Scene VI

[Elsinore.]

Enter Horatio and others.

HORATIO:

What are they that would speak with me?

HORATIO:

Who wants to speak with me?

SERVANT:

Seafaring men, sir. They say they have letters for you.

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)

HORATIO:

Let them in.

I don’t know from what part of the world
I should be contacted, if not by Lord Hamlet.

Enter Sailors.

SAILOR:

God bless you, sir.

SAILOR:

God bless you, sir.

HORATIO:

Let him bless thee too.

HORATIO:

Let him bless you too.

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.(10)

SAILOR:

He shall, sir, if it pleases him. There's a letter for you,
sir, it comes from the ambassador that was bound for
England, if your name is Horatio, as I am led to believe it is.

HORATIO:

[Reads the letter]

'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, and in the grapple I boarded them. On the instant(15)
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(20)
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 give you way for these your letters,(25)
And do't the speedier that you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them.

HORATIO:

'Horatio, when you read this, give these fellows
some way to talk to the king. They have letters for him.
Before we were even at sea for two days, a very nasty
looking pirate chased us. Finding ourselves sailing too
slow, we put up a great fight, and, in the skirmish, I
boarded them. Just then, they sailed away from our ship,
so only I became their prisoner. They have dealt with me
like thieves of mercy. but know what they had done, I am
to do a good turn for them. Let the king have the letters I
have sent, and come
to see me with as much haste as you would fly death. I
have words to speak into your ear will make you
speechless, but are they much too light for the heart of
the matter. These good fellows will bring you to where I
am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still going to
England. I have much to tell you about them. Goodbye.
He that you knows you, HAMLET. '
Come on, I’ll show you where to deliver your letters,
So you can be done very quickly. Then you can direct me
To him you delivered them for.

Exeunt.