ACT IV
SCENE II 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.

 [Exeunt]




 HAMLET


ACT IV