Chapter XIV: Part 14

[1246] _fraude_] MS. “fawte.”

[1247] _curates to_] MS. “curat to _to_.”

[1248] _open tyme and in Lent_] MS. “Ester tyde _and lente_.”

[1249] _But_] Not in MS.

[1250] _it_] So other eds. Not in Kele’s ed.

[1251] _an_] Other eds. “and.”

[1252] _hath_] MS. “hyt _hathe_.”

[1253] _melottes_] MS. “flockes.”

[1254] _wyl_] MS. “_wyll_ take.”

[1255] _grotes_] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “grots.”

[1256] _of_] So MS. Eds. “yf” and “if.”

[1257] _from_] MS. “or.”

[1258] _the raile, and the olde rauen_] MS. “a _rayle_ an _olde_ rowen.”

[1259] _by Dudum, theyr Clementine_] MS. “_Bidudum_ The.”

[1260] _they_] So MS. Not in eds.

[1261] _propreli they ar_] MS. “_they ar properli_.”

[1262] _To shryue, assoyle, and reles_] MS. “_To_ shewe _assoyle and_ to _releas_.”

[1263] _Margeries_] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “Mergeres,”—but previously it has “Margery,” v. 854. MS. “Margaretes.”

[1264] _fell_] MS. “fyll.”

[1265] _therout_] MS. “owte.”

[1266] _Another Clementyne also, &c._] I suspect some corruption here. In MS. the passage stands thus;

“_Another clementyn how frere_ faby and _mo_
_Exivit_,” &c.

[1267] _With_] So other eds. Kele’s ed “Wit.”

[1268] _they_] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “the.”

[1269] _to_] So other eds. and MS. Not in Kele’s ed.

[1270] _Al maner of abiections_] MS. “Suche _maner of_ subieccōns.”

[1271] _affections_] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “afflictions.”

[1272] _the sayd_] MS. “sadde.”

[1273] _cases_] MS. “cawsys.”

[1274] _the sede of graces_] MS. “_sede of_ grace.”

[1275] _coueytous and ambycyon_] MS. “_couetus ambyssyon_.”

[1276] _be_] MS. “_be_ bothe.”

[1277] _glum_] MS. seems to have “mume,” and omits the next line.

[1278] _Worsshepfully_] So MS. Eds. “Worship” and “Worshyp.”

[1279] _Churche_] MS. “chyrche.”

[1280] _good_] Not in MS.

[1281] _That counterfaytes, &c._] Kytson’s ed. “The _counterfaytes and_ painets.”

[1282] _them lyke_] MS. “they _lyke_.”

[1283] _losse_] Some eds. “lesse.”

[1284] _a peny nor of a crosse_] MS. “_peny nor of crosse_.”

[1285] _And_] Not in MS.

[1286] _to net_] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “_to_ the _net_.”

[1287] _royally_] MS. “ryally.”

[1288] _Stretchynge_] MS. “So recchyng.”

[1289] _aboute_] MS. “apon.”

[1290] _Fresshe_] MS. “As _fresshe_.”

[1291] _And howe_] MS. “_Howe_ god.”

[1292] _his_] MS. “a.”

[1293] _a lege de moy_] MS. “_a lege moy_.”

[1294] _And of_] So MS. Eds. “_And of_ his.”

[1295] _of_] Not in MS.

[1296] _Nowe_] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. and MS. “How.”

[1297] _garlantes_] MS. “garlondes.”

[1298] _That_] MS. “This.”

[1299] _chambres_] So MS. (“chambyrs”). Eds. “chambre.”

[1300] _churches_] MS. “chyrchys.”

[1301] _Churche_] MS. “chyrche.”

[1302] _They rune agaynst_] MS. “The ron ayenste.”

[1303] _tellyng_] MS. “yellyng,” omitting the following line.

[1304] _Yet_] MS. “Thus.”

[1305] _quenes yellyng_] MS. “comyn _yellyng_.”

[1306] _man_] Not in MS.

[1307] _kyng_] So other eds. and MS. (with various spelling.) Kele’s ed. “gyng.” See notes.

[1308] _and_] MS. “to.”

[1309] _verrey_] So MS. Not in eds. The following word in MS. “wyll.”

[1310] _And whan, &c._] This line not in MS.

[1311] _For I rede a_] Marshe’s ed. “_For I_ red _a_.” MS. “_I rede_ by.”

[1312] _Cum_] So MS. Eds. “_Sum_.”

[1313] _amicare_] Altered by the Editor of 1736 to “_dimicare_.” See notes.

[1314] _pravare_] MS. “_grassari_.”

[1315] _Wherfore_] MS. “Therfor.”

[1316] _dothe reporte_] So MS. The words have dropt out from the eds.

[1317] _That_] MS. “How.”

[1318] _ye_] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “we.”

[1319] _Yet_] MS. “And _yet_.”

[1320] _so moche_] MS. “myche,” giving the two following lines thus,

“As they suppose and gesse
Ye play so at the chesse.”

[1321] _estate_] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “steate.”

[1322] _mell_] MS. “neyther _melle_.”

[1323] _take_] MS. “to _take_.”

[1324] _For_] MS. “More _for_.”

[1325] _of_] MS. “all _of_.”

[1326] _roste_] So MS. Eds. “rest.”

[1327] _Helas, &c._] MS. gives the line thus, “O alas _I say_ alas.”

[1328] _a_] Not in MS.

[1329] _not_] So other eds. and MS. Kele’s ed. “nat.”

[1330] _that_] MS. “yet.”

[1331] _herke_] MS. “harte.”

[1332] _at_] MS. “all.”

[1333] _And_] MS. “Or.”

[1334] _yet_] So MS. Not in eds.

[1335] _Nor to expresse_] MS. “Not _to_ prese.”

[1336] _person_] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “parson.” MS. “persone.”

[1337] _your consentatyon_] Marshe’s ed. “_your_ assentacion.” MS. “george gascone.”

[1338] _to hym_] Not in MS.

[1339] _nor_] MS. “or.”

[1340] _his_] MS. “this.”

[1341] _Neyther erle ne duke_] MS. “Nowther _erle_ nor _duke_.”

[1342] _Permytted? by_] MS. “Now _by_.”

[1343] _wonderous warke_] MS. “wonder _warke_.”

[1344] _talke of such vncouthes_] MS. “tell veritatem.”

[1345] _Agaynst all spirituall_] MS. “Ayenste _spiritual_.”

[1346] _hap_] MS. “dothe _happe_.”

[1347] _do_] MS. “they.”

[1348] _And_] Not in MS.

[1349] _In your convenire_] Not in MS.

[1350] _stande sure and fast_] MS. “stonde _faste_.”

[1351] _take_] MS. “make.”

[1352] _And_] Not in MS.

[1353] _those that stande_] MS. “thyse _that_ stondyth.”

[1354] _But_] MS. “_But_ as for.”

[1355] _after_] MS. “on.”

[1356] _Take nowe vpon_] Eds. “_Take vpon_.” MS. “I _take nowe vppon_.”

[1357] _Thus_] MS. “Thys.”

[1358] _I do it for_] So MS. (“hyt”). Eds. “_I do it_ not _for_.”

[1359] _rude_] MS. “bothe _rude_.”

[1360] _vertuous_] MS. “vertu.”

[1361] _those_] MS. “they.”

[1362] _I_] MS. “_I_ do.”

