And then, sir, does he this, he does— What was I about
to
50
say? By the mass, I was about to say something. Where did
I leave?
POLONIUS
And then he'll … he'll
… wait, what was I about to say? Good God, I was about to
say something. What was I saying?
REYNALDO
At “closes in the consequence,” at
“‘friend,’
Or so” and
“‘gentleman.’”
REYNALDO
At, “It will be natural for him to agree with you
… he'll call you ‘sir,’
‘friend,’” et cetera.
POLONIUS
At “closes in the consequence.” Ay, marry.
55
He closes thus: “I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday”—or
“t' other day,”
Or then, or then, with such or such—“and, as
you say,
There was he gaming, there o'ertook in's
rouse,
There falling out at tennis,” or, perchance,
60
“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,
65
By indirections find directions out.
So by my former lecture and advice
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?
POLONIUS
“It will be natural for him to agree with
you.” Ah, yes, that's right. If he agrees
he'll say something like this: “Yes, I know
the gentleman you're referring to. I just saw him
yesterday,” or “the other day,” or
whenever it is, you know, “and there he was
gambling,” or “there he was, totally wasted,
or fighting with somebody about a tennis match, or going into a
house of ill repute”—that means a whorehouse,
you know—or whatever. Make sure your little lie brings
out the truth. We're doing this wisely and intelligently,
indirectly, finding out things by roundabout means.
That's how you'll find out what my son is up
to in Paris. You get my point, don't you?
REYNALDO
My lord, I have.
REYNALDO
Yes, I do, sir.
POLONIUS
God be wi' you. Fare you
well.
POLONIUS
God bless you. Have a safe trip.
REYNALDO
Good my lord.
REYNALDO
Thank you, sir.
POLONIUS
70
Observe his inclination in yourself.
POLONIUS
Don't forget to see what he's up to with
your own eyes. Don't trust gossip.
