ORAZIO allo Spettro (I.1,131-133)Stay, illusion.If thou hast any sound or use of voice,Speak to me.

OFELIA a Amleto (III.1,154-157)And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,That suck’d the honey of his music vows,Now see that noble and most sovereign reasonLike sweet bells jangled out of time and harsh

(trad. Serpieri 171)

HAMLET a Orazio (III.2,63-66)Blest are those

Whose blood and judgement are so well commeddledThat they are not a pipe for Fortune’s fingerTo sound what stop she please.

III.2,325-351

Re-enter Players with recordersHAMLET O, the recorders! let me see one. To withdraw withyou:--why do you go about to recover the wind of me,as if you would drive me into a toil? […]HAMLET I do not well understand that. Will you play uponthis pipe?GUILDENSTERN My lord, I cannot. […]HAMLET 'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages withyour lingers and thumb, give it breath with yourmouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music.Look you, these are the stops.GUILDENSTERN But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill.HAMLET Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make ofme! You would play upon me; you would seem to knowmy stops; you would pluck out the heart of mymystery; you would sound me from my lowest note tothe top of my compass: and there is much music,excellent voice, in this little organ; yet cannotyou make it speak. 'Sblood, do you think I ameasier to be played on than a pipe? Call me whatinstrument you will, though you can fret me, yet youcannot play upon me.

Trad. Serpieri 195

QUEEN to Laertes (IV.7,171-178)

Her clothes spread wide;And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up:Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes;As one incapable of her own distress,Or like a creature native and induedUnto that element: but long it could not beTill that her garments, heavy with their drink,Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious layTo muddy death.

(Trad. Serpieri 263)