SCENE VI. Another room in the castle. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark  Shakespeare homepage  |  Hamlet  | Act 4, Scene 6 

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 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. 



 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. 

 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 Guildenstern 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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