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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
More Performances…
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Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Prince of Denmarke.
Ham. The body is with the King, but the King is not with the
body. The King is a thing.
Guyl. A thing my Lord.
Ham. Of nothing, bring me to him.
Exeunt.

Enter King, and two or three.
King. I haue sent to seeke 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,
2665Hee's lou'd of the distracted multitude,
VVho like not in their iudgement, but theyr eyes,
And where tis so, th'offenders scourge is wayed
But neuer the offence: to beare all smooth and euen,
This suddaine sending him away must seeme
2670Deliberate pause, diseases desperat growne,
By desperat applyance are relieu'd
Or not at all.

Enter Rosencraus and all the rest.
King. How now, what hath befalne?
Ros. Where the dead body is bestowd my Lord
2675VVe cannot get from him.
King. But where is hee?
Ros. Without my lord, guarded to know your pleasure.
King. Bring him before vs.
2680Ros. How, bring in the Lord.
They enter.
King. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?
Ham. At supper.
King. At supper, where.
2685Ham. Not where he eates, but where a is eaten, a certaine conua-
cation of politique wormes are een at him: your worme is your onely
Emperour for dyet, we fat all creatures els to fat vs, and wee fat our
selues for maggots, your fat King and your leane begger is but varia-
ble seruice, two dishes but to one table, that's the end.
2690.1King. Alas, alas.
Ham. A man may fish with the worme that hath eate of a King, &
eate of the fish that hath fedde of that worme.
King.King. VVhat doost thou meane by this?
Ham. Nothing but to shew you how a King may goe a progresse
K2
through