“In Clarissimi Scheltonis Louaniensis Poetæ Laudes Epigramma
Quum terra omnifero lætissima risit amictu,Plena novo fœtu quælibet arbor erat;Vertice purpurei vultus incepit honoresExtensis valvis pandere pulchra rosa;Et segetum tenero sub cortice grana tumescunt,Flavescens curvat pendula spica caput.Vix Cancri tropicos æstus lustravit anhelansPythius, et Nemeæ vertit ad ora feræ,Vesper solis equos oriens dum clausit Olympo,Agmina stellarum surgere cuncta jubet:Hic primo aspiceres ut Cynthia vecta serenoExtulerat surgens cornua clara polo;Inde Hydram cernas, stravit quam clava trinodisAlcidæ, nitidis emicuisse comis;Tum Procyon subiit, præpes Lepus, hinc Jovis ales,Arctos, et Engonasus, sidus et Eridani;Ignivomis retinet radiis quæ stellifer orbis(Quid multis remorer?) sidera cuncta micant.Nutat Atlanteum convexum pondus, ocellisDum lustro hæc ægris, vergit et oceano.Tum furtim alma quies repens mihi membra soporat,Curaque Lethæo flumine mersa jacet:O mihi quam placidis Icelos tulit aurea somnisSomnia, musiphilis non caritura fide!Nuncia percelebris Polyhymnia blanda salutansMe Clarii ut visam numina sacra citat.Ut sequar hanc lætus, mihi visus amœna viretaEt nemorum umbrosos præteriisse sinus:Scilicet hæc montes monstraverat inter eundumEt fontes Musæ quos coluere sacros;Castalios latices, Aganippidos atque MeduseiVidimus alipedis flumina rupta pede;Antra hinc Libethri monstrat Pimpleidos undas,Post vada Cephisi, Phocidos atque lacus;Nubifer assurgit mons Pierus atque Cithæron,Gryneumque nemus dehinc Heliconque sacer;Inde et Parnasi bifidi secreta subimus,Tota ubi Mnemosynes sancta propago manet.Turba pudica novem dulce hic cecinere sororum;Delius in medio plectra chelynque sonat:Aurifluis laudat modulis monumenta suorumVatum, quos dignos censet honore poli:De quo certarunt Salamin, Cumæ, vel Athenæ,Smyrna, Chios, Colophon, primus Homerus erat;Laudat et Orpheum, domuit qui voce leones,Eurydicen Stygiis qui rapuitque rogis;Antiquum meminit Musæum Eumolpide natum,Te nec Aristophanes Euripidesque tacet;Vel canit illustrem genuit quem Teia tellus,Quemque fovit dulci Coa camena sinu;Deinde cothurnatum celebrem dat laude Sophoclem,Et quam Lesbides pavit amore Phaon;Æschylus, Amphion, Thespis nec honore carebant,Pindarus, Alcæus, quem tuleratque Paros;Sunt alii plures genuit quos terra Pelasga,Daphnæum cecinit quos meruisse decus:Tersa Latinorum dehinc multa poemata texit,Laude nec Argivis inferiora probat;Insignem tollit ter vatem, cui dedit AndesCunas urbs, clarum Parthenopæa taphum;Blanda Corinna, tui Ponto religatus amore,Sulmoni natus Naso secundus erat;Inde nitore fluens lyricus genere Appulus illeQui Latiis primus mordica metra tulit;Statius Æacidem sequitur Thebaida pingens,Emathio hinc scribens prælia gesta solo;Cui Verona parens hinc mollis scriptor amorum,Tu nec in obscuro, culte Tibulle, lates;Haud reticendus erat cui patria Bilbilis, atquePersius hinc mordax crimina spurca notans;Eximius pollet vel Seneca luce tragœdus,Comicus et Latii bellica præda ducis;Laudat et hinc alios quos sæcula prisca fovebant;Hos omnes longum jam meminisse foret.Tum Smintheus, paulo spirans, ait, ecce, sorores,Quæ clausa oceano terra Britanna nitet!Oxoniam claram Pataræa ut regna videtis,Aut Tenedos, Delos, qua mea fama viret:Nonne fluunt istic nitidæ ut Permessidos undæ,Istic et Aoniæ sunt juga visa mihi?Alma fovet vates nobis hæc terra ministros,Inter quos Schelton jure canendus adest:Numina nostra colit; canit hic vel carmina cedroDigna, Palatinis et socianda sacris;Grande decus nobis addunt sua scripta, linendaAuratis, digna ut posteritate, notis;Laudiflua excurrit serie sua culta poesis,Certatim palmam lectaque verba petunt;Ora lepore fluunt, sicuti dives fagus auro,Aut pressa Hyblæis dulcia mella favis;Rhetoricus sermo riguo fecundior horto,Pulchrior est multo puniceisque rosis,Unda limpidior, Parioque politior albo,Splendidior vitro, candidiorque nive,Mitior Alcinois pomis, fragrantior ipsoThureque Pantheo, gratior et violis;Vincit te, suavi Demosthene, vincit UlyximEloquio, atque senem quem tulit ipse Pylos;Ad fera bella trahat verbis, nequiit quod AtridesAut Brisis, rigidum te licet, Æacides;Tantum ejus verbis tribuit Suadela VenusqueEt Charites, animos quolibet ille ut agat,Vel Lacedæmonios quo Tyrtæus pede claudoPieriis vincens martia tela modis,Magnus