My father's spirit in arms! all is not well;[266]
I doubt some foul play: would the night were come! 255
Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise,[267]
Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. [Exit.
Scene III. A room in Polonius's house.
Enter Laertes and Ophelia.[268]
Laer. My necessaries are embark'd: farewell:[269]
And, sister, as the winds give benefit
And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,[270]
But let me hear from you.
Oph. Do you doubt that?
Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,[271] 5
Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood,
A violet in the youth of primy nature,[272]
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,[273]
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;[274]
No more.
Oph. No more but so?
Laer. Think it no more:[275] 10
For nature crescent does not grow alone[276]
In thews and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,[277]
The inward service of the mind and soul[278]
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now;
And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch[279] 15
The virtue of his will: but you must fear,[280]
His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;[281]
For he himself is subject to his birth:[282]
He may not, as unvalued persons do,[283]
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends[284] 20
The safety and health of this whole state,[285]
And therefore must his choice be circumscribed
Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,[286]
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it 25
As he in his particular act and place[287]
May give his saying deed; which is no further
Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,[288]
If with too credent ear you list his songs,[289] 30
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open[290]
To his unmaster'd importunity.[291]
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
And keep you in the rear of your affection,[292]
Out of the shot and danger of desire. 35
The chariest maid is prodigal enough,
If she unmask her beauty to the moon:
Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes:
The canker galls the infants of the spring[293]
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,[294] 40
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear:
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,[295] 45
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,[296]
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,[297]
Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,[298]
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads[299] 50
And recks not his own rede.[300]
Laer. O, fear me not.
I stay too long: but here my father comes.