There came Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete;Quintus Cursius,[1581]full craftely that wrateOf Alexander; and Macrobius that did treteOf Scipions dreme what was the treu probate;But blessyd Bachus that neuer man forgate,Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1582]370These 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;380With Vincenciusin 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 enterprysydHow that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed;[1587]The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd,390Dane 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 endeuorment400So haue ye done, that meretoryouslyYe haue deseruyd to haue an enplementIn our collage aboue the sterry sky,Bycause that ye[1589]encrese and amplyfyThe 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 deseruedTo haue so laudabyle a commendacion:To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued,Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion410How 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 delygenceOf 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 presentOf noble Fame before the Quenes grace,In whose court poynted is your place.420Poeta Skelton answeryth.O noble Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquenceOure 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 tweyneIn rendrynge to you thankkis meritory,That welny[1593]nothynge there doth remayne430Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory,But that I poynt you to be prothonatory[1594]Of Fames court, by all our holl assentAuaunced by Pallas to laurell preferment.Poeta Skelton answeryth.So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd,Mayster Lidgate, of your accustomableBownte, and so gloryously ye haue enrollydMy 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,440Which 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 conuayInto the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame;450There shal he here what she wyl to hym[1597]sayWhen 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 broughtInto a palace with turrettis and towris,Engolerid[1600]goodly with hallis and bowris,460So 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 platisOf golde, entachid with many a precyous stone;470An 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 pretoryWhere the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy blew,Englasid glittering with many a clere story;Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew:480Vnto 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.490Then to this lady and souerayne of this palaceOf 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;500A 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,510Some 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 threVnto me sayd, Lo, syr, now ye may seOf this high courte the dayly besines;From you most we, but not[1611]longe to tary;520Lo, 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 nameOccupacyon, in ryght goodly aray,Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game;I sawe hir smyle, and I then[1612]did the same;530With 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 delyghtTo 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,540Of studyous doctryne when at the port saluYe[1614]fyrste aryuyd; whan broken was your mastOf 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,550Your 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 assuraunceFor 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.560So passyd we forthe into the forsayd place,With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde;And then she sayd, Whylis we haue tyme and spaceTo walke where we lyst, let vs somwhat fyndeTo 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:570To 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;580And 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,590Terrible 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:Cacosinthicon[1622]ex industria.Formidanda nimis Jovis ultima fulmina tollis:Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvisQuam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno;Arma, lues, luctus, fel, vis, fraus, barbara tellus;Mille modis erras odium tibi quærere Martis:600Spreto 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,610Fals 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 kyndeThat speke fayre before thé and shrewdly behynde;620Hither 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;630The 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 againeOf 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,640Dasyng 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 lightBy meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowdeSodenly 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 prowdeOf that auenturis, whiche made me sore agast.In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last650The 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,660Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis, and bremis,Whose skales[1634]ensilured again the son beamesEnglisterd, 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 bytweneShe bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full keneWith braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue,670Oliva speciosa in campis. Nota[1636]excellentiam virtutis in oliva.Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyueAgeynst 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 coldeEnbrethyng 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;680Phillis and Testalis,[1640]ther tressis with oyleWere newly enbybid; and rownd about the sameGrene tre of laurell moche solacyous gameThey made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene;And formest of all dame Flora, the queneOf 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 inbryngisOf Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis,690Of 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 remayneBehynde 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,700And 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 songeHow wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge:There was counteryng of carollis in meter and[1643]verseSo 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,710Of 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.720Occupacyon 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 bandisOf 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,730That 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?740He 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!Nota Alchimaiam et 7 metalla.Maia quæque fovet, fovet aut quæ Jupiter, aut quæFrigida 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,750Labra 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 wistHow 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 prouisionAn hole reame[1668]he is able to set at deuysion:
There came Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete;Quintus Cursius,[1581]full craftely that wrateOf Alexander; and Macrobius that did treteOf Scipions dreme what was the treu probate;But blessyd Bachus that neuer man forgate,Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1582]370These 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;380With Vincenciusin 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 enterprysydHow that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed;[1587]The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd,390Dane 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 endeuorment400So haue ye done, that meretoryouslyYe haue deseruyd to haue an enplementIn our collage aboue the sterry sky,Bycause that ye[1589]encrese and amplyfyThe 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 deseruedTo haue so laudabyle a commendacion:To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued,Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion410How 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 delygenceOf 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 presentOf noble Fame before the Quenes grace,In whose court poynted is your place.420Poeta Skelton answeryth.O noble Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquenceOure 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 tweyneIn rendrynge to you thankkis meritory,That welny[1593]nothynge there doth remayne430Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory,But