Shakespeare In Hell

A Politic Worm

Shakespeare In Hell


King. 
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: 
Words without thoughts never to heaven go. 

Ham. 
How now? a rat? [Draws.] 

Pol. 
[Behind.] O, I am slain! 

[Falls and dies.] 

Queen. 
O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! 

Ham. 
A bloody deed!--almost as bad, good mother, 
As kill a king and marry with his brother. 

King. 
Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius? 

Ham. 
At supper. 

King. 
At supper! where? 

Ham. 
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. 

A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, 
and eat 
of the fish that hath fed of that worm. 

King. 
Where is Polonius? 

Ham. 
In heaven: send thither to see: if your messenger find 
him not 
there, seek him i' the other place yourself. 
Oh, from this time forth my thoughts be bloody 
or be nothing worth!