William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| Act IV |
| | | Scene VI |
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[Another room in the castle]
Enter HORATIO with an Attendant
Hor. What are they that would speak with me? | |
| Att. Sailors, sir. They say they have letters for you. | |
| Hor. Let them come in. [Exit Attendant.] | |
| I do not know from what part of the world | 4 |
| I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. | |
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Enter Sailor
Sail. God bless you, sir. | |
| Hor. Let Him bless thee too. | |
| Sail. 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. | 8 |
[Hor.] (Reads.) “Horatio, when thou shalt have overlook’d 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. 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, 1 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 wouldest fly death. I have words to speak in your ear will make thee dumb, yet are they much too light for the bore 2 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. | |
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