HAMLET 4.6

Another room in the castle.

[Enter HORATIO and a Servant]

HORATIO What are they that would speak with me?

Servant Sailors, sir: they say they have letters for you.

HORATIO 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. 5

[Enter Sailors]

First Sailor God bless you, sir.

HORATIO Let him bless thee too.

First 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 10

let to know it is.

HORATIO [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 15

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 20

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 speed 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 25

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.' 30

Come, I will make you way for these your letters;

And do't the speedier, that you may direct me

To him from whom you brought them.

[Exeunt]

HORATIO	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.	5
	[Enter Sailors]

First 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	10
	let to know it is.

HORATIO	[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	15
	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	20
	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 speed 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	25
	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.'	30
	Come, I will make you way for these your letters;
	And do't the speedier, that you may direct me
	To him from whom you brought them.
	[Exeunt]