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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 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。 Farewell。 '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。 Exeunt。
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
SCENE VII。 Elsinore。 Another room in the Castle。
Enter King and Laertes。
King。 Now must your conscience my acquittance seal； And You must
put me in your heart for friend； Sith you have heard； and with a knowing
ear； That he which hath your noble father slain Pursued my life。 Laer。 It
well appears。 But tell me Why you proceeded not against these feats So
crimeful and so capital in nature； As by your safety； wisdom； all things
else； You mainly were stirr'd up。 King。 O； for two special reasons； Which
may to you； perhaps； seem much unsinew'd； But yet to me they are strong。
The Queen his mother Lives almost by his looks； and for myself；… My
virtue or my plague； be it either which；… She's so conjunctive to my life
and soul That； as the star moves not but in his sphere； I could not but by
her。 The other motive Why to a public count I might not go Is the great
love the general gender bear him； Who； dipping all his faults in their
affection； Would； like the spring that turneth wood to stone； Convert his
gives to graces； so that my arrows； Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind；
Would have reverted to my bow again； And not where I had aim'd them。
Laer。 And so have I a noble father lost； A sister driven into desp'rate terms；
Whose worth； if praises may go back again； Stood challenger on mount of
all the age For her perfections。 But my revenge will come。 King。 Break not
your sleeps for that。 You must not think That we are made of stuff so flat
and dull That we can let our beard be shook with danger； And think it
pastime。 You shortly shall hear more。 I lov'd your father； and we love
ourself； And that； I hope； will teach you to imagine…
Enter a Messenger with letters。
How now？ What news？ Mess。 Letters； my lord； from Hamlet： This to
your Majesty； this to the Queen。 King。 From Hamlet？ Who brought them？
Mess。 Sailors； my lord； they say； I saw them not。 They were given me by
Claudio； he receiv'd them Of him that brought them。 King。 Laertes； you
shall hear them。 Leave us。Exit Messenger。 ＇Reads＇'High and Mighty；…You
shall know I am set naked on your kingdom。 To…morrow shall I beg leave
to see your kingly eyes； when I shall （first asking your pardon thereunto）
recount the occasion of my sudden and more strange return。'HAMLET。'
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
What should this mean？ Are all the rest come back？ Or is it some abuse；
and no such thing？ 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 am lost in it； my lord。 But let him come！ It warms the
very sickness in my heart That I shall live and tell him to his teeth； 'Thus
didest thou。' King。 If it be so； Laertes （As how should it be so？ how
otherwise？）； Will you be rul'd by me？ Laer。 Ay my lord； So you will not
o'errule me to a peace。 King。 To thine own peace。 If he be now return'd As
checking at his voyage； and that he means No more to undertake it； I will
work him To exploit now ripe in my device； Under the which he shall not
choose but fall； And for his death no wind shall breathe But even his
mother shall uncharge the practice And call it accident。 Laer。 My lord； I
will be rul'd； The rather； if you could devise it so That I might be the organ。
King。 It falls right。 You have been talk'd of since your travel much； And
that in Hamlet's hearing； for a quality Wherein they say you shine； Your
sum of parts Did not together pluck such envy from him As did that one；
and that； in my regard； Of the unworthiest siege。 Laer。 What part is that；
my lord？ King。 A very riband in the cap of youth… Yet needfull too； for
youth no less becomes The light and careless livery that it wears Than
settled age his sables and his weeds； Importing health and graveness。 Two
months since Here was a gentleman of Normandy。 I have seen myself； and
serv'd against； the French； And they can well on horseback； but this gallant
Had witchcraft in't。 He grew unto his seat； And to such wondrous doing
brought his horse As had he been incorps'd and demi…natur'd With the
brave beast。 So far he topp'd my thought That I； in forgery of shapes and
tricks； Come short of what he did。 Laer。 A Norman was't？ King。 A Norman。
Laer。 Upon my life； Lamound。 King。 The very same。 Laer。 I know him
well。 He is the broach indeed And gem of all the nation。 King。 He made
confession of you； And gave you such a masterly report For art and
exercise in your defence； And for