GRAVEDIGGER Is she to be buried as a Christian, after she has willfully sought her own salvation as a suicide?
MATE I tell you she is. The crowner has sat on her case and finds it Christian.
GRAVEDIGGER How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defence?
MATE That's the verdict.
GRAVEDIGGER If I drown myself willingly, that's an act, and most acts have three parts: to think it, to design it, and to carry it out. Here stands the man. Here rests the water. If the man goes into the water not knowing how to swim, he's dead. And if the water comes over him by nature or accident, he's dead too. Two deaths, the one who did not shorten their own life is not guilty of suicide.
MATE This is law?
GRAVEDIGGER Of course it is.
MATE Do you want the truth? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she would not be buried as a Christian.
GRAVEDIGGER Yes, true. And even more a pity that our lords don't use their privilege to commit suicide more often. My spade, please?
(Mate hands Gravedigger spade.)
GRAVEDIGGER (CONT'D) (beginning to dig) There were no gentlemen at the beginning of history, only gardeners and gravediggers, and both begun by Adam.
MATE Was Adam a gentleman?
GRAVEDIGGER What kind of heathen are you? Don't you know the Bible? It says he digged. Could he dig without arms?
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
