ACT IV SCENE II� Setting: Another room in the castle.
[Enter HAMLET]
| HAMLET |
Safely stowed. |
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| GUILDENSTERN AND ROSENCRANTZ |
[Within.]�Hamlet! Lord Hamlet! |
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| HAMLET |
But soft, what noise? who calls on Hamlet? |
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O, here they come. |
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| [Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN] |
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? |
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| HAMLET |
Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin. |
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence |
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And bear it to the chapel. |
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| HAMLET |
Do not believe it. |
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
Believe what? |
10 |
| HAMLET |
That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. |
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Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what |
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replication should be made by the son of a king? |
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
Take you me for a sponge, my lord? |
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| HAMLET |
Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his |
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rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the |
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king best service in the end: he keeps them, like |
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an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to |
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be last swallowed: when he needs what you have |
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gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you |
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shall be dry again. |
20 |
| ROSENCRANTZ |
I understand you not, my lord. |
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| HAMLET |
I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a |
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foolish ear. |
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go |
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with us to the king. |
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| HAMLET |
The body is with the king, but the king is not with |
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the body. The king is a thing –– |
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| GUILDENSTERN |
A thing, my lord? |
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| HAMLET |
Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after. |
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| [Exeunt] |
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