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No Fear Shakespheare

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

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Act 5, Scene 1, Page 3

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45
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, it’s wrong to say that the gallows are stronger than a church. Therefore, the gallows may do you some good. Come on, your turn.


OTHER
“Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a
carpenter?”
OTHER
Let’s see, “Who builds stronger things than a stonemason, a shipbuilder, or a carpenter?”

GRAVEDIGGER
Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.
GRAVEDIGGER
That’s the question, so answer it.

OTHER
Marry, now I can tell.
OTHER
Ah, I’ve got it!

50
GRAVEDIGGER
To ’t.
GRAVEDIGGER
Go ahead.

OTHER
Mass, I cannot tell.
OTHER
Damn, I forgot.
Enter HAMLET and HORATIO afar off
HAMLET and HORATIO enter in the distance.




55
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
Don’t beat your brains out over it. You can’t make a slow donkey run by beating it. The next time someone asks you this riddle, say “a gravedigger.” The houses he makes last till Judgment Day. Now go and get me some booze.
Exit OTHER
The OTHER GRAVEDIGGER exits.




(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.
(the GRAVEDIGGER digs and sings)
In my youth I loved, I loved,
  And I though it was very sweet
To set—ohh—the date for—ahh—my duty
  Oh, I thought it—ahh—was not right.


HAMLET
Has this fellow no feeling of his business? He sings at grave-
making.
HAMLET
Doesn’t this guy realize what he’s doing? He’s singing while digging a grave.


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