The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 1 (of 2)Skelton, John
General
The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 1 (of 2)
Skelton, John
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
_Fel._ Then, of very ryght,
With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght,
Sholde be your dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.
_Magn._ Yet we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.
_Fan._ As in that, I wyll not be agaynst your pleasure.
_Fel._ Syr, hardely remembre what may your name auaunce. 280
_Magn._ Largesse is laudable, so it in measure be.
_Fan._ Largesse is he that all prynces doth auaunce;
I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.
_Fel._ Why haue ye hym named, and all other refused?
_Fan._ For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell vsed.
Plucke vp your mynde, syr; what ayle you to muse?
Haue ye not welthe here at your wyll?
It is but a maddynge, these wayes that ye vse:
What auayleth lordshyp, yourselfe for to kyll
With care and with thought howe Jacke shall haue Gyl? 290
_Magn._ What? I haue aspyed ye are a carles page.
_Fan._ By God, syr, ye se but fewe wyse men of myne age;
But couetyse hath blowen you so full of wynde,
That _colica passio_ hath gropyd you by the guttys.
_Fel._ In fayth, broder Largesse, you haue a mery mynde.
_Fan._ In fayth, I set not by the worlde two Dauncaster cuttys.
_Magn._ Ye wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes:
Though Largesse ye hyght, your langage is to large;
For whiche ende goth forwarde ye take lytell charge.
_Fel._ Let se, this checke yf ye voyde canne. 300
_Fan._ In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole,
But yf I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.
_Magn._ Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe, when ye shal draw the pole.
_Fan._ In fayth, I wyll not say that ye shall proue a fole,
But ofte tymes haue I sene wyse men do mad dedys.
_Magn._ Go, shake the dogge,[784] hay, syth ye wyll nedys!
You are nothynge mete with vs for to dwell,
That with your lorde and mayster so pertly can prate:
Gete you hens, I say, by my counsell;
I wyll not vse you to play with me checke mate. 310
_Fan._ Syr, yf I haue offended your noble estate,
I trow I haue brought you suche wrytynge of recorde,
That I shall haue you agayne my good lorde:
To you recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,
And sendeth you this wrytynge closed vnder sele.
_Magn._ This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon:
Why kepte you it thus longe? howe dothe he? wele?
_Fan._ Syr, thanked be God, he hath his hele.
_Magn._ Welthe, gete you home, and commaunde me to Mesure;
Byd hym take good hede to you, my synguler tresure. 320
_Fel._ Is there ony thynge elles your grace wyll commaunde me?
_Magn._ Nothynge but fare you well tyll sone;
And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.
_Fel._ Your pleasure, syr, shortely shall be done.
_Magn._ I shall come to you myselfe, I trowe, this after none.[785]
I pray you, Larges, here to remayne,
Whylest I knowe what this letter dothe contayne.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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