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William Shakespeare (1564
-1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
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| Previous scene | ||
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Act IV. Scene VI.
| Another Room in the Same. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Enter HORATIO and a Servant. |
| Horatio | What are they that would speak with me? | |
| 4 | 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. | ||
| 8 | Enter Sailors. | |
| First Sailor | God bless you, sir. | |
| Horatio | Let him bless thee too. | |
| Second Sailor | Sailor He shall, sir, an t please him. Theres 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. | |
| 12 | Horatio | Horatio, when thou shalt have over-looked 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 war-like 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, 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 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 give you way for these your letters; | ||
| And do t the speedier, that you may direct me | ||
| 16 | To him from whom you brought them. [Exeunt. | |