'D HIS LOVE
rank Harris
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
THE MAN SHAKESPEARE and His
Tragic Life Story. Demy 8vo., js. 6d. net.
THE ELDER CONKLIN and other Stones.
Demy 8vo, 55. net.
MONTES THE MATADOR and other
Stories. Demy Svo, 55. net.
THE BOMB : A Novel. Crown Svo, 6s.
THE WOMEN OF SHAKESPEARE.
In thi Press.
SHAKESPEARE
AND HIS LOVE
A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS
AND AN EPILOGUE
BY
FRANK HARRIS
(Author of "The Man Shakespeare"
" The Women of Shakespeare," etc.).
LONDON :
FRANK PALMER,
RED LION COURT, E.G.
FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEMBER, 1910.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Copyrighted in the Unitsd States of America,
PR
INTRODUCTION
THE National Shakespeare Memorial Com-
mittee, it is announced, is about to produce
a new play by Mr. Bernard Shaw entitled
" The Dark Lady of the Sonnets." Fourteen
years ago, provoked by the nonsense Mr.
Shaw was then writing about Shakespeare
in The Saturday Review, I wrote some articles
on Shakespeare in the same paper, in which
I showed in especial that Hamlet was a good
portrait of Shakespeare, for the master had
unconsciously pictured Hamlet over again as
Macbeth and Jaques, Angelo, Orsino, Lear,
Posthumus, Prospero and other heroes.
With admirable quickness Mr. Bernard Shaw
proceeded to annex as much of this theory of
mine as he thought important ; in preface after
preface to his plays, notably in the preface to
vi. INTRODUCTION.
" Man and Superman," he took my discovery
and used it as if it were his. For instance, he
wrote : —
" He (Shakespeare) must be judged by those
characters into which he puts what he knows
of himself, his Hamlets and Macbeths and
Lears and Prosperos."
And again : —
" All Shakespeare's projections of the
deepest humanity he knew have the same
defect" — and so forth and so on.
In the preface to " Three Plays for Puritans "
Mr. Shaw gave me a casual mention, just
sufficient to afford him a fig-leaf, so to
speak, of covering if the charge of plagiarism
were brought against him : " His (Shake-
speare's) genuine critics," he wrote, " from
Ben Jonson to Mr. Frank Harris, have always
kept as far on this side idolatry as I."
Six or seven years ago I wrote a play called
INTRODUCTION. vii.
" Shakespeare and his Love," which was
accepted by Mr. Beerbohm Tree. As Mr.
Tree did not produce the play at the time
agreed upon, I withdrew it. Some time
afterwards, on the advice of a friend, I sent it
to the Vedrenne- Barker management. They
read it ; but Mr. Barker, I was told, did not
like the part of Shakespeare. I wrote, there-
fore, asking for the return of the play. Mr.
Vedrenne, in reply, told me that he admired
the play greatly, and still hoped to induce Mr.
Barker to play it. He asked me, therefore, to
leave it with him. A little while later I met
Mr. Shaw in the street ; he told me that he,
too, had read my play which I had sent to the
Court managers, and added, " you have repre-
sented Shakespeare as sadder than he was, I
think; but you have shown his genius, which
everyone else has omitted to do. . . ."
Last year I published a book entitled The
Vlll.
INTRODUCTION.
Man Shakespeare, which was in essence an
amplification of my articles in The Saturday
Review. A considerable portion of this book had
been in print ten years. The work had a certain
success in England and America. This year I
have published in The English Review a series
of articles on The Women of Shakespeare, which
one of the first of living writers has declared
marks an epoch in English criticism.
Now Mr. Shaw has written a play on the
subject, which I have been working on for
these fifteen years, and from what he has said
thereon in The Observer it looks as if he had
annexed my theory bodily so far as he can
understand it, and the characters to boot.
After talking about his play and Shakespeare's
passion, and using words of mine again and
again as if they were his own, he acknowledges
his indebtedness to me in this high-minded
and generous way :
INTRODUCTION. ix.
"The only English writer who has really
grasped this part of Shakespeare's story is
Frank Harris; but Frank sympathises with
Shakespeare. It is like seeing Semele reduced
to ashes and sympathising with Jupiter."
This is equivalent to saying that all the
other parts of Shakespeare's story have been
grasped by someone else, presumably by Mr.
Shaw himself, and not by me. It is as if Mr.
Cook had said, " the only American who really
knows anything about Polar exploration is
Captain Peary, though he uses his knowledge
quite stupidly." One can imagine that such
testimony from such an authority would have
been very grateful to Captain Peary.
This precious utterance of Mr. Shaw shows
further that in his version of the story he is
going to take the side of Mary Fitton against
Shakespeare; he will therefore defend or at
least explain her various marriages and her
x. INTRODUCTION.
illegitimate children by different fathers, none
of whom happened to be married to her.
Mr. Shaw's sole contribution to our know-
ledge of Shakespeare is the coupling of him
with Dickens, which is very much the same
thing as if one tried to explain Titian by
coupling him with Hogarth. This, in my
opinion, is Mr. Shaw's only original observation
on the subject, and its perfect originality I
should be the last to deny.
I have not yet read or seen Mr. Shaw's play :
I only wish here to draw attention to the fact
that he has already annexed a good deal of my
work and put it forth as his own, giving me
only the most casual and grudging mention.
From the larger acknowledgment in The
Observer, I naturally infer that in this new
play he has taken from me even more than
he could hope to pass off as his own.
All this in the England of to-day is looked
INTRODUCTION. xi.
upon as honourable and customary. If Mr.
Shaw can annex my work it only shows that
he is stronger than I am or abler, and this fact
in itself would be generally held to absolve and
justify him : vae victis is the noble English
motto in such cases. But if it turns out in the
long struggle that Mr. Shaw is only more
successful for the moment than I am, if
my books and writings on Shakespeare have
come to stay, then I can safely leave the task
of judging Mr. Shaw to the future.
In any case I can console myself. It amused
me years ago to see Mr. Shaw using scraps of
my garments to cover his nakedness ; he now
struts about wearing my livery unashamed. I
am delighted that so little of it makes him a
complete suit. My wardrobe is still growing
in spite of his predatory instincts, and he is
welcome to as much of it as I have cast off and
he can cut to fit.
Xll.
INTRODUCTION.
But is this the best that Mr. Shaw can do with
his astonishing quickness and his admirable
gift of lucid, vigorous speech ? Will he, who is
not poor, always be under our tables for the
crumbs ? Why should he not share the feast,
or, better still, make a feast of his own ? Why
does he not take himself in hand, and crush
the virtue out of himself and distil it into some
noble draught ? The quintessence of Shaw
would be worth having.
I can afford on this matter to be wholly frank
and ingenuous, and admit that I am gratified
by the ability of my first disciples. Any writer
might be proud of having convinced men of
original minds like Mr. Arnold Bennett, Mr.
Richard Middleton, and Mr. Bernard Shaw of
the truth of a theory so contrary to tradition
as mine is and so contemptuous of authority :
Shakespeare himself would have been proud of
such admirers. And if Mr. Bernard Shaw has
INTRODUCTION. xiii.
done his best to share in the honour of the dis-
covery, one must attribute his excess of zeal to
the intensity of his admiration, and to the fact
that he was perhaps even a little quicker than
the others to appreciate the new view, or
perhaps a little vainer even than most able men.
In any case, Mr. Shaw's method of dealing with
a new master must be contrasted with that of the
professor who also annexed as much as he
could of my early articles, and coolly asserted
that he had had my ideas ten years before,
leaving it to be inferred that he had concealed
them carefully.
After all, the chief thing is, here is my playf
and Mr. Shaw's will shortly make its appear-
ance, and in time a true deliverance and judg-
ment on the respective merits of them will be
forthcoming.
A few words about this play of mine may be
allowed me. It suffers from an extraordinary, and
xiv. INTRODUCTION.
perhaps extravagant, piety : I did not set out to
write a great play on the subject. I wanted to give
a dramatic picture of Shakespeare and his time ;
but above all a true picture. It seemed to me
that no one had the right to treat the life-story,
the soul-tragedy of a Shakespeare as the mere
stuff of a play. Within the limits of the truth,
however, I did my best. The play, therefore,
as a play is full of faults : it is as loosely put
together as one of Shakespeare's own history
plays, and the worst fault of it is not poverty
of plot and weakness of construction ; it is also
academic and literary in tone. Much of this is
4ue to my love of the master. I have hardly put
a word in Shakespeare's mouth which I could
not justify out of his plays or sonnets. My
excessive love of the man has been a hindrance
to me as a playwright.
I daresay — in fact, I am sure — that it would
be possible to write a great play on the subject,
INTRODUCTION. xv.
and tell even more of the truth than I have
here told ; but that could only be done if one
knew that the play would be played and had
leisure and encouragement to do one's best.
The evil of our present civilisation, from the
artist's point of view, is that he is compelled by
the conditions to give of his second best, and
be thankful if even this is lucky enough to earn
him a living wage.
My book on Shakespeare was many years
in type before it found a publisher; my
Shakespeare play was printed six years ago
and has not yet been acted.
FRANK HARRIS.
London, i$th November, 1910.
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY
ROBERT CECIL, LORD BURGHLEY
THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON
LORD WILLIAM HERBERT (afterwards Earl of
Pembroke).
KINGSTON LACY, EARL OF LINCOLN, an Euphuist
SIR JOHN STANLEY
SIR WALTER RALEIGH
MASTER WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
FRANCIS BACON
BEN JONSON
FLETCHER
RICHARD BURBAGE
MARSTON
„ CHETTLE, the prototype of Falstaff.
DEKKER
WILLIE HUGHES
SELDEN
DR. HALL, Shakespeare's son-in-law
MASTER FRY, the Host of the "Mitre "
QUEEN ELIZABETH
LADY RUTLAND, Sidney's sister
LADY JANE WROTH
LADY CYNTHIA DARREL
LADY JOAN NEVIL
MISTRESS MARY FITTON, Shakespeare's Love
VIOLET VERNON
I Shakespeare's daughters
t
COURTIERS AND SERVANTS
SHAKESPEARE AND HIS
LOVE
ACT I
SCENES I - VII The Stage of the Globe Theatre.
„ VIII-X The Antechamber at Court
ACT II
SCENES I - II In the " Mermaid "
„ III -VI In the Gardens of St. James's
Palace by moonlight
ACT III
SCENES I - IV In the "Mitre" Tavern
V - VI A Room in Lord William
Herbert's Lodgings
ACT IV
SCENES I - IV In the " Mitre " Tavern
,, V - VI The Throne Room at Court
THE EPILOGUE
SCENES I - II A Bedchamber in SHAKE-
SPEARE'S House at Stratford
Time
Acts 7, 77, 777 and IV take
place in the summer of 1598
The Epilogue in April, 1616
ACT I
SCENE I.
The tiring-room behind the stage of the Globe
theatre after a performance of " The Merchant of
Venice."
[As the curtain goes up an attendant is dis-
covered listening at door L. There is a noise to
be heard as of persons leaving the theatre : as the
door is thrown open the attendant moves aside.
The Earl of Southampton, Lord Lacy, Sir John
Stanley, Chapman, Dekker, Marston, Fletcher,
John Selden and Burbage enter.]
SIR JOHN STANLEY :
[Flinging in.] What a foolish play! And
what a spendthrift merchant !
CHAPMAN :
Trivial, I found it. Trivial and silly.
LACY :
[With graceful gesture.] Most excellent in
invention, liberal in conceit. The Jew a gem, a
gem, I say — a balass ruby of rich Orient blood !
8 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
DEKKER :
Pretty, perhaps, but tedious ! Tedious — as a
rival's praise, eh, Chapman?
SOUTHAMPTON :
Ah, Master Burbage, you outdid yourself as
Shylock. When you sharpened the knife, we all
shivered.
BURBAGE :
I'm much beholden to your lordship.
FLETCHER :
[To Lord Lacy] The scene between the lovers
in the moonlight was not ill-conceived. That
Lorenzo had something of Shakespeare in him.
LACY :
And Jessica ! The name's a perfume. A
flower, Jessica, of most rare depicture, dear to
fancy, responsive to a breath !
DEKKER :
[Aside to Fletcher.] Has the gull any meaning?
SELDEN :
His words, Dekker, are like his dress : too
choice for ease, too rich for service : but he's of
great place, and friend to Essex.
ACT I., SCENE I. 9
FLETCHER :
[To Southampton.] The end's weak, and the
merchant too much the saint.
DEKKER :
Saints are always tiresome unless they're
martyred.
SOUTHAMPTON :
And detractors, unless they're witty.
LACY :
[Reproachfully.] A cannon-ball as a retort!
Fie, fie, my lord Southampton. A little salve of
soft disdain obliterates the sting, and no one
shoots at midges.
[Enter Shakespeare, who takes a seat apart.]
SOUTHAMPTON :
[Moving aside, with Lacy, waves his hand to
Shakespeare. ] Good ! good !
SIR JOHN STANLEY :
Give me an English play. Why can't we have
a play where we thrash the Spaniards? Curse
Venice ! What's Venice to me ! [Exit, accom-
panied by Marston and Dekker; Fletcher and
Chapman follow.]
io SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE II.
CHETTLE :
[To Shakespeare.] Did ye hear that?
SHAKESPEARE :
No! What?
CHETTLE :
The truth, Will— the truth in the mouth of
a suckling ! They all want an English play and
Falstaff. Without him, my lad, the spirit's out
of the sack — all stale and flat.
SHAKESPEARE :
Would you have onions with every dish,
Chettle, even with the sweets?
CHETTLE :
In faith 'tis a seasoning and healthy weed — and
provokes thirst, go to! But why can't you be
gay, lad, gay as you used to be and write us an-
other comedy with Falstaff and his atomy page?
SHAKESPEARE :
Laughter and youth go together, Chettle, and
I am too old for comedies.
ACT I., SCENE II. ii
CHETTLE :
It makes my flesh creep to hear you ; but I'll
not be sad : I'll not think of age and the end,
I'll not — . Ah, lad, you'll never be popular with-
out Falstaff.
SHAKESPEARE :
And why not?
CHETTLE :
'Tis his wit pleases the many.
SHAKESPEARE :
Wit ! — when wit buys popularity, honesty shall
win fortune, and constancy love : the golden days
are long past, I fear. [Turns from Chettle, who
goes out, taking Burbage and Selden with him.]
SCENE III.
SOUTHAMPTON :
The play was excellent.
LACY :
A carcanet of diverse colours — of absolute
favour.
SOUTHAMPTON :
But the playwrights are not your friends.
12 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
I have befriended most of them.
LACY :
A double reason for repugnance — ingratitude
the point, envy the barb !
SOUTHAMPTON :
[To Shakespeare.] A fine play, Shakespeare,
but you seem cast down. Is all well with you
in your home?
SHAKESPEARE :
Thanks to you : more than well. My father's
debts all paid ; the best house in the village
bought for my mother
SOUTHAMPTON :
Come, then, throw off this melancholy — 'tis
but a humour.
LACY :
And let the wit play like lightning against the
clouds. Or, better still, exhort him, my lord, to
seek a new love ; 'tis love that lifts to melody and
song, and gives the birds their music.
SOUTHAMPTON :
You are often with Herbert, are you not?
ACT I., SCENE III. 13
SHAKESPEARE :
Yes.
SOUTHAMPTON :
Don't build too much on him ! You'll be de-
ceived.
SHAKESPEARE :
To me he's perfect. In beauty a paragon, in
wit unfellow'd.
SOUTHAMPTON :
I would not trust him ; he's selfish.
LACY :
Most insensitive-hard.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Turns to Lacy.] Youth, youth, my lord ! We
do not blame the unripe fruit for hardness ; a few
sunny days will mellow it, and turn the bitter to
juicy sweet.
SOUTHAMPTON :
What a friend you are, Shakespeare ! You
find excuses for everyone.
LACY :
But those who trust too much are like the rathe
flowers, frost-blighted.
i4 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SOUTHAMPTON :
Here comes Mistress Violet — we'll take leave
of you. I was telling Shakespeare, lady, how
fair you are.
SCENE IV.
VIOLET :
[Curtsying.] 1 thank you humbly, my lord.
[Exit Southampton and Lacy bowing low.]
