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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MAGNYFYCENCE: PART 2, by JOHN SKELTON Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: What nowe let se Last Line: Is there no horson that knaue that wyll bete. | |||
What nowe let se; Who loketh on me Well rounde aboute; Howe gay and howe stoute That I can were; [845] Courtly my gere My heyre bussheth; So plesauntly My robe russheth; So ruttyngly [850] Me seme I flye; I am so lyght To daunce de lyght Properly drest; All poynte deuyse [855] My persone prest; Beyonde all syse Of the newe gyse To russhe it oute; In euery route [860] Beyonde measure; My sleue is wyde Al of pleasure My hose strayte tyde; My buskyn wyde [865] Ryche to beholde; Gletterynge in golde Abusyon; Forsothe I hyght Confusyon; [870] Shall on hym lyght By day or by nyght; That vseth me He can not thee A very fon; [875] A very asse Wyll take vpon; To compasse That neuer was; Abusyd before [880] A very pore; That so wyll do He doth abuse; Hym selfe to to He dothe mysse vse; [885] Eche man to akuse To crake and prate; I be foule his pate This newe fonne Iet; From out of Fraunce [890] Fyrst I dyd set; Made purueaunce And suche ordenaunce That all men it founde; Through out Englonde [895] All this nacyon; I set on fyre In my facyon This theyr desyre; This newe a tyre [900] This ladyes haue; I it them gaue Spare for no coste And yet in dede; It is coste loste [905] Moche more than nede; For to excede In suche aray Howe be it I say; A carlys sonne [910] Brought vp of nought Wyth me wyll wonne; Whylyst he hath ought He wyll haue wrought His gowne so wyde; [915] That he may hyde His dame and his syre; Within his slyue Spende all his hyre; That men hym gyue [920] Wherfore I preue; A tyborne checke Shall breke his necke Here cometh in fansy craynge stow stow. All is out of harre; And out of trace [925] Ay warre and warre; In euery place But what the deuyll art thou; That cryest stow stow Fansy. What whom haue we here Ienkyn Ioly [930] Nowe welcom by the god holy Courtly abusyon What fansy my frende howe doste thou fare Fansy. By cryst as mery as a marche hare Courtly abusyon What the deuyll hast thou on thy fyste; an owle Fansy. Nay it is a farly fowle [935] Courtly abusyon Me thynke she frowneth and lokys sowre Fansy. Torde man it is an hawke of the towre She is made for the malarde fat Courtly abusyon Me thynke she is well becked to catche a rat But nowe what tydynges can you tell let se [940] Fansy. Mary I am come for the Courtly abusyon For me Fansy. Ye for the so I say [930] Courtly abusyon Howe so tell me I the pray Fansy. Why harde thou not of the fray [945] That fell amonge vs this same day Courtly abusyon No mary not yet Fansy. What the deuyll neuer a whyt. Courtly abusyon No by the masse what sholde I swere Fansy. In faythe lyberte is nowe a lusty spere [950] Courtly abusyon Why vnder whom was he abydynge Fansy. Mary mesure had hym a whyle in gydynge Tyll as the deuyll wolde they fell a chydynge With crafty conuayaunce Courtly abusyon Ye dyd they so Fansy. Ye by goddes sacrament and with other mo Courtly abusyon What neded that in the dyuyls date Fansy. Yes yes he fell with me also at debate Courtly abusyon With the also; what he playeth the state Fansy. Ye but I bade hym pyke out of the gate [960] By goddes body so dyd I Courtly abusyon By the masse well done and boldely Fansy. Holde thy pease measure shall frome vs walke. Courtly abusyon Why is he crossed than with a chalke Fansy. Crossed; ye checked out of consayte [965] Courtly abusyon Howe so Fansy. By god by a praty slyght As here after thou shalte knowe more But I must tary here; go thou before Courtly abusyon With whom shall I there mete. [970] Fansy. Crafty conueyaunce standeth in the strete Euen of purpose for the same Courtly abusyon Ye but what shall I call my name Fansy. Cockes harte tourne the let me se thyne aray Cockes bones this is all of Iohnn de gay [975] Courtly abusyon So I am poynted after my consayte Fansy. Mary thou Iettes it of hyght Courtly abusyon Ye but of my name let vs be wyse Fansy. Mary lusty pleasure by myne aduyse To name thyselfe come of it were done [980] Courtly abusyon Farewell my frende Fansy. Adue tyll sone Exit COURTLY