University of Virginia Library

Scene I.

—The Street before the Court House at Stratford. In the background the Public, awaiting admission. In the foreground Five Fathers and a Mother, conferring with the Clerk of the Court.
First Father.

Must we then howl jointly and severally, good
Master Clerk?

The Clerk of the Court.

Aye, Master Perch, and roar also.

Second Father.

And weep exceeding sore?

The Clerk of the Court.

Aye, so as thy neighbour smelleth not thine onion.

Third Father.

And when shall this our lamentation and uproar
appear most prudent and seemly, good Master Clerk?

The Clerk of the Court.

When ye shall note Sir Thomas to enter. Until
then, lift not your voices clamorously: only thou
[to the Mother]
may'st sob and spare not. Notwithstanding,
omit not the while to shake your fists at
Master Shakespeare. And remember that when Sir
Thomas cometh in, ye men shall cry for justice
against the said Shakespeare, but the mother shall
cry only, “O my boy, my boy! my innocent boy!”

Fourth Father.

Wherefore this, good Master Clerk?

The Clerk of the Court.

Marry, because Sir Thomas maliceth Shakespeare,
and shall regard you the more favourably if you do
him to wit that you malice Shakespeare also, and give
him cause to say that Shakespeare has hurt not him
only but you and your children. Cry and weep inasmuch
as it shall be given you, until ye perceive Sir
Thomas offer to speak, or call the first witness, then

may a pin be heard to fall; and have a special care
that none be able to say that Sir Thomas taketh his
law from the fathers of the defendants.

Fifth Father.

May we not cry from time to time, “O Sir Thomas,
Sir Thomas, spare my child!” as though extremity of
anguish did enforce us?

The Clerk of the Court.

Aye, but warily, that Sir Thomas his voice be not
covered thereby.

First Father.

There is but one thing yet somewhat disquieteth
me, good Master Clerk.

The Clerk of the Court.

What of it?

First Father.

Thou knowest that our children do marvellously
affect their master Shakespeare, and I doubt that

when they see us shake our fists at him, they will
shake their fists at us.

Second Father.

Aye, and that when we cry out against him they
will cry for him, and call him dear master.

Third Father.

And say that they choose rather imprisonment with
him, and their love and loyalty shall move many.

The Clerk of the Court.

It moveth not Sir Thomas, I warrant you, albeit he
be of gentle heart save when he maliceth a man, and
he maliceth your sons not at all, but Shakespeare
only. But see, the doors are opened, and the folk
enter. Go in, therefore, and sit where I did tell
you: and although your sons must needs be shent in
court, doubt not that this night they shall eat their
porridge at home.

[They go in.