> "You are a fishmonger."
> "Not I, my lord."
> "Then I would you were so honest a man."
> "Honest, my lord?"
> "Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Were it not that I have bad dreams, besides, I could be content to die. You are a sponge, my lord, 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."
Hamlet's use of the word "sponge" is a metaphor, and it's loaded with meaning. Here's why:
* Absorption: Sponges are known for their ability to absorb liquids. Hamlet is suggesting that Rosencrantz, like a sponge, is absorbing the king's "countenance," his rewards, and his authority. In other words, he is a sycophant who is sucking up to the king for personal gain.
* King's Favor: The phrase "soaks up the king's countenance" implies Rosencrantz is gaining the king's favor, likely through flattery and obedience. He is not acting out of loyalty or principle, but rather out of self-interest.
* Deception: The comparison to an ape held "in the corner of the king's jaw" reinforces the idea of deception. The king uses Rosencrantz (and Guildenstern) for his own purposes, just as one might use a tool. He will eventually discard them when they are no longer useful.
* Dishonesty: Hamlet contrasts Rosencrantz's lack of honesty with the true meaning of being honest. He says it's rare to find a truly honest person in the world.
In short, Hamlet's comparison of Rosencrantz to a sponge is a scathing indictment of his character. It suggests that Rosencrantz is a deceitful and self-serving individual who is only interested in advancing his own position, even at the expense of others.