Polonius: this is how to spy on my son: phase 1, be indirect (2.1.6-16) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

POLONIUS                  Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense, and finding By this encompassment and drift of question That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it; Take you as ’twere some distant knowledge of him, As thus, ‘I know his father and his […]

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Polonius: this is your mission; Reynaldo: bye then; Polonius: not so fast (2.1.1-6) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

Enter POLONIUS with his man [Reynaldo] or two. POLONIUS      Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo. REYNALDO    I will, my lord. POLONIUS      You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him to make inquire Of his behaviour. REYNALDO    My lord, I did intend it. POLONIUS      Marry, well said, very well said.       (2.1.1-6) A complete shift of tone and pace: daylight, interior, family matters. Back to […]

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Hamlet: the time is out of joint! everything’s WRONG! it’s not FAIR! (1.5.177-188) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HAMLET                     This do swear, So grace and mercy at your most need help you. GHOST                        Swear. HAMLET         Rest, rest, perturbed spirit. So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you, And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do t’express his love and friending to you God willing shall not lack. Let us […]

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Hamlet: buckle up, friends, it’s going to get even weirder – but don’t let on! (1.5.163-177) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HORATIO        O day and night, but this is wondrous strange. HAMLET         And therefore as a stranger give it welcome: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come, Here as before: never – so help you mercy, How strange or odd some’er I bear myself (As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put […]

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Ghost: SWEAR! SWEAR! Hamlet: you’re good at this (1.5.152-162) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HORATIO                    Propose the oath, my lord. HAMLET         Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. GHOST            Swear. HAMLET         Hic et ubique? Then we’ll shift our ground. Come hither, gentlemen, and lay your hands Again upon my sword. Swear by my sword Never to speak of this that you have heard. GHOST            Swear by his sword. HAMLET         Well said, old mole, canst work i’th’ earth so […]

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Hamlet: swear! swear! Ghost: SWEAR! (1.5.142-152) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HORATIO        What is’t, my lord? We will. HAMLET         Never make known what you have seen tonight. HORATIO / MARCELLUS      My lord, we will not. HAMLET         Nay, but swear’t. HORATIO        In faith, my lord, not I. MARCELLUS                           Nor I, my lord, in faith. HAMLET         Upon my sword. MARCELLUS                           We have sworn, my lord, already. HAMLET         Indeed, […]

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Horatio: look, calm down, it’s OK; Hamlet: Ghost’s legit, can’t say more (1.5.132-141) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HORATIO        These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. HAMLET         I am sorry they offend you – heartily, Yes, faith, heartily. HORATIO        There’s no offence, my lord. HAMLET         Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here It is an honest ghost – that let me tell you. For your desire to know what is between us O’ermaster […]

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Hamlet: the thing is … no, not telling. No. (1.5.120-131) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HAMLET         How say you then – would heart of man once think it? – But you’ll be secret? HORATIO / MARCELLUS                  Ay, by heaven. HAMLET         There’s never a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he’s an arrant knave. HORATIO        There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. HAMLET         Why, right, you are in the right! And so without more circumstance at all I […]

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Horatio/Marcellus: THERE you are! um, what’s up? (1.5.113-119) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. HORATIO        My lord, my lord! MARCELLUS                           Lord Hamlet! HORATIO                                            Heavens secure him! HAMLET         So be it. MARCELLUS               Illo, ho, ho, my lord! HAMLET         Hillo, ho, ho, boy, come and come! MARCELLUS   How is’t, my noble lord? HORATIO                                What news, my lord? HAMLET         O, wonderful. HORATIO                                Good my lord, tell it. HAMLET         No, you will reveal it. HORATIO                                Not I, my lord, […]

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Hamlet: smiling villain! I will remember! (going to get a tattoo) (1.5.104-112) #InkyCloak #SlowShakespeare

HAMLET                     Yes, by heaven, O most pernicious woman, O villain, villain, smiling damned villain, My tables! Meet it is I set it down That one may smile and smile and be a villain – At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word. It is ‘Adieu, adieu, remember me.’ I have sworn’t.           […]

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