Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. Pol. The time invites you; go, your servants tend. Laer. Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well What I have said to you. Oph. 'Tis in my memory locked, And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Laer. Farewell. Pol. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? [Exit Oph. So please you, something touching the lord Hamlet. Pol. Marry, well bethought: 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you: and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and boun teous: If it be so, as so 'tis put on me, And that in way of caution,—I must tell you 80 90 As it behooves my daughter and your honor: Oph. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Pol. Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl, 100 Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Pol. 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. Oph. My lord, he hath impórtuned me with love In honorable fashion. 110 Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to. Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence; Than a command to parley. For lord Hamlet, Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers, — I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, SCENE IV The Platform [Exeunt Enter HAMLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS Ham. The air bites shrewdly. It is very Ham. What hour now? Hor. Mar. No, it is struck. cold. I think it lacks of twelve. 120 130 Hor. 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? Ham. The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse, Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; 10 And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Hor. Ham. Ay, marry, is❜t : Is it a custom? But to my mind, though I am native here And to the manner born, it is a custom More honored in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduced and taxed of other nations: They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase 20 Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes From our achievements, though performed at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. So, oft it chances in particular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As in their birth, – wherein they are not guilty, Being nature's livery, or fortune's star, — Shall in the general censure take corruption To his own scandal. Hor. Enter Ghost Look, my lord, it comes. Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us! Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comest in such a questionable shape That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father; royal Dane, O, answer me! Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell 30 40 |