The heart of Hamlet's mystery;

Front matter

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Prefatory Note

This translation has largely grown from the interest excited in this country and abroad by the extracts from Werder's Lectures on Hamlet in Dr. Fumess's admirable edition of the play.

The lectures, as delivered at the University of Berlin, included extended quotations and discussions upon various German theories of Hamlet; but as most of this matter had no necessary connection with the main subject, it was deemed best to limit the present version to Werder's presentation of his own theory, with only so much of his comments on opposing views as it seemed desirable to retain. For this reason the first lecture of the series was wholly omitted, and the translation begins with the second.

All lovers of Shakespeare wiU clearly perceive my grateful obligation to Dr. W. J. Rolie, vi Prefatory Note

both for the masterly guidance in my student days which rendered this work possible, and for his untiring interest in the translation, the revision of which he has superintended, besides contributing the introduction.

My thanks are also due to Professors Wesselhoeft and Rolfe, of the University of Pennsylvania, for kindly counsel and encouragement.

E. W.

THE HEART OF HAMLET'S MYSTERY