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. 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. Hide fox, and all after.9 [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? Yet must not we put the strong law on He's lov'd of the distracted multitude, him : Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes; Or not at all. Enter ROSENcrantz. How now? what hath befallen? Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord, We cannot get from him. 9 King. But where is he? Hide fox, &c.] There is a play among children, called Hide fox, and all after. Ros. Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure. 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. Ham. He will stay till you come. [To some Attendants. [Exeunt Attendants. King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve -- For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence With fiery quickness: Therefore, prepare thyself; 1 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. The bark is ready, and the wind at help", Ham. King. Ham. For England? Ay, Hamlet. Good. But, come; King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes. for England!-Farewell, dear mother. King. Thy loving father, Hamlet. Ham. My mother: Father and mother is man and wife; man and wife is one flesh; and so, my mother. Come, for England. [Exit. King. Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard; Delay it not, I'll have him hence to-night : Away; for every thing is seal'd and done That else leans on the affair: Pray you, make haste. [Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUIL DENSTERN. And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England; 2 the wind at help,] i. e. at hand, ready. 3 thou may'st not coldly set —] i. e. set at nought. + Howe'er my haps,] i. e. whatever befall me. [Exit. SCENE IV. A Plain in Denmark. Enter FORTINBRAS, and Forces, marching. For. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish king; Tell him, that, by his licence, Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promis'd march Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous. If that his majesty would aught with us, We shall express our duty in his eye, 5 And let him know so. Cap. For. Go softly on. I will do't, my lord. Enter HAMLET, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, &c. Ham. [Exeunt FORTINBRAS and Forces. Good sir, whose powers are these? How purpos'd, sir, Who Cap. They are of Norway, sir. Ham. I pray you? Cap. Ham. Against some part of Poland. Commands them, sir? Cap. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. Cap. Truly to speak, sir, and with no addition, To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it; A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee. 5 in his eye,] i. e. in his presence. The phrase appears to have been formularly. Ham. Why, then the Polack never will defend it. Ham. Two thousand souls, and twenty thousand ducats, Will not debate the question of this straw: This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace; Ros. [Exit Captain. .1, Will't please you go, my lord? Ham. I will be with you straight. Go a little before. [Exeunt Ros. and GUIL How all occasions do inform against me, 8 To fust in us unus'd. Now, whether it be A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom, And, ever, three parts coward, I do not know Why yet I live to say, This thing's to do; Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means, To do't. Examples, gross as earth, exhort me: Witness, this army of such mass, and charge, To all that fortune, death, and danger, dare, 6- chief good, and market of his time, &c.] If his highest good, and that for which he sells his time, be to sleep and feed. 7 large discourse,] Such latitude of comprehension, such power of reviewing the past, and anticipating the future. 3 — some craven scruple-] Some cowardly scruple. |