ACT IV. SCENE I. The same. Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ, and Guil DENSTERN. King. There's matter in these sighs; these profound heaves; You must translate: 'tis fit we understand them: Queen. Bestow this place on us a little while.— go out. Ah, my good lord, what have I seen to-night! King. What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet? Which is the mightier: In his lawless fit, King. O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there: His liberty is full of threats to all; To you yourself, to us, to every one. Alas! how shall this bloody deed be answer'd? * Act IV.] This play is printed in the old editions without any separation of the Acts. The division is modern and arbitrary; and is here not very happy, for the pause is made at a time when there is more continuity of action than in almost any other of the scenes. JOHNSON. Should have kept short, restrain'd, and out of haunt," Shows itself pure; he weeps for what is done. The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN. Friends both, go join you with some further aid: [Exeunt Ros. and GUIL. Transports his poison'd shot,-may miss our name, 5 out of haunt,] i. e. out of company. 6 Among a mineral-] Minerals are mines. [Exeunt. 7 cannon to his blank,] The blank was the white mark at which shot or arrows were directed. SCENE II. Another Room in the same. Enter HAMLet. Ham.- -Safely stowed,-[Ros. &c. within. Hamlet! lord Hamlet!] But soft,-what noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come. Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN. Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin. Ros. Tell us where 'tis; that we may take it thence, And bear it to the chapel. Ham. Do not believe it. Ros. Believe what? Ham. That I can keep your counsel, and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! -what replication should be made by the son of a king? Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord? 8 Ham. Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: He keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. Ros. I understand you not, my lord. Ham. I am glad of it: A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear. like an ape,] i. e. as an ape does an apple. Ros. My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with us to the king. Ham. The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a thing Guil. A thing, my lord? Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him. and all after." Hide fox, [Exeunt. SCENE III. Another Room in the same. Enter King, attended. King. I have sent to seek him, and to find the body. How dangerous is it, that this man goes loose? Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes; Enter ROSENCRANTZ. Or not at all.-How now? what hath befallen? 9 King. But where is he? Ros. Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure. Hide fox, &c.] There is a play among children called, Hide fox, and all after. King. Bring him before us. Ros. Ho, Guildenstern! bring in my lord. Enter HAMLET and GUILdenstern. King. Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? King. At supper? Where? Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten : a certain convocation of politick worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else, to fat us; and we fat ourselves for maggots: Your fat king, and your lean beggar, is but variable service; two dishes, but to one table; that's the end. King. Alas, alas! Ham. A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king; and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm. King. What dost thou mean by this? Ham. Nothing, but to show you how a king may go a progress' through the guts of a beggar. King. Where is Polonius? Ham. In heaven; send thither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i'the other place yourself. But, indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby. King. Go seek him there. [To some Attendants. Ham. He will stay till you come. [Exeunt Attendants. King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety, go a progress-] Alluding to the royal journeys of state, always styled progresses; a familiar idea to those who, like our author, lived during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. |