Hamlet

uld 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 countenance14, his rewards, his authorities15. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape an apple, in the

corner of his jaw, first mouthed17 to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you,

and, sponge, you shall be dry again.

ROSENCRANTZ I understand you not, my lord.

HAMLET I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in21 a foolish ear.

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 with25

the body. The king is a thing--

GUILDENSTERN A thing, my lord?

HAMLET Of nothing. Bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after28.

Running

Exeunt

[Act 4 Scene 2]

running scene 11 continues

Enter King

KING I have sent to seek him and to find the body.

How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!

Yet must not we put the strong law on him:

He's loved of the distracted4 multitude, Who like not in their judgement, but their eyes,

And where 'tis so, th'offender's scourge is weighed6, But ne'er the offence. To bear all smooth and even7, This sudden sending him away must seem

Deliberate pause9. Diseases desperate grown By desperate appliance10 are relieved, Or not at all.

Enter Rosencrantz

How now? What hath befall'n?

ROSENCRANTZ Where the dead body is bestowed, my lord, We cannot get from him.

KING But where is he?

ROSENCRANTZ Without15, my lord, guarded, to know your pleasure.

KING Bring him before us.

ROSENCRANTZ Ho, Guildenstern! Bring in my lord.