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 fliver broke;
When down her weedy trophies, and herself,
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes fpread wide;
And, mermaid-like, a while they bore her up:
Which time, fhe chanted fnatches 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, fhe 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 fhame fay 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.

King. Let's follow, Gertrude :

How much I had to do to calm his rage!
Now fear I, this will give it start again;

[Exit.

Therefore, let's follow.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT V. SCENE I.

A Church-yard.

Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.

1. Clo. Is fhe to be bury'd in christian burial, that wilfully feeks her own falvation?

2. Clo. I tell thee, she is; therefore, make her grave ftraight: the crowner hath fet 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 elfe. For here lies the point: If I drown myfelf wittingly, it argues an act: and an act hath three branches; it is, to act, to do, and to perform: Argal, fhe 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 himfelf: 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 fay'ft: And the more pity, that great folks should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their even christian.

Come;

WN.Gardiner del'etsc'.

Hamlet.

Page 106

Pub: 1March 1797.by Edw Harding N:98 Pall Mall.

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

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 doft thou underftand the fcripture? The fcripture fays, Adam digg'd: Could he dig without arms? I'll put another question to thee if thou answer'ft me not to the purpose, confefs thyfelf

2. Clo. Go to.

1. Clo. What is he, that builds ftronger 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 doft ill, to say, the gallows is built ftronger than the church; argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To't again; come.

2. Clo. Who builds ftronger than a mason, a fhipwright, or a carpenter

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

2. Clo. Marry, now I can tell.

1. Clo. To't.

2. Clo. Mafs, I cannot tell.

Enter HAMLET and HORATIO, at a distance.

for your

1. Clo. Cudgel thy brains no more about it; dull afs will not mend his pace with beating: and, when you are afk'd this question next, fay, a grave-maker; the houses that he makes, laft till doomfḍay. Go, get thee to Yaughan, and fetch me a ftoup of liquor. [Exit 2. Clo.

He