AMREV-HESSIANS-L Archives

From: ROBERT B DIRLAM <>
Subject: Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Question about a German Sign - About Bones and Charnel Houses
Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 21:06:49 -0400

About Bones and Charnel Houses:

I am reminded of my high school days and a line from Shakespeare's
Hamlet:
--From Hamlet (V, i, 203-204):

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of
most excellent fancy."
(Often misquoted as 'Alas poor Yorick, I knew him well').

My English teacher said that it was common in Shakespeare's time to
remove the bones from a grave after a few years, after the flesh was
gone, (maybe ten years) and to store the bones in the church basement or
a charnel house. This was to make room to bury another body. I was
shocked at the time. Apparently, however, this was also commonly
practiced and may still be practiced, from time to time, in America.

HAMLET:

Hamlet and Horatio come upon the grave of Ophelia, who killed herself
after having gone mad. Hamlet is angry over the nonchalant way the two
grave-diggers go about their job, singing and bantering while they dig.
One of them digs up a skull that belonged to Hamlet's father's jester,
Yorick. (The jester's bones were to be removed to the charnel
house).Hamlet takes the skull in hand, and this ignites his thoughts on
death and the ultimate and inescapable destruction of even the most
powerful people. (from: http://www.allshakespeare.com/quotes/305)

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of
most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and
now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at it. Here hung
those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes
now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont
to set the table on a roar? Not one now, to mock your own grinning? quite
chap-fallen? Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her
paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her laugh at
that. Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing". (From:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/25500.html)

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• Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Question about a German Sign - About Bones and Charnel Houses by ROBERT B DIRLAM <>