King.
I've sent to seek him, and to find the body;
How dang'rous 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,
Who like not in their judgment, but their eyes:
And where 'tis so, th' offender's scourge is weigh'd,
But never the offence. To bear all smooth,
This sudden sending him away must seem
Deliberate pause: diseases, desp'rate grown,
By desperate appliance are relieved,
Or not at all. Enter Rosincrantz.
How now? what hath befall'n?

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 politique 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.

^{3 note}A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a King, 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 heav'n, send thither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i' th' other place your self. But, indeed, if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobbey.

King.

Go seek him there.

Ham.

He will stay 'till ye 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,
Th' 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.

Ham.

My mother: father and mother is man and wife; man and wife is one flesh, and, 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 seal'd and done
That else leans on th' affair; pray you make haste. [Exeunt Rosincrantz 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 may'st 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 hectick in my blood he rages,
And thou must cure me; 'till I know 'tis done,
How-e'er my haps, my joys will ne'er begin. [Exit.

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