[Footnote 12: Not in Q.
All Shakspere's tragedies suggest that no action ever ends, only goes off the stage of the world on to another.]
[Page 274]
[Sidenote: 190] Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassador, with
[Sidenote: Enter Fortenbrasse, with the Embassadors.]
Drumme, Colours, and Attendants.
Fortin. Where is this sight?
Hor. What is it ye would see; [Sidenote: you] If ought of woe, or wonder, cease your search.[1]
For. His quarry[2] cries on hauocke.[3] Oh proud death,
[Sidenote: This quarry]
What feast is toward[4] in thine eternall Cell.
That thou so many Princes, at a shoote, [Sidenote: shot]
So bloodily hast strooke.[5]
Amb. The sight is dismall,
And our affaires from England come too late,
The eares are senselesse that should giue vs hearing,[6]
To tell him his command'ment is fulfill'd,
That Rosincrance and Guildensterne are dead:
Where should we haue our thankes?[7]
Hor. Not from his mouth,[8]
Had it[9] th'abilitie of life to thanke you:
He neuer gaue command'ment for their death.
[Sidenote: 6] But since so iumpe[10] vpon this bloodie question,[11]
You from the Polake warres, and you from England
Are heere arriued. Giue order[12] that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view,
And let me speake to th'yet vnknowing world, [Sidenote: , to yet]
How these things came about. So shall you heare
Of carnall, bloudie, and vnnaturall acts,[13]
Of accidentall Judgements,[14] casuall slaughters[15]
Of death's put on by cunning[16] and forc'd cause,[17]
[Sidenote: deaths | and for no cause]
And in this vpshot, purposes mistooke,[18]
Falne on the Inuentors heads. All this can I [Sidenote: th']
Truly deliuer.
For. Let vs hast to heare it,
And call the Noblest to the Audience.
For me, with sorrow, I embrace my Fortune,
I haue some Rites of memory[19] in this Kingdome,
[Sidenote: rights of[19]