How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, That you, at such times seeing me, never shall As, "Well, we know ;"-or, "We could, an if we would ;" Or, "If we list to speak;"-or, "There be, an if there might;" Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me :-This not to do, Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear. Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you: And what so poor a man as Hamlet is May do, to express his love and friending to you, The time is out of joint ;-O cursed spite! [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.-A Room in Polonius' House. Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO. Pol. Give him his money, and these notes, Reynaldo. Rey. I will, my lord. Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquiry Of his behaviour. Rey. My lord, I did intend it. a Pol. Marry, well said: very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire 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 nearer Than your particular demands will touch it : Take you, as 't were, some distant knowledge of him As thus,-" I know his father, and his friends, And, in part, him ;"-Do you mark this, Reynaldo? 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 Rey. As gaming, my lord. a Danske is used by old writers as the ancient name of Denmark. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing :-You may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him. Fol. '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: A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault. Rey. Pol. Wherefore should you do this? Rey. I would know that. Pol. But, my good lord, Ay, my lord, Marry, sir, here's my drift; And, I believe, it is a fetch of warrant : Your party in converse, him you would sound, Rey. Very good, my lord. Pol. And then, sir, does he this,-He doesWhat was I about to say? I was about to say something :-Where did I leave? Rey. At, "closes in the consequence." At "friend, or so, and gentleman." Pol. At, closes in the consequence, Ay, marry ; He closes with you thus :-"I know the gentleman; I saw him yesterday, or t' other day, Or then, or then; with such, and such; and, as you say, There was he gaming; there o'ertook in his rouse : I saw him enter such a house of sale (Videlicet, a brothel,) or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth: And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlaces, and with assays of bias, So, by my former lecture and advice, Shall you my son: You have me, have you not? Pol. God be wi' 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 music. Rey. Well, my lord. [Exit. Enter OPHELIA. Pol. Farewell!-How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Oph. Alas, my lord, I have been so affrighted! Pol. With what, in the name of heaven? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my chamber, To speak of horrors, he comes before me. Oph. But, truly, I do fear it. My lord, I do not know; Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard; As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so; a Whose violent property foredoes itself, That does afflict our natures. I am sorry,- Oph. No, my good lord; but, as you did command, I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment, I had not quoted him: I fear'd, he did but trifle, And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy! It seems it is as proper to our age To cast beyond ourselves 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. a Foredoes-destroys, undoes. b Quoted-observed, noted. |