Exeunt.
Enter King.
King. I haue sent to seeke him, and to find the bodie: How dangerous is it that this man goes loose: Yet must not we put the strong Law on him: Hee's loued of the distracted multitude, Who like not in their iudgement, but their eyes: And where 'tis so, th' Offenders scourge is weigh'd But neerer the offence: to beare all smooth, and euen, This sodaine sending him away, must seeme Deliberate pause, diseases desperate growne, By desperate appliance are releeued, Or not at all. Enter Rosincrane.
How now? What hath befalne? Rosin. Where the dead body is bestow'd my Lord, We cannot get from him
King. But where is he? Rosin. Without my Lord, guarded to know your pleasure
King. Bring him before vs
Rosin. Hoa, Guildensterne? Bring in my Lord. Enter Hamlet and Guildensterne.
King. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius? Ham. At Supper
King. At Supper? Where? Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a certaine conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat vs, and we fat our selfe for Magots. Your fat King, and your leane Begger is but variable seruice to dishes, but to one Table that's the end
King. What dost thou meane by this? Ham. Nothing but to shew you how a King may go a Progresse through the guts of a Begger
King. Where is Polonius
Ham. In heauen, send thither to see. If your Messenger finde him not there, seeke him i'th other place your selfe: but indeed, if you finde him not this moneth, you shall nose him as you go vp the staires into the Lobby
King. Go seeke him there
Ham. He will stay till ye come
K. Hamlet, this deed of thine, for thine especial safety Which we do tender, as we deerely greeue For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence With fierie Quicknesse. Therefore prepare thy selfe, The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe, Th' Associates tend, and euery thing at bent For England
Ham. For England? King. I Hamlet
Ham. Good
King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes
Ham. I see a Cherube that see's him: but come, for England. Farewell deere Mother
King. Thy louing Father Hamlet
Hamlet. My Mother: Father and Mother is man and wife: man & wife is one flesh, and so my mother. Come, for England.
Exit
King. Follow him at foote, Tempt him with speed aboord: Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night. Away, for euery thing is Seal'd and done That else leanes on th' Affaire, pray you make hast. And England, if my loue thou holdst at ought, As my great power thereof may giue thee sense, Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red After the Danish Sword, and thy free awe Payes homage to vs; thou maist not coldly set Our Soueraigne Processe, which imports at full By Letters coniuring to that effect The present death of Hamlet. Do it England, For like the Hecticke in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me: Till I know 'tis done, How ere my happes, my ioyes were ne're begun.
Exit
Enter Fortinbras with an Armie.
For. Go Captaine, from me greet the Danish King, Tell him that by his license, Fortinbras Claimes the conueyance of a promis'd March Ouer his Kingdome. You know the Rendeuous: If that his Maiesty would ought with vs, We shall expresse our dutie in his eye, And let him know so
Cap. I will doo't, my Lord
For. Go safely on. Enter.
Hamlet · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.