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gather Parnassus' dew and write with that,

pluck Cyllen's feathers and make pens with them,

borrow the Muses' aid and let them breathe

some dulcet and melodious harmony,

some never-heard-of words into thy pate. ...

[He writeth and blotteth.]

Ah, fool, how hard it is to write for life!

Had I now written for my mistress' love,

I could have filled my pen and raised my speech

unto the highest step of flattery.

Had I now written for another man,

to save his life or get him into grace,

why all the world might have given place to me

for sugared lines and phrases past compare.

Had I been now in favor with the king

and had endeavored to flatter him, ...

my pen would have distilled golden drops

and varied terms enchanting Cerberus.

But now I know not how or what to write.

To flatter were to aggravate my fault,

for anger would sift out my vild intent.

Plainly to write were to accuse myself

and be a witness 'gainst my guilty soul.

Yet write I will and in the plainest sort,

for that is cousin-german unto truth,

Truth needs no colors. Though I mean to lie, ...

my simple writing shall deceive his eye. [He writeth and sayeth.]

Aye, so. Oh rare-conceited piece of work,

how cunningly thou canst convert thy shape

into an angel when thou dost intend

to flatter the plain honest-meaning king. [He folds it up.]

Now for a swift wing-footed messenger

to fly in post that I might follow him.

It more behooves me to be circumspect

and with my life to trust none but myself.

Swifter than sure is no good messenger, ...

and now I think on't -- oh 'tis excellent --

I'll for this once deliver it myself,

but in disguisement of my man's attire,

so I may safely go and understand

how Edmund is addicted unto me

and how all matters now are managed.

Stitch! Stitch! [Enter Stitch.]

STITCH: Your will, sir?

EDRICUS: My will is that you will uncase, for I mean to change apparel.

STITCH: Why sir, you'll not turn wise-man, will you? ...

EDRICUS: Yes, fool, for this once. Come, I say, when?

STITCH: Marry, sir, when I see some boot coming roundly from

you, for I promise you I will not change without boot.

EDRICUS: But I will, sirrah; come, dispatch.

STITCH: Well sir, since there is shift but I must change shifts,

~~~ I am contented.

By my troth, sir, methinks y'are a properer man by odds

in those that ye were in these. I would I could persuade

him to believe me, then it should be known by his

apparel what a fool I have made of him. Sir, shall we

change living and lordship and name and all? ...

EDRICUS: Aye, Stitch, for this once thou shalt be Lord Edricus

and I Stitch. Look you keep in till I come home, I advise you,

and behave yourself like a lord.

STITCH: I warrant you, good Stitch, I'll be lordly enough.

Farewell, honest Stitch; farewell, fool. [Exit Stitch.]

EDRICUS: Now am I Edricus and Edricus' man,

the secretary and the messenger,

all to effect with counterfeiting guile

experiments of matchless policy.

Well, this plain suit doth now contain more wit

than for so mean a piece of cloth is fit. [Exit Edricus.]

Scene III.6

[Enter Stitch in his lord's attire, with blue-coats after him.]

STITCH: Come on, ye blue-coated slaves, you that wear

satin doublets never but at good times, and

wear a blue coat but once in a year; come on,

I say, ye trencher-scraping cutters, ye cloak-bag

carriers, ye sword and buckler carriers,

ye rubbers of horse-heels, ye devourers

of fat oxen, ye swillers of March beer; come after

me, I say, take example after my virtue how

to mount. I proceeding from the loins of a

man very little better than a gentleman, am ...

now by my virtue and good education to be

your master, your upholders, the staff of your

lives and maintainer of your masterships.

Uncover, ye rogues! So. Cover! So. Sirrah,

take my cloak, bear you my rapier! So. I

am somewhat humorous, and it becomes me

well. Follow me, follow! How I can play

the lords part! Oh what a fool is my master

to change his nobility for my worship.

ROGER: 'Blood, sir,