Act V, Scene 1
[Enter GRAVEDIGGER and an OTHER.]
GRAVEDIGGER
Is she to be buried in Christian burial,
When she willfully seeks her own salvation?
OTHER
I tell thee she is.
Therefore make her grave straight.
The crowner hath sat on her and finds it
A Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER How can that be,
Unless she drowned herself in her
Own defense?
OTHER
Why, ‘tis found so.
GRAVEDIGGER
It must be se offendendo; it
Cannot be else. For here lies the point.
If I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act
And an act hath three branches: it is To Act,
To Do, [JH: and] To Perform.
Argal, she drowned herself wittingly.
OTHER Nay, but hear you, goodman delver—
GRAVEDIGGER Give me leave.
Here lies the water: good.
Here stands the man: good.
If the man go to this water
And drown himself, it is (will he, nill he)
He goes. Mark you that!
But if the water come to him and drown him,
He drowns not himself. Argal, he that is
Not guilty of his own death shortens not
His own life.
OTHER
But is this law?
GRAVEDIGGER
Ay, marry, is it—crowner’s ‘quest law.
OTHER Will ha’ the truth on it?
If this had not been a gentlewoman,
She should have been buried out o’
Christian burial.
GRAVEDIGGER
Why, there thou sayst. And the more pity
That great folk should have countenance
In this world to drown or hang themselves
More than their even-Christian. Come my spade.
There is no ancient gentleman but gardeners,
Ditchers, and grave-makers.
They hold up Adam’s profession.
OTHER
Was he a gentleman?
GRAVEDIGGER
He was the first that ever bore arms.
OTHER Why he had none!
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