Next, One Ensemble Member Comes Forward and States

SHAKESPEARIENCE! “Will Power”

Prologue:

Ensemble, select voices stating “WILL”….”POWER” in call/response. Power and will may exchange order at times, as a double meaning.

Next, one ensemble member comes forward and states:

“You taught me language; and my profit on’t is, I know how to curse. The red plague rid you for learning me your language.”

Then, a nod/wink to the audience in identifying the play from which the line is taken:

“The Tempest!”

Then, the ensemble join on the stage to form a tableux and state:

“WILL POWER”

“ Merchant of Venice” ACT I, Scene 3: Shylock, Bassanio, Antonio

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats; well.

BASSANIO

Ay, sir, for three months.

SHYLOCK

For three months; well.

BASSANIO

For the which, as I told you, Antonio shall be bound.

SHYLOCK

Antonio shall become bound; well.

BASSANIO

Shall I know your answer?

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats for three months and Antonio bound.

1 BASSANIO

Your answer to that.

SHYLOCK

Antonio is a good man.

BASSANIO

Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

SHYLOCK

Oh, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient.

But ships are but boards, sailors but men: there be land-rats and water-rats, water-thieves and land-thieves, I mean pirates…. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats; I think I may take his bond.

I will bethink me. May I speak with Antonio?

BASSANIO

If it please you to dine with us.

SHYLOCK

I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?

BASSANIO

This is Signior Antonio.

SHYLOCK

[Aside] How like a fawning publican he looks!

ANTONIO

Shylock, to supply the ripe wants of my friend, I'll break a custom. Is he yet possess'd How much ye would?

SHYLOCK

Ay, ay, three thousand ducats.

2 ANTONIO

And for three months. Mark you this, Bassanio, The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.

ANTONIO

Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

SHYLOCK

Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances: Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help….and for these courtesies I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

ANTONIO

I am as like to call thee so again, But lend it rather to thine enemy, Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face Exact the penalty.

SHYLOCK

Why, look you, how you storm! I would be friends with you and have your love, This is kind I offer.

BASSANIO

This were kindness.

SHYLOCK

This kindness will I show. Go with me to a notary, seal me there Your single bond;, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me.

ANTONIO

3 Content, i' faith: I'll seal to such a bond And say there is much kindness in the Jew.

BASSANIO

You shall not seal to such a bond for me: I'll rather dwell in my necessity.

ANTONIO

Why, fear not, man; I will not forfeit it: Within these two months, that's a month before This bond expires, I do expect return Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Yes Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.

SHYLOCK

Then meet me forthwith at the notary's…

ANTONIO

Hie thee, gentle Jew. (Exit Shylock) The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.

BASSANIO

I like not fair terms and a villain's mind.

ANTONIO Come on: in this there can be no dismay; My ships come home a month before the day. Exeunt

*TRANSITION

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool…~As You Like It

Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest, lend less than thou owest…~King Lear

The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance…~Troilus and Cressida

Though this be madness, yet there is method in it…~Hamlet

“ Much Ado About Nothing” ACT I, Scene 1: Beatrice & Benedick

BENEDICK

4 If Signior Leonato be her father, she would not have his head on her shoulders for all Messina, as like him as she is.

BEATRICE

I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior

Benedick: nobody marks you

BENEDICK

What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?

BEATRICE

Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?

Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.

BENEDICK

Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.

BEATRICE

A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.

BENEDICK

God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestinate scratched face.

BEATRICE

Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere such a face as yours were.

5 BENEDICK

Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.

BEATRICE

A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.

BENEDICK

I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, i' God's name; I have done.

BEATRICE

You always end with a jade's trick: I know you of old.

*TRANSITION

Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valliant never taste of death but once….~Julius Caesar

Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it….~Macbeth

Of all base passions, fear is the most accursed…~Henry VI, part 1

“ Hamlet” ACT II, Scene 2: Hamlet and Polonius

HAMLET

Well, God-a-mercy.

