Fitz Urse. Strike, I say.
Grim. O, God, O, noble knight, O, sacrilege!
Fitz Urse. Strike! I say.
De Tracy. There is my answer then.
(Sword falls on Grim’s arm, and glances from it, wounding Becket.)
This last to rid thee of a world of brawls!
Becket. (Falling on his knees.) Into thy hands, O Lord—into thy hands—! (Sinks prone.)
De Brito. The traitor’s dead, and will arise no more.
(De Brito, De Tracy, Fitz Urse rush out, crying “King’s men!” De Morville follows slowly. Flashes of lightning through the Cathedral. Rosamund seen kneeling at the body of Becket.)[7]
The physical action of this extract instantly grips attention. Interested at once by this action, shortly we rush on unthinking, but feeling more and more intensely. In this extract action is everywhere. The actionless Cymbeline is undramatic. This extract is intensely dramatic.