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.
[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 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 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 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
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 make you way for these your letters;
And do’t the speedier, that you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them.
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