Scene II
Another room in the castle
Enter Hamlet.[1596]
Ham. Safely stowed.
Ros. } [Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet![1597]
Guil.}
Guil.}
Ham. But soft, what noise? who calls on Hamlet?[1598]
O, here they come.
O, here they come.
Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1599]
Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? 5
Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.[1600]
Ros. Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence
And bear it to the chapel.
And bear it to the chapel.
Ham. Do not believe it.
Ros. Believe what? 10
Ham. That I can keep your counsel and not mine
own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what replication[1601]
should be made by the son of a king?
own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what replication[1601]
should be made by the son of a king?
Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
Ham. Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance, 15
his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king
best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the[1602]
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. 20
his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king
best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the[1602]
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. 20
Ros. I understand you not, my lord.
Ham. I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a
foolish ear.
foolish ear.
Ros. My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and
go with us to the king. 25
go with us to the king. 25
Guil. A thing, my lord?[1605]
We’ll remember where you stopped. All chapters