Ophelia enters distracted and sings fragmented songs that reveal her grief over her father's death. Laertes storms the castle with supporters and confronts Claudius, demanding an account of Polonius's death. Ophelia returns distributing symbolic flowers, and Claudius promises Laertes a full investigation.
SCENE VI. Another room in the Castle.
Enter Horatio and a Servant.
HORATIO
What are they that would speak with me?
SERVANT
Sailors, sir. They say they have letters for you.
HORATIO
Let them come in.
Exit Servant.
HORATIO
I do not know from what part of the worldI should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.
Enter Sailors.
FIRST SAILOR
God bless you, sir.
HORATIO
Let him bless thee too.
FIRST SAILOR
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.
HORATIO
‘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.’
HORATIO
Come, I will give you way for these your letters,And do’t the speedier, that you may direct meTo him from whom you brought them.