ACT SECOND. SCENE I A room in Polonius's house. Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO. Pol. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo. Pol. You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo, Rey. Of his behavior. My lord, I did intend it. 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 expense; and finding By this encompassment and drift of question ΙΟ Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him, 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 What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank 20 Rev. As may dishonor him; take heed of that; As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarreling, Drabbing: you may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonor him. Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge. Rey. 30 That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly That they may seem the taints of liberty, The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind, A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault. Pol. Wherefore should you do this? Rey. Pol. But, my good lord, Ay, my lord, I would know that. Marry, sir, here's my drift, Your party in converse, him you would sound, 40 Rey. 'Good sir,' or so, or friend,' or 'gentleman,' Of man and country. Very good, my lord. Pol. And then, sir, does he this he does-what was I about to say? By the mass, I was about 50 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; Or then, or then, with such, or such; and, as you say, '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 windlasses and with assays of bias, 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. Rey. Good my lord! God be wi' you; fare you well. Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself. Rey. I shall, my lord. Pol. And let him ply his music. 60 70 Rey. Pol. Farewell! [Exit Reynaldo. Well, my lord. Enter OPHELIA. How now, Ophelia! what's the matter? Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! Pol. With what, i' the name of God? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, he comes before me. Pol. Mad for thy love? My lord, I do not know, Pol. What said he? Oph. But truly I do fear it. Oph. He took me by the wrist and held me hard; As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so; At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down, As it did seem to shatter all his bulk And end his being: that done, he lets me go: 80 90 He seem'd to find his way without his eyes; Whose violent property fordoes itself That does afflict our natures. I am sorry. 100 What, have you given him any hard words of late? Oph. No, my good lord, but, as you did command, I did repel his letters and denied Pol. His access to me. That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment ΙΙΟ I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle 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. Come. [Exeunt. |