Hamlet: Act 4, Scene 6

           Enter HORATIO and others.

      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.

           [Exit Gentleman.]

  5   I do not know from what part of the world
  6   I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.

           Enter SAILORS.

      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
9. an't please him: if it please him.

 10   you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was
10. the ambassador: i.e., Hamlet.

 11   bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am
 12   let to know it is.
11-12. as I am let to know it is: i.e., as I have been told it is.


      HORATIO  [Reads.]
 13   "Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked
 14   this, give these fellows some means to the king:
13-14. overlooked this: i.e., read this letter.  some means to the king: some means of communicating with 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
16. appointment: equipment, appearance.

 17   chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on
 18   a compelled valour, and in the grapple I boarded
17-18. we put on a compelled valour: i.e., because we had no choice, we pretended to be brave.  the grapple: the hand-to-hand combat.

 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
21. thieves of mercy: merciful thieves.

 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
23. repair thou to me: come back 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;
25. will make thee dumb: i.e., will shock you into silence.

 26   yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter.
26. bore: i.e., importance. —The larger the bore of a cannon, the heavier the shot it throws, and so the more destructive it is.

 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;
32. I will make you way for these your letters: i.e., I will clear the way for you to deliver your letters to the king.

 33   And do't the speedier, that you may direct me
 34   To him from whom you brought them.
34. him: i.e., Hamlet.


           Exeunt.


Horatio and the Sailors by H.C. Selous
Illustrator: H.C. Selous