Act Three
Act
Three Scene Two
Sub
Scene Eight
Trap
the Mouse
“It
was called Murder of Gozago, but it's more like a…. trap for the mice; we do
have some in the castle. Nasty creatures who sneak on you, and poisoned the
meals, not before it take a bite for themselves.” Hamlet paused in his words. “I
had it named Mousetrap. You will never know who may sneak in and then…..”
Hamlet
reached out with his hands to clap together.
“Oh,
bear me not with antics. The narrative on the play please.” Claudius pressed
on. The more he distracts Hamlet, perhaps Gertrude could be spared being asked
by the …mad son. Rational and reasoning do not augur well in one who’s mad.
“It
was madness then to stage the play as it was an image of a murder done in
Vienna. Gonzago is the duke’s name, and his wife Baptista. Madness for we never
had any of it in the castle.” Hamlet said. “But madness drove me as an actor,
to stage it.”
“You
shall see anon. ’Tis a knavish piece of work, but what of that? Your Majesty
and we that have free souls, it touches us not. Let the galled jade wince;
our withers are unwrung” Hamlet saw the entry of the villain then and sat
himself down. “The play still runneth.”
“You
are menacing, Hamlet,” Ophelia whispered to him. “Playing to the relationship
of the King and madam.”
“I
am not but….. Or it may be of ours if we had not unfolded new scenes to ours.”
Hamlet smiled. “Your scent alludes upon me.”
“You
are as good as a chorus, my lord.” Ophelia shook her head. “A naught I have to
repeat many times yet you yearn to hear ever again.”
“I
could interpret between you and your love”, Hamlet smiled. “If I could see the
puppets dallying.”
“You
are keen, my lord, you are keen but the strings of love do not dangle between
us.”
“It
would cost you a groaning to take off mine edge.” Hamlet pleaded for the need
that he had not done to her before in the attic. He felt ready to complete the
task then.
“Still
better or worse …. But I desire no more.” Ophelia turned away.
“So
you mistake your husbands.—” Hamlet was cut off by the arrival of the next
player. “We shall speak another time.”
“Ah,
begin, murderer. pox, leave thy damnable faces and begin. Come, the croaking
raven doth bellow for
revenge.” The Mouse sneaks in.
“I
am Lucianus. I am the King’s aide. A nephew by bloodline thus I owned a line to
the kingdom.” Lucianus appeared by the third player with a half-face mask,
showing only the lower half of his face, with the streaking mustache. Claudius
had one too.
“Thoughts
black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing Confederate season, else no
creature seeing, Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, With Hecate’s
ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,” The player squeaked and displayed the vial
in his right hand.
‘Thy
natural magic and dire property on wholesome life usurp immediately.” The
mouse leans toward the King. “Pours the poison in his ears.
“He
poisons him.” Hamlet was all excited. “from the garden for his estate.
”I
hold many killers of the weed.” The gardener seated there/ “Poisoned I have not
of any here.”
“Hush!”
The others hushed him. “You are not any mouse but an old goat.”
“His
name’s Gonzago. The story is extant and written in very choice mine. You shall
see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife.” Hamlet called out
while pointing his right index finger at random until he stopped at Claudius.
Claudius
rises then.
“The
Emperor rises” Ophelia observed.
“What,
frighted with false fire? A murder perhaps.” Hamlet glared at Claudius.
“Stop
it,” Claudius called out.
“How
fares my lord?” Gertrude asked while Polonius called for play to be stopped.
“It’s
scurrilous to be played at all.”
“Give
me some light. Away!” Claudius found himself stumbling among the seated guest.
“Make haste, I am to be away.”
“Lights,
lights, lights!” The great Chamberlain's voice was heard, and the guests took
their leave of the Hall.
All
but Hamlet and Horatio exit.
“My
lord, you have stirred a hornet’s nest tonight.” Horatio approached Hamlet.
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