Another item gleaned from the Net, but hopefully unfamiliar to at least a few of you. I've lightly reformatted it for Web publication.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
by Michael S. Schiffer<\/p>\r\n
This recently discovered folio edition of \"Hamlet\" follows other known\r\nversions closely until \r\nAct V, Scene II<\/a>, where it begins to diverge at line 232, as will be seen:<\/p>\r\n Trumpets sound. HAMLET and LAERTES take their stations<\/p>\r\n Enter FRED, DAPHNE, VELMA, SHAGGY, AND SCOOBY<\/p>\r\n HAMLET and LAERTES put up their foils<\/p>\r\n The GHOST enters.<\/p>\r\n SCOOBY and SHAGGY run away from the GHOST. SCOOBY, looking backward, runs into a tapestry, tearing it down. As a result, tapestries around the walls collapse, one surrounding the GHOST.<\/p>\r\n FRED removes the helm and the disguise from the GHOST'S face.<\/p>\r\n Exeunt omnes.<\/p>\r\n Copyright \u00a9 1993 Michael S. Schiffer. Permission is granted to Jed Hartman reprint this work once in his \"Words and Stuff\" column. All other rights are reserved to the author. To request permission to publish this in another forum, electronically or on paper, please contact the author at mss2@tezcat.com<\/a> or mschiffe@wppost.depaul.edu<\/a>. This work can also be found at http:\/\/www.tezcat.com\/~mss2\/folio.html<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n And you the judges, bear a wary eye<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>
\r\n For we, in seeking clues, have found the truth
\r\n Behind the strange events of latter days.<\/dd>\r\n\r\n
\r\n Where, so said Hamlet, Hamlet's ghost did walk.
\r\n Yet though the elder Hamlet met his death,
\r\n And perforce hath been buried in the ground,
\r\n 'Tis yet true one would not expect a ghost
\r\n To carry mud upon his spectral boots.
\r\n Yet mud didst Shaggy and his faithful hound
\r\n Espy, with footprints leading to a drop.
\r\n This might, at first, indeed bespeak a ghost...
\r\n Until, when I did seek for other answers,
\r\n I found a great, wide cloth of deepest black
\r\n Discarded in the moat of Elsinore.
\r\n 'Tis clear, the \"ghost\" used this to slow his fall
\r\n While darkness rendered him invisible.<\/dd>\r\n\r\n
\r\n In stain\u00e9d glass, that sunlight may shine through.<\/dd>\r\n\r\n
\r\n When he went to confront his lady mother.
\r\n Nor did his sword pierce poor Polonius.
\r\n For Hamlet's blade did mark the castle wall
\r\n Behind the rent made in the tapestry.
\r\n Polonius was murdered by another.
\r\n The knife which killed him entered from behind.<\/dd>\r\n\r\n
\r\n Then what of that which I did touch and speak to?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>
\r\n Thou hast neglected duty far too long.
\r\n Shall this, my murderer, live on unharmed?
\r\n Must I remain forever unavenged?<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>
\r\n That we may reach the bottom of the matter.
\r\n Now let us see who truly walked tonight.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>
\r\n This Hamlet's father brought my own to death,
\r\n And cost me all my rightful heritage.
\r\n And so I killed this king, and hoped his son
\r\n Would prove no obstacle to Norway's crown.
\r\n Then Claudius bethought himself the killer
\r\n (As if one might be poisoned through the ear!)
\r\n The brother, not the son, took Denmark's throne,
\r\n And held to Norway with a tighter grip.
\r\n I swore an end to Denmark's royal house.
\r\n I spoke to Hamlet of his uncle's crimes.
\r\n Then killed Polonius to spark Laertes.
\r\n This day, with poison's aid, all might have died,
\r\n And Denmark might have come to me as well
\r\n As my beloved Norway and revenge.
\r\n My scheme blinded them all, as if by fog
\r\n But for these medd'ling kids and this their dog.<\/dd>\r\n\r\n
\r\n For much remains to us to be discussed.
\r\n And suitable reward must needs be found
\r\n For these, our young detectives and their hound.<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>