Act 2
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HAMLET No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest of my
servants, for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most
dreadfully attended. But in the beaten way of friendship,
what make you at Elsinore?
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HAMLET No, no, I won’t class you with my servants,
since—to be frank with you—my servants are
terrible. But tell me as my friends, what are you doing here at
Elsinore?
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ROSENCRANTZ To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.
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ROSENCRANTZ Visiting you, my lord. There’s no other reason.
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HAMLET Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you,
and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny.
Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free
visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come.
Nay, speak.
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HAMLET Well, then, I thank you, though I’m such a beggar that
even my thanks are not worth much. Did someone tell you to visit me?
Or was it just your whim, on your own initiative? Come on, tell me
the truth.
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GUILDENSTERN What should we say, my lord?
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GUILDENSTERN What should we say, my lord?
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HAMLET Why, any thing, but to th' purpose. You were sent for, and
there is a kind of confession in your looks which your
modesties have not craft enough to color. I know the good
king and queen have sent for you.
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HAMLET Anything you like, as long as it answers my question. You were
sent for. You’ve got a guilty look on your faces, which
you’re too honest to disguise. I know the king and queen
sent for you.
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ROSENCRANTZ To what end, my lord?
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ROSENCRANTZ Why would they do that, my lord?
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HAMLET That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the
rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by
the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what
more dear a better proposer could charge you withal: be
even and direct with me whether you were sent for or no.
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HAMLET That’s what I want you to tell me. Let me remind you of
our old friendship, our youth spent together, the duties of our love
for each other, and whatever else will make you answer me
straight.
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ROSENCRANTZ
(to
GUILDENSTERN) What say you?
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ROSENCRANTZ
(to
GUILDENSTERN) What do you
think?
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HAMLET
(aside) Nay, then, I have an eye of
you—If you love me, hold not off.
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HAMLET
(to himself) I’ve got my
eye on you. (to
GUILDENSTERN) If you care about me,
you’ll be honest with me.
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GUILDENSTERN My lord, we were sent for.
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GUILDENSTERN My lord, we were sent for.
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More Help
-
Character List
CHARACTERS -
Hamlet: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS -
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS -
Is Hamlet really mad?
MAIN IDEAS -
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES -
Themes
MAIN IDEAS -
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
