Page 274 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

And gather by him, as he is behav’d, [35]
If’t be th’affliction of his love or no
That thus he suffers for.

QUEEN
I shall obey you.
And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish

That your good beauties be the happy cause
Of Hamlet's wildness; so shall I hope your virtues [40]
Will bring him to his wonted way again,

To both your honours.

OPHELIA

Madam, I wish it may.
[Exit Queen.]

POLONIUS
Ophelia, walk you here. − Gracious, so please you,
We will bestow ourselves. − Read on this book,
That show of such an exercise may colour [45]

Your loneliness. − We are oft to blame in this,
’Tis too much prov’d, that with devotion’s visage
And pious action we do sugar o’er

The devil himself.

KING

[aside] O ’tis too true.
How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience. [50]
The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plast’ring art,
Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it

Than is my deed to my most painted word.
O heavy burden!

POLONIUS
I hear him coming. Let’s withdraw, my lord. [55]
Exeunt [King and Polonius].

Enter Hamlet.