Rosencrantz. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord, We cannot get from him. King. But where is he? Rosencrantz. Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure. King. Bring him before us. Rosencrantz. Ho, Guildenstern! bring in my lord. Enter HAMLET and GUILDENSTERN. King. Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius ? Hamlet. At supper. King. At supper! where ? Hamlet. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a certain convocation of politic 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 variable1 service,-two dishes, but to one table: that's the end. King. Alas, alas ! Hamlet. 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? Hamlet. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress 2 through the body of a beggar. King. Where is Polonius ? Hamlet. In heaven; send thither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i̇' 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. Hamlet. He will stay till you come. [To some Attendants. [Exeunt Attendants. King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety, — Which we do tender,3 as we dearly grieve 1 Varied. 2 The journeys of state through the country by the kings of England were called "progresses." 3" Do tender," i.e., have at heart. For that which thou hast done,- must send thee hence The bark is ready, and the wind at help,1 King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes. Hamlet. I see a cherub that sees them. But, come; for England! Farewell, dear mother. King. Thy loving father, Hamlet. Hamlet. 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;3 tempt him with speed aboard; Delay it not; I'll have him hence to-night. Away! for everything is seal'd and done That else leans on the affair: pray you, make haste. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught,4— By letters con'juring to that effect, The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England; 2 "Associates tend," i.e., companions wait. 3" Follow him at foot," i.e., follow close on his footsteps. 4 "Thou hold'st at aught," i.e., has any value with you. 5 Scar. 6" Free awe," i.e., awe still felt, though Danish arms are no longer enforcing it. ་ ་་ Coldly set," i.e., treat coldly, or with indifference. For like the hectic 1 in my blood he rages, And thou must cure me. Till I know 'tis done, Howe'er my haps,2 my joys were ne'er begun. SCENE IV. A Plain in Denmark. [Exit. Enter FORTINBRAS, a Captain, and Soldiers, marching. Fortinbras. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish King; Tell him that, by his license, Fortinbras Craves the conveyance of a promis'd march We shall express our duty in his eye; 3 Captain. I will do't, my lord. [Exeunt Fortinbras and Soldiers. Fortinbras. Go softly 4 on. Enter HAMLET, Rosencrantz, GUILDENSTERN, and others. Hamlet. Good sir, whose powers are these ? 5 Captain. They are of Norway, sir. Hamlet. How purpos'd, sir, I pray you? Captain. Against some part of Poland. Captain. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. Captain. Truly to speak, and with no addition, 1 Fever. 2 "Howe'er my haps,” i.e., whatever happens to me. 3" In his eye," i.e., in his presence. 4 Gently. 5 "Whose powers are these? i.e., whose army is this? 6 Rent. Nor will it yield to Norway1 or the Pole A ranker 2 rate, should it be sold in fee.3 Hamlet. Why, then the Polack 4 never will defend it. Hamlet. Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace, Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir. Captain. God be wi' you, sir. Rosencrantz. Hamlet. I'll be with you straight. Go a little before. [Exit. Will't please you go, my lord? [Exeunt all except Hamlet. What is a man, How all occasions do inform against me, And spur my dull revenge! If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more. Sure, He that made us with such large discourse,8 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 Why yet I live to say, "This thing's to do," Sith I have cause and will and strength and means 5 Fight over. 6 See Note 2, p. 76. 7 Trade; business; occupation. 8 "Large discourse," i.e., range of comprehension. 9 Grow stale. Witness this army, of such mass and charge, Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot SCENE V. Elsinore. A Room in the Castle. Enter QUEEN, HORATIO, and a Gentleman. Queen. I will not speak with her. Gentleman. She is importunate, indeed distract:6 What would she have? [Exit Gentleman. She speaks much of her father; says she hears There's tricks i' the world; and hems, and beats her heart; 1 Animated. 2 Cause of quarrel. 3 Passion. 4 " Fantasy and trick of fame," i.e., a deceptive appearance promising fame. 5 That which contains; receptacle. 6 Distracted. |