2 MAN Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright or a carpenter?

GRAVEDIGGER           Ay, tell me that and unyoke.

2 MAN Marry, now I can tell.

GRAVEDIGGER           To’t!

2 MAN Mass, I cannot tell.

GRAVEDIGGER           Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. And when you are asked this question next, say a grave-maker. The houses he makes lasts till doomsday. Go get thee in and fetch me a stoup of liquor.        [Exit Second Man.]            (5.1.46-56)

The second gravedigger has another crack, repeating the riddle again: who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright or a carpenter? Yes, that’s right, prompts the gravedigger, ay, tell me that and unyoke; answer the question and that’s you done for the day! (Unyoke means job done, no more work; here, that could be literal or figurative, the labour of working out the riddle.) Marry, now I can tell! Got it! The incentive has done the trick, it seems. Out with it then, to’t! Mass, I cannot tell. Sorry, it’s gone again. The gravedigger gives up: cudgel thy brains no more about it, stop beating yourself up over it, for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating. There’s no point flogging a dead horse; you won’t get that donkey brain of yours to work any faster with whipping. (Ass here, regrettably, is not American.) And when you are asked this question next, say a grave-maker. Yes! A-ha! Got it? Wasn’t enough of a clue, standing here, doing this? The houses he makes lasts till doomsday: a grave will endure until the day of judgement! Go get thee in and fetch me a stoup of liquor. Go and get me a drink!