SHAKESPEARE :
[Smiling.] At last, Violet.
VIOLET :
[Moving to him and giving her mouth.] Am I
so late? Did I wrong to come?
SHAKESPEARE :
No, no !
VIOLET :
There was such a crowd I did not dare to come
at first, and yet I could not stay away ; I could
not. I wanted to tell you how wonderful it all
was.
ACT I., SCENE IV. 15
SHAKESPEARE :
I am glad it pleased you.
VIOLET :
"Pleased me!" What poor, cold words. The
play was entrancing ; but you were the Merchant,
were you not? And so sad. Why are you
always sad now?
SHAKESPEARE :
I know not. As youth passes we see things
as they are, and our high dreams of what might
be become impossible.
VIOLET :
Never impossible, or we could not dream them.
SHAKESPEARE :
I hoped so once ; but now I doubt. How
golden-fair you are !
VIOLET :
You are always kind ; but it's not kindness I
want. I'd rather you were unkind and jealous.
But you are never jealous, never unkind.
SHAKESPEARE :
You'd rather I were jealous — unkind?
i6 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
VIOLET :
Much rather. 'Twould prove you care !
SHAKESPEARE :
Why do you shiver?
VIOLET :
We women feel the winter before it comes,
like the birds.
SHAKESPEARE :
Women ! You sensitive child.
VIOLET :
Not a child when I think of you. I used to
look at myself and imagine that some day a man
would kiss me and play with me and make a toy
of me, and I wondered whether I should like it ;
but I never dreamed that I would ever want to
touch a man. But now, I love to be near you ;
my King, how good it is to be with you. But
the winter's coming. [Shivers.]
SHAKESPEARE :
You must not think that, Violet, nor say it.
It's your love breeds those fears.
VIOLET :
[Pouting.] Why did you not put me in this
play?
ACT I., SCENE IV. 17
SHAKESPEARE :
I did : you know I did. You were Jessica,
happy, loving Jessica, and I, Lorenzo, ran away
with you and talked of music and the stars by
moonlight in front of Portia's house.
VIOLET :
How kind you are ! What a pity you don't
love me ! But then love is always one-sided,
they say. Ah, some day Who's Portia?
SHAKESPEARE :
Portia ?
VIOLET :
[Rouses herself.] Yes, Portia. Who were you
thinking of when you described Portia? She's
one of your new friends, I suppose, one of the
great Court ladies. H'm ! They're no better
than we are. Some of them were at the play
but now talking with Kempe, the clown. Ladies,
indeed ! trulls would behave better.
SHAKESPEARE :
My gentle Violet, in a rage.
VIOLET :
Oh, they make me angry. Why can't they be
noble? I mean pure and sweet and gentle,
c
iS SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
instead of laughing loud and using coarse words
like those women did to-day. Was Portia one
of them?
SHAKESPEARE :
No, Violet, no. I meant Portia to be a great
lady. Her carriage and manner I took from
someone I once saw at a distance — a passing
glance : but the wit and spirit I had no model
for, none.
VIOLET :
You will love one of them, I know. Perhaps,
by speaking of it, I put the thought into your
head, and bring the danger nearer ; but I cannot
help it.
SHAKESPEARE :
Love is its torment.
VIOLET :
Oh, dear, dear ! You will not leave me alto-
gether, will you? Even if you love her, you will
let me see you sometimes. No one will ever
love you as I do. I only love myself because you
like me, and when you leave me, I'll fall out of
conceit with my face, and hate it. Hateful face,
that could not please my lord.
ACT I., SCENE IV. 19
SHAKESPEARE :
[Puts his hand on her shoulder.] Vain torment !
In this frail hooped breast love flutters and
bruises herself like a bird in a cage.
VIOLET :
When you are near, the pain turns to joy.
SHAKESPEARE :
I know ; I know, so well. I'm making you
the heroine of the new play I told you of —
" Twelfth Night" ; your name, too, shall be hers,
Viola ; but now you must go : I hear them
coming.
VIOLET :
Farewell, Farewell. If I could only be a dozen
women to please you, so that you might not think
of Portia, hateful Portia! [Exit Violet.]
20 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE V.
BURBAGE I
[Entering hurriedly.] Farce and tragedy and
escape. A play within a play.
FLETCHER :
[Enters just behind him, followed by Dekker,
Marston, Chettle and Hughes.] A great scene !
The revolt of the groundlings. Didn't you hear
them shouting, Shakespeare?
SHAKESPEARE :
I heard nothing.
FLETCHER :
Self-absorbed as ever.
DEKKER :
[Sneeringly.] Lost on Parnassus !
SHAKESPEARE :
What was it, Fletcher?
FLETCHER :
A scene for Dekker. The orange-girls have
been pelting tty^. ladies in their rooms. The
ladies gibed at them, and they replied with rotten
fruit. The ladies shrieked, and hid themselves ;
ACT I., SCENE V. 21
all but one, who stood in front and outfaced the
furies — a queen !
SHAKESPEARE :
Are they safe? Where are they now?
BURBAGE :
The lords Southampton and Lacy are bringing
them : here they come.
[Enter three ladies, masked, and Lords South-
ampton and Lacy, followed by Selden.]
SCENE VI.
LACY :
At length Beauty's piloted to the safety of the
stage. And without straining extolment I proclaim
that never did lady [bowing to the tallest] show
more innocence of fear, more exornation of com-
posure.
Miss FITTON :
Why should one fear an orange or an angry
slut ! Is this part of the stage? [Looking round.]
22 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
LACY :
The veritable and singular stage- of the re-
nowned Globe, where actors, playwrights, poets
fleet the hours with rich discourse and jewelled
melodies.
Miss FITTON :
And naughty stories, I'll be sworn.
SOUTHAMPTON :
If you'll unhood, ladies, we'll present new
courtiers to you, Princes of this realm.
[The ladies hesitate.]
Miss FITTON :
[Stands out and swings back her hood.] That's
soon done ! Ouf ! [Lets her eyes range.]
LADY JANE WROTH :
Tis easy for you, Mary, but I'm all in a
twitter, and red like a cit's wife.
LADY RUTLAND :
Mary's right : if you're going into the water
you may as well jump in. [Throws back her
hood. ] But how they stare !
LACY :
Pray, my lord, officiate.
ACT I., SCENE VI. 23
SOUTHAMPTON :
As Master o' Ceremonies, then., I make it
known to all that Lady Rutland and Lady Jane
Wroth, and Mistress Mary Fitton, the youngest
and bravest of the Queen's maids of honour, are
new come to the Globe. Ladies, this is Master
Burbage, who counterfeits kings with such
nobility, and lovers with such reverence, that
ladies lend him their lips in either part. And this
is gentle Shakespeare, the wittiest of poets,
whose sugared verses make all in love with
sweets. And this is Master Chettle, playwright
and Prince of Laughter. Here, too, is grave
young Selden, and Masters Fletcher, Dekker,
Marston, the glories of our stage.
LACY :
And now, gentlemen, with what most cunning
art or inviolate mystery will you charm the visit-
ing fair? Thrones, there, thrones, the ladies will
sit.
Miss FITTON :
[4s they sit down.] But where is Master
Kempe, the clown? I want to see him dance.
I swear when he takes the floor in the Coranto
and mimics dignity, I could die of laughing. He
24 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
did not come with us ! Oh, what a lack : we
might have seen him jig.
LACY :
Shall we seduce your ears with vocal har-
monies, fair lady, or chant in the round to lute
or viol?
SOUTHAMPTON :
Will you, Shakespeare, sing first? [Shake-
speare, as if speechless, with a gesture of the
hand, draws back, still gazing at Miss Fitton.
Southampton turns to Miss Fitton.] Shall it be
a song of love or war ?
Miss FITTON :
I prefer fighting or laughing to languishing.
LADY JANE WROTH :
[Affectedly.] And I love — women were made
for love.
LADY RUTLAND :
Any song for a single voice.
MARSTON :
[To Fletcher.] A song, Fletcher !
ACT I., SCENE VI. 25
FLETCHER :
Most willingly ; here's a song : but young
Hughes must sing it or Selden : my voice is
rough.
[Young Hughes takes up the viol, and sings.]
CHETTLE :
[After the first verse.] And now, ladies, what
will ye drink — canary or sack?
LADY JANE WROTH :
Til take Charnikoe, I think ; the wine of Bour-
deaux, you know : 'tis all the fashion now.
Miss FITTON :
I ought to have been born a man and not a
girl, for I like sack, it's strong and sweet !
[Lady Rutland waives off the wine.]
CHETTLE :
Oh, she's a rare one ; what say you, Will, rig-
gish, eh?
SHAKESPEARE :
[To Chettle.] Hush ! Hush !
Miss FITTON :
[Calls Hughes to her.] Here, boy, Lady Jane
says you're pretty and your voice sweet. [Aside.]
26 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Prove to her that your lips are as soft as her
cheek.
[Hughes kisses Lady Jane Wroth. All laugh.]
LADY WROTH :
[Affectedly.] No, no, I prithee ! [She yields to
the kiss, and then to Miss Fitton.] I don't
know, Mary, how you dare. At your age I'd
have died of shame to speak of lips and cheeks
to a man.
Miss FITTON :
But you'd have thought all the more, eh, Jane?
And thoughts leap to act without the aid of
speech. Have I touched you there ? Ha ! ha !
[Hughes sings another verse.]
[Loud applause. Hughes comes across to Miss
Fitton.]
Miss FITTON :
Be bold, boy; be bold always! If I had
been a man I'd have kissed every woman that
took my fancy, maid or matron. Even when they
don't love you, they're proud of the tribute.
[Hughes bends suddenly, and kisses her on the
lips. Disengaging herself.] By my faith, an apt
pupil. [Rising. ] But I fear we must be going.
ACT I., SCENE VI. 27
[To Southampton and Lacy.] We'll come again,
my lords, if we may.
BURBAGE :
Won't you look at the other rooms, ladies,
before you go ? You should see everything !
Miss FITTON :
[Looking at the others.] We shall be late, I
fear; but a few minutes [Ladies follow
Burbage.]
SOUTHAMPTON :
Why so silent, Shakespeare? Why would you
not sing? You seem lost.
SHAKESPEARE :
Lost in finding Portia
SOUTHAMPTON :
Portia? What do you mean? Do you come
with us?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Shakes his head.] No, No ! I'll wait here.
[Southampton and others exeunt after the
ladies: Shakespeare alone.]
28 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE VII.
HERBERT :
[Comes in hastily.] How was the end received?
A success — I'm sure.
SHAKESPEARE :
A babel, Herbert, as usual. Not enough
clowning, Chettle says, and the general echo him.
HERBERT :
The dull clods have no eyes for beauty, no
ears for poetry. I had to go before the end ; you
forgive me? The play was splendid, one line a
miracle — "How all the other passions fleet to
air " — [putting his hand on Shakespeare's
shoulder] — but now I must be off to Court to per-
suade the old harpy to "order" the performance
of the " Merry Wives." But you're not listening.
SHAKESPEARE :
Thinking. You might do something else for
me at Court.
HERBERT :
Anything, at Court or in Hades, 'tis only an-
other name for the same place.
ACT I., SCENE VII. 29
SHAKESPEARE :
There was here but now a Maid-of-Honour,
Mistress Mary Fitton ; do you know her ?
HERBERT :
A Maid-of-Honour, here ! Alone? [Laughs.]
SHAKESPEARE :
No, Lady Rutland, Sidney's sister, and Lady
Jane Wroth were with her.
HERBERT :
She must be new, I don't know her. Was she
dark or fair? Tall or short?
SHAKESPEARE :
Eye to eye with me. Dark as night, and as
night mysterious, wonderful.
HERBERT :
This at first sight ! But what can I do?
SHAKESPEARE :
Speak for me to her. Say what you can : that
motley is not my proper wear, that I'm not all an
actor lost to shame and dignity, that — but you
will find a thousand better words. Had I to
plead for you in such a cause, the unsentient and
inconstant air should ache for love of you.
30 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HERBERT :
I'll do my best. Had Southampton any news?
SHAKESPEARE :
That Raleigh still inflames the Queen against
the Irish.
HERBERT :
We'll make short work of him ; he's staled
with use. The Queen laughs at him. I want her
to hear your play, and to give you a place with
the Lord Chamberlain as Master of the Revels —
Judge accredited of plays and players ! Leave it
to me, my friend ! I'll kiss her lips and praise her
legs till she does all we want. Our star is climb-
ing up — up !
SHAKESPEARE :
Your old loving thought for me — but who
climbs should go light, and not be burdened with
another's weight.
HERBERT :
You're easily carried! I'll bring you tidings
later, if I encounter with your gipsy — Ha ! Ha !—
Farewell [Turns at the door and comes back.] But
why should you not plead your own cause?
ACT I., SCENE VII. 31
SHAKESPEARE :
How ? Where ? This stage is far from Court.
HERBERT :
That's nothing ; desire will bridge the broadest
river. There's to be a masque at Court to-morrow
afternoon. Come, then, and meet your fair.
SHAKESPEARE :
Without right — or command?
HERBERT :
The Lord Chamberlain will send an invitation to
any friend of mine : I need not name you.
SHAKESPEARE :
But if by chance it becomes known
HERBERT :
'Twill not be known. Half the guests will be
masked ; some of the girls, I hear, will be dressed
as pages, foresters ; I know not what. You will
not be noted. Now I must be gone. Farewell,
masker, may you have merry hours.
[Exit Herbert.]
[Enter, crossing stage from L. to c.f the ladies t
still accompanied by Southampton, Lacy and Bur-
bage.]
32 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SOUTHAMPTON :
[While the ladies are cloaking at the door.]
What think you of our Court ladies, Shakespeare?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Gazing at Mistress Fitton.] What pride and —
SOUTHAMPTON :
You mean the tall, dark girl ? Mary Fitton ; a
rare wench. Do you think her beautiful ? Some
say she's too dark.
SHAKESPEARE :
She is all the beauty extant !
ACT I., SCENE VIII. 33
SCENE VIII.
The Antechamber at Court. Two girls, dressed
as gentleman and page — Mistress Mary Fitton and
Lady Cynthia Darrel — are talking together at one
end of the room, L. Sir Walter Raleigh as Cap-
tain of the Guard is standing by the great door, R.
HERBERT :
[Enters, R.C.] Nothing yet, Captain?
RALEIGH :
Nothing, my lord.
HERBERT :
[Impatiently.] Hum ! [Goes on down the room
and bows to Miss Fitton.] I've not seen you
before, lady, and yet I swear I know you.
LADY CYNTHIA DARREL :
That were difficult; my friend's new come to
Court.
HERBERT :
And yet I'd wager it is Mistress Mary Fitton.
[Bows to her and half whispers.] And yester even
with Lady Rutland — [louder] shall I say where?
34 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
You may, my lord ; the place is innocent. Tis
the intent makes guilt.
HERBERT :
You were where my friend saw you, and lost
his heart. If you found it, guard it well : he's
worthier than his place.
Miss FITTON :
Men only praise what they wish to part with, or
think beneath them.
HERBERT :
You're witty, lady !
Miss FITTON :
Wit's the Christian name for sense, at Court.
HERBERT :
May not one praise his friend?
Miss FITTON :
Never to a woman !
HERBERT :
Why not?
ACT I., SCENE IX. 35
Miss FITTON :
Who praise the friend, dispraise the woman.
HERBERT :
You're too persuaded to be changed. Lady
Cynthia, the Mistress of the Robes has sent me
for you; may I give you conduct to her? [To
Miss Fitton, bowing.] Would you be seated lady?
[Pointing to a seat.] Your page will be returned
before you've missed her. [Bows low. They go
Off, R.C.]
SCENE IX.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Enters , L., with a mash in his hand, and stops
on catching sight of Miss Fitton.] Ah !
Miss FITTON :
[Looking at him over her shoulder. Oh, the
poet ! Well, Master Shakespeare, what think you
of my dress?
SHAKESPEARE :
Yesterday, lady, you were lovely ; to-day, be-
witching.
36 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
There is more of the man than the woman in
me, I think : yet I would this cloak were somewhat
longer. [She tries to draw it round her to cover
her legs ; failing in this she stands up and swings
it about her.] There, I am at ease now. Does it
set me off?
