Final answer:
The phrase most likely alludes to the concept that the king is dead, emphasizing the separation between the physical presence of a ruler and their ongoing spiritual or symbolic authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase “The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body. The king is a nothing; bring me to him” suggests a philosophical reflection on the nature of kingship and the physical versus the spiritual or symbolic aspects of the king. This phrase, in conjunction with the context of the provided excerpts, points toward the first option: 1) The king is dead. The excerpts from various texts denote the inherent duality in kingship, where the king's physical body can be present or absent, yet the symbolic body or representation of kingship remains constant.
For example, in ancient Egypt, the ka represented the spirit of kingship which could inhabit sculptures to serve as a potential resting place, and the living king was closely tied to the god Horus. There is also a reflection on kings who have passed, exemplified by a narrative where characters speak about seeking guidance from gods when a human ruler is no longer available. In essence, the idea is that the 'king' as a concept is more than just the physical individual.