makes, with noble confidence in his
friendship, the large demand on Horatio, to live and suffer for his
sake.]

[Footnote 2: Here first we see plainly the love of Horatio for Hamlet:
here first is Hamlet's judgment of Horatio (134) justified.]

[Footnote 3: --for having killed his uncle:--what, then, if he had slain
him at once?]

[Footnote 4: Horatio must be represented as here giving sign of assent.

_1st Q._

_Ham_. Vpon my loue I charge thee let it goe,
O fie _Horatio_, and if thou shouldst die,
What a scandale wouldst thou leaue behinde?
What tongue should tell the story of our deaths,
If not from thee?]

[Footnote 5: _Not in Q._]

[Footnote 6: The frame is closing round the picture. 9.]

[Footnote 7: Shakspere more than once or twice makes the dying
prophesy.]

[Footnote 8: His last thought is for his country; his last effort at
utterance goes to prevent a disputed succession.]

[Footnote 9: 'greater and less'--as in the psalm,

'The Lord preserves all, more and less,
That bear to him a loving heart.']

[Footnote 10: led to the necessity.]

[Footnote 11: _These interjections are not in the Quarto._]

[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