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Enter POLONIUS with his man REYNALDO
Enter POLONIUS with his man REYNALDO

POLONIUS

Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

POLONIUS

Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

REYNALDO

I will, my lord.

REYNALDO

I will, my lord.

POLONIUS

You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire
5 Of his behavior.

POLONIUS

You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire
Of his behavior.

REYNALDO

My lord, I did intend it.

REYNALDO

My lord, I did intend it.

POLONIUS

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
10 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 ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,
As thus: “I know his father and his friends,
15 And, in part, him.” Do you mark this, Reynaldo?

POLONIUS

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
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than 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, Reynaldo?

REYNALDO

Ay, very well, my lord.

REYNALDO

Ay, very well, my lord.

POLONIUS

“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
20 What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank
As may dishonor him. Take heed of that.
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips

POLONIUS

“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 dishonor him. Take heed of that.
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

REYNALDO

As gaming, my lord?

REYNALDO

As gaming, my lord?

POLONIUS

25 Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far.

POLONIUS

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far.

REYNALDO

My lord, that would dishonor him!

REYNALDO

My lord, that would dishonor him!

POLONIUS

'Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him
30 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 outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
35 Of general assault.

POLONIUS

'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 outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
Of general assault.

REYNALDO

But, my good lord—

REYNALDO

But, my good lord—

POLONIUS

Wherefore should you do this?

POLONIUS

Wherefore should you do this?

REYNALDO

Ay, my lord. I would know that.

REYNALDO

Ay, my lord. I would know that.

POLONIUS

Marry, sir, here’s my drift:
(And I believe it is a fetch of wit)
40 You, laying these slight sullies on my son
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i' th' working—
Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured
45 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.

POLONIUS

Marry, sir, here’s my drift:
(And I believe it is a fetch of wit)
You, laying these slight sullies on my son
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i' th' working—
Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured
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.

REYNALDO

Very good, my lord.

REYNALDO

Very good, my lord.

POLONIUS

And then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?

POLONIUS

And then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?

REYNALDO

At “closes in the consequence,” at “‘friend,’
Or so” and “‘gentleman.’”

REYNALDO

At “closes in the consequence,” at “‘friend,’
Or so” and “‘gentleman.’”

POLONIUS

At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry.
55 He closes thus: “I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday”—or “t' other day,”
Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in’s rouse,
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 falsehood takes this carp of truth.
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
65 By indirections find directions out.
So by my former lecture and advice
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

POLONIUS

At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry.
He closes thus: “I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday”—or “t' other day,”
Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in’s rouse,
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 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?

REYNALDO

My lord, I have.

REYNALDO

My lord, I have.

POLONIUS

God be wi' you. Fare you well.

POLONIUS

God be wi' you. Fare you well.

REYNALDO

Good my lord.

REYNALDO

Good my lord.

POLONIUS

70 Observe his inclination in yourself.

POLONIUS

Observe his inclination in yourself.

REYNALDO

I shall, my lord.

REYNALDO

I shall, my lord.

POLONIUS

And let him ply his music.

POLONIUS

And let him ply his music.

REYNALDO

Well, my lord.

REYNALDO

Well, my lord.

POLONIUS

Farewell.

POLONIUS

Farewell.
Exit REYNALDO
Exit REYNALDO
Enter OPHELIA
Enter OPHELIA
How now, Ophelia? What’s the matter?
How now, Ophelia? What’s the matter?

OPHELIA

75 O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

OPHELIA

O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

POLONIUS

With what, i' th' name of God?

POLONIUS

With what, i' th' name of God?

OPHELIA

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,
80 Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle;
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosèd out of hell
To speak of horrors—he comes before me.

OPHELIA

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,
Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle;
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosèd out of hell
To speak of horrors—he comes before me.

POLONIUS

85 Mad for thy love?

POLONIUS

Mad for thy love?

OPHELIA

My lord, I do not know.
But truly, I do fear it.

OPHELIA

My lord, I do not know.
But truly, I do fear it.

POLONIUS

What said he?

POLONIUS

What said he?

OPHELIA

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,
90 He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it. Long stayed he so.

OPHELIA

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 stayed he so.
At last, a little shaking of mine arm
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
95 As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
For out o' doors he went without their helps,
100 And to the last bended their light on me.
At last, a little shaking of mine arm
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
For out o' doors he went without their helps,
And to the last bended their light on me.

POLONIUS

Come, go with me. I will go seek the king.
This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
105 As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

POLONIUS

Come, go with me. I will go seek the king.
This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

OPHELIA

No, my good lord. But as you did command
I did repel his fetters and denied
110 His access to me.

OPHELIA

No, my good lord. But as you did command
I did repel his fetters and denied
His access to me.

POLONIUS

That hath made him mad.
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle
And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
115 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.
120 Come.

POLONIUS

That hath made him mad.
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle
And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, 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.
Come.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter POLONIUS with his man REYNALDO
Enter POLONIUS with his man REYNALDO

POLONIUS

Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

POLONIUS

Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

REYNALDO

I will, my lord.

