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All Site ContentHamletAct 5Scene 1
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"to lie" and "quick"
Wordplay
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 110-120

An explanation of the puns on “lie” and “quick” in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet

Whose grave's this, sir?

First Gravedigger

Mine, sir.
[Sings.]
      Oh, a pit of clay for to be made 
      For such a guest is meet.

Hamlet

I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in't.

First Gravedigger

You lie out on't, sir, and therefore 'tis not yours. 
For my part, I do not lie in't, and yet it is mine.

Hamlet

Thou dost “lie” in't, to be in't and say it is thine.
'Tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou liest.

First Gravedigger

'Tis a quick lie, sir; 'twill away 
again from me to you.

In these lines, Hamlet and the First Gravedigger make several puns on the words “lie” and “quick.” To lie, can mean to lie down, to reside, or to tell a lie. Quick can mean both fast and alive. Check out our modern English pop-up for more on their exchange.