Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MAGNYFYCENCE: PART 2, by JOHN SKELTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MAGNYFYCENCE: PART 2, by             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.





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