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?
-- 297 --
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
ape7 note, 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.
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 after8 note.
[Exeunt.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
