|
 |
|
| | GRAVEDIGGER |
| 20 |
Ay, marry, is 't. Crowner's quest
law. |
|
| GRAVEDIGGER |
|
It sure is. The coroner's inquest 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 |
|
Do you want to know the truth? If this woman hadn't
been rich, she wouldn't have been given a Christian
burial. |
|
| | GRAVEDIGGER |
| |
Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk |
| 25 |
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 |
|
Well there, now you've said it. It's a pity
that the rich have more freedom to hang or drown themselves than the
rest of us Christians. Come on, shovel. The most ancient aristocrats
in the world are gardeners, ditch-diggers, and gravediggers. They
keep up Adam's profession. |
|
| | OTHER |
| 30 |
Was he a gentleman? |
|
| OTHER |
|
Was he an aristocrat? With a coat of arms? |
|
| | GRAVEDIGGER |
| |
He was the first that ever bore arms. |
|
| GRAVEDIGGER |
|
He was the first person who ever had arms. |
|
|
| OTHER |
|
He didn't have any. |
|
| | GRAVEDIGGER |
| |
What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the |
| |
Scripture? The Scripture says Adam digged. Could he dig |
| 35 |
without arms? I'll put another question to thee. If
thou |
| |
answerest me not to the purpose, confess
thyself— |
|
| GRAVEDIGGER |
|
What, aren't you a Christian? The Bible says Adam dug
in the ground. How could he dig without arms? I'll ask
you another question. If you can't answer
it— |
|
|
|
| | GRAVEDIGGER |
| |
What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the |
| |
shipwright, or the carpenter? |
|
| GRAVEDIGGER |
|
What do you call a person who builds stronger things than a
stonemason, a shipbuilder, or a carpenter does? |
|
| | OTHER |
| 40 |
The gallows-maker, for that frame outlives a thousand |
| |
tenants. |
|
| OTHER |
|
The one who builds the gallows to hang people on, since his
structure outlives a thousand inhabitants. |
|
| | 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 |
|
| GRAVEDIGGER |
|
You're funny, and I like that. The gallows do a good
job. But how? It does a good job for those who do bad. |
|
|
|
| |
 |
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