Hamlet

I need help to understand these quotes:The king:"how smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!the harlot`s cheek,beautied with plastering art,Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it.Than is my deed to my most painted word.O heavy burden!

these lines are from hamlet act 3 scene 1 lines 50-54 thanks for helping!

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Polonius just finished saying that people act devoted to God to hide their sins. This hits a nerve with Claudius ("how smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!") In an aside he says that like a prostitute's flawed skin (she hides it with heavy makeup) , he disguises his ugliness with clever words and false emotions.