Page:Shakespeare and Music.djvu/123

Bru.	It does, my boy. I trouble thee too much, but thou art willing. ••••••• [Boy sings to lute.]

Bru.

This is a sleepy tune: [Boy drops off]—O murderous slumber! Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy, That plays thee music?—Gentle knave, good night; I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee. If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument: I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night.— [Ghost of Cæsar appears.]

L. 290.

Bru.	Boy!—Lucius!—Varro! Claudius! sirs, awake!—Claudius!

Luc.	[asleep]. The strings, my lord, are false.

Bru.	He thinks he still is at his instrument.

In Henry VIII. 3/1 is a case of the same kind.

Queen Catherine.

Take thy lute, wench: my soul grows sad with troubles: Sing, and disperse them, if thou canst. Leave working. [Song. 'Orpheus.']

The next passage brings us to another class of music—viz., dirges, funeral songs, or 'good-nights.' [See H. 4. B. 3/2, 322]. In Cymbeline 4/2, 184, Cadwal (Arviragus) sounds an 'ingenious instrument' to signify Imogen's death. Polydore (Guiderius) says