Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord, We cannot get from him. King. But where is he? 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? Ham. At supper. 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 our selves 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, Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve For that which thou hast done,—must send thee hence With fiery quickness: Therefore, prepare thyself; The bark is ready, and the wind at help, The associates tend, and every thing is bent King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes. Ham. I see a cherub, that sees them.-But, come; for England!-Farewel, 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 Ros. and Guil. And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught, Pays homage to us,) thou may'st not coldly set The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England; [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 We shall express our duty in his eye, And let him know so. Cap. For. Go softly on. I will do't, my lord. [Exeunt Fortinbras and Forces. Good sir, whose powers are these? How purpos'd, sir, Enter Hamlet, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, &c. Ham. Cap. They are of Norway, sir. Ham. I pray you? Cap. Against some part of Poland. Ham. Commands them, sir? Who Cap. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. Ham. Goes it against the main of Poland, sir, Or for some frontier? Cap. Truly to speak, sir, and with no addition, We go to gain a little patch of ground, That hath in it no profit but the name. To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it; 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: Ros. [Exit Captain. 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, And spur my dull revenge! What is a man, That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unus'd. Now, whether it be Of thinking too precisely on the event, A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom, And, ever, three parts coward,-I do not know Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means, When honour's at the stake. How stand I then, [Exit. |