“ A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm. ”
William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1623). copy citation
| Author | William Shakespeare |
|---|---|
| Source | Hamlet |
| Topic | death life |
| Date | 1623 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Written between 1599 and 1602 |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1524/1524-h/1524-h.htm |
Context
“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.
King. Alas, alas! HAMLET. 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. What dost thou mean by this? HAMLET. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar. King. Where is Polonius? HAMLET. In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i' th'other place yourself.” source
King. Alas, alas! HAMLET. 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. What dost thou mean by this? HAMLET. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar. King. Where is Polonius? HAMLET. In heaven. Send thither to see. If your messenger find him not there, seek him i' th'other place yourself.” source
Meaning and analysis
