Ham. Dost thou think Alexander looked o'
this fashion i' the earth?
Hor. E'en so.
Ham. And smelt so? pah! 222
[Puts down the skull.]
Hor. E'en so, my lord.
Ham. To what base uses we may return,
Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the
noble dust of Alexander, till he find it stopping
a bung-hole? 227
Hor. 'Twere to consider too curiously, to con-
sider so.
Ham. 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 into 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?
"Imperial Cæsar, dead and turn'd to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away: 238
O! that that earth, which kept the world in awe,
Should patch a wall to expel the winter's flaw."
But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king.
Enter King, Queen, Laertes, [a Priest,] and a Coffin, with Lords attendant.
The queen, the courtiers: who is that they follow? 242
And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken
The corse they follow did with desperate hand
Fordo it own life; 'twas of some estate.
228 curiously: minutely
231 likelihood: probability
240 flaw: squall of wind
245 estate: rank
