Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/48

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What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank

As may dishonour him; take heed of that;

But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips

As are companions noted and most known

To youth and liberty.

Rey. As gaming, my lord?

Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,

Drabbing; you may go so far.

Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him.

Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge.

You must not put another scandal on him,

That he is open to incontinency;

That's not my meaning; but breathe his faults so quaintly

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimed blood,

Of general assault.

Rey. But, my good lord,—

Pol. Wherefore should you do this?

Rey. Ay, my lord,

I would know that.

Pol. Marry, sir, here's my drift;

And, I believe, it is a fetch of warrant:

You laying these slight sullies on my son,

As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working,

Mark you,

 20 forgeries: invented tales

rank: excessive

22 wanton: unrestrained

26 Drabbing: associating with immoral women

30 incontinency: habitual loose behavior

31 quaintly: ingeniously

32 taints of liberty: blemishes due to freedom

34 unreclaimed: untamed

35 Of general assault: to which all are liable; cf. n.

38 fetch of warrant: justifiable trick

39 sulllies: blemishes

