Jester:  (Who has had his back to them comes forward; the Princes stand on his right in a half circle.) And why wouldn’t you change?

5th Prince:  It is a thing not possible.

Jester:  I never could know the meaning of that word “impossible.”  Where there’s a will there’s a way.

1st Prince:  It seems to me like the sound of a bell ringing a long way off, that I had leave at one time to go here and there.

Jester:  If you are in earnest wanting to come to that freedom again you will get it.

2nd Prince:  No, we would be followed and brought back through kindness.

Jester:  If you have the strong wish to make the change you can make it.

1st Prince:  I think I was never so much in earnest in all my life.

(The Jester takes his pipe and plays a note on it.  The Wrenboys come back beating their drum.  They stand in a half circle on Jester’s left.)

Jester:  (To all.)

  If it’s true ye wish to change,
  Some to have a wider range,
  Some to have an easy life,
  Some to rove into the wild,
  If you do it, do it fast,
  Do it while you have the chance.

Wrenboys:  (Together.) We will change!  We will!

Jester:  (To Princes.)

  If you wish to leave your ease
  And live wild and free like these
  Like the fawn free and wild,
  Not closed in as is a child,
  Take your chance as it has come,
  Let you run and run and run,
  Where you’ll get your joy and fun!

2nd Prince: They will know us, they will know us!

Jester: Change your clothes, change your clothes!

3rd Prince: They will know us every place.

Jester: Put their masks upon your face.

(Wrenboys give them the masks.)

  You never will be missed
  For I will throw a dust
  Before everybody’s eye
  That wants to look or pry
  To see if you are here,—­
  And if you should appear
  To be someway strange or queer
  They will think themselves are blind
  Or confused in the mind!

(Throws a handful of dust over all the boys.)

  Dust of Mullein, work your spell;
  Keep the double secret well!

5th Prince:  (To a Wrenboy.)

  Give me here your coat now fast
  I don’t want to be the last.

(They all rapidly change coats and caps.)

Jester: That will do, that is enough.

1st Wrenboy:  But my hands are very rough.

Jester: 

  Never mind; never mind,
  The truth is hard to find!

Guardian:  (Off stage.) Gillie, do as you are told, shut the door, it’s getting cold.

1st Prince:  Oh, I’m in dread!  What will be said!