ABUSYON Stowe byrde stowe stowe It is best I fede my hawke now There is many euyll faueryd and thou be foule [985] Eche thynge is fayre when it is yonge; all hayle owle Lo this is My fansy Iwys Nowe cryst it blysse It is by Iesse [990] A byrde full swete; For me full mete She is furred for the hete All to the fete Her browys bent; [995] Her eyen glent From tyne to trent; From stroude to kent A man shall fynde; Many of her kynde [1000] Howe standeth the wynde; Before or behynde Barbyd lyke a nonne; For burnynge of the sonne Her fethers donne; [1005] Well faueryd bonne Nowe let me se about; In all this rowte Yf I can fynde out; So semely a snowte [1010] Amonge this prese; Euen a hole mese Pease man pease; I rede we sease So farly fayre as it lokys [1015] And her becke so comely crokys Her naylys sharpe as tenter hokys I haue not kept her yet thre wokys And howe styll she dothe syt Teuyt teuyt; [1020] Where is my wyt The deuyll spede whyt That was before I set behynde Nowe to curteys forthwith vnkynde Somtyme to sober; somtyme to sadde [1025] Somtyme to mery; somtyme to madde Somtyme I syt as I were solempe prowde Somtyme I laughe ouer lowde Somtyme I wepe for a gew gaw Somtyme I laughe at waggynge of a straw [1030] With a pere my loue you may wynne And ye may lese it for a pynne I haue a thynge for to say And I may tende therto for play But in faythe I am so occupyed [1035] On this halfe and on euery syde That I wote not where I may rest. Fyrst to tell you what were best. Frantyke fansy seruyce I hyght My wyttys be weke my braynys are lyght [1040] For it is I that other whyle Plucke downe lede and theke with tyle Nowe I wyll this and nowe I wyll that Make a wyndmyll of a mat Nowe I wolde and I wyst what [1045] Where is my cappe I haue lost my hat And within an houre after Plucke downe an house and set vp a rafter Hyder and thyder I wote not whyder Do and vndo bothe togyder [1050] Of a spyndell I wyll make a sparre All that I make forthwith I marre I blunder I bluster I blowe and I blother I make on the one day and I marre on the other Bysy bysy and euer bysy [1055] I daunce vp and downe tyll I am dyssy I can fynde fantasyes where none is I wyll not haue it; so I wyll haue it this Hic ingrediatur Foly quatiendo crema et faciendo multum feriendo tabulas et similia. Foly Maysters cryst saue euerychone What fansy arte thou here alone [1060] Fansy. What fonnysshe foly I befole thy face Foly What frantyke fansy in a foles case What is this an owle or a glede By my trouthe she hathe a grete hede. Fansy. Tusshe thy lyppes hange in thyne eye. [1065] It is a frenche butterflye Foly By my trouthe I trowe well But she is lesse a grete dele Than a butterflye of our lande Fansy. What pylde curre ledest thou in thy hande [1070] Foly A pylde curre Fansy. Ye so I tell the a pylde curre Foly Yet I solde his skynne to macke murre In the stede of a budge furre Fansy. What fleyest thou his skynne euery yere [1075] Foly Yes in faythe I thanke god I may here Fansy. What thou wylte coughe me a dawe for forty pens Foly Mary syr cokermowthe is a good way hens Fansy. What; of cokermowth spake I no worde Foly By my faythe syr the frubyssher hath my sworde [1080] Fansy. A I trowe ye shall coughe me a fole Foly In faythe trouthe ye say we wente togyder to scole Fansy. Ye but I can somwhat more of the letter Foly I wyll not gyue an halfepeny for to chose the better. Fansy. But broder foly I wonder moche of one thynge [1085] That thou so hye fro me doth sprynge And I so lytell alway styll Foly By god I can tell the and I wyll Thou art so feble fantastycall And so braynsyke therwithall [1090] And thy wyt wanderynge here and there That thou cannyst not growe out of thy boyes gere And as for me I take but one folysshe way And therfore I growe more on one day Than thou can in yerys seuen. [1095] Fansy. In faythe trouth thou sayst nowe by god of heuen For so with fantasyes my wyt dothe flete That wysdome and I shall seldome mete Nowe of good felowshyp let me by thy dogge Foly Cockys harte thou lyest I am no hogge [1100] Fansy. Here is no man that callyd the hogge nor swyne Foly In faythe man my brayne is as good as thyne Fansy. The deuyls torde for thy brayne Foly By my syers soule I fele no rayne Fansy. By the masse I