SCENE 2: ANOTHER ROOM IN THE CASTLE.

[Enter HAMLET]

HAMLET

Safely stowed.

Safely hidden.

ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN

[Within]

Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

HAMLET

What noise? Who calls on Hamlet?

What is that noise? Who’s calling out my name?

O, here they come.

Oh, 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.

I’ve mixed it up with dust, from whence it came!

ROSENCRANTZ

Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence

Now, tell us where it is, so we can take it

And bear it to the chapel.

From there out to the chapel.

HAMLET

Do not believe it.

Don’t believe it.

ROSENCRANTZ

Believe what?

HAMLET

That I can keep your counsel and not mine own.

That I’d believe in you but not myself.

Besides, to be demanded of a sponge!

Besides, I’m being questioned by a sponge!

What replication should be made by the son of a king?

What answer should the son of a king give?

ROSENCRANTZ

Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

Do you think that I’m a sponge, my lord?

HAMLET

Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his

I do: you soak up all the king declares,

rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the

his gifts and mandates. Officers like that

king best service in the end: he keeps them, like

well serve the king: he keeps them like an ape

an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to

within the corner of his mouth, to use them,

be last swallowed: when he needs what you have

then swallow whole. When he is done with you,

gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you

and squeezed the knowledge from you like a sponge,

shall be dry again.

you’ll then be dry again.

ROSENCRANTZ

I understand you not, my lord.

I do not understand, my lord.

HAMLET

I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a

I’m glad of that: manipulation won’t

foolish ear.

be understood by fools.

ROSENCRANTZ

My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go

My lord, you have to tell us where’s the body

with us to the king.

and come with us to go and see the king.

HAMLET

The body is with the king, but the king is not with

The body’s with the king, although the king

the body. The king is a thing--

is not there with the body. The king’s a thing…

GUILDENSTERN

A thing, my lord!

HAMLET

Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.

A worthless thing. Come! Let’s play hide-and-seek!

[Exeunt]