ACT IV. | |
Scene VI. Another room in the Castle. | |
| [Enter Horatio and a Servant.] |
Hor. | |
| What are they that would speak with me? |
Servant. | |
| Sailors, sir: they say they have letters for you. |
Hor. | |
| Let them come in. |
| [Exit Servant.] |
| I do not know from what part of the world |
| I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. |
| [Enter Sailors.] |
I Sailor. | |
| God bless you, sir. |
Hor. | |
| Let him bless thee too. |
Sailor. | |
| He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter for you, |
| sir,--it comes from the ambassador that was bound for England; if |
| your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. |
Hor. | |
| [Reads.] 'Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked |
| this, give these fellows some means to the king: they have |
| letters for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of |
| very warlike appointment gave us chase. Finding ourselves too |
| slow of sail, we put on a compelled valour, and in the grapple I |
| boarded them: on the instant they got clear of our ship; so I |
| alone became their prisoner. They have dealt with me like thieves |
| of mercy: but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn for |
| them. Let the king have the letters I have sent; and repair thou |
| to me with as much haste as thou wouldst fly death. I have words |
| to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb; yet are they much too |
| light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows will bring |
| thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course |
| for England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell. |
| He that thou knowest thine, HAMLET.' |
| Come, I will give you way for these your letters; |
| And do't the speedier, that you may direct me |
| To him from whom you brought them. |
| [Exeunt.] |