HAMLET. Words, words, words. 

 POLONIUS. What is the matter, my lord? 

 HAMLET. Between who? 

 POLONIUS. I mean the matter that you read, my lord. 

 HAMLET. Slanders, sir. For the satirical slave says here that old men have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams. All which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down. For you yourself, sir, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward. 

 POLONIUS. [Aside.] Though this be madness, yet there is a method in’t.— Will you walk out of the air, my lord? 

 HAMLET. Into my grave? 

 POLONIUS. Indeed, that is out o’ the air. [Aside.] How pregnant sometimes his replies are! A happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you. 

 HAMLET. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal, except my life, except my life, except my life. 

 POLONIUS. Fare you well, my lord. 

 HAMLET. These tedious old fools. 

 Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 

Rosencrantz

Guildenstern

 POLONIUS. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. 

 ROSENCRANTZ. [To Polonius.] God save you, sir. 

 [Exit Polonius.] 

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