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Home : Hamlet : Act 4, scene iv Read the Study Guide: Hamlet
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Hamlet
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Enter FORTINBRAS with his army and a CAPTAIN
FORTINBRAS enters with his army and a CAPTAIN.
 FORTINBRAS
  Go, Captain, from me greet the Danish king
  Tell him that, by his license, Fortinbras
  Craves the conveyance of a promised march
  Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.
5 If that his majesty would aught with us,
  We shall express our duty in his eye,
  And let him know so.
FORTINBRAS
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?

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