Polonius.
Give him this mony, and these notes, Reynoldo.

Rey.
I will, my lord.

Pol.
You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynoldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquiry
Of his behaviour.

Rey.
My lord, I did intend it.

Pol.
Marry, well said; very well said. Look you, Sir,
Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expence; and finding,
By this encompassment and drift of question,
That they do know my son; come you more near;
Then your particular demands will touch it;
Take you, as 'twere some distant knowledge of him,
As thus—I know his father and his friends,
And in part him—Do you mark this, Reynoldo?

Rey.
Ay, very, well, my lord.

Pol.
And in part him—but you may say—not well;
But if't be he, I mean, he's very wild;
Addicted so and so—and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank,
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;
But, Sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips,

As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

Rey.
As gaming, my lord—

Pol.
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarrelling, drabbing—You may go so far.

Rey.
My lord, that would dishonour him.

Pol.
Faith, no, as you may season it in the Charge;
You must not put another scandal on him,(23) ^note

Rey.
But, my good lord—

Pol.
Wherefore should you do this?

Rey.
Ay, my lord, I would know that.

Pol.
Marry, Sir, here's my drift;

And, I believe, it is a fetch of wit.
You, laying these slight sullies on my son,(24) ^note




As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th' working,
Mark you, your party in converse, he you would sound,
Having ever seen, in the prenominate crimes,
The youth, you breath of, guilty, be assur'd,
He closes with you in this consequence;
Good sir, or so, or friend, or gentleman,
(According to the phrase or the addition
Of man and country.)

Rey.
Very good, my lord.

Pol.
And then, Sir, does he this;
He do's—what was I about to say?
I was about to say something—where did I leave?—

Rey.
At, closes in the consequence.

Pol.
At, closes in the consequence—Ay, marry,
He closes thus;—I know the Gentleman,
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,
Or then, with such and such; and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in's rowse,
There falling out at tennis; or, perchance,
I saw him enter such a house of sale,
Videlicet, a Brothel, or so forth.—See you now;
Your bait of Falshood takes this carp of Truth;
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlaces, and with assays of Byas,
By indirections find directions out:
So by my former lecture and advice
Shall you my son; you have me, have you not?

Rey.
My lord, I have.

Pol.
God b'w' you; fare you well.

Rey.
Good my lord—

Pol.
Observe his inclination in yourself.

Rey.
I shall, my lord.

Pol.
And let him ply his musick.

Rey.
Well, my lord. [Exit. Enter Ophelia.

Pol.
Farewel. How now, Ophelia, what's the matter?

Oph.
Alas, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

Pol.
With what, in the name of heav'n?

Oph.
My lord, as I was sowing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his Doublet all unbrac'd,
No hat upon his head, his stockings loose,(25) ^note

Pol.
Mad for thy love?

Oph.
My lord, I do not know:

But, truly, I do fear it.

Pol.
What said he?

Oph.
He took me by the wrist, and held me hard;
Then goes he to the length of all his arm;
And with his other hand, thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face,
As he would draw it. Long time staid he so;
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He rais'd a sigh, so piteous and profound,
That it did seem to shatter all his bulk,
And end his Being. Then he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd,
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' doors he went without their help,
And, to the last, bended their light on me.

Pol.
Come, go with me, I will go seek the King.
This is the very ecstasie of love;
Whose violent property foredoes it self,
And leads the will to desp'rate undertakings,
As oft as any passion under heav'n,
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry;
What, have you giv'n him any hard words of late?

Oph.
No, my good lord; but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters, and deny'd
His access to me.

Pol.
That hath made him mad.
I'm sorry, that with better speed and judgment(26) ^note

I had not quoted him. I fear'd, he trifl'd,
And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousie;
It seems, it is as proper to our age
To cast beyond our selves in our opinions,
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. Come; go we to the King.
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move
More grief to hide, than hate to utter, love. [Exeunt.

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