SHAKESPEARE :
As envious cloud that veils the beauty of
Night's Queen.
Miss FITTON :
[Seating herself and drawing the cloak about
her.] I don't like poetry : it's not true — sincere.
You poets are too much in love with phrases to be
honest.
SHAKESPEARE :
When the heart is full we unpack it in song,
like the birds.
Miss FITTON :
But when the bird really feels — rage or fear,
he shrieks or twitters and forgets his song.
SHAKESPEARE :
He still sings his love.
ACT I., SCENE IX. 37
Miss FITTON :
I'd not give a cross [Snaps her fingers] for love
that keeps time. What's formal and composed 's
a pleasure — not a passion. I want prose and
truth.
SHAKESPEARE :
Yet they say that men love truth — and women,
honeyed flatteries !
Miss FITTON :
[Scornfully.] They say ! Men say that; but it is
worse than false. No sooner is a man in love than
he lies, wheedles, pretends, shows off — for all the
world like the peacock in the garden yonder, that
sidles round with tail outspread, in stately sweep-
ings. But when we women fall to love, we are
too honest to be vain — too fond for make-believe.
SHAKESPEARE :
Those are the signs of love in man, as in
woman. But who made you wise, so young ?
Miss FITTON :
Mother Eve, I suppose. The greenest girl
knows more about love than your graybeard.
38 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
True.
Miss FITTON :
[Settling herself, and pointing to the seat.]
You may liken me to night if it please you. We
dark women are out of favour now : red hair is
the Queen's colour, and Beauty's ensign : bleached
locks, even, are preferred to brown or black.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Taking the chair, and leaning towards her.] I
must have been born red, then, to love your great
dark eyes, and the coils and tresses of your hair.
Miss FITTON :
[Pouting.] Do you believe people must like
their opposites in colour and height and
SHAKESPEARE :
Such a difference is only one strand in the tie ;
and in a true marriage the mind, I think, is more
than the body.
Miss FITTON :
Of course the mind and character have some-
thing to do with it — the sauce to the sweet : but
the body's the sweet.
ACT I., SCENE IX. 39
SHAKESPEARE :
When I am with you, I think so too. I cannot
reason now, I can only feel. I saw you yesterday
for the first time, a few poor minutes ; and now
you are with me again and time is fleeting. Oh,
I want fifty eyes to take in your beauties, fifty
ears to catch the music of your voice, fifty hands
to touch you, fifty lives to show you how I
love
Miss FITTON :
[Draws up.] Love ! love is not so sudden-mad —
But hush ! [She takes up a mirror to hide her
face; Shakespeare masks; a page crosses stage
rapidly from L. to R.]
Miss FITTON :
[Putting down the mirror.] And so you love me
— madly — in an hour?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Taking off the mask.] Ah, lady, Time is love's
plaything — now he presses years into one look,
one touch ; and now a moment's kiss swoons out
of count — will you not yield to love's magic?
40 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
I don't think I love easily. But why do you
love me?
SHAKESPEARE :
Your beauty, grace, courage, wit — a thousand
reasons ; but deeper than all reason and higher is
love's throne.
Miss FITTON :
We have a saying in my country, " quick flame
soon cold."
SHAKESPEARE :
Ah, that's not true in love ; proverbs are never
true ; they are all made by dullards for the dull,
but tell me how shall I win you? Teach me.
Like a timid scholar I've forgotten all I knew.
Will love win love?
Miss FITTON :
Love will keep us when won ; I have no philtre
for the winning.
SHAKESPEARE :
One thing you must believe : this love is all my
life.
ACT I., SCENE IX. 41
Miss FITTON :
I '11 believe it sooner than I confess I do ; for I
love to hear you say it. A constant lover, you
know, touches every woman's heart.
SHAKESPEARE :
Then I shall win you, sweet !
Miss FITTON :
Perhaps : all women want to love and be loved.
Men desire beauty, wealth, power, honours ; we
want nothing but love, love only : love is our re-
ligion. You see the doublet and hose have not
changed my disposition. But Lady Cynthia will
be here soon -
SHAKESPEARE :
When am I to see you again and where ? I only
live for the hope of seeing you, and now I've been
with you and said nothing — nothing !
Miss FITTON :
Hist ! [Moves behind the spinet again: Shakes-
peare follows. Lady Jane Wroth and Lady Rut-
land cross stage from L.C. to L.]
LADY JANE WROTH :
Oh, Lord Herbert is wonderful. As he came
42 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
from the Queen he met me at the door of the ante-
chamber : I stopped to let him pass : he drew me
to him and kissed me on the lips. I could not help
it. Do you think he means anything?
LADY RUTLAND :
Not he. Herbert ! He means you are a girl
and pretty. Take care, Jane ; broken hearts come
from such kissings.
LADY JANE WROTH :
But why should he want to kiss me if he does
not love me?
LADY RUTLAND :
Men love to kiss, dear, and we kiss because we
love — that's the difference.
LADY JANE WROTH :
I wish I were a man, for I love the kiss, too.
LADY RUTLAND :
Hush, dear, hush ! you must not say that : if
you were overheard — [Glances round nervously:
they go off L.]
ACT I., SCENE IX. 43
Miss FITTON :
The silly women ! [To Shakespeare.] But why
do you love so madly ? 'Tis not wise.
SHAKESPEARE :
Wisdom and love, sweet, are sworn enemies.
Miss FITTON :
[Rising.] I have many faults : if you knew them
all, you might not love me.
SHAKESPEARE :
Faults ! you have no faults !
Miss FITTON :
[Gravely.] I'm too tall, and I look twenty-five
though I'm only seventeen. Then my nose is not
quite straight — do you see? [Holds up her face.]
Besides, I'm very proud and hot-tempered — vain!
No : I'm not vain, ever.
SHAKESPEARE :
Delightful wretch ! [Puts his hands on her
shoulders.] Now girlish-gay and now so witty-
wise ; but always adorable.
Miss FITTON :
[Holding his hands away by the wrists.] I'm
44 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
very proud, you know, and want the truth always.
I'd never forgive you if you deceived me.
SHAKESPEARE :
Who could deceive you? Give me your love
and I'll be true as hand to heart. [She puts her
hand on his shoulder: he lays his hand on her
outstretched arm and gazes in her eyes.] Your
beauty comes upon my soul like music ravishing
the sense. How I adore you. [Kneels.] You
make me humble : I seem a thing of naught and
you a Queen — divine — [She stoops and kisses his
forehead; in a sort of exaltation he cries:] Now
life begins anew for me ; this hour is con-
secrate
Miss FITTON :
[Putting her finger to her lips and glancing at
the canopy.] You must go and so must I. Hush !
Farewell. [Goes off, L.C. Shakespeare looks after
her, takes a step as if to follow her, and then goes
off hurriedly L.]
ACT I., SCENE X. 45
SCENE X.
HERBERT :
[Enters, R. ; walks to Raleigh.] Was my name
taken to the Queen, Captain?
RALEIGH :
[Very courteously.] Yes, my lord, some time
since, when first you entered.
HERBERT :
An hour agone, surely !
RALEIGH :
[Laughing.] Not half, my lord. Time lags
when we wait.
HERBERT :
Time ! Time is for slaves : an hour for this, an
hour for that. Curse time, a slut that lends her-
self to every basest use. [Throws himself into a
seat. Insolently.] What was the answer?
RALEIGH :
Answer ! my lord !
HERBERT :
[Insolently.] Yes, when my name went in.
46 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
RALEIGH :
There was no answer. [Long pause, while Her-
bert beats his leg with his glove.]
HERBERT :
[Rising.] Prithee send in again, Captain, to say
I wait. I've ridden fast to be in time, and now—
I'm chilled.
RALEIGH :
The Queen's in Council, my lord, with Lord
Burghley and the Spanish ambassador; I dare
not interrupt her !
HERBERT :
Dare is for a servant, not for a Raleigh.
RALEIGH :
A Raleigh is proud to serve his Queen.
HERBERT :
A very proper spirit in him. But prithee, send
in my name again — I like not waiting.
RALEIGH :
I pray you not to ask that.
ACT I., SCENE X. 47
HERBERT :
[Rising.] But I do ask it, man, I do. I'm sick
of waiting. On me be all the blame. I'll bear
you out in it.
RALEIGH :
I'm on duty here, my lord, and may not yield
my office to another !
HERBERT :
[Going to him.] Don't lesson me, but do your
office.
RALEIGH :
You may be sure I shall.
HERBERT :
[Making as if to push past him.] Then remove,
remove, or go in.
RALEIGH :
[Bars the way.] I'm here to protect the Queen's
privacy, not to annoy her.
HERBERT :
Servants should obey, not talk.
RALEIGH :
To be pert is a boy's privilege.
48 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HERBERT :
Damn your privilege. [Strikes him. Raleigh's
sword flashes out: Herbert draws too. At this
moment the door opens and discovers the Queen.]
QUEEN ELIZABETH :
Fighting ! Here ! [Raleigh bows composedly,
and steps back. Herbert flings his sword on the
ground and throws himself on one knee before
her.]
HERBERT :
What better thing on earth to fight for, than a
sight of you, my Queen ! [Queen lifts him, smil-
ing as the curtain falls.]
ACT II
SCENE I.
At the Mermaid. Ben Jonson is standing at the
end of the room, L., Fletcher and Lord Lacy near
him. Marston and Dekker are with Chapman in
the middle. Chettle is seated, R., facing Jonson.
Shakespeare enters behind Chettle, door R.
JONSON :
[Stretching.] It's good to be free — free to feast,
and not feed like a dog — free ! That prison was
killing me. [Calling out as Shakespeare enters.]
Ho, Will ! here's your chair, yawning till you
come.
CHETTLE :
Here's one with jaws as thirsty-wide, my lad,
and dry to boot. Will you fill 'em?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Passing Chettle with a smile.] The stranger
first, Chettle, then the drink. I've not seen Ben
for months and months. [Goes to Jonson and
takes both his hands.]
52 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
BEN JONSON :
[Pushing a chair towards Shakespeare.] And
now little poet, what will you drink? Canary or
sack. [Claps his hands.] Here, Drawer !
SHAKESPEARE :
I'm ill with thirst, and for that disease there's
no medicine like small beer.
JONSON :
[To drawer.] Bring beer.
CHETTLE :
Have sack, Shakespeare, sack's the drink :
when sack goes in, wit comes out. Beer's cold
and thin, fit for young girls, who quake to think
of lovers ; but sack's rich and generous, breeds
courage and self-content ; equals the poor man to
kings, and kings to gods.
SHAKESPEARE :
[To Jonson.] A little more, and he'd rise into
measure.
JONSON :
Out of measure, you mean ; the verse is my
part. Curious how abstinence breeds desire, and
ACT II., SCENE I. 53
desire song. Try prison for six months, Will,
and your mouth will drip with longing for wine,
women and good company. Ah, the leaden
hours !
CHETTLE :
Ho ! ho ! my lad of the mountain. No prison
needed by the godly. Without provocation or in-
citement I want women often, good company
always, wine perpetually. It's very strange : I've
often had too much sack, often ; but enough,
never. Read me that riddle, Shakespeare !
SHAKESPEARE :
That desire, Chettle, still outlives performance,
is no riddle. [Turning to Jonson.] Your punish-
ment punished all of us, Ben.
DEKKER :
And all for killing an actor.
SELDON :
In fair duello, too : allowed since the Norman
time.
LACY :
[With gestures.] Was it a punto, Ben, or a
54 SHAKESPEARE AND
reverse, an imbrocato or a montanto that reached
the throne of life?
DEKKER :
[Half maliciously.] Or did a mere downright
passada thrust poor Spencer from the stage?
JONSON :
[Menacingly.] 'Twas a cudgel Downright used
on Bobadill : don't forget that, Cobbler !
DEKKER :
'Tis as good a trade as bricklaying, and gives
more time for thought.
MARSTON :
Was it a Toledo, Ben, or a long Fleming gave
the mortal wound ?
[Jonson rises, crying " You dog ! " Lord Lacy
on one side, and Shakespeare on the other, hold
him back, and constrain him to sit.]
LACY :
Amity, friends, amity !
SHAKESPEARE :
Every man in his humour, Ben ; who should
know that better than you ?
ACT II., SCENE I. 55
JONSON :
[Sits again, grumbling.] The curs, who bark
and run.
LACY :
Let's have a hanap, friends, to cool the embers
of strife.
CHETTLE :
One cup of sack, Shakespeare, to chase your
melancholy and start your wit.
SHAKESPEARE :
Not one. Sweet wine on bitter beer would
make me Chettle. [Turns to Jons on.] So you
became a Catholic in prison, Ben. Was it the
loneliness, or fasting?
JONSON :
Loneliness, perhaps : in solitude one listens to
the heart.
MARSTON [Interrupting.]
That's weak, Jonson, childish-weak. Solitude
breeds religion as the dark breeds devils — out of
fear,
56 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
DEKKER :
Religion's a trade to the priest, an intrigue to
women, to men a laughing-stock.
CHETTLE :
Don't say that, don't blaspheme, don't attack
the Faith, mad lads ! I always mean to repent,
but put off the evil day of reformation so long as
health lasts. Conscience and sack struggle in me
for the mastery, and the conflict makes me thirsty
and so sack wins. But no scorners or blas-
phemers, say I.
SHAKESPEARE :
We're all godly at heart; eh, Chettle? We all
wish other men virtuous, so that there'll be more
frolic for us.
CHETTLE :
Ha ! Ha ! You're right, lad ! [To the drawer.]
Another cup, you bodkin, you radish, you — Ah,
we are all sinners, Will, villainous sinners ! [He
drinks.]
SELDEN :
I incline to the new faith. These puritans are
much in earnest, though they go too far. One of
ACT II., SCENE I. 57
them told me of late that actors should be out-
lawed, for they were not mentioned in the Bible.
[Laughs.]
CHETTLE :
[Interrupting.] Why didn't you reply that
tailors weren't mentioned there, either, and so the
crophead knave himself should go naked.
MARSTON :
Wonder of wonders ! Chettle is learned in the
Scriptures.
LACY :
Our catechist in pious phrases, man, our doctor
of divinity.
DEKKER :
He knows more of tavern reckonings ! He ! He !
CHETTLE :
Why not, lad, why not? The animal man must
keep a balance.
SELDEN :
Religion is like the fashion ; one man wears his
doublet slashed, another laced, another plain, but
every man has a doublet and a religion.
58 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
CHAPMAN :
[Pompously.] Tis easy to mock at things
sacred ; but without religion there 'd be no society.
Be Protestant or Catholic, as you will; but with-
out either we'd fall into anarchia.
JONSON :
Hum ! I don't know — What do you say, Shake-
speare?
SHAKESPEARE :
If all our rushlights went out, the sun would
still be shining.
LACY :
Oh, Shakespeare ! What a blessed union of wit
and poetry like virtue and beauty in a maid or a
Toledo blade hafted to one Chrysolite.
CHETTLE :
I have a story, Ben, my bully boy, that you've
not heard yet, a story of Will Shakespeare. Dick
Burbage knows it. Ha ! Ha !
MARSTON :
If new, let's hear it.
ACT II., SCENE I. 59
DEKKER :
If old, it's better than Chapman's mouthing.
CHETTLE :
The pretty mercer's wife, who often has a room
to see the play, made a meeting with King
Richard III, Dick Burbage, there. Quiet
Will overheard the appointment, and after the
play followed the lady. Poor Dick, having to
change his robes, came late, and knocked.
" Who's there? " asked Will, from the inside.
"Richard III," whispered Dick. "Ah," quoth
Will, "Richard III comes after William the Con-
queror." Ho ! ho ! ho !
SELDEN :
So the sportive blood of youth beflecks the
dignity of manhood !
DEKKER :
'Tis too pat to be true.
FLETCHER :
We poets are all given to Venus.
CHAPMAN :
How true that Venus story is, and how beauti-
60 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
ful. We shall never equal the Greeks ; never ;
they were our masters in everything.
CHETTLE :
Masters indeed ! Here's Shakespeare would put
down any of them in anything.
JONSON :
I'm not sure of that, Chettle. The Agamem-
non's a great play.
CHETTLE :
Ay, but what say you to Henry IV. ! That's the
play for me. I warrant the Greeks had nothing
like Falstaff. What d'ye say, Shakespeare?
