Songtexte Hamlet: Act 4 - Scene 7, "There is a Willow Grows Aslant..." (Gertrude) [Part III] - John Gielgud

Ophelia
There is a willow grows aslant a brook
That shows its hoar leaves in the glassy stream
There with fantastic garlands did she come
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples
Liberal shepherds give a grosser name
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them
There on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds
Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke
Wherein down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook
Her clothes spread wide, and myrmid-like awhile
They bore her up, which time she chanted
Snatches of old tunes, as one incapable
Of her own distress, or like a creature
Native and indued unto that element
But long it could not be till that her garments
Heavy with their drink, pulled the poor wretch
From her melodious lay to muddy death
Laertes
Alas, then she is drowned
Ophelia
Drowned, drowned
Laertes
Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia
And therefore I forbid my tears
But yet it is our trick
Nature her custom holds
Let shame say what it will
When these are gone
The woman will be out
Adieu, my lord
I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze
But that this folly douse it
Antony
Let's follow, Gertrude
How much I had to do to calm his rage
Now fear I this will give it start again
Therefore let's follow