Page 223 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

OPHELIA

Do you doubt that?

LAERTES
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, [5]
Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood,
A violet in the youth of primy nature,

Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and supphance of a minute,
No more.

OPHELIA
No more but so?

LAERTES
Think it no more. [10]

For nature crescent does not grow alone
In thews and bulk, but as this temple waxes,
The inward service of the mind and soul
Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,

And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch [15]
The virtue of his will; but you must fear,
His greatness weigh’d, his will is not his own.
For he himself is subject to his birth:

He may not, as unvalu’d persons do,
Carve for himself, for on his choice depends [20]
The sanity and health of this whole state;
And therefore must his choice be circumscrib’d

Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it [25]
As he in his particular act and place

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
If with too credent ear you list his songs, [30]

Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster’d importunity.