Hamlet's Rejoinder
April 21st 2007 10:52
Yesterday, I wrote about Vtech massacre. There is a passage in Hamlet which has been haunting me since I first read it. I should like to quote it in this context, for it befits the moral situation of this whole sad business.
Hamlet: Aye, marry, is't,
But to my mind, though I am native here,
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honored in the breach than the observance;
This heavy-headed revel, east and west,
Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations;
They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase
Soil our addition, and indeed, it takes
From our achievements; though performed at height:
The pith and marrow of our attribute;
So oft' it chances in particular men,
That for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As in their birth wherein they are not guilty,
(Since nature cannot choose his origin,)
By their o'ergrowth of some complexion,
Oft' breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or, by some habit, that too much o'erleavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect
Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,
His virtues else be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo,
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault; the dram of evil
Doth all the noble substance of a doubt,
To his own scandal.
I am not a native nor manner born to America but this is what I would quote in solidarity with that country.
The text is is taken from this site.
Hamlet: Aye, marry, is't,
But to my mind, though I am native here,
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honored in the breach than the observance;
This heavy-headed revel, east and west,
Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations;
They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase
Soil our addition, and indeed, it takes
From our achievements; though performed at height:
So oft' it chances in particular men,
That for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As in their birth wherein they are not guilty,
(Since nature cannot choose his origin,)
By their o'ergrowth of some complexion,
Oft' breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or, by some habit, that too much o'erleavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect
Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,
His virtues else be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo,
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault; the dram of evil
Doth all the noble substance of a doubt,
To his own scandal.
I am not a native nor manner born to America but this is what I would quote in solidarity with that country.
The text is is taken from this site.
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Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
another great blog...insightful and held my interest as usual..keep up the good work!
Nick
Comment by nagster
Cenacle