holde the madde [1105] Foly Mary I knewe the when thou waste a ladde Fansy. Cockys bonys herde ye euer syke another Foly Ye a fole the tone and a fole the tother Fansy. Nay but wotest thou what I do say Foly Why sayst thou that I was here yesterday [1110] Fansy. Cockys armys this is a warke I trowe Foly What callyst thou me a donnyshe crowe Fansy. Nowe in good faythe thou art a fonde gest Foly Ye bere me this strawe to a dawys nest Fansy. What wenyst thou that I were so folysshe & so fonde [1115] Foly In faythe ellys is there none in all Englonde Fansy. Yet for my fansy sake I say Let me haue thy dogge what soeuer I pay Foly Thou shalte haue my purse and I wyll haue thyne Fansy. By my trouth there is myne [1120] Foly Nowe by my trouth man take there is my purse And I beshrowe hym that hath the worse Fansy. Torde I say what haue I do. Here is nothynge but the bockyll of a sho And in my purse was twenty marke [1125] Foly Ha ha ha herke syrs harke For all that my name hyght foly By the masse yet art thou more fole than I Fansy. Yet gyue me thy dogge and I am content And thou shalte haue my hauke to a botchment [1130] Foly That euer thou thryue god it forfende For goddes cope thou wyll spende Nowe take thou my dogge and gyue me thy fowle Fansy. Hay chysshe come hyder Foly Nay torde take hym be tyme Fansy. What callest thou thy dogge Foly Tusshe his name is gryme. Fansy. Come gryme come gryme it is my praty dogges Foly In faythe there is not a better dogge for hogges Not from Anwyke vnto aungey [1140] Fansy. Ye but trowest thou that he be not maungey. Foly No by my trouthe it is but the scurfe and the scabbe Fansy. What he hathe ben hurte with a stabbe Foly Nay in faythe it was but a strype That the horson had for etynge of a trype [1145] Fansy. Where the deuyll gate he all these hurtes Foly By god for snatchynge of puddynges and wortes Fansy. What then he is some good poore mannes curre Foly Ye but he wyll in at euery mannes dore Fansy. Nowe thou hast done me a pleasure grete [1150] Foly In faythe I wolde thou had a marmosete Fansy. Cockes harte I loue suche Iapes Foly Ye for all thy mynde is on owles and apes But I haue thy pultre and thou hast my catell Fansy. Ye but thryfte and we haue made a batell [1155] Foly Remembrest thou not the Iapes and the toyes Fansy. What that we vsed whan we were boyes Foly Ye by the rode euen the same Fansy. Yes yes I am yet as full of game As euer I was and as full of tryfyls [1160] Nil nichelum nihil anglice nyfyls Foly What canest thou all this lutyn yet. And hath so mased a wandrynge wyt Fansy. Tushe man I kepe some latyn in store Foly By cockes harte I wene thou hast no more [1165] Fansy. No; yes in faythe I can versyfy Foly Then I pray the hartely. Make a verse of my butterfly It forseth not of the reason so it kepe ryme Fansy. But wylte thou make another on gryme [1170] Foly Nay in fayth fyrst let me here thyne Fansy. Mary as for that thou shalte sone here myne Fansy. Est suauis uago with a shrewde face vilis Imago Foly Grimbaldus gredy snatche a puddyng tyl the rost be redy Fansy. By the harte of god well done [1175] Foly Ye so redely and so sone Here cometh in crafty conueyaunce. Crafty conuey. What fansy; let me se who is the tother Fansy. By god syr foly myne owne sworne brother Crafty conuey. Cockys bonys it is a farle freke Can he play well at the hoddypeke [1180] Fansy. Tell by thy trouth what sport can thou make. Foly A holde thy peas I haue the tothe ake Crafty conuey. The tothe ake? lo a torde ye haue Foly Ye thou haste the four quarters of a knaue Crafty conuey. Wotyst thou I say to whom thou spekys [1185] Fansy. Nay by cockys harte he ne reckys For he wyll speke to magnyfycence thus Crafty conuey. Cockys armys a mete man for vs Foly What wolde ye haue mo folys and are so many Fansy. Nay offer hym a counter in stede of a peny [1190] Crafty conuey. Why thynkys thou he can no better skyll Foly In fayth I can make you bothe folys and I wyll Crafty conuey. What haste thou on thy fyst a kesteryll Foly Nay Iwys fole it is a doteryll Crafty conuey. In a cote thou can play well the dyser [1195] Foly Ye but thou can play the fole without a vyser Fansy. Howe rode he by you; howe put he to you Crafty conuey. Mary as thou sayst; he gaue me a blurre