Stand for your own, my boy !
JONSON :
He lacks the language, the window through
which the Greeks must be studied.
CHETTLE :
It's wit, man, ye want, not knowledge. Come,
Will. Put the Briton above the Greek : I'll tarre
you on.
SHAKESPEARE :
I think the Greeks are over praised. Fancy
ACT II., SCENE I. 61
making Love an inferior goddess, born of salt
water. [" Ho! Ho! " laughs Chettle.] Love's
born of summer air and light ; flowers are her
footprints and the stars sing to her coming :
Venus, not Jupiter, reigns in Heaven and Earth.
JONSON :
[Interrupting.] Good, old Knowell, good ! But
let's have a toast, or you'll talk us all to death.
Here's to the ever-sacred memory of our great
Queen, who lets players and playwrights live in
spite of Puritans and preachers.
FLETCHER :
To the Virgin who beat the Spaniards, and
made Britain mistress of the seas.
DEKKER :
In the same way the dog made the dinner, for
he looked on, while men feasted.
SELDEN :
Hush, hush ! No disloyalty !
CHETTLE :
[Puts down the empty pot.] I'll drink to no
virgin, my roaring boys, not even in name.
62 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Obstruction's twin brother to Destruction — I'll
none of it. Long live life ! Here's to the Queen's
great father, Henry VIII. There's a man for
you : could eat like a man, and drink like a man,
and love like a man. He was a king, if you like.
Here's to his memory !
JONSON :
You can have him all to yourself, Chettle, your
many-wived hero.
CHETTLE :
Tut, man, he was the eighth Harry, and had a
right to eight wives. 'Tis the Scripture. [Drinks.]
DEKKER :
Chettle's drunk.
SHAKESPEARE :
Chettle's right : here's to the memory of Henry
VIII, who gave wine to the laity, and women to
the clergy.
[All drink, laughing. Messenger enters, and
speaks to Jons on, who rises hastily.]
JONSON :
Here's my friend, Francis Bacon, come to see
us.
ACT II., SCENE II. 63
CHETTLE :
Bring him in, lad : Shakespeare here '11 [Exit
Jonson] teach him what he can't find in law-books.
[Jonson meets Bacon at the door.]
SCENE II.
BACON :
[To Jonson, with hand outstretched.] Hearing of
your discharge, I hastened to find you and share
your joy, though alack ! I was too weak to obtain
your release.
JONSON :
That's kind of you. Let me present my friends.
This is young Fletcher, the poet, and Burbage
whom you know, and Master Shakespeare, the
best playwright of us all. And this, gentlemen, is
Master Francis Bacon, the great philosopher.
SHAKESPEARE :
And friend to my lord of Essex.
BACON :
[Turning to Shakespeare.] Yes : do you know
the Earl?
64 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
By the kindness of Lord Southampton, so far
as a poor poet may.
JONSON :
He'll win Lord Burghley's place or fall to ruin.
But I fear his violence and wild courses.
BACON :
When Lord Essex comes to power, he will act
more soberly. Great men are like the heavenly
bodies ; they move violently to their places, and
calmly in their places.
SHAKESPEARE :
True, true ! His violence is all of quick feeling :
at heart he is most generous-kind.
BACON :
You do not overpraise him ; yet on troubled sea,
small sails of will and temper are the safest.
SHAKESPEARE :
Lord Essex is too great to think of safety ; he
dreams of noble deeds, and does them.
BACON :
[After pausing.] Your praise does you credit ;
ACT II., SCENE II. 65
it shall be reported to the Earl. But I came to
greet Jonson, and hear his new song : I must soon
be on my way.
SELDEN :
[To Fletcher.] Curious, the two masters can
neither wrestle nor embrace : Bacon's on earth,
Shakespeare in the clouds.
FLETCHER :
[Not listening.] Let us go into the inner room :
we shall hear the music better. [All go inside save
Shakespeare and Jonson. Music is heard through
the open door.]
JONSON :
[Turning to Shakespeare.] So you are in love,
I hear. Oh, that urchin, Cupid ! But beware,
Will, bewrare ; his darts are all poisoned.
[Takes Shakespeare's arm, and draws him
towards the inner room.]
SHAKESPEARE :
What sweet poison !
66 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE III.
In the grounds of St. James's Palace by moon-
light. A marquee in centre of stage with throne.
Miss Fitton moves about in garden, L., as if look-
ing for something till Shakespeare enters, L.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Taking both her hands.] At last ! at last, I see
and hold you, [Holding both her hands to his
heart.] and all is well again ; the pain is gone.
Miss FITTON :
Pain?
SHAKESPEARE :
Intense pain — the misery of doubt and fear ; the
agony of disappointment — all vanished now, lost
in a sea of pure delight. Ah, what a life ecstatic
after death
Miss FITTON :
Death !
SHAKESPEARE :
[Gravely.] Worse. On Monday you were
ACT II., SCENE III. 67
to be at Lady Rutland's; you had promised; I
went ; you were not there ; I fell into the abysm
of despair. Why, my queen, why?
Miss FITTON :
[Smiling and seating herself.] " Affairs of
state ' ' would sound well for a queen ; but I prefer
the truth. [Solemnly.] A three-piled ruff, the newest
thing in neckgear, made me forget your coming.
You see your queen is very woman. [He kisses
her hand and she pushes his head up gently.] One
of Eve's unnumbered daughters.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Kneeling.] The wittiest of all, the most adored,
the fairest ! Your hand [lifting it in his] is warm
ivory, so firm and smooth [looks up at her] — the
eyes like wells o'erhung with shadow — and oh,
the rubious lips. [Puts up his hand and draws
down her head; she bends and kisses him; then
rises.]
Miss FITTON :
You must rise ; we might be seen : we have only
half an hour ; be careful ; someone might come.
68 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Rising.] What a fate is mine ! I see you but
for a moment and then lose you. It is a week
since we met and now I may not kiss you. I long
for you night and day ; my flesh aches for you ; I
am parched with fever and may not quench my
thirst.
Miss FITTON :
Those high fevers have no long continuance ; I
prefer enduring affection — tenderness —
SHAKESPEARE :
Still the fever and you will find the tenderness.
Each time I meet you I have to win you anew,
and that exasperates desire ; but give yourself
freely to me, and I will love you better than you
love yourself.
Miss FITTON :
Violent desire soon burns itself out.
SHAKESPEARE :
When I am burnt out and dead — not before. Do
not distrust desire, sweet ; 'tis the spring of life,
the wing that lifts the clay [Takes her in his arms
and kisses her. She draws herself free.]
ACT II., SCENE III. 69
SHAKESPEARE :
Again you move away.
Miss FITTON :
Men and women love differently, I think. You
would kiss and kiss while I draw back half shrink-
ing, half because I would taste this new joy sweet
by sweet. There ! You make me say too much.
SHAKESPEARE :
Never too much, you great heart ! You unveil
your soul, and the beauty of it fills me with rever-
ence. [Takes her in his arms.]
Miss FITTON :
You do love me, then? You are sure?
SHAKESPEARE :
Very sure.
Miss FITTON :
You will love me always?
SHAKESPEARE :
Always. I loved you before we met, always,
through dateless ages. I never loved before, shall
never love again. You were made for me. I love
your courage, truth, pride, and most of all I love
you when you yield. [They kiss.]
70 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
Ah, love is easy when one can trust. I must tell
you something, though I hate to : I'm very
jealous.
SHAKESPEARE :
You, jealous !
Miss FITTON :
[Nods her head.] Jane Wroth told us of the
dance at the Globe Theatre, and 1 was angry;
that's why I did not go to Lady Rutland's to meet
you. I was jealous, mad !
SHAKESPEARE :
You had no reason. I was not at the dance.
I came past you here and wandered in Chelsea
meadows.
Miss FITTON :
In truth? How strange !
SHAKESPEARE :
I have always loved to be alone. In unfre-
quented woods I used to build myself a world of
dreams and hold a court of fancied creatures. But
now the dreams have changed to memories ; you
ACT II., SCENE III. 71
come to me and I recall your words and looks and
beauties ; kiss your hands and eyes and lips. Oh,
my thought-world is paradise with you as goddess-
queen.
Miss FITTON :
You must never make me jealous. Heal that at
once as you would heal a pain of mine. It makes
some women love more, I think ; it would kill all
love in me. I am too proud to endure its sting.
SHAKESPEARE :
I will never give you cause, sweet, for jealousy,
never ! I love your pride too well.
Miss FITTON :
[Rising and going to the spinet.] You promised
me a song. Did you forget?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Following her.] Could I forget a promise to
you ! [He puts the roll on the spinet before her.]
Miss FITTON :
I cannot sing it, you know. I have none of
women's little graces.
72 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
Being grace itself, you can forego graces. But
I have Hughes without, if you will hear him.
Miss FITTON :
Willingly ; but he must not stay long. [ While
Shakespeare goes away, L., she reads the words
aloud.] " I am my own fever, my own fever and
pain.'*
[Shakespeare returns with Hughes, who bows to
Miss Fitton. Miss Fitton nods negligently, and
leaves the spinet, taking a seat, L. c. Shakespeare
stands at her side, facing the audience, while
Hughes sings.]
HUGHES [Sings.)
II I attempt from Love's sickness to fly in vain,
Since I am myself, my own fever,
Since I am myself, my own fever and pain ;
No more now, no more now, fond heart, with
pride should we swell,
Thou canst not raise forces, thou canst not raise
forces enough to rebel.
" I attempt from Love's sickness to fly in vain,
Since I am myself, my own fever,
Since I am myself, my own fever and pain."
ACT II., SCENE III. 73
Miss FITTON :
[After the first verse.] So you would rebel if you
could. Hm. [Nods her head.]
SHAKESPEARE :
Like all rebels in order to taste the sweets of
sovereignty. •
HUGHES [Sings the second verse.]
" For love has more pow'r and less mercy than
fate,
To make us seek ruin, to make us seek ruin,
And love those that hate.
I attempt from Love's sickness to fly in vain,
Since I am myself, my own fever,
Since I am myself, my own fever and pain."
[As Hughes finishes Miss Fitton rises. Hughes,
bowing, goes out.]
Miss FITTON :
[Seats herself at the spinet.] Why did you write
that — " to make us seek ruin and love those that
hate"?
SHAKESPEARE :
I fear you don't love me as I love you ; some-
times, even
74 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
I don't hate you, or I shouldn't be here, should
I?
[Hums the words, " fever and pain/' playing
the tune.]
SHAKESPEARE :
How I envy even the dead things about you ;
the dress your body warms, the bracelets that clip
your wrists ; even the jacks that leap to kiss the
tender inward of your hand.
Miss FITTON :
[Stops, and holds it to him.] You may kiss it,
too.
[He kisses her palm, then draws her to him and
kisses her lips. She rises.] But now you must go :
they'll be coming.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Rising.] And when am I to see you again —
when? [Watching her face.] To-day? [She shakes
her head.] To-morrow? Next day? When? These
hours of absence make me hunger for you till I
faint. Be pitiful, sweet. The touch of your hand
gives me life. When you go, my heart shrinks
and lies here aching-cold till I see you again.
ACT II., SCENE III. 75
Miss FITTON :
[Listening.] I'm afraid they'll come in and
SHAKESPEARE :
[Imploringly.] You have not told me when I
may see you again.
Miss FITTON :
To-morrow I'm busy. Thursday? Yes, Thurs-
day, at Lady Rutland's. She'll be in waiting here.
[Gives her hand, which Shakespeare holds
against his heart.]
SHAKESPEARE :
[Taking out some tables in ivory.] I've brought
you tables to mark our meetings in. Will you use
them?
Miss FITTON :
How pretty, and here's a posy too in golden
letters :
[Reads.] " Doubt that the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love."
That's because I doubted your sudden-deep affec-
tion.
76 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
Write down the day we are to meet, will you?
now; and all the time between shall die and be
a void.
Miss FITTON :
[Archly.] Suppose I said to-night — here?
SHAKESPEARE :
What wine of life you pour ! My blood's aflame
and shaken into blinding colours. To-night and
night is here ! I feel the minutes throbbing past.
To-night, my night of nights. O Sweet, make me
atone this ecstasy, or — To-night, you Queen of
Night — You heart of joy !
Miss FITTON :
I shall be late, you know. It will be mid-
night
SHAKESPEARE :
Midnight !
Miss FITTON :
[Listening.] Hush.
SHAKESPEARE :
To-night, at mid of night. Ah, now I know
that men are richer than the gods. Midnight !
ACT II., SCENE IV. 77
Miss FITTON :
Hark ! They are coming ! Quick ! [Shakespeare
kisses her hand and hurries up the stage, L. A
bevy of girls enter, c., talking, accompanied by
gallants and preceded by Lacy.}
SCENE IV.
LACY :
[As Shakespeare passes.] Ho, Ho ! Master
Shakespeare doth fly from yon miracle of Nature,
as from a dire portent. Methought her most brave
strain of wit, and peremptory grace, would have
charmed your nice fastidity.
SHAKESPEARE :
One may admire stars, my lord, at a distance.
LACY :
Do we adorate because of the distance? Ha !
Ha ! [Bows with gesture. Shakespeare bows and
goes out. Lacy turns to Miss Fitton.] So the
Queen of gipsies has enslaved the player-poet, and
violet eyes will lose their blue with weeping.
78 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
Violet eyes?
LACY :
Violet eyes and honey-coloured hair — a nymph
of the morning !
Miss FITTON :
Whom are you talking about?
LACY :
Is it a secret? The dark lady, then, has her
rival in the fair maid, and courage and wit on the
one side contend with downcast eyes and shrink-
ing modesty on the other.
Miss FITTON :
Do you jest, or am I to believe you? Who is
she — a lady?
LACY :
Her name — Violet. Her rank — youth and
beauty. I know no more ; put the culprit to the
question.
Miss FITTON :
Where did you see them? — When?
LACY :
At the playhouse, one afternoon.
ACT II., SCENE IV. 79
Miss FITTON :
Ha, ha ! Now, if I had believed a man's oaths
how I should hate myself. But, thank Heaven !
I was not befooled by his vows and protestations.
The player may go to his trull, some orange-girl,
I suppose, and brag ; but, thank God ! I am not
his dupe. Violet, indeed ! [Laughs.]
LACY :
Do not be hasty-rash : I know nothing ; she may
be but his friend and genteelly propagated : I only
saw them together once.
Miss FITTON :
You would have me a credulous fool : a laugh-
ing-stock for the player and his patch. No, no !
I am schooled in time. Who stoops, suffers : the
man who would win me, must have no Violet.
LACY :
It is nobler to trust too much than too little.
Miss FITTON :
I do wrong to be angry. Let us join the others,
my lord, and take my thanks for your warning.
[Walking towards the others.] Violet is a pretty
name !
8o SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE V.
HERBERT :
[Enters; the ladies flock together and giggle;
he goes to them.] Well, Lady Cynthia, what's
the story?
LADY CYNTHIA :
Story?
HERBERT :
The story that made you all laugh as I came in.
LADY CYNTHIA :
There was no story.
HERBERT :
It was truth, you mean. [Lady Cynthia
curtsies.] Something pointed at me. What was
it?
LADY CYNTHIA :
Why should you think it was about you?
HERBERT :
What was it, then? You silly girl, if you don't
tell, the others will.
ACT II., SCENE V. 81
LADY CYNTHIA :
[Turning to them in appeal.] You won't, will
you, girls?
Miss FITTON :
Of course they will ; women always tell of each
other, so I'll save them the trouble. Lady Cynthia
said, she'd rather be the Queen you knelt to, than
the Captain you struck.
LADY CYNTHIA :
Oh, I didn't, I didn't. I'll never forgive you,
Mary Fitton, never !
Miss FITTON :
Well, if you didn't say it, I do, so protest's
useless.
HERBERT :
And would you be the Queen, lady?
Miss FITTON :
Perhaps; for women can win, though con-
quered.
HERBERT :
Then conquest does not frighten you?
82 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
Nothing frightens us but indifference. We
women are fortresses, only sure of our valour
when we're attacked : only convinced of our
strength when we're taken, and as proud of bejng
won as men are of winning.
