Not Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Hamlet
Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
- Facsimiles
What are they that would speak with me?
Seafaring men, sir. They say they have letters for you.
Let them come in.
4.6.3.1[Exit Gentleman.]
4.6.429762908I do not know from what part of the world 29772909I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
God bless you, sir.
Let him bless thee to[o].
'A shall, sir, an please him. There's a letter for you, sir. It came 29822913from th'ambassador that was bound for England, if your name be 29832914Horatio, as I am let 2984to know it is.
[Reads the letter]
Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these 29872916fellows some means to the King; they have letters for him. Ere we 29882917were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave 29892918us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled 29902919valor, and in the grapple I boarded them. On the instant they got 29912920clear of our ship, so I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt 29922921with me like thieves of mercy, but they knew what they did: I am to 29932922do a turn for them. Let the King have the letters I have sent, and 29952923repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest fly death. 29962924I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb, yet are 29972925they much too light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows 29982926will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their 29992927course for England. Of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell. 30012928He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet.
Come, I will [give] you way for these your letters,
4.6.11.1 Exeunt.