Hamlet

hath sat5 on her, and finds it Christian burial.

FIRST CLOWN How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defence?

SECOND CLOWN Why, 'tis found so.

FIRST CLOWN It must be se offendendo9, 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: argal12, she drowned herself wittingly.

SECOND CLOWN Nay, but hear you, goodman13 delver--

FIRST 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, he16 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.

SECOND CLOWN But is this law?

FIRST CLOWN Ay, marry, is't: crowner's quest21 law.

SECOND CLOWN Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of

Christian burial.

FIRST CLOWN Why, there thou say'st25: and the more pity that great folk should have countenance26 in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their even Christian27. Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers28

and grave-makers: they hold up Adam's profession29.

SECOND CLOWN Was he a gentleman?

FIRST CLOWN He was the first that ever bore arms31.

SECOND CLOWN Why, he had none.

FIRST CLOWN 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 thyself36--

SECOND CLOWN Go to.

FIRST CLOWN What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?

SECOND CLOWN The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.

FIRST CLOWN I like thy wit well, in good faith: the gallows does42

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,