GERTRUDE There is a willow151 grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar152 leaves in the glassy stream: There with fantastic153 garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies and long purples154
; That liberal shepherds give a grosser155 name, But our cold156 maids do dead men's fingers call them: There on the pendent157 boughs her coronet weeds Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver158 broke, When down the weedy159 trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up,
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,
As one incapable of her own distress163, Or like a creature native and indued164
Unto that element: but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay167
To muddy death.
LAERTES Alas, then, is she drowned?
GERTRUDE Drowned, drowned.
LAERTES Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
And therefore I forbid my tears. But yet
It is our trick173: nature her custom holds,
Weeps
Let shame say what it will: when these174 are gone, The woman will be out175.-- Adieu, my lord: I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze,
But that this folly douts177 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 5 Scene 1]
running scene 16
Enter two Clowns
With a spade and a pickax
FIRST CLOWN Is she to be buried in Christian burial1 that wilfully seeks her own salvation2?
SECOND CLOWN I tell thee she is: and therefore make her grave straight: the crowner4