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
_C. Count._ What, shall we iangle thus all the day styll?
_Cr. Con._ Nay, let vs our heddes togyder cast.
_Fan._ Ye, and se howe it may be compast,
That Mesure were cast out of the dores.
_C. Count._ Alasse, where is my botes and my spores?
_Cr. Con._ In all this hast whether wyll ye ryde?
_C. Count._ I trowe, it shall not nede to abyde.
Cockes woundes, se, syrs, se, se!
_Hic ingrediatur CLOKED COLUSYON cum elato aspectu, deorsum et sursum
ambulando._
_Fan._ Cockes armes, what is he?
_Cr. Con._ By Cockes harte, he loketh hye; 580
He hawketh, me thynke, for a butterflye.
_C. Count._ Nowe, by Cockes harte, well abyden,
For, had you not come, I had ryden.
_Cl. Col._ Thy wordes be but wynde, neuer they haue no wayght;
Thou hast made me play the iurde hayte.
_C. Count._ And yf ye knewe howe I haue mused,
I am sure ye wolde haue me excused.
_Cl. Col._ I say, come hyder: what are these twayne?
_C. Count._ By God, syr, this is Fansy small brayne;
And Crafty Conuayaunce, knowe you not hym? 590
_Cl. Col._ Knowe hym, syr! quod he; yes, by Saynt Sym.
Here is a leysshe of ratches to renne an hare:
Woo is that purse that ye shall share!
_Fan._ What call ye him, this?
_Cr. Con._ I trowe, that he is.
_C. Count._ Tushe, holde your pece.
Se you not howe they prece
For to knowe your name?
_Cl. Col._ Knowe they not me, they are to blame.
Knowe you not me, syrs? 600
_Fan._ No, in dede.
_Cr. Con._ Abyde, lette me se, take better hede:
Cockes harte, it is Cloked Colusyon.
_Cl. Col._ A, syr, I pray God gyue you confusyon!
_Fan._ Cockes armes, is that your name?
_C. Count._ Ye, by the masse, this is euen the same,
That all this matter must vnder grope.
_Cr. Con._ What is this he wereth, a cope?
_Cl. Col._ Cappe, syr; I say you be to bolde.
_Fan._ Se, howe he is wrapped for the colde: 610
Is it not a vestment?
_Cl. Col._ A, ye wante a rope.
_C. Count._ Tushe, it is Syr Johnn Double cloke.
_Fan._ Syr, and yf ye wolde not be wrothe—
_Cl. Col._ What sayst?
_Fan._ Here was to lytell clothe.
_Cl. Col._ A, Fansy, Fansy, God sende thé brayne!
_Fan._ Ye, for your wyt is cloked for the rayne.
_Cr. Con._ Nay, lette vs not clatter thus styll.
_Cl. Col._ Tell me, syrs, what is your wyll. 620
_C. Count._ Syr, it is so that these twayne
With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne;
And there they wolde haue me to dwell,
But I wyll be ruled after your counsell.
_Fan._ Mary, so wyll we also.
_Cl. Col._ But tell me where aboute ye go.
_C. Count._ By God, we wolde gete vs all thyder,
Spell the remenaunt, and do togyder.
_Cl. Col._ Hath Magnyfycence ony tresure?
_Cr. Con._ Ye, but he spendeth it all in mesure. 630
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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