Hamlet: ACT V, SCENE I *paraphrased*

Hamlet- Whose grave is this, sir?

Clown- Mine,sir. I am digging it

Hamlet- Who are you digging it for?

Clown- For no man, sir.

HAmlet- What woman then?

Clown- For no woman either.

Hamlet- Who is to be buried in it?

Clown- One that was a woman, sir. But rest her soul shes dead.

Hamlet- You are so careful with words. How long have you been digging graves?

Clown- I started on the day our last King Hamlet defeated Old Fortinbras.

Hamlet- How long ago was that?

Clown- Dont you know? Any fool knows that. It was the day young Hamlet was born. He that is
mad and has been sent to England.

Hamlet- Why was he sent to England?

Clown- Why, because he was mad, and he shall recover his wits there. Or, if he does not, it won't matter there.

Hamlet- Why?

Clown- No one will notice it there, for the men in England are all as mad as he.

Hamlet- Say, How long will the man lay buried in the earth before he rots?

Clown- Eight or nine years. A tanner will last nine.

Hamlet- Why does he last longer then the others?

Clown- Why,sir, his hide is so tan with his tradethat it keep s out the water a long time, and your water is a great decayer of your body. This skull has been here in the earth for twenty threes years. He was certainly a joker! He poured some wine over my head once.

Hamlet- Whose skull is that?

Clown- This is Yoricks skull, The Kings jester.