哈姆雷特

Part Five: Suicide

Polonius's son, Laertes, returns to Denmark from Paris. He is very angry.

'Claudius, you have killed my father. I shall persuade the people to rebel against you. There will be a revolution!'

'No, Laertes, Hamlet is responsible for everything!'

'But how did my father die? Why is it a secret?'

'Be patient. When I have explained everything, you will understand. I am your friend.'

Ophelia comes to see Laertes .She loved Hamlet but he killed her father.

This has made her mad. She sings sad songs and gives flowers to everyone she meets.

'What is the matter with my sister?'

'She has lost her mind, poor girl.'

'He is dead, lady, he is dead. He will never come again. His beard was as white as snow. He is gone, he is gone. Love, remember me.'

'Do you see this? Oh God!'

A sailor brings a letter to Horatio. When he opens it, he discovers that it is from Hamlet.

Horatio,

I am in Denmark. Some pirates attacked our ship.While every body was fighting, I jumped onto their ship. I paid them and they brought me home to Denmark.

Losencrantz and Guildenstern have continued to England. I shall tell you more about them when I see you. Meet me in the graveyard.

Hamlet

'I shall go to him immediately. I am glad he is safe.'

Claudius also receives a letter from Hamlet. He has a private conversation with Laertes.

'But why didn't you put Hamlet in prison?'

'He is very popular with the people. It was impossible to punish him. The best thing was to send him to England.'

'He has killed my father and driven my sister out of her mind! I would do anything to get my revenge.'

'This letter is from Hamlet. He is back in Denmark.'

'I'm glad. I will kill him.'

'I have a better plan.'

The Queen comes in. 'I have bad news, Laertes. Ophelia is dead. She wanted to put flowers on the willow tree . While she was climbing, she slipped and fell into the river. She floated there, singing, then she drowned.'

'Was it suicide?'

'Nobody knows. Perhaps it was an accident. Oh, sweet Ophelia! I hoped she would marry Hamlet. Come, let us go and bury her.'

'Now Hamlet has killed my father and my sister.'

Hamlet meets Horatio in the graveyard. They see a gravedigger. He is preparing a new grave and he has uncovered some old bones . Hamlet begins to talk about death.

'Look at this skull, Horatio. It is Yorick's. He was the court jester . Alas, poor Yorick. I knew him, Horatio. When I was a child, he carried me on his back. His jokes were the best. He cannot make anybody laugh now.'

'Perhaps this skull belonged to a beautiful lady. She cannot paint her face now. Perhaps this skull belonged to a lawyer. He cannot show how clever he is now. Perhaps this skull belonged to a court gentleman. He cannot wear elegant clothes now.'

***

There is a willow by the river.

Its silver leaves shine in the glassy water.

Ophelia walked there, picking the flowers to hang on the graceful branches of the tree.

But as she was climbing up to the sky, a thin branch broke under her small feet and she fell down into the weeping brook.

Her dress spread wide and, like a mermaid.

She floated on the surface, singing old melodies.

She was as happy as a creature of the water but as her clothes grew heavy, they pulled her down to the dark bottom of the river, to muddy death.

羅密歐

Part Four: Fortune's Fool?

At that moment, Tybalt returned.

'Boy!' shouted Tybalt. 'You came here with Mercutio and you will die as he did!'

Romeo was so angry that he lost control. He took out his sword and fought with Tybalt. He killed him.

'He killed my friend. Now he is dead. He is with Mercutio. Juliet, your love made me a coward but now I am brave.'

Benvolio took his arm. 'Romeo, you must escape. The people are coming.

The Prince will punish you with death .'

'Oh, I am Fortune's fool!' With those words, Romeo ran away.

Soon, the citizens arrived, followed by the Prince. They saw Mercutio and Tybalt lying dead on the ground.

'Where are the people who began this fight? ' Ask the Prince angrily.

'I can tell you the complete story,' promised Benvolio.

'Oh Tybalt!' screamed Lady Capulet. 'My brother's child. He has been murdered. A Montague must die for this.'

'Romeo wanted to stop the fight,' explained Benvolio. 'But Tybalt killed Mercutio. Then Romeo killed Tybalt.'

'He is lying !' said Lady Capulet. 'He is a Montague. Romeo killed Tybalt.

So Romeo must not live.'

'Romeo killed Tybalt. But Tybalt killed Mercutio,' said the Prince.

