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 spunge, what replication
should be made by the son of a King?
Ros.
Take you me for a spunge, my Lord?
Ham.
Ay, Sir, that sokes up the King's countenance,
his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do
the King best service in the end; he keeps them, 6 note
like
an apple, in the corner of his jaw; first mouth'd, to
be last swallow'd. When he needs what you have
-- 251 --
glean'd, it is but squeezing you, and, spunge, 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.
7 noteThe body is with the King, but the King
is not with the body. The King is a thing—
Guil.
A thing, my Lord?
Ham.
8 noteOf nothing. Bring me to him. 9 noteHide fox,
and all after.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
