Given private time to you, and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous, And that in way of caution-I must tell you, Ophelia. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Polonius. Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? Ophelia. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Polonius. Marry, I'll teach you; think yourself a baby, That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or-not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus-you 'll tender me a fool. Ophelia. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love In honourable fashion. Polonius. Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to. 190 Ophelia. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Polonius. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows; these blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat, extinct in both, Even in their promise, as it is a-making, You must not take for fire. From this time Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence, Set your entreatments at a higher rate Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, Believe so much in him, that he is young, And with a larger tether may he walk 120 Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia, I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, SCENE IV. The Platform. Enter HAMLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS. Hamlet. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold, Horatio. It is a nipping and an eager air. Hamlet. What hour now? Horatio. Hamlet. No, it is struck. 139 [Exeurt. I think it lacks of twelve. Horatio. Indeed? I heard it not it then draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. [A flourish of trumpets and ordnance shot off within. What does this mean, my lord? Hamlet. The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels ; And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Horatio. Hamlet. Ay, marry is 't; Is it a custom? But to my mind, though I am native here 10 More honour'd in the breach than the observance. Makes us traduc'd and tax'd of other nations : From our achievements, though perform'd at height, So, oft it chances in particular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, Shall in the general censure take corruption Horatio. Look, my lord, it comes! Enter GHOST. Hamlet. Angels and ministers of grace defend us!- Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Thou contest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre, Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws, [Ghost beckons Hamlet Horatio. It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire Marcellus. Look, with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground: But do not go with it. Horatio. No, by no means. Hamlet. It will not speak; then I will follow it. Hamlet. 50 60 Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life at a pin's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. Horatio. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff Char Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And makes each petty artery in this body By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me! [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet. Marcellus. 89 Nay, let's follow him. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Another Part of the Platform. Enter GHOST and HAMLET. Hamlet. Where wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing To what I shall unfold. Hamlet. Speak; I am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. |