Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.

From Hamlet Act V, Scene 1 by William Shakespeare

HAMLET  To what base uses we may return, Horatio!

Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of

Alexander till he find it stopping a bunghole?

HORATIO  ’Twere to consider too curiously to consider

so.

HAMLET  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 to 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?

Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away.

O, that that earth which kept the world in awe

Should patch a wall t’ expel the winter’s flaw!