HERBERT :
If the fortress is as strong as your tongue is
sharp, 'twould need a Paladin to attempt it.
Miss FITTON :
Only cowards fear the strength of their oppo-
sites, and you, my lord, are no coward.
HERBERT :
[Laughing, as if flattered.] How do you know
that, lady?
Miss FITTON :
By double proof, my lord.
HERBERT :
Double proof?
Miss FITTON :
Yes : you strike a Captain of thirty, and kiss a
Queen of sixty. Give you good e'en, my lord !
[Curtsies, and turns to go.]
ACT II., SCENE V. 83
HERBERT :
You shan't escape like that ! [Catches her by
the waist.] You must pay for your impertinence.
Come, give me your lips, beauty.
Miss FITTON :
[Holding her head away.} That were to turn
play into earnest.
HERBERT : '
So much the better. [Their eyes meet.} I can
be earnest, too. [He kisses her ; she draws away.}
LACY :
If I intrude, I flex the knee : I'm sage-green
with jealousy ; or shall I scent the lambent air
with flowered gratulation?
HERBERT :
[Irritably.} I wish you'd talk naturally, like a
man, and not like a popinjay.
LACY :
In verity I belong to the brutish, bearded
sex, as you may prove, my lord, when the
occasion pleases you. [Bows to Herbert.] But
" naturally " offends my sense, 'tis a gross and
vulgar birth. Prithee, my lord, do you dress
84 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
" naturally "? or eat " naturally "? or house
" naturally "? And if to be natural in all these
is savage-vile, why should a man talk "naturally,"
like a lewd barbarian?
HERBERT :
I mean why be singular in speech — fanciful,
peculiar ?
LACY :
The first man who made a girdle of skins in-
stead of the fig-leaf was so admonished, and with
equal consistency. Why wear a slashed doublet,
my lord — most " fanciful-peculiar "?
HERBERT :
It becomes my place.
LACY :
And so my speech is more ornate than peasants
use.
HERBERT :
But my doublet isn't tagged with silly, useless
ornaments, like your "scent the air," and "sage-
green with jealousy " ! Green is good enough.
ACT II., SCENE V. 85
LACY :
Green means nothing; but sage-green paints
the bilious tinge of soured vanity ; still, a dispute
about the shade concedes the principle.
HERBERT :
No, I think the common speech better, stronger.
LACY :
No ! No ! Ten thousand negatives ! I abhor
your common fustian speech. Words, like coins,
grow lighter in the using ; so I mint a new word
to charm the ear, as a jeweller sets a gem to catch
the eye. [Turning to Miss Fitton.] But I've
tired you, most divine fair, with peevish argu-
ment, instead of pleasing with example. I entreat
forgiveness : am carmined with confusion. [A
bevy of girls come up: the first cries — " We are
allowed to dance " : the second — " How shall we
begin, with the galliard or the Coranto?" [They
speak chiefly to Lord Herbert and Mistress Fitton,
because Lord Lacy is staring at one of their num-
ber, Lady Joan Nevil. Lacy, turning again to
Herbert.] What heavenly pulchritude ! casting
light, not shadow, upon earth. Who is the
wonder, nymph or angel? My eyes are blinded
by her celestial radiance.
86 SHAKESPEARE AN]
HERBERT :
[Stepping forward.] Lady Joan, let me present
Lord Lacy here, who professes himself your
admirer.
LACY :
[Bowing to the ground.] Admirer [with a re-
proachful glance at Herbert], worshipper of your
most angelic loveliness ! Lady, my senses are all
your slaves.
LADY JOAN :
I free them at once, my lord,
slavish service.
I would not
LACY :
O voice most tuneful and beyond music har-
monious !
LADY JOAN :
Praise, my lord, should keep a measure ; sweets
are quick to surfeit.
LACY :
Lady, if I cannot win your favour, I am like to
die of grief.
LADY JOAN :
Live, my lord, live, and now if it please you let
ACT II., SCENE V. 87
us join the dancers. [They turn off together; the
dancing goes on with directions changing the
galliard to the Coranto.]
Miss FITTON :
[Looking after Lacy.] A curious jay.
HERBERT :
A soldier, scholar, traveller, all masked with
this extravagance.
Miss FITTON :
Lady Joan may cure his distemper.
HERBERT :
Perhaps ; but why did you refuse my kiss? Am
I so hateful to you?
Miss FITTON :
No, no.
HERBERT :
Why then withhold so small and usual a
favour ?
Miss FITTON :
One sometimes fears to give — not from penury ;
but
88 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HERBERT :
You dear ! How did you know I love you ?
Miss FITTON :
I do not know it, my lord. Shall we dance?
[They pass, and Sir John Stanley and Lady
Jane Wroth come in their turn to the centre.]
STANLEY :
What do you women see in him? He's impu-
dent ; but good-looking boys are always impudent.
I could forgive the Queen for loving Essex ; he's
a man, a great Captain, too ; but this raw Herbert
— pshaw !
LADY JANE WROTH :
Perhaps it's his youth pleases her, Sir John.
And then he's marvellous well-featured. [They
pass, Lacy and Lady Joan, after a couple or two
pass, return to c.]
LACY :
[Earnestly.] My speech, lady, shall follow your
taste, like my dress. If you prefer plain cloth to
murrey ed sarsenet, it shall be as you wish, I will
speak poor drab. But taffeta phrases have a rich
distinction, and silken terms are soothing to the
sense.
ACT II., SCENE V. 89
LADY JOAN :
I would not have you altered, the gay doublet
suits you : the fanciful speech, too. But just a
touch of — austerity in ornament — is that how you
speak ?
LACY :
Rosebud of maidens, you delight my heart !
[They pass. Lady Cynthia Darrel and a
Courtier come to the front.]
LADY CYNTHIA :
Do you think Mistress Fitton good-looking?
A COURTIER :
Good-looking, yes ; but swarthy.
LADY CYNTHIA :
Too tall for my taste, and bold. Ha ! Ha ! If
that's your country innocence, I prefer the town.
Those black eyes in that pale face — ugh ! Now
Herbert is a model, perfect.
A COURTIER :
He's very well, and he knows it. [They pass.
Slowly Lord Herbert and Miss Fitton return. The
Mistress of Ceremonies orders the cushion dance:
the pages arrange the cushions.]
go SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
I know you don't ; too well I know it.
HERBERT :
I swear I do ; put me to the proof.
Miss FITTON :
What's the good?
HERBERT :
All the good ; you'll have the proof, and be con-
vinced, and yield. Try me.
Miss FITTON :
[They dance: at the end of the bar, Herbert
kneels on a cushion.] How easy it is to gull one-
self when one wishes to. If the Queen entered
now, my lord, you'd be at her feet in an instant.
HERBERT :
Not I. Not if you promised to come to me :
Will you? [Miss Fitton kisses his forehead.]
Miss FITTON :
Do you mean you would stay by me even if she
called you?
HERBERT :
Even if she called, if you promise.
ACT II., SCENE VI. 91
Miss FITTON :
You would not dare.
HERBERT :
Dare ! indeed ; wouldn't I ! [They dance round,
and when their turn comes to kiss, Miss Fitton
gives her lips. Immediately afterwards the doors
are thrown open and the Queen announced, R.
Some servants enter backwards; then the Queen
moves to throne, R.C. The dancers stop; all bow
and curtsey.]
SCENE VI.
THE QUEEN :
Let the dance go on ! [The Queen looks round;
Herbert and Miss Fitton are standing L.C. The
Queen calls " Lord Herbert/' Herbert goes on
talking to Miss Fitton as if he did not hear.]
Miss FITTON :
[In a loud whisper.] Go, the Queen calls, go.
LORD HERBERT.
[To Miss Fitton.] But will you promise?
92 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
THE QUEEN :
Lord Herbert !
Miss FITTON :
Go, I'll forgive you, go.
HERBERT :
But will you promise?
THE QUEEN :
[Turning to a Servant.] Send Lord Herbert to
me.
Miss FITTON :
[As the servant nears the couple.] Yes, I pro-
mise— sometime — go ! [Herbert, bowing low to
Miss Fitton, swings round, walks to the Queen,
and puts one knee to the ground.]
THE QUEEN :
[Angrily.] You forget your manners, my lord,
and your duty.
HERBERT :
[Smiling.] Manners, ma'am, and duty are
worthless frozen words : my allegiance to you is
an irresistible passion ; as, you know, the desire of
the moth for the light.
ACT II., SCENE VI. 93
THE QUEEN :
Methinks, the moth is quite content with black-
ness, here. [With a glance at Miss Fitton.]
HERBERT :
The eyes that suffer through excess of radiance
close of themselves to rest.
THE QUEEN :
[.4s if pacified or negligent.] You may dance,
my lord. [Amid the astonished silence and ob-
servation of all, Herbert bows and draws back-
ward towards Miss Fitton.] Go on with the dance.
The Coranto, not that kissing thing. [The Pages
remove the cushions.]
LADY JANE WROTH :
[To Sir John Stanley.] She hates to see others
kissing.
STANLEY :
That's morality. [The talk breaks out again,
and the dance goes on. In a moment or so
Herbert is at Miss Fittonjs side, and they dance
round.]
THE QUEEN :
[As they pass, calls] Lord Herbert ! [He dances
on as if he didn't hear. The Queen descends from
94 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
her throne, and takes him by the ear.] Are you
deaf to-night? I will dance with you. [Lord
Herbert bows, smiling, and they dance a measure
or two; the Queen holds up her dress very high
and marks each step elaborately in bygone
fashion: when they come to c.]
HERBERT :
I knew I'd win you.
THE QUEEN :
Win me?
HERBERT :
And now I have succeeded.
THE QUEEN :
What do you mean?
HERBERT :
Jealousy is the best proof of love.
THE QUEEN :
You saucy boy ! [They dance to the entrance,
R. He holds the cloth, and the Queen passes
through. As the cloth jails, Herbert turns and
hastens back to Miss Fitton, who moves to meet
him: the others are dispersing ; the servants begin
to dismantle the tent.]
ACT II., SCENE VI. 95
HERBERT :
Did I keep my word?
Miss FITTON :
How bold you are !
HERBERT :
And you — beautiful. Remember ! you promised.
Miss FITTON :
[Hesitates, then looking at him nods as if re-
flecting.} I did promise.
HERBERT :
Come, then.
Miss FITTON :
Oh no ; not to-night. To-night I must — I could
not. I could not. It is so late. I said " some-
time. "
HERBERT :
You are too proud to cheat. I have your word.
Come : it'll soon be midnight.
Miss FITTON :
Midnight !
HERBERT :
Yes, midnight. What of that?
g6 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
Nothing : nothing
HERBERT :
Come, then. You are not afraid of the dark
with me.
[While speaking he puts his arm round her,
kisses her and draws her towards entrance, c.
There he takes cloaks ; wraps her in one and puts
the other on. They go. The stage darkens. A
servant comes in, takes up something and goes
away. The stage darkens; stars appear. Mid-
night sounds from some neighbouring clock. On
the first stroke Shakespeare enters from L., moves
to try sting-place and waits. No one comes. In
the distance faintly he hears his own song growing
clearer as if the singer were passing by: "I am
my own fever, my own fever and pain." He
moves about restlessly while the song dies away.]
ACT III
SCENE I.
In the Mitre Tavern.
HOST :
[Wiping the table.] I can trust no more. I'm a
poor man, Master Chettle.
CHETTLE :
[.4 side.] Poor in flesh and poorer in spirit.
[j4/owd.] Go to, man, I don't ask you for trust.
From now on the drink of the day shall be paid in
the day. What can you want more ?
HOST :
Ay, that were good enough if
CHETTLE :
Oh ! Your " if " 's a scurvy coward, a water-
drinker dripping with doubts ; no host for a gene-
rous tavern. Hark ye, ye don't send in the reck-
oning before the meal ; but an hour after. Make
the hour three and ye shall have your money.
Send me the drawer, man, and before night ye
shall be paid. Was ever such an unbelieving
sinner !
ioo SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HOST:
Sinner, I may be, Master Chettle ; but unbeliev-
ing, no. I have trusted you these ten years,
Master Chettle, and the reckoning grows ; every
year it grows. That's not want of faith, Master
Chettle.
CHETTLE :
Ha, ha ! Ye have me there : quick wits, Master
Fry, and the riposto tickles. There, I'm glad it's
settled. Send me the drawer and you shall have
your money to-night. I never could haggle with
a man of mind. And I bring you custom, man,
more custom than any dozen, and such custom,
the wits of London, the heads o' the world !
HOST :
Ay, ay ; but
CHETTLE :
There, there ; it's settled : honest men have but
one word. I know you good, Master Fry; but
hard like this new religion ; hard. There, there !
we are old friends. Send the drawer; he knows
my ways and quickly ; this tongue-fence hath
made me dry. Here come my friends, a
goodly company and all thirsty ; despatch, man,
ACT III., SCENE II. 101
despatch ! [Exit Host: Jonson and Burbage enter
together; Fletcher, Dekker, Marston follow; the
drawer brings back Chettle his sack.]
SCENE II.
JONSON :
I thought we'd find you here, Chettle ; but what
are you doing ?
CHETTLE :
[Writing.] Writing, lad, for a meal, as a poet
must in these niggard-tradesman times.
BURBAGE :
Have you seen Shakespeare?
CHETTLE :
Shakespeare? No. Why do you ask? Is there
any news?
BURBAGE :
Great news ! The Lord Chamberlain writes me
to be in readiness to play before the Queen. I
must to the theatre at once.
102 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOV]
FLETCHER :
I'm with you.
DEKKER \
MARSTON )
And I !
CHETTLE :
A drink, lads, before you go, to keep out the
river-mist ; water's the cause of all my pains !
JONSON :
Sack, you mean ; sack and canary that make
your blood boil with gout.
[The drawer brings wine in large flagons.]
CHETTLE :
Not so, bully Ben. Not so. Rheumatics, not
gout. Ah, had my mother but given me sack
when I was young and tender, I had never known
these whoreson tweakings. A pious upbringing,
Ben, and a watery diet have been my undoing.
BURBAGE :
Do you go with us, Jonson?
JONSON :
No. I'm not known to your Lord Chamber-
lains.
ACT III., SCENE II. 103
FLETCHER :
Nor I. Yet I go to see the stir.
JONSON :
You are of the company.
FLETCHER :
No. I take Foster's place ; you can have
Browne's.
JONSON :
No, no ! I'll keep my own name and my own
place. [Enter Shakespeare.] Ho, Will ! you're
to be a courtier; have you heard?
SHAKESPEARE :
No : what is it ?
BURBAGE :
We must be ready : we may be summoned any
day to play at Court : I have the order.
JONSON :
What's Chettle chuckling over there?
CHETTLE :
[Looking up from his writing.] Angling for
supper, lads ; just a snack.
104 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
DEKKER :
Let's see Chettle's snack.
FLETCHER :
[Pounces on the paper and reads.] It's a letter
to Mistress Tagge of the "Tabard."
MARSTON :
Let's hear it !
JONSON :
Read it, Fletcher, read it !
CHETTLE :
No. No ! Mad lads ! That forked radish there
shall not clapperclaw my work. If you must hear
it I'll read it myself. No whipper-snapper shall
squeak my words ! Now, lads, listen ! [.Reads.]
" To fair Mistress Tagge, the best hostess in Lon-
don ; argal in the world ! I kiss your hands most
beauteous and bountiful ; I have but now seen
your drawer and heard that you want twenty
angels to-night. The time's short, but I'll bring
them as I'm a true man unless the rascal book-
seller lies in his promise to me and that he'll not
dare
ACT III., SCENE II. 105
JONSON :
What a poor cheat ! Who's the bookseller,
Chettle?
CHETTLE :
[Reads on.] " This very night I'll bring the
angels to my angel ! "
JONSON :
Oh, foul jest !
CHETTLE :
" But as I shall come late will sweet Mistress
Tagge prepare me a mouthful of supper — any
little thing '11 do — a snack just to provoke appetite,
for indeed I'm far from strong.
JONSON :
Oh, mountainous weakling ! Tun of lard !
FLETCHER :
Now for the snack, boys ! Listen.
CHETTLE :
Ay, a snack, you pizzle; a snack for a man.
