Here he turned in his chair from the side of Master Silas, and said unto Willy,—
“William Shakspeare! out of this thraldom in regard to popery, I hope, by God’s blessing, to deliver thee. If ever thou repeatest the said verses, knowing the man to be to all intents and purposes a dead man, prythee read the censurable line as thus corrected,—
‘Pray for our Virgin Queen, gentles! whoe’er you be.’
although it is not quite the thing that another should impinge so closely on her skirts.
“By this improvement, of me suggested, thou mayest make some amends—a syllable or two—for the many that are weighed in the balance and are found wanting.”
Then turning unto me, as being conversant by my profession in such matters, and the same being not very worthy of learned and staid clerks the like of Master Silas, he said,—
“Of all the youths that did ever write in verse, this one verily is he who hath the fewest flowers and devices. But it would be loss of time to form a border, in the fashion of a kingly crown, or a dragon, or a Turk on horseback, out of buttercups and dandelions.
“Master Ephraim! look at these badgers! with a long leg on one quarter and a short leg on the other. The wench herself might well and truly have said all that matter without the poet, bating the rhymes and metre. Among the girls in the country there are many such shilly-shallys, who give themselves sore eyes and sharp eye-water; I would cure them rod in hand.”
Whereupon did William Shakspeare say, with great humility,—
“So would I, may it please your worship, an they would let me.”