'Mercutio was Romeo's friend,' agreed Lord Montague. 'Romeo was right to kill his friend's killer.'

The Prince spoke seriously. 'No! It is wrong to kill. We banish Romeo from Verona! If I find him in the city, he will die! We must not show mercy to murderers.'

Those were the Prince's final words. Romeo had to leave Verona and never return.

Juliet was waiting for Romeo, her new husband. She wanted the night to come quickly so that they could be together. But when the Nurse arrived, she brought bad news.

'He is dead!'

'Who is dead?'

'I saw the body with my own eyes. He is dead.'

'What? Is Romeo dead?'

'No, Tybalt is dead. Romeo has killed him. Romeo is banished, he must leave Verona.'

'Did Romeo kill my cousin? He is a villain. But I love him.'

Juliet was very unhappy.

'Your father and mother are crying for Tybalt,' the Nurse told her.

'I will cry for him too,' said Juliet. 'But I will cry longer for Romeo. I will never see him again. I will kill myself.'

'No,' said the Nurse. 'Romeo is hiding with Friar Laurence. I will bring him to you.'

'Yes, Nurse, bring him to me quickly. Give him this ring. He must come and say his last goodbye.'

Romeo was talking to Friar Laurence. 'Everything is finished. I must leave Verona and never see Juliet again. Even a cat or a dog or a mouse may look at Juliet. But I cannot. Give me poison or a knife to kill myself.'

'You are mad. The Prince has shown mercy. He lets you live.'

'You are old, Friar. But I am young and in love. I want to die.'

'No, be brave. You must go to Mantua. You will be safe there. I will send you news about Juliet. One day, you will be together again. But here is the Nurse.'

'How is Juliet?' Romeo asked her immediately.

'She cries and cries. First, she calls out Tybalt's name, then she calls for Romeo. Then she falls on her bed.'

'Tonight, go with the Nurse,' said the Friar. 'See Juliet for the last time.'

Romeo went back to the house of the Capulets. The Nurse took him into the garden. Nobody saw them.

'Here is a ladder,'! she said. 'Climb up and go through the window.'

So Romeo spent his marriage night with Juliet.

Downstairs, in the house of the Capulets, Lord and Lady Capulet were talking. Lord Paris was with them.

'I will talk to Juliet. She will marry you next Wednesday...'

'That's too soon,' said Lady Capulet.

'On Thursday then. Tybalt is dead. There must be something good for the Capulet family — Juliet's wedding! I am her father. She will do as I say.'

Paris was very happy because he loved Juliet. Lord Capulet told his wife to see Juliet in the morning. She must prepare for her marriage. Her parents did not know that Juliet was already married to Romeo, the killer of her cousin Tybalt.

'I wish it was Thursday tomorrow,' said Paris.

'Well, goodbye until then,' said Lord Capulet. 'On Thursday, my daughter will marry you. I promise.'

In the morning, Romeo left Juliet. He had to escape to Mantua before the Prince found him.

'Must you go?' asked Juliet. 'It is still night. The nightingale is singing,

not the lark .'

'Look at the sky. The sun is rising. But I want to stay.'

'Go. It is dangerous for you here. But I want you to stay. Goodbye, sweet Romeo. Will I ever see you again?'

'Goodbye. I will think of you every second of the day.'

They kissed. Then Romeo climbed down the ladder.

'I can see only bad luck in the future,' said Juliet. 'I seem to see you dead.'

'Our sadness makes us think in this way. I will write every day. Goodbye.'

'Please, God, send him back to me again.'

Part Five: My Lady's Dead!

Early next morning, Lady Capulet visited Juliet in her bedroom. 'Daughter,

are you awake?'

'It is very early. I am not well,' answered Juliet.

'Are you still crying for your cousin Tybalt? It is good to cry. But now it is time to stop.'

'Let me cry more for my poor cousin.'

'Well, really you should cry because Romeo, his killer, is still alive.'

'Yes, mother. I wish I could see Romeo now and ... kill him.'

'I will send a servant to Mantua to poison him,' promised Lady Capulet. 'He will not live long. But Juliet, I have good news for you. You will get married to Paris early next Thursday morning. Then you will be happy.'

'No, mother. It is impossible. I don't want to get married so soon. Tell my father this. As you know, I hate Romeo. He has killed my cousin. But I'd rather marry Romeo than Paris.'

