ELIZABETH. I forget if ever I saw him. HENSLOWE. Madam, if ever you saw him, you would not forget-- A small, a proud head, like an Arab Christ, And noble, madman’s fingers, never still-- The face still though, mouth hid, the nostril wide, And eyes like voices calling, shrill and sad, Borne on hot winds from fairyland or hell; Yet round the heavy lids a score of lines All criss-cross crinkle like a score of laughs That he has scribbled hastily down himself With his quick fingers. No, not tall-- ELIZABETH. But a man! MARY. Like other men. ELIZABETH. Ah? MARY. It was easy. ELIZABETH. Tell! MARY. He came like a boy to apples. Marlowe now-- ELIZABETH. More than a man, less than a man, but not As yet a man then? Well, I’ll see your Shakespeare: Marlowe--some other time. HENSLOWE. I’ll fetch him to you. HENSLOWE _goes out._ ELIZABETH. To you, Mary--to you! MARY. O Madam, spare me! It’s a stiff instrument and once, I think, has been ill-tuned. ELIZABETH. Tune it afresh! MARY. You wish that, Madam? ELIZABETH. I wish it. Marlowe can wait--and Pembroke. MARY. Madam? ELIZABETH. I am blind, deaf, dumb, so long as you practise your new tune. But the Earl of Pembroke goes to Ireland. MARY. He’s an old glove, Madam. ELIZABETH. Young or old, not for your wearing. Strip your hand and finger your new tune! MARY. Now, Madam? ELIZABETH. Why not? Why do I dress you and keep you at court? Here’s Spain in the ante-room and France on the stairs--am I to keep them waiting while I humour a parcel of players? MARY. Indeed, Madam, I wonder that you have spared half an hour. ELIZABETH. Wonder, Mary! Wonder! And when you know why I do what I do you shall be Queen instead of me. In the meantime you may learn the trade, if you choose. I give you a kingdom to rule in the likeness of a poor player. Let me see how you do it! Yet mark this--though with fair cheeks and black hair you may come by a coronet (but the Earl goes to Ireland) yet if you rule your kingdom by the glance of your eyes, you will lose it as other Maries have done. MARY. I must reign in my own way--forgive me, Madam!--not yours. ELIZABETH. Girl, do you think you could ever rule in mine? Well, try your way! But--between queens, Mary--one kingdom at a time! ELIZABETH _goes out._