s lying: gouerne these [Sidenote: It is]
Ventiges with your finger and thumbe, giue it
[Sidenote: fingers, & the vmber, giue]
breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most
[Sidenote: most eloquent]
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
[Sidenote: note to my compasse]
Compasse: and there is much Musicke, excellent
Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot you make
[Sidenote: it speak, s'hloud do you think I]
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[1] me, you cannot
[Sidenote: you fret me not,]
[Sidenote: 184] play vpon me. God blesse you Sir.[2]

_Enter Polonius_.

_Polon_. My Lord; the Queene would speak
with you, and presently.

_Ham_. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in [Sidenote: yonder clowd]
shape like a Camell. [Sidenote: shape of a]

_Polon_. By'th'Misse, and it's like a Camell [Sidenote: masse and tis,]
indeed.

_Ham_. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell.

_Polon_. It is back'd like a Weazell.

_Ham_. Or like a Whale?[3]

_Polon_. Verie like a Whale.[4]

_Ham_. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by: [Sidenote: I will]
[Sidenote: 60, 136, 178] They foole me to the top of my bent.[5]
I will come by and by.

[Footnote 1: --with allusion to the _frets_ or _stop-marks_ of a
stringed instrument.]

[Footnote 2: --_to Polonius_.]

[Footnote 3: There is nothing insanely arbitrary in these suggestions of
likeness; a cloud might very well be like every one of the three; the
camel has a hump, the weasel humps himself, and the whale is a hump.]

[Footnote 4: He humours him in everything, as he would a madman.]

[Footnote 5: Hamlet's cleverness in simulating madness is dwelt upon in
the old story. See '_Hystorie of Hamblet, prince of Denmarke_.']

[Page 158]

_Polon_.[1] I will say so. _Exit_.[1]

_Ham_.[1] By and by, is easily said. Leaue