Early Modern English

VIII. From the Tragedie of Hamlet

Hamlet was composed in the first decade of the seventeenth century, and survives in several versions; it seems clear that it was modified at various times to suit different theatrical situations. Like the other plays of the period, it deals with questions of appearance and reality, transience and fortune. The passage given here, where Hamlet, accompanied by his friend Horatio, is shown Yorick's skull by the Gravedigger (= Clo., ie. Clown), includes a meditation on these themes.

The passage allows for the interplay of conversation across social classes. Several features of the Gravedigger's language mark him off as a colloquial speaker, eg. has HAS (cf. Hamlet's contrasting hath, although see also my gorge rises at it), a HE.

Clo. Why sir, his hide is so tan'd with his Trade, that he will keepe out water a great while. And your water, is a sore Decayer of your horson dead body. Heres a Scull now: this Scul has laine in the earth three & twenty years.

Ham. Whose was it? 5

Clo. A whoreson mad Fellowes it was;

Whose doe you thinke it was?

Ham. Nay, I know not.

Clo. A pestlence on him for a mad rogue, a pou'rd a Flaggon of Renish on my head once. This same Scull Sir, this same Scull sir, was Yoricks Scull, the King's jester.

Ham. This? 12

Clo. E'ene that.

Ham. Let me see. Alas poor Yorick, I knew him Horatio, a fellow of infinite Iest; of most excellent fancy, he hath borne me on his backe a thousand times: And how abhorred my Imagination is, my gorge rises at it. Heere hung those lipps, that I haue kist I know not how oft, Where be your Iibes now? Your Gambals? Your Songs? Your flashes of Merriment that were wont to set the Table on a Rore? No one now to mock your own Ieering? Quite chopfalne? Now get you to my Ladies Chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thicke, to this fauour she must come. Make her laugh at that: prythee Horatio tell me one thing.

Hor. What's that my Lord? 24

Ham. Dost thou thinke Alexander lookt o'this fashion i'th' earth?

Hor. E'ene so.

Ham. And smelt so? Puh.

Hor. E'ene so, my Lord.

Ham. To what base vses we may returne Horatio. Why may not Imagination trace the Noble dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping a bunghole.

Hor. `Twere to consider: to curiously consider so. 33

Ham. No faith, not a iot. But to follow him thether with modestie enough, & likeliehood to lead it; as thus. Alexander died: Alexander was buried: Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make Lome, and why of that Lome (whereto he was conuerted) might they not stopp a Beere-barrell? 39

Imperial Cæsar, dead and turn'd to clay,

Might stop a hole to keepe the winde away.

Oh, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,

Should patch a Wall, t'expell the winters flaw.

But soft, but soft, aside; heere comes the King. 44

10) Renish: RHENISH WINE

(15) fancy: FANTASTICALNESS

(17) gorge: ie., what has been swallowed (thus Hamlet claims that he is about to vomit)

(20) on a Rore: PROVOKE TO A ROAR OF MIRTH

(21) chopfalne: WITH CHEEKS FALLEN IN

(22) fauour: APPEARANCE

(33) curiously: PARTICULARLY

(35) modestie: MODERATION

(37) Lome: LOAM, CLAY

(43) flaw: SUDDEN BLAST OF WIND

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