Enter HAMLET. Full Summary
HAMLET
1 Safely stowed.
ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN (Within.)
2 Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
HAMLET
3 What noise? who calls on Hamlet?
4 O, here they come.
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.
ROSENCRANTZ
5 What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
HAMLET
6 Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
ROSENCRANTZ
7 Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence
8 And bear it to the chapel.
HAMLET
9 Do not believe it.
ROSENCRANTZ
10 Believe what?
HAMLET
11 That I can keep your counsel and not mine own.
12 Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what
13 replication should be made by the son of a king?
ROSENCRANTZ
14 Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
HAMLET
15 Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his
16 rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the
17 king best service in the end: he keeps them, like
18 an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to
19 be last swallowed: when he needs what you have
20 gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you
21 shall be dry again.
ROSENCRANTZ
22 I understand you not, my lord.
HAMLET
23 I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a
24 foolish ear.
ROSENCRANTZ
25 My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go
26 with us to the king.
HAMLET
27 The body is with the king, but the king is not with
28 the body. The king is a thing—
GUILDENSTERN
29 A thing, my lord!
HAMLET
30 Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.