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dreams.
GUILDENSTERN Which dreams indeed are ambition, for the very
substance of the ambitious263 is merely the shadow of a dream.
HAMLET A dream itself is but a shadow.
ROSENCRANTZ Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a
quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.
HAMLET Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs267
and outstretched268 heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to
th'court? For, by my fay269, I cannot reason.
BOTH We'll wait upon270 you.
HAMLET No such matter: I will not sort271 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 way273 of
friendship, what make you at Elsinore?
ROSENCRANTZ To visit you, my lord, no other occasion.
HAMLET Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I
thank you, and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a277
halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is
it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me: come, come;
nay, speak.
GUILDENSTERN What should we say, my lord?
HAMLET Why, anything, but to the purpose282. You were sent
for, and there is a kind of confession in your looks which
your modesties have not craft enough to colour284: I know the
good king and queen have sent for you.
ROSENCRANTZ To what end, my lord?
HAMLET That you must teach me. But let me conjure287 you, by
the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy288 of our youth,
by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what289
more dear a better proposer could charge290 you withal, be
