Act V, Scene 1
[Line 217]
HAMLET
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 to 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?
Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.
O, that that earth which kept the world in awe
Should pathc a wall to expel the winter’s flaw!
[Enter KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, LAERTES, and the corpse of OPHELIA with a DOCTOR OF DIVINITY.]
But soft, but soft awhile! Here comes the King,
The Queen, the courtiers. Who is this they follow?
And with such maiméd rites? This doth betoken
The corse they follow did with desperate hand
Fordo its own life. ‘Twas of some estate.
Couch we awhile and mark.
[HAMLET and HORATIO step aside.]
LAERTES What ceremony else?
HAMLET That is Laertes, a very noble youth. Mark!
LAERTES What ceremony else?
DOCTOR
Her obsequies have been as far enlarged
As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful,
And, but that great command o’ersways the order,
She should in ground unsanctified been lodged
‘Til the last trumpet. For charitable prayers:
Shards, Flints, and Pebbles should be thrown on her
Yet here he is allowed her virgin crants,
Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home
Of bell and burial.
LAERTES
Must there no more be done?
DOCTOR No more be done.
We should profane the service of the dead
To sing a requiem and such rest to her
As to peace-parted souls.
LAERTES Lay her in the earth,
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
May violets spring! I tell thee—churlish priest—
A ministering angel shall my sister be
When thou liest howling!
HAMLET [To HORATIO alone]
What, the fair Ophelia?!
QUEEN GERTRUDE
Sweets to the sweet, farewell!
[GERTRUDE scatters flowers.]
I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet’s wife;
I thought thy bride-bed to have decked—sweet maid—
And not strewed thy grave.
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