Hor. Let him bless thee toq. Sail. He shall, Sir, an't please him. There's a sailors here denoted are those human-like figures situate towards the top of Hamlet's head and shoulders about the stern of the ship, the uppermost or most prominent of which has the appearance of a letter, or paper, before his breast. Fig. 72. letter for you, Sir: it comes from th' embassador that was bound for England, if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is. Horatio reads the Letter. "Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked "this, give these fellows some means to the 66 King they have letters for him. Ere we were "two days old at sea, a pirate (68) of very warlike "appointment gave us chace. 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 "wouldest fly death. I have words to speak in thy ear, will make thee dumb; yet are they "much too light for the matter. These good fel 66 "lows will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz (68) It needs no great exercise of the imagination to conceive the same shadows of the moon to constitute two ships instead of one, the point of division being at the neck of Horatio (drawn in fig. 49), and the straight lines and spaces of light, situate towards the center of the moon, making up the masts, sails, and cordage of either. "and Guildenstern hold their course for England. "Of them I have much to tell thee. Farewel. "He that thou knowest thine, "Hamlet." Come, I will make you way for these your letters; And do't the speedier, that you may direct me To him from whom you brought them. [Exeunt. Enter King, and LAERTES. King. Now must your conscience my acquittance seal, And you must put me in your heart for friend; Laer. It well appears. But tell me, King. Two special reasons, Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinewed, Why to a public count 1 might not go, i And not where I had aimed them. Laer. And so have I a noble father lost, That we are made of stuff so flat and dull, How now, what news? Enter a Messenger. Mes. Letters, my Lord, from Hamlet. These to your Majesty this to the Queen, King. From Hamlet? who brought them? Mes. Sailors, my Lord, they say; I saw them not; They were given me by Claudio, he received them. 4 King. Laertes, you shall hear them: leave us [Exit Messenger. all High and mighty, you shall know, I am set "naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I 66 66 beg leave to see your kingly eyes. When I shall (first asking your pardon thereunto,) recount the "occasion of my sudden return. 1 "Hamlet." What should this mean? are all the rest come Or is it some abuse-and no such thing? [back?" Laer. Know you the hand? King. 'Tis Hamlet's character. Naked; and in a postscript here, he says Alone can you advise me? Laer. I'm lost in it, my Lord; but let him come; It warms the very sickness of my heart, That I shall live, and tell him to his teeth, King. If it be so, Laertes, As how should it be so ?-how otherwise you be ruled by me?. Laer. Ay, so you'll not o'er-rule me to a peace. King. To thine own peace. If he be now returned, As liking not his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it; I will work him To an exploit now ripe in my device, Under the which he shall not choose but fall?' 'N |