[655] _rapidus_] The Rev. J. Mitford conjectures, “rabidus;” but _rapidus_ is frequently used in the same sense. [656] _benedictis_] Ed. “Benedictus;” and in the next line but one, “Maledictus.” [657] _Dis, tibi, &c._] The emendation of the Rev. J. Mitford: compare above, “Baillyue of Dis.”—Ed. “Sis _tibi baccatus_ Balians _prædominatus_.” [658] _sit_] Ed. “fit.” [659] _pejus_] Ed. “peuis.” [660] _scriptum_] Ed. “scripter.” _Diligo rustincum[661] cum portant bis duo quointum,_ _Et cantant delos est mihi dulce melos._ 1. _Canticum dolorosum._ [661] _Diligo rustincum, &c._] This and the following piece are from Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568. In that collection the present couplet is twice printed: “_rustincum_” is the reading of the first copy, “_rusticum_” (which the metre will not admit) of the second: the first copy has “_quonintum_,” the second “_quointum_;” the Editor of 1736 gave “_quantum_.” See notes for the conjectures of the Rev. J. Mitford on this enigma. “_Canticum dolorosum_” is probably part of the title of the next piece. LAMENTATIO URBIS NORVICEN. _O lacrymosa lues nimis, O quam flebile fatum!_ _Ignibus exosis, urbs veneranda, ruis;_ _Fulmina sive Jovis sive ultima fata vocabant,_ _vulcani rapidis ignibus ipsa peris._ _Ah[662] decus, ah patriæ specie pulcherrima dudum!_ _Urbs Norvicensis labitur[663] in cineres._ _Urbs, tibi quid referam? breviter tibi pauca reponam:_ _Prospera rara[664] manent, utere sorte tua;_ _Perpetuum mortale nihil, sors omnia versat:_ _Urbs miseranda, vale! sors miseranda tua est._ 10 Skelton.[665] [662] _Ah ... ah_] Ed. “Au ... au.” [663] _labitur_] Ed. “labitar.” [664] _rara_] Ed. “raro.” [665] _Skelton_] Ed. “inifiranda _Skelton_:” the former word perhaps having been inserted by some mistake of the printer, whose eye had caught “miseranda” in the preceding line. IN BEDEL, QUONDAM BELIAL INCARNATUM, DEVOTUM EPITAPHIUM. _Ismal, ecce, Bedel, non mel, sed fel, sibi des el![666]_ _Perfidus Achitophel, luridus atque lorell;_ _Nunc olet iste Jebal,[667] Nabal. S. Nabal, ecce, ribaldus!_ _Omnibus exosus atque perosus erat;_ _In plateaque cadens animam spiravit oleto:_ _Presbyteros odiens sic sine mente ruit._ _Discite vos omnes quid sit violare sacratos_ _Presbyteros, quia sic corruit iste canis._ _Cocytus cui si detur[668] per Tartara totus,_ _Sit, peto, promotus Cerberus huncque voret._ 10 _At mage sancta tamen mea Musa precabitur[669] atros_ _Hos lemuresque eat sic Bedel ad superos;_ _Non eat, immo ruat, non scandat, sed mage tendat,_ _Inque caput præceps mox Acheronta petat._ _Bedel. Quanta malignatus est inimicus in sancto!_[670] Psa. 73. [666] _des el_] The Rev. J. Mitford proposes “dorell.” [667] _Jebal_] Qy. “Jabel?” but I do not understand the line. [668] _si detur_] So the Rev. J. Mitford reads. Ed. “sic petus.”