Ham. O, I die, Horatio;
The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:[2388] 340
I cannot live to hear the news from England;
But I do prophesy the election lights
On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice;
So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,[2389]
Which have solicited. The rest is silence. [Dies.[2390] 345
Hor. Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,[2391]
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! [March within.[2392]
Why does the drum come hither?
Enter Fortinbras, and the English Ambassadors, with drum, colours, and Attendants.[2393]
Fort. Where is this sight?
Hor. What is it you would see?[2394]
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.[2395] 350
Fort. This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death,[2396]
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,[2397]
That thou so many princes at a shot[2398]
So bloodily hast struck?
First Amb. The sight is dismal;[2399]
And our affairs from England come too late: 355
The ears are senseless that should give us hearing.
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:[2400] 360
He never gave commandment for their death.[2401]
But since, so jump upon this bloody question,[2402]
You from the Polack wars, and you from England,[2403]
Are here arrived, give order that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view;[2404] 365
And let me speak to the yet unknowing world[2405]
How these things came about: so shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts,[2406]
Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters,
Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,[2407] 370
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I
Truly deliver.
Fort. Let us haste to hear it,
And call the noblest to the audience.[2408]
For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune: 375
I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,[2409]
Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.[2410]
Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak,[2411]
And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more:[2412]
But let this same be presently perform'd,[2413] 380
Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mischance[2414]
On plots and errors happen.[2415]