[Stage] Horatio and a Servant enter.
Horatio(霍雷修)
What are they that would speak with me?
Servant(仆人)
Seafaring men, sir. They say they have letters for you.
Horatio(霍雷修)
Let them come in.
[Stage] Servant exits.
Horatio(霍雷修)
I do not know from what part of the world
I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
[Stage] Sailors enter.
Sailor(水手)
God bless you, sir.
Horatio(霍雷修)
Let him bless thee too.
Sailor(水手)
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. [He gives Horatio a letter]
Horatio(霍雷修)
“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 valor, 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. Fare-well.
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.
[Stage] They exit.