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Hamlet (1,3) Fear It, Ophelia
Dec. 1st, 2011 12:07 pmLaertes is making good on his permission to leave the court and go to France to resume his studies. Having finished packing and getting ready to board, he has some brotherly admonishments for Ophelia. He wants her to stop being so free with Hamlet, fearing that she may wind up taken advantage of. After all, even if Hamlet loved her, he cannot as "unvalued persons" do and choose a bride for himself, as that would be a state matter. Therefore, if Ophelia is to have anything serious to do with the prince, she should hold off until he can offer her marriage and aristocracy. Or else...
_ _ _
L:
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 itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes:
The canker galls the infants of the spring,
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
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.
O:
I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
And recks not his own rede.
L:
O, fear me not.
-- Hamlet (1,3)
_ _ _
Of course, "Hamlet" is nothing if it is not about misfired intentions and mislaid plans, as all is overridden by a sort of destiny. Accordingly, nothing will save this darling bud of May, the fair Ophelia and would-be bride of Hamlet. The dangers were greater and more horrid than that of blown chastity.
_ _ _
L:
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 itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes:
The canker galls the infants of the spring,
Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,
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.
O:
I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,
As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,
Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,
Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven;
Whiles, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads,
And recks not his own rede.
L:
O, fear me not.
-- Hamlet (1,3)
_ _ _
Of course, "Hamlet" is nothing if it is not about misfired intentions and mislaid plans, as all is overridden by a sort of destiny. Accordingly, nothing will save this darling bud of May, the fair Ophelia and would-be bride of Hamlet. The dangers were greater and more horrid than that of blown chastity.
