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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The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.
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 | The Poetical Works of John Skelton |  |
The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas.
Prynces moost pusant, of hygh preemynence,
Renownyd lady aboue the sterry heuyn,
All other transcendyng, of very congruence
Madame regent of the scyence seuyn,
To whos astate all noblenes most lenen,
My supplycacyon to you I arrect,
Whereof I beseche you to tender the effecte.
Renownyd lady aboue the sterry heuyn,
All other transcendyng, of very congruence
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To whos astate all noblenes most lenen,
My supplycacyon to you I arrect,
Whereof I beseche you to tender the effecte.
Not vnremembered it is vnto your grace,
How you gaue me a ryall commaundement
That in my courte Skelton shulde haue a place,
Bycause that his tyme he studyously hath spent
In your seruyce; and, to the accomplysshement
Of your request, regestred is his name
With laureate tryumphe in the courte of Fame.
How you gaue me a ryall commaundement
That in my courte Skelton shulde haue a place,
Bycause that his tyme he studyously hath spent
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 with all there holl corage,
So that there workis myght famously be sene,
In figure wherof they were the laurell grene;
But how it is, Skelton is wonder slake,
And, as we dare, we fynde in hym grete lake:
Of auncient poetis, ye wote full wele, hath bene
Them selfe to embesy with all there holl corage,
So that there workis myght famously be sene,
In figure wherof they were the laurell grene;
But how it is, Skelton is wonder slake,
And, as we dare, we fynde in hym grete lake:
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 pocioun
Of Elyconis well, refresshid with your grace,
And wyll not endeuour hymselfe to purchase
The fauour of ladys with wordis electe,
It is sittynge that ye must hym correct.
Out of my bokis full sone I shulde hym rase;
But sith he hath tastid of the sugred pocioun
Of Elyconis well, refresshid with your grace,
And wyll not endeuour hymselfe to purchase
The fauour of ladys with wordis electe,
It is sittynge that ye must hym correct.
| The Poetical Works of John Skelton | |