LORD POLONIUS

Do you know me, my lord?

HAMLET

Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.

LORD POLONIUS

Not I, my lord.

HAMLET

Then I would you were so honest a man.

LORD POLONIUS

6 Honest, my lord!

HAMLET

Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.

LORD POLONIUS

That's very true, my lord.

HAMLET

For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion,--Have you a daughter?

LORD POLONIUS

I have, my lord.

HAMLET

Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing: but not as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to 't.

LORD POLONIUS

[Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone: I'll speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?

HAMLET

Words, words, words.

LORD POLONIUS

What is the matter, my lord?

HAMLET

Between who?

LORD POLONIUS

I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.

HAMLET

Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum and that they have a plentiful lack of

7 wit: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down, for yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward.

LORD POLONIUS

[Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?

HAMLET

Into my grave.

LORD POLONIUS

Indeed, that is out o' the air.

(Aside)

How pregnant sometimes his replies are! I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter.--My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.

HAMLET You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my life, except my life.

LORD POLONIUS Fare you well, my lord.

HAMLET These tedious old fools!

*TRANSITION

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet….~ Romeo & Juliet

Some rise by sin, some by virtue fall…~Measure for Measure

“ Henry IV, Part I” ACT V, Scene 4: Hal and Hotspur

HOTSPUR

If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.

PRINCE HENRY

8 Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name.

HOTSPUR

My name is Harry Percy.

PRINCE HENRY

Why, then I see A very valiant rebel of the name. I am the Prince of Wales; and think not, Percy, To share with me in glory any more: Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere; Nor can one England brook a double reign, Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

HOTSPUR

Nor shall it, Harry; for the hour is come To end the one of us; and would to God Thy name in arms were now as great as mine!

PRINCE HENRY

I'll make it greater ere I part from thee; And all the budding honours on thy crest I'll crop, to make a garland for my head.

HOTSPUR

I can no longer brook thy vanities.

(They fight, HOTSPUR is wounded, and falls)

HOTSPUR

O, Harry, thou hast robb'd me of my youth! I better brook the loss of brittle life Than those proud titles thou hast won of me; They wound my thoughts worse than sword my flesh: O, I could prophesy, But that the earthy and cold hand of death Lies on my tongue: no, Percy, thou art dust And food for-- Dies

PRINCE HENRY

For worms, brave Percy: fare thee well, great heart! Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk! When that this body did contain a spirit, A kingdom for it was too small a bound; But now two paces of the vilest earth Is room enough: But let my favours hide thy mangled face; And, even in thy behalf, I'll thank myself For doing these fair rites of tenderness.

9 Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!

*TRANSITION

Do you think I am easier to played on than a pipe….~Hamlet

Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges….~Twelfth Night

There’s daggers in men’s smiles….~Macbeth

“ Romeo & Juliet” ACT II, Scene 5 Juliet and the Nurse

JULIET

The clock struck nine when I did send the nurse; In half an hour she promised to return. O God, she comes!

Enter Nurse and PETER O honey nurse, what news? Hast thou met with him? O Lord, why look'st thou sad?

Nurse I am a-weary, give me leave awhile: Fie, how my bones ache!

JULIET I would thou hadst my bones, and I thy news: Nay, come, I pray thee, speak; good, good nurse, speak.

Nurse Jesu, what haste? Do you not see that I am out of breath?

JULIET How art thou out of breath, when thou hast breath To say to me that thou art out of breath? Let me be satisfied, is't good or bad?

Nurse Well, you have made a simple choice; you know not how to choose a man, but, I'll warrant him, as gentle as a lamb…. What, have you dined at home?

JULIET No, no: What says he of our marriage? what of that?

10 Lord, how my head aches!,--O, my back, my back!

JULIET I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well. Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love?

Nurse Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a kind, and a handsome,--Where is your mother?

JULIET Where is my mother! why, she is within; Where should she be?

Nurse Are you so hot? Henceforward do your messages yourself.

JULIET Come, come, what says Romeo?

