Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/31

Prince of Denmark, I. iii

Carve for himself, for on his choice depends

The safety and the health of the whole state;

And therefore must his choice be circumscrib'd

Unto the voice and yielding of that body

Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it

As he in his [particular act and place]

May give his saying deed; which is no further

Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,

If with too credent ear you list his songs,

Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open

To his unmaster'd importunity.

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister;

And keep you in the rear of your affection,

Out of the shot and danger of desire.

The chariest maid is prodigal enough

If she unmask her beauty to the moon;

Virtue herself 'scapes not calumnious strokes;

The canker galls the infants of the spring

Too oft before their buttons be disclos'd,

And in the morn and liquid dew of youth

Contagious blastments are most imminent.

Be wary then; best safety lies in fear:

Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

Oph. I shall th' effect of this good lesson keep,

As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,

Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,

 23 voice and yielding: approval and compliance

26 place: position as a prince; cf. n.

27 deed: effect

30 credent: trustful

list: listen to

32 unmaster'd: unrestrained

36 chariest: most scrupulous

39 canker: 'worm,' that destroys leaves and buds, particularly the rose

galls: injures

infants: young plants

40 buttons: buds

disclos'd: opened

41 liquid dew: while the dew is still fresh

42 blastments: blights

47 ungracious: graceless

