Carve for himself, for on his choice depends 20
The safety and the health of the 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, 24
It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
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. 28
Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,
If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
To his unmaster'd importunity. 32
Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister;
And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Out of the shot and danger of desire.
The chariest maid is prodigal enough 36
If she unmask her beauty to the moon;
Virtue herself 'scapes not calumnious strokes;
The canker galls the infants of the spring
Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd, 40
And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Be wary then; best safety lies in fear:
Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. 44
Oph. I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
23 voice and yielding: approval and compliance
26 place: position as a prince; cf. n.
27 deed: effect
30 credent: trustful
list: listen to
32 unmaster'd: unrestrained
36 chariest: most scrupulous
39 canker: 'worm,' that destroys leaves and buds, particularly the rose
galls: injures
infants: young plants
40 buttons: buds
disclos'd: opened
41 liquid dew: while the dew is still fresh
42 blastments: blights
47 ungracious: graceless
