I would fain prove so. Pol. But what might you think, When I had seen this hot love on the wing (As I perceived it, I must tell you that, Before my daughter told me),-what might you, Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb; What might you think? No, I went round to work, Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness; And all we wail for. King. Do you think 't is this? Queen. It may be very likely. Pol. Hath there been such a time (I 'd fain know that), When it proved otherwise? Not that I know. King. Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise : [Pointing to his head and shoulder. If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed At such a time I 'll loose my daughter to him : Be you and I behind an arras then; Mark the encounter: if he love her not, And be not from his reason fallen thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm and carters. Queen. 45 [Goes up c. But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes, reading. Then I would you were so honest a man. Honest, my lord! Pol. Hamlet. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Pol. That 's very true, my lord. Hamlet. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion,-Have you a daughter? I have, my lord. Pol. Hamlet. Let her not walk i' the sun conception is a blessing; but not as your daughter may conceive: to 't. Pol. friend, look [Aside. Still harping on my daughter:-yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone, far gone and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.-What do you read, my lord ? Words, words, words. Hamlet. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here, that old men have grey 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 you yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward. Pol. [Aside. Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't.you walk out of the air, my lord? Will Into my grave? Hamlet. Pol. Indeed, that is out o' 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.— My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you. Hamlet. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal,- except my life, except my life, except my life. Fare you well, my lord. Pol. [Exit Polonius L. Hamlet. These tedious old fools! [As Polonius retires, he meets, outside, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest. Hamlet. Then is doomsday near: but your news is not true. In the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore? Ros. To visit you, my lord; no other occasion. Hamlet. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? with me: come, come; nay, speak. Come, deal justly |