Original Text
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Modern Text
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POLONIUS
I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
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POLONIUS
I mean, what do the words say?
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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.
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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.
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POLONIUS
195
(aside) Though this be madness, yet
there is method in ’t.—(to
HAMLET) Will you walk out of the air,
my lord?
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POLONIUS
(to himself) There’s a
method to his madness. (to
HAMLET) Will you step outside, my
lord?
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HAMLET
Into my grave.
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HAMLET
Into my grave.
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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.
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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
of you now. |
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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.
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HAMLET
You can’t take anything from me that I care less
about—except my life, except my life, except my
life.
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POLONIUS
Fare you well, my lord.
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POLONIUS
Good-bye, my lord.
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HAMLET
(aside) These tedious old
fools!
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HAMLET
(to himself) These boring old
fools!
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Enter ROSENCRANTZ and
GUILDENSTERN
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ROSENCRANTZ and
GUILDENSTERN enter.
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POLONIUS
210You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.
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POLONIUS
You’re looking for Lord Hamlet. He’s right
over there.
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