King. Oh Gertrude, come away: The Sun no sooner shall the Mountaines touch, But we will ship him hence, and this vilde deed, We must with all our Maiesty and Skill Both countenance, and excuse. Enter Ros. & Guild.
Ho Guildenstern: Friends both go ioyne you with some further ayde: Hamlet in madnesse hath Polonius slaine, And from his Mother Clossets hath he drag'd him. Go seeke him out, speake faire, and bring the body Into the Chappell. I pray you hast in this. Exit Gent.
Come Gertrude, wee'l call vp our wisest friends, To let them know both what we meane to do, And what's vntimely done. Oh come away, My soule is full of discord and dismay.
Exeunt.
Enter Hamlet.
Ham. Safely stowed
Gentlemen within. Hamlet, Lord Hamlet
Ham. What noise? Who cals on Hamlet? Oh heere they come. Enter Ros. and Guildensterne.
Ro. What haue you done my Lord with the dead body? Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis Kinne
Rosin. Tell vs where 'tis, that we may take it thence, And beare it to the Chappell
Ham. Do not beleeue it
Rosin. Beleeue what? Ham. That I can keepe your counsell, and not mine owne. Besides, to be demanded of a Spundge, what replication should be made by the Sonne of a King
Rosin. Take you me for a Spundge, my Lord? Ham. I sir, that sokes vp the Kings Countenance, his Rewards, his Authorities (but such Officers do the King best seruice in the end. He keepes them like an Ape in the corner of his iaw, first mouth'd to be last swallowed, when he needes what you haue glean'd, it is but squeezing you, and Spundge you shall be dry againe
Rosin. I vnderstand you not my Lord
Ham. I am glad of it: a knauish speech sleepes in a foolish eare
Rosin. My Lord, you must tell vs where the body is, and go with vs to the King
Ham. The body is with the King, but the King is not with the body. The King, is a thing- Guild. A thing my Lord? Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him, hide Fox, and all after.
Exeunt.
Enter King.
King. I haue sent to seeke him, and to find the bodie: How dangerous is it that this man goes loose: Yet must not we put the strong Law on him: Hee's loued of the distracted multitude, Who like not in their iudgement, but their eyes: And where 'tis so, th' Offenders scourge is weigh'd But neerer the offence: to beare all smooth, and euen, This sodaine sending him away, must seeme Deliberate pause, diseases desperate growne, By desperate appliance are releeued, Or not at all. Enter Rosincrane.
How now? What hath befalne? Rosin. Where the dead body is bestow'd my Lord, We cannot get from him
King. But where is he? Rosin. Without my Lord, guarded to know your pleasure
King. Bring him before vs
Rosin. Hoa, Guildensterne? Bring in my Lord. Enter Hamlet and Guildensterne.
King. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius? Ham. At Supper
King. At Supper? Where? Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a certaine conuocation of wormes are e'ne at him. Your worm is your onely Emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat vs, and we fat our selfe for Magots. Your fat King, and your leane Begger is but variable seruice to dishes, but to one Table that's the end
King. What dost thou meane by this? Ham. Nothing but to shew you how a King may go a Progresse through the guts of a Begger
King. Where is Polonius