Here is the line-by-line paraphrase of Laertes’ monologue to Ophelia:

Original: For nature crescent does not grow alone
Modern: When nature grows and develops, it doesn’t just grow

Original: In thews and bulk; but as this temple waxes,
Modern: In muscle and size; but as the body gets bigger,

Original: The inward service of the mind and soul
Modern: The inner workings of the mind and soul

Original: Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now,
Modern: Also grow and expand. Maybe he loves you right now,

Original: And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch
Modern: And right now no dirty tricks or deception stain

Original: The virtue of his will; but you must fear,
Modern: The purity of his intentions; but you should be afraid,

Original: His greatness weigh’d, his will is not his own;
Modern: Considering his high rank, his choices aren’t really his own;

Original: For he himself is subject to his birth.
Modern: Because he’s controlled by the royal family he was born into.

Original: He may not, as unvalued persons do,
Modern: He can’t, like ordinary people do,

Original: Carve for himself, for on his choice depends
Modern: Make his own decisions, because his choices affect

Original: The safety and health of this whole state,
Modern: The safety and well-being of the entire country,

Original: And therefore must his choice be circumscrib’d
Modern: And therefore his choices must be limited

Original: Unto the voice and yielding of that body
Modern: To what the government and people will accept

Original: Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,
Modern: Since he’s their leader. So if he says he loves you,

Original: It fits your wisdom so far to believe it
Modern: You should only believe it as much

Original: As he in his particular act and place
Modern: As someone in his specific position and circumstances

Original: May give his saying deed; which is no further
Modern: Can actually follow through on his words; which is only as far

Original: Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.
Modern: As the will of Denmark allows.

Original: Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain
Modern: So consider how much damage your reputation might suffer

Original: If with too credent ear you list his songs,
Modern: If you listen too trustingly to his sweet words,

Original: Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open
Modern: Or fall in love with him, or give up your virginity

Original: To his unmast’red importunity.
Modern: To his uncontrolled persistent demands.

Original: Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,
Modern: Be afraid of this, Ophelia, be afraid of it, my dear sister,

Original: And keep you in the rear of your affection,
Modern: And hold back your feelings,

Original: Out of the shot and danger of desire.
Modern: Away from the range and danger of passion.

Original: The chariest maid is prodigal enough
Modern: Even the most careful young woman is reckless enough

Original: If she unmask her beauty to the moon.
Modern: If she shows her beauty even to the moon.

Original: Virtue itself scopes not calumnious strokes.
Modern: Even virtue itself can’t escape vicious gossip.

Original: The canker galls the infants of the spring
Modern: Disease destroys the young buds of spring

Original: Too oft before their buttons be disclos’d,
Modern: Too often before their flower buds can even open,

Original: And in the morn and liquid dew of youth
Modern: And in the morning dew of youth

Original: Contagious blastments are most imminent.
Modern: Harmful influences are most threatening.

Original: Be wary then; best safety lies in fear.
Modern: So be careful; the safest thing is to be cautious.

Original: Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.
Modern: Young people rebel against themselves, even when no one else is around.

In Act I, Scene iii of Hamlet, Laertes prepares to depart for France and shares a private moment with his sister Ophelia. He warns her about her relationship with Prince Hamlet, cautioning that as a prince, Hamlet’s marriage choices will be determined by state considerations rather than personal affection. Laertes advises Ophelia to guard her honor and not take Hamlet’s romantic attentions too seriously, as the prince’s obligations to Denmark must come before his personal desires. Ophelia listens to her brother’s counsel but reminds him not to be hypocritical by giving her moral advice while potentially engaging in questionable behavior himself in France.

Polonius enters to bid farewell to his son and delivers his famous series of precepts, including advice to keep his thoughts to himself, choose friends carefully, avoid quarrels but fight bravely when necessary, listen more than he speaks, dress well but not ostentatiously, and above all, “to thine own self be true.” After Laertes departs, Polonius inquires about his conversation with Ophelia and learns of Hamlet’s romantic pursuit of her. He forbids Ophelia from spending time with Hamlet, dismissing the prince’s vows of love as mere seduction tactics that will compromise her reputation. Despite Ophelia’s mild protests, Polonius commands her to refuse any further meetings with Hamlet, and she obediently agrees to obey her father’s wishes.

Hamlet tells the story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark, who is visited by the ghost of his recently deceased father. The ghost reveals that he was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, who has now married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude and assumed the throne. Commanded by his father’s spirit to seek revenge, Hamlet struggles with doubt, melancholy, and the moral complexity of his task. To investigate the ghost’s claims and plan his revenge, he feigns madness, which creates tension throughout the Danish court.

As Hamlet deliberates, his erratic behavior affects everyone around him, particularly his love interest Ophelia, daughter of the king’s advisor Polonius. To test Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet stages a play mirroring his father’s murder, which confirms the king’s culpability. However, Hamlet’s actions become increasingly destructive—he accidentally kills Polonius while the old man spies on him, and his rejection of Ophelia contributes to her descent into genuine madness and eventual drowning.

The play reaches its climax when Ophelia’s brother Laertes returns to avenge his father’s death. Claudius manipulates Laertes into challenging Hamlet to a duel, secretly poisoning Laertes’s sword and preparing poisoned wine as backup. The final scene erupts in tragedy: during the duel, both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded by the poisoned blade, Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine, and Hamlet finally kills Claudius. As Hamlet dies, he names Prince Fortinbras of Norway as Denmark’s next ruler, bringing the cycle of revenge and political instability to a close. The play ends with Fortinbras restoring order to the Danish court as bodies are carried off in a funeral march.