Page 110 of Hamlet

come.

SECOND CLOWN Who builds stronger than a mason, a

shipwright, or a carpenter?

FIRST CLOWN Ay, tell me that, and unyoke49.

SECOND CLOWN Marry, now I can tell.

FIRST CLOWN To't.

SECOND CLOWN Mass, I cannot tell.

Hamlet cloaked?

Enter Hamlet and Horatio afar off

FIRST CLOWN Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend54 his pace with beating; and when you are asked this question next, say 'A grave-maker: the houses that he

makes lasts till doomsday.' Go, get thee to Yaughan56: fetch me a stoup57 of liquor.

[Exit Second Clown]

Sings

In youth, when I did love, did love58, Methought it was very sweet,

To contract-O-the time, for-a-my behove60, O, methought there was nothing meet61.

HAMLET Has this fellow no feeling of his business that he sings at grave-making?

HORATIO Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness64.

HAMLET 'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath the65

daintier sense.

Sings

FIRST CLOWN But age with his stealing steps Hath caught me in his clutch,

And hath shipped me intil69 the land,

Throws up a skull

As if I had never been such70.

HAMLET That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once: how the knave jowls it to th'ground, as if it were Cain72's jaw-bone, that did the first murder. It might be the pate of a politician, which this ass o'er-offices74, one that could circumvent75 God, might it not?

HORATIO It might, my lord.

HAMLET Or of a courtier, which could say 'Good morrow, sweet lord! How dost thou, good lord?' This might be my lord

Such-a-one, that praised my lord Such-a-one's horse when

he meant to beg it, might it not?

HORATIO Ay, my lord.

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