But where gatte thou that mangey curre Fansy. Mary it was his and nowe it is myne [1200] Crafty conuey. And was it his and nowe it is thyne Thou must haue thy fansy and thy wyll But yet thou shalt holde me a fole styll Foly Why wenyst thou that I cannot make the play the fon Fansy. Yes by my faythe good syr Iohnn [1205] Crafty conuey. For you bothe it were Inough Foly Why wenyst thou that I were as moche a fole as thou Fansy. Nay nay thou shalte fynde hym another maner of man Foly In faythe I can do mastryes so I can Crafty conuey. What canest thou do but play cocke wat [1210] Fansy. Yes yet he wyll make the ete a gnat Foly Yes yes by my trouth I holde the a grote That I shall laughe the out of thy cote Crafty conuey. Than wyll I say that thou haste no pere Fansy. Nowe by the rode and he wyll go nere [1215] Foly Hem fansy regardes voyes Here foly maketh semblaunt to take a lowse from crafty conueyaunce showlder. Fansy. What hast thou founde there Foly By god a lowse Crafty conuey. By cockes harte I trowe thou lyste Foly By the masse a spaynysshe moght with a gray lyste. [1220] Fansy. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Crafty conuey. Cockes armes it is not so I trowe. Here crafty conueyaunce putteth of his gowne. Foly Put on thy gowne agayne for thou hast lost nowe. Fansy. Lo Iohnn a bonam where is thy brayne. Nowe put on fole thy cote agayne [1225] Foly Gyue me my grote for thou hast lost Here foly maketh semblaunt to take money of crafty conueyaunce saynge to hym. Shyt thy purse dawe and do no cost Fansy. Nowe hast thou not a prowde mocke & a starke. Crafty conuey. With yes by the rode of wodstocke parke. Fansy. Nay I tell the he maketh no dowtes [1230] To tourne a fole out of his clowtes. Crafty conuey. And for a fole a man wolde hym take Foly Nay it is I that foles can make For be he cayser or be he kynge To felowshyp with foly I can hym brynge [1235] Fansy. Nay wylte thou here nowe of his scoles. And what maner of people he maketh foles. Crafty conuey. Ye let vs here a worde or twayne Foly Syr of my maner I shall tell you the playne Fyrst I lay before them my bybyll [1240] And teche them howe they sholde syt ydyll To pyke theyr fyngers all the day longe So in theyr eyre I synge them a songe And make them so longe to muse. That some of them renneth strayght to the stuse [1245] To thefte and bryboury I make some fall. And pyke a locke and clyme a wall And where I spy a nysot gay That wyll syt ydyll all the day And can not set herselfe to warke [1250] I kyndell in her suche a lyther sparke That rubbed she must be on the gall Bytwene the tappet and the wall Crafty conuey. What horson arte thou suche a one Fansy. Nay beyonde all other set hym alone [1255] Crafty conuey. Hast thou ony more let se procede. Foly Ye by god syr for a nede I haue another maner of sorte That I laugh at for my dysporte And those be they that come vp of nought [1260] As some be not ferce and yf it were well sought Suche dawys what soeuer they be That be set in auctorite Anone he waxyth so hy and prowde He frownyth fyersly brymly browde [1265] The knaue wolde make it koy and he cowde All that he dothe muste be alowde And this is not well done syr take hede And maketh hym besy where is no nede He dawnsys so longe hey troly loly [1270] That euery man lawghyth at his foly Crafty conuey. By the good lorde truthe he sayth Fansy. Thynkyst thou not so by thy fayth Crafty conuey. Thynke I not so quod he ellys haue I shame For I knowe dyuerse that vseth the same [1275] Foly But nowe forsothe man it maketh no mater For they that wyll so bysely smater So helpe me god man euer at the length I make hym lese moche of theyr strength For with foly so do I them lede [1280] That wyt he wantyth when he hath moste nede Fansy. Forsothe tell on hast thou any mo Foly Yes I shall tell you or I go Of dyuerse mo that hauntyth my scolys Crafty conuey. All men beware of suche folys [1285] Foly There be two lyther rude and ranke Symkyn tytyuell and pers pykthanke Theys lythers I lerne them for to lere What he sayth and she sayth to lay good ere And tell to his sufferayne euery whyt [1290] And then he is moche made of for his wyt And be the mater yll more or lesse He wyll make it mykyll worse than it is But all that he dothe