Hamlet - Act 4 Scene 2
Another room in the castle.
Though it is not mentioned in the scene, Hamlet may still be carrying his sword at this point. The presence of the weapon, coupled with the fact of his earlier murder, may serve to keep Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wary and alert throughout the scene. If they enter bearing their own swords (or accompanied by armed guards), the scene takes on an additional layer of tension and menace.
Enter HAMLET
HAMLET
Safely stowed.
ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN
[Within]
Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
HAMLET
What noise? Who calls on Hamlet?
O, here they come.
Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN
ROSENCRANTZ
What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?
HAMLET
Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.
ROSENCRANTZ
Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence
And bear it to the chapel.
HAMLET
Do not believe it.
ROSENCRANTZ
Believe what?
The "sponge" was a conventional image for a flatterer, who was thus imagined as 'soaking up' the King's good graces and rewards, and who could easily be punished or destroyed ('squeezed out') when out of favour.
Hamlet has referred to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as "friends" up to this point, and now for the first time reminds them of his superior social status.
The image of the ape is both striking and perplexing, but Hamlet seems to be suggesting that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are now at Claudius' mercy, to be destroyed when they are no longer useful.
HAMLET
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?
ROSENCRANTZ
Take you me for a sponge, my lord?
HAMLET
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 gleaned, it is
but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.
ROSENCRANTZ
I understand you not, my lord.
HAMLET
I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a foolish ear.
ROSENCRANTZ
My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go with
us to the King.
Hamlet's wordplay here has never been satisfactorily explained. He may be playing on multiple meanings of the word "body," or he may just be uttering nonsense.
"A thing of nothing" is probably a reference to Psalm 144, "Man is like a thing of nought," though both "thing" and "nothing" can be sexually suggestive as well, which may explain Guildenstern's shocked response.
HAMLET
The body is with the King, but the King is not with the
body. The King is a thing—
GUILDENSTERN
A thing, my lord!
HAMLET
Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.
Exeunt