POLONIUS      What is’t, Ophelia, he hath said to you?

OPHELIA        So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.

POLONIUS      Marry, well bethought:

’Tis told me he hath very oft of late

Given private time to you, and you yourself

Have of your audience been most free and bounteous.

If it be 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 behoves my daughter and your honour.         (1.3.87-96)

What is’t, Ophelia, he hath said to you? What’s all this about then? Polonius doesn’t have to go straight into heavy father interrogation mode (although of course he can)—it can be simple curiosity. But Ophelia seems to be slightly on her guard, in her formality: so please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. Marry, well bethought; Polonius almost says it to himself, that was a good idea that Laertes had, to bring that up. It’s been on my mind too, as it happens, because ’tis told me he hath very oft of late given private time to you. You’ve been seeing Hamlet, haven’t you—alone? At his prompting? And you yourself have of your audience been most free and bounteous; you haven’t exactly been reluctant to do so, have you? You’ve been spending time with him, hanging out, and hanging on his every word? Free and bounteous is loaded, even sneering; there’s a suggestion of promiscuity, rather than simple generosity, kindness, listening to the young man who is reeling with grief. (Audience does mean more than listening, though.) Or so I hear. (Polonius has to be a bit more sinister here: he has people keeping tabs on everything, including his family—or at least in so far as they interact with the royals.)

If it be so—as so ’tis put to me—if this is true, what I’ve been hearing about your behaviour—I must tell you you do not understand yourself so clearly as it behoves my daughter and your honour. You clearly don’t appreciate your position—my position. It’s not on. You’re endangering your reputation, and my reputation too.

(As will perhaps be obvious already, I don’t think Polonius HAS to be cruel, overbearing, bullying here, although it’s always an option. He can be the loving, slightly out of his depth single parent, coping with a stressful day job, which he might not be as secure in as he thought, a bit worried that he’s neglected the family, perhaps starting to be concerned that he’s not as on top of things as he used to be.) Have you thought this through, love? Do you know what you’re getting into?