ndly, an alternation of a slow sliding
step, interspersed with dead pauses, and a quicker movement, succeeded
again by the slow step. These last seem to be indicated by the music
of 'My Lady Carey's Dump,' part of which is given in the Appendix. The
character of the Dump has given us the modern expression of 'in the
dumps'--_i.e._, sulky; and this is also used commonly in Shakespeare.

In the next passage, Peter, Capulet's servant, speaks ironically of a
'merry' dump, and quotes verse 1 of Richard Edwards' song, 'When
griping grief.' For an account of that song see Section III., about
Songs and Singing. In Peter's quotation, the dumps are 'doleful.'

The quibbles on 'silver sound,' 'sweet sound,' 'sound for silver,' 'no
_gold_ for sounding,' are further examples of Shakespeare's fondness
for joking on musical matters. Peter's reply to the Third Musician,
'You are the singer; I will _say_ for you,' may be a just reflection
on Mr James Soundpost's lack of words, or perhaps indicates that the
pronunciation of singers even in that musical age was no better than
it is now.

The improvised names of the musicians are pointed enough; Simon
'Catling,' referring to the material of his viol strings; Hugh
'Rebeck,' the rebeck being the ancient English fiddle with three
strings. The 'smale' Ribible, which Absolon, the parish clerk in
Chaucer, used to play 'songes' on, is supposed to be the same
instrument; and finally, James 'Soundpost,' which wants no explaining.

The final remark of Musician 2 is delicious, 'tarry for the mourners,
and stay dinner.'

_Rom._ IV, v, 96. After Juliet's apparent death.

_Exeunt Capulet, Lady C., Paris, etc._

_1 Musician._ 'Faith, we may _put up our pipes_, and be gone.

_Nurse._ Honest good fellows, ah! _put up, put up_;
For well you know, this is a pitiful _case_.

_1 Mus._ Ay, by my troth, the _case_ may be amended.

(See _H. 5._ III, ii, 42, about Bardolph and the lute case.)

_Enter Peter._

_Peter._ Musicians, O, musicians! "Heart's ease, Heart's
ease": O! an you will have me live, play "Heart's ease."

_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 d