Sometime a Paradox

Shakespeare Friday. The time gives it proof. If you have the fortunate occasion to sit through the play, you can normally hear a hush fall over as people note the most famous of soliloquies. I love it as well, but each time I have seen it, I much favour the immediate afterward, when the nymph in her 'orizons enters the scene. Brannaugh masters the role so much more than the famed Olivier.

Posting of the response to last week's email one and the sending of email two later today. Should I head to the cottage, or is there enough story left in Halifax on a Friday? How hot is a pepper sprout?

OPHELIA
Good my lord,How does your honour for this many a day?

HAMLET
I humbly thank you; well, well, well.

OPHELIA
My lord, I have remembrances of yours,
That I have longed long to re-deliver;
I pray you, now receive them.

HAMLET
No, not I;I never gave you aught.

OPHELIA
My honour'd lord, you know right well you did;
And, with them, words of so sweet breath composed
As made the things more rich: their perfume lost,
Take these again; for to the noble mind
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.

There, my lord.

HAMLET
Ha, ha! are you honest?

OPHELIA
My lord?

HAMLET
Are you fair?

OPHELIA
What means your lordship?

HAMLET
That if you be honest and fair,
your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty.

OPHELIA
Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than
with honesty?

HAMLET
Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will
sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the
force of honesty can translate beauty into his
likeness: this was sometime a paradox,
but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once.

OPHELIA
Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

HAMLET
You should not have believed me; for virtue cannot
so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of
it: I loved you not.

OPHELIA
I was the more deceived.