Act One Scene Two
Sub-Scene
Two
The
Wedding Speech
“Though
yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death, the memory be green, and that is that
befitted to bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom.” The guests sat in
the assigned seats with their focus on the one who speaking at his wedding that
afternoon. The speaker has changed from the dark tuxedo into a white one with
the red rose pinned to the upper pocket of the jacket.
‘To
be contracted in one brow of woe, yet so far hath discretion fought with
nature, that we with wisest sorrow think on him,” The speaker raised his right
hand to the portrait of the King that was brought there on the standing
pedestal.
“He
stands by me here. And together with the remembrance of ourselves, therefore
our sometime sister, now our queen, the imperial jointress to this warlike
state. Have we, as ’twere with a defeated joy,– with an auspicious and a
dropping eye, with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, in equal scale
weighing delight and dole,–
Taken to wife: nor have we herein barred your better pearls of wisdom, which
have freely gone with this affair along.”
“Is
he drunk?” A guest whispered to his wife. “I can hardly make out his meaning.”
“Drink
your sherry, my dear. It will do you better.”
“For
all, our thanks. We will hold both today.
A departure and a welcome on the same day.” The speaker smiled. “Your
graceful thanks are appreciated. We grief and now wed with joy.”
“I
think he is. Are we respecting the dead or the wedded?” The couple was hushed
by the nearby who were seated.
“You
won’t marry again if I die?” The old man looked to his lover of forty-five
years and was still in doubt.
“I
wouldn’t know. Dave died last year, and so was Barry. So, I guess not.” The
wife was hushed again. The speech continued.
“Now
follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, holding a weak supposal of our worth,”
The speech took a new direction.
“Who
is that Fortinbras? Another lover?” One elderly asked.
“Or
thinking by our late dear brother’s death our state to be disjoint and out of
frame, colleagued with the dream of his advantage, he hath not failed to pester
us with the message, importing the surrender of those lands lost by his father,
with all bonds of law, to our most valiant brother.”
There
was silence among the invited.
“So
much for him. He is mistaken. Now for ourselves and for this time of meeting:
Thus much the business is: we have here writ. To the other King named sake of Norway,
father of young Fortinbras,– Who lies impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears of
this his son’s purpose,–to suppress his further gait herein; in that the
levies; the lists and full proportions are all made. Out of his subject: and we
here dispatch…” The speaker paused and then look at the two loyal aides of his
brother.
“You,
good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand, forbearers of this greeting to old Norway;
giving to you no further personal power to business with the king, more than
the scope of these delated articles allow. Farewell, and let your haste commend
your duty. Show your fortitude to their unwarranted demands.”
“Are
we to have lunch now?” Another guest muttered.
“I
guess not.” The one seated replied. It was then the two loyal aides of the
King, stood up.
“In
that and all things will we show our duty.” Both the gentlemen took leave of
the Hall.
“For
all the talk to get them to leave. Wouldn’t a get-out will do?” Another grumpy
elderly voice out. “A finale that drew out to unnecessary dialogues when a stab
in the chest will suffice.”
“Shall
we feast now?” The speaker then called on the meals to be served. “I am sure
you are all hungry by now.”
“Finally.
Enough of the dead.” The hungry guest smiled. “What are we having?
“Farikal;
lamb cabbage and potatoes.”
“What?
No stuffed pheasants? The King would have not served that.”
“The
King is no more. It’s the Emperor now.”
“What
are they doing now?”
“I
heard they are setting up a projector. They are going to play a movie with sounds?
Something new in the scene. No more slapsticks and scoreboards on the words.”
‘What
is the play? Another stag show?”
“Julius
Caesar with the King in it. The memorable scene when Brutus killed the King in
it.”
“You
mean the Emperor?’
“Yes
…. And no. It was the King that died in the scene. And yes, he was the Emperor then. You are
confusing me. It was the King that died.”
“Such
was his portrayal that the King was seen in the scene.” Another voice
interrupted the conversation. “Ladies, please enjoy the lunch here. You are
making a muddle of the actors.”
“Who
are you?”
“Horatio,
a servant of the late King.” The burly figure replied. “A very devoted
servant.”
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