, and concludes a most spirited Ballet d'Action by a rapid sketch of the paling of the ineffectual fires of the glow-worm. As he leaves to the music of_ "Then you'll Remember Me," HAMLET _imitates |
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