ech, my Lord? [Sidenote: my good Lord?]

_Ham._ I heard thee speak me a speech once, but
it was neuer Acted: or if it was, not aboue once,
for the Play I remember pleas'd not the Million,
'twas _Cauiarie_ to the Generall[1]: but it was (as I
receiu'd it, and others, whose iudgement in such
matters, cried in the top of mine)[2] an excellent
Play; well digested in the Scoenes, set downe with
as much modestie, as cunning.[3] I remember one
said there was no Sallets[4] in the lines, to make the [Sidenote: were]
matter sauoury; nor no matter in the phrase,[5] that
might indite the Author of affectation, but cal'd it
[Sidenote: affection,]
an honest method[A]. One cheefe Speech in it, I
[Sidenote: one speech in't I]
cheefely lou'd, 'twas _AEneas_ Tale to _Dido_, and
[Sidenote: _Aeneas_ talke to]
thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of [Sidenote: when]
_Priams_[6] slaughter. If it liue in your memory,
begin at this Line, let me see, let me see: The
rugged _Pyrrhus_ like th'_Hyrcanian_ Beast.[7] It is
[Sidenote: tis not]
not so: it begins[8] with _Pyrrhus_.[9]

[10] The rugged _Pyrrhus_, he whose Sable Armes[11]
Blacke as his purpose, did the night resemble
When he lay couched in the Ominous[12] Horse,
Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd
With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote
Now is he to take Geulles,[13] horridly Trick'd
[Sidenote: is he totall Gules [18]]
With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes,
[14] Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,
That lend a tyrannous, and damned light [Sidenote: and a damned]

[Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto:_--
as wholesome as sweete, and by very much, more handsome then
fine:]

[Footnote 1: The salted roe of the sturgeon is a delicacy disliked by
most people.]

[Footnote 2: 'were superior to mine.'

The _1st Quarto_ has,

'Cried in the toppe of their iudgements, an excellent play,'--that is,
_pronounced it, to the best of their judgments, an excellent play_.

Note the difference between 'the top of _my_ judgment', and 'the top of
_their_ judgments'. 97.]

[Footnote 3: skill.]

[Footnote 4: coarse jests. 25, 67.]

[Footnote 5: _style_.]

[Footnote 6: _1st Q_. 'Princes slaughter.']