Claudius says Hamlet is a danger, and orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to prepare to leave for England. They agree that if the King were to die it would be a tragedy for the country. Polonius enters with news: Hamlet is going to Gertrude’s room, where Polonius will hide behind a tapestry to spy.
Now alone, Claudius cries out that his “offense is rank!”. He wants to pray, but doesn’t see how he can ask forgiveness when he possesses the spoils of the murder, neither of which he wants to give up: Gertrude and the throne. Yet he kneels to pray. Hamlet enters. He draws his sword to kill Claudius and get revenge. But it occurs to him that if he kills Claudius as he prays, then he will go to heaven. That wouldn’t be real revenge, especially when Claudius murdered Hamlet’s father before he could pray, sentencing Hamlet’s father to torment in purgatory. Hamlet decides to wait until Claudius is sinning to kill him. Hamlet exits.
Claudius stops praying. The attempt was useless: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go”.