Act IV, Scene 2

Elsinore. A passage in the Castle.

Enter Hamlet.

• Hamlet. Safely stow'd.

• Gentlemen. [within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

• Hamlet. But soft! 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. 2685

• 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? 2690

• 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 mouth'd, to be last swallowed. When he needs what you have 2695
  glean'd, 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 2700
  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. 2705

Exeunt.