Nurse Have you got leave to go to shrift to-day?

JULIET I have.

Nurse Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence' cell; There stays a husband to make you a wife! Hie you to church!

JULIET Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell.

ACT IV, Scene 1 COURTROOM 1: Duke, Portia, Shylock, Bassanio, Antonio

Upon my power I may dismiss this court, Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day.

BASSANIO

Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

SHYLOCK

To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

11 This letter from Bellario doth commend A young and learned doctor to our court.

(Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws)

Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

PORTIA

I did, my lord. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

PORTIA

Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK

Shylock is my name.

PORTIA

Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; You stand within his danger, do you not?

ANTONIO

Ay, so he says.

PORTIA

Do you confess the bond?

ANTONIO

PORTIA

Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK

On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

PORTIA

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

12 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea; Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

SHYLOCK

My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

PORTIA

Is he not able to discharge the money?

BASSANIO

Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart: If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority: To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will.

PORTIA

It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established:

SHYLOCK

A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

PORTIA

I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

13 SHYLOCK

Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

PORTIA

Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.

SHYLOCK

An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.

PORTIA

Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful: Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

SHYLOCK

When it is paid according to the tenor. It doth appear you are a worthy judge; You know the law, by my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

ANTONIO

Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment.

*TRANSITION

The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers…~Henry VI, part 2

“ Macbeth” ACT I, Scene 1: THREE WITCHES

First Witch

When shall we three meet again In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Second Witch

When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won.

Third Witch

14 That will be ere the set of sun.

First Witch

Where the place?

Second Witch

Upon the heath.

Third Witch

There to meet with Macbeth.

Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air.

The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about: Thrice to thine and thrice to mine And thrice again, to make up nine. Peace! the charm's wound up.

“ Macbeth” ACT II, Scene 2: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth

MACBETH I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

LADY MACBETH I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?

MACBETH When?

LADY MACBETH Now.

MACBETH As I descended?

LADY MACBETH Ay.

MACBETH This is a sorry sight. (Looking on his hands)

LADY MACBETH A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.

15 MACBETH There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried 'Murder!' That they did wake each other:

LADY MACBETH There are two lodged together.

MACBETH One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other; Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,' When they did say 'God bless us!'

LADY MACBETH Consider it not so deeply.

MACBETH But wherefore could not I pronounce 'Amen'? I had most need of blessing, and 'Amen' Stuck in my throat.

LADY MACBETH These deeds must not be thought After these ways; so, it will make us mad.

MACBETH Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep…

LADY MACBETH What do you mean?

MACBETH Still it cried 'Sleep no more!' to all the house: Macbeth shall sleep no more.'

LADY MACBETH Who was it that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength, to think So brainsickly of things. Go get some water, And wash this filthy witness from your hand. Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there: go carry them; and smear The sleepy grooms with blood.

MACBETH I'll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on't again I dare not.

LADY MACBETH Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead Are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,

16 I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal; For it must seem their guilt. Exit.

MACBETH What hands are here? ha! they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No. (Re-enter LADY MACBETH)

LADY MACBETH My hands are of your colour; but I shame To wear a heart so white. (Knocking within) I hear a knocking: retire we to our chamber; A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it, then! (Knocking within) Hark! more knocking. Be not lost So poorly in your thoughts.

MACBETH To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself. (Knocking within) Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst! Exeunt

*TRANSITION

The better part of valor is discretion…~Henry IV, part 1

How bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man’s eyes….~As You Like It

Men of few words are the best men…~Henry V

“ Merchant of Venice” ACT IV, Scene 1 COURTROOM 2: Duke, Portia, Shylock, Bassanio, Antonio

PORTIA

Why then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

SHYLOCK

O noble judge! O excellent young man!

PORTIA

Therefore lay bare your bosom.

17 SHYLOCK

'Nearest his heart:' those are the very words.

PORTIA

It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh?

SHYLOCK

I have them ready.

PORTIA

Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

SHYLOCK

Is it so nominated in the bond?

