CLAUDIUS
Excellent.
VOLTEMAND
(handing Claudius a document)
The King then allowed the Prince to employ his soldiers
against Poland, and with this, requests that your majesty
allow them to pass through your lands for that enterprise.
CLAUDIUS
This is all good news. I'll look over the details later,
meantime--thank you for your service in this matter. Get
some rest, and tonight we'll feast together.
GERTRUDE
Welcome back good ambassadors.
(Voltemand and Cornelius bow and exit.)
POLONIUS
The business has ended well.
GERTRUDE
Yes, now tell us what you've learned about the prince.
POLONIUS
To go on at length about what majesty should be, what duty
is, why day is day, night night, and time is time, would be a
waste of day, night, and time. Since brevity is the soul of
wit, I'll be brief. Your noble son is mad.
GERTRUDE
What?
POLONIUS
It's true. And that it's true is a pity. But why, we ask?
(He takes out a letter.) Ophelia received this letter, and I
think it explains what has puzzled us. (He reads.) "To the
celestial and my soul's idol, the most beautified
Ophelia...."
GERTRUDE
This is from Hamlet to Ophelia?
POLONIUS
Yes, good madam.
CLAUDIUS
Let's hear the rest of it.
POLONIUS
(continuing to read)
"Doubt that the stars are fire,/ doubt that the sun does
move,/ doubt truth to be a liar,/ but never doubt my love for
you. Dear Ophelia, others write poetry better than I, my art
is not practiced enough to express my longing. But that I
love you best, oh, most best, believe it. Thine evermore,
most dear lady, as long as I live. Hamlet."
GERTRUDE
How has she responded to this?
POLONIUS
Before I tell you everything I know, may I ask, what do you
think of me?
Excellent.
VOLTEMAND
(handing Claudius a document)
The King then allowed the Prince to employ his soldiers
against Poland, and with this, requests that your majesty
allow them to pass through your lands for that enterprise.
CLAUDIUS
This is all good news. I'll look over the details later,
meantime--thank you for your service in this matter. Get
some rest, and tonight we'll feast together.
GERTRUDE
Welcome back good ambassadors.
POLONIUS
The business has ended well.
GERTRUDE
Yes, now tell us what you've learned about the prince.
POLONIUS
To go on at length about what majesty should be, what duty
is, why day is day, night night, and time is time, would be a
waste of day, night, and time. Since brevity is the soul of
wit, I'll be brief. Your noble son is mad.
GERTRUDE
What?
POLONIUS
It's true. And that it's true is a pity. But why, we ask?
(He takes out a letter.) Ophelia received this letter, and I
think it explains what has puzzled us. (He reads.) "To the
celestial and my soul's idol, the most beautified
Ophelia...."
GERTRUDE
This is from Hamlet to Ophelia?
POLONIUS
Yes, good madam.
CLAUDIUS
Let's hear the rest of it.
POLONIUS
(continuing to read)
"Doubt that the stars are fire,/ doubt that the sun does
move,/ doubt truth to be a liar,/ but never doubt my love for
you. Dear Ophelia, others write poetry better than I, my art
is not practiced enough to express my longing. But that I
love you best, oh, most best, believe it. Thine evermore,
most dear lady, as long as I live. Hamlet."
GERTRUDE
How has she responded to this?
POLONIUS
Before I tell you everything I know, may I ask, what do you
think of me?
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