SHAKESPEARE. Threads and floating wisps Of being, how they fasten like a cloud Of gnats upon me, not to be shaken off Unsatisfied--
_There is a strain of music: the crowd hides_ SHAKESPEARE: _the three masked players have drifted free of the turmoil._
CHILD [_delighted_]. He does it quite as well as Orpheus.
CHILD. The people of the plays. And there are the Fates at last! That’s the end of my part. Now you must talk to them till your husband comes. He comes when you scream.
CHILD [_laughing_]. Play your part alone.
_He is lost in the crowd_. THE MASKS _have drawn near. The first is small and closely veiled and carries the distaff. The second is tall: part of her face shows white: her hands are empty. The third is bowed and crowned: she carries the shears._
ANNE. These are all dreams or I am mad. Who are you?
_As she retreats the_ SECOND MASK _takes the distaff from her._
ANNE. Drop the bright mask and let me see!
_The_ SECOND MASK _drops her veil and_ _shows the face of a dark lady._ It needs not! I knew, I knew! Barren the ground beneath, No flowers, no fruit, spent arrows-- _The_ SECOND MASK _makes way for the_ THIRD _who takes the tangle from her. The_ SECOND MASK _glides away._ Not the shears! THIRD MASK [_winding the thread_]. Not yet!
ANNE. A crown! My snake should know its fellow--is it so? _The mask is lifted and reveals the face of_ ELIZABETH. I do not fear the Queen--
THIRD MASK. Take back the thread! _She gives the distaff to the_ FIRST MASK _who_ _has reappeared beside her and glides away._
ANNE. But you I fear, O shrinking fate! what fate? What first and last fate? Show me your face, I say! _She tears off the mask. The face revealed_ _is the face of_ ANNE. _She screams._ Myself! I saw myself! Will! Will!
THE CHILD. _kneeling at the hearth stirs the fire and a bright flame shoots up that lights the whole room. It is empty save for the few players gathering together their bundles and_ SHAKESPEARE _who has hurried to_ ANNE. _His hand, gripping her shoulder, steadies her as she sways._
CHILD [_to his father_].She’s a poor frightened lady and she cried. I like her.
ANNE. Gone! Gone! Where are they? Call them back! I saw--
SHAKESPEARE. What folly! These are players and my friends; You could have given them food at least and served them.