Hamlet.—Will you play upon this pipe?
Guildenstern replies:
Guild.—My lord, I cannot.
Ham.—I pray you.
Guild.—Believe me, I cannot.
Ham.—I do beseech you.
Guild.—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.
Guild.—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, excellent 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.