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.” There is no disputing that tone of voice, and all the Counsellors know it.“What festivities are in order?” asks Polonius, taking full advantage of his favored position.“There must be some, and at more places than this,” Hamlet declares.“But I haven’t decided what is best to do.I will welcome your good guidance.” He inclined his head toward the Counsellors.“Let me know what you think is most appropriate.”It intrigues me to watch how the Counsellors respond to this, though each of them attempts to hide his reaction from the others, for no matter how skilled they are, they cannot conceal the leap of hunger in their eyes, nor the quick tightening of their hands.This once I miss the stern honor of Horatio.The rest of the meeting is filled with stifled zeal, and whether the need for a new road is discussed, or the quality of the early harvest, the excitement remains fixed on ambitions and the opportunity to gain Hamlet’s approval and favor; nothing else can eclipse that most compelling occasion.CLAUDIUS“I remember Claudius,” Oduvit remarks to the rest of us as we linger over the evening meal.“A mean-faced puppy, for all he was nearly of age, and jealous to a fault.He detested everyone who he thought belittled him, and could not be amused by anything but his own wit.He treated everyone like peasants except the King, and him he regarded as a potent force in need of constant placation.He despised his other two brothers, and made no secret of it.I heard him call Wilhelminus coward and a lover of boys; he dared not speak so of Hamlet.” He laughs, his brows raising as if marking a special tidbit of malice.“Not that it wasn’t probably the truth, from what was rumored at the time, but Willhelminus did not like to hear it.” “Best keep that private,” says Mect.“Hamlet seems to be pleased at Claudius’ return, and anyone speaking to his discredit may find himself in trouble.”Oduvit spits a wad of crust into the corner of the Refectory.“I am a jester.Who expects me to cater to what others think?” “Hamlet does,” I remind him.“Hamlet expects us to be audacious,” said Oduvit mulishly.“And that is what I will be, or I will count myself unworthy to my craft.” His small eyes are hard and sour and his curving lips pout.Hedrann listens to this with an expression of disappointment on his face.“I knew Claudius when he was a boy.He followed after Hamlet as if his brother were one of the angels, and grew angry when Hamlet would not play with him, nor allow him to participate in his training for war.Sometimes he would shout and rage for being neglected by Hamlet, and other times he would brood.I found him once, sitting in the armory, his face hard as tempered metal.” He glowers with the effort of bringing these things to mind, “Not that Claudius wanted to be a soldier.He hated the sight of blood and he was too much cossetted by his mother, he being her youngest and all.”I, too, have memories of the young Claudius, and I tend to agree with Hedrann.“He was a very pretty youngster.He liked music.” “Wilhelminus ought to have been jealous,” Oduvit snickers.“Frederick disliked Claudius,” Tollo says, coming out of the reverie that often possesses him.“They fought often.” “That’s true enough,” says Hedrann.He leans back on his stool and winks.“Frederick disliked everyone,” Oduvit declares.“It doesn’t surprise me that he fell in battle.I am only puzzled that it took so long for someone to kill him.I would have thought he would have fallen to—”“Best not to say that where Hamlet can hear you,” Mect warns.“He took the loss of Frederick very hard.”“Yes, he did,” I second.“And do not suppose that he will be glad to be reminded of the way Frederick got on with Claudius.It would offend him.He dislikes hearing the dead spoken of without respect.” It may be useless to say this to Oduvit, but I believe that I must make some attempt to curb his impetuosity, for the sake of all of us jesters.“What difference does respect make to the dead?” Oduvit asks, and reached for the last of the roast pork that has been the center of our meal.As he gnaws on the slice he has pronged on his fork, he waves his other hand in the air in blithe dismissal of the dead.“They are not part of the earth except as clay.” “Don’t say that,” Hedrann protests, crossing himself and looking about as if he fears there may be ghosts listening to our conversation.“The dead are dead,” Oduvit persists.“When they were alive, they could be offended.But once in the ground?”“Leave it alone,” recommends Mect.Oduvit shrugs.“If you are too frightened to listen, then I suppose it’s best.” He favors Mect with a short, sarcastic bow.“I do not flee shadows, but perhaps my mind is freer than yours.” “Don’t confuse your mind with your tongue, and learn to guard the latter,” says Mect, his patience exhausted.“The day will come when you will have reason to regret your slights, otherwise.” Oduvit has more to drink.“The trouble with you, Mect, is that you don’t know what it is to be a jester, only a spy.”Mect rises from his place and leaves the Refectory without speaking another word, ignoring Oduvit’s triumphant cackles.RICARDISRicardis has come to visit the court and to spend several days with Gertrude and her women.She arrives with Polonius and is received with pomp in the main hall where Hamlet has assembled all the Counsellors to honor them.As soon as it is seemly, she hurries off with the Queen once the formalities are over.At Hamlet’s suggestion, I follow after them, shawm in hand, prepared to give them a few tunes while they talk, or to offer them other entertainment should their discussions flag.As usual, I am admitted with resignation and given a place at the far side of the Queen’s sewing room where I can be left to play, and where I will not intrude on their conversation.I settle on the hassock and give myself a little time trying to select a tune they would want to hear.Margitha is no longer truly fond of Ricardis, but she shows her the proper degree of cordiality.“It has been very different here with you gone,” she says, not adding that she has enjoyed a higher position.“I’ve missed you all, so very, very much,” says Ricardis, her voice low and full of feeling.” I didn’t realize how far away my husband’s family holdings are.It is as if we have reached the end of the world
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