[1363] _Nor_] MS. “_Nor_ no.”

[1364] _I escrye_] Marshe’s ed. “of the clargy.”

[1365] _yette_] So MS. Not in eds.

[1366] _them that do_] MS. “suche as dothe.”

[1367] _rebellyng_] MS. “in raylyng.”

[1368] _Churche_] MS. “chyrche.”

[1369] _agaynst_] MS. “agayne.”

[1370] _despytyng_] Eds. (with various spelling) “despysyng.” MS. gives the line thus, “_To_ cawse suche dysputyng.”

[1371] _be_] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[1372] _Agaynst_] MS. “Ayenste.”

[1373] _gramed_] Eds. “greued.” MS. “grevyd.” See notes. (_Gremed_ is nearer the trace of the old letters, but Skelton elsewhere has the former spelling.)

[1374] _can_] So Marshe’s ed. and MS. Other eds. “can _not_.”

[1375] _or_] MS. “and.”

[1376] _of_] Not in MS.

[1377] _That_] Not in MS.

[1378] _And feleth_] MS. “Or fele.”

[1379] _to_] MS. “for _to_.”

[1380] _thynketh_] MS. “thynkes.”

[1381] _ydeottes_] MS. “Idolles.”

[1382] _any_] MS. “no.”

[1383] _But they wold, &c._] This line the MS. gives thus, “_But_ yet _they wolde_ haue _no blame_,” and omits the following line.

[1384] _But_] MS. “And.”

[1385] _rod_] MS. “rede.”

[1386] _That nothyng is_] MS. “Whyche _ys nothyng_.”

[1387] _euyll_] MS. “yll.”

[1388] _daunt_] MS. “teche.”

[1389] _theyr_] MS. “_theyr_ grete.”

[1390] _losell_] MS. “pollshorne.”

[1391] _Deuyas_] Kytson’s ed. “deuyrs.” Marshe’s ed. “dyuers.”

[1392] _of_] MS. “on.”

[1393] _maters_] Kytson’s ed. “matter.” MS. “medlyng.”

[1394] _darest_] MS. “dar.”

[1395] _darest thou, losell_] MS. “dar _thow_ lorell.”

[1396] _Agaynst ... counsell_] MS. “Ayenste ... prevy _councell_.”

[1397] _Auaunt_] MS. “_Avante_ avante.”

[1398] _wardeyne_] Kele’s ed. “wadeyne.” Other eds. and MS. “warden.”

[1399] _hym_] MS. “them.”

[1400] _vyllayne_] MS. “polshorne.”

[1401] _fre_] Not in MS.

[1402] _sayes that we are_] MS. “seythe _we_ be.”

[1403] _mercylesse_] MS. “graceles.”

[1404] _insaciate_] MS. “incessant.”

[1405] _Agaynst vs dothe_] MS. “Ayenste _vs_ he _dothe_.”

[1406] _And Saynt Mary_] MS. “Or at _Saynte_ Marys.”

[1407] _They set not by_] MS. “_Sett_ nowghte _by_.”

[1408] _whystell_] MS. “shetyll,”—which, at least, is a better rhyme.

[1409] _for_] MS. “all.”

[1410] _And_] Not in MS.

[1411] _carpe vs_] MS. “clacke of _vs_.”

[1412] _wyll rule_] MS. “ren.”

[1413] _or_] MS. “and.”

[1414] _parcyalyte_] Kele’s ed. “paryalyte.” Other eds. and MS. (with various spelling) “parcialite.”

[1415] _into_] Marshe’s ed. and MS. “to.”

[1416] _be_] MS. “ar.”

[1417] _By the ryght of_] MS. “Be hyt _ryghte_ as.”

[1418] _To be, &c._] This line not in MS.

[1419] _thys_] So MS. Eds. “thus.”

[1420] _Ye_] MS. “The.”

[1421] _And_] So MS. Not in eds.

[1422] _As noble, &c._] This line and the following one stand thus in MS.;

“_As nobyll_ Isay _was_
_The holye prophete_ ozeas.”

[1423] _some_] MS. “and _som_.”

[1424] _rule_] MS. “rayle.”

[1425] _our_] So MS. (“ower”). Eds. “your.”

[1426] _of Cyuyll_] MS. “wyll.”

[1427] _Diuine_] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “diuinite.” The line in MS stands thus; “Or _of_ domynicke _or doctour_ oryll.”

[1428] _rough_] Not in MS.

[1429] _Renne God, &c._] This line thus in MS.; “Ryn _god_ or ryn _devyll_.”

[1430] _Renne ... renne_] MS. “Ryn ... ryn.”

[1431] _take all the rest_] MS. “them _take_ there _reste_.”

[1432] _We_] MS. “For _we_.”

[1433] _to_] Not in MS.

[1434] _Saduces_] Kele’s ed. “seduces.” Other eds. “saducies.” MS. “Adasayes,” omitting the following line.

[1435] _Whiche_] MS. “Wyttes.”

[1436] _determyned_] So MS. Eds. (with various spelling) “determyne.”

[1437] _semeth_] MS. “semys.”

[1438] _wyll_] MS. “_wyll_ not.”

[1439] _ne_] MS. “nor yet.”

[1440] _scrolles_] Not in MS.

[1441] _As well, &c._] This line not in MS.

[1442] _it_] Not in MS.

[1443] _Of_] MS. “And.”

[1444] _And_] So MS. Eds. “That.”

[1445] _stere_] So MS. Eds. “pere.”

[1446] _salu_] So other eds. Kele’s ed. “sauel.”

[1447] _and_] MS. “_and_ to.”

[1448] _that_] Not in MS.

[1449] _Amen_] Not in Marshe’s ed. In MS. the word is followed by “quod Collyn Clowte.”

[1450] _perfecto_] After this MS. has “qd Sceltonyus lawreatus.”

[1451] _Colinus Cloutus, &c._] These verses, not in eds., follow the poem of _Colyn Cloute_ in the Harleian MS. The corruptions in the second and third lines (distinguished by Roman letter) have baffled the ingenuity of the several scholars to whom I submitted them.

[1452] _mea_] MS. “mori.”

[1453] _stultis_] MS. “stulte.”

[1454] _flamine flatis_] MS. “flamina faltis.” Compare p. 223, last line but one.

[1455] _refert_] MS. “referte.”

[1456] _Laurus_] MS. “lauruus.”

[1457] _torpet_] MS. “tropet.”

A RYGHT DELECTABLE TRATYSE VPON A GOODLY GARLANDE OR CHAPELET OF LAURELL,[1458]

BY MAYSTER SKELTON, POETE LAUREAT, STUDYOUSLY DYUYSED AT SHERYFHOTTON CASTELL, IN THE FORESTE OF GALTRES, WHEREIN AR COMPRYSYDE MANY AND DYUERS SOLACYONS AND RYGHT PREGNANT ALLECTYUES OF SYNGULAR PLEASURE, AS MORE AT LARGE IT DOTH APERE IN THE PROCES FOLOWYNGE.

