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  • Title: Hamlet (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: David Bevington
  • Textual editor: Eric Rasmussen

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-434-9

    Copyright David Bevington. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: David Bevington
    Peer Reviewed

    Hamlet (Folio 1, 1623)

    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:
    2665Hee'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
    2670Deliberate 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,
    2675We cannot get from him.
    King. But where is he?
    Rosin. Without my Lord, guarded to know your
    pleasure.
    King. Bring him before vs.
    2680Rosin. Hoa, Guildensterne? Bring in my Lord.
    Enter Hamlet and Guildensterne.
    King. Now Hamlet, where's Polonius?
    Ham. At Supper.
    King. At Supper? Where?
    2685Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten, a cer-
    taine 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,
    2690but to one Table that's the end.
    King. What dost thou meane by this?
    Ham.
    The Tragedie of Hamlet 273
    Ham. Nothing but to shew you how a King may go
    a Progresse through the guts of a Begger.
    King. Where is Polonius.
    2695Ham. In heauen, send thither to see. If your Messen-
    ger finde him not there, seeke him i'th other place your
    selfe: but indeed, if you finde him not this moneth, you
    shall nose him as you go vp the staires into the Lobby.
    King. Go seeke him there.
    2700Ham. He will stay till ye come.
    K. Hamlet, this deed of thine, for thine especial safety
    Which we do tender, as we deerely greeue
    For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence
    With fierie Quicknesse. Therefore prepare thy selfe,
    2705The Barke is readie, and the winde at helpe,
    Th'Associates tend, and euery thing at 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 Cherube that see's him: but come, for
    England. Farewell deere Mother.
    King. Thy louing Father Hamlet.
    2715Hamlet. My Mother: Father and Mother is man and
    wife: man & wife is one flesh, and so my mother. Come,
    for England. Exit
    King. Follow him at foote,
    Tempt him with speed aboord:
    2720Delay it not, Ile haue him hence to night.
    Away, for euery thing is Seal'd and done
    That else leanes on th'Affaire, pray you make hast.
    And England, if my loue thou holdst at ought,
    As my great power thereof may giue thee sense,
    2725Since yet thy Cicatrice lookes raw and red
    After the Danish Sword, and thy free awe
    Payes homage to vs; thou maist not coldly set
    Our Soueraigne Processe, which imports at full
    By Letters coniuring to that effect
    2730The present death of Hamlet. Do it England,
    For like the Hecticke in my blood he rages,
    And thou must cure me: Till I know 'tis done,
    How ere my happes, my ioyes were ne're begun. Exit
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