Laer.
My necessaries are imbark'd, farewel;
And sister, as the winds give benefit,
And convoy is assistant; do not sleep,
But let me hear from you.

Oph.
Do you doubt that?

Laer.
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favours,
Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, tho' sweet, not lasting,
^{e note}The perfume, and suppliance of a minute;
No more.

Oph.
No more but so?

Laer.
Think it no more:
For nature crescent does not grow alone,
In † ^notethews and bulk; but as his temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
And now no ^{f note}soil nor cautel doth besmerch
The virtue of his ^{g note}will: but you must fear

His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own:
For he himself is subject to his birth;
He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Carve for himself; for on his choice depends
The sanctity and health of the whole state.
And therefore must his choice be circumscrib'd
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he's head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it,
As he in his peculiar ^{h note}act and place
May give his saying deed; which is no further,
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart; or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster'd importunity.
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep within the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough,
If she unmask her beauty to the moon:
Virtue it self scapes not calumnious strokes,
The canker galls the infants of the spring,
Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd;
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then, best safety lies in fear;
Youth to it self rebels, though none else near.

Oph.
I shall th' effects of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart. But good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Shew me the steep and thorny way to heav'n;
Whilst like a puft and careless libertine,

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
† ^noteAnd recks not his own reed.

Laer.
Oh, fear me not.

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