No Fear Shakespeare: Hamlet: Act 5 Scene 1

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Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Act 5 Scene 1

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter a GRAVEDIGGER and the OTHER gravedigger	Enter a GRAVEDIGGER and the OTHER gravedigger
GRAVEDIGGER Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation?	GRAVEDIGGER Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation?
OTHER I tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it Christian burial.	OTHER I tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defense?	GRAVEDIGGER How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defense?
OTHER Why, ’tis found so.	OTHER Why, ’tis found so.
GRAVEDIGGER 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, to perform. Argal, she drowned herself wittingly.	GRAVEDIGGER 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, to perform. Argal, she drowned herself wittingly.
OTHER Nay, but hear you, Goodman Delver—	OTHER Nay, but hear you, Goodman Delver—
GRAVEDIGGER 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 himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.	GRAVEDIGGER 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 himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.
OTHER But is this law?	OTHER But is this law?
GRAVEDIGGER Ay, marry, is ’t. Crowner’s quest law.	GRAVEDIGGER Ay, marry, is ’t. Crowner’s quest law.
OTHER Will you ha' the truth on ’t? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial.	OTHER Will you ha' the truth on ’t? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian. Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentleman but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers. They hold up Adam’s profession.	GRAVEDIGGER Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian. Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentleman but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers. They hold up Adam’s profession.
OTHER 30 Was he a gentleman?	OTHER Was he a gentleman?
GRAVEDIGGER He was the first that ever bore arms.	GRAVEDIGGER He was the first that ever bore arms.
OTHER Why, he had none.	OTHER Why, he had none.
GRAVEDIGGER 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 thyself—	GRAVEDIGGER 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 thyself—
OTHER Go to.	OTHER Go to.
GRAVEDIGGER What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?	GRAVEDIGGER What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?
OTHER The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.	OTHER The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.
GRAVEDIGGER 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.	GRAVEDIGGER 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 dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church. Argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To ’t again, come.	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, come.
OTHER “Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?”	OTHER “Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?”
GRAVEDIGGER Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.	GRAVEDIGGER Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.
OTHER Marry, now I can tell.	OTHER Marry, now I can tell.
GRAVEDIGGER 50 To ’t.	GRAVEDIGGER To ’t.
OTHER Mass, I cannot tell.	OTHER Mass, I cannot tell.
Enter HAMLET and HORATIO afar off	Enter HAMLET and HORATIO afar off
GRAVEDIGGER Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And when you are asked this question next, say “A grave-maker.” The houses that he makes last till doomsday. Go, get thee in. Fetch me a stoup of liquor.	GRAVEDIGGER Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And when you are asked this question next, say “A grave-maker.” The houses that he makes last till doomsday. Go, get thee in. Fetch me a stoup of liquor.
Exit OTHER	Exit OTHER
(digs and sings) In youth when I did love, did love, Methought it was very sweet To contract–o–the time, for–a–my behove, Oh, methought, there–a–was nothing–a–meet.	(digs and sings) In youth when I did love, did love, Methought it was very sweet To contract–o–the time, for–a–my behove, Oh, methought, there–a–was nothing–a–meet.
HAMLET Has this fellow no feeling of his business? He sings at grave- making.	HAMLET Has this fellow no feeling of his business? He sings at grave- making.
HORATIO 60 Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.	HORATIO Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.
HAMLET 'Tis e'en so. The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.	HAMLET 'Tis e'en so. The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.
GRAVEDIGGER (sings) But age with his stealing steps Hath clawed me in his clutch, And hath shipped me into the land As if I had never been such. (throws up a skull)	GRAVEDIGGER (sings) But age with his stealing steps Hath clawed me in his clutch, And hath shipped me into the land As if I had never been such. (throws up a skull)
HAMLET That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once. How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder! It might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'erreaches, one that would circumvent God, might it not?	HAMLET That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once. How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder! It might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'erreaches, one that would circumvent God, might it not?
HORATIO 70 It might, my lord.	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?	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 75 Ay, my lord.	HORATIO Ay, my lord.
HAMLET Why, e'en so. And now my Lady Worm’s, chapless and knocked about the mazard with a sexton’s spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had the trick to see ’t. Did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine ache to think on ’t.	HAMLET Why, e'en so. And now my Lady Worm’s, chapless and knocked about the mazard with a sexton’s spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had the trick to see ’t. Did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine ache to think on ’t.

