Goodman Deluer. [Sidenote: good man deluer.]

_Clown_. Giue me leaue; heere lies the water;
good: heere stands the man; good: If the man
goe to this water and drowne himsele; it is will
he nill he, he goes; marke you that? But if the
water come to him and drowne him; hee drownes
not himselfe. Argall, hee that is not guilty of his
owne death, shortens not his owne life.

_Other_. But is this law?

_Clo_. I marry is't, Crowners Quest Law.

_Other_. Will you ha the truth on't: if this had [Sidenote: truth an't]
not beene a Gentlewoman, shee should haue beene
buried out of[2] Christian Buriall. [Sidenote: out a]

_Clo_. Why there thou say'st. And the more
pitty that great folke should haue countenance in
this world to drowne or hang themselues, more then
their euen[3] Christian. Come, my Spade; there is
no ancient Gentlemen, but Gardiners, Ditchers and
Graue-makers; they hold vp _Adams_ Profession.

_Other_. Was he a Gentleman?

_Clo_. He was the first that euer bore Armes. [Sidenote: A was]

[4]_Other_. Why he had none.

_Clo_. What, ar't a Heathen? how dost thou vnderstand
the Scripture? the Scripture sayes _Adam_
dig'd; could hee digge without Armes?[4] Ile put
another question to thee; if thou answerest me not
to the purpose, confesse thy selfe----

_Other_. Go too.

_Clo_. What is he that builds stronger then either
the Mason, the Shipwright, or the Carpenter?

_Other_. The Gallowes-maker; for that Frame
outliues a thousand Tenants. [Sidenote: that outliues]

[Footnote 1: _ergo_, therefore.]

[Footnote 2: _without_. The pleasure the speeches of the Clown give us,
lies partly in the undercurrent of sense, so disguised by stupidity in
the utterance; and partly in the wit which mainly succeeds in its end by
the failure of its means.]

[Footnote 3: _equal_, that is _fellow_ Christian.]

[Footnote 4: _From 'Other' to_ 'Armes' _not in Quarto._]

[Page 228]

_Clo_. I like thy wit well in good faith, the
Gallowes does well; but how does it well? it does
well to those that doe ill: now, thou dost ill to say
the Gallowes is built stronger then the Church:
Argall, the Gallowes may doe well to thee. Too't
againe, Come.

_Other_. Who builds stronger then a Mason, a
Shipwright, or a Carpenter?

_Clo_. I, tell me that, and vnyoake.[1]

_Other_. Marry, now I can tell.

_Clo_. Too't.

_Other_. Masse, I cannot tell.

_Enter Hamlet and Horatio a farre