_Eterno mansura die dum sidera fulgent,_
_Æquora dumque tument, hæc laurea nostra virebit:_
_Hinc nostrum celebre et nomen referetur ad astra,_
_Undique Skeltonis memorabitur alter Adonis._

Arectyng my syght towarde the zodyake,
The sygnes xii for to beholde a farre,
When Mars retrogradant[1459] reuersyd his bak,
Lorde of the yere in his orbicular,[1460]
Put vp his sworde, for he cowde make no warre,
And whan Lucina plenarly[1461] did shyne,
Scorpione ascendynge degrees twyse nyne;

In place alone then musynge in my thought
How all thynge passyth as doth the somer flower,
On[1462] euery halfe my reasons forthe I sought, 10
How oftyn fortune varyeth in an howre,
Now clere wether, forthwith a stormy showre;
All thynge compassyd, no perpetuyte,
But now in welthe, now in aduersyte.

So depely drownyd I was in this dumpe,
Encraumpysshed so sore was my conceyte,
That, me to rest, I lent me to a stumpe
Of an oke, that somtyme grew full streyghte,
A myghty tre and of a noble heyght,
Whose bewte blastyd was with the boystors wynde, 20
His leuis loste, the sappe was frome the rynde.

Thus stode I in the frytthy forest of Galtres,
Ensowkid with sylt[1463] of the myry mose,
Where hartis belluyng, embosyd with distres,
Ran on the raunge so longe, that I suppose
Few men can tell now[1464] where the hynde calfe gose;
Faire fall that forster[1465] that so well[1466] can bate his hownde!
But of my purpose[1467] now torne we to the grownde.

Whylis I stode musynge in this medytatyon,
In slumbrynge I fell[1468] and halfe in a slepe; 30
And whether it were of ymagynacyon,
Or of humors superflue, that often wyll crepe
Into the brayne by drynkyng ouer depe,
Or it procedyd of fatall persuacyon,
I can not wele tell[1469] you what was the occasyon;

But sodeynly at ones, as I me aduysed,[1470]
As one in a trans or in an extasy,
I sawe a pauylyon wondersly[1471] disgysede,
Garnysshed fresshe after my fantasy,
Enhachyde with perle and stones preciously, 40
The grounde engrosyd and bet with bourne golde,
That passynge goodly it was to beholde:

Within it,[1472] a prynces excellente of porte;
But to recounte her ryche abylyment,
And what estates to her did resorte,
Therto am I full insuffycyent;
A goddesse inmortall[1473] she dyd represente;
As I harde say, dame Pallas was her name;
To whome supplyed the royall Quene of Fame.[1474]

_The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas._

Prynces moost pusant, of hygh preemynence, 50
Renownyd[1475] lady aboue the sterry heuyn,
All other transcendyng, of very congruence
Madame regent of the scyence[1476] seuyn,
To whos astate all noblenes most lenen,[1477]
My supplycacyon to you I arrect,
Whereof I beseche[1478] you to tender the effecte.

Not[1479] vnremembered it is vnto your grace,
How you gaue me a ryall[1480] commaundement
That in my courte Skelton shulde haue a place,
Bycause that his tyme he[1481] studyously hath spent 60
In your seruyce; and, to the accomplysshement
Of your request, regestred is his name
With laureate tryumphe in the courte of Fame.

But, good madame, the accustome and vsage
Of auncient poetis, ye wote full wele, hath bene
Them selfe to embesy[1482] with all there holl corage,
So that there workis myght famously be sene,
In figure wherof they were the[1483] laurell grene;
But how it is, Skelton is wonder slake,
And, as we dare, we fynde in hym grete lake:[1484] 70

For, ne were onely he hath your promocyon,
Out of my bokis full sone I shulde hym rase;
But sith he hath tastid of the sugred[1485] pocioun
Of Elyconis[1486] well, refresshid with your grace,
And wyll not[1487] endeuour hymselfe to purchase
The fauour of ladys with wordis electe,
It is sittynge that ye must hym correct.

_Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame._

The sum of your purpose, as we ar aduysid,[1488]
Is that[1489] our seruaunt is sum what to dull;
Wherin this answere for hym we haue comprisid, 80
How ryuers rin not[1490] tyll the spryng be full;
Better[1491] a dum mouthe than a brainles scull;
For if he gloryously pullishe[1492] his matter,
Then men wyll say how he doth but flatter;

And if so[1493] hym fortune to wryte true and plaine,
As sumtyme he must vyces remorde,
Then sum wyll say he hath but lyttill brayne,
And how his wordes with reason wyll not[1494] accorde;[1495]
Beware, for wrytyng remayneth of recorde;
Displease not an hundreth[1496] for one mannes pleasure; 90
Who wryteth wysely hath a grete treasure.

Also, to furnisshe better his excuse,
Ouyde was bannisshed for suche a skyll,
And many mo whome I cowde enduce;
Iuuenall was thret parde for to kyll
For certayne enuectyfys,[1497] yet wrote[1498] he none ill,
Sauynge he rubbid sum vpon[1499] the gall;
It was not[1500] for hym to abyde[1501] the tryall.

In generrall wordes, I say not gretely nay,
A poete somtyme may for his pleasure taunt, 100
Spekyng in parablis,[1502] how the fox, the grey,
The gander, the gose, and the hudge oliphaunt,
Went with the pecok ageyne[1503] the fesaunt;
The lesarde came lepyng, and sayd that he must,
With helpe of the ram, ley all in the dust.

Yet dyuerse ther[1504] be, industryous of reason,
Sum what wolde gadder in there coniecture[1505]
Of suche an endarkid chapiter sum season;
How be it, it were harde to construe this lecture;
Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture; 110
Another manes mynde diffuse is to expounde;
Yet harde is to make but sum fawt be founde.

_The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas._

Madame, with fauour of your benynge sufferaunce,
Vnto your grace then make I this motyue;
Whereto made ye me hym to auaunce
Vnto the rowme of laureat promotyue?
Or wherto shulde he haue that[1506] prerogatyue,
But if he had made sum memoryall,
Wherby he myght haue a name inmortall?[1507]

To pas the tyme in slowthfull ydelnes, 120
Of your royall palace it is not[1508] the gyse,
But to do sumwhat iche man doth hym dres:
For how shulde Cato els be callyd wyse,
But that his bokis, whiche he did deuyse,
Recorde the same? or why is had in mynde
Plato, but for that he[1509] left wrytynge behynde,

For men to loke on? Aristotille also,
Of phylosophers callid the princypall,
Olde Diogenes, with other many mo,
Demostenes,[1510] that oratour royall, 130
That gaue[1511] Eschines suche a cordyall,
That bannisshed was he by[1512] his proposicyoun,
Ageyne[1513] whome he cowde make no contradiccyoun?

_Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame._

Soft, my good syster,[1514] and make there a pawse:[1515]
And was Eschines rebukid as ye say?
Remembre you wele, poynt wele that clause;
Wherfore then rasid ye not[1516] away
His name? or why is it, I you praye,
That he to your courte is goyng and commynge,
Sith he is slaundred[1517] for defaut of konnyng? 140

_The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas._

Madame, your apposelle[1518] is wele inferrid,
And at your auauntage[1519] quikly it is
Towchid, and hard for to be debarrid;[1520]
Yet shall I answere your grace as in this,
With your reformacion, if I say amis,
For, but if your bounte did me assure,
Myne argument els koude not[1521] longe endure.

As towchyng that Eschines is remembred,
That he so sholde be, me semith it sittyng,[1522]
All be it grete parte he hath surrendred 150
Of his onour,[1523] whos dissuasyue in wrytyng
To corage Demostenes was moche excitynge,
In settyng out fresshely his crafty persuacyon,
From whiche Eschines had none euacyon.