PORTIA

It is not so express'd: but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK

I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

PORTIA

You, merchant, have you any thing to say?

ANTONIO

But little: I am arm'd and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; Commend me to your honourable wife: Tell her the process of Antonio's end; Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death…

SHYLOCK

We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence.

PORTIA

A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine: The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

SHYLOCK

18 Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

PORTIA

TARRY A LITTLE; there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:' Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice.

SHYLOCK

Is that the law?

PORTIA

Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

SHYLOCK

I take this offer, then; pay the bond thrice And let the Christian go.

BASSANIO

Here is the money.

PORTIA

Soft! The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste: He shall have nothing but the penalty.

Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh. Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more But just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st more Or less than a just pound, nay, if the scale do turn But in the estimation of a hair, Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

SHYLOCK

Give me my principal, and let me go.

BASSANIO

I have it ready for thee; here it is.

19 PORTIA He hath refused it in the open court: He shall have merely justice and his bond.

SHYLOCK

Shall I not have barely my principal?

PORTIA

Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

SHYLOCK Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question.

*TRANSITION

Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast….~Romeo and Juliet

The miserable have no other medicine but only hope….~Measure for Measure

When sorrows come, they come not in single spies, but in batallions…~Hamlet

*Act Three, Scene 1: Romeo, Tybalt, Mercutio

Tybalt. Good den: a word with you.

Mercutio.

And but one word? couple it with something;

make it a word and a blow.

Tybalt.

Mercutio, thou consort'st with Romeo,--

Mercutio.

Consort! ' What, dost thou make us minstrels? An thou make minstrels of us, look to hear nothing but discords: here’s my fiddlestick; here’s that shall make you dance. Zounds, consort!

[Enter ROMEO]

20 Tybalt.

Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man.

Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford

No better term than this,--thou art a villain!

Romeo.

Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee

Doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting: villain am I none;

Therefore farewell.

Tybalt.

Boy, this shall not excuse the injurie that thou hast done me!

Romeo.

I do protest, I never injured thee,

But LOVE thee better than thou canst devise,

And so, good Capulet,-which name I tender

As dearly as my own,-be satisfied.

Mercutio.

[to Romeo]

O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!

[to Tybalt]

Tybalt, you rat-catcher, will you walk?

Tybalt.

What wouldst thou have with me?

21 Mercutio.

Good king of cats, nothing but one of your nine lives!

Tybalt.

I am for you.

Romeo.

Gentle Mercutio, put thy rapier up.

Mercutio.

Come, sir, your passado.

[Tybalt & Mercutio fight, pushing Romeo out of the way]

Romeo.

Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!

[TYBALT under ROMEO's arm stabs MERCUTIO, and runs out]

Mercutio.

I am hurt.

A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.

Romeo.

Courage man, the hurt cannot be much…

Mercutio.

No, tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but ‘tis enough, ‘twill serve:

Ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

22 A plague o' both your houses!

'Why the devil came you between us? I was hurt under your arm! They have made wormsmeat of me.

Romeo.

I thought all for the best.

[MERCUTIO dies]

Romeo.

This gentleman, the prince’s near ally,

My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt

In my behalf; my reputation stain’d

With Tybalt’s slander, --Tybalt, that an hour

Hath been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet,

Thy beauty hath made me effeminate

And in my temper soften’d valour’s steel!

[Re-enter TYBALT]

Now, Tybalt, for Mercutio's soul

Is but a little way above our heads,

Staying for thine to keep him company:

Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.

Tybalt.

Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here,

Shalt with him hence.

Romeo.

This shall determine that.

23 [They fight; ROMEO stabs TYBALT & he dies]

Romeo.

O, I am fortune's fool!

“ Hamlet” ACT II, Scene 2: Hamlet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern

GUILDENSTERN

My honoured lord!

ROSENCRANTZ

My most dear lord!

HAMLET

My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?

ROSENCRANTZ

As the indifferent children of the earth.

GUILDENSTERN

Happy, in that we are not over-happy; On fortune's cap we are not the very button.

