Horatio:
Lord Fortinbras, the tragedy that took place here was so sorrowful I pray you forgive my lapses.
This tale begins when My Lord Hamlet and I arrived at Ellsinore castle to observe the funeral of King Hamlet, Hamlet's father, and the wedding of King Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, to Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. All were senseless when you came. However,
My Lord Hamlet was most upset at his mother's remarriage a mere two months after the King's death.
That night, I was called by the watch to see a strange thing, a spectre, looking so much like the recently dead King. I tried to communicate with it but I could not get it to speak. The next night, My Lord Hamlet was along. Hamlet had a great deal more luck than the watchmen or I had had. He spoke with the spirit a long while. Hamlet came back to us and swore to secrecy. Later he told me of how the ghost spoke of being murdered by his brother Claudius, poisoned as he slumbered unknowing in the garden. Claudius had coveted King Hamlet's crown and wife. The spectre wanted Hamlet to avenge his murder most foul. The spectre further instructed that the Queen was to be left alone, to heaven. Hamlet was greatly upset at this.
Over the next few days, Hamlet's distress became increasingly apparent as he acted most strangely. Many theories were concocted to explain his behavior. Quite a few were deeply amusing. The most popular revealed how poor Hamlet was quite love sick.
When the players arrived at Ellsinore on their yearly journey, Hamlet came up with an idea. He would have the players modify their play, making it similar to the murder of King Hamlet by Claudius. My Lord Hamlet thought to watch the King for signs of guilt. He requested I watch as well.
During the play the King was visibly rattled to the point where he called for lights and stopped the play. Hamlet acted like everything was a big joke but now we knew the king was guilty. Claudius took how Hamlet during the play as final proof of Hamlet's madness. He had Hamlet sent to England to be quietly executed. Hamlet came back though and poisoned the king but not before he, himself, was poisoned. As Hamlet lay dying, he bade me live, to tell his story.