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SHAKESPEARE AND MUSIC
| 1 Mus. | Why "Heart's ease?" |
| Peter. | O, musicians, because my heart itself plays— "My heart is full of woe." O! play me some merry dump, to comfort me. |
| 2 Mus. | Not a dump we: 'tis no time to play now. ••••••• |
| Peter. | Then will I lay the serving creature's dagger on your pate. I will carry no crotchets: I'll re you, I'll fa you. Do you note me? |
| 1 Mus. | An you re us, and fa us, you note us. |
| 2 Mus. | Pray you, put up your dagger, and put out your wit. |
| Peter. | Then have at you with my wit. … Answer me like men: When griping grief the heart doth wound, And doleful dumps the mind oppress, Then music with her silver sound— Why "silver sound"? why "music with her silver sound"? what say you, Simon Catling? |
| 1 Mus. | Marry, sir, because silver hath a sweet sound. |
| Peter. | Pretty!—what say you, Hugh Rebeck? |
| 2 Mus. | I say—"silver sound" because musicians sound for silver. |
| Peter. | Pretty too!—what say you, James Soundpost? |
| 3 Mus. | 'Faith, I know not what to say. |
| Peter. | O! I cry you mercy; you are the singer: I will say for you. It is—"music with her silver sound," because musicians have no gold for sounding:— Then music with her silver sound With speedy help doth lend redress. [Exit. |
| 1 Mus. | What a pestilent knave is this same! |
| 2 Mus. | Hang him, Jack! [Peter's names evidently all |
