Go, Captain, and give the Danish king my greetings. Tell him that
Fortinbras asks permission to move his troops across Denmark. You
know the meeting place we've arranged. If His Majesty
wants us to do any favor for him, tell him his wish is my
command.
CAPTAIN
I will do 't, my lord.
CAPTAIN
I'll tell him, my lord.
FORTINBRAS
Go softly on.
FORTINBRAS
Go ahead, then.
Exeunt all except the CAPTAIN
Everyone except the CAPTAIN
exits.
Enter HAMLET,
ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and others
HAMLET, ROSENCRANTZ,
GUILDENSTERN, and others
enter.
HAMLET
10
Good sir, whose powers are these?
HAMLET
Sir, whose troops are these?
CAPTAIN
They are of Norway, sir.
CAPTAIN
The king of Norway's, sir.
HAMLET
How purposed, sir, I pray you?
HAMLET
What are they doing here, sir?
CAPTAIN
Against some part of Poland.
CAPTAIN
They're on their way to invade some part of
Poland.
HAMLET
Who commands them,
sir?
HAMLET
Who's commanding them, sir?
CAPTAIN
The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.
CAPTAIN
The nephew of the old king of Norway, Fortinbras.
HAMLET
Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,
15
Or for some frontier?
HAMLET
Is he attacking the heartland of Poland or some frontier?
