(gesture towards Ophelia)
My lord!
OPHELIA
"Larded with sweet flowers Which bewept to the grave did not
go With true-love showers."
CLAUDIUS
Ophelia? Pretty lady?
OPHELIA
May good bless you! And remember, they say the owl was a
baker's daughter. We know what we are, but know not what we
may be. May goodness be at your table!
(to Gertrude)
This is about her father.
OPHELIA
Pray you, let's have no words of this; but when they ask you
what it means, sing this: "To-morrow is Saint Valentine's
day, all in the morning betime, and I a maid at your window,
to be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donn'd his
clothes, And dupp'd the chamber-door; Let in the maid, that
out a maid Never departed more."
CLAUDIUS
Pretty lady.
OPHELIA
It ends, I vow, but listen to the end: "By Gis and by Saint
Charity, Alack, and fie for shame! Young men will do't, if
they come to't; By co*k, they are to blame. Quoth she,
'Before you tumbled me, You promised me to wed.'"
CLAUDIUS
(Answering)
"So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, An thou hadst not come
to my bed.'" (To Gertrude.) How long has she been this way?
OPHELIA
I hope all will be well. We must be patient: I cannot choose
but weep, to think of him in the cold ground.
My brother shall know of it: and so I thank you for your good
counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies; good night,
sweet ladies; good night, good night.
(Ophelia exits.)
CLAUDIUS
(to Horatio)
Go keep an eye on her.
(Horatio bows/exits.)
CLAUDIUS (CONT'D)
Oh! Poisoned with the grief from her father's death! And
now behold--divided from herself and her judgment--look how
we can turn into shadows of ourselves--mere beasts! Oh
Gertrude, Gertrude, sorrows never come singly as a spy, but
as a whole battalion. First, the father slain; next, your
son--violent author of his own removal--gone; the people
muddied with suspicion over good Polonius' death; and lastly-
Laertes has returned from France! He's gathering information
on events, and there's no lack of whispering about my hand in
the matter. My dear Gertrude, I'm killed again and again.
(A NOISE at door.)
GERTRUDE
What's that?
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