Alexander quo belliger actus ab illaMæonii vatis grandisonante tuba;Gratia tanta suis virtusque est diva camenis,Ut revocet manes ex Acheronte citos;Leniat hic plectro vel pectora sæva leonum,Hic strepitu condat mœnia vasta lyræ;Omnimodos animi possit depellere morbos,Vel Niobes luctus Heliadumque truces;Reprimat his rabidi Saulis sedetque furores,Inter delphinas alter Arion erit;Ire Cupidineos quovis hic cogat amores,Atque diu assuetos hic abolere queat;Auspice me tripodas sentit, me inflante caloresConcipit æthereos, mystica diva canit;Stellarum cursus, naturam vasti et Olympi,Aeris et vires hic aperire potest,Vel quid cunctiparens gremio tellus fovet almo,Gurgite quid teneat velivolumque mare;Monstratur digito phœnice ut rarior uno,Ecce virum de quo splendida fama volat!Ergo decus nostrum quo fulget honorque, sorores,Heroas laudes accumulate viro;Laudes accumulent Satyri, juga densa Lycæi,Pindi, vel Rhodopes, Mænala quique colunt;Ingeminent plausus Dryades facilesque Napææ,Oreadum celebris turba et Hamadryadum;Blandisonum vatem, vos Oceanitidesque atqueNaiades, innumeris tollite præconiis;Æterno vireat quo vos celebravit honore,Illius ac astris fama perennis eat:Nunc maduere satis vestro, nunc prata liquoreFlumina, Pierides, sistite, Phœbus ait.Sat cecinisse tuum sit, mi Schelton, tibi laudiHæc Whitintonum: culte poeta, vale.
Quæ Whitintonus canit ad laudes tibi, Schelton,Anglorum vatum gloria, sume libens.”
“To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the,Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious,And to all other whiche present nowe be;Fyrst to maister Chaucer and Ludgate sentencious,Also to preignaunt Barkley nowe beying religious,To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate;Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.”
Johannes Skelton poete sic laureatus Lond. dioc. ad titulumMon. de Graciis juxta turrim London.”
“[In ecclesia conuentuali hospitalis beate Marie de Elsyng per
“The honor of Englond I lernyd to spelle,In dygnyte roialle that doth excelle:Note and marke wyl thys parcele;I yaue hym drynke of the sugryd welleOf Eliconys waters crystallyne,Aqueintyng hym with the Musys nyne.Yt commyth thé wele me to remorde,That creaunser was to thy sofreyne lorde:It plesyth that noble prince roialleMe as hys master for to calleIn hys lernyng primordialle.”
“The Duke of Yorkis creauncer whan Skelton was,Now Henry the viii. Kyng of Englonde,A tratyse he deuysid and browght it to pas,Callid Speculum Principis, to here in his honde,Therin to rede, and to vnderstandeAll the demenour of princely astate,To be our Kyng, of God preordinate.”
“Jam puer Henricus, genitoris nomine lætus,Monstrante fonteis vate Skeltono sacros,Palladias teneris meditatur ab unguibus arteis.”
“Of my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun,Owt of Frenshe into Englysshe prose,Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun,He did translate, enterprete, and disclose.”
It has been supposed that Skelton was curate of Trumpington nearCambridge (celebrated as the scene of Chaucer’s Milleres Tale),because at the end of one of his smaller poems are the following words:
Finis, &c. Apud Trumpinton scriptum per Curatum ejusdem,quinto die Januarii Anno Domini, secundum computat. Angliæ,MDVII.”
“Hanc volo transcribas, transcriptam moxque remittasPagellam; quia sunt qui mea scripta sciunt.”
Bale mentions among the writings of Alexander Barclay a piece “againstSkelton.” It has not come down to us; but the extant works ofBarclay bear testimony to the hearty dislike with which he regarded ourauthor. At the conclusion of The Ship of Fooles is this contemptuousnotice of one of Skelton’s most celebrated poems;
“Holde me excused, for why my will is good,Men to induce vnto vertue and goodnes;I write no ieste ne tale of Robin Hood,Nor sowe no sparkles ne sede of viciousnes;Wise men loue vertue, wilde people wantonnes;It longeth not to my science nor cunning,For Philip the Sparow the Dirige to singe:”
“Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate,The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate;Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce,And grudge therat with frownyng countenaunce;But what of that? hard it is to please all men;Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne.”
