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

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
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
through the guts of a begger.
King. Where is Polonius?
2695Ham. In heauen, send thether to see, if your messenger finde him
not thrre, seeke him i'th other place your selfe, but if indeed you find
him not within this month, you shall nose him as you goe vp the
stayres into the Lobby.
King. Goe seeke him there.
2700Ham. A will stay till you come.
King. Hamlet this deede for thine especiall safety
Which we do tender, as we deerely grieue
For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence.
Therefore prepare thy selfe,
2705The Barck is ready, and the wind at helpe,
Th'associats tend, and euery thing is bent
For England.
Ham. For England.
King. I Hamlet.
2710Ham. Good.
King. So is it if thou knew'st our purposes.
Ham. I see a Cherub that sees thē, but come for England,
Farewell deere Mother.
King. Thy louing Father Hamlet.
2715Ham. My mother, Father and Mother is man and wife,
Man and wife is one flesh, so my mother:
Come for England.
Exit.
King. Follow him at foote,
Tempt him with speede abord,
2720Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night.
Away, for euery thing is seald and done
That els leanes on th'affayre, pray you make hast,
And England, if my loue thou hold'st at ought,
As my great power thereof may giue thee sence,
2725Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red,
After the Danish sword, and thy free awe
Payes homage to vs, thou mayst not coldly set
Our soueraigne processe, which imports at full
By Letters congruing to that effect
2730The present death of Hamlet, doe it England,
For like the Hectique in my blood he rages,
And thou must cure me; till I know tis done,
How ere my haps, my ioyes will nere begin.
Exit.