Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Act V, Scene III Churchyard, Evening (Emer 1 Clown in partially dug grave) 1" Clown: Life, death, death, death and life -(Digs and sings) ‘There is no shantily coddled hole, Within which life should lie But, O, sweet death, thy breath doth tol: ‘No rest, once in sueb lc... (Enter Horatio, stealthy) Horatio: Now there, digger, what sing you here, among these shadowed elms? “Tis bright and chill the ir around, yet dark and dearth you ring? 1 Clown: Only, my task a lightnin’, si, beggin’ your pardon, your eminence nearly {righted the tune from my brain. I spring my take upon this scene, through voice to bide the time. Is not life unwelcome in death's gate? Horatio: A pardon, sir, to you. Know you of the tragedy for which your services are ‘wont? 1" Clown: Aye, a wicked tem, a poisoned brat, a silly mistress, and most noble knight. Allare leveled here tonight. —Earth knows no throne, once under her skirts, their {kingdom lies. Strange deeds abound, most noble sir, in this bone yard, no the Teast— ‘Yea, three nights past, o'er fen and through yonder range, the grave of the sweet virgin held quarry such as I have said. Yea, two men; the Prince of Dane, and that saiveling son of a Chambr'lain did stand waist high there, ~and did bandy such refuse as to be unseemly on the occasion. They did, I was nigh, and stood nearby. (Raising an eyebrow and cocking his head to one side) Horatio: I sense thee well, good graveman, for, I too did time there spend. “Twas ‘uncouth, 2s say you and wry unlike, the Dane; [know, be is my friend. Alas! —Dig thee then and straight and true, forthe mist of your winds reck of small cold beer. Be on. (oratio, retires to the rear, out of sight) 1" Clown: Small cold beer, ch? “Tis no choice of mine — for, for the work that lies before me here, prayeth I for wine! (Digs a few moments, singing) 1 Clown: Where can I be on? Ahh, the chance, yea, the very Prince's Chance: ings)‘Tis nobler, then, to spear a knave ‘Than back away and not- Not, so! Saw Ia life to save- ‘Though writhed with tension, hot Prince fair, discreet, and quiet by Entered on, his chambered king With dagger guilt in hand, stole by- ‘And bent upon, to justice bring ‘Thrice, he raised his deadly blow ‘And thrice “twas warded off Upon his brow, sat reason’s king-- iid guide the lad, not dof. His colour shone as tryst and true Our King, who onee would be, "The better part, for he did sue ‘And spared knave, on bended knee (Enter, rom shadows, Horatio) Horatio: (Drawing sword) Halt! Man of bones and bracken, what say you? These tales of your spinning fairly ache within mine ear. Know you some such thing? Be quick! Stave me not. 1" Clown: Well, casts shovel down) ata rate such us this, the works of these interred t0 be are not to be, I daresay. Ah, but I thirst. Pr'thee slake me with thine own, sit. ‘Spare me thusly and entreat, and thou my tale shall hear complete (Sheathing his sword, Horatio offers him refreshment) 1 Clown: Ah, thankes, sir. A fine gentl‘person is as the once same does, To your most approbate nobility. (Drinks deeply) ~Ahh! A man of your state, wand’ring about the ceves, makes wonder to me. Yet I stand, not only below thee, but also within thee, as to your esteemed debt, for the wine that was most welcome. Horatio: The things of which you spin to tune, this tale of noble prince, --Where came ye by i? 1 Clown: Why, sir. I found it right here laying by, and by my mind that is to say. Alas, a wretch of my bekined hath naught but eyes to see with. Yet, whispering on nighted breeze hath known to me a truth. (Animatedly) AA shadowed spirit, said to me, in tones my bones unnerving, “The King who died was murdered by a kinsman, undeserving. Go thither, to the castle, man, and witness for thyself, the wretch who poisoned me, be there, within the darkness seething’. So off, as nighttime work was done, I tended myself to wanderHoratio: You, traveled ‘midst the guard of night, within the castle walls? 1" Clown: did indeed and word. (Points to castle) Keen and light of moon that night, 'ward ramparts I did take me. Being blessed that e’en with naught but grog, I ventured only slowly. Methinks, to self, O me! Said I, to live among such splendor ‘Would cap my life with cull'd relief and with my prospect render 1 spied a dim and flickering light besiowed from deep within, Itbeckoned and I followed near, to view, to Took therein started, nearly from my perch, when to my eyes revealing, ‘A man, inform most penitent was on the floor a"kneeling- “Twas the king, or so by name if not through heired allegiance, For truth betook me, tho he knelt, sensed Tin he no penitence Bared to his God the words did fly, of them I caught but few, ‘Yet on his lips a smile did press, b'lyng words untrue— (Turns to Horatio, wanting) Ahem! I say, those lips 0” his ‘ight near be withered like to brine, ~Your flask, good si, that I might wet the parch that o’ercomes mine, (Horatio, entranced, hands over his flask) (" clown guzzles the remainder, thinks a moment, then continues on) 1" Clown; ..See, now—b'lying words untrue’, Ah, yes! ‘When from the shadow saw I steal, ‘A form most smooth and black, ‘And from its side a glint 0” steel, shone under cloak cast back. Stepping nimble o'er the stones, the menace came to light, Assassin surely, thought I me, in infamy will lay this night-- Froze, was 1, tho not of cold, for fear of truth aghast, Staring, secing, being there, | sensed the fact at last-- “Twas, Hamlet, yea, the prince of Dane, beneath that saddened face, Of madness sure, nor fear of God, saw I at all no trace. ©. prinice be true, what must thou know, to drive thee here to slay-- Thine Uncle, in a torrid night, amidst the stones, here pray? My gall did rise, before mine eyes, "twas wrong to see this act But stared all the more just then for truth I knew exact— ‘Three times he raised his hand to pierec, and fell his fathers" killer Then stayed; he knowing God would view his hands to be bloods’ spille. Jn anguish slunk he, tumed away, shaking, incomplete From vacant, rude apostasy, which from king's lips did fleet-- Horatio: (interrupting) O vile deed! O test of kings! Beloved Hamlet, thou didst wrest with devils great and wide upon that hoary