Drama
61 Hamlet: Act 2
William Shakespeare
Hamlet (Modern, Editor’s Version). Internet Shakespeare Editions. University of Victoria. Editor: David Bevington. Adapted by James Sexton.
Scene 1
Enter[1] old Polonius, with his man [Reynaldo] or two.
890Polonius
Give him[2] this money, and these notes, Reynaldo.
[He gives money and papers.]
Reynaldo
I will, my lord.
Polonius
You shall do marv’lous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquire[3]
Of his behavior.
895Reynaldo
My lord, I did intend it.
Polonius
Marry,[4] well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
Inquire me[5] first what Danskers[6] are in Paris,
And how,[7] and who, what means,[8] and where they keep,[9]
900What company, at what expense; and finding
By this encompassment and drift of question[10]
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than your particular demands will touch it;[11]
Take you,[12] as ’twere, some distant knowledge of him,
905As thus: “I know his father, and his friends,
And in part him.” Do you mark this, Reynaldo?
Reynaldo
Ay, very well, my lord.
Polonius
“And in part him. But,” you may say, “not well,
But if’t be he I mean, he’s very wild,
910Addicted so and so,” and there put on him[13]
What forgeries[14] you please–marry, none so rank[15]
As may dishonor him, take heed of that,
But, sir, such wanton,[16] wild, and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
915To youth and liberty.
Reynaldo
As gaming,[17] my lord?
Polonius
Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing,
Quarreling,[18] drabbing[19]–you may go so far.
Reynaldo
My lord, that would dishonor him.
920Polonius
Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him
That he is open to incontinency[20];
That’s not my meaning. But breathe[21] his faults so quaintly[22]
That they may seem the taints of liberty,[23]
925The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,
Of general assault.[24]
Reynaldo
But, my good lord–
Polonius
Wherefore should you do this?
Reynaldo
Ay, my lord, I would know that.
930Polonius
Marry sir, here’s my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant.[25]
You laying these slight sullies[26] on my son
As ’twere a thing a little soiled i’th’ working,[27]
Mark you, your party in converse,[28] him you would sound,[29]
935Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty,[30] be assured
He closes with you in this consequence:[31]
“Good sir” (or so), or “friend,” or “gentleman,”
According to the phrase and the addition
940Of man and country.
Reynaldo
Very good, my lord.
Polonius
And then, sir, does ‘a this, ‘a does–what was I about to say?
By the mass, I was about to say something.
Where did I leave?[32]
945Reynaldo
At “closes in the consequence.”
At “friend,” or so, and “gentleman.”
Polonius
At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry,
He closes with you thus: “I know the gentleman,
I saw him yesterday”–or t’other day,
950Or then, or then–“with such and such, and as you say,
There was ‘a gaming, th