If 't be the affliction of his love or no 36
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.
Oph. Madam, I wish it may.
[Exit Queen.]
Pol. Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so please you,
We will bestow ourselves. [To Ophelia.] Read on this book; 44
That show of such an exercise may colour
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 48
The devil himself.
King. [Aside.] O! 'tis too true;
How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!
The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art,
Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it 52
Than is my deed to my most painted word:
O heavy burden!
Pol. I hear him coming; let's withdraw, my lord.
Exeunt [King and Polonius.]
Enter Hamlet.
40 wildness: madness
43 Gracious: a courteous epithet, here used without a substantive
45 exercise: employment
47 too much proved: found by too frequent experience
48 pious action: i.e., implies that Ophelia's book was a book of devotions
52 to: in comparison with
