_Ham._ Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to[738] be one man picked out of ten thousand.[738][739] _Pol._ That's very true, my lord. _Ham._ For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog,[740] 180 being a god kissing carrion--Have you a daughter?[741] _Pol._ I have, my lord. _Ham._ Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing; but as your daughter may conceive,--friend, look[742] to't. 185 _Pol._ [_Aside_] How say you by that? Still harping on[743] my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a[743][744][745] fishmonger: he is far gone: and truly in my youth I[743][745][746][747] suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll[743][746][748] speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?[743][746][749] 190 _Ham._ Words, words, words. _Pol._ What is the matter, my lord?[749] _Ham._ Between who?[750] _Pol._ I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.[751] _Ham._ Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that[752] 195 old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and[753] that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most[754] weak hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus 200 set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if like a[755] crab you could go backward. _Pol._ [_Aside_] Though this be madness, yet there is[756][757][758] method in't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?[757] _Ham._ Into my grave.[759] 205 _Pol._ Indeed, that's out of the air. [_Aside_] How pregnant[760][761] sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often madness[760][762] hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously[760][763][764] be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive[760][764][765][766] the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My[760][766][767] 210 honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.[760][767] _Ham._ You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I[768] will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my[769][770] life, except my life.[770] _Pol._ Fare you well, my lord. 215 _Ham._ These tedious old fools! _Enter_ ROSENCRANTZ _and_ GUILDENSTERN.[771] _Pol._ You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.[772] _Ros._ [_To Polonius_] God save you, sir! [_Exit Polonius._[773] _Guil._ My honoured lord![774] _Ros._ My most dear lord! 220 _Ham._ My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern?[775] Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both?[776] _Ros._ As the indifferent children of the earth.