Dies in his own too-much; that we would do, We should do when we would; for this would changes,

And hath abatements and delays as many,

As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents; And then this should is like a spendthrift sigh, That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the

ulcer :

Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake,
To show yourself your father's son in deed
More than in words?

Laer.

To cut his throat i' the church. King. No place, indeed, should murder sanc

tuarize;

Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,

Will you do this, keep close within your chamber. Hamlet, return'd, shall know you are come home : We'll put on those shall praise your excellence, And set a double varnish on the fame

The Frenchman gave you; bring you, in fine, together,

And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,
Most generous, and free from all contriving,
Will not peruse the foils; so that, with ease,
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice,
Requite him for your father.

Laer.
I will do't:
And, for that purpose, I'll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal, that but dip a knife in it,
Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death,
That is but scratch'd withal; I'll touch my point

With this contagion; that, if I gall him slightly,

It may be death.

King.

Let's further think of this:

Weigh, what convenience, both of time and

means,

May fit us to our shape: if this should fail, And that our drift look through our bad performance,

'Twere better not assay'd; therefore this project Should have a back, or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof. Soft ;-let me see :We'll make a solemn wager on your commings,I ha't.

When in your motion you are hot and dry,

(As make your bouts more violent to that end,)
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared 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 crow-flowers, 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 pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;

When down the weedy trophies, and herself,
Fell in the weeping brook.

wide;

Her clothes spread

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 indued

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, is she 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.

King.

[Exit.

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.

VOL. XI.

8

I

ACT V.

SCENE I.-A Church-Yard.

Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.

I Clown.

S she to be buried in Christian burial, that wilfully seeks her own salvation?

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

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

2 Clo. Why, 'tis found so.

I Clo. 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 Clo. Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,—

:

I 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.

I Clo. 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 Clo. Was he a gentleman ?

I Clo. He was the first that ever bore arms. 2 Clo. Why, he had none.

1 Cl. What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the scripture? The scripture says, Adam digged; could he dig without arms? I'll put another question to thee: if thou answerest me not to the purpose, confess 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.

I 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 mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter ?

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

2 Clo. Marry, now I can tell.

I 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 beat