King. 1 O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there : To you yourself, to us, to every one. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer❜d? 20 Should have kept short, restrain'd and out of haunt, Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone? he weeps Shows itself pure; for what is done. The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch, But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed 30 We must, with all our majesty and skill, Both countenance and excuse. Ho, Guildenstern! Re-enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Friends both, go join you with some further aid: And from his mother's closet hath he dragg'd him: [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter Transports his poison'd shot, may miss our name 40 [Exeunt. Scene II. Another room in the castle. Ham. Safely stowed. Ros. Enter Hamlet. Rui} [Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet! Guil. Ham. But soft, what noise? who calls on Hamlet? Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin. 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 sponge ! Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord? ance, his rewards, his authorities. But such Ros. I understand you not, my lord. Ham. I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear. 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 Guil. A thing, my lord? Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after. [Exeunt. Scene III. Another room in the castle. Enter King, attended. King. I have sent to seek him, and to find the body Who like not in their judgement, but their eyes; And where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd, Deliberate pause: diseases desperate grown Or not at all. Enter Rosencrantz. How now! what hath befall'n? Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord, We cannot get from him. ΙΟ 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 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 ! 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 20 30 |