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128
The Tragedy of Hamlet,

Other. Why, he had none. 39

[First] Clo. 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 an-
swerest me not to the purpose, confess thyself

Other. Go to. 45

[First] Clo. 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. 50

[First] Clo. 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.

Other. Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter? 58

[First] Clo. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.

Other. Marry, now I can tell.

[First] Clo. To 't.

Other. Mass, I cannot tell. 62

Enter Hamlet and Horatio afar off.

[First] Clo. 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 to
Yaughan; fetch me a stoup of liquor.

[Exit other Clown.]


44 confess thyself; cf. n.
59 unyoke; cf. n.
68 Yaughan; cf. n.
stoup: two quart measure