that I poynt you to be prothonatory[1594]Of Fames court, by all our holl assentAuaunced by Pallas to laurell preferment.Poeta Skelton answeryth.So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd,Mayster Lidgate, of your accustomableBownte, and so gloryously ye haue enrollydMy 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,440Which 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 conuayInto the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame;450There shal he here what she wyl to hym[1597]sayWhen 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 broughtInto a palace with turrettis and towris,Engolerid[1600]goodly with hallis and bowris,460So 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 platisOf golde, entachid with many a precyous stone;470An 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 pretoryWhere the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy blew,Englasid glittering with many a clere story;Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew:480Vnto 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.490Then to this lady and souerayne of this palaceOf 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;500A 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,510Some 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 threVnto me sayd, Lo, syr, now ye may seOf this high courte the dayly besines;From you most we, but not[1611]longe to tary;520Lo, 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 nameOccupacyon, in ryght goodly aray,Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game;I sawe hir smyle, and I then[1612]did the same;530With 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 delyghtTo 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,540Of studyous doctryne when at the port saluYe[1614]fyrste aryuyd; whan broken was your mastOf 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,550Your 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 assuraunceFor 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.560So passyd we forthe into the forsayd place,With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde;And then she sayd, Whylis we haue tyme and spaceTo walke where we lyst, let vs somwhat fyndeTo 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:570To 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;580And 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,590Terrible 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:Cacosinthicon[1622]ex industria.Formidanda nimis Jovis ultima fulmina tollis:Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvisQuam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno;Arma, lues, luctus, fel, vis, fraus, barbara tellus;Mille modis erras odium tibi quærere Martis:600Spreto 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,610Fals 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 kyndeThat speke fayre before thé and shrewdly behynde;620Hither 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;630The 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 againeOf 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,640Dasyng 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 lightBy meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowdeSodenly 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 prowdeOf that auenturis, whiche made me sore agast.In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last650The 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,660Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis, and bremis,Whose skales[1634]ensilured again the son beamesEnglisterd, 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 bytweneShe bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full keneWith braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue,670Oliva speciosa in campis. Nota[1636]excellentiam virtutis in oliva.Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyueAgeynst 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 coldeEnbrethyng 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;680Phillis and Testalis,[1640]ther tressis with oyleWere newly enbybid; and rownd about the sameGrene tre of laurell moche solacyous gameThey made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene;And formest of all dame Flora, the queneOf 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 inbryngisOf Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis,690Of 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 remayneBehynde 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,700And 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 songeHow wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge:There was counteryng of carollis in meter and[1643]verseSo 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,710Of 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.720Occupacyon 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 bandisOf 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,730That 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?740He 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!Nota Alchimaiam et 7 metalla.Maia quæque fovet, fovet aut quæ Jupiter, aut quæFrigida 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,750Labra 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 wistHow 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 prouisionAn hole reame[1668]he is able to set at deuysion:
There came Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete;Quintus Cursius,[1581]full craftely that wrateOf Alexander; and Macrobius that did treteOf Scipions dreme what was the treu probate;But blessyd Bachus that neuer man forgate,Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1582]370These orators and poetis refresshid ther 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;
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;380With Vincenciusin 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.
Plutarke and Petrarke, two famous clarkis;
Lucilius and Valerius Maximus by name;380
With Vincenciusin 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 enterprysydHow that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed;[1587]The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd,390Dane Johnn Lydgate: theis Englysshe poetis thre,As I ymagenyd, repayrid vnto me,
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.
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.
Mayster Gower to Skelton.
Brother Skelton, your endeuorment400So haue ye done, that meretoryouslyYe haue deseruyd to haue an enplementIn our collage aboue the sterry sky,Bycause that ye[1589]encrese and amplyfyThe brutid Britons of Brutus Albion,That welny[1590]was loste when that we were gone.
Brother Skelton, your endeuorment400
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.
Poeta Skelton[1591]to Maister Gower.
Maister Gower, I haue nothyng deseruedTo haue so laudabyle a commendacion:To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued,Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion410How all that I do is vnder refformation,For only the substance of that I entend,Is glad to please, and loth to offend.
Maister Gower, I haue nothyng deserued
To haue so laudabyle a commendacion:
To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued,
Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion410
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]
Mayster Chaucer to Skelton.[1592]
Counterwayng your besy delygenceOf 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 presentOf noble Fame before the Quenes grace,In whose court poynted is your place.420
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.
Poeta Skelton answeryth.
O noble Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquenceOure 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.
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.
Mayster Lydgate to Skelton.
So am I preuentid of my brethern tweyneIn rendrynge to you thankkis meritory,That welny[1593]nothynge there doth remayne430Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory,But that I poynt you to be prothonatory[1594]Of Fames court, by all our holl assentAuaunced by Pallas to laurell preferment.
So am I preuentid of my brethern tweyne
In rendrynge to you thankkis meritory,
That welny[1593]nothynge there doth remayne430
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.