HAMLET

What's the news?

ROSENCRANTZ

None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.

HAMLET

Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true. Let me question more in particular: what have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of fortune, that she sends you to prison hither?

GUILDENSTERN

Prison, my lord!

HAMLET

Denmark's a prison.

ROSENCRANTZ

24 Then is the world one.

HAMLET

A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.

ROSENCRANTZ

We think not so, my lord.

HAMLET

Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison.

ROSENCRANTZ

Why then, your ambition makes it one; 'tis too narrow for your mind.

HAMLET

O God, I could be bounded in a nut shell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.

HAMLET

But, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?

ROSENCRANTZ

To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.

HAMLET

Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak.

GUILDENSTERN

What should we say, my lord?

HAMLET

Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I know the good king and queen have sent for you.

ROSENCRANTZ

To what end, my lord?

HAMLET

25 That you must teach me. be even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no?

GUILDENSTERN

My lord, we were sent for.

HAMLET

I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather. I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.

ROSENCRANTZ

My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.

HAMLET

Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me'?

ROSENCRANTZ

To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to offer you service.

*TRANSITION

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown….~Henry IV, Part II

Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind; the thief doth fear each bush the officer….~Henry IV, Part III

26 So wise, so young they say, do never live young…~Richard III

“ Merchant of Venice” ACT IV, Scene 1 COURTROOM 3: Duke, Portia, Shylock, Bassanio, Antonio

PORTIA

Tarry, Jew: The law hath yet another hold on you. It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state; And the offender's life lies in the mercy Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st; Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.

BASSANIO

Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself:

That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

PORTIA

Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.

SHYLOCK

Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: you take my life when you do take the means whereby I live.

PORTIA

What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

BASSANIO

A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.

ANTONIO

So please my lord the duke and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content; so he will let me have

27 The other half in use, to render it, Upon his death, unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter: Two things provided more, that, for this favour, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.

He shall do this, or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here.

PORTIA

Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?

SHYLOCK I am content. I pray you, give me leave to go from hence; I am not well: send the deed after me, And I will sign it.

DUKE Get thee gone, but do it.

*TRANSITION

Off with his head….~Richard III

Tempt not a desperate man….~Romeo and Juliet

Speak not of one who loved wisely, but too well….~Othello

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war….~Julius Caesar

“ Macbeth” ACT IV, Scene 1: WITCHES

First Witch

Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Second Witch

Thrice and once the hedge-pig whined.

Third Witch

Harpier cries 'Tis time, 'tis time.

First Witch

28 Round about the cauldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw.

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Second Witch

Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake;

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

Third Witch

Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf, Witches' mummy, maw and gulf

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.

By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes.

“ Macbeth” ACT V, Scene 7: Macbeth, Macduff

MACDUFF

Tyrant, show thy face! If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine, My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still. Let me find him, fortune! And more I beg not.

MACBETH

Why should I play the Roman fool, and die On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them.

Enter MACDUFF MACDUFF Turn, hell-hound, turn!

MACBETH

29 Of all men else I have avoided thee: But get thee back; my soul is too much charged With blood of thine already.

MACDUFF I have no words: My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain Than terms can give thee out! (They fight)

MACBETH Thou losest labour: Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmed life, which must not yield, To one of woman born.

MACDUFF Despair thy charm; And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripp'd.

MACBETH Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, For it hath cow'd my better part of man! I'll not fight with thee.

MACDUFF Then yield thee, coward, And live to be the show and gaze o' the time: We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, Painted on a pole, and underwrit, 'Here may you see the tyrant.'

MACBETH I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet, And to be baited with the rabble's curse. Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'

MACDUFF The time is free…

Epilogue: The remaining actors whisper in call/response, “WILL”…. “POWER”, repeatedly from the house. They join the other actors on the stage. One stands forward to state:

“Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings….~Julius Caesar!”

30 Then the opening tableux is re-formed, and the performance ends with the ensemble shouting: “WILL POWER”.