The cause why Demostenes so famously is brutid,
Onely procedid for that he did outray
Eschines, whiche was not[1524] shamefully confutid
But of that famous oratour, I say,
Whiche passid all other; wherfore I may
Among my recordes suffer hym namyd, 160
For though[1525] he were venquesshid, yet was he not[1526] shamyd:

As Ierome,[1527] in his preamble _Frater Ambrosius_,
Frome that I haue sayde in no poynt doth vary,
Wherein[1528] he reporteth of the coragius
Wordes that were moch consolatory
By Eschines rehersed to the grete glory
Of Demostenes, that was his vtter foo:
Few shall ye fynde or none that wyll do so.

_Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame._

A thanke to haue, ye haue well deseruyd,
Your mynde that can maynteyne so apparently; 170
But a grete parte yet[1529] ye haue reseruyd
Of that most folow then conseqently,
Or els ye demeane you inordinatly;
For if ye laude hym whome honour hath opprest,
Then he that doth worste is as good as the best.

But whome that ye fauoure, I se well, hath a name,
Be he neuer so lytell of substaunce,
And whome ye loue not[1530] ye wyll[1531] put to shame;
Ye counterwey not euynly your balaunce;
As wele foly as wysdome oft ye do[1532] avaunce: 180
For[1533] reporte ryseth many deuerse wayes:
Sume be moche spokyn of for makynge of frays;

Some haue a name for thefte and brybery;
Some be called crafty, that can pyke[1534] a purse;
Some men be made of for their[1535] mokery;
Some carefull cokwoldes, some haue theyr wyues curs;
Some famous wetewoldis, and they be moche wurs;
Some lidderons,[1536] some losels, some noughty packis;
Some facers, some bracers, some[1537] make great crackis;

Some dronken dastardis with their dry soules; 190
Some sluggyssh slouyns, that slepe day and nyght;
Ryot and Reuell be in your courte rowlis;
Maintenaunce and Mischefe, theis be men of myght;
Extorcyon is counted with you for a knyght;
Theis people by me haue none assignement,
Yet they ryde and rinne[1538] from Carlyll to Kente.

But lytell or nothynge ye shall[1539] here tell
Of them that haue vertue by reason of cunnyng,
Whiche souerenly in honoure shulde excell;
Men of suche maters make but a[1540] mummynge, 200
For wysdome and sadnesse be set out[1541] a sunnyng;
And suche of my seruauntes as I haue promotyd,
One faute or other in them shalbe notyd:

Eyther they wyll[1542] say he is to wyse,
Or elles he can nought bot whan he is at scole;
Proue his wytt, sayth he, at cardes or dyce,
And ye shall well fynde[1543] he is a very fole;
Twyshe,[1544] set hym a chare, or reche hym a stole,[1545]
To syt hym[1546] vpon, and rede Iacke a thrummis bybille,
For truly it were pyte that he sat ydle. 210

_The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas._

To make repungnaunce agayne that ye haue sayde,
Of very dwte it may not[1547] well accorde,
But your benynge sufferaunce for my discharge I laid,
For that I wolde not with you fall at discorde;
But yet I beseche[1548] your grace that good[1549] recorde
May be brought forth, suche as can be founde,
With laureat tryumphe why Skelton sholde be crownde;

For elles it were to great a derogacyon
Vnto your palas, our noble courte of Fame,
That any man vnder supportacyon 220
Withoute deseruynge shulde haue the best game:
If he to the ample encrease of his name
Can lay any werkis that he hath compylyd,
I am contente that he be not[1550] exylide

Frome the laureat senate by force of proscripcyon;
Or elles, ye know well, I can do no lesse
But I most bannysshe hym frome my iurydiccyon,[1551]
As he that aquentyth hym with ydilnes;
But if that he purpose to make a redresse,
What he hath done, let it be brought to syght; 230
Graunt my petycyon, I aske you but ryght.

_Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame._

To your request we be well condiscendid:
Call forthe, let se where is your clarionar,
To blowe a blaste with his long breth extendid;
Eolus, your trumpet, that[1552] knowne is so farre,
That bararag blowyth in euery mercyall warre,
Let hym blowe now, that we may take a[1553] vewe
What poetis we haue at our retenewe;

To se if Skelton wyll[1554] put hymselfe in prease
Amonge the thickeste of all the hole rowte; 240
Make noyse enoughe, for claterars loue no peas;
Let se, my syster, now spede you,[1555] go aboute;
Anone, I sey, this trumpet were founde out,
And for no man hardely let hym spare
To blowe bararag[1556] tyll bothe his eyne stare.

_Skelton Poeta._

Forthwith there rose amonge the thronge
A wonderfull noyse, and on euery syde
They presid in faste; some thought they were to longe;
Sume were to hasty, and wold no man byde;
Some whispred, some rownyd, some spake, and some cryde, 250
With heuynge and shouynge, haue in and haue oute;
Some ranne the nexte way, sume ranne abowte.

There was suyng to the Quene of Fame;
He plucked hym backe, and he went afore;
Nay, holde thy tunge, quod another, let me haue the name;
Make rowme, sayd another, ye prese all to sore;
Sume sayd, Holde thy peas, thou getest here no more;
A thowsande thowsande I sawe on a plumpe:
With that I harde the noyse of a trumpe,

That longe tyme blewe a full timorous blaste, 260
Lyke to the boryall wyndes whan they blowe,
That towres and townes and trees downe caste,
Droue clowdes together lyke dryftis of snowe;
The dredefull dinne droue all the rowte on a rowe;
Some tremblid, some girnid, some gaspid, some gasid,
As people halfe peuysshe, or men that were masyd.

Anone all was whyste, as it were for the nonys,
And iche man stode gasyng and staryng vpon other:
With that there come in wonderly at ones
A murmur of mynstrels, that suche another 270
Had I neuer sene, some softer, some lowder;
Orpheus, the Traciane, herped meledyously
Weth Amphion, and other Musis of Archady:

Whos heuenly armony was so passynge sure,
So truely proporsionyd, and so well did gree,
So duly entunyd with euery mesure,
That in the forest was none so great a tre
But that he daunced for ioye of that gle;
The huge myghty okes them selfe dyd auaunce,
And lepe frome the hylles to lerne for to daunce: 280

In so moche the stumpe, whereto I me lente,
Sterte all at ones an hundrethe[1557] fote backe:
With that I sprange vp towarde the tent
Of noble Dame Pallas, wherof I spake;
Where I sawe come[1558] after, I wote, full lytell lake
Of a thousande poetes assembled togeder:
But Phebus was formest of all that cam theder;

Of laurell leuis a cronell on his hede,
With heris encrisped[1559] yalowe[1560] as the golde,
Lamentyng Daphnes, whome with the darte of lede 290
Cupyde hath stryken so that she ne wolde
Concente to Phebus to haue his herte in holde,
But, for to preserue her maidenhode[1561] clene,
Transformyd was she into the laurell grene.

Meddelyd with murnynge[1562] the moost parte of his muse,
O thoughtfull herte, was euermore his songe!
Daphnes, my derlynge, why do you me refuse?
Yet loke on me, that louyd you haue so longe,
Yet haue compassyon vpon my paynes stronge:
He sange also how, the tre as he did take 300
Betwene his armes, he felt her body quake.