“Another thing yet is greatly more damnable:Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable,Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite,Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite;And to what vices that princes moste intende,Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende.Then is he decked as Poete laureate,When stinking Thais made him her graduate:When Muses rested, she did her season note,And she with Bacchus her camous did promote.Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais,Bacchus, Licoris, or yet by Testalis,Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine,Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine;They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet,Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet:If they haue smelled the artes triuiall,They count them Poetes hye and heroicall.Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote,Thinking that none can their playne errour note:Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie,Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie,Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence,With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence;Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught,Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught;And worst yet of all, they count them excellent,Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident.To such ambages who doth their minde incline,They count all other as priuate of doctrine,And that the faultes which be in them alone,Also be common in other men eche one.”
“a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne,That frownyd on me full angerly and pale;”
“Quid me, Scheltone, fronte sic apertaCarpis, vipereo potens veneno?Quid versus trutina meos iniquaLibras? dicere vera num licebit?Doctrinæ tibi dum parare famamEt doctus fieri studes poeta,Doctrinam nec habes, nec es poeta.”
“Item Apollo that whirllid up his chare,That made sum to snurre and snuf in the wynde;It made them to skip, to stampe, and to stare,Whiche, if they be happy, haue cause to bewareIn ryming and raylyng with hym for to mell,For drede that he lerne them there A, B, C, to spell.
With that I stode vp, halfe sodenly afrayd;Suppleyng to Fame, I besought her grace,And that it wolde please her, full tenderly I prayd,Owt of her bokis Apollo to rase.Nay, sir, she sayd, what so in this placeOf our noble courte is ones spoken owte,It must nedes after rin all the worlde aboute.
God wote, theis wordes made me full sad;And when that I sawe it wolde no better be,But that my peticyon wolde not be had,What shulde I do but take it in gre?For, by Juppiter and his high mageste,I did what I cowde to scrape out the scrollis,Apollo to rase out of her ragman rollis.”
From a passage in the poem just mentioned, we may presume that Skeltonused sometimes to reside at the ancient college of the Bonhommes atAshridge;
“Of the Bonehoms of Ashrige besyde Barkamstede,That goodly place to Skelton moost kynde,Where the sank royall is, Crystes blode so rede,Whervpon he metrefyde after his mynde;A pleasaunter place than Ashrige is, harde were to fynde,” &c.
“Ad serenissimam Majestatem Regiam, pariter cum DominoCardinali, Legato a latere honorificatissimo, &c.
Words in this poem 75
- arbor n.
- A kind of latticework formed of, or covered with, vines, branches of trees, or other plants, for shade; a bower. Sir P. [OE. herber, herbere, properly a garden of herbs, F. herbier, fr. L. herbarium. See Herb, and cf. Herbarium.]
- caput n.
- The head; also, a knoblike protuberance or capitulum. [L., the head.]
- vesper n.
- The evening star; Hesper; Venus, when seen after sunset; hence, the evening. [L., the evening, the evening star, the west; akin to Gr. west. Cf. Hesperian, Vespers.]
- polo n.
- A game of ball of Eastern origin, resembling hockey, with the players on horseback. [Of Eastern origin; -- properly, the ball used in the game.]
- inde a.
- Azure-colored; of a bright blue color. Rom. of R.
- procyon n.
- a star of the first magnitude in the constellation Canis Minor, or the Little Dog.
- quid n.
- A portion suitable to be chewed; a cud; as, a quid of tobacco. [See Cud.]
- gris n.
- A costly kind of fur. [OF., fr. gris gray. Cf. G. grauwerk (lit. gray work) the gray skin of the Siberian squirrel. See Gris, a.]
- polyhymnia n.
- The Muse of lyric poetry.
- scilicet adv.
- To wit; namely; videlicet; -- often abbreviated to sc., or ss. [L., fr. scire licet you may know.]
- dulce v. t.
- To make sweet; to soothe.
- colophon n.
- An inscription, monogram, or cipher, containing the place and date of publication, printer's name, etc., formerly placed on the last page of a book. [L. colophon finishing stroke, Gr. culmen top, collis hill. Cf. Holm.]
- primus n.
- One of the bishops of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, who presides at the meetings of the bishops, and has certain privileges but no metropolitan authority. Internat. Cyc. [L., the first.]
- tacet v.
- It is silent; -- a direction for a vocal or instrumental part to be silent during a whole movement. [L., it is silent, 3d pers.pr. of tacere to be silent.]
- lates n.
