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 him:

He's loved of the distracted multitude,

Who like not in their judgement, but their eyes;

And where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weighed,

But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even,

This sudden sending him away must seem

Deliberate pause: diseases desperate grown

By desperate appliance are relieved,

Or not at all. Enter ROSENCRANTZ. How now! what hath befallen?

Rosencrantz

Where the dead body is bestowed, 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, bring in the 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 'a 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 variable 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 through the guts of a beggar.

King

Where is Polonius?

Hamlet

In heaven; send thither to see: if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself. But if indeed 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

'A will stay till you come.

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

For England.

Hamlet

For England!

King

Ay, Hamlet.

Hamlet

Good.

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; so, my mother. Come, for England!

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 sealed 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

As my great power thereof may give thee sense,

Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe

Pays homage to us — thou mayst not coldly set

Our sovereign process; which imports at full,

By letters congruing to that effect,

The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England;

For like the hectic in my blood he rages,

And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done,

How e'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun. Exit.