and yf he reken well It is but foly euery dell [1295] Fansy. Are not his wordys cursydly cowchyd Crafty conuey. By god there be some that be shroudly towchyd But I say let se and yf thou haue any more Foly I haue an hole armory of suche haburdashe in store For there be other that foly dothe vse [1300] That folowe fonde fantasyes and vertu refuse Fansy. Nay that is my parte that thou spekest of nowe. Foly So is all the remenaunt I make god auowe For thou fourmest suche fantasyes in theyr mynde That euery man almost groweth out of kynde. [1305] Crafty conuey. By the masse I am glad that I came hyder. To here you two rutters dyspute togyder Fansy. Nay but fansy must be eyther fyrst or last Foly But whan foly cometh all is past Fansy. I wote not whether it cometh of the or of me [1310] But all is foly that I can se Crafty conuey. Mary syr ye may swere it on a boke Foly Ye tourne ouer the lefe rede there and loke Howe frantyke fansy fyrst of all Maketh man and woman in foly to fall [1315] Crafty conuey. A syr a a howe by that Fansy. A peryllous thynge to cast a cat Vpon a naked man and yf she scrat Foly So how I say the hare is squat For frantyke fansy thou makest men madde [1320] And I foly bryngeth them to qui fuit gadde With qui fuit brayne seke I haue them brought From qui fuit aliquid to shyre shakynge nought Crafty conuey. Well argued and surely on bothe sydes But for the fansy magnyfycence abydes [1325] Fansy. Why shall I not haue foly with me also. Crafty conuey. Yes perde man whether that ye ryde or go Yet for his name we must fynde a slyght Fansy. By the masse he shall hyght consayte Crafty conuey. Not a better name vnder the sonne [1330] With magnyfycence thou shalte wonne Foly God haue mercy good godfather Crafty conuey. Yet I wolde that ye had gone rather. For as sone as you come in magnyfycence syght All mesure and good rule is gone quyte [1335] Fansy. And shall we haue lyberte to do what we wyll Crafty conuey. Ryot at lyberte russheth it out styll Foly Ye but tell me one thynge Crafty conuey. What is that Foly Who is mayster of the masshe fat Fansy. Ye for he hathe a full dry soule Crafty conuey. Cockes armes thou shalte kepe the brewhouse boule. Foly But may I drynke therof whylest that I stare Crafty conuey. When mesure is gone what nedest thou spare Whan mesure is gone we may slee care [1345] Foly Nowe then goo we hens; away the mare Exeunt Fansy and Foly Crafty conueyaunce alone in the place. Crafty conuey. It is wonder to se the worlde aboute To se what foly is vsed in euery place Foly hath a rome I say in euery route To put where he lyst foly hath fre chace [1350] Foly and fansy all where euery man dothe face & brace Foly fotyth it properly fansy ledyth the dawnce And next come I after crafty conueyaunce Who so to me gyueth good aduertence Shall se many thyngys donne craftely [1355] By me conueyed is wanton insolence .......................................... Pryuy poyntmentys conueyed so properly For many tymes moche kyndnesse is denyed For drede that we dare not ofte lest we be spyed [1360] By me is conueyed mykyll praty ware Somtyme I say behynde the dore for nede I haue an hoby can make larkys to dare I knyt togyther many a broken threde It is great almesse the hungre to fede [1365] To clothe the nakyd where is lackynge a smocke Trymme at her tayle or a man can turne a socke What howe be ye mery was it not well conueyed As oft as ye lyst so honeste be sauyd Alas dere harte loke that we be not perseyuyd [1370] Without crafte nothynge is well behauyd Though I shewe you curtesy say not that I craued Yet conuey it craftely and hardely spare not for me So that there knowe no man but I and she Thefte also and pety brybery [1375] Without me be full oft aspyed My inwyt delynge there can no man dyscry Conuey it be crafte lyft and lay a syde Full moche flatery and falsehode I hyde And by crafty conueyaunce I wyll and I can [1380] Saue a stronge thefe and hange a trew man But some man wolde conuey and can not skyll As malypert tauernars that checke with theyr betters Theyr conueyaunce weltyth the worke all by wyll And some wyll take vpon them to conterfet letters [1385] And therwith all conuey hymselfe into a payre of fetters And some wyll conuey by the pretence of sadnesse