Act 4, Scene 6

Original Text

*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. *Enter Sailors.* FIRST SAILOR. God bless you, sir. HORATIO. Let him bless thee too. FIRST SAILOR. He shall, sir, and't please him. There's a letter for you, sir. It comes from th'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 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 To him from whom you brought them. *[Exeunt.]*

Modern English

*Another room in the Castle. Enter Horatio and a Servant.* HORATIO. Who wants to speak with me? SERVANT. Sailors, sir. They say they have letters for you. HORATIO. Show them in. *[Exit Servant.]* The only part of the world where I'd expect a message is from Lord Hamlet. *Enter Sailors.* FIRST SAILOR. God bless you, sir. HORATIO. And you as well. FIRST SAILOR. God willing, sir. There's a letter for you — it comes from the ambassador who was bound for England. If your name is Horatio, as I've been told it is. HORATIO. [*Reads.*] "Horatio — once you've read this, help these men get an audience with the King. They have letters for him too. We hadn't been two days at sea when a heavily armed pirate ship gave chase. Finding our ship too slow to outrun them, we fought — and in the boarding action, I jumped onto their ship. At that exact moment, they broke clear of ours, and so I ended up their prisoner alone. They've treated me well enough — honorably, for pirates. But they knew what they were doing; I owe them a favor now. See that the King gets the letters I've sent him, and come to me as fast as if death were chasing you. I have things to tell you that will leave you speechless — and even so, the words are far too small for the weight of what they mean. These men will take you to me. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are still on course for England — I have a great deal to tell you about them. Farewell. Yours, as you know him, HAMLET." Come — I'll help you deliver your letters to the King, and the faster we do it, the sooner you can take me to the man who sent them. *[Exeunt.]*