[Reads.] " Say a slice of calver'd salmon at first
or a pickled lamprey and
io6 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Interrupting.] " Or indeed both," Chettle, put
in "or indeed both," — the salmon and the lam-
prey.
CHETTLE :
Right you are, bully boy. Right ! [Corrects the
letter and reads again.] " Say a slice of calver'd
salmon at first or a pickled lamprey or indeed
both, [looks up at Shakespeare and laughs] and
then a loin of young pork dressed with your own
select and poignant sauce and then a few oiled
mushrooms
SHAKESPEARE :
Too many " thens," Chettle. "A few oiled
mushrooms and one is ready to loose a button and
begin." [All laugh.]
CHETTLE :
True, true, lad ; 'tis but a beginning. [ Writes
and reads on.] " For something to eat, a shoulder
of mutton and a cantle of one of your noble pasties
[Shakespeare interjects " just to quiet the
stomach's craving," and Chettle writes and re-
peats the phrase] just to quiet the stomach's crav-
ing, and then a bird, say a pheasant for choice,
ACT III., SCENE II. 107
and afterwards a goose [Shakespeare interjects
" to trifle with," and again Chettle writes and
repeats the words] to trifle with, and instead of
salad some barbel's beards — you know how I like
'em — and nothing more an' you love me — nothing,
unless it be a morsel of cheese [Shakespeare inter-
jects " to take away the cannibal taste of the
meat " and Chettle writes and repeats the words
with a loud laugh] to take away the cannibal taste
of the meat."
JONSON :
You gulf of gluttony ! No wonder you're lame
with gout !
CHETTLE :
It'll tweak you worse at my age, old gamecock !
Ah, lads ! My suppers are all numbered ; I can't
increase 'em by one and so I want 'em all good.
This world owes Hal Chettle a living.
FLETCHER :
Are you finished?
CHETTLE :
[Reads on.] " And you'll not forget the wine,
dear Mistress Tagge : nothing but your old sack
io8 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
— sack without taint of sugar or cow's juice — pure
milk o' the grape; and afterwards, if you will,
a tankard of canary with my pipe, just to keep me
warm thro' the long night. And as for the angels,
count on 'em ; if I can, I'll bring you twice twenty ;
for I love an open hand." [Shakespeare, going to
the door, interjects, " ' In others,' Chettle, ' in
others.' " All laugh; but Chettle cries, " No, no,
mad wag," as Shakespeare goes out.]
JONSON :
You unspeakable liar, you ; you haven't two
coins in the world to clink together !
CHETTLE :
That's the virtue of the promise, thickhead !
Ha ; Ha ! lads ! He knows how to write and how
to fight, the great boar, but not how to live.
That's Chettle's art. Ben has no kindling fancy,
no procreate imagination. I'll tell you a secret,
lads, a rich secret, a secret of gold ; in this world
large promises excite more goodwill than small
performances, and praise to a woman is more
than sacks of money. He ! he ! Oh, the sweet
creatures ; how should we live without 'em ! And
how angry I shall be to-night with that cozening,
lying bookdealer ! Ha ! ha !
ACT III., SCENE II. 109
JONSON :
Haven't you any conscience?
CHETTLE :
No, bully boy, no : I've never been rich enough
to keep a conscience : never ! With us poor devils
conscience is like a court-suit put by for state
occasions and then used as little as may be : we
pawn it sometimes for a dinner. Conscience, look
ye, is a jade that still cries " No, no ! " and never
helps with brave encouragement : a good defender
of the rich ; but a born foe of the poor, laming
enterprise. No, no, lad, no conscience for me ; a
bad one's worse than a belly-ache, and with a
good one I'd starve. Conscience is like a shrewish
wife (have I touched ye there, Ben?), as long as
you listen to her she makes you miserable, and
when you no longer care for her, why should you
keep her? To conclude : Conscience, boys, is a
bogey to frighten the feeble from frolic. Ha ! ha !
JONSON :
But as a man, aren't you ashamed to cheat a
poor woman?
CHETTLE :
Have at ye again, lad ! In this world we all
no SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
cheat and are cheated. You cheat the groundlings
and orange-girls out of their crosses with a bad
play when they've paid to hear a good 'un, and I
cheat by giving soft words instead of coins. And
the conclusion ! The girls are angry with you,
while my hostess is in love with me. True virtue
is good-humour, Ben : and a pleasant smile's more
than all the commandments.
FLETCHER :
Chettle's putting up for a saint.
CHETTLE :
And why not, lad, why not? The greatest sinners
always make the greatest saints. Reason : they've
more stuff in 'em for good or evil and better wits
to shape the mass to a purpose. Reason again.
How can you help others to resist temptation un-
less you feel the strength of it in your own flesh ?
JONSON :
You are the sum of all sins — a glutton,
drunkard, letcher and shameless to boot : how can
you talk of being a saint !
CHETTLE :
Sins of the flesh, my lad, find pardon easier
than malice of the spirit ; I'd be a saint to-morrow,
ACT III., SCENE II. in
but the living's thin and ye're all such unbeliev-
ing rascals that ye'd make me misdoubt my own
virtue !
JONSON :
Virtue in you would be like a lump of butter in
a raging fire, 'twould feed the flames !
CHETTLE :
That's the unbelief in ye, that still keeps me a
sinner, a villainous sinner !
BURBAGE I
At this rate, Chettle, you'll make us all late.
Come, boys, come, there's much to do.
CHETTLE :
'Tis a churl would leave a good dinner, but no
one would leave good talk but a chough, and that
was good, wasn't it, Ben?
JONSON :
Like your dinners, Chettle; more to be praised
for quantity than quality, but still
CHETTLE :
Have with you, lads : I've a Court cloak in
white sarsenet ; the colour of fear and of
ii2 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
conscience, it takes a stain in every weather and
from every touch ! Ha ! ha ! ha !
[Exit all save Jonson, who calls the drawer by
stamping on the floor.]
SCENE III.
JONSON :
[To drawer.] Bring me inkhorn and paper : I
would write.
DRAWER :
[Wiping the table.] Coming, sir, coming !
[Exit drawer.]
Enter Shakespeare.
SCENE IV.
JONSON :
[Watching him.] What is it? Will : what is it?
You wander in and out like one becrazed — The
poisoned dart of old Virgil — Eh ? Yet surely you
won your beauty?
ACT III., SCENE IV. 113
SHAKESPEARE :
I have not seen her for weeks.
JONSON :
What have you done?
SHAKESPEARE :
Herbert said he would speak to her.
JONSON :
Well?
SHAKESPEARE :
I have not seen him since.
JONSON :
Humph ! Like consequence, like cause.
SHAKESPEARE :
No, no ! he's my friend unwearied in kind
offices. If you but knew
JONSON :
Then why not find him and solve the riddle?
SHAKESPEARE :
I will : I must. To-day ; now. [Goes to door and
returns.] But if she has changed to me — ah, Ben,
hope is something ; we mortals live by hope.
I
ii4 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
JONSON :
Hope balanced by despair. Have done with
the ague-fit, man !
SHAKESPEARE :
You're right : I'll go at once. [Exit.]
JONSON :
[Sitting down again to write.] So honest Trust
has always Cheat for friend.
ACT III., SCENE V. 115
SCENE V.
A Room in Lord William Herbert's lodgings in
London.
HERBERT :
[Unbuckles his belt and gives it with his sword
to a gray-haired servant in livery: takes off his
cap with its great jewelled brooch and throws it
on the table.] Has no one come?
BODY-SERVANT :
No one, my lord ; but there's a messenger from
Wilton inquiring after your health.
HERBERT :
My health ! Another of your tricks, Longman,
I'll be sworn. You must be mad : I'm perfectly
well.
BODY-SERVANT :
Your lordship had a chill last week and Lady
Pembroke made me promise
HERBERT :
[Waives him to silence.] Bah, bah! [The Ser-
n6 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
vant bows and steps back.] I expect a lady this
afternoon ; the same who came the other day : you
know, tall and dark; bring her to me here, and
then you are free to write to my lady mother and
tell her I have a tingling ear — the right one — don't
forget. [The Servant bows and retires backward.
Herbert recalls him.] And, Longman, tell the other
servants I'm not to be disturbed. [Exit Servant.
Lord Herbert goes over to a mirror and arranges
his slight moustache, runs his fingers through his
hair, then picks up a sword and makes imaginary
passes with it; at length takes up a book, throws
himself into a chair and begins to read. A few
moments pass; a discreet knock is heard at the
door. Miss Fitton enters, Herbert reads on, till
she stands before him and puts her hand on his
book. He jumps to his feet.] I am sorry, Mary.
[Kissing her.] I did not hear you. I was reading
an old love-story, the story of Achilles and the
Siege of Troy. Won't you sit?
Miss FITTON :
And our love-story is not a month old. A month
ago and you would have been waiting at the door
for me; but now [Sighs.]
ACT III., SCENE V. 117
HERBERT :
I was waiting there to-day ; but you are very
late, and one cannot play sentinel for ever. Have
you heard the news? No ! Lady Joan instead of
curing Lacy, has caught his trick of speech, and
her quaint words and demure air set everyone
roaring.
Miss FITTON :
We women are all ape-like in our loves ; I catch
myself repeating your words like an echo : I wish
I had been born a man — Heigh-ho ! But there's
another piece of news —
HERBERT :
What's that?
Miss FITTON :
The Queen has heard that Lady Jane Wroth
gives her lips too easily : she has locked her up
for a month on bread and water.
HERBERT :
Joan's rather pretty, don't you think? with
great child-eyes; but shy — who's the happy man?
Essex or Egerton, I'll be sworn.
n8 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
Miss FITTON :
A newer lover, I hear, and one nearer to the
Queen's heart — young William Herbert.
HERBERT :
I ? Never, never. Oh ! a kiss in passing — a
mere courtesy
Miss FITTON :
You are incorrigible !
HERBERT :
I am. How can I help it? I can't love the rose
and scorn the lily Every woman tempts me;
but after all Mary is best [tries to take her in his
arms, but she draws away], for Mary is hardest
to win, and I love her [Kisses her.]
Miss FITTON :
[Yielding.] What fools we women are ! I know
you don't love me ; but I cheat myself you do, and
the slighter the proof the more I fondle it. What
double fools, for when I would be true and brave
and free, you lean your head upon my breast, and
the mother in me makes me your slave ; my blood
turns to milk ; I am all tenderness and take your
desire for love. We are so foolish-fond — wretched
creatures !
ACT III., SCENE V. 119
HERBERT :
Not much to choose between us : Come, Mary,
here are your tables ; since you gave them to me I
haven't kept you waiting once: now have I?
[Puts them on the table.]
Miss FITTON :
No, and twice you have waited for me. If I
could be sure you loved me — sure — [A knock is
heard at the door] Who's that?
HERBERT :
I don't know ; I gave orders [The knocking
is repeated.]
Miss FITTON :
I must not be found here ; where ? where
HERBERT :
[Pointing to the door, R., and whispering.] That
door will take you out. Come to-morrow at the
same time. You will? [Smiles as Miss Fitton
says "Yes" and goes; he returns towards door,
c. ; the knocking is repeated.] Come in there ; come
in. [Shakespeare enters.] Oh, it's you, is it?
120 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE VI.
SHAKESPEARE :
Unbidden ; but not, I hope, unwelcome.
HERBERT :
No, no. Come in and be seated. I was half
asleep, I think.
SHAKESPEARE :
We have not tasted life together for days and
days.
HERBERT :
'Tis true ; not since my quarrel with Raleigh.
How the old limpet clings to place. He has just
come to new honours, I hear : she has made him
Governor of Jersey. Curse him !
SHAKESPEARE :
With honour one can always buy honours.
HERBERT :
[Laughs.] Yes ! the singular is more than the
plural.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Hesitatingly.] When I last saw you I begged
your voice. Did you see her?
ACT III., SCENE VI. 121
HERBERT :
I did. I wanted to speak to you about it; but
it's not — pleasant.
SHAKESPEARE :
Not pleasant !
HERBERT :
I did my best, talked of your talents — all to no
effect. Girls are queer monkeys !
SHAKESPEARE :
No effect !
HERBERT :
[Looking in the mirror.] I mean, though she
admires you infinitely, she cannot love you.
SHAKESPEARE :
Cannot love me? Mistress Fitton !
HERBERT :
Who else?
SHAKESPEARE :
She told you she did not love me?
HERBERT :
[Looking at his profile.] She did.
122 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
Strange !
HERBERT :
Why strange?
SHAKESPEARE :
She does love me.
HERBERT :
[Waving the mirror.] Admire, yes ; but love, no !
SHAKESPEARE :
Love, yes !
HERBERT :
Friendship, affection, love if you will, but — but
— not passion.
SHAKESPEARE :
Passion.
HERBERT :
[Throwing down the mirror.] Do you mean to
say
SHAKESPEARE :
Yes.
ACT III., SCENE VI. 123
HERBERT :
[Indignantly.] What ! What ! Ha ! Ha ! Ha !
The damned young minx !
SHAKESPEARE :
Why do you call her minx?
HERBERT :
Because — because she lied to me.
SHAKESPEARE :
No other reason?
HERBERT :
None!
SHAKESPEARE :
What object could she have in deceiving you, as
to her love for me, you, my friend?
HERBERT :
[Carelessly.] In faith I don't know — a girl's
whim, I suppose.
SHAKESPEARE :
Strange — a girl seldom denies her love — and
Mistress Fitton has courage. Most strange !
ir-4 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HERBERT :
Well, you must ravel out the tangle at some
idle moment ; it's too knotty for me. Have you
seen Chapman's " Iliad "? I've just been read-
ing it : 'tis as fine as Homer; don't you think?
SHAKESPEARE :
I am not learned enough to judge.
HERBERT :
I hear you met Bacon the other day. What did
you think of him?
SHAKESPEARE :
I know him too little — he's Jonson's friend —
she denied me, you say, to you?
HERBERT :
She did. But now I must dress : you'll forgive
me.
[Takes up his sword-belt and buckles it on:
looks for his gloves and cap. Shakespeare in the
meantime moves to the table and catches sight of
the tablets which Herbert has thrown down.]
SHAKESPEARE :
[Picking up the tablets.] Oh, my divining soul !
[Turns to Herbert.] I pray you, of your courtesy ;
when did you see Miss Fitton last?
ACT III., SCENE VI. 125
HERBERT :
[Arranging his doublet before the mirror.] Yes-
terday, to-day. Why?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Showing tablets.] When did she give you these?
HERBERT :
Those? where did you find them?
SHAKESPEARE :
She gave them to you ?
HERBERT :
Mary Fitton? Yes.
SHAKESPEARE :
And you took them, knowing they were my gift
to her?
HERBERT :
How could I know that?
SHAKESPEARE :
She told you. You must have asked where the
verses came from : she hates verses, and loves
truth — truth !
HERBERT :
Don't take it so tragic, man. A girl's kiss, no
weightier than a breath.
126 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
A girl's kiss, and a friend's faith. No weightier
than a breath.
HERBERT :
In love and war, none of us is to be trusted.
SHAKESPEARE :
So!
HERBERT :
It wasn't all my fault
SHAKESPEARE :
[Taking hold of him, and watching his face.]
Not your fault! What? She tempted you—
[Herbert nods] — and who could resist her? she
tempted you ! Oh, let her rot and perish and be
damned ; the foul thing ! I am cold with loathing.
HERBERT :
I don't want to put the blame on her; it all
came naturally ; but you must not think I went
about with intent to deceive you.
SHAKESPEARE :
She tempted you; when? The first time you
saw her; the very night I asked you to plead
for me?
ACT III., SCENE VI. 127
HERBERT :
I don't wish to excuse myself ; you know how
such things happen. We danced; she dared me
to wait by her when the Queen came; of course
I waited — oh, curse it !
SHAKESPEARE :
She dared you. That rank pride of hers the
pride that ruined angels and unpeopled heaven !
The foul temptress ! Damn her, oh, damn her !
HERBERT :
Pride's no fault.
SHAKESPEARE :
No fault ! She swears love to me and then to
you; kisses me and kisses you — no fault — she
loves the slime that sticks to filthy deeds.
HERBERT :
You believe her when you're with her; she
seems true.
SHAKESPEARE :
O, the world hath not a sweeter creature. She
might have lain by an emperor's side. Hang her !
