Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepar'd him `
` A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping, `
` If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck, `
` Our purpose may hold there. `
` `
` [Enter Queen.] `
` `
` How now, sweet queen! `
` `
` Queen. `
` One woe doth tread upon another's heel, `
` So fast they follow:--your sister's drown'd, Laertes. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Drown'd! O, where? `
` `
` Queen. `
` There is a willow grows aslant a brook, `
` That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; `
` There with fantastic garlands did she come `
` Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, `
` That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, `
` But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them. `
` There, on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds `
` Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke; `
` When down her weedy trophies and herself `
` Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide; `
` And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up; `
` Which time she chaunted snatches of old tunes; `
` As one incapable of her own distress, `
` Or like a creature native and indu'd `
` Unto that element: but long it could not be `
` Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, `
` Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay `
` To muddy death. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Alas, then she is drown'd? `
` `
` Queen. `
` Drown'd, drown'd. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, `
` And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet `
` It is our trick; nature her custom holds, `
` Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, `
` The woman will be out.--Adieu, my lord: `
` I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, `
` But that this folly douts it. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` King. `
` Let's follow, Gertrude; `
` How much I had to do to calm his rage! `
` Now fear I this will give it start again; `
` Therefore let's follow. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT V. `
` `
` Scene I. A churchyard. `
` `
` [Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.] `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she wilfully `
` seeks her own salvation? `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` I tell thee she is; and therefore make her grave straight: the `
` crowner hath sat on her, and finds it Christian burial. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defence? `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Why, 'tis found so. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` It must be se offendendo; it cannot be else. For here lies `
` the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act: and an `
` act hath three branches; it is to act, to do, and to perform: `
` argal, she drowned herself wittingly. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,-- `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here stands the `
` man; good: if the man go to this water and drown himself, it is, `
` will he, nill he, he goes,--mark you that: but if the water come `
` to him and drown him, he drowns not himself; argal, he that is `
` not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` But is this law? `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Ay, marry, is't--crowner's quest law. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a `
` gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Why, there thou say'st: and the more pity that great folk `
` should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves `
` more than their even Christian.--Come, my spade. There is no `
` ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers: they `
` hold up Adam's profession. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Was he a gentleman? `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` He was the first that ever bore arms. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Why, he had none. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the Scripture? `
` The Scripture says Adam digg'd: could he dig without arms? I'll `
` put another question to thee: if thou answerest me not to the `
` purpose, confess thyself,-- `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Go to. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the `
` shipwright, or the carpenter? `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` I like thy wit well, in good faith: the gallows does well; `
` but how does it well? it does well to those that do ill: now, `
` thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the `
` church; argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To't again, come. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter? `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Ay, tell me that, and unyoke. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Marry, now I can tell. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` To't. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Mass, I cannot tell. `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet and Horatio, at a distance.] `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will `
` not mend his pace with beating; and when you are asked this `
` question next, say 'a grave-maker;' the houses he makes last `
` till doomsday. Go, get thee to Yaughan; fetch me a stoup of `
` liquor. `
` `
` [Exit Second Clown.] `
` `
` [Digs and sings.] `
` `
` In youth when I did love, did love, `
` Methought it was very sweet; `
` To contract, O, the time for, ah, my behove, `
` O, methought there was nothing meet. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he sings at `
` grave-making? `
` `
` Hor. `
` Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness. `
` `
` Ham. `
` 'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath the daintier `
` sense. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` [Sings.] `
` But age, with his stealing steps, `
` Hath claw'd me in his clutch, `
` And hath shipp'd me intil the land, `
` As if I had never been such. `
` `
` [Throws up a skull.] `
` `
` Ham. `
`
` A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping, `
` If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck, `
` Our purpose may hold there. `
` `
` [Enter Queen.] `
` `
` How now, sweet queen! `
` `
` Queen. `
` One woe doth tread upon another's heel, `
` So fast they follow:--your sister's drown'd, Laertes. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Drown'd! O, where? `
` `
` Queen. `
` There is a willow grows aslant a brook, `
` That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream; `
` There with fantastic garlands did she come `
` Of crowflowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, `
` That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, `
` But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them. `
` There, on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds `
` Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke; `
` When down her weedy trophies and herself `
` Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide; `
` And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up; `
` Which time she chaunted snatches of old tunes; `
` As one incapable of her own distress, `
` Or like a creature native and indu'd `
` Unto that element: but long it could not be `
` Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, `
` Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay `
` To muddy death. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Alas, then she is drown'd? `
` `
` Queen. `
` Drown'd, drown'd. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, `
` And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet `
` It is our trick; nature her custom holds, `
` Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, `
` The woman will be out.--Adieu, my lord: `
` I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, `
` But that this folly douts it. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` King. `
` Let's follow, Gertrude; `
` How much I had to do to calm his rage! `
` Now fear I this will give it start again; `
` Therefore let's follow. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` ACT V. `
` `
` Scene I. A churchyard. `
` `
` [Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.] `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she wilfully `
` seeks her own salvation? `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` I tell thee she is; and therefore make her grave straight: the `
` crowner hath sat on her, and finds it Christian burial. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defence? `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Why, 'tis found so. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` It must be se offendendo; it cannot be else. For here lies `
` the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act: and an `
` act hath three branches; it is to act, to do, and to perform: `
` argal, she drowned herself wittingly. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,-- `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here stands the `
` man; good: if the man go to this water and drown himself, it is, `
` will he, nill he, he goes,--mark you that: but if the water come `
` to him and drown him, he drowns not himself; argal, he that is `
` not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` But is this law? `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Ay, marry, is't--crowner's quest law. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a `
` gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Why, there thou say'st: and the more pity that great folk `
` should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves `
` more than their even Christian.--Come, my spade. There is no `
` ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers: they `
` hold up Adam's profession. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Was he a gentleman? `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` He was the first that ever bore arms. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Why, he had none. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the Scripture? `
` The Scripture says Adam digg'd: could he dig without arms? I'll `
` put another question to thee: if thou answerest me not to the `
` purpose, confess thyself,-- `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Go to. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the `
` shipwright, or the carpenter? `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` I like thy wit well, in good faith: the gallows does well; `
` but how does it well? it does well to those that do ill: now, `
` thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the `
` church; argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To't again, come. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter? `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Ay, tell me that, and unyoke. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Marry, now I can tell. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` To't. `
` `
` 2 Clown. `
` Mass, I cannot tell. `
` `
` [Enter Hamlet and Horatio, at a distance.] `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will `
` not mend his pace with beating; and when you are asked this `
` question next, say 'a grave-maker;' the houses he makes last `
` till doomsday. Go, get thee to Yaughan; fetch me a stoup of `
` liquor. `
` `
` [Exit Second Clown.] `
` `
` [Digs and sings.] `
` `
` In youth when I did love, did love, `
` Methought it was very sweet; `
` To contract, O, the time for, ah, my behove, `
` O, methought there was nothing meet. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he sings at `
` grave-making? `
` `
` Hor. `
` Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness. `
` `
` Ham. `
` 'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath the daintier `
` sense. `
` `
` 1 Clown. `
` [Sings.] `
` But age, with his stealing steps, `
` Hath claw'd me in his clutch, `
` And hath shipp'd me intil the land, `
` As if I had never been such. `
` `
` [Throws up a skull.] `
` `
` Ham. `
`