Sailors, my lord. They were given to Claudio.
CLAUDIUS
(to Servant)
Leave us.
(Servant exits, Claudius opens letter.)
CLAUDIUS (CONT'D)
(reading)
"High and mighty, you shall know I am set naked on your
kingdom. Tomorrow I shall beg leave to see your kingly eyes,
when I shall, first asking your pardon, and then recount the
occasion of my sudden and strange return. Hamlet." (To
himself.) Have the others come back? Is this some ruse?
Do you recognize the handwriting?
CLAUDIUS
It's Hamlet's. "Naked." And in the postscript he says,
"Alone." I'm at a loss.
LAERTES
Let him come. This is an elixir to my heart, that I shall
soon tell him to his teeth: thus diest thou.
CLAUDIUS
If this is so, and why couldn't or wouldn't it be, then you
must trust me Laertes.
LAERTES
As long as you do not attempt to persuade me into peace.
CLAUDIUS
To thine own peace, only. If he has now returned, I have a
plan as to how we will end this act. And as for his death,
no wind of blame will breathe; even his mother will think it
an accident.
LAERTES
Tell me my lord, and tell me it is I who will be the
instrument.
CLAUDIUS
While on your travel to France there was discussion about
you, and Prince Hamlet overheard it. The sum of all your
talent did not pluck such envy from him as one in particular.
LAERTES
What part, my lord?
CLAUDIUS
Two months ago a gentleman from Normandy visited. I have
seen for myself, and have fought against the French myself,
and they are good on horseback, but this gallant fellow was a
wizard. He was fused to his saddle, one could say that he
and the brave beast were one. I could not devise a trick
where he came up short.
LAERTES
A Norman?
CLAUDIUS
Yes.
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