Will Shakespeare: An Invention in Four ActsDane, Clemence
General
Will Shakespeare: An Invention in Four Acts
Dane, Clemence
Dramatists -- Drama; Historical drama; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Drama
A PLAYER [_dressed as a king, over_ HENSLOWE’S _shoulder_]. Are
we never to come in? It’s as cold as charity since the sun set.
ANNE. It’s no warmer here.
A CHILD [_poking his head under the_ PLAYER’S _arm_]. I can’t
feel my fingers. [ANNE _looks at him. Her face changes._]
ANNE. If the fire warms you, you may warm yourselves.
THE PLAYERS _stream in._
It does not warm me. Look! It cannot warm me.
_She thrusts her hand into the flame._
HENSLOWE. God’s sake!
_He pulls her back._ THE PLAYERS
_stare and whisper together._
ANNE. Eyes! Needle eyes! Why do you stare and point?
Like you I would have warmed myself. Vain, vain!
It’s a strange hearth. You players are the first
It ever warmed or welcomed. Charity?
Who said it--“Cold as charity”? That’s love!
But there’s no love here. Baby, stay away!
You’ll freeze less out in churchyard night than here,
For here’s not even charity.
THE CHILD [_warming his hands_]. I’m not a baby. I’m nearly
eleven. I’ve played children’s parts for years. I’m getting
warmer. Are you?
ANNE. No.
CHILD. I like this house. I’d like to stay here. I suppose there
are things in that cupboard?
THE KING [_overhearing_]. Now, now!
CHILD. That’s my father. He’s a king this week. He’s only a duke
as a rule. Are there apples in that cupboard? Will you give me
one?
ANNE _goes to the cupboard and takes out an apple._
ANNE. Will you give me a kiss?
CHILD. For my apple?
ANNE. No, for love.
CHILD. I don’t love you.
ANNE. For luck, then.
CHILD. You told him you’d got no luck.
ANNE. Won’t you give me a kiss?
CHILD. If you like. Don’t hold me so tight. Is it true you’ve no
luck? Shall I tell your fortune?
ANNE. Can you?
CHILD. O yes! I’ve watched the Fates do it in the new play. It’s
Orpheus and--it’s a long name. But she’s his lost wife. Give me
a handkerchief! That’s for a grey veil. [_Posing._] Now say to
me--“Who are you?”
ANNE. Who are you?
CHILD [_posing_]. Fate! Now you must say--“Whose fate?”
ANNE. Whose?
CHILD. Oh, then I lift the veil and you scream. [_Stamping his
foot._] Scream!
ANNE. Why, baby?
CHILD [_frowning_]. At my dreadful face. [_But he begins to
laugh in spite of himself._]
ANNE [_her face hidden_]. Oh, child! Oh, child!
CHILD. That’s right! That’s the way she cries in the play. You
see the man goes down to hell to find his wife, and the Fates
show her what’s going to happen while she’s waiting for him.
She’s in hell already, waiting and waiting. It takes years to
travel through hell. That’s her talking to the old man in rags
and a crown.
ANNE. Who’s he?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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