Pol. Honesty my lord!
Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world
goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thou-
sand. 181
Pol. That's very true, my lord.
Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead
dog, being a good kissing carrion,—Have you a
daughter? 185
Pol. I have, my lord.
Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun: conception
is a blessing; but not as your daughter may con-
ceive. Friend, look to 't. 189
Pol. [Aside.] How say you by that? Still
harping on my daughter: yet he knew me not
at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far
gone, far gone: and truly in my youth I suffered
much extremity for love; very near this. I'll
speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?
Ham. Words, words, words. 196
Pol. What is the matter, my lord?
Ham. Between who?
Pol. I mean the matter that you read, my
lord. 200
Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue
says here that old men have grey beards, that
their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick
amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a
plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak
hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully
and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to
have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir,
184 good kissing; cf. n.
187 conception; cf. n.
197 matter: substance
198 Between who?; cf. n.
203 purging: discharging
204 amber . . . gum; cf. n.
207 honesty: decency
