The Players, I fear, will get a poor recompense, for their play has deeply displeased the King.

What say'st thou, old man; they will get a recompense? And if they are ill-rewarded by the King, they will be all the better rewarded by Heaven.

Your Highness, do actors then get into heaven?

Think'st thou, old fool, that they will not find their place there? Wherefore go and treat these people well for me.

Yes, I shall treat them as they deserve.

Treat them well, I say; for there is no greater praise to be gained than through actors, for they travel far and wide in the world. If they are treated well at one place, they do not know how to praise it enough at the next; for their theatre is a little world, in which they represent all that takes place in the great world. They revive the old forgotten histories, and display to us good and bad examples; they publish abroad the justice and laudable government of princes; they punish vices, and exalt virtues, they praise the good, and show how tyranny is punished ? wherefore you must reward them well.

Well, they shall certainly have their reward, since they are such great folk. Farewell, Your Highness.

Come Horatio, I am going, and from this hour4 I shall accordingly seek means to find the King alone, that I may take his life, as he has taken my father's.

My lord, consider well, that you come to no harm.

I ought, I must, I will this crime repay

2.9.11288If not by craft, with force I'll make a way!