I do but say what she is. The public commoner !
128 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HERBERT :
Don't blame her, she's so young.
SHAKESPEARE :
And so fair! Such courage, strength, wit,
grace, gaiety. God ! Had she been true one
would have pawned the world for her. And
now
HERBERT :
You take it too tragic.
SHAKESPEARE :
Too tragic ! I have lost all — joy, hope, trust-
all gone ; my pearl of life ; my garden of delight !
HERBERT :
Think, man : it's not the first time she has
slipped, she doesn't pretend it is.
SHAKESPEARE :
The pity of it ; ah ! the pity of it ! The sky is
all soiled : my lips, too — my hands — ah !
HERBERT :
Why can't you be a man, and take what's light
lightly !
ACT III., SCENE VI. 129
SHAKESPEARE :
Only the light do that ! [To himself.] Is it wrong
to kill those light ones?
HERBERT :
You would not hurt her.
SHAKESPEARE :
No ! That's true. I could not hurt her sweet,
white flesh. God, how I love her ! I'll tear out
that love ! Oh, the pity of it, the pity of it : all
dirtied, all. But I'll not be fond !
HERBERT :
Why not? she loves you ; she said so : it's true,
most likely.
SHAKESPEARE :
Trust's dead in me : she has killed it. I think
of her, and shudder — the sluttish spoil of oppor-
tunity. Faugh !
HERBERT :
Put it out of mind, and it's as if it had not been.
SHAKESPEARE :
You'll marry her?
130 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
HERBERT :
I wouldn't marry an angel.
SHAKESPEARE :
And yet — she loved you — kissed you — gave her-
self to you : Damnation !
HERBERT :
You make too much of it !
SHAKESPEARE :
Too much ! I trusted you, your honour : bared
my heart to you Ah ! the traitor wound !
HERBERT :
Forgive us both and forget : Come. [Puts his
hand out.]
SHAKESPEARE :
[Shrinks back.] Words, words !
HERBERT :
I never meant to hurt you.
SHAKESPEARE :
That's the Judas curse ! They know not what
they do ; but it's done. I had two idolatries — my
friendship for you ; I loved your youth and
bravery ! And my passion for her, the queen and
ACT III., SCENE VI. 131
pearl of women. And now the faith's dead, the
love's befouled.
HERBERT :
In a little while hope will spring again and new
love.
SHAKESPEARE :
Never, my summer is past ! The leaves shake
against the cold.
HERBERT :
What can I say? What can I do?
SHAKESPEARE :
Nothing : I must go. [Turns to the door.] You
have your deeds to live with. [Exit Shakespeare.]
ACT IV
SCENE I.
In the " Mitre " Tavern.
SHAKESPEARE :
[To Ben Jonson, whom he finds sitting.] Good
morning, Ben. Has Burbage left?
JONSON :
He's gone to the theatre ; he will be back, anon.
You're all to go to Court, he says. Do you play?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Indifferently.] I don't know : I hope not.
[Drawer enters and gives Shakespeare a letter.]
Will you forgive me?
JONSON :
[Shakespeare reads.] I'll wager that's from
Chettle, asking you to pay his reckoning. [Shake-
speare nods.] But you won't do it. No one de-
serves help less.
SHAKESPEARE :
Those who deserve it least, Ben, often need it
most.
136 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
JONSON :
Need ! He is all needs ; he but uses you —
shamelessly.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Looking at the letter and smiling.] He signs
himself "the old roisterer who won't trouble you
long."
JONSON :
"The old roisterer" at your expense.
SHAKESPEARE :
I owe him what money can never pay [takes
out his purse] his jokes and humoured laughter.
He warms me with his hot love of life, and living.
[Gives Drawer gold; exit Drawer.
JONSON :
I've no patience with you. You play prince-
fool with everyone and you'll suffer for it yet.
SHAKESPEARE :
Prince-fool, indeed. Which is the better title,
I wonder : — prince or fool? [Shakespeare goes to
window; opens lattice and looks out.] Hush;
hark ! [Opens the door, listens; shuts it again.]
Curse her !
ACT IV., SCENE I. 137
JONSON :
Be careful of your money, man, and the world
will let you play both parts at will.
SHAKESPEARE :
Money ! What is money to me?
[Returning into the room again and moving
about and then going to the casement.]
JONSON :
Everything, Will, shield and sword ; back and
front piece. [Shakespeare turns round listening.]
You are love's plaything, Will.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Stopping in front of him.] Love lives on love,
Ben ; the less she gives me the less I crave.
When I saw her every day it was too little, and
now I see her twice a month, I'm no longer her
slave. 'Tis not worth while to befool oneself for
so little.
JONSON :
[Shrugging his shoulders.] H'm. You're not
cured yet !
SHAKESPEARE :
Hush ! [Hastens to door and listens, opens it;
138 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
drops his hands in despair, shuts it again, turns
into the room.] Damn her !
JONSON :
Love, you know
SHAKESPEARE :
[Stops in front of him.] Is it love or hate?
Sometimes I hate her — sometimes she is coarse
to me, obstinate and vain, soulless as a drab,
sometimes [Puts his hands to his face.] the rose of
women. [Throws herself in a seat.] I pass my
time in waiting for her, thinking of her : I am
degraded into a brute-desire. She writes, " I will
be with you in an hour," that is three hours
agone; she is not here yet, and may not come
to-day ; damn her !
JONSON :
Why don't you work; put her out of mind:
forget her?
SHAKESPEARE :
Forget ! work ! That is the worst of her, she
kills my work, and yet she quickens life in me.
When we sacrifice ourselves for some one, Ben ;
when we give too much ; we grow to hate her !
ACT IV., SCENE II. 139
. . . Is it not shameful of her to tease me
so? [Goes to window again and looks out.] The
slut ! [Sits down again.]
JONSON :
They say a man gets the woman he merits. I
have a shrew, a scold, constant and jealous like
the itch ; you a wanton, mad with pride. Yet we
could be free if we would; we are afraid to hurt
them, Will; that's it — afraid. What fools men
are !
SHAKESPEARE :
[Starting up.] I wish she were here, I'd hurt
her
JONSON :
Hark; she comes ! I'll not spoil sport.
[Exit by door, L.
SCENE II.
[Some one knocks at door, c.; Miss Fitton
enters dressed in a man's cloak and hat.]
Miss FITTON :
Am I late?
140 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
Late ! I have been here for hours, walking up
and down like a beast in a cage, listening for the
step that never comes. When Hope has died and
the ashes are cold, you come.
Miss FITTON :
Perhaps I should not have come : would that
have been better?
SHAKESPEARE :
I don't know : I am worn out with waiting.
Miss FITTON :
[Half turning to door.] 1 can go.
SHAKESPEARE :
You fiend ! [Goes to her and takes her head in
his hands, holds it back, and kisses her on the lips
again and again.] Kiss me ! Put your arms round
me. Ah ! [Takes a long breath.] What a wretch
you are ! I was afraid you had forgotten alto-
gether and would not come !
Miss FITTON :
It was hard to come. [Throws open her cloak,
shows her dress.] See, I was on duty. Jane
Wroth was ill : I had to take her place : as soon
ACT IV., SCENE II. 141
as I was free I threw on this cloak and hat and
came. I didn't wait even to tire myself : [Pats
her hair.] I must be hideous.
SHAKESPEARE :
You were to have come on Monday and didn't
come : for hours I walked to and fro outside the
Court — madness and I — a pretty pair — you would
do well to fear us. But now — take off that hat
and cloak.
Miss FITTON :
[Takes off the hat; takes up a hand-glass and
looks at herself; lays it down.] I must be gone
soon.
SHAKESPEARE :
What? You are "but come, and already speak
of going. Come, then.
[Puts his arm around her and draws her to-
wards the inner door, that, when open, shows a
bedroom.]
Miss FITTON :
No, no ; time fleets. I must go soon : it is im-
possible. Let us talk here.
142 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
You are the bellows and the fan to my desire :
yet as soon as you see the flame, you shrink and
leave me.
Miss FITTON :
[Regarding him curiously.] It is hard to please
you now.
SHAKESPEARE :
You don't try often — nor long.
Miss FITTON :
[Shrugs her shoulders.] You make it hard for
me to come again.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Goes and kneels at her feet as she is sitting,
and puts his hands on her waist.] Why don't you
try to cure me another way? Why not come and
give yourself to me, till, surfeited with sweet, the
appetite may die? That is the cure of love.
Cure me like that !
Miss FITTON :
It might take long. But I like you better as
you are now.
ACT IV., SCENE II. 143
SHAKESPEARE :
Do you ! Ah ! [Putting his head back.] If you
knew the maddening hours I spend, longing,
waiting, hoping, fearing, you would pity me.
There is a martyrdom in love. I live in purgatory ;
burning now with hell's fevers, and now my fiend
comes and my dungeon, flame-lit, is more lovely-
fair than Heaven. When you have gone the air
will sing of you ; I close my eyes and hear the
rustle of your garments, and [putting his hands to
his face] on my hands there lingers the perfume of
your beauty. [He buries his face in her dress, then
rises gravely.] You once said love would keep
love ; I love you, Mary, to madness.
Miss FITTON :
[Rises, too.] I am fond of you, too; do not
doubt it.
SHAKESPEARE :
Come, then [putting his arm round her and
drawing her towards the inner room], and I will
be what you like ; one short half-hour
Miss FITTON :
[Frees herself.] No, no; I must be gone. What
144 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
time is it? I must be back before the dinner; I
must.
SHAKESPEARE :
You make me hate you ! To be refused and
shamed . . . My first thought was right.
Miss FITTON :
Your first thought?
SHAKESPEARE :
That damned boy !
Miss FITTON :
Herbert ! [Hurriedly.] I have not seen him for
days and days. Has he been here?
SHAKESPEARE :
He's not likely to come here. Damn him !
Miss FITTON :
[Takes up her hat and begins to put it on; she
puts her hair right with the hand-glass and then
moves to the door and takes up her horseman's
coat from the settle; all this while Shakespeare
sits with his head on his hand. She moves across
and stands beside him, and then puts her hand
on his shoulder.] You make it hard for me to
ACT IV., SCENE II. 145
come ! You are so moody-sullen. What would
you have me do?
SHAKESPEARE :
[Looking down.] Love me, that's all [As if to
himself.] — it isn't much. Give me love's ecstasy,
the joy that beggars thanks ; the life that is divine.
Love is my mortal sickness, love !
Miss FITTON :
You should rouse yourself ; you are moody.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Looks up smiling.] Mad, you would say ; why
not? It goes with " bad " and " glad " and
1 ' sad ' ' — good words all ! Do you know how
first I came to it? I will tell you. Sit there and
let my eyes feed on you. [Miss Fitton sits near
him.] Strange; you are more desirable now than
when I first knew you. Then I saw faults in you ;
now your faults all sharpen appetite. As I look
at you it all comes back — that first day in White-
hall when the morning air was warm like milk
and the wavelets danced in the sun. Do you
remember how we sat and kissed, each kiss
longer than the last? [Mistress Fitton bows her
146 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
head.] ... I went the other day to the same
spot by the river — I was alone and desolate —
but of a sudden you came — [she turns to him in
wonder] yourself, of grace and pride compounded,
like a queen, and I touched your hair, and every
separate hair a sin of multiple desire ; I drew
down your face and your lips clung and kissed as
no lips ever kissed before. Then of a sudden you
were gone, and I was awake — alone. Since then
I have prayed to go mad again, to hold you, and
so be mad for ever, lips on lips [Mistress
Fitton rises.] What are you doing?
Miss FITTON :
[Takes up cloak.] I must go, Will; I must, in-
deed. I am late now. [Holds the cloak to him.]
SHAKESPEARE :
What ! Now ! You have been but a moment . .
[He drapes her in the cloak.] Perhaps it is best so.
[She turns to the door.] You will come again soon?
Miss FITTON :
Soon. But I want to hear you laugh as you
used to laugh and turn all things to humour and
gaiety !
ACT IV., SCENE III. 147
SHAKESPEARE :
Come soon, and I will clown it — soon ! [She
goes, nodding to him from the door.] Soon.
SCENE III.
SHAKESPEARE :
[While Shakespeare stands at gaze Ben Jonson
enters.] It is the end, I think — the end. [Turns to
the room.] What weak curs we are, Ben : I beg
her to come soon ; yet I wish she were dead !
JONSON :
A proud patch, that ; she's not likely to die
soon : the devil takes care of his own.
SHAKESPEARE :
She's proud, indeed; but why do you miscall
her?
JONSON :
We were there in the yard as she passed, three
or four of us : the yard was dirty : she picked up
her clothes and walked past us as if we were
posts. Shapely legs she's got.
148 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
Shapely, indeed. Damnation !
JONSON :
Why did she go so soon?
SHAKESPEARE :
Duty at Court, she said.
JONSON :
A convenient excuse. Why came she so far for
so little? I'd seek another reason.
SHAKESPEARE :
Another reason? Speak plainly, man, like a
friend.
JONSON :
Plainly, then, it's said she visits Herbert in that
horseman's cloak. 'Twas Hughes spread the
thing : he knows.
SHAKESPEARE :
Herbert ! Damn her !
JONSON :
Put her out of your head, man. Violet's worth
a dozen of her. Put her out of your head and
think of weightier things. You are to play at
ACT IV., SCENE III. 149
Court this afternoon, and Burbage says the Queen
will make you Master of the Revels if you ask for
it. I wish 'twere mine for the asking.
SHAKESPEARE :
It irks me to ask favours of her : her hands are
red with blood.
JONSON :
For your friends' sake, Will, if not for your
own : Burbage wants it, all of us ; it would
strengthen us, and we need it. The preachers
grow louder against us every day, and the old
cat is breaking fast ; she won't last long. Bur-
leigh and all of them are in weekly letters with
James. Ask boldly, man ; once in the place you
are there for life.
SHAKESPEARE :
I will do my best. But I am glad I'm not on
the stage. I hate the public show : I am in no
mood to play bear or dog.
[The clock strikes one.
JONSON :
Well, I must be gone or my vixen will bite.
Good luck, Will, and don't forget you must be
ISO SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
our Master under the Lord Chamberlain. Your
friends expect it of you. [Exit Jonson.]
SHAKESPEARE :
[Takes out a copy of " The Merry Wives/'
reads it for a few moments, then throws it down.]
It is all sickening to me. I can write nothing.
The love of the work has left me : the love of life,
too : when she went, all went — ambition, hope,
everything. . . . Damn her ! How maimed
and sore I am !
[After a few moments the clock strikes two; a
moment later the door opens and Miss Fitton
comes in; he starts up as she enters.]
Miss FITTON :
Have you heard? Herbert's in the Tower.
SHAKESPEARE :
For what crime'?
Miss FITTON :
For loving me, I suppose.
SHAKESPEARE :
You don't expect me to weep?
ACT IV., SCENE III. 151
Miss FITTON :
I thought you might do something ; get South-
ampton or one of your friends to ask for his re-
lease. It is only her temper !
SHAKESPEARE :
And you? What will you do.
Miss FITTON :
I am banned from Court ; supposed now to be
on my way home. If she knew I was still here
and for what purpose, there is no suffering she'd
spare me. Yet I stay for pride, I think, and for
the danger.
SHAKESPEARE :
And to see him again.
Miss FITTON :
No, that's done with. But I want him free,
not punished.
SHAKESPEARE :
You love him still; why do you pretend to love
me? You can't love two men.
Miss FITTON :
Can't I? I don't know. You are so different.
iS2 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
What do you mean? You can't love us both.
Miss FITTON :
He dominates me and I you. He hurts me and
I hurt you, and yet I can't bear you not to love
me. I do love you, Will, really; you heal me
when he has bruised me. You make me proud
again and he humiliates me. I don't want to
see him ever again. But I don't want him in
prison, and I know I can ask you to help him.
I wouldn't ask any other man; but you I can ask;
you are the soul of kindness.
SHAKESPEARE :
Why did you give him my tablets?
Miss FITTON :
I gave him more — much more. And now I
have to face
SHAKESPEARE :
" More?"
Miss FITTON :
More than men dare or dread; we women
always lose more than men.
ACT IV., SCENE III. 153
SHAKESPEARE :
So you know love's penalty — you poor child !
