Farewell, my sister, fare thee well. The elements be kind to thee, and make Thy spirits all of comfort: fare thee well.

These lines are spoken by Laertes in Shakespeare’s tragedy *Hamlet* as he takes leave of his sister, Ophelia. Laertes is departing Denmark for France, and before he goes he warns Ophelia against Hamlet’s courtship, urging her to guard her reputation and not trust the prince’s vows. After their father Polonius adds his own counsel, Laertes ends the exchange with this affectionate farewell, invoking the “elements” (the natural forces of the world) to be gentle with her and to keep her spirits comforted during his absence.

The farewell blends tenderness with foreboding. Laertes’ wish that “the elements be kind” casts nature itself as a guardian, suggesting both the vulnerability of Ophelia and the precariousness of life at court. The repeated “farewell” underscores separation and anxiety: Laertes cannot protect his sister directly, so he offers a blessing in the language of providence and natural harmony. In the play’s larger arc, the line gains tragic irony—Ophelia will soon be buffeted by forces (political intrigue, Hamlet’s volatility, and family catastrophe) far harsher than Laertes imagines, making his gentle benediction poignantly inadequate.