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
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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
Why, he had none.
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—
OTHER
Go to.
OTHER
Go ahead!
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.
