Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/97

Prince of Denmark, III. ii  O! the recorders: let me see one. To withdraw

with you: why do you go about to recover the

wind of me, as if you would drive me into a toil?

Guil. O! my lord, if my duty be too bold, my

love is too unmannerly.

Ham. I do not well understand that. Will

you play upon this pipe?

Guil. My lord, I cannot.

Ham. I pray you.

Guil. Believe me, I cannot.

Ham. I do beseech you.

Guil. I know no touch of it, my lord.

Ham. 'Tis as easy as lying; govern these

ventages with your finger and thumb, give it

breath with your mouth, and it will discourse

most excellent music. Look you, these are the

stops.

Guil. But these cannot I command to any

utterance of harmony; I have not the skill.

Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a

thing you make of me. You would play upon

me; you would seem to know my stops; you

would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you

would sound me from my lowest note to the top

of my compass; and there is much music, ex-

cellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you

make it speak. 'Sblood, do you think I am

easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me

what instrument you will, though you can fret

me, you cannot play upon me.

 367 withdraw with: speak privately with

368 recover the wind of: keep watch upon; cf. n.

369 toil: snare

378 know no touch: have no skill at all

380 ventages: holes, stops

391 compass: range of voice

392 organ: musical instrument, the recorder

395 fret; cf. n.

