And thus the native hue of resolution 84
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. Soft you now! 88
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.
Oph. Good my lord,
How does your honour for this many a day?
Ham. I humbly thank you; well, well, well.
Oph. My lord, I have remembrances of yours,
That I have longed long to re-deliver;
I pray you, now receive them.
Ham. No, not I;
I never gave you aught. 96
Oph. My honour'd lord, you know right well you did;
And, with them, words of so sweet breath compos'd
As made the things more rich: their perfume lost,
Take these again; for to the noble mind 100
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
There, my lord.
Ham. Ha, ha! are you honest?
Oph. My lord! 104
Ham. Are you fair?
Oph. What means your lordship?
Ham. That if you be honest and fair, your
honesty should admit no discourse to your
beauty. 109
84 native hue: natural color, or, complexion
85 sicklied o'er: covered with a sickly tint
cast: tinge
86 pith and moment: gravity and importance; cf. I. iv. 22
87 regard: consideration
currents: courses
89 orisons: prayers
91 for this many a day: all this long time
103 honest: chaste
