Act 4 — 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?

176Shakespeare:

[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 177think 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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Transcriber’s Notes: Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. Typographical errors were silently corrected. Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book.