'Here comes your father. Tell him yourself.'

'What?' said Lord Capulet. 'Are you still crying? Wife, have you told her the news?'

'Yes. The little fool thanks you but she won't marry Paris.'

Lord Capulet was very angry. 'Lord Paris is a very fine gentleman. This is a great opportunity.'

'Thank you, father, but I will not marry him.'

'Are you too proud to marry him? Put on a wedding dress next Thursday and go with Paris to the church. If you don't, I'll pull you there by the hair.'

'Good father, listen to me.'

'Don't argue with me. Go to the church next Thursday. I'm glad we have no more children like this.'

'Please don't be angry with my little Juliet, sir,' said the Nurse.

'Shut up, you fat old fool!'

'Be calm,' Lady Capulet told him.

'I have decided. If you don't obey me , I will throw you out in the street.'

When her parents had gone, Juliet asked the Nurse for advice .

'I already have a husband that I love. What should I do?'

'Well, Romeo is not here. Paris is a fine gentleman, it's true. He is more handsome than Romeo. Forget Romeo and marry Paris.'

'Do you speak from your heart?'

'Of course,' said the Nurse.

Juliet realised that she could not trust the Nurse.

She went to Friar Laurence to ask his advice.

The Friar was very worried. Paris was talking to him and had told him that he would marry Juliet.

'Does she love you?' asked the Friar.

'I don't know. We haven't talked about love because she is weeping for her cousin's death. But our marriage will make her happy again.'

'But look, here comes Juliet.'

'Welcome, my lady and my wife,' said Paris. 'Have you come to tell the Friar that you love me?'

'I cannot answer that,' said Juliet. 'But please, let me talk to the Friar privately.'

When they were alone, the Friar told Juliet to be happy. 'If you are brave enough, I have a plan that will help you and Romeo. You will be together again.'

'What must I do? I will do anything for Romeo, my husband.'

'Go home and agree to marry Paris.'

'No! I cannot.'

'Listen carefully. On Wednesday night, go to your bedroom alone. Take this bottle and drink the liquid. It is a special potion . You will sleep for forty-

two hours. Your family will think that you are dead. They will carry you to the tomb of the Capulets. Meanwhile, I will send a message to Romeo. He will come secretly to the tomb. When you wake up, you can escape together.

Are you brave enough to do this, Juliet?'

'Give me the bottle, Friar. Love will give me strength.'

Juliet went home. Lord and Lady Capulet were very happy when she told them that she had met Paris at Friar Laurence's cell and that she would marry him.

'Now I am going to my room to pray. Do not come with me, Nurse, I want to be alone.'

In her room, Juliet looked at the bottle of mysterious liquid which Friar Laurence had given her.

'I am afraid. Perhaps it is poison. Or perhaps I will wake in the tomb and Romeo will not be there. I will be alone in the middle of all the dead bodies with my dead cousin, Tybalt. It will be terrible.'

Bravely , Juliet picked up the bottle and raised it to her lips.

'Romeo, Romeo, I drink to you!'

She drank. She fell on the bed and slept.

The next morning, it was Thursday. The Nurse came to wake her up for her marriage. 'You lazy girl,' she said. 'You mustn't lie in bed on your wedding day... Help! Help! My lady's dead!'

Lord and Lady Capulet ran to their daughter's room.

'She's dead, she's dead, she's dead,' cried Lady Capulet.

'Her body is cold. I cannot speak,' said Lord Capulet.

At that moment, Paris and Friar Laurence entered the house.

'Is Juliet ready to go to the church?' asked the Friar.

'Oh Paris,' said Lord Capulet, 'death has taken your wife.'

The Nurse began to cry.

'O terrible day! O sad day! O horrible day! There has never been such a black day. O sad day! O unhappy day!'

'Do not be sad,' said the Friar. 'Juliet is in Heaven. She is happier there than when she was alive.'

'The wedding must become a funeral ,' I said Lord Capulet.

'Tell the musicians to play sad tunes . Put the wedding flowers on my daughter's body.'

Lord and Lady Capulet took Juliet to the tomb of the Capulets.

The Nurse, Lord Paris and Friar Laurence followed her body.

The Friar was the only one who knew the secret — Juliet was alive. He was thinking: 'I have sent Friar John to Mantua to tell Romeo to come back to Verona. He will be here when Juliet wakes up.'