Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 2

Hamlet
Act IV, Scene 2

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Another room in the castle.
Enter HAMLET

HAMLET

Meanwhile, at a passage in the castle...

Safely stowed.

ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN:

[Within]
Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!

HAMLET
What noise? who calls on Hamlet?
O, here they come.

Hamlet stows the body of Polonius: “Safely stowed” (line 1).
Then, we hear voices from the other room.

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter.

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

HAMLET

The two college chums ask Hamlet where he put Polonius’ body.

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?

HAMLET
That I can keep your counsel and not mine own.

Hamlet answers that he has "compounded" the corpse with some dust, which it was a close relative of, already.

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

Hamlet teases them, and plays word games.
He calls Rosencrantz a “sponge.”

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
He knows that Rosencrantz will soak up his words, and “squeeze” them back out for the King.

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.
Hamlet also warns Rosencrantz that Kings sometimes use sponges, and squeeze them dry, and then when the King is done with them, he may dispose of them.

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.

HAMLET

Rosencrantz does not understand.

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.
Exeunt

Hamlet never does tell them where he hid the body. By now, one might think that the smell would give it away. The scene ends, on a rather foul note.

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	You can listen to some music as you read. Click on the icon above. (You can also shut if off, if you find it annoying.)

Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
Another room in the castle. Enter HAMLET HAMLET	Meanwhile, at a passage in the castle...
Safely stowed. ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN: [Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet! HAMLET What noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.	Hamlet stows the body of Polonius: “Safely stowed” (line 1). Then, we hear voices from the other room.
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN	Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter.
ROSENCRANTZ What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? HAMLET	The two college chums ask Hamlet where he put Polonius’ body.
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? HAMLET That I can keep your counsel and not mine own.	Hamlet answers that he has "compounded" the corpse with some dust, which it was a close relative of, already.
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	Hamlet teases them, and plays word games. He calls Rosencrantz a “sponge.”
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	He knows that Rosencrantz will soak up his words, and “squeeze” them back out for the King.
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.	Hamlet also warns Rosencrantz that Kings sometimes use sponges, and squeeze them dry, and then when the King is done with them, he may dispose of them.
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. HAMLET	Rosencrantz does not understand.
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. Exeunt	Hamlet never does tell them where he hid the body. By now, one might think that the smell would give it away. The scene ends, on a rather foul note.