Act IV, scene ii

Scene II. Another room in the Castle.



[Enter Hamlet.]



Hamlet: Safely stowed.



Ros. and Guildenstern: [Within.] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!



Hamlet: What noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.



[Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]



Rosencrantz: What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?



Hamlet: Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.



Rosencrantz: Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence,
And bear it to the chapel.



Hamlet: Do not believe it.



Rosencrantz: Believe what?



Hamlet: That I can keep your counsel, and not mine own. Besides, to be
demanded of a sponge!—what replication should be made by the son
of a king?



Rosencrantz: Take you me for a sponge, my lord?



Hamlet: Ay, sir; that soaks up the King's countenance, his rewards,
his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in
the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw;
first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have
gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry
again.



Rosencrantz: I understand you not, my lord.



Hamlet: I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.



Rosencrantz: My lord, you must tell us where the body is and go with us to
the King:
Hamlet: The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.
The king is a thing,—



Guildenstern: A thing, my lord!



Hamlet: Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.



[Exeunt.]