Hamlet; the Noir Adaption 2023 Act 1 Scene 3 Sub Scene 3

 Act One Scene Three

Sub Scene Three

A virgin listen

“What is it, Ophelia, he hath said to you?” Polonius looked to Ophelia. “So please you, something touching the Prince?”

“Something about the young Hamlet.” Ophelia nodded.

“Marry, well be the thought. He told me he hath very oft of late, given private time to you, and you have of your audience been most free and bounteous.” Polonius had seen Ophelia taking glances at the Prince.

“If it is so as so ’tis put on me— And that in way of caution—I must tell you, you do not understand yourself so clearly as it behooves my daughter and your honor.”

“What is between you? Give me up the truth.” The Great Chamberlain voiced out. “I’ve been told that recently Hamlet’s spent a lot of time with you in private and that you’ve been very open to his visits. If what I’ve been told is true—and they’re only telling me this to warn me—then I must say, you’re not acting in a way a daughter of mine should. You endanger your honor. What’s going on between you two? Tell me the truth.”

“He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me.” Ophelia parleyed her words to draw what was the father’s mind.

‘Affection! Pooh, you speak like a green girl. You are unsifted in such perilous circumstances. Do you believe his “tenders,” as you call them?” The father conveyed his concern to the daughter. “Do you believe his “offers,” as you call them?”

“I do not know, my lord, what I should think.”

“Be it marry or none. I’ll teach you. Think yourself a baby that you have taken these tenders for true pay which is not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly or—not to crack the wind of the poor phrase. Running it thus—you’ll tender me a fool.” The elderly man searched for words. “Give yourself more respect, or—not to beat this phrase to death, continuing like this—you’ll “offer” me the chance to look like a fool.”

“My father, he hath importuned me with love in an honorable fashion.”

“Ay, “fashion” you may call it. Go to, go to. That’s the right word for it. Come on now.

“And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven.” Ophelia played her words for the elderly man. “And he’s backed up his words of love with nearly every holy vow.”

“Aye, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know them well.” Polonius looked to his youth. “When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter of mine give more light than heat, extinct in both even in their promise as it is a-making,”

“You must not take for fire. From this timeBe somewhat scanter of your maiden presence.Set your entreatments at a higher rate than a command to parley.  Prince Hamlet, believe so much in himself that he is young,”

“Ophelia,  do not believe his vows, for they are brokers not of that dye which their investments show, but mere implorators of unholy suits,” Polonius searched for more reasoning. “Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, the better to beguile. This is for all: I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth. Have you so slander any moment leisure, ss to give words or talk with the Prince.”

Ophelia shook her head; disbelieving that with the King dead, the Prince was seen as an outcast.

“To summarize: from now on, don’t waste even another moment of your time. Do not talk with Hamlet. Do as I say, I order you. Now come with me.” Polonius looked at the lady.

What did turn her father to rebel against the Prince then? It was the pondering thoughts of the ladt.