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter a GRAVEDIGGER and the OTHER gravedigger	Enter a GRAVEDIGGER and the OTHER gravedigger
GRAVEDIGGER Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation?	GRAVEDIGGER Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation?
OTHER I tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it Christian burial.	OTHER I tell thee she is. Therefore make her grave straight. The crowner hath sat on her and finds it Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defense?	GRAVEDIGGER How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defense?
OTHER Why, ’tis found so.	OTHER Why, ’tis found so.
GRAVEDIGGER 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, to perform. Argal, she drowned herself wittingly.	GRAVEDIGGER 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, to perform. Argal, she drowned herself wittingly.
OTHER Nay, but hear you, Goodman Delver—	OTHER Nay, but hear you, Goodman Delver—
GRAVEDIGGER 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 himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.	GRAVEDIGGER 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 himself. Argal, he that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.
OTHER But is this law?	OTHER But is this law?
GRAVEDIGGER Ay, marry, is ’t. Crowner’s quest law.	GRAVEDIGGER Ay, marry, is ’t. Crowner’s quest law.
OTHER Will you ha' the truth on ’t? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial.	OTHER Will you ha' the truth on ’t? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian. Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentleman but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers. They hold up Adam’s profession.	GRAVEDIGGER Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even Christian. Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentleman but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers. They hold up Adam’s profession.
OTHER 30 Was he a gentleman?	OTHER Was he a gentleman?
GRAVEDIGGER He was the first that ever bore arms.	GRAVEDIGGER He was the first that ever bore arms.
OTHER Why, he had none.	OTHER Why, he had none.
GRAVEDIGGER 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 thyself—	GRAVEDIGGER 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 thyself—
OTHER Go to.	OTHER Go to.
GRAVEDIGGER What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?	GRAVEDIGGER What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?
OTHER The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.	OTHER The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.
GRAVEDIGGER 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.	GRAVEDIGGER 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 dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church. Argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To ’t again, come.	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, come.
OTHER “Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?”	OTHER “Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter?”
GRAVEDIGGER Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.	GRAVEDIGGER Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.
OTHER Marry, now I can tell.	OTHER Marry, now I can tell.
GRAVEDIGGER 50 To ’t.	GRAVEDIGGER To ’t.
OTHER Mass, I cannot tell.	OTHER Mass, I cannot tell.
Enter HAMLET and HORATIO afar off	Enter HAMLET and HORATIO afar off
GRAVEDIGGER Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And when you are asked this question next, say “A grave-maker.” The houses that he makes last till doomsday. Go, get thee in. Fetch me a stoup of liquor.	GRAVEDIGGER Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And when you are asked this question next, say “A grave-maker.” The houses that he makes last till doomsday. Go, get thee in. Fetch me a stoup of liquor.
Exit OTHER	Exit OTHER
(digs and sings) In youth when I did love, did love, Methought it was very sweet To contract–o–the time, for–a–my behove, Oh, methought, there–a–was nothing–a–meet.	(digs and sings) In youth when I did love, did love, Methought it was very sweet To contract–o–the time, for–a–my behove, Oh, methought, there–a–was nothing–a–meet.
HAMLET Has this fellow no feeling of his business? He sings at grave- making.	HAMLET Has this fellow no feeling of his business? He sings at grave- making.
HORATIO 60 Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.	HORATIO Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.
HAMLET 'Tis e'en so. The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.	HAMLET 'Tis e'en so. The hand of little employment hath the daintier sense.
GRAVEDIGGER (sings) But age with his stealing steps Hath clawed me in his clutch, And hath shipped me into the land As if I had never been such. (throws up a skull)	GRAVEDIGGER (sings) But age with his stealing steps Hath clawed me in his clutch, And hath shipped me into the land As if I had never been such. (throws up a skull)
HAMLET That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once. How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder! It might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'erreaches, one that would circumvent God, might it not?	HAMLET That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once. How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder! It might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'erreaches, one that would circumvent God, might it not?
HORATIO 70 It might, my lord.	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?	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 75 Ay, my lord.	HORATIO Ay, my lord.
HAMLET Why, e'en so. And now my Lady Worm’s, chapless and knocked about the mazard with a sexton’s spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had the trick to see ’t. Did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine ache to think on ’t.	HAMLET Why, e'en so. And now my Lady Worm’s, chapless and knocked about the mazard with a sexton’s spade. Here’s fine revolution, an we had the trick to see ’t. Did these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine ache to think on ’t.