Tyll all theyr conueyaunce is turnyd into madnesse Crafty conueyaunce is no chyldys game By crafty conueyaunce many one is [1390] brought vp of nought Crafty conueyaunce can cloke hymselfe frome shame For by crafty conueyaunce wonderful thynges are wrought By conuayaunce crafty I haue brought Unto magnyfycence a full vngracyous sorte For all hokes vnhappy to me haue resorte [1395] Here cometh in Magnyfycence with Lyberte and Felycyte. Magnyfycence Trust me lyberte it greueth me ryght sore To se you thus ruled and stande in suche awe. Lyberte. Syr as by my wyll it shall be so no more. Felycyte. Yet lyberte without rule is not worth a strawe. Magnyfycence Tushe holde your peas ye speke lyke a dawe [1400] Ye shall be occupyed welthe at my wyll Crafty conuey. All that ye say syr is reason and skyll Magnyfycence Mayster suruayour where haue ye ben so longe Remembre ye not how my lyberte by mesure ruled was Crafty conuey. In good faythe syr me semeth he had the more wronge [1405] Lyberte. Mary syr so dyd he excede and passe They droue me to lernynge lyke a dull asse Felycyte. It is good yet that lyberte be ruled by reason Magnyfycence Tushe holde your peas ye speke out of season. Yourselfe shall be ruled by lyberte and largesse [1410] Felycyte. I am content so it in measure be Lyberte. Must mesure in the mares name you furnysshe & dresse Magnyfycence Nay nay not so my frende felycyte Crafty conuey. Not and your grace wolde be ruled by me Lyberte. Nay he shall be ruled euen as I lyst [1415] Felycyte. Yet it is good to beware of had I wyst. Magnyfycence Syr by lyberte and largesse I wyll that ye shall Be gouerned and gyded wote ye what I say Mayster suruayour largesse to me call Crafty conuey. It shall be done [1420] Magnyfycence Ye but byd hym come away At ones; and let hym not tary all day [1400] Here goth out Crafty conuayaunce. Felycyte. Yet it is good wysdome to worke wysely by welth. Lyberte. Holde thy tonge and thou loue thy helth Magnyfycence What wyll ye waste wynde and prate thus in vayne. [1425] Ye haue eten sauce I trowe at the taylers hall Lyberte. Be not to bolde my frende I counsell you bere a brayne Magnyfycence And what so we say holde you content withall. Felycyte. Syr yet without sapyence your substaunce may be smal For where is no mesure howe may worshyp endure. [1430] Here cometh in Fansy. Fansy. Syr I am here at your pleasure Your grace sent for me I wene; what is your wyll Magnyfycence Come hyther largesse take here felycyte Fansy. Why wene you that I can kepe hym longe styll. Magnyfycence To rule as ye lyst lo here is lyberte [1435] Lyberte. I am here redy Fansy. What shall we Haue welth at our gydynge to rule as we lyst [1415] Then fare well thryfte by hym that crosse kyst. Felycyte. I truste your grace wyll be agreabyll [1440] That I shall suffer none impechment By theyr demenaunce nor losse repryuable Magnyfycence Syr ye shall folowe myne appetyte and intent Felycyte. So it be by mesure I am ryght well content Fansy. What all by mesure good syr and none excesse [1445] Lyberte. Why welth hath made many a man braynlesse Felycyte. That was by the menys of to moche lyberte Magnyfycence What can ye agree thus and appose Felycyte. Syr as I say there was no faute in me Lyberte. Ye of Iacke a thrommys bybyll can ye make a glose [1450] Fansy. Sore sayde I tell you and well to the purpose What sholde a man do with you loke you vnder kay Felycyte. I say it is foly to gyue all welth away Lyberte. Whether sholde welth be rulyd by lyberte Or lyberte by welth let se tell me that [1455] Felycyte. Syr as me semeth ye sholde be rulyd be me Magnyfycence What nede you with hym thus prate and chat Fansy. Shewe vs your mynde then howe to do and what Magnyfycence I say that I wyll ye haue hym in gydynge Lyberte. Mayster felycyte let be your chydynge [1460] And so as ye se it wyll be no better Take it in worthe suche as ye fynde Fansy. What the deuyll man your name shalbe the greter For welth without largesse is all out of kynde Lyberte. And welth is nought worthe; yf lyberte be behynde [1465] Magnyfycence Nowe holde ye content for there is none other shyfte Felycyte. Than waste must be welcome and fare well thryfte Magnyfycence Take of his substaunce a sure inuentory And get you home