Act 1.2
(King Hamlet sits at his table and stares down at his hands. He takes up a pitcher and pours wine into a chalice. He drinks)
King:
I now am aged, but it's specter has long haunted. Even in my very youth, the thought of it has taunted. For age reduced my father beyond all recognition. Age has always whispered thus: “You'll die in his condition.” Will madness come as years do come, and I will go that way? Thus pass into some dream? Without an heir of my own blood many plotters will then scheme. I am aged and if the age reduces me and drives me to confusion, to what will Denmark come? Suffer to say—plotters will not stay from acts of outright treason. As we age, the crown grows large and it, too, grows heavy. I need a son, an heir to come, who will keep my kingdom steady.
I have married youth, and if I speak some truth, she enlivens my desire. All the love she makes, she acts for my own sake, and still no heir of mine is sired. I know, in truth, I fail to produce in me the needed seed. It is not her in a youth so bright that has the fault of this sore need.
A palace guard enters:
Guard:
My Lord, the queen begs admission.
King: (Stands and torn to the door)
She need not beg even in formality. She has my heart and she has my mind, and she's the core of my reality. Let her pass, and I will greet the wonder of my heart. The greatest sadness of this old life is that death will make us part.
(Gertrude enters. She is very young, fifteen or sixteen. She moves toward Hamlet and curtsies toward him. He crosses to her and raises her to an upright position)
King:
Do not kneel to me, Gertrude, my love. It is I who should kneel to you.
Gertrude:
I do show a respect that you must get as the man who has seen me through the hardest times and darkest times and been calm and full of light. Without your aid, I would have lived forever in an endless, dark filled night.
King:
It's you who brought much light to me to shine on every sight. You give me strength that might have failed without you by my side.
Gertrude: We both have suffered; that is true, but in love we can abide.
King:
Your father left you in my custody when he died as a noble man. He got his wounds against Fortinbras in defense of my realm and our land.
Gertrude:
And I grew within your care, and flourished as your daughter even in my grief. The queen did offer me her love, and in each other, we all felt relief. The hard vicissitudes of life can often leave us daunted, but your good grace gave me a place where I was no longer haunted.
King:
Your mother died at your being born. Your father dead in battle. In those early days, you were quite grave, no talk in childish prattle. We as childless took you in, and in that taking gained.
Gertrude:
When you did, the love you gave quite relieved me from much pain.
King:
Born of death you lived to love, to make all life renewed. With you I have found much of life that I never knew. I never knew the joy of love that combined all manner of our living. I never knew the joy I'd feel when I was freely giving. Yet I have given free to you in ways I scarce can credit. Yet I have not, for a single jot, lived thus to regret it.
Gertrude:
You cannot regret the love I give to you, my husband and my father. I have grown within your love as a child and I hope a mother. I know that my most full gift will come in a son an heir.
King:
That is not a gift you give alone, no matter how you care. You need a man with a seed that's true, both you and he need share. The moment of conception is complex in its actions--
(She takes his hand, places on her breast)
Gertrude:
It starts with this, comes in my bliss when I feel your strong attraction.
King:
Please to stand my love, my wife, my queen and daughter. Stand by me in pride.
Gertrude:
I will my lord, and will be here and ever by your side
(Standing, they embrace)
King:
But in your youth you use words left better to one of age
Gertrude:
But love replace at its swift pace the counting of our days
King:
I scarce believe your depth of love for one who is so old.
Gertrude:
It is not of age that love will speak. It's the man and of his actions. That you have treated me with care has made the start of my attraction. Since we wed, you have been kind in ways most unexpected. Not one wish that I've expressed has ever been rejected. You respected my virginity and gave honor to my innocence. You are the essence of a gentle man and in me have raised concupiscence. I feel a yearning deep in me to hold you and your son. I know my life is not fulfilled until this task is done.
King:
It's in your arms I can know relief from the fear and pain I feel as I think of an heirless time when I am called to death. Before that day, I must find a way to make someone suited for the throne. You cannot hold our kingdom fast, not do so alone.
Gertrude:
Let us find our way to bed, my love, where we can ease your worry's stone. With God's consent, a child is this way sent, and your childlessness atoned. I am your child who will make a child in any way I can. I know that you have within your scope, you are the only man.
King:
Gertrude, from all my old history, only you release me from my misery.
(They kiss passionately. Lights dim go out.)