vendel, father of Hamlet, and his brother Fengo. For many years they lived in amity, resting alternately, each for the space of three years, while the other went on a pirate expedition. When Fengo witnessed his brother return laden with spoils, and the joy of his wife Geruthe, Fengo's heart burned with jealousy; he determined to remain at home, and get possession not only of his brother's wealth, but also of his wife. Pretending that Geruthe is ill treated by her husband, Fengo slays his brother. After their marriage Amleth, fearing for his life, feigns madness. He rolls about in the mud, and replies in a ridiculous manner to the questions put to him. The king, suspicious, endeavours by means of a woman's art to draw the truth from him. Amleth, on his guard, that day indulges in unheard-of vagaries. He rides out in the forest with his face towards the horse's tail, pretends to mistake a wolf for a horse, and wishes Fengo had many such chargers. Now comes the story of Polonius. Fengo absents himself, and gives orders to a confidant to watch the movements of Amleth, and conceal himself in the room when he is alone with his mother. Amleth, who has his wits about him, before entering into conversation with his mother, runs, as was his habit, round the room, flapping his arms and crowing like a cock. Jumping on a heap of straw (in her Majesty's bed-room!), he feels something underneath, runs his sword through, and withdraws the dead body of the spy. He cuts it into pieces, boils it, and gives it to the pigs. Then turning to his mother, who was weeping over his madness, he addresses her the most violent reproaches: "If you will grieve, weep not over my madness, but over your own shame and dishonour." Fengo, after the disappearance of his counsellor, feels more anxious than ever to make an end of his stepson. He then sends him to England; and here Shakespeare has followed the true story. Amleth adds to the instructions for the death of his companions, that the King of England is to give him his daughter in marriage. Amleth is still very queer; he refuses to eat or drink at the English king's table. On inquiring, he replies he will not touch food because "the bread savours of blood, the beer of iron, and the lard of dead men's carrion:" he adds also (very ill-bred), that the king has eyes like a bondsman, and that the queen in three things behaved herself like a servant-maid. They only regard him as mad; but after a sharp observation the king discovers Amleth was right in his supposition as regards the food: for the corn came from a field where a battle had taken place; the pigs had eaten a dead man's carrion; and in the fountain of the brewer were discovered several rusty swords. The English king now becomes uneasy, and, taking his mother to task, forces her to own that a bondsman was his father. Later Amleth declares that (shocking bad manners) the queen is not of higher origin herself: for, first, she hides her head in her cloak; secondly, in walking she lifts up her kirtle under the girdle; and, thirdly, after eating she picks her teeth with a fish-bone-all decided proofs of low birth; "but perhaps," he added by way of a sop, "her mother was a prisoner of war, which fully accounts for her low habits." The king (a most undutiful son) praises his wisdom, and gives him his daughter in marriage. Amleth now demands recompense for the death of his companions, and receives. a considerable sum of gold, which he melts down into two hollow sticks; and, after a year's absence, begs to return to Jutland on "important family affairs." On his arrival he is asked after his two companions: "Here they are," he replied, exhibiting his two sticks. His answer is received with shouts of derision, and they look on him as mad as ever. On his arrival at the palace of King Fengo, situated on the lake hard by, he found the family in full carouse, a wake subsequent to the celebration of his own funeral. Disguised, he joins the party, drugs the liquor of the carousers, and, when they are all intoxicated, first setting fire to the house, rushes to the room where Fengo lay asleep, awakening him with these words: "Fengo! your good men are burning to ashes; and here is Amleth, who will revenge the death of his father!" He then slays him. One hundred and fifty years since Fengo's grave was opened and an iron sword taken from it; what became of it none can tell. Such, according to Saxo Grammaticus and the earlier sagas, is the story of Amleth, Prince of Jutland; he will again turn up later. A flock of sheep appear out at sea. They have waded out to a little island from Feggeklit and are caught by the waves. See, how they stand up to their knees in the water, awaiting till the tide permits them to return. CHAPTER XL. - County of Thy-Superstitions concerning tombs Plague of sandWicked Queen of England - Draining the Sjørring lake The pedlar and the geese-Anne Boleyn - The Liimfiorde Story of Liden Kirsten-Sale of a wreck- Old Abellona and her amber beads Loss of life off this coast. THYLAND. WE now turn a point, and the little town of Thisted, with its church and harbour, appears quite unexpectedly : we are soon landed and lodged in Hotel Liimfiorde. Thisted is in no way remarkable. It seems a most creditable pleasant-looking town, lately built, with a forest adjoining, planted by the inhabitants themselves for their own recreation, connected with which is a nursery of young trees, which are given gratis to the peasants who desire to plant their farms; but the taste is not in them, and it is only by inculcating the ideas in the schools they can hope for improvement. With so much waste land in Jutland, it is a pity not to employ it to some good purpose, and the people might as well grow their own timber as draw their supplies from Norway or Sweden. We passed our evening at the house of Baron Rosenkrantz, the amtman, where we again met a friend of Rosenholm, who has lately purchased an estate in the neighbourhood of the Sjørring lake. The county of Thy is most rich in antiquities of all sorts. They are formed of black basaltic granite, which takes a high polish and appears to be fashioned with greater sharpness than those of the other materials. The peasants have a superstition against disturbing the ancient cemeteries, so that, unless a new road is about to be made, or the plough passes over some ancient battle-field, they yet remain undisturbed. M. de Rosenkrantz related to me a story of an Øland peasant, on whose farm stands a lofty tumulus, under which, according to tradition, lies concealed a mighty treasure. This treasure may be used for the benefit of the proprietor of the farm when he shall be really in want of bread. Some years since the possessor of the farm, incredulous, caused a search to be made, and opened the barrow. A few days afterwards his house, as well as his farmbuildings, were totally destroyed by fire. The boers looked upon this misfortune as a judgment upon the perpetrator of the crime, and from that day to this the tumulus remains undisturbed. A curious incident occurred, a few years since, on the island of Oxholm. A man, in endeavouring to cross the morass, sank deep into the mud. On withdrawing, after some difficulty, his leg, he felt something hanging attached to it. At first he imagined it to be a snake; but soon discovered it to be a massive neckring of solid gold, for which, when forwarded to Copenhagen, where it may now be seen, he received the sum of 500 dollars as its full value. SJØRRING. 12th July.-M. de Rosenkrantz and his amiable family have kindly arranged an excursion for us-some on horseback, others in the carriage-to visit the lake and the once celebrated castle. We started this afternoon at four o'clock, a large party-three carriage-loads and |