William Shakespeare's Hamlet the Bard's most famous play is the story of a young man's idealism utterly destroyed
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Act IV. Scene II.


Scene II.—Another Room in the Same.

Enter HAMLET.

Ham. Safely stowed.
Ros. & Guil.} [Within.] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
Ham. What noise? who calls on Hamlet?
O! here they come.
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.
Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the
dead body?
Ham. Compounded it with dust,whereto 'tis
kin.
Ros. Tell us where 'tis, that we may take It
thence
And bear it to the chapel.
Ham. Do not believe it.
Ros. Believe what?
Ham. 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?
Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
Ham. 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 comer of Ins
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.
Ham. 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.
Ham. The body is with the king, but the
king is not with the body. The king is a thing—
Guil. A thing, my lord!
Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide
fox, and all after. [Exeunt.
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