The Poetical Works of John Skelton principally according to the edition of the Rev. Alexander Dyce. In three volumes |
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ELEGY ON KING HENRY THE SEVENTH. |
 | The Poetical Works of John Skelton |  |
362
ELEGY ON KING HENRY THE SEVENTH.
[OMITTED]orlde all wrapped in wretchydnes,
[OMITTED]hy pompes so gay and gloryous,
[OMITTED]easures and all thy ryches
[OMITTED]y be but transytoryous;
[OMITTED]to moche pyteous,
[OMITTED]e that eche man whylom dred,
[OMITTED]by naturall lyne and cours,
[OMITTED]s, alas, lyeth dede!
[OMITTED]hy pompes so gay and gloryous,
[OMITTED]easures and all thy ryches
[OMITTED]y be but transytoryous;
[OMITTED]to moche pyteous,
[OMITTED]e that eche man whylom dred,
[OMITTED]by naturall lyne and cours,
[OMITTED]s, alas, lyeth dede!
[OMITTED]ryall a kynge,
[OMITTED]ianer the prudent Salamon;
[OMITTED]sse and in euery thynge,
[OMITTED]io Crysten regyon,
[OMITTED]not longe agone,
[OMITTED]his name by fame spr[e]de;
[OMITTED]te nowe destytute alone,
[OMITTED]as, alas, lyeth dede!
[OMITTED]ianer the prudent Salamon;
[OMITTED]sse and in euery thynge,
[OMITTED]io Crysten regyon,
[OMITTED]not longe agone,
[OMITTED]his name by fame spr[e]de;
[OMITTED]te nowe destytute alone,
[OMITTED]as, alas, lyeth dede!
363
[OMITTED]ater we wretchyd creatures,
[OMITTED]es and tryumphaunt maiestye,
[OMITTED]pastymes and pleasures,
[OMITTED]thouten remedye;
[OMITTED]o wyll the myserable bodye
[OMITTED]n heuy lede,
[OMITTED]lde but vanyte and all vanytye,
[OMITTED]h alas, alas, lyeth dede!
[OMITTED]es and tryumphaunt maiestye,
[OMITTED]pastymes and pleasures,
[OMITTED]thouten remedye;
[OMITTED]o wyll the myserable bodye
[OMITTED]n heuy lede,
[OMITTED]lde but vanyte and all vanytye,
[OMITTED]h alas, alas, lyeth dede!
[OMITTED]is subgectes and make lamentacyon
[OMITTED]o noble a gouernoure;
[OMITTED]ayers make we exclamacyon,
[OMITTED]de to his supernall toure:
[OMITTED]dly rose floure,
[OMITTED]yally all aboute spred,
[OMITTED]iated where is his power?
[OMITTED]alas, alas, lyeth dede!
[OMITTED]o noble a gouernoure;
[OMITTED]ayers make we exclamacyon,
[OMITTED]de to his supernall toure:
[OMITTED]dly rose floure,
[OMITTED]yally all aboute spred,
[OMITTED]iated where is his power?
[OMITTED]alas, alas, lyeth dede!
Of this moost Crysten kynge in vs it lyeth not,
His tyme passed honour suffycyent to prayse;
But yet though that that thyng envalue we may not,
Our prayers of suertye he shall haue alwayes;
And though that Atropose hathe ended his dayes,
His name and fame shall euer be dred
As fer as Phebus spredes his golden rayes,
Though Henry the Seuenth, alas, alas, lyeth dede!
His tyme passed honour suffycyent to prayse;
But yet though that that thyng envalue we may not,
Our prayers of suertye he shall haue alwayes;
And though that Atropose hathe ended his dayes,
His name and fame shall euer be dred
As fer as Phebus spredes his golden rayes,
Though Henry the Seuenth, alas, alas, lyeth dede!
But nowe what remedye? he is vncouerable,
Touchyd by the handes of God that is moost just;
But yet agayne a cause moost confortable
We haue, wherin of ryght reioys we must,
His sone on lyue in beaute, force, and lust,
In honour lykely Traianus to shede;
Wherfore in hym put we our hope and trust,
Syth Henry his fader, alas, alas, lyeth dede!
Touchyd by the handes of God that is moost just;
But yet agayne a cause moost confortable
We haue, wherin of ryght reioys we must,
His sone on lyue in beaute, force, and lust,
In honour lykely Traianus to shede;
Wherfore in hym put we our hope and trust,
Syth Henry his fader, alas, alas, lyeth dede!
And nowe, for conclusyon, aboute his herse
Let this be grauyd for endeles memorye,
With sorowfull tunes of Thesyphenes verse;
Here lyeth the puyssaunt and myghty Henry,
Hector in batayll, Vlyxes in polecy,
Salamon in wysdome, the noble rose rede,
Creses in rychesse, Julyus in glory,
Henry the Seuenth ingraued here lyeth dede!
Let this be grauyd for endeles memorye,
364
Here lyeth the puyssaunt and myghty Henry,
Hector in batayll, Vlyxes in polecy,
Salamon in wysdome, the noble rose rede,
Creses in rychesse, Julyus in glory,
Henry the Seuenth ingraued here lyeth dede!
| The Poetical Works of John Skelton | |