Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me! If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, To tell my story. [March afar off, and shot within. What warlike noise is this? Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland, To the ambassadors of England gives This warlike volley. Ham. O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit: On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice; So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less, sweet prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! Why does the drum come hither? If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search. 368. occurrents, more and less, events, great and small. 369. solicited, prompted my action. 375. quarry, heap of dead. 360 370 375. cries on havoc, urges to ruthless slaughter. This is more in the character of Fortinbras than the possible alternative, 'cries out against the butchery.' What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, So bloodily hast struck? First Amb. The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late : The ears are senseless that should give us hearing, 380 To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead : Where should we have our thanks? Hor. Not from his mouth, Had it the ability of life to thank you : He never gave commandment for their death. Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters, Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I Fort. Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune: Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak, And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more: But let this same be presently perform'd, Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mischance, On plots and errors, happen. 386. so jump upon, so immediately following. 390 400 Let four captains Fort. To have proved most royally: and, for his passage, Speak loudly for him. Take up the bodies: such a sight as this Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss. [A dead march. Exeunt, bearing off the dead bodies; after which a peal of ordnance is shot off. 408. put on, put to the test. 409. for his passage, solemnise his passing away. 410 to DRAMATIS PERSONE DUKE OF VENICE. BRABANTIO, a senator. Other Senators. GRATIANO, brother to Brabantio. LODOVICO, kinsman to Brabantio. OTHELLO, a noble Moor in the service of the Venetian state. CASSIO, his lieutenant. IAGO, his ancient. RODERIGO, a Venetian gentleman. comin MONTANO, Othello's predecessor in the government of Cyprus. Clown, servant to Othello. DESDEMONA, daughter to Brabantio and wife to Othello. BIANCA, mistress to Cassio. Sailor, Messenger, Herald, Officers, Gentlemen, Musicians, and Attendants. SCENE: Venice; a Sea-port in Cyprus. |