Guild. Good my Lord, vouchsafe me a word with you
Ham. Sir, a whole History
Guild. The King, sir
Ham. I sir, what of him? Guild. Is in his retyrement, maruellous distemper'd
Ham. With drinke Sir? Guild. No my Lord, rather with choller
Ham. Your wisedome should shew it selfe more richer, to signifie this to his Doctor: for for me to put him to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre more Choller
Guild. Good my Lord put your discourse into some frame, and start not so wildely from my affayre
Ham. I am tame Sir, pronounce
Guild. The Queene your Mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you
Ham. You are welcome
Guild. Nay, good my Lord, this courtesie is not of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholsome answer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment: if not, your pardon, and my returne shall bee the end of my Businesse
Ham. Sir, I cannot
Guild. What, my Lord? Ham. Make you a wholsome answere: my wits diseas'd. But sir, such answers as I can make, you shal command: or rather you say, my Mother: therfore no more but to the matter. My Mother you say
Rosin. Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke her into amazement, and admiration
Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can so astonish a Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mothers admiration? Rosin. She desires to speake with you in her Closset, ere you go to bed
Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our Mother. Haue you any further Trade with vs? Rosin. My Lord, you once did loue me
Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers
Rosin. Good my Lord, what is your cause of distemper? You do freely barre the doore of your owne Libertie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend
Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement
Rosin. How can that be, when you haue the voyce of the King himselfe, for your Succession in Denmarke? Ham. I, but while the grasse growes, the Prouerbe is something musty. Enter one with a Recorder.
O the Recorder. Let me see, to withdraw with you, why do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you would driue me into a toyle? Guild. O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue is too vnmannerly
Ham. I do not well vnderstand that. Will you play vpon this Pipe? Guild. My Lord, I cannot
Ham. I pray you
Guild. Beleeue me, I cannot
Ham. I do beseech you
Guild. I know no touch of it, my Lord
Ham. 'Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these Ventiges with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most excellent Musicke. Looke you, these are the stoppes
Guild. But these cannot I command to any vtterance of hermony, I haue not the skill
Ham. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest Note, to the top of my Compasse: and there is much Musicke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am easier to bee plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me. God blesse you Sir. Enter Polonius.
Polon. My Lord; the Queene would speak with you, and presently
Ham. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in shape like a Camell