Of crow-flowers, nettles, daifies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a groffer name,

But our cold maids do dead-men's fingers call them:
There on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds
Clambering 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, a while they bore her up:
Which time, she chanted 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 haft 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 drowns 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

Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.

1. Clo. Is she to be bury'd in christian burial, that wil. fully feeks her own falvation?

2. Clo. I tell thee, she is; therefore, make her grave straight: the crowner hath set on her, and finds it christian burial.

1. Clo. How can that be, unless she drown'd herself in her own defence?

2. Clo. Why, 'tis found fo.

1. Clo. It must be fe offendendo; it cannot be else. For here lies the point: If I drown myself wittingly, it argues anact: and an act hath three branches; it is, to act, to do, and to perform: Argal, she drown'd herself wittingly. 2. Clo. Nay, but hear you, goodman delver.

1. Clo. 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. Clo. But is this law?

1. Clo. Ay, marry is't; crowner's-quest law. 2. Clo. Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of christian burial.

1. Clo. Why, there thou say'st: And the more pity, that great folks should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their even christian. Come;

W.N.Gardiner del et sc2.

Hamley.

Page 106

Pub 1 March 1797.by Edu Harding N98 Pall Mall.

.:

Come; my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers; they hold up Adam's profession.

2. Clo. Was he a gentleman ?

1. Clo. He was the first that ever bore arms.

2. Clo. Why, he had none.

1. Clo. 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 answer'st me not to the purpose, confefs thyself

2. Clo. Go to.

1. Clo, What is he, that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter ?

2. Clo. The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.

1. Clo. 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. Clo. Who builds stronger than a mafon, a shipwright, or a carpenter ?

1. Clo. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.

2. Clo. Marry, now I can tell.

1. Clo. To't.

2. Clo. Mass, I cannot tell.

Enter HAMLET and HORATIO, at a distance.

1. Clo. Cudgel thy brains no more about it; for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating: and, when you are afk'd this question next, say, a grave-maker; the houses that he makes, last till doomsday. Go, get thee to Yaughan, and fetch me a stoup of liquor. (Exit 2. Clo.

He