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,
That he is open to incontinency,
That's not my meaning; but breathe his faults so quaintly,
That they may seem the taints of liberty;
The flash and out-break of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimed blood
Of general assault.

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 sallies on my son,
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th' working,
Mark you your party in converse; him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes,
The youth you speak 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 ^{a note}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 your self.

Rey.
I shall, my lord.

Pol.
And let him ply his musick.

Rey.
Well, my lord. [Exit.

Next section