The Poetical Works of John Skelton principally according to the edition of the Rev. Alexander Dyce. In three volumes |
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| II. |
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Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.
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 | The Poetical Works of John Skelton |  |
Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame.
A thanke to haue, ye haue well deseruyd,
Your mynde that can maynteyne so apparently;
But a grete parte yet 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.
Your mynde that can maynteyne so apparently;
But a grete parte yet 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.
178
But whome that ye fauoure, I se well, hath a name,
Be he neuer so lytell of substaunce,
And whome ye loue not ye wyll put to shame;
Ye counterwey not euynly your balaunce;
As wele foly as wysdome oft ye do avaunce:
For reporte ryseth many deuerse wayes:
Sume be moche spokyn of for makynge of frays;
Be he neuer so lytell of substaunce,
And whome ye loue not ye wyll put to shame;
Ye counterwey not euynly your balaunce;
As wele foly as wysdome oft ye do avaunce:
For 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 a purse;
Some men be made of for their mokery;
Some carefull cokwoldes, some haue theyr wyues curs;
Some famous wetewoldis, and they be moche wurs;
Some lidderons, some losels, some noughty packis;
Some facers, some bracers, some make great crackis;
Some be called crafty, that can pyke a purse;
Some men be made of for their mokery;
Some carefull cokwoldes, some haue theyr wyues curs;
Some famous wetewoldis, and they be moche wurs;
Some lidderons, some losels, some noughty packis;
Some facers, some bracers, some make great crackis;
Some dronken dastardis with their dry soules;
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 from Carlyll to Kente.
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 from Carlyll to Kente.
179
But lytell or nothynge ye shall here tell
Of them that haue vertue by reason of cunnyng,
Whiche souerenly in honoure shulde excell;
Men of suche maters make but a mummynge,
For wysdome and sadnesse be set out a sunnyng;
And suche of my seruauntes as I haue promotyd,
One faute or other in them shalbe notyd:
Of them that haue vertue by reason of cunnyng,
Whiche souerenly in honoure shulde excell;
Men of suche maters make but a mummynge,
For wysdome and sadnesse be set out a sunnyng;
And suche of my seruauntes as I haue promotyd,
One faute or other in them shalbe notyd:
Eyther they wyll 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 he is a very fole;
Twyshe, set hym a chare, or reche hym a stole,
To syt hym vpon, and rede Iacke a thrummis bybille,
For truly it were pyte that he sat ydle.
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 he is a very fole;
Twyshe, set hym a chare, or reche hym a stole,
To syt hym vpon, and rede Iacke a thrummis bybille,
For truly it were pyte that he sat ydle.
| The Poetical Works of John Skelton | |