3 What noise? who calls on Hamlet? 4 O, here they come.
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
ROSENCRANTZ
5 What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
HAMLET
6 Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
ROSENCRANTZ
7 Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence 8 And bear it to the chapel.
HAMLET
9 Do not believe it.
ROSENCRANTZ
10 Believe what?
HAMLET
11 That I can keep your counsel and not mine own. 12 Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what 13 replication should be made by the son of a king?
ROSENCRANTZ
14 Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
HAMLET
15 Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his 16 rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the 17 king best service in the end: he keeps them, like 18 an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to 19 be last swallowed: when he needs what you have 20 gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you 21 shall be dry again.
ROSENCRANTZ
22 I understand you not, my lord.
HAMLET
23 I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a 24 foolish ear.
ROSENCRANTZ
25 My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go 26 with us to the king.
HAMLET
27 The body is with the king, but the king is not with 28 the body. The king is a thing--
GUILDENSTERN
29 A thing, my lord!
HAMLET
30 Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.