togyther for lyberte shall byde And wayte vpon me [1470] Lyberte. And yet for a memory Make indentures howe ye and I shal gyde Fansy. I can do nothynge but he stonde besyde Lyberte. Syr we can do nothynge the one without the other Magnyfycence Well get you hens than and sende me some other [1475] Fansy. Whom lusty pleasure or mery consayte Magnyfycence Nay fyrst lusty pleasure is my desyre to haue And let the other another time awayte Howe be it that fonde felowe is a mery knaue But loke that ye occupye the auctoryte that I you gaue [1480] Here goeth out felycyte; lyberte; and fansy. Magnyfycence alone in the place. For nowe syrs I am lyke as a prynce sholde be I haue welth at wyll largesse and lyberte Fortune to her lawys can not abandune me But I shall of fortune rule the reyne I fere nothynge fortunes perplexyte [1485] All honour to me must nedys stowpe and lene I synge of two partys without a mene I haue wynde and wether ouer all to sayle No stormy rage agaynst me can peruayle Alexander of Macedony kynge That all the oryent had in subieccyon Though al his conquestys were brought to rekenynge Myght seme ryght wel vnder my proteccyon To rayne? for all his marcyall affeccyon For I am prynce perlesse prouyd of porte [1495] Bathyd with blysse embracyd with comforte Syrus that soleme syar of Babylon That Israell releysyd of theyr captyuyte For al his pompe; for all his ryall trone He may not be comparyd vnto me [1500] I am the dyamounde dowtlesse of dygnyte Surely it is I that all may saue and spyll No man so hardy to worke agaynst my wyll Porcenya the prowde prouoste of turky lande That ratyd the romaynes and made them yll rest [1505] Nor Cesar Iuly that no man myght withstande Were neuer halfe so rychely as I am drest No that I assure you loke who was the best I reyne in my robys I rule as me lyst I dryue downe these dastardys with a dynt of my fyste [1510] Of Cato the counte acountyd the cane Daryus the doughty cheftayn of perse I set not by the prowdest of them a prane Ne by non other that any man can rehersse I folowe in felycyte without reuersse [1515] I drede no daunger I dawnce all in delyte My name is magnyfycence man most of myght Hercules the herdy with his stobburne clobbyd mase That made Cerberus to cache the cur dogge of hell And Thesius that prowde was Pluto to face [1520] It wolde not become them with me for to mell For of all barones bolde I bere the bell Of all doughty I am doughtyest duke as I deme To me all prynces to lowte man beseme Cherlemayne that mantenyd the nobles of Fraunce [1525] Arthur of albyan for all his brymme berde Nor basyan the bolde for all his brybaunce Nor alerycus that rulyd the gothyaunce by swerd Nor no man on molde can make me aferd What man is so maysyd with me that dare mete [1530] I shall flappe hym as a fole to fall at my fete Galba whom his galantys garde for a gaspe Nor nero that nother set by god nor man Nor vaspasyan that bare in his nose a waspe Nor hanyball agayne rome gates that ranne [1535] Nor yet cypyo that noble cartage wanne Nor none so hardy of them with me that durste crake But I shall frounce them on the foretop & gar them to quake Here cometh in courtly abusyon doynge reuerence and courtesy. Courtly abusyon At your commaundement syr wyth all dew reuerence Magnyfycence Welcom pleasure to our magnyfycence [1540] Courtly abusyon Plesyth it your grace to shewe what I do shall Magnyfycence Let vs here of your pleasure to passe the tyme withall Courtly abusyon Syr then with the fauour of your benynge sufferaunce To shewe you my mynde my selfe I wyll auaunce If it lyke your grace to take it in degre [1545] Magnyfycence Yes syr so good man in you I se And in your delynge so good assuraunce That we delyte gretly in your dalyaunce. Courtly abusyon A syr your grace me dothe extole and rayse And ferre beyond my merytys ye me commende & prayse [1550] Howe be it I wolde be ryght gladde I you assure Any thynge to do that myght be to your pleasure Magnyfycence As I be saued with pleasure I am supprysyd Of your langage it is so well deuysed Pullyshyd and fresshe is your ornacy [1555] Courtly abusyon A I wolde to god that I were halfe so crafty Or in electe vtteraunce halfe so eloquent As that I myght your noble grace content Magnyfycence