Another room in the castle.
[Enter HAMLET]
HAMLET Safely stowed.
ROSENCRANTZ: |
[Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
GUILDENSTERN: |
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.
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