Then he assurded into this[1563] exclamacyon
Vnto Diana, the goddes inmortall;[1564]
O mercyles madame, hard is your constellacyon,
So close to kepe your cloyster virgynall,
Enhardid adyment the sement of your wall!
Alas, what ayle you to be so ouerthwhart,
To bannysshe pyte out of a maydens harte?

Why haue the goddes shewyd me this cruelte,
Sith I contryuyd first princyples medycynable? 310
I helpe all other of there infirmite,
But now to helpe myselfe I am not able;
That profyteth all other is nothynge profytable
Vnto me; alas, that herbe nor gresse[1565]
The feruent axes of loue can not represse!

O fatall fortune, what haue I offendid?
Odious disdayne, why raist thou me on this facyon?
But sith I haue lost now that I entended,
And may not[1566] atteyne it by no medyacyon,
Yet, in remembraunce of Daphnes transformacyon, 320
All famous poetis ensuynge after me
Shall were a garlande of the laurell tre.

This sayd, a great nowmber folowyd by and by
Of poetis laureat of many dyuerse nacyons;
Parte of there names I thynke to specefye:
Fyrste, olde Quintiliane with his Declamacyons;[1567]
Theocritus with his bucolycall relacyons;
Esiodus, the iconomicar,[1568]
And Homerus, the fresshe historiar;

Prynce of eloquence, Tullius Cicero, 330
With Salusty[1569] ageinst Lucius Catelyne,
That wrote the history of Iugurta also;
Ouyde, enshryned with the Musis nyne;
But blessed Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne,
Of closters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1570]
These orators and poetes refresshed there throtis;

Lucan,[1571] with Stacius in Achilliedos;
Percius presed forth with problemes diffuse;
Virgill the Mantuan, with his Eneidos;
Iuuenall satirray, that men makythe to muse; 340
But blessed Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne,
Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotes
These orators and poetes refreshed their throtes;

There Titus Lyuius hymselfe dyd auaunce
With decadis historious, whiche that he mengith[1572]
With maters that amount the Romayns in substaunce;
Enyus, that wrate[1573] of mercyall war at lengthe;
But blessyd Bachus, potenciall god of strengthe,
Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy flotis[1574]
Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis; 350

Aulus Gelius, that noble historiar;
Orace also with his new poetry;
Mayster Terence, the famous comicar,[1575]
With Plautus, that wrote full[1576] many a comody;
But blessyd Bachus was in there company,
Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1577]
Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis;

Senek full soberly with[1578] his tragediis;
Boyce, recounfortyd[1579] with his philosophy;
And Maxymyane, with his madde ditiis, 360
How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly;
But blessyd Bachus most reuerent and holy,
Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy flotis[1580]
Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis;

There came Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete;
Quintus Cursius,[1581] full craftely that wrate
Of Alexander; and Macrobius that did trete
Of Scipions dreme what was the treu probate;
But blessyd Bachus that neuer man forgate,
Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1582] 370
These orators and poetis refresshid ther throtis;

Poggeus also, that famous Florentine,
Mustred ther amonge them with many a mad tale;
With a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne,
That frownyd[1583] on me full angerly and pale;
But blessyd Bachus, that bote is of all bale,
Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1584]
Theis orators and poetis refresshid there throtis;

Plutarke and Petrarke, two famous clarkis;
Lucilius and Valerius Maximus by name; 380
With Vincencius _in Speculo_, that wrote noble warkis;
Propercius and Pisandros, poetis of noble fame;
But blissed Bachus, that mastris oft doth frame,
Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1585]
Theis notable poetis refresshid there throtis.

And as I thus sadly amonge them auysid,[1586]
I saw Gower, that first garnisshed our Englysshe rude,
And maister Chaucer, that nobly enterprysyd
How that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed;[1587]
The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd, 390
Dane Johnn Lydgate: theis Englysshe poetis thre,
As I ymagenyd, repayrid vnto me,

Togeder in armes, as brethern, enbrasid;
There apparell farre passynge beyonde that I can tell;
With diamauntis and rubis there tabers[1588] were trasid,
None so ryche stones in Turkey to sell;
Thei wantid nothynge but the laurell;
And of there bounte they made me godely chere,
In maner and forme as ye shall after here.

_Mayster Gower to Skelton._

Brother Skelton, your endeuorment 400
So haue ye done, that meretoryously
Ye haue deseruyd to haue an enplement
In our collage aboue the sterry sky,
Bycause that ye[1589] encrese and amplyfy
The brutid Britons of Brutus Albion,
That welny[1590] was loste when that we were gone.

_Poeta Skelton[1591] to Maister Gower._

Maister Gower, I haue nothyng deserued
To haue so laudabyle a commendacion:
To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued,
Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion 410
How all that I do is vnder refformation,
For only the substance of that I entend,
Is glad to please, and loth to offend.

_Mayster Chaucer to Skelton._[1592]

Counterwayng your besy delygence
Of that we beganne in the supplement,
Enforcid ar we you to recompence,
Of all our hooll collage by the agreament,
That we shall brynge you personally present
Of noble Fame before the Quenes grace,
In whose court poynted is your place. 420

_Poeta Skelton answeryth._

O noble Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquence
Oure Englysshe rude so fresshely hath set out,
That bounde ar we with all deu reuerence,
With all our strength that we can brynge about,
To owe to yow our seruyce, and more if we mowte!
But what sholde I say? ye wote what I entende,
Whiche glad am to please, and loth to offende.

_Mayster Lydgate to Skelton._

So am I preuentid of my brethern tweyne
In rendrynge to you thankkis meritory,
That welny[1593] nothynge there doth remayne 430
Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory,
But that I poynt you to be prothonatory[1594]
Of Fames court, by all our holl assent
Auaunced by Pallas to laurell preferment.

_Poeta Skelton answeryth._

So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd,
Mayster Lidgate, of your accustomable
Bownte, and so gloryously ye haue enrollyd
My name, I know well, beyonde that I am able,
That but if my warkes therto be agreable,
I am elles rebukyd of that I intende, 440
Which glad am to please, and lothe to offende.

So finally, when they had shewyd there deuyse,
Vnder the forme as I sayd tofore,[1595]
I made it straunge, and drew bak ones or twyse,
And euer they presed on me more and more,
Tyll at the last they forcyd me so[1596] sore,
That with them I went where they wolde me brynge,
Vnto the pauylyon where Pallas was syttyng.

Dame Pallas commaundid that they shold me conuay
Into the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame; 450
There shal he here what she wyl to hym[1597] say
When he is callid to answere to his name:
A cry anone forthwith she made proclame,
All orators and poetis shulde thider go before,
With all the prese that there was lesse and more.

Forthwith, I say, thus wandrynge[1598] in my thought,
How it was, or elles within what howris,
I can not[1599] tell you, but that I was brought
Into a palace with turrettis and towris,
Engolerid[1600] goodly with hallis and bowris, 460
So curiously, so craftely, so connyngly wrowght,
That all the worlde,[1601] I trowe, and it were sought,

Suche an other there coude no man fynde;
Wherof partely I purpose to expounde,
Whyles it remanyth fresshe in my mynde.
With turkis and grossolitis enpauyd was the grounde;
Of birrall enbosid wer the pyllers rownde;
Of elephantis tethe were the palace gatis,
Enlosenged with many goodly platis

Of golde, entachid with many a precyous stone; 470
An hundred steppis mountyng to the halle,
One of iasper, another of whalis bone;
Of dyamauntis pointed was the rokky[1602] wall;
The carpettis within and tappettis of pall;
The chambres hangid with clothes of arace;
Enuawtyd with rubies the vawte was of this place.

