may come dancing in.[1] Even a play 'within a play' can be presented; that of Bottom and his fellows in 'the great chamber' of Theseus' palace is an example.[2]
My final group is formed by the chamber scenes, in which the action is clearly regarded as within the limits of an ordinary room. They are far from numerous, in proportion to the total number of scenes in the seventy-three plays, and in view of their importance in relation to staging all for which there is clear evidence must be put upon record. Most of them fall under two or three sub-types, which tend to repeat themselves. The commonest are perhaps bed-chamber scenes.[3] These, like prison scenes, which are also frequent,
- [Footnote: 'A Table is set'; Humorous Day's Mirth, scc. viii, x-xii (Verone's
ordinary), on which cf. p. 70.]. . . (25) 'King. Now my Lords . . . Remoue my chaire a little backe, and set me right' . . . (47) 'Prince [who has re-entered]. I came into your Chamber . . . And after that, seeing the Crowne, I tooke it' . . . (87) 'Draw the Curtaines, depart my Chamber, . . . Exeunt omnes, The King dieth'. In the analogous 2 Hen. IV, IV. iv, v (a continuous scene divided, with unanimity in ill-doing, by modern editors in the middle of a speech), the King says (IV. iv. 131), 'Beare me hence Into some other chamber', Warwick (IV. v. 4), 'Call for the Musick in the other Roome', and the King 'Set me the Crowne vpon my Pillow here'. The Prince enters and the Lords go to 'the other roome'; he takes the crown and 'Exit'. Later (56) the Lords say, 'This doore is open, he is gone this way', and 'He came not through the chamber where we staide'. The Prince returns and the Lords are bidden 'Depart the chamber'. Later]*
- ↑ 1 Rich. II, IV. ii; Death of R. Hood, II. ii; R. J. I. v, where a servant says, 'Away with the joint-stools, remove the court-cupboard', and Capulet 'turn the tables up'; cf. ch. vi.
- ↑ M. N. D. v (cf. III. i. 58); Sir T. More, sc. ix; Sp. Tragedy, IV. iii, iv (a continuous scene), on which cf. p. 93, n. 1.
- ↑ 2 Tamburlaine, III. iii. 2969, 'The Arras is drawen, and Zenocrate lies in her bed of state, Tamburlaine sitting by her: three Phisitians about her bed, tempering potions. Theridamas, Techelles, Vsumcasane, and the three sonnes'. . . . (3110, at end of sc.) 'The Arras is drawen'; Selimus, sc. x. 861, 'I needs must sleepe. Bassaes withdraw your selues from me awhile'. . . . 'They stand aside while the curtins are drawne' (s.d.) . . . (952) 'A Messenger enters, Baiazet awaketh'; Battle of Alcazar, d.s. 24, 'Enter Muly Mahamet and his sonne, and his two young brethren, the Moore sheweth them the bed, and then takes his leaue of them, and they betake them to their rest' . . . (36) 'Enter the Moore and two murdrers bringing in his unkle Abdelmunen, then they draw the curtains and smoother the yong princes in the bed. Which done in sight of the vnkle they strangle him in his Chaire, and then goe forth'; Edw. I, sc. xxv. 2668, 'Elinor in child-bed with her daughter Ione, and other Ladies'; True Tragedy of Rich. III, sc. i, 'Now Nobles, draw the Curtaines and depart . . . (s.d.) The King dies in his bed'; sc. xiii, where murderers are called 'vp', and murder of princes in bed is visible; Famous Victories, sc. viii. 1, 'Enter the King with his Lords' . . . (10), 'Draw the Curtaines and depart my chamber a while' . . . 'He sleepeth . . . Enter the Prince' (s.d.) . . . 'I wil goe, nay but why doo I not go to the Chamber of my sick father?' . . . (23) 'Exit' [having presumably taken the crown