REYNALDO

I will, my lord.

POLONIUS

You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire
5 Of his behavior.

POLONIUS

You shall do marvelous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire
Of his behavior.

REYNALDO

My lord, I did intend it.

REYNALDO

My lord, I did intend it.

POLONIUS

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
10 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 ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,
As thus: “I know his father and his friends,
15 And, in part, him.” Do you mark this, Reynaldo?

POLONIUS

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
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than 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, Reynaldo?

REYNALDO

Ay, very well, my lord.

REYNALDO

Ay, very well, my lord.

POLONIUS

“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
20 What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank
As may dishonor him. Take heed of that.
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips

POLONIUS

“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 dishonor him. Take heed of that.
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

REYNALDO

As gaming, my lord?

REYNALDO

As gaming, my lord?

POLONIUS

25 Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far.

POLONIUS

Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling, drabbing—you may go so far.

REYNALDO

My lord, that would dishonor him!

REYNALDO

My lord, that would dishonor him!

POLONIUS

'Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him
30 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 outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
35 Of general assault.

POLONIUS

'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 outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
Of general assault.

REYNALDO

But, my good lord—

REYNALDO

But, my good lord—

POLONIUS

Wherefore should you do this?

POLONIUS

Wherefore should you do this?

REYNALDO

Ay, my lord. I would know that.

REYNALDO

Ay, my lord. I would know that.

POLONIUS

Marry, sir, here’s my drift:
(And I believe it is a fetch of wit)
40 You, laying these slight sullies on my son
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i' th' working—
Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured
45 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.

POLONIUS

Marry, sir, here’s my drift:
(And I believe it is a fetch of wit)
You, laying these slight sullies on my son
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i' th' working—
Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured
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.

REYNALDO

Very good, my lord.

REYNALDO

Very good, my lord.

POLONIUS

And then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?

POLONIUS

And then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?

REYNALDO

At “closes in the consequence,” at “‘friend,’
Or so” and “‘gentleman.’”

REYNALDO

At “closes in the consequence,” at “‘friend,’
Or so” and “‘gentleman.’”

POLONIUS

At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry.
55 He closes thus: “I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday”—or “t' other day,”
Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in’s rouse,
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 falsehood takes this carp of truth.
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
65 By indirections find directions out.
So by my former lecture and advice
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

POLONIUS

At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry.
He closes thus: “I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday”—or “t' other day,”
Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in’s rouse,
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 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?

REYNALDO

My lord, I have.

REYNALDO

My lord, I have.

POLONIUS

God be wi' you. Fare you well.

POLONIUS

God be wi' you. Fare you well.

REYNALDO

Good my lord.

REYNALDO

Good my lord.

POLONIUS

70 Observe his inclination in yourself.

POLONIUS

Observe his inclination in yourself.

REYNALDO

I shall, my lord.

REYNALDO

I shall, my lord.

POLONIUS

And let him ply his music.

POLONIUS

And let him ply his music.

REYNALDO

Well, my lord.

REYNALDO

Well, my lord.

POLONIUS

Farewell.

POLONIUS

Farewell.
Exit REYNALDO
Exit REYNALDO
Enter OPHELIA
Enter OPHELIA
How now, Ophelia? What’s the matter?
How now, Ophelia? What’s the matter?

OPHELIA

75 O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

OPHELIA

O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

POLONIUS

With what, i' th' name of God?

POLONIUS

With what, i' th' name of God?

OPHELIA

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,
80 Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle;
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosèd out of hell
To speak of horrors—he comes before me.

OPHELIA

My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,
Ungartered, and down-gyvèd to his ankle;
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other;
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosèd out of hell
To speak of horrors—he comes before me.

POLONIUS

85 Mad for thy love?

POLONIUS

Mad for thy love?

OPHELIA

My lord, I do not know.
But truly, I do fear it.

OPHELIA

My lord, I do not know.
But truly, I do fear it.

POLONIUS

What said he?

POLONIUS

What said he?

OPHELIA

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,
90 He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it. Long stayed he so.

OPHELIA

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 stayed he so.
At last, a little shaking of mine arm
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
95 As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
For out o' doors he went without their helps,
100 And to the last bended their light on me.
At last, a little shaking of mine arm
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk
And end his being. That done, he lets me go,
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
He seemed to find his way without his eyes,
For out o' doors he went without their helps,
And to the last bended their light on me.

POLONIUS

Come, go with me. I will go seek the king.
This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
105 As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

POLONIUS

Come, go with me. I will go seek the king.
This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

OPHELIA

No, my good lord. But as you did command
I did repel his fetters and denied
110 His access to me.

OPHELIA

No, my good lord. But as you did command
I did repel his fetters and denied
His access to me.

POLONIUS

That hath made him mad.
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle
And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
115 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.
120 Come.

POLONIUS

That hath made him mad.
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle
And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, 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.
Come.
Exeunt
Exeunt
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