Enter HORATIO and others. Full Summary
HORATIO
1 What are they that would speak with me?
Gentleman
2 Sea-faring men, sir: they say they have letters
3 for you.
HORATIO
4 Let them come in.
5 I do not know from what part of the world
6 I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
First Sailor
7 God bless you, sir.
HORATIO
8 Let him bless thee too.
First Sailor
9 He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter for
10 you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was
11 bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am
12 let to know it is.
HORATIO [Reads.]
13 "Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked
14 this, give these fellows some means to the king:
15 they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old
16 at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us
17 chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on
18 a compelled valour, and in the grapple I boarded
19 them: on the instant they got clear of our ship; so
20 I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt with
21 me like thieves of mercy: but they knew what they
22 did; I am to do a good turn for them. Let the king
23 have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me
24 with as much speed as thou wouldst fly death. I have
25 words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb;
26 yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter.
27 These good fellows will bring thee where I am.
28 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course
29 for England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.
30 He that thou knowest thine,
31 HAMLET."
32 Come, I will make you way for these your letters;
33 And do't the speedier, that you may direct me
34 To him from whom you brought them.