Hamlet

by: William Shakespeare

Act 2 Scene 2

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Original Text	Modern Text
POLONIUS I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.	POLONIUS I mean, what do the words say?
HAMLET Slanders, sir. For the satirical rogue says here that old men have gray beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams—all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward.	HAMLET Oh, just lies, sir. The sly writer says here that old men have gray beards, their faces are wrinkled, their eyes full of gunk, and that they have no wisdom and weak thighs. Of course I believe it all, but I don’t think it’s good manners to write it down, since you yourself, sir, would grow as old as I am, if you could only travel backward like a crab.
POLONIUS 195 (aside) Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t.—(to HAMLET) Will you walk out of the air, my lord?	POLONIUS (to himself) There’s a method to his madness. (to HAMLET) Will you step outside, my lord?
HAMLET Into my grave.	HAMLET Into my grave.
POLONIUS Indeed, that is out of the air. (aside) How pregnant sometimes his replies are. A happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter.—(to HAMLET) My honorable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.	POLONIUS Well, that’s certainly out of this world, all right. (to himself) His answers are so full of meaning sometimes! He has a way with words, as crazy people often do, and that sane people don’t have a talent for. I’ll leave him now and arrange a meeting between him and my daughter. (to HAMLET) My lord, I’ll take my leave “take my leave” = say good-bye take my leave of you now.
HAMLET 205You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal—except my life, except my life, except my life.	HAMLET You can’t take anything from me that I care less about—except my life, except my life, except my life.
POLONIUS Fare you well, my lord.	POLONIUS Good-bye, my lord.
HAMLET (aside) These tedious old fools!	HAMLET (to himself) These boring old fools!
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN	ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN enter.
POLONIUS 210You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.	POLONIUS You’re looking for Lord Hamlet. He’s right over there.

Read the Summary of Act II, scene ii

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