Polonius
Marry, sir, here's my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant.
You laying these slight sullies on my son,
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' th' working,
Mark you,
Your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd
He closes with you in this consequence;
'Good sir,' or so; or 'friend,' or 'gentleman' —
According to the phrase or the addition
Of man and country.
Reynaldo
Very good, my lord.
Polonius
And then, sir, does he this, – he does-What was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did I leave?
Reynaldo
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,
Or then, or then, with such and such; and,
as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in's rouse,
There falling out at tennis': or perchance,
'I saw him enter such a house of sale' —
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now;
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth;
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses, and with assays of bias,
By indirections find directions out.
So by my former lecture and advice
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?
Reynaldo
My lord, I have.
Polonius
God b' wi' you, fare you well.
Reynaldo
Good my lord.
Polonius
Observe his inclination in yourself.
Reynaldo
I shall, my lord.
Polonius
And let him ply his music.
Reynaldo
Well, my lord.
Polonius