"TO BE OR NOT TO BE"

by Richard C. Jaffeson

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                           F A M E   F O R U M 

                           N E W S L E T T E R

                   N A T I O N A L   W O M E N 'S
          B A S E B A L L   H A L L   O F   F A M E

                    National Syndicated Column
                       (contents are protected)
   Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2006
TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972,
TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893,
TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149,
TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784,
TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769,
TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU180346.

                          Issue Number 00328

__________________________________________
 
Volume IX, Number 07                    Publisher and Author
February 24, 2006                             Richard C. Jaffeson
Washington, DC                             HallFame@usa.com

                 http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame
__________________________________________

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COLUMN:  TO BE OR NOT TO BE (PART III)
                    by Richard C. Jaffeson


Prologue

A former King, heretofore respected throughout his realm
for remarkable deeds accomplished during a nineteen year
triumphal reign, that in his youth was twice interrupted
by foreign wars which he fortuitously emerged unscathed,
finally succumbed to internal ailments in advanced age.

Whereupon, a misguided prince absconded with the body
of his honorable father for subjugation to most unholy acts
akin to witchcraft and sorcery without regard to royally
sanctioned ceremony and formally specified provision.

Before enactment of explicit disposition off a beloved
tranquil coast, the King's remains in the darkness of a
midsummer night were stealthily flown to a distant land
where it was beheaded and frozen, and steeled away in
guarded containers with the mystifying supposition that
at some future date it would be reunited again in life.

A true friend and confidant of the King, who encountered
a fateful untimely early demise, attempted to extricate
his liege's remains from this most ungodly condition so
it could be attended to properly in accordance with the
last will and testament.  Thus, the departed King would
be delivered to the heavenly host with respect and dignity,
a reflection of his acknowledged high status, and that
his spirit could be brought to peaceful rest and not be
subject to walk this earth alone forever.

Personae

Specter - King's ghostly apparition
Vedette - Stadium sentinel on watch
Horatio - Witness to tragic tidings
Artimus - King's deceased confidant

 

Dialogue

Along the stadium walls in a kingdom's capital where once a
noble sovereign managed fates of senators and citizens alike,
along a wide muddied branch of an often forgotten tributary,
one lone sentinel taking nightly rounds harshly called out.

Vedette: "What ho?  Stand to!  Who enters here?  Remark!"

Horatio: "Tis only your compatriot.  How goes the watch?"

Vedette: "Hold fast!  I command!  What say the password?"

Horatio: "Which manner of spirit vexes thee near midnight by
such knavishness, a voice known a thousand times more by but
one utterance for surely in any stupor thou recognizes this
familiar tone with or without words.  If need be so played
to entertain and encounter this scene, I do willingly utter,
'Slodka Gruzja brazowy.'  Now pray allow me safe enactment."

Vedette: "My dearest friend.  Prayers aplenty are required
before this night's finale.  Forgive that impetuousness in
this most unsettled condition."

Horatio: "Did it appear again?"

Vedette: "Aye, only to my second self would I confess for
no one else would I divulge or even dare to understand the
dark nature of this thing, this apparition, a continuance
so disquiets and perplexes me."

Horatio: "Thus, as was before.  Be it our King?"

Vedette: "Double aye, my lord!  There it floated above the
highest ramparts of Elsinore," the sentinel motioned with
a hand to where the apparition transformed itself into a
chilling unsettled worldly guise.

"At first, I could not tell if it be ruler or player from
vestiges of its garb, and it would not harken to my call,
but held to hovering.  Perhaps, it to you, for you knew
him well in courts and on fields."

Horatio: "Perhaps it be so, and thus here we shall remain
to usher in the royal presence, and upon return listen to
commandments, if it be disposed.  Though late, much time
remains before the first crow.  If witnesses be needed,
these accountants are two.  We shall see.  Here I brought
extra cloaks to ward the night for the air bites shrewdly."

Two colleagues stood firmly to watch the ramparts in the
otherwise vacant stately structure as invisible ghostly
clouds and currents washed past.  In anticipation, they
waited the apparition's return reluctant to speak until
the younger sentinel whispered to break the silence.

Vedette: "How long since hence it be our noble King?"

Horatio: "Three years plus since the fateful summer.
The next month would have seen his eighty-fourth year.
His time was not unexpected with such afflictions of
liver, kidneys, heart; for it was a suitable feast to
stroke the once mighty off the field of valor."

"It was that which occurred afterwards which provided
the meat of dissention, a most foul deed of misguided
prince who without blessings stole the royal presence,
and beheaded and frozen in a distant land supported
claims of restoration and immortality by followers
of the oldest hoax to plague mankind.  Only the true
eternal Lord has power of life and death, promises of
resurrection are His alone and beyond mere mortals."

"Not patricide or regicide, but visitation to ungodly
realms was dispatched one most noble for this rendition
verily be said, it was not good to be the King."

Vedette: "Did not the King portend this unsavoriness?"

Horatio: "Not by royal will in '96 or by contracts in
'02 to affect this unholiest of business which claims
life after death."

Vedette: "Although frozen as is a diamond, there is
something unsavory and spoiled in our scared grounds."

Horatio: "You see the tragedy and concern before us."

Vedette: "But, wait," there was a most fearful pause,
"I sense the loneliest of midnight chills as before."

Horatio: "Oh, greatest trepidation, most honored King.
I am too humbled to behold.  From the cold sepulcher,
not a strain from heaven or blast from hell for it comes
somewhere in between.  Shall I call thee our 'King,' or
'Splendid Splinter,' thy twice triple crowned monarch.
Look, my lord comes!"

Awestruck they stepped back clutching their cloaks and
slightly kneeling as the apparition appeared.

Specter: "Mark me well, and fear not my words for they
will not strike on thee, but serve only as double-edged
swords to correct wrongful deeds and misguided actions
which have forced my illusion."

"I am doomed to walk the night and for the day remain
beheaded and frozen in strange liquid till the foulest
crimes are purged away.  But, I am forbade to tell the
secrets of my prison house for if the tale of it unfold
would harrow thy soul and freeze thy blood crystal cold.
Revenge this foul deed and avenge the unnatural murder."

Horatio: "Murder?"

Specter: "Murder most foul of closest friend set upon
to uncover and secure my remains for placement as was
original intent.  What transpired after dismemberment
is a matter of both deaths of those involved, and tis
time to set the record straight."

Horatio: "I seek to put the matter whole, my lord, and
follow as you beckon to correct this shame."

Specter: "During the year before this scene was written,
in '02 I drew my last breath, and for that ending there
is no complaint that His will be done.  I played it well.
But, being beheaded and frozen soon after this worldly
departed was not in my request by document or contract."

"Upon death they did quickly drain all natural vestiges
of vital fluids, and slowly torturously force with head
removed to lower what remained in a pool pure of liquid
nitrogen, an unearthly atmosphere of below 340 degrees.
Thus, these royal shrouds were stored in separate steel
containers with soul departed and head and body parted."

"But, in subsequent year, honorable friend Artimus on
merit and oath to never allow a comrade remain behind,
always faithful did investigate my placement to reveal
sordid conditions in an attempt to secure my release,
and inform the globe as what transpired."

"And, for his efforts he met a quick fate, and awaits
to greet me further hence once these matters settle.
They claim it was by his own hand and sword, but this
was not the case, for he had no reason to go thusly.
At the time, through conversations reported, he most
pleasantly was disposed."

Vedette: "True, I read the watch commander's entry
on this matter for the fateful week proved no signal
of his dispatch.  His mission was to save a friend,
you my King, and his other work favored remembrance
of another, your hero in shoeless ghostly form.
Some claim he was too close to you, sire."

Specter: "Yes, in my presence at its frozen realm,
he was a goodman who saw my face to dell it close,
as I did once with that of poor Yorick.  Even a
Great Alexander would look as thus, but he was
never crystallized and split asunder.  Even mighty
Egyptians thought they had the cure, which only
gave cause to grave diggers and the fires of iron
boilers in future years.  And, now mock me still
from where I cannot defend, a false head was
displayed to disdain my fame and name.  More
of a sordid plot by this strange and twisted hoax,
which only lacks Zimmermann's epistle to declare
this a just war."

"Ah, my friend and confidant so remains unsolved and
yet to be resolved.  His reports were published in
August '03, and for those words his fate was sealed
by the February next.  And, for he who arranged my
condition, also shares a princely steel cylinder,
but this by his own choice as an unknowing follower
the next month after my friend.  Thus, there is the
debaucher of myself and the double deaths to attend
before the royal community sleeps well."

Horatio: "What do you propose our course?  Perhaps,
infiltration as Prussia did to Fortinbras of Norway?
With false promises and treaties, and Quisling-like
treachery within, their ships sailed to seven ports.
Inside were not German wines, grains, and cheeses;
but troops with armor to take sleeping Norwegian
cities without a drop of blood.  We could the same
with false containers, and once inside the fortress
where you remain our agents could release you, and
bring you safe harbor."

Specter: "Such a ruse, even if successful, would be
claimed as thievery and is dishonorable.  And, I as
contractual property without rights would be forced
to return.  Instead, I think of the Alito ploy."

Horatio: "You speak of chess?"

Specter: "Hardly a game more important than one of
your own who seeks justice.  His skills and forms
were desired above all else, but conditions being
what they are, he could never be chosen forthright.
A substitute was proposed first, unacceptable to
all sides, and withdrawn after a time, so the true
candidate could be presented without substantive
dissention.  This would never have occurred if he
emerged straightforward.  The same approach should
be for the King's remains, it cannot be addressed
directly but secondarily.  And, then proceed with
the mission where former opposition is in agreement
with our plan."

Horatio: "We present an option so they willingly
relinquish your remains as undesirable?  How so?"

Specter: "Make it so that it is they who do not
want me, and convince them of the liability."

Horatio: "Again, my liege, through what endeavor?
Complaints of false promises?  Misuse of insurance
trusts?  Formidable religious inquiries?"

Specter: "If I divulge to comment, then the plan
be known to all, and it will not proceed forthwith.
They will on their own accord soon discover the
unsuitability of this folly, and so release us all
for there are others who are also imprisoned."

"But, soft, methinks I scent the morning air, and
must fly to my steeled grave.  Consider my words.
So adieu, adieu, remember me!"

The ghostly vision passed as two witnesses stood
together as the first light of day began to beckon.

Horatio: "Say, what think you of this encounter?"

Vedette: "It is commendable in your nature to give
these duties favor.  But, lost is lost, obsequious
sorrow, and no preserver art thou.  Do not display
stubbornness, and let this fly.  Tis unnatural to
worry and proceed on such nebulous recommendation.
Tis a fault to heaven, a fault against the dead,
a fault to nature; not ours meant for correction.
Think upon other matters, do not subject yourself
to this contrary.  I beseech you, bend the issue,
and place cheer and comfort in your eyes."

Horatio: "I must take up the cup, and not let it
stand as unknown and left behind for I held him
dearly in my memory and need change this grave
misguided wrong.  Remain I must to tell the story
for there is divinity which shapes our world."

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Note:

Significantly modified from "Hamlet,"
circa 1603, by William Shakespeare.
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__________________________________________

  NATIONAL WOMEN'S BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
             Richard C. Jaffeson, Executive Director
     PO Box 15282, Chevy Chase, Maryland  20825

                           HallFame@USA.com
                  http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame

         "National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame"
         is a registered trade name with the State
         of Maryland.  MD672265, October 19, 1998.

         Programs, articles, and contents presented
         herein are protected under provisions of the
         U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
         Fame Forum registrations are listed below:

TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972,
TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893,
TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149,
TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784,
TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769,
TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU180346.

      Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2006
___________________________________________