- A genus of large percoid fishes, of which one species (Lates Niloticus) inhabits the Nile, and another (L. calcarifer
- luce n.
- A pike when full grown. Halliwell. [OF. lus, L. lucius a kind of fish.]
- nitid a.
- Bright; lustrous; shining. Boyle. [L. nitidus, fr. nitere. See 3d Neat.]
- visa v. t.
- To indorse, after examination, with the word visé, as a passport; to visé.
- dives n.
- The name popularly given to the rich man in our Lord's parable of the [L., rich.]
- quod v.
- Quoth; said. See Quoth.
- auspice n.
- A divining or taking of omens by observing birds; an omen as to an undertaking, drawn from birds; an augury; an omen or sign in general; an indication as to the future. [L. auspicium, fr. auspex: cf. F. auspice. See Auspicate, a.]
- ergo conj.
- Therefore; consequently; -- often used in a jocular way. [L.]
- nostrum n.
- A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for the purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the inventor or proprietor; a quack medicine. [Neut. sing. of L. noster ours, fr. nos we. See Us.]
- tuum n.
- Lit., thine; that which is thine; -- used in meum and tuum. See 2d Meum.
- vale n.
- A tract of low ground, or of land between hills; a valley. [OE. val, F. val, L. vallis; perhaps akin to Gr. Avalanche, Vail to lower, Valley.]
- boke v. t.
- To poke; to thrust.
- whilom adv.
- Formerly; once; of old; erewhile; at times. [AS. hwilum, properly, at times, dative pl. of hwil; akin to G. weiland formerly, OHG. hwilm, See While, n.]
- facundious a.
- Eloquement; full of words. [L. facundiosus.]
- maister n.
- Master. Chaucer.
- laureate a.
- Crowned, or decked, with laurel. [L. laureatus, fr. laurea laurel tree, fr. laureus of laurel, fr. laurus laurel: cf. F. lauréat. Cf. Laurel.]
- johannes n.
- A Portuguese gold coin of the value of eight dollars, named from the figure of King John which it bears;- often contracted into joe; as, a joe, or a half joe. [NL., fr. Gr. Y, Y, i. e., one whom Jehovah has blessed; hence F. Jean, E. John.]
- ecclesia n.
- The public legislative assembly of the Athenians.
- excelle v. t.
- To go beyond or surpass in good qualities or laudable deeds; to outdo or outgo, in a good sense. [L. excellere, excelsum; ex out + a root found in culmen height, top; cf. F. exceller. See Culminate, Column.]
- wele n.
- Prosperity; happiness; well-being; weal. [See Weal prosperity.]
- calle n.
- A kind of head covering; a caul. [See Caul.]
- primordialle a.
- First in order; primary; original; of earliest origin; as, primordial condition. [L. primordialis, from primordium the first beginning; primus first + ordiri to begin a web, to begin: cf. F. primordial.]
- duke n.
- A leader; a chief; a prince. [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr. ducere to lead; akin to AS. teón to draw; cf. AS. heretoga (here army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke]
- callid a.
- Characterized by cunning or shrewdness; crafty. [L. callidus, fr. callere to be thick-skinned, to be hardened, to be practiced, fr. callum, callus, callous skin, callosity, callousness.]
- rede v. t.
- To advise or counsel. [See Read, v. t.]
- preordinate a.
- Preordained. Sir T. Elyot. [L. praeordinatus, p. p. See Preordain.]
- puer n.
- The dung of dogs, used as an alkaline steep in tanning. [Etymol. uncertain.]
- curate n.
- One who has the cure souls; originally, any clergyman, but now usually limited to one who assist a rector or vicar Hook. [LL. curatus, prop., one who is charged with the care (L. cura) of souls. See Cure, n., and cf. Cur]
- finis n.
- An end; conclusion. It is often placed at the end of a book. [L.]
- extant a.
- Standing out or above any surface; protruded. [L. extans, -antis, or exstans, -antis, p.pr. of extare, exstare, to stand out or forth; ex out + stare to stand: cf. F. extant. See Stand.]
- induce v. t.
- To lead in; to introduce. [L. inducere, inductum; pref. in- in + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf. Induct.]
- dirige n.
- A service for the dead, in the Roman Catholic Church, being the first antiphon of Matins for the dead, of which Dirige is the first word; a dirge. [L. See Dirge.]
- dolefull a.
- Full of dole or grief; expressing or exciting sorrow; sorrowful; sad; dismal.
- carefull a.
- Full of care; anxious; solicitous [AS. cearful.]
- therewith adv.
- With that or this.
- amende n.
- A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation. [F. See Amend.]
- penne v. t.
- To write; to compose and commit to paper; to indite; to compose; as, to pen a sonnet.
- damnable a.
- Liable to damnