Part 31

[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