Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue

Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue

In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the character Hamlet gives a piece of advice to the actors who are about to perform a play within the play. He instructs them to "speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue." This line is not only a practical instruction for the actors, but it also serves as a reflection of Shakespeare's own approach to language and performance.

Shakespeare was a master of language, and his plays are known for their rich and poetic dialogue. The language in his plays is meant to be spoken aloud, and the rhythm and flow of the words are crucial to the overall effect of the play. By instructing the actors to speak the speech "trippingly on the tongue," Hamlet is emphasizing the importance of delivering the lines with clarity, precision, and fluency.

Shakespeare himself was an actor and a playwright, and he understood the power of language in performance. He wrote his plays with the intention of having them performed on stage, and he carefully crafted his dialogue to be spoken by actors. Instructing the actors to speak the speech as he pronounced it is a way for Shakespeare to ensure that his words are delivered in the way he intended.

The phrase "trippingly on the tongue" suggests a lightness and agility in the delivery of the lines. It implies a certain musicality and rhythm in the speech, as if the words are dancing off the tongue. By speaking the speech in this way, the actors can bring the language to life and engage the audience in a more dynamic and compelling way.

Overall, Hamlet's instruction to speak the speech "trippingly on the tongue" is a reminder of the importance of language in Shakespeare's plays. It serves as a reflection of Shakespeare's own approach to language and performance, and it highlights the beauty and power of his words when spoken aloud. By following this advice, actors can bring Shakespeare's language to life and create a truly memorable and impactful performance.