There lives within the very flame of love
A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it;
And nothing is at a like goodness still;
For goodness, growing to a plurisy,

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,

120

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 sanctuarize;

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: 131
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.

King.

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.

Let's further think of this;

140

Weigh what convenience both of time and means 150
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 did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings:
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.

161

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,

171

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 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 indued

180

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.

190

[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 FIFTH

SCENE I

A churchyard.

Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.

First Clo. Is she to be buried in Christian burial that wilfully seeks her own salvation?

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

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

Sec. Clo. Why, 'tis found so.

First 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. Sec. Clo. Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,

First 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

10

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.

Sec. Clo. But is this law?

First Clo. Ay, marry, is't; crowner's quest law.

Sec. Clo. Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial.

First Clo. Why, there thou say'st: and the more

20

pity that great folk should have countenance in 30
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.

Sec. Clo. Was he a gentleman?

First Clo.

arms.

A'

was the first that ever bore

Sec. Clo. Why, he had none.

First Clo. What, art a heathen? How dost thou 40 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 thyselfSec. Clo. Go to.

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