The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 2 (of 2)Skelton, John
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The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 2 (of 2)
Skelton, John
English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
Page 173. _Apud Trumpinton scriptum per Curatum ejusdem, &c._] A passage
wrongly understood by Skelton’s biographers: see _Account of his Life and
Writings_.
Page 174.
_Diligo rustincum cum portant bis duo quointum,_
_Et cantant delos est mihi dulce melos_]
The Rev. J. Mitford proposes to read—
Diligo rusticulum cum portat Dis duo quintum,
Et cantat Delos, est mihi dulce melos:
understanding _duo quintum_ to mean decimum, a tenth or tithe, and
explaining the whole, I like the peasant when he brings his tithe to Dis,
and sings “Delos,”—pays it from motives of devotion.
LAMENTATIO URBIS NORVICEN.
In 1507, the city of Norwich was “almost utterly defaced” by two dreadful
fires: the first broke out on 25th April, and lasted for four days;
the second began 4th June, and continued for two days and a night. See
Blomefield’s _Hist. of Norfolk_, ii. 131. ed. fol.
IN BEDEL, &C.
Page 175.
_Mortuus est asinus,_
_Qui pinxit mulum_]
“_Mulum de asino pingere_, Dici potest, quando exemplar et res efficta
non multum inter se distant; vel quando ineptiæ ineptiis repræsentantur,
vel mendacia mendaciis astruuntur. Magna similitudo inter asinum et mulum
est. Tertullianus. [_Adv. Valent._ cap. xix.].” Erasmi _Adagia_, p. 1663.
ed. 1606.
EPITAPHIUM IN HENRICUM SEPTIMUM.
Page 178. Henry the Seventh died April 21st, 1509, in the 24th year of
his reign (see Sir H. Nicolas’s _Chron. of Hist._ pp. 333, 350. sec.
ed.), and in the 52d (according to some authorities, the 53d) year of his
age; and was interred in the splendid chapel which bears his name.
“Here lieth buried in one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe, both for
the Chappell, and for the Sepulchre, the body of Henry the seuenth....
This glorious rich Tombe is compassed about with verses, penned by that
Poet Laureat (as he stiles himselfe) and Kings Orator, Iohn Skelton: I
will take onely the shortest of his Epitaphs or Eulogiums, and most to
the purpose.
Septimus hic situs est Henricus, gloria Regum
Cunctorum, ipsius qui tempestate fuerunt,
Ingenio atque opibus gestarum et nomine rerum,
Accessere quibus nature dona benigne:
Frontis honos, facies augusta, heroica forma,
Junctaque ei suauis coniux, perpulchra, pudica,
Et fecunda fuit: felices prole parentes,
Henricum quibus octauum terra Anglia debes.”
Weever’s _Anc. Fun. Mon._, p. 476. ed. 1631.
But the above lines are not in Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_; nor
are they assigned to him in _Reges, Reginæ, Nobiles, et alii in Ecclesia
Collegiata B. Petri Westmonasterii sepulti_, &c. 1603,—where they occur,
sig. D.
—— _ad sinceram contemplationem reverendi in Christo patris ac domini,
domini Johannis Islippæ abbatis Westmonasteriensis_] So Skelton again in
his _Replycacion_, &c. “ad cujus auspicatissimam _contemplationem_, sub
memorabili prelo gloriosæ immortalitatis, præsens pagella felicitatur,
&c.” vol. i. 206; and in his _Garlande of Laurell_,—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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