BURBAGE:
[_Entering hurriedly._] Farce and tragedy and escape. A play within a
play.
FLETCHER:
[_Enters just behind him, followed by Dekker, Marston, Chettle and
Hughes._] A great scene! The revolt of the groundlings. Didn’t you hear
them shouting, Shakespeare?
SHAKESPEARE:
I heard nothing.
FLETCHER:
Self-absorbed as ever.
DEKKER:
[_Sneeringly._] Lost on Parnassus!
SHAKESPEARE:
What was it, Fletcher?
FLETCHER:
A scene for Dekker. The orange-girls have been pelting the ladies in
their rooms. The ladies gibed at them, and they replied with rotten
fruit. The ladies shrieked, and hid themselves; all but one, who stood
in front and outfaced the furies—a queen!
SHAKESPEARE:
Are they safe? Where are they now?
BURBAGE:
The lords Southampton and Lacy are bringing them: here they come.
[_Enter three ladies, masked, and Lords Southampton and Lacy, followed
by Selden._]