Act One Scene Five
Sub-Scene
Two
This
“lily-livered” no more.
Once
while in his studies, young Hamlet was challenged by some of the seniors on the
playing field. It was after the game of cricket, and with the bats stored away,
the boys cornered the younger Hamlet then.
“Go
prick thy face and over-red thy fear, thou lily-livered boy.” The boys called
out to Hamlet with the words from Macbeth to call him a coward.
“I
am not one. Pick your numbers and take me on.” Hamlet had challenged back. “Or
come all as the English do.”
“This
push will cheer me ever or disseat me now.” Hamlet quoted the extracts from the
play on facing the overwhelming odds.
“He
will be done.” The leader of the seniors rushed toward Hamlet but they stopped
when they saw the burly figure of Hamlet’s guardian approaching.
“Run!
His guardian is here.” The seniors scattered off while Hamlet stood there
fretting with anger. He turned to Horatio.
“You
could have let me at them. I would have taken one bloody nose or two.”
“And
have you infirm with more bones than your mother will be allowed to heal.” Horatio
looked at the younger man. “Do not make my task more difficult than that to
keep up with your antics.”
“All
I did was pour salt into their water? Hamlet smiled. “They were perspiring too
much.”
“Aye,
you did but do let me know. I would have added in the pepper.” Horatio laughed.
It was the bond they have built.
It
was still there that night.
“My
Prince, are you well?” Horatio finally caught up with the other. “We lost you
in the woods.”
“It
was your fault, Horatio. You were running blind like the bat.” Marcellus cut
in. “I bruised my left knee on the last fall.”
“You
held the lamp.” Marcellus reminded the other. “I only follow the voice.”
Hamlet was in his thoughts about what he was
told.
“O
all you host of heaven! O Earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? O fie!
Hold, hold, my heart, and you, my sinews, grow not instant old but bear me
stiffly up. Remember thee?” Hamlet looked at his legs which were quivering from
the short walk by the walls. He was not unhealthy but the sudden adrenaline had
subsided and the strength wane.
“Ay,
thou poor ghost, whiles memory holds a seat in this distracted globe. Remember
thee? Yea, from the table of my memory.” Hamlet recalled his talk with the
ghost. “I’ll wipe away all trivial, fond records, all saws of books, all forms,
all pressures past, That youth and observation copied there, and thy
commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain.”
“Unmixed
with baser matter. Yes, by heaven!” Hamlet roared out in anger while he purge
the memories of his youth. “O most pernicious woman!”
Hamlet
sighed at the evil deeds of his mother.
“O
villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain! My tables—meet it is I set it down
that one may smile and smile and be a villain.” Hamlet was told not to harm his
mother. He shall not but keep his table with her.
“At
least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.” Hamlet hissed his desire. “Only at
this home, mother I will hold my hand against you.”
“As
for him, my dear uncle and soon-to-be-named Father by me, now o my word, it is
“adieu, adieu, remember me.” I have sworn to it your smile shall be mine to
remove.”
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