21

We would not understand what was most fit;
But, like the owner of a foul disease,
To keep it from divulging, let it feed
Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?
Queen. To draw apart the body he hath kill'd:
O'er whom his very madness, like some ore,
Among a mineral of metals base,

Shews itself pure he weeps for what is done.
King. O, Gertrude, come away!

The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch,
But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed
We must, with all our majesty and skill,
Both countenance and excuse.-Ho! Guildenstern!

Enter ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.

Friends both, go join you with some further aid :
Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,

And from his mother's closet hath he dragg'd him :
Go, seek him out; speak fair, and bring the body
Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this.

30

[Exeunt Ros. and GUIL.

Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends;

And let them know, both what we mean to do, 40 And what's untimely done: for haply, slander, Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter,

As level as the cannon to his blank,

Transports his poison'd shot, may miss our name,
And hit the woundless air.-O, come away!
My soul is full of discord, and dismay.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

SCENE II.

Another Room. Enter HAMLET.

Ham.Safely stow'd, But soft,

Ros. &c. within. Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

Ham. What noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.

Enter ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.

50

Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?

Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin. Ros. Tell us where 'tis; that we may take it

thence,

And bear it to the chapel.

Ham. Do not believe it.

Ros. Believe what?

Ham. That I can keep your counsel, and not mine own. Besides, to be demanded of a spunge !—what replication should be made by the son of a king?

Ros. Take you me for a spunge, my lord?

60

Ham. Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: He keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw: first mouth'd, to be last swallow'd: When he needs what you have glean'd, it is but squeezing you, and, spunge, you shall be dry again.

Ros. I understand you not, my lord,

Ham.

Ham. I am glad of it: A knavish speech sleeps in

a foolish ear.

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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—

Ham. Of nothing; bring me to him. Hide fox;

and all after.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Another Room. Enter the King.

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 lov'd of the distracted multitude,

80

Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes;
And, where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd
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 reliev'd,

Or not at all.-How now? what hath befallen?

Enter ROSENCRANTZ.

Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord,

We cannot get from him.

King. But where is he?

90

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 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 !

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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 shew 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:

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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.

[Exeunt Attendants.

King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial

safety,

Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve

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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.

Ham. For England?

King. Ay, Hamlet.

Ham. Good.

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.

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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 140 (As my great power thereof may give thee sense;