When I had seen this hot love on the wing--

　　As I perceived it, I must tell you that,

　　Before my daughter told me--what might you,

　　Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,

　　If I had play'd the desk or table-book,

　　Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,

　　Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;

　　What might you think? No, I went round to work,

　　And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:

　　'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;

　　This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her,

　　That she should lock herself from his resort,

　　Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.

　　Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;

　　And he, repulsed--a short tale to make--

　　Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,

　　Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

　　Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,

　　Into the madness wherein now he raves,

　　And all we mourn for.

　　KING CLAUDIUS

　　Do you think 'tis this?

　　QUEEN GERTRUDE

　　It may be, very likely.

　　LORD POLONIUS

　　Hath there been such a time--I'd fain know that--

　　That I have positively said 'Tis so,'

　　When it proved otherwise?

　　KING CLAUDIUS

　　Not that I know.

　　LORD POLONIUS

　　[Pointing to his head and shoulder]

　　Take this from this, if this be otherwise:

　　If circumstances lead me, I will find

　　Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

　　Within the centre.

　　KING CLAUDIUS

　　How may we try it further?

　　LORD POLONIUS

　　You know, sometimes he walks four hours together

　　Here in the lobby.

　　QUEEN GERTRUDE

　　So he does indeed.

　　LORD POLONIUS

　　At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: