Thursday 18 August 2016

Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?


 Ham. At supper.
 King. At supper! Where?
 H. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten; a certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots; your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service - two dishes, but to one table. That's the end.
 K. Alas, alas!
 H. A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.
 K. What do you mean by this?
 H. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar.
 K. Where is Polonius?
 H. In heaven; send thither to see; if your messenger find him not there, seek him i' th' other place yourself. But if, indeed, you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.
 K. (To Attendants) Go seek him there.
 H.  He will stay till you come.
 K. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety -  which we do tender, as we dearly grieve for that which thou hast done - must send thee hence with fiery quickness. Therefore prepare thyself; the bark is ready, and the wind at help, th' associates tend, and everything is bent for England.
 H. For England!
 K. Ay, Hamlet.
 H. Good!

From William Shakespeare's Hamlet Act 4 Scene 3.



5 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Sorry Gwil - spelling mistake. What I meant to say was
    I thought I knew my Hamlet but I certainly don't remember this bit!

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    1. Isn't Hamlet wonderful? There's so much wisdom and humour. It's my favourite Shakespeare play by a mile.

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  3. I agree with you about the richness of Hamlet, but I have to admit that my first association at line 1 ("Ham") was with the Broadway musical "Hamilton". Thanks to the play's huge popularity, the hastag #ham as become ubiquitous.

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