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,
45
Th' associates tend, and everything is bent
For England.
CLAUDIUS
Hamlet, I care for you just as much as I grieve for Polonius. For
your own protection, I must send you to England at once. So get
ready to leave. The ship is set to sail, the wind is favorable, your
servants are waiting for you—everything is ready for you
to go to England.
HAMLET
For England?
HAMLET
To England?
CLAUDIUS
Ay, Hamlet.
CLAUDIUS
Yes, Hamlet.
HAMLET
Good.
HAMLET
Good.
CLAUDIUS
50
So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.
CLAUDIUS
Yes, you'd think so, if you knew why I was sending
you.
HAMLET
I see a cherub that sees them. But come, for England.
Farewell, dear mother.
HAMLET
I know an angel who can read your mind. But okay, off to England!
Good-bye, dear mother.
CLAUDIUS
Thy loving father, Hamlet.
CLAUDIUS
I'm your father, Hamlet—your father who
loves you.
HAMLET
My mother. Father and mother is man and wife, man and
55
wife is one flesh, and so, my mother.—Come, for
England!
HAMLET
You're my mother. When you married my mother, the two
of you became one flesh, so if you're my father
you're also my mother. Come on, off to England!
Exit HAMLET
HAMLET exits.
CLAUDIUS
Follow him at foot. Tempt him with speed aboard.
Delay it not. I'll have him hence tonight.
Away! For everything is sealed and done
That else leans on the affair. Pray you, make haste.
CLAUDIUS
Follow him on foot, and get him on board as quickly as possible.
Don't waste any time. I want him out of here tonight. Go
now; everything else is ready. Please hurry.
Exeunt all but CLAUDIUS
Everyone except CLAUDIUS
exits.
60
And, England, if my love thou hold'st at
aught—
As my great power thereof may give thee sense,
Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red
After the Danish sword and thy free awe
And you, dear king of England, if you care about me at
all—and you should, since you can still feel the damage
that Denmark has done to you in the past and, so, fear and respect
us—then you won't ignore my letters
instructing you to kill Hamlet immediately. Do it,