Truste me with you I am hyghly pleasyd For in my fauour I haue you feffyd and seasyd [1560] He is not lyuynge your maners can amend Mary your speche is as pleasant as though it were pend To here your comon it is my hygh comforte Poynt deuyse all pleasure is your porte Courtly abusyon Syr I am the better of your noble reporte [1565] But of your pacyence vnder the supporte If it wolde lyke you to here my pore mynde Magnyfycence Speke I beseche the leue nothynge behynde Courtly abusyon So as ye be a prynce of great myght It is semynge your pleasure ye delyte [1570] And to aqueynte you with carnall delectacyon And to fall in a quayntaunce with euery newe facyon And quyckely your appetytes to sharpe and adresse To fasten your fansy vpon a fayre maystresse That quyckly is enuyued with rudyes of the rose [1575] Inpurtured with fetures after your purpose The streynes of her vaynes as asure Inde blewe. Enbudded with beautye and colour fresshe of hewe As lyly whyte to loke vpon her leyre Her eyen relucent as carbuncle so clere. [1580] Her mouthe enbawmed dylectable and mery Her lusty lyppes ruddy as the chery. Howe lyke you; ye lacke syr suche a lusty lasse Magnyfycence A that were a baby to brace and to basse I wolde I had by hym that hell dyd harowe [1585] With me in kepynge suche a phylyp sparowe I wolde hauke whylest my hede dyd warke So I myght hobby for suche a lusty larke These wordes in myne eyre they be so lustely spoken That on suche a female my flesshe wolde be wroken [1590] They towche me so thorowly and tykyll my consayte. That weryed I wolde be on suche a bayte A cockes armes where myght suche one be founde Courtly abusyon Wyll ye spende ony money Magnyfycence Ye a thousande pounde Courtly abusyon Nay nay for lesse I waraunt you to be sped And brought home and layde in your bed Magnyfycence Wolde money trowest thou make suche one to the call Courtly abusyon Money maketh marchauntes I tell you ouer all Magnyfycence Why wyl a maystres be wonne for money & for golde [1600] Courtly abusyon Why was not for money troy bothe bought and solde Full many a strong cyte and towne hath been wonne. By the meanes of money without ony gonne. A maystres I tell you is but a small thynge A goodly rybon or a golde rynge [1605] May wynne with a sawte the fortresse of the holde But one thynge I warne you prece forth and be bolde Magnyfycence Ye but some be full koy and passynge harde harted. Courtly abusyon But blessyd be our lorde they wyll be sone conuerted. Magnyfycence Why wyll they then be intreted the most and the lest [1610] Courtly abusyon Ye for omnis mulier meritrix si celari potest Magnyfycence A I haue spyed ye can moche broken sorowe Courtly abusyon I coude holde you with suche talke hens tyll to morowe But yf it lyke your grace more at large Me to permyt my mynde to dyscharge [1615] I wolde yet shewe you further of my consayte Magnyfycence Let se what ye say shewe it strayte Courtly abusyon Wysely let these wordes in your mynde be wayed By waywarde wylfulnes let eche thynge be conuayed What so euer ye do folowe your owne wyll [1620] Be it reason or none it shall not gretely skyll Be it ryght or wronge by the aduyse of me Take your pleasure and vse free lyberte And yf you se ony thynge agaynst your mynde Then some occacyon or quarell ye must fynde [1625] And frowne it and face it as thoughe ye wolde fyght. Frete yourselfe for anger and for dyspyte Here no man what so euer they say But do as ye lyst and take your owne way Magnyfycence Thy wordes and my mynde odly well accorde. [1630] Courtly abusyon What sholde ye do elles are not you a lorde Let your lust and lykynge stande for a lawe. Be wrastynge and wrythynge and away drawe. And ye se a man that with hym ye be not pleased And that your mynde can not well be eased [1635] As yf a man fortune to touche you on the quyke Then feyne yourselfe dyseased and make yourselfe seke To styre vp your stomake you must you forge Call for a caudell and cast vp your gorge, With cockes armes rest shall I none haue [1640] Tyll I be reuenged on that horson knaue. A howe my stomake wambleth I am all in a swete Is there no horson that knaue that wyll bete. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
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