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 ____ Hor. I my lord, no otherwise.

Ham.

No, why might not imagination worke, as thus of Alexander, Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander became earth, of earth we make clay, and Alexander being but clay, why might not time bring to passe, that he might stoppe the boung hole of a beere barrell? Imperious Cæsar dead and turnd to clay,

Might stoppe a hole, to keepe the winde away.

Enter King and Queene, Leartes, and other lordes, with a Priest after the coffin. Ham. What funerall's this that all the Court laments?

It shews to be some noble parentage:

Stand by a while.

Lear. What ceremony else? say, what ceremony else?

Priest My Lord, we haue done all that lies in vs,

And more than well the church can tolerate,

She hath had a Dirge sung for her maiden soule:

And but for fauour of the king, and you,

She had beene buried in the open fieldes,

Where now she is allowed christian buriall.

Lear. So, I tell thee churlish Priest, a ministring Angell shall my sister be, when thou liest howling.

Ham. The faire Ofelia dead!

Queene Sweetes to the sweete, farewell:

I had thought to adorne thy bridale bed, faire maide,

And not to follow thee vnto thy graue.

Lear. Forbeare the earth a while: sister farewell:

Leartes leapes into the graue. Now powre your earth on, _lympus hie,

And make a hill to o're top olde Pellon: Hamlet leapes in after Leartes

Whats he that coniures so?

Ham. Beholde tis I, Hamlet the Dane.

Lear. The diuell take thy soule.

Ham. O thou praiest not well,

I prethee take thy hand from off my throate,

For there is something in me dangerous,

Which

Prince of Denmarke. Which let thy wisedome feare, holde off thy hand:

I lou'de Ofelia as deere as twenty brothers could:

Shew me what thou wilt doe for her:

Wilt fight, wilt fast, wilt pray,

Wilt drinke vp vessels, eate a crocadile? Ile doot:

Com'st thou here to whine?

And where thou talk'st of burying thee a liue,

Here let vs stand: and let them throw on vs,

Whole hills of earth, till with the heighth therof,

Make Oosell as a Wart.

King. Forbeare Leartes, now is hee mad, as is the sea,

Anone as milde and gentle as a Doue:

Therfore a while giue his wilde humour scope.

Ham. What is the reason sir that you wrong mee thus?

I neuer gaue you cause: but stand away,

A Cat will meaw, a Dog will haue a day.

Exit Hamlet and Horatio. Queene. Alas, it is his madnes makes him thus,

And not his heart, Leartes.

King. My lord, t'is so: but wee'le no longer trifle,

This very day shall Hamlet drinke his last,

For presently we meane to send to him,

Therfore Leartes b_ in readynes.

Lear. My lord, till then my soule will not bee quiet.

King. Come Gertred, wee'l haue Leartes, and our sonne,

Made friends and Louers, as befittes them both,

Euen as they tender vs, and loue their countrie.

Queene God grant they may. exeunt omnes.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio Ham. beleeue mee, it greeues mee much Horatio,

That to Leartes I forgot my selfe:

For by my selfe me thinkes I feele his griefe,

Though there's a difference in each others wrong.

Enter a Bragart G_ntleman. Horatio, but marke yon water‐flie,

The Court knowes him, but hee knowes not the Court.57

I2 Gen.