Hamlet, Act 4 Scene 2 runs 31 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 201 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Hamlet.
Full Dialogue
Hamlet ♂
Safely stowed.
Rosencrantz: ♂
[Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
Guildenstern: ♂
[Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
Hamlet ♂
What noise? who calls on Hamlet?
O, here they come.
O, here they come.
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.
And bear it to the chapel.
Hamlet ♂
Do not believe it.
Rosencrantz ♂
Believe what?
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?
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.
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.
foolish ear.
Rosencrantz ♂
My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and go
with us to the king.
with us to the king.
Hamlet ♂
The body is with the king, but the king is not with
the body. The king is a thing–
the body. The king is a thing–
Guildenstern ♂
A thing, my lord!
Hamlet ♂
Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and all after.
31 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hamlet | 20 | 64.5% |
| Rosencrantz | 8 | 25.8% |
| Guildenstern: | 1 | 3.2% |
| Guildenstern | 1 | 3.2% |
| Rosencrantz: | 1 | 3.2% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 20 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 6 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 2 of 7 in Act 4 of Hamlet.
Scene length vs. play average
At 31 lines, this scene is shorter than the Hamlet average scene in Hamlet (~201 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 1 · Next: Act 4 Scene 3