SCENE 6: ANOTHER ROOM IN THE CASTLE.

[Enter HORATIO and a Servant]

HORATIO

What are they that would speak with me?

Who are these folks who want to speak to me?

SERVANT

Sailors, sir: they say they have letters for you.

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.

Let him bless you too.

FIRST SAILOR

He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter for

He shall, sir, if He chooses. I’ve a letter

you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was

for you, sir, from the king’s ambassador

bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am

he sent to England; if you are Horatio,

let to know it is.

as I’m led to believe.

HORATIO

[Reads]

'Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked

“Horatio, when you’ve had a chance to read this,

this, give these fellows some means to the king:

give these men here some access to the king.

they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old

They have some letters for him. Less than two days

at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us

at sea, a well-armed pirate ship gave chase.

chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on

We were too slow for them, so we were forced

a compelled valour, and in the grapple I boarded

to fight with them, and in the fight, I boarded

them: on the instant they got clear of our ship; so

their ship. But right away the ships divided,

I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt with

so I became their only prisoner.

me like thieves of mercy: but they knew what they

For thieves, I’ve been well-treated, but they’re savvy;

did; I am to do a good turn for them. Let the king

I have to do a good thing in return.

have the letters I have sent; and repair thou to me

Give the king the letters, and then run

with as much speed as thou wouldst fly death. I

to me as though it was for life and death.

have words to speak in thine ear will make thee

I’ve things to tell you that will leave you speechless;

dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of

but I won’t even do these stories justice.

the matter. These good fellows will bring thee

These good men will bring you to where I am.

where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are headed

course for England: of them I have much to tell thee.

to England still. I’ve lots to tell you of them.

Farewell.

Goodbye.

'He that thou knowest thine, HAMLET.'

You know I am your friend, Hamlet.”

Come, I will make you way for these your letters;

Come on, I’ll show you where to take these letters;

And do't the speedier, that you may direct me

And do it quickly so you can direct me

To him from whom you brought them.

Straight to the man for whom you brought them here.

[Exeunt]