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Introduction to this scene. Staging. Criticism.
Act 4 scene 6
| ACT IV SCENE VI Another room in the castle. | ||
| [Enter HORATIO and a Servant] | ||
| HORATIO | What are they that would speak with me? | |
| 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 |
| [Enter Sailors] | ||
| First Sailor | God bless you, sir. | |
| HORATIO | Let him bless thee too. | |
| First 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 |
| HORATIO |
[Reads] 'Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked 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 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 much too light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guilden- stern hold their course for England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell. 'He that thou knowest thine, HAMLET.' Come, I will make you way for these your letters; And do't the speedier, that you may direct me To him from whom you brought them. |
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| [Exeunt] |