Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/34

22

Pol. Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl,

Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.

Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?

Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think.

Pol. Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby,

That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,

Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly;

Or,—not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,

Roaming it thus,—you'll tender me a fool.

Oph. My lord, he hath importun'd me with love

In honourable fashion.

Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it: go to, go to.

Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord,

With almost all the holy vows of heaven.

Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know,

When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul

Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter,

Giving more light than heat, extinct in both,

Even in their promise, as it is a-making,

You must not take for fire. From this time

Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence;

Set your entreatments at a higher rate

Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet,

Believe so much in him, that he is young,

And with a larger tether may he walk

Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia,

Do not believe his vows, for they are brokers,

Not of that dye which their investments show,

 101 green: inexperienced

102 Unsifted: untried

circumstance: state of affairs

107 sterling: legal currency

Tender: have a regard for

115 springes: snares

woodcocks; cf. n.

122 entreatments: conversations, interviews

126 in few: briefly

127 brokers: go-betweens, procurers

128 investments: vestments, clothes

