Contrast Gertrude with Ophelia, and you have a fiend of chicanery and crime, with a sweet angel of innocence: "Too good, too fair to be cast among the briers of this working day world and fall and bleed upon the thorns of life. Like a strain of sad, sweet music which comes floating by us on the wings of night and silence, like the exhalation of the violet dying even upon the sense it charms, like the snowflake dissolved in air before it has caught a stain of earth; like the light surf, severed from the billow, which a breath disperses, such is the character of the delicate and sanctified Ophelia." In December, 1601, the ban of disgrace was taken from the Globe Theatre, and Burbage and William were permitted to continue their dramatic exhibitions. "Hamlet" was played the night before Christmas. The house was packed closer than grass on an English lawn, and the applause was almost continuous, like the moan or roar of a distant sea. Shakspere played the Ghost, Burbage acted Hamlet, Jo Taylor played Horatio, Heminge played Ophelia, Peele played Polonius, Condell acted Claudius, Kempt played Gertrude, Cooke acted Laertes, and the other parts were taken by the best stock actors. The play opens up on a platform before the castle at "Elsinore," Copenhagen, Denmark. Bernardo and Francisco are soldiers on night duty. Bernardo says: "Who's there?" Francisco says: "Nay, answer me; stand and unfold yourself." The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to the night officers, and also to Horatio and Marcellus, but will not speak. They reveal the wonderful story to Hamlet, who makes ready to see and talk to the Ghost the next night at twelve o'clock. In the meantime, the king, queen and courtiers gather at the grand throne of the castle and talk of the late king. Hamlet is moody and sad, and will not be comforted, although persuaded by King Claudius and his mother. Claudius addressing Hamlet, says: _"But, now my nephew Hamlet, and my son How is it that the clouds still hang on you?"_ Hamlet says (aside): _"A little more than kin and less than kind. Not so, my lord; I am too much in the sun."_ Hamlet's mother rebukes him about grieving for his father, and says: _"Do not forever with thy veiled lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust; Thou knowest 'tis common, all that live must die, Passing through nature to eternity!"_ Hamlet says: _"Ay, madam, it is common."_ Queen says: _"If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee?"_ And then surcharged with suspicion of her secret villainy Hamlet exclaims: