Scene 3
Enter King and two or three Lords
King I have sent someone to go and seek Hamlet and to find the body. How dangerous it is that this man is permitted his freedom! Yet we must not enforce severe measures against him; we need to tread carefully; he’s loved by the ignorant and unwitting masses. They recognize only a person’s public image and are not in a position to exercise any real judgement; they’re not close enough to really understand the individual, and under such circumstances it’s the person’s punishment which people focus on and criticise, never the offence itself. To avoid stirring up disapproval or provoking awkward questions, Hamlet’s being sent away so suddenly must be seen as a decision which we have carefully weighed and deliberated, and determined to be in everyone’s best interests. Diseases which have grown acute demand that desperate measures be taken to remedy them.
Enter Rosencrantz and Others
So, what have you to tell me?
Rosencrantz Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord, we cannot get from him.
King But where is he?
Rosencrantz Outside, my lord, under guard, awaiting your command.
King Bring him before us.
Rosencrantz Bring in Lord Hamlet.
Enter Hamlet with Guards
King Now, Hamlet, where’s Polonius?
Hamlet At supper.
King At supper? Where?
Hamlet Not where he eats, but where he is eaten. A certain convocation of political worms are eating away at him. Even an emperor is, ultimately, only food for worms. We fatten other creatures to fatten ourselves, and we fatten ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar are but different courses: two dishes, but to one meal. That’s the end.
King Alas, alas.
Hamlet A man may fish with the worm that has eaten of a king, and eat of the fish that has fed of that worm.
King What do you mean by this?
Hamlet Nothing but to illustrate to you how a king may go on a royal tour through the guts of a beggar.
King Where is Polonius?
Hamlet In Heaven. Send someone there to see. If your messenger finds he is not there, seek him in the other place (Hell) yourself (Hamlet is telling the King, with cautious phrasing, to go to Hell). But if indeed you find him not within this month, you shall smell him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.
King Go and seek him there (to some Attendants).
Hamlet He will stay until you come.
Exit Attendants
King Hamlet, for your own safety, for which we are concerned, as we deeply regret what you have done, we must send you away with immediacy. So prepare yourself. The ship is ready, the wind blowing favourably. Your two companions are waiting and everything is set for your journey to England.
Hamlet To England?
King Yes, Hamlet.
Hamlet Good.
King So it is, if you knew my reason for sending you there.
Hamlet I see an angel that knows. But come, to England. Farewell, dear mother.
King What about thy loving father, Hamlet?
Hamlet No, just my mother. Father and mother are man and wife, man and wife are one flesh; so there is only my mother. Come, to England.
Exit Hamlet
King Stay close to him. Prompt him to hurry, there must be no delay; he is to leave tonight. All of the pertinent aspects of this matter have been taken care of. Pray you make haste.
Exit all but the King
England (Claudius is speaking as if to address the King of England), the greatness of our power should have taught you to respect us. Even now you’re feeling the effects of our military might and if you value my favour at all, you are to comply with this royal behest I have dispatched to you, the documents of which contain full instructions with the effect of ordering the immediate execution of Hamlet. This must be done, for like a fever raging in my blood, he is a source of inordinate worry and constitutes a serious threat to me. I cannot rest until I know he is dead.