Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 6
Original
Modern English
Enter Horatio and a Servant.
Horatio and a Servant come in.
Horatio1
What are they that would speak with me?
Who are these people who want to speak with me?
Servant2
Sailors, sir. They say they have letters for you.
Sailors, sir. They say they have letters for you.
Horatio3
Let them come in.
Let them come in.
Exit Servant.
The Servant leaves.
Horatio4
I do not know from what part of the world I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
I don't know what part of the world I could be greeted from, if not from Lord Hamlet.
Enter Sailors.
Sailors come in.
First Sailor6
God bless you, sir.
God bless you, sir.
Horatio7
Let him bless thee too.
May he bless you too.
First Sailor8
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.
He will, sir, if it pleases him. There's a letter for you, sir. It comes from the ambassador who was on his way to England — if your name is Horatio, as I've been told it is.
Horatio11
[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.’
[He reads.] "Horatio, when you have looked this over, get these men some way of reaching the King. They have letters for him. Before we were two days out at sea, a pirate ship with very strong fighting equipment chased us. Finding our own ship too slow, we were forced into being brave, and during the grappling I boarded their ship. That same moment they broke away from our ship, so I alone became their prisoner. They have treated me like merciful thieves. But they knew what they were doing; I'm to do them a favour in return. See that the King gets the letters I have sent, and come to me as fast as you would run from death. I have things to say in your ear that will strike you speechless; and even so they are far too slight for the size of the matter. These good men will bring you to where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are keeping on their way to England: I have a great deal to tell you about them. Goodbye. He whom you know to be yours, HAMLET."
Horatio26
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.
Come, I'll arrange a way for you to deliver these letters of yours, and I'll do it all the faster so that you can take me to the man you brought them from.
Exeunt.
They all leave.
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