Greetings! I return to you today with a Very Exciting Gift: a new Inklings post! This month’s prompt is a sunrise in a book or movie and thankfully, I have just the thing.
In act 1, scene 1 of Hamlet, a group of soldiers and their Illustrious Scholar Friend (Horatio) are awaiting a strange happenstance that has been “two nights seen”—the ghost of their dead king. It appears once more to them, but flees at the cock’s crow and the sunrise. The group vows to impart this knowledge to their friend and prince, Young Hamlet.
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| From the BBC version with David Tennant. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find many other images from this scene, though. |
(Conveniently, I have most of the play and consequently this scene memorised, having performed in a production nigh on a few months ago.)
BARNARDO
It [the ghost] was about to speak when the cock crew.
HORATIOAnd then it started like a guilty thing
Upon a fearful summons. I have heard
The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,
Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat
Awake the god of day, and at his warning,
Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,
Th’ extravagant and erring spirit hies
To his confine, and of the truth herein
This present object made probation.
MARCELLUS
It faded on the crowing of the cock.
Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes
Wherein our Savior’s birth is celebrated,
This bird of dawning singeth all night long;
And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallowed and so gracious is that time.
HORATIO
So have I heard and do in part believe it.
But look, the morn in russet mantle clad
Walks o’er the dew of yon high eastward hill.
Break we our watch up, and by my advice
Let us impart what we have seen tonight
Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.
Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it
As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?
MARCELLUS
Let’s do ’t, I pray, and I this morning know
Where we shall find him most convenient.
It’s such beautiful language, isn’t it? Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, and for good reason. (It’s also my favourite, but I’m somewhat biased :P)
So there you have it. Go forth in peace and read Hamlet! God bless you all :)
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Soli Deo Gloria,
Hannah