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Introduction to this scene. Staging. Criticism.
Act 4 scene 2
| ACT IV SCENE II Another room in the castle. | ||
| [Enter HAMLET] | ||
| HAMLET | Safely stowed. | |
| ROSENCRANTZ/ GUILDENSTERN |
[Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet! | |
| HAMLET | 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? | 5 |
| 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. |
|
| HAMLET | Do not believe it. | |
| ROSENCRANTZ | Believe what? | 10 |
| 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? |
|
| 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 mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. |
15 20 |
| 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 the king. |
25 |
| 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. |
30 |
| [Exeunt] |