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. the Tragical History of . H A M L E T . Prince of Denmark .
(In the original language with modernized spelling)
- Scene 13 [~ The Body ~] (Act 4 scene 2)
Setting: Inside the Castle;- A hallway;
The early morning hours.
(Hamlet enters;- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, with guards and attendants)
Hamlet: Safely stowed; but soft, what noise, who calls on Hamlet?- Oh, here they come.
- Rosencrantz: What have you done, my Lord, with the dead body?
- Hamlet: Compound it with dust whereto 'tis kin.
- Ros: Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence,
- And bear it to the chapel.
- Hamlet: Do not believe it.
- Ros: Believe what?
- Hamlet: That I can keep your counsel, & not mine own; besides,
- to be demanded of a sponge, what replication should be made by
the son of a king?
- Ros: Take you me for a sponge, my Lord?
- Hamlet: Aye, 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 apple 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.
- Ros: I understand you not, my Lord.
- Hamlet: I am glad of it; a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.
- Ros: 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 . . .
- Guildenstern: A thing, my Lord?
- Hamlet: Of nothing; bring me to him.
(all exit)
End of Scene 13
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. The Tragedy of . H A M L E T . Prince of Denmark .
(In simplified modern English translation)
- Scene 13 [~ The Body ~] (Act 4 scene 2)
Setting: Inside the Castle;- A hallway;
The early morning hours.
(Hamlet enters;- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, with guards and attendants)
Hamlet: Safely stowed away. But quiet, what's that noise, who calls me?- Oh, here they come.
- Rosencrantz: What have you done, my Lord, with the body?
- Hamlet: I have put it with the dust that it's kin to.
- Ros: Tell us where that is, so that we can take it from there,
- And carry it to the chapel.
- Hamlet: Don't believe it.
- Ros: Don't believe what?
- Hamlet: That I can keep your secret but not my own. Besides,
- for me to be ordered around by a sponge, what retaliation should
be made by the son of a King?
- Ros: Do you take me for a sponge, my Lord?
- Hamlet: Yes, sir, one that soaks up the King's approval, his rewards, and his
- authority. But officers like you do the King their best service in the end. He
holds them like an apple, in the corner of his jaw, and the first mouthed is
the last swallowed. When he needs what you have, he has only to squeeze
you, and sponge, you will be dry again.
- Ros: I don't understand you, my Lord.
- Hamlet: I'm glad of that. A knavish speech can't be heard by a foolish ear.
- Ros: My Lord, you must tell us where the body is, and then 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 . . .
- Guildenstern: A thing, my Lord?
- Hamlet: Of nothing. Take me to him.
(all exit)
End of Scene 13
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(Regained)