The Poetical Works of John Skelton :: :: University of Virginia Library

Parrotte.
Jupiter ut nitido deus est veneratus Olympo;
Hic coliturque deus.
Sunt data thura Jovi, rutilo solio residenti;
Cum Jove thura capit.
Jupiter astrorum rector dominusque polorum;
Anglica sceptra regit.

Galathea.
I compas the conveyaunce vnto the capitall
Of ower clerke Cleros, whythyr, thydyr, and why not hethyr?
For passe a pase apase ys gon to cache a molle,
Over Scarpary mala vi, Monsyre cy and sliddyr:
Whate sequele shall folow when pendugims mete togethyr?
Speke, Parotte, my swete byrde, and ye shall haue a date,
Of frantycknes and folysshnes whyche ys the grett state?

Parotte.

Difficille hit ys to ansswere thys demaunde;
Yet, aftyr the sagacite of a popagay,—
Frantiknes dothe rule and all thyng commaunde;
Wylfulnes and braynles no[w] rule all the raye;
Agayne ffrentike frenesy there dar no man sey nay,

269

For ffrantiknes, and wylfulnes, and braynles ensembyll,
The nebbis of a lyon they make to trete and trembyll;

To jumbyll, to stombyll, to tumbyll down lyke folys,
To lowre, to droupe, to knele, to stowpe, and to play cowche quale,
To fysshe afore the nette, and to drawe polys;
He make[th] them to bere babylles, and to bere a lowe sayle;
He caryeth a kyng in hys sleve, yf all the worlde fayle;
He facithe owte at a fflusshe, with, shewe, take all!
Of Pope Julius cardys he ys chefe cardynall.

He tryhumfythe, he trumpythe, he turnythe all vp and downe,
With, skyregalyard, prowde palyard, vaunteperler, ye prate!
Hys woluys hede, wanne, bloo as lede, gapythe ouer the crowne:
Hyt ys to fere leste he wolde were the garland on hys pate,
Peregall with all prynces farre passyng his estate;

270

For of ower regente the regiment he hathe, ex qua vi,
Patet per versus, quod ex vi bolte harvi.

Now, Galathea, lett Parrot, I pray yow, haue hys date;
Yett dates now ar deynte, and wax verye scante,
For grocers were grugyd at and groynyd at but late;
Grete reysons with resons be now reprobitante,
For reysons ar no resons, but resons currant:
Ryn God, rynne Devyll! yet the date of ower Lord
And the date of the Devyll dothe shrewlye accord.
Dixit, quod Parrott, the popagay royall.

Galathea.
Nowe, Parott, my swete byrde, speke owte yet ons agayne,
Sette asyde all sophyms, and speke now trew and playne.

Parotte.

So many morall maters, and so lytell vsyd;
So myche newe makyng, and so madd tyme spente;
So myche translacion in to Englyshe confused;
So myche nobyll prechyng, and so lytell amendment;

271

So myche consultacion, almoste to none entente;
So myche provision, and so lytell wytte at nede;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde there can no clerkes rede.

So lytyll dyscressyon, and so myche reasonyng;
So myche hardy dardy, and so lytell manlynes;
So prodigall expence, and so shamfull reconyng;
So gorgyous garmentes, and so myche wrechydnese;
So myche portlye pride, with pursys penyles;
So myche spente before, and so myche vnpayd behynde;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde there can no clerkes fynde.

So myche forcastyng, and so farre an after dele;
So myche poletyke pratyng, and so lytell stondythe in stede;
So lytell secretnese, and so myche grete councell;
So manye bolde barons, there hertes as dull as lede;
So many nobyll bodyes vndyr on dawys hedd;
So royall a kyng as reynythe vppon vs all;—
Syns Dewcalions flodde was nevyr sene nor shall.

So many complayntes, and so smalle redresse;
So myche callyng on, and so smalle takyng hede;
So myche losse of merchaundyse, and so remedyles;

272

So lytell care for the comyn weall, and so myche nede;
So myche dowȝtfull daunger, and so lytell drede;
So myche pride of prelattes, so cruell and so kene;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde, I trowe, was nevyr sene.

So many thevys hangyd, and thevys never the lesse;
So myche prisonment ffor matyrs not worthe an hawe;
So myche papers weryng for ryghte a smalle exesse;
So myche pelory pajauntes vndyr colower of good lawe;
So myche towrnyng on the cooke stole for euery guy gaw;
So myche mokkyshe makyng of statutes of array;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde was nevyr, I dar sey.

So braynles caluys hedes, so many shepis taylys;
So bolde a braggyng bocher, and flesshe sold so dere;
So many plucte partryches, and so fatte quaylles;
So mangye a mastyfe curre, the grete grey houndes pere;

273

So bygge a bulke of brow auntlers cabagyd that yere;
So many swannes dede, and so small revell;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde, I trow, no man can tell.

So many trusys takyn, and so lytyll perfyte trowthe;
So myche bely joye, and so wastefull banketyng;
So pynchyng and sparyng, and so lytell profyte growthe;
So many howgye howsys byldyng, and so small howseholding;
Suche statutes apon diettes, suche pyllyng and pollyng;
So ys all thyng wrowghte wylfully withowte reson and skylle;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde the world was never so yll.

So many vacabondes, so many beggers bolde;
So myche decay of monesteries and of relygious places;
So hote hatered agaynste the Chyrche, and cheryte so colde;
So myche of my lordes grace, and in hym no grace ys;
So many holow hartes, and so dowbyll faces;

274

So myche sayntuary brekyng, and preuylegidde barrydd;—
Syns Dewcalyons flodde was nevyr sene nor lyerd.

So myche raggyd ryghte of a rammes horne;
So rygorous revelyng in a prelate specially;
So bold and so braggyng, and was so baselye borne;
So lordlye of hys lokes and so dysdayneslye;
So fatte a magott, bred of a flesshe flye;
Was nevyr suche a ffylty gorgon, nor suche an epycure,
Syn[s] Dewcalyons flodde, I make thé faste and sure.

So myche preuye wachyng in cold wynters nyghtes;
So myche serchyng of loselles, and ys hymselfe so lewde;
So myche coniuracions for elvyshe myday sprettes;
So many bullys of pardon puplysshyd and shewyd;
So myche crossyng and blyssyng, and hym all beshrewde;
Suche pollaxis and pyllers, suche mvlys trapte with gold;—
Sens Dewcalyons flodde in no cronycle ys told.

275

Dixit, quod Parrot.

Crescet in immensum me vivo Psittacus iste; Hinc mea dicetur Skeltonidis inclyta fama. Quod Skelton Lawryat, Orator Regius. 34.]