Poeta Skelton answeryth.
So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd,Mayster Lidgate, of your accustomableBownte, and so gloryously ye haue enrollydMy 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,440Which glad am to please, and lothe to offende.
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.
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 conuayInto the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame;450There shal he here what she wyl to hym[1597]sayWhen 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.
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 broughtInto a palace with turrettis and towris,Engolerid[1600]goodly with hallis and bowris,460So curiously, so craftely, so connyngly wrowght,That all the worlde,[1601]I trowe, and it were sought,
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
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;470An 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.
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 pretoryWhere the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy blew,Englasid glittering with many a clere story;Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew:480Vnto this place all poetis there did sue,Wherin was set of Fame the noble Quene,All other transcendynge, most rychely besene,
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
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 palaceOf 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:
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;500A 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, 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,510Some came[1610]to flater, some came to spye:
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 threVnto me sayd, Lo, syr, now ye may se
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;520Lo, 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.
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 nameOccupacyon, in ryght goodly aray,Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game;I sawe hir smyle, and I then[1612]did the same;530With that on me she kest[1613]her goodly loke;Vnder her arme, me thought, she hade a boke.
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.
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 delyghtTo se this howre now, that I may say,How ye ar welcome to this court of aray.
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,540Of studyous doctryne when at the port saluYe[1614]fyrste aryuyd; whan broken was your mastOf 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.
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,550Your name recountynge beyonde the lande of Tyre,From Sydony to the mount Olympyan,Frome Babill towre to the hillis Caspian.[1616]
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.
Skelton Poeta answeryth.
I thanked her moche of her most noble offer,Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunceFor 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
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 spaceTo walke where we lyst, let vs somwhat fyndeTo 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.
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:570To 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.
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;580And 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]
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,590Terrible 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:
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:
Cacosinthicon[1622]ex industria.Formidanda nimis Jovis ultima fulmina tollis:Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvisQuam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno;Arma, lues, luctus, fel, vis, fraus, barbara tellus;Mille modis erras odium tibi quærere Martis:600Spreto spineto cedat saliunca roseto.
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,
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,610Fals 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:
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 kyndeThat speke fayre before thé and shrewdly behynde;620Hither they come crowdyng to get them a name,But hailid they be homwarde with sorow and shame.
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,
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;630The 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 againeOf a dysour, a deuyl way, grew a ientilman,Pers Prater, the secund, that[1628]quarillis beganne;
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,640Dasyng after dotrellis, lyke drunkardis that dribbis;Theis titiuyllis[1629]with taumpinnis wer towchid and tappid;Moche mischefe, I hyght you, amonge theem ther happid.
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 lightBy meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowdeSodenly 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 prowdeOf that auenturis, whiche made me sore agast.In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last650
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 last650
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.
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,660Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis, and bremis,Whose skales[1634]ensilured again the son beamesEnglisterd, that ioyous it was to beholde.Then furthermore aboute me my syght I reuolde,
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 bytweneShe bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full keneWith braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue,670
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
Oliva speciosa in campis. Nota[1636]excellentiam virtutis in oliva.Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyueAgeynst 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 coldeEnbrethyng of Zepherus with his pleasant wynde;All frutis and[1638]flowris grew there in there kynde.
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;680Phillis and Testalis,[1640]ther tressis with oyleWere newly enbybid; and rownd about the sameGrene tre of laurell moche solacyous gameThey made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene;And formest of all dame Flora, the quene
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 inbryngisOf Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis,690Of wandryng of the mone, the course of the sun,Of men and of bestis, and whereof they begone,
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 remayneBehynde 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,
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,700And 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 songeHow wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge:There was counteryng of carollis in meter and[1643]verseSo many, that longe it[1644]were to reherse.
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.
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,710Of welth and solace no thynge left behynde;All thynge conuenable[1645]here is contryuyd,[1646]Wherewith your spiritis may be reuyuid.
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.
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
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.
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 bandisOf scrupulus[1650]dout; wherfore your mynde discharge,And of your wyll the plainnes shew at large.
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.
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,730That 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.
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.
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?740He fyndith fals mesuris out[1659]of his fonde fiddill.
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.
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!
Tressis agasonis species prior, altera Davi:
Aucupium culicis, limis dum torquet ocellum,
Concipit, aligeras rapit, appetit,[1662]aspice, muscas!
Nota Alchimaiam et 7 metalla.Maia quæque fovet, fovet aut quæ Jupiter, aut quæFrigida 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,750Labra movens tacitus, rumpantur ut ilia Codro.
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.
His name for to know if that ye lyst,Enuyous Rancour truely he hight:Beware of hym, I warne you; for and[1664]ye wistHow 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 prouisionAn hole reame[1668]he is able to set at deuysion:
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: