equivocation will undo us. By the Lord, Horatio, these three
years I have taken note of it, the age is grown so picked that
the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier he
galls his kibe.How long hast thou been a grave-maker?
1 Clown.
Of all the days i' the year, I came to't that day that our
last King Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.
Ham.
How long is that since?
1 Clown.
Cannot you tell that? every fool can tell that: it was the
very day that young Hamlet was born,he that is mad, and sent
into England.
Ham.
Ay, marry, why was be sent into England?
1 Clown.
Why, because he was mad: he shall recover his wits there;
or, if he do not, it's no great matter there.
Ham.
Why?
1 Clown.
'Twill not he seen in him there; there the men are as mad as he.
Ham.
How came he mad?
1 Clown.
Very strangely, they say.
Ham.
How strangely?
1 Clown.
Faith, e'en with losing his wits.
Ham.
Upon what ground?
1 Clown.
Why, here in Denmark: I have been sexton here, man and boy,
thirty years.
Ham.
How long will a man lie i' the earth ere he rot?
1 Clown.