Thus passid we forth walkynge vnto the pretory
Where the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy blew,
Englasid glittering with many a clere story;
Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew: 480
Vnto this place all poetis there did sue,
Wherin was set of Fame the noble Quene,
All other transcendynge, most rychely besene,

Vnder a gloryous cloth of astate,
Fret all with orient perlys of Garnate,
Encrownyd as empresse of all this worldly[1603] fate,
So ryally, so rychely, so passyngly ornate,
It was excedyng byyonde the commowne rate:
This hous enuyrowne was a myle about;
If xii were let in, xii hundreth[1604] stode without. 490

Then to this lady and souerayne of this palace
Of purseuantis ther presid in with many a[1605] dyuerse tale;
Some were of Poyle, and sum were of Trace,
Of Lymerik, of Loreine, of Spayne, of Portyngale,[1606]
Frome Napuls, from Nauern, and from Rounceuall,
Some from Flaunders, sum fro the se coste,
Some from the mayne lande, some fro the Frensche hoste:

With, How doth the north? what tydyngis in the sowth?
The west is wyndy, the est is metely wele;
It is harde to tell of euery mannes mouthe; 500
A slipper holde the taile is of an ele,
And he haltith often that hath a kyby hele;
Some shewid his salfecundight,[1607] some shewid his charter,[1608]
Some lokyd full smothely, and had a fals quarter;[1609]

With, Sir, I pray you, a lytyll tyne stande backe,
And lette me come in to delyuer my lettre;
Another tolde how shyppes wente to wrak;
There were many wordes smaller and gretter,
With, I as good as thou, Ifayth and no better;
Some came to tell treuth, some came to lye, 510
Some came[1610] to flater, some came to spye:

There were, I say, of all maner of sortis,
Of Dertmouth, of Plummouth, of Portismouth also;
The burgeis and the ballyuis of the v portis,
With, Now let me come, and now let me go:
And all tyme wandred I thus to and fro,
Tyll at the last theis noble poetis thre
Vnto me sayd, Lo, syr, now ye may se

Of this high courte the dayly besines;
From you most we, but not[1611] longe to tary; 520
Lo, hither commyth a goodly maystres,
Occupacyon, Famys regestary,
Whiche shall be to you a sufferayne accessary,
With syngular pleasurs to dryue away the tyme,
And we shall se you ageyne or it be pryme.

When they were past and wente forth on there way,
This gentilwoman, that callyd was by name
Occupacyon, in ryght goodly aray,
Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game;
I sawe hir smyle, and I then[1612] did the same; 530
With that on me she kest[1613] her goodly loke;
Vnder her arme, me thought, she hade a boke.

_Occupacyoun to Skelton._

Lyke as the larke, vpon the somers day,
Whan Titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght,
Mountith on hy with her melodious lay,
Of the soneshyne engladid with the lyght,
So am I supprysyd with pleasure and delyght
To se this howre now, that I may say,
How ye ar welcome to this court of aray.

Of your aqueintaunce I was in tymes past, 540
Of studyous doctryne when at the port salu
Ye[1614] fyrste aryuyd; whan broken was your mast
Of worldly trust, then did I you rescu;
Your storme dryuen shyppe I repared new,
So well entakeled, what wynde that[1615] euer blowe,
No stormy tempeste your barge shall ouerthrow.

Welcome to me as hertely as herte can thynke,
Welcome to me with all my hole desyre!
And for my sake spare neyther pen nor ynke;
Be well assurid I shall aquyte your hyre, 550
Your name recountynge beyonde the lande of Tyre,
From Sydony to the mount Olympyan,
Frome Babill towre to the hillis Caspian.[1616]

_Skelton Poeta answeryth._

I thanked her moche of her most noble offer,
Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunce
For her pleasure to make a large profer,
Enpryntyng her wordes in my remembraunce,
To owe her my seruyce with true perseueraunce.
Come on with me, she sayd, let vs not stonde;[1617]
And with that worde she toke me by the honde. 560

So passyd we forthe into the forsayd place,
With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde;
And then she sayd, Whylis we haue tyme and space
To walke where we lyst, let vs somwhat fynde
To pas the tyme with, but let vs wast no wynde,
For ydle iangelers haue but lytill braine;
Wordes be swordes, and hard to call ageine.

Into a felde she brought me wyde and large,
Enwallyd aboute with the stony flint,
Strongly enbateld, moche costious of charge: 570
To walke on this walle she bed I sholde not[1618] stint;
Go softly, she sayd, the stones be full glint.
She went before, and bad me take good holde:
I sawe a thowsande yatis new and olde.

Then questionyd I her what thos[1619] yatis ment;
Wherto she answeryd, and breuely me tolde,
How from the est vnto the occident,
And from the sowth vnto the north so colde,
Theis yatis, she sayd, which that ye beholde,
Be issuis and portis from all maner of nacyons; 580
And seryously she shewyd me ther denominacyons.
They had wrytyng, sum Greke, sum Ebrew,
Some Romaine letters, as I vnderstode;
Some were olde wryten, sum were writen new,
Some carectis of Caldy, sum Frensshe was full good;
But one gate specyally, where as I stode,
Had grauin in it of calcydony a capytall A;
What yate[1620] call ye this? and she sayd, Anglia.[1621]

The beldynge therof was passynge commendable;
Wheron stode a lybbard, crownyd with golde and stones, 590
Terrible of countenaunce and passynge formydable,
As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones,
As gastly that glaris, as grimly that gronis,
As fersly frownynge as he had ben fyghtyng,
And with his forme foote he shoke forthe this wrytyng:

[Sidenote: Cacosinthicon[1622] ex industria.]

_Formidanda nimis Jovis ultima fulmina tollis:_
_Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvis_
_Quam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno;_
_Arma, lues, luctus, fel, vis, fraus, barbara tellus;_
_Mille modis erras odium tibi quærere Martis:_ 600
_Spreto spineto cedat saliunca roseto._

Then I me lent, and loked ouer the wall:
Innumerable people presed to euery gate;
Shet were the gatis; thei might wel knock and cal,
And turne home ageyne, for they cam al to late.
I her demaunded of them and ther astate:
Forsothe, quod she, theys be haskardis[1623] and rebawdis,
Dysers, carders, tumblars with gambawdis,

Furdrers of loue, with baudry aqueinted,
Brainles blenkardis that blow at the cole, 610
Fals forgers of mony, for kownnage[1624] atteintid,
Pope holy ypocrytis, as they were golde and hole,
Powle hatchettis, that prate wyll[1625] at euery ale pole,
Ryot, reueler, railer, brybery, theft,
With other condycyons that well myght be left:

Sume fayne themselfe folys, and wolde be callyd wyse,
Sum medelynge spyes, by craft to grope thy mynde,
Sum dysdanous dawcokkis that all men dispyse,
Fals flaterers that fawne thé, and kurris of kynde
That speke fayre before thé and shrewdly behynde; 620
Hither they come crowdyng to get them a name,
But hailid they be homwarde with sorow and shame.

With that I herd gunnis russhe out at ones,
Bowns, bowns, bowns! that all they out cryde;
It made sum lympe legged and broisid there bones;
Sum were made peuysshe, porisshly pynk iyde,
That euer more after by it they were aspyid;
And one ther was there, I wondred of his hap,
For a gun stone, I say, had all to-iaggid[1626] his cap,

Raggid, and daggid, and cunnyngly cut; 630
The blaste of the byrnston[1627] blew away his brayne;
Masid as a marche hare, he ran lyke a scut;
And, sir, amonge all me thought I saw twaine,
The one was a tumblar, that afterwarde againe
Of a dysour, a deuyl way, grew a ientilman,
Pers Prater, the secund, that[1628] quarillis beganne;

With a pellit of peuisshenes they had suche a stroke,
That all the dayes of ther lyfe shall styck by ther rybbis:
Foo, foisty bawdias! sum smellid of the smoke;
I saw dyuers that were cariid away thens in cribbis, 640
Dasyng after dotrellis, lyke drunkardis that dribbis;
Theis titiuyllis[1629] with taumpinnis wer towchid and tappid;
Moche mischefe, I hyght you, amonge theem ther happid.

Sometyme, as it semyth, when the mone light
By meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowde
Sodenly is eclipsid in the wynter night,
In lyke maner of wyse a myst did vs shrowde;
But wele may ye thynk I was no thyng prowde
Of that auenturis, whiche made me sore agast.
In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last 650

The clowdis gan[1630] to clere, the myst was rarifiid:
In an herber[1631] I saw, brought where I was,
There birdis on the brere sange on euery syde;
With alys ensandid about in compas,
The bankis enturfid with singular solas,
Enrailid with rosers, and vinis engrapid;
It was a new comfort of sorowis escapid.

In the middis a coundight,[1632] that coryously[1633] was cast,
With pypes of golde engusshing out stremes;
Of cristall the clerenes theis waters far past, 660
Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis, and bremis,
Whose skales[1634] ensilured again the son beames
Englisterd, that ioyous it was to beholde.
Then furthermore aboute me my syght I reuolde,

Where I saw growyng a goodly laurell tre,
Enuerdurid with leuis[1635] contynually grene;
Aboue in the top a byrde of Araby,
Men call a phenix; her wynges bytwene
She bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full kene
With braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue, 670

[Sidenote: Oliva speciosa in campis. Nota[1636] excellentiam virtutis in oliva.]

Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyue
Ageynst all infeccyons with cancour[1637] enflamyd,
Ageynst all baratows broisiours of olde,
It passid all bawmys that euer were namyd,
Or gummis of Saby so derely that be solde:
There blew in that gardynge a soft piplyng colde
Enbrethyng of Zepherus with his pleasant wynde;
All frutis and[1638] flowris grew there in there kynde.

Dryades there daunsid vpon that goodly soile,
With[1639] the nyne Muses, Pierides by name; 680
Phillis and Testalis,[1640] ther tressis with oyle
Were newly enbybid; and rownd about the same
Grene tre of laurell moche solacyous game
They made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene;
And formest of all dame Flora, the quene

Of somer, so formally she fotid the daunce;
There Cintheus sat twynklyng vpon his harpe stringis;
And Iopas his instrument did auaunce,
The poemis and storis auncient inbryngis
Of Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis, 690
Of wandryng of the mone, the course of the sun,
Of men and of bestis, and whereof they begone,

What thynge occasionyd the showris of rayne,
Of fyre elementar in his supreme spere,
And of that pole artike whiche doth remayne
Behynde the taile of Vrsa so clere;
Of Pliades he prechid with ther drowsy chere,
Immoysturid with mislyng and ay droppyng dry,
And where the two Trions[1641] a man shold aspy,

And of the winter days that hy them so fast, 700
And of the wynter nyghtes that tary so longe,
And of the somer days so longe that doth[1642] last,
And of their shorte nyghtes; he browght in his songe
How wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge:
There was counteryng of carollis in meter and[1643] verse
So many, that longe it[1644] were to reherse.

_Occupacyon to Skelton._

How say ye? is this after your appetite?
May this contente you and your mirry mynde?
Here dwellith pleasure, with lust and delyte;
Contynuall comfort here ye may fynde, 710
Of welth and solace no thynge left behynde;
All thynge conuenable[1645] here is contryuyd,[1646]
Wherewith your spiritis may be reuyuid.

_Poeta Skelton answeryth._

Questionles no dowte of that ye say;
Jupiter hymselfe this lyfe myght endure;
This ioy excedith all worldly[1647] sport and play,
Paradyce this place is of syngular pleasure:
O wele were hym that herof myght be sure,
And here to inhabite and ay for to dwell!
But, goodly maystres, one thynge ye me tell. 720

_Occupacyon to Skelton._

Of your demawnd shew me the content,
What it is, and where vpon it standis;
And if there be in it any thyng ment,
Wherof the answere restyth in my[1648] handis,
It shall be losyd[1649] ful sone out of the bandis
Of scrupulus[1650] dout; wherfore your mynde discharge,
And of your wyll the plainnes shew at large.

_Poeta Skelton answeryth._

I thanke you, goodly maystres, to me most benynge,
That of your bounte so well haue me assurid;
But my request is not[1651] so great a thynge, 730
That I ne force what though[1652] it be discurid;
I am not[1653] woundid but that I may be cured;
I am not ladyn of liddyrnes with lumpis,
As dasid doterdis that dreme in their dumpis.

_Occupacyon to Skelton._

Nowe what ye mene, I trow I coniect;
Gog[1654] gyue you good yere, ye make me to smyle;
Now, be[1655] your faith, is not[1656] this theffect[1657]
Of your questyon ye make all this whyle,
To vnderstande who dwellyth in yone[1658] pile,
And what blunderar is yonder that playth didil diddil? 740
He fyndith fals mesuris out[1659] of his fonde fiddill.

_Interpolata,[1660] quæ industriosum postulat[1661] interpretem, satira in vatis adversarium._

_Tressis agasonis species prior, altera Davi:_
_Aucupium culicis, limis dum torquet ocellum,_
_Concipit, aligeras rapit, appetit,[1662] aspice, muscas!_

[Sidenote: Nota Alchimaiam et 7 metalla.]

_Maia quæque fovet, fovet aut quæ Jupiter, aut quæ_
_Frigida Saturnus, Sol, Mars, Venus, algida Luna,_
_Si tibi contingat verbo aut committere scripto,_
_Quam sibi mox tacita sudant præcordia culpa!_
_Hinc ruit in flammas, stimulans[1663] hunc urget et illum,_
_Invocat ad rixas, vanos tamen excitat ignes,_ 750
_Labra movens tacitus, rumpantur ut ilia Codro._

17. 4. 7. 2. 17. 5. 18.
18. 19. 1. 19. 8. 5. 12.

His name for to know if that ye lyst,
Enuyous Rancour truely he hight:
Beware of hym, I warne you; for and[1664] ye wist
How daungerous it were to stande in his lyght[1665],
Ye wolde not[1666] dele with hym, thowgh[1667] that ye myght,
For by his deuellysshe drift and graceles prouision
An hole reame[1668] he is able to set at deuysion:

For when he spekyth fayrest, then thynketh he moost yll;
Full gloryously can he glose, thy mynde for to fele; 760
He wyll set men a feightynge[1669] and syt[1670] hymselfe styll,
And smerke, lyke a smythy kur, at[1671] sperkes of steile;
He[1672] can neuer leue warke whylis it is wele;
To tell all his towchis it were to grete wonder;
The deuyll of hell and he be seldome asonder.

Thus talkyng we went forth[1673] in at a postern gate;
Turnyng[1674] on the ryght hande, by a[1675] windyng stayre,
She brought me to[1676] a goodly chaumber of astate,
Where the noble Cowntes of Surrey in a chayre
Sat honorably, to whome did repaire 770
Of ladys a beue[1677] with all dew reuerence:
Syt downe, fayre ladys, and do your diligence!

Come forth, ientylwomen, I pray you, she sayd;
I haue contryuyd for you a goodly warke,
And who can worke beste now shall be asayde;
A cronell of lawrell with verduris light and darke
I haue deuysyd for Skelton, my clerke;
For to his seruyce I haue suche regarde,
That of our bownte we wyll hym rewarde:

For of all ladyes he hath the library, 780
Ther names recountyng in the court of Fame
Of all gentylwomen he hath the scruteny,[1678]
In Fames court reportynge the same;
For yet of women he neuer sayd shame,
But if they were counterfettes that women them call,
That list of there lewdnesse with hym for to brall.

With that the tappettis and carpettis were layd,
Whereon theis ladys softly myght rest,
The saumpler to sow on, the lacis to enbraid;
To weue in the stoule sume were full preste, 790
With slaiis, with tauellis, with hedellis well drest;
The frame was browght forth with his weuyng pin:
God geue[1679] them good spede there warke[1680] to begin!

Sume to enbrowder put them in prese,
Well gydyng ther[1681] glowtonn to kepe streit theyr sylk,
Sum pirlyng of goldde theyr worke to encrese
With fingers smale, and handis whyte[1682] as mylk;
With, Reche me that skane of tewly sylk;
And, Wynde me that botowme of such an[1683] hew,
Grene, rede, tawny, whyte, blak,[1684] purpill, and blew. 800

Of broken warkis[1685] wrought many a goodly thyng,
In castyng, in turnynge, in florisshyng of flowris,
With burris rowth[1686] and bottons surffillyng,[1687]
In nedill wark raysyng byrdis in bowris,[1688]
With vertu enbesid all tymes and howris;
And truly of theyr bownte thus were they bent
To worke me this chapelet by goode aduysemente.[1689]

_Occupacyon to Skelton._

Beholde and se in your aduertysement
How theis ladys and gentylwomen all
For your pleasure do there endeuourment, 810
And for your sake how fast to warke[1690] they fall:
To your remembraunce wherfore ye must call
In goodly wordes plesauntly comprysid,
That for them some goodly conseyt be deuysid,

With proper captacyons of beneuolence,
Ornatly pullysshid after your faculte,
Sith ye must nedis afforce it by pretence
Of your professyoun vnto vmanyte,[1691]
Commensyng your proces after there degre,
To iche of them rendryng thankis commendable, 820
With sentence fructuous and termes couenable.

_Poeta Skelton._[1692]

Auaunsynge my selfe sum thanke[1693] to deserue,
I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen,
Deuoutly arrectyng my prayer to Mynerue,
She to vowchesafe me to informe and ken;
To Mercury also hertely prayed I then,
Me to supporte, to helpe, and to assist,
To gyde and to gouerne my dredfull tremlyng[1694] fist.

As a mariner that amasid[1695] is in a stormy rage,
Hardly bestad and[1696] driuen is to hope 830
Of that the tempestuows[1697] wynde wyll aswage,
In trust[1698] wherof comforte[1699] his hart doth grope,
From the anker he kuttyth[1700] the gabyll rope,
Committyth all to God, and lettyth his shyp ryde;
So I beseke[1701] Ihesu now to be my gyde.

_To the ryght noble Countes of Surrey._

After all duly ordred obeisaunce,
In humble wyse as lowly[1702] as I may,
Vnto you, madame, I make reconusaunce,[1703]
My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say,
Recount, reporte, reherse without delay 840
The passynge bounte of your noble astate,
Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date:

Lyke to Argyua by iust resemblaunce,
The noble wyfe of Polimites kynge;
Prudent Rebecca, of whome remembraunce
The Byble makith; with whos chast lyuynge
Your noble demenour is counterwayng,
Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate,
Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

The noble Pamphila,[1704] quene of the Grekis londe,[1705] 850
Habillimentis royall founde out industriously;
Thamer also wrought with her goodly honde
Many diuisis passynge curyously;
Whome ye represent and exemplify,
Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate,
Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

As dame Thamarys, whiche toke the kyng of Perce,
Cirus by name, as wrytith the story;
Dame Agrippina also I may reherse
Of ientyll corage the perfight[1706] memory; 860
So shall your name endure perpetually,
Whos passyng bounte, and ryght noble astate,
Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

_To my lady Elisabeth Howarde._

To be your remembrauncer,[1707] madame, I am bounde,
Lyke to Aryna, maydenly of porte,
Of vertu and[1708] konnyng the well and perfight grounde;
Whome dame Nature, as wele I may reporte,
Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte
Of womanly feturis, whos florysshyng tender age
Is lusty to loke on, plesaunte, demure, and sage: 870

Goodly Creisseid, fayrer than Polexene,[1709]
For to enuyue Pandarus appetite;
Troilus, I trowe, if that he had you sene,
In you he wolde haue set his hole delight:
Of all your bewte I suffyce not[1710] to wryght;
But, as I sayd, your florisshinge tender age
Is lusty to loke on, plesaunt, demure, and sage.

_To my lady Mirriell Howarde._

Mi litell lady I may not[1711] leue behinde,
But do her[1712] seruyce nedis now I must;
Beninge, curteyse, of ientyll harte and mynde, 880
Whome fortune and fate playnly haue discust
Longe to enioy plesure, delyght, and lust:
The enbuddid blossoms of[1713] roses rede of hew
With lillis[1714] whyte your bewte doth renewe.

Compare you I may to Cidippes, the mayd,
That of Aconcyus whan she founde the byll
In her bosome, lorde, how[1715] she was afrayd!
The ruddy shamefastnes in her vysage fyll,
Whiche maner of abasshement became her not yll;
Right so, madame, the roses redde of hew 890
With lillys whyte your bewte dothe renewe.

_To my lady Anne Dakers of the Sowth._

Zeuxes,[1716] that enpicturid fare Elene the quene,
You to deuyse his crafte were to seke;
And if Apelles your countenaunce had sene,
Of porturature which was the famous Greke,
He coude not deuyse the lest poynt of your cheke;
Princes of yowth, and flowre of goodly porte,
Vertu, conyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1717]

Paregall in honour vnto Penolepe,
That for her trowth is in remembraunce had; 900
Fayre Diianira surmountynge[1718] in bewte;
Demure Diana womanly and sad,
Whos lusty lokis make heuy hartis glad;
Princes of youth, and flowre of goodly porte,
Vertu, connyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1719]

_To mastres Margery Wentworthe._

With margerain ientyll,
The flowre of goodlyhede,[1720]
Enbrowdred the mantill
Is of your maydenhede.[1721]
Plainly I can not[1722] glose; 910
Ye be, as I deuyne,
The praty primrose,
The goodly columbyne.
With margerain iantill,
The flowre of goodlyhede,
Enbrawderyd the mantyll
Is of yowre maydenhede.
Benynge, corteise, and meke,
With wordes well deuysid;
In you, who list to seke, 920
Be vertus well comprysid.
With margerain iantill,
The flowre of goodlyhede,
Enbrawderid the mantill
Is of yowr maydenhede.

_To mastres Margaret Tylney._