Hamlet (Modern, Based on Quarto 2)

¶Horatio What are they that would speak with me?

¶Gentleman Seafaring men, sir. They say they have letters for you.

2975Horatio Let them come in.

[Exit Gentleman.] ¶I do not know from what part of the world ¶I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.

¶Sailor God bless you, sir.

2980Horatio Let him bless thee too.

¶Sailor 'A shall, sir, an please him. There's a letter for you, sir. It came ¶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 2990valor, 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 turn for them. Let the King have the letters I have sent, and 2995repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest 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. ¶So that thou knowest thine, Hamlet.