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heel of the courtier, he galls his kibe. How long

hast thou been a grave-maker?

[First] Clo. Of all the days i' the year, I came

to 't that day that our last King Hamlet over-

came Fortinbras.

Ham. How long is that since?

[First] Clo. Cannot you tell that? every fool

can tell that; it was the very day that young

Hamlet was born; he that is mad, and sent into

England.

Ham. Ay, marry; why was he sent into

England?

[First] Clo. Why, because he was mad: he

shall recover his wits there; or, if he do not, 'tis

no great matter there.

Ham. Why?

[First] Clo. 'Twill not be seen in him there;

there the men are as mad as he.

Ham. How came he mad?

[First] Clo. Very strangely, they say.

Ham. How strangely?

[First] Clo. Faith, e'en with losing his wits.

Ham. Upon what ground?

[First] Clo. Why, here in Denmark; I have

been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years.

Ham. How long will a man lie i' the earth

ere he rot?

[First] Clo. Faith, if he be not rotten before

he die,—as we have many pocky corses now-a-

days, that will scarce hold the laying in,—he

will last you some eight year or nine year; a

tanner will last you nine year.

Ham. Why he more than another?

 154 kibe: chilblain

182 pocky: diseased

