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| SCENE II. Another room in the castle. |
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Enter HAMLET
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| HAMLET |
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Safely stowed.
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ROSENCRANTZ
GUILDENSTERN |
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(Within)
Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
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| HAMLET |
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What noise? who calls on Hamlet?
O, here they come.
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Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
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5 What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
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| HAMLET |
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Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
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Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence
And bear it to the chapel.
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| HAMLET |
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Do not believe it.
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
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10 Believe what?
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| HAMLET |
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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?
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
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Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
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| HAMLET |
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15 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 corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to
be last swallowed: when he needs what you have
20 gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you
shall be dry again.
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
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I understand you not, my lord.
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| HAMLET |
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I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a
foolish ear.
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| ROSENCRANTZ |
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25 My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go
with us to the king.
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| HAMLET |
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The body is with the king, but the king is not with
the body. The king is a thing--
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| GUILDENSTERN |
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A thing, my lord!
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| HAMLET |
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30 Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.
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Exeunt
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