Miss FITTON :
I suffer, if that's what you mean; but the suffer-
ing will pass. My courage rises to the need : the
world is wide; the roads run free. What will be,
will be. One mistake never ruins a man's life,
and one mistake shall never ruin mine. Next
summer the sun will shine again and the air be
young and quick; I have no fear. [Turns to go.]
Farewell, I'm for the road. [Mistress Fitton turns
to go.]
SHAKESPEARE :
You will come back. We shall meet again !
Miss FITTON :
[Turns to the door, and turns back again.] It
is hard to say ; we've played at cross-purposes,
Will ; but we all wound and are wounded in love's
lists ; yet, after all, love is the soul of life.
SHAKESPEARE :
A great game ; and you are a great player, the
greatest I shall ever know. [Takes her hand and
kisses it.] Of many thousand kisses this poor
last. [Exit Miss Fitton.]
154 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SCENE IV.
[Burbage, Marston, Dekker and Fletcher burst
in.}
BURBAGE :
Great news, Will, great news ! The Queen'll
hear us in " The Merry Wives of Windsor " to-
night in full Court. Now use your wit, my lad,
and you'll be Master of the Revels, and our
licence'll be safe and we'll all come to honour and
riches !
DEKKER :
He counts his hens in the shell always.
FLETCHER [To Shakespeare, humming.] :
" Why so sad, singer, why so sad?
Girls were deceivers ever —
One foot in Court and one on Stage,
To one love constant never ! ' '
ACT IV., SCENE V. 155
SCENE V.
The Throne Room at Court.
[The Queen enters, -with train of ladies, lords,
and counsellors, and takes the throne; Burghley,
small and deformed, dressed in black, is on her
right.]
%
THE QUEEN :
The play was well enough. [Turning to
Burghley.] My Lord Burghley, have you heard
from our cousin James? Has he punished those
raiders yet?
LORD BURGHLEY :
He'll give us every satisfaction, your Majesty,
except what costs him money.
THE QUEEN :
A mean spirit and a long tongue ; he had the
one from his father, the other from his mother.
And Essex? How does he bear his disgrace?
LORD BURGHLEY :
He chafes and talks loud ; it'll all end in talk.
156 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
But he should not be strengthened, Madame ; the
time's unsettled and for that reason I'd pray your
Majesty to release Lord Herbert ; he's young and
well liked of the common
THE QUEEN :
Keep to your own business.
LORD BURGHLEY :
[Bows low.] Shall I write to the King of Scots
imposing a penalty? He's responsible for dis-
order.
THE QUEEN :
I'm tired to-night.
LORD BURGHLEY :
Your complexion's brilliant; you look your best.
THE QUEEN :
Ah ! You think so. What's this?
[Lord Lacy and Lady Joan come forward and
bow low. Lord Lacy advances holding Lady
Joan's hand.]
THE QUEEN :
[To Lacy.] What is it? Speak.
ACT IV., SCENE V. 157
LACY :
Oh, Dazzling Luminary, Glorious Orb of
Britain whose radiant beams diffuse in all our
hearts the light of loyalty, the warmth of ad-
miration : most gracious, wisest Mistress, permit
your most obedient, loyal servitor to approach
your throne with humblest imprecation.
THE QUEEN :
If the prayer, my lord, be worthy of its dress,
'twill need our realm to content you. But give
it words, man, plain words.
LACY :
Most Mighty Regent, you distress me ! I
approach your queenly presence robed in vest-
ments of State out of reverence for Britain's
Majesty, and in the same spirit I would use
orphrey'd phrases sewn v/ith pearls of speech, and
you ask me plain words.
THE QUEEN :
Let's have 'em jewelled if you will; but what's
your want?
LACY :
The jewel of this realm, indeed : the prize of
158 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
all this nether world, the diamaunt of distinc-
tion
[Bows and waives to Lady Joan.
THE QUEEN :
What ! That Chit !
LACY :
Oh, Arbitress of Fate ! I supplicate your
Sovereign Power ! enrich me with a word ; set
joy-bells ringing with a gest of grace and fill my
heart with heavenly gratitude.
THE QUEEN :
[To the girl.] And you? Shall he wear you?
It misdoubts me the gift's already given !
LADY JOAN :
[Curtseying to the ground.] Oh Fairest Vestal,
Mirror of Beauty, Pink of Perfectness : I would
requite my Lord with dutiful affection
THE QUEEN :
I was sure you would, and with a dozen brats
as well.
LADY JOAN :
'Tis only stars and our great Queen can live
alone.
ACT IV., SCENE V. 159
THE QUEEN :
[To Burghley.] I hate women's praises ; they're
always feigned and false ! [To Lacy.] Do you
hold the wedding in our Court, my lord ?
LACY :
Rectress of Action ! On bended knees and
with a lowly heart I implorate your Majesty, let
us withdraw from the blinding light of this
world's Sun and hide our joys in sylvan shade
where hours go softly by.
THE QUEEN :
The wedding should be here; afterwards you
can go to your estates; does that please you,
girl?
LADY JOAN :
My beseechings flow to my lord's desire
THE QUEEN :
By God's Body, they are both mad; have it as
ye will ; [To Lady Joan] but when you come again
your beseechings, as you call them, may flow in
another direction. [To Burghley.] Did ever
Christian hear such phrases?
[Lacy and Lady Joan bow and retire.
160 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
LORD BURGHLEY :
The girl's worse than the man !
THE QUEEN :
Saw you any fashion, my lord, which my sex
does not exaggerate? The woman has taken the
infection from the man, but in the weaker body
the fever rages most wildly
SCENE VI.
THE QUEEN :
" Her beseechings " forsooth — I'm very weary !
[The Players enter and stand grouped by the ser-
vants at the end of the Hall.] Ah ! there are our
players. Well, let that one approach who wrote
the piece — I mean — Ach ! I forget his name !
[Turns to Lord Burghley.] Those common names
are so hard to remember.
[The servant goes down the Hall and brings
Shakespeare to the Queen. As Shakespeare bows
low the Queen looks at him, but doesn't speak for
some time.]
ACT IV., SCENE VI. 161
THE QUEEN :
[Breathing heavily, as if tired.] You wrote the
piece ?
SHAKESPEARE :
To please your Majesty !
THE QUEEN :
[Slowly and with difficulty.] I did say something
about it; I've forgotten what — I — Yes — Oh, I
wanted to see the fat Knight in love, and you
wrote this " Wives of Windsor " to show it :
'tis not ill done, but the Knight was better in the
earlier piece, much better; the story better too.
Still, I wished it, and now — They say you're
witty, and rhyme well, and would make a good
Master of the Revels to save my Lord Chamber-
lain there — some labour
SHAKESPEARE :
[Bows low.] I thank your gracious Majesty with
all my heart, and should be proud to serve in
any place; but
THE QUEEN :
[Starting up.] But !— But ! The fools are all
mad to-night. But what?
M
162 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
I would prefer to private gain what our great
Queen herself desires —
THE QUEEN :
[Leaning back again.] And that is? He, he !
You'd be more than wizard to divine what I don't
know.
SHAKESPEARE :
I had a friend, your Majesty, most dear
THE QUEEN :
What's that to do with me, man? Say wha,t
you want and make no speeches; I've heard
enough speeches to-night to last me a lifetime.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Kneeling.] I beg for freedom, your Majesty,
for my Lord Herbert : mercy for his youth
THE QUEEN :
[Sitting bolt upright.] Did ever one hear the
like ? My dog will school me next ! You forget
your place, man.
SHAKESPEARE :
I am nothing, gracious lady, but a voice to the
ACT IV., SCENE VI. 163
pity in your heart : the meanest born may beg for
mercy
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes;
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest.
THE QUEEN :
[Laughs loud.] Ha ! ha ! ha ! The player's
turned preacher. Ha ! ha ! Hark you [She
beckons him nearer.] Your tongue's too long ;
I'll have it cut if it wag so boldly.
SHAKESPEARE :
He loved you well, ma'am, and often spoke of
all your greatness. His faults are youth and
madcap daring.
THE QUEEN :
I care not. When we're hurt, we strike. He
was kind to you, you say, and so you speak for
him ; he cheated me
SHAKESPEARE :
And me of all I loved and left me desolate.
THE QUEEN :
Ha ! And you plead for him. Faugh ! Even
the cur snarls at those who beat him. Learn
spirit from your dog !
164 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
Ah ! madam, we learn sympathy from suffering,
pity from pain !
THE QUEEN :
[Wearily leaning back in her throne.] Do we?
I don't. [Pause.] I'm weary ! You can go now,
man ; go, I say ! [Shakespeare bows and moves
towards the body of the hall; after a pause the
Queen rises and takes Lord Burghley's arm.] I'm
weary — weary! [All bow; Queen goes out on
Burghley's arm.] Very weary !
THE EPILOGUE
SCENE I.
Shakespeare's bedchamber in his house at
Stratford. The master is seated in a large chair
close to the bed. A small table stands near the
head of the bed. His daughter Judith is in the
room; as the curtain goes up she goes to the door
and admits Jonson and Drayton. She will
scarcely look at them, and soon after leaves the
room.
JONSON :
[Going quietly to bed.] We came to see you,
Shakespeare, before we return to town.
DRAYTON :
We were so sorry to hear you were ill. But
what's the matter?
SHAKESPEARE :
My joy at seeing you both : the cup of wine
last night ; our great talk — have set the old candle
guttering.
168 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
JONSON :
It isn't what you drank ; you were most
temperate.
SHAKESPEARE :
I have poor unhappy brains for drinking : one
cup, you know, was always too much for me.
DRAYTON :
It must have been the talk, Shakespeare; you
drank nothing. But I never dreamt you were so
weak ; you used to seem strong enough.
SHAKESPEARE :
I was never strong, I think. Even as a youth
any excitement robbed me of sleep and made me
fanciful, and of late years I have only been well
when very quiet — when the thin flame is lanterned
from every breath [with a gesture]. But what
matters it? If the candle goes out there's an end.
JONSON :
I blame myself for having overtired you. But
you talked wonderfully — as no one ever talked
before, I think, and I could not pull you up ; now
I blame myself.
EPILOGUE, SCENE I. 169
SHAKESPEARE :
There's no blame possible. It was a great
night ; one of the greatest nights of my life. But
give me more news : I seem to have heard
nothing ; are the boy-players still followed ?
DRAYTON :
No : the fashion's changed. There's some
talk of having girl-actresses to play the girls f
parts on the stage, as they do in France.
JONSON :
A mad proposal. It would bring the theatre
into worse repute than ever, and give the Puritans
a handle for attack.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Smiling.] The pretty children ! Now at sixteen
they all wish to be nuns or nursing sisters : then
they would not know whether to be nuns or ac-
tresses, and they would be sure to confuse the
duties : if they acted they'd try to do good to
their hearers, and if they tended the sick they
would want pretty dresses and a crowd of spec-
tators to admire their devotion.
JONSON :
Ha, ha ! Excellent.
M*
170 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
DRAYTON :
Come to London soon, Shakespeare. We all
miss our gentle peacemaker and his wit.
SHAKESPEARE :
[With deprecating gesture.] Tell me everything.
Are there any new poets, new theatres? Do the
Puritans disturb you? Here in my house my
daughter puts preachers to lodge as soon as I go
away for a week or so : to purge the air, I sup-
pose, of my sinful presence.
JONSON :
There's no great change. Pembroke is in
greater favour than ever; he's Lord Chamberlain
now, and sends me money each year to buy books.
SHAKESPEARE :
Alms to escape oblivion.
[Leans back wearily and closes eyes as daughter
re-enters room.]
DRAYTON :
[To the daughter in a whisper.] He's not dan-
gerously ill, is he?
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
[Tartly.] Doctor Hall says father is very ill.
EPILOGUE, SCENE I. 171
JONSON :
[Holds out his hand.] Oh, I am sorry, too sorry.
Our visit has done you harm.
SHAKESPEARE :
No need for grief. Our life is but a breath —
A rack of smoke that at the topmost height
Dislimns and fades away.
JONSON :
Not so_, dear friend : the work remains. And
of all men you should be content, for your work
lias already put you among the immortals.
SHAKESPEARE :
We are immortal only when we die;
It is the dead who steer the living
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
[To Jonson.] Oh, please ! you must not make
liim talk; it was the talk last night gave father
the fever. Doctor Hall says talk excites him even
more than wine.
JONSON :
Then we must go, Shakespeare, but I never
thought we'd go so sadly. I can only hope now
172 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
that the illness will be short and that you will
soon be yourself again.
[Shakespeare droops and does not answer^
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
I must get your medicine, father. [She goes out..
SHAKESPEARE :
[Half wandering.] So she's well and married-
I'm glad !
JONSON :
Who?
SHAKESPEARE :
Mary — Mary Fitton. A great woman.
DRAYTON :
And beautiful !
SHAKESPEARE :
When she left me my hopes went down for
ever. Strange ! At first I didn't suffer much?
it's the scratches hurt, not the death- wound; but
as the years went on I suffered : it was always ill
with me here about my heart —
Yet I see now she was a wonderful piece of
work — a great woman — she made me sound the
depths.
EPILOGUE, SCENE I. 173
JONSON :
And Pembroke? He didn't touch you so
nearly ?
SHAKESPEARE :
No. His was the poison of daily life ; the
small, hard nature, the low betrayal. It was
well to forget him. But she was too great to be
forgotten. There was something immortal in
her, and I loved her.
JONSON :
I wonder you did not kill them both.
SHAKESPEARE :
No, no, Jonson : that is your nature, your
violent nature. We all must suffer through the
best in us : the mother through her child ; the
lover through his love; the wise through his
wisdom — these are the growing pains of our
humanity.
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
[Enters again with medicine in her hand.] Now,
father, you must take this medicine. Sir [to Dray-
ton], the doctor says that father must be kept very
quiet.
174 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
JONSON :
[Taking Shakespeare's hand.] Then, Shake-
speare, all good wishes and we go. Farewell, old
friend, farewell.
DRAYTON :
[Also taking Shakespeare's hand.] Good-bye,
dear friend, good-bye ! I shall have news of you
from my brother who passes this way next week,
and will tell us in London how you do. Farewell.
SHAKESPEARE :
Farewell. Farewell ! I thank you both for
coming, and all your offices of friendship and your
courtesy. Keep me in loving memory.
DRAYTON :
We shall, indeed ! [Exit.]
JONSON :
Always. Always. [Going out he adds.] So long
as this machine lasts.
EPILOGUE, SCENE II. 175
SCENE II.
His will is outspread now on the table by the
bed.
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
[To Shakespeare.] My sister's downstairs and
wants to know if you have altered the will.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Wearily lying back.] Yes — yes. Ask her to
come up. [Judith goes to door and calls.]
MISTRESS HALL :
[Comes in. To Judith.] How tired he looks !
Run at once for my husband, see if you can bring
him : I think he's very ill. [Judith hurries to the
door and goes. Shakespeare lies with his eyes
shut. Mistress Hall goes to him.] Do you hear
me, father?
SHAKESPEARE :
[With closed eyes.] Yes.
MISTRESS HALL :
You have altered the will ?
176 SHAKESPEARE AND HIS LOVE.
SHAKESPEARE :
[He bows his head.] Yes.
MISTRESS HALL :
I hope you have given something good to
mother in it. She's been so good to us.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Opens his eyes.] Yes.
MISTRESS HALL :
Years ago she may have been jealous; but she
has never left us for an hour. You must forgive,
you know, if you hope for forgiveness.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Very low voice.] I know.
MISTRESS HALL :
And you must think we love her as you loved
your mother.
SHAKESPEARE :
[Half wandering.] Ah ! My mother ! The
gentlest, sweetest — the noblest mother in the
world ! I often call to her as if she were still
here, and feel her hands upon my forehead. I
EPILOGUE, SCENE II. 177
think I'll sleep now. The long day's work is
done ! [Closes his eyes in death.]
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
[Enters.] The doctor's coming.
MISTRESS HALL :
[Looking at Shakespeare.] I am afraid he's
dead, Judith.
JUDITH SHAKESPEARE :
[Sobbing on her knees.] O ! Father, dear, dear,
dear — [Rises from her knees at the bedside.]
Oh, Susanna, look ! he's happy ; look ! he's
smiling.
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