What A Piece of Work is Man!

What_A_Piece_Of_Work_Is_Man_mp3 What a piece of work is man How noble in reason How infinite in faculties In form and movement how express and admirable In action how like an angel In apprehension how like a God The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals I have of late, but wherefore I know not lost all my mirth The goodly frame the Earth seems to me a sterile promontory This most excellent canopy, the air, look you This brave o'er-hanging firmament, this majestical roof Fretted with golden fire Why it seems naught to me  but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors What  a piece of work is man How noble in reason...

—The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Act II, Scene ii, 285-300) Happy Birthday to the Bard! I discovered my first bit of Hamlet because my father took me, at age 14, to see the theatrical production of "Hair" at the Los Angeles's Aquarius Theater, in 1972.  Hair was not as much about luxurious locks or getting naked on stage— as it was a protest against the sadism and insanity of the Vietnam War. This beautiful verse was originally sung on stage by Melba Moore and Ronald Dyson. I learned to wail the lyrics with great gusto and was shocked when my dad told me it was Shakespeare! I had to explore further. Here's the Hair Soundtrack - Link The photo is the incomparable Laurence Olivier in his 1948 film, Hamlet - link Wikipedia on this particular speech - link Why, YES! You can read aloud Hamlet right now!  - link