Laer. He is juftly ferved. It is a poison temper'd by himself. Exchange forgivenefs with me, noble Hamlet ars Mine and my father's death come not on thee, Nor thine on me! Ham. Heav'n make the free of it! I follow thee. I'm more an antique Roman than a Dane; Ham. As th' art a man, Give me the cup; let go; by heav'n, I'll have't. [Dies: Things ftanding thus unknown, fhall live behind me? If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity a while, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, To tell my tale. [March afar off, and fhout within. What warlike noife is this? Enter Ofrick. Ofr. Young Fortinbras, with Conqueft come from Poland, To the Ambaffadors of England gives This warlike volley Ham. O, I die, Horatio : The potent poifon quite o'er-grows my fpirit; So tell him, with the occurrents more or lefs, [Dies Hor. Hor. Now cracks a noble heart; good night, fweet Prince; And flights of angels fing thee to thy Reft ey Why does the Drum come hither ? Enter Fortinbras and English Ambaffadors, with drum, colours, and attendants. digg 19 If ought of woe or wonder, cease your search. Fort. This quarry cries on havock. Oh death! (76) What feast is tow'rd in thy infernal cell, That thou fo many Princes at a fhot ! Amb. The fight is difinal, proud And our affairs from England come too late: The ears are fenfelefs, that should give us hearing a 13 To tell him, his command'ment is fulfill'd,bn ?. That Rosincrantz and Guildenstern are dead : L Where should we have our thanks? Hor. Not from his mouth, Had it th' ability of life to thank you : 38 3 He never gave command'ment for their death. (77): (76) -Oh, proud Death! What Feaft is toward in thy eternal Cell,] This Epithet, I think, has no great Propriety here. I have chofe the Reading of the old Quarto Editions, infernal. This communicates an Image fuitable to the Circumftance of the Havock, which Fortinbras looks on and would reprefent in a light of Horror. Upon the Sight of fo many dead Bodies, he exclaims against Death as an execrable, riotous, Deftroyer; and as paring to make a favage, and belli Feaft. pre (77) He never gave Commandment for their Death.] We muft either believe, the Poet had forgot himself with Regard to the Circumstance of Rofincrantz and Guildenftern's Death; or we muft understand him thus; that he no otherways gave a Command for their Deaths, than in putting a Change upon the Tenour of the King's Commiffion, and warding off the fatal Sentence from his own Head. You You from the Polack Wars, and you from England, And let me fpeak to th' yet unknowing world, Of accidental judgments, cafual flaughters; Fall'n on th' inventors heads, All this can I Fort. Let us hafte to hear it, And call the Noblefs to the audience. For me, with forrow, I embrace my fortune; Even while men's minds are wild, feft more mischance Fort. Let four captains Bear Hamlet, like a foldier, to the Stage; For he was likely, had he been put on, To have prov'd moft royally. And for his paffage, (78) And from his Mouth, whofe Voice will draw no more.] This is the Reading of the old Quarto's, but certainly a mistaken one. We fay, a Man vill no more draw Breath; but that a Man's Voice will draw no more, is, I believe, an Expreffion without any Authority. I chufe to efpoufe the Reading of the Elder Folio. And from his Mouth, whofe Voice will draw on more. And this is the Poet's Meaning. Hamlet, just before his Death, had faid; Accordingly, Horatio here delivers that Meffage; and very justly infers, that Hamlet's Voice will be feconded by others, and procure them in Favour of Fortinbras's Succeffion. |