Scene II

[Elsinore.]

Enter Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and others.

HAMLET:

Safely stow'd.

HAMLET:

Safely hidden.

GENTLEMEN:

[Within.]

Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

GENTLEMEN:

Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

HAMLET:

But soft! What noise? Who calls on Hamlet? O, here
they come.

HAMLET:

What’s that noise? Who calls Hamlet? Here they come.

[Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]

ROSENCRANTZ:

What have you done, my lord, with the dead(5)
body?

ROSENCRANTZ:

What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?

HAMLET:

Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.

HAMLET:

Mixed it with dust, to which it is related.

ROSENCRANTZ:

Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence
And bear it to the chapel.

ROSENCRANTZ:

Tell us where it is, that we may take it from there,
And carry it to the chapel.

HAMLET:

Do not believe it.(10)

HAMLET:

Don’t believe it.

ROSENCRANTZ:

Believe what?

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?

HAMLET:

That I can keep your advice, and not my own. Besides, to
be demanded of by a sponge! What answer should be
made by the son of a king?

ROSENCRANTZ:

Take you me for a sponge, my lord?(15)

ROSENCRANTZ:

You take 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 glean'd, it is but squeezing you and,(20)
sponge, you shall be dry again.

HAMLET:

Yes, sir, that soaks up the King's face, 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 to be tasted, and then at last swallowed. When
he needs what you have found out, it is by squeezing
you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.

ROSENCRANTZ:

I understand you not, my lord.

ROSENCRANTZ:

I don’t understand you, my lord.

HAMLET:

I am glad of it. A knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.

HAMLET:

I am glad of it. A clever speech is wasted on a stupid ear.

ROSENCRANTZ:

My lord, you must tell us where the body is and
go with us to the King.(25)

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—

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?

GUILDENSTERN:

A thing, my lord!

HAMLET:

Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.(30)

HAMLET:

Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide, fox, and show all later.

Exeunt.