Another room in the castle.
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Enter Horatio and a Servant.
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| 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. |
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Enter Sailors.
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| 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. |
| Horatio |
Reads.
“Horatio, when thou shalt have overlookedread through or examined 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 appointmentmilitary equipment 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 repairgo or make your way 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 Guildenstern hold their course for England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.
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. Exeunt.
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