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Hamlet
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READ STUDY GUIDE: Act IV, scenes i–ii

 
Act IV, Scene ii:
Another room in the Castle.
 
[Enter Hamlet.]
Ham.:
Safely stowed.
Ros. and Guil.
[Within.] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
Ham.:
What noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.
[Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]
Ros.:
What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
Ham.:
Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
Ros.:
Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence,
And bear it to the chapel.
Ham.:
Do not believe it.
Ros.:
Believe what?
Ham.:
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?
Ros.:
Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
Ham.:
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.
Ros.:
I understand you not, my lord.
Ham.:
I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.
Ros.:
My lord, you must tell us where the body is and go with us to
the king.
Ham.:
The body is with the king, but the king is not with the body.
The king is a thing,—
Guil.:
A thing, my lord!
Ham.:
Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.
[Exeunt.]
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