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134

Ham. Dost thou think Alexander looked o'

this fashion i' the earth?

Hor. E'en so.

Ham. And smelt so? pah!

[Puts down the skull.]

Hor. E'en so, my lord.

Ham. To what base uses we may return,

Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the

noble dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping

a bung-hole?

Hor. 'Twere to consider too curiously, to con-

sider so.

Ham. No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him

thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to

lead it; as thus: Alexander died, Alexander

was buried, Alexander returneth into dust; the

dust is earth; of earth we make loam, and why

of that loam, whereto he was converted, might

they not stop a beer-barrel?

Imperial Cæsar, dead and turn'd to clay,

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:

O! that that earth, which kept the world in awe,

Should patch a wall to expel the winter's flaw."

But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king.

The queen, the courtiers: who is that they follow?

And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken

The corse they follow did with desperate hand

Fordo it own life; 'twas of some estate.

 228 curiously: minutely

231 likelihood: probability

240 flaw: squall of wind

245 estate: rank

