My day at the theatre.

Dear me, what a fabulous and fantastic afternoon it was yesterday!
I was invited by a friend to the premiere of Hamlet by the distinguished and somehow unusual playwright Mr Shakespeare.
To start with, I wonder why he set his play in Denmark: I really can't imagine the final slaughter scene in such a peaceful country, they may be a bit rowdy when they are drinking but definitely amiable companions (and here I'm silent....)
Then why is this Hamlet always asking questions? Hasn't he heard what his father told him, Revenge, revenge, repeated I don't know how many times, too exhausted to count them.
What I really loved was that noble character, King Claudius: how he spoke so meekly and so cleverly about this disloyal son (I'm sure the bad fame attached to stepsons comes from this Hamlet). Will anyone ever doubt of Claudius's prayers when that faint-hearted Hamlet has still to decide what to do?
The only thing that kept me there was the fine acting performed by Mr Burbage which really made me mad for his uncertainties and pallor, so that must have been his good acting. Well, yes I could also add the final scene with all that action and poison and blood spilling, but but ..... just a tad bit too late, I had been going around the grould for at least 30 times!!!!
So, why a fab afternoon? You know my friend was like a special friend and that made my afternoon anyway.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/shakespeares-hamlet-2/steps/21879/progress

Ozymandias

The ruined statue of Ozymandias in Luxor

Ozymandias  1818

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things,
The hand that mock'd them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Un viaggiatore da un’antica terra tornando
mi ha detto: due gambe senza tronco, enormi, in pietra
stanno su nel deserto… Un po’ sepolta accanto
sulla sabbia, una testa spezzata, e il suo cipiglio,
il labbro increspato, il ghigno di freddo comando,
dicono che lo scultore ha visto bene quelle passioni,
impresse in cose senza vita, e vive ancora
oltre la mano che le colse e il cuore che le nutrì:
sul piedistallo appaiono queste parole:
«Ozymandias è il mio nome, re dei re:
guardate le mie opere, o Potenti, e disperate!».
Non resta altro. Intorno alla rovina
di quel rudere immenso, nude, illimitate
sabbie lisce e deserte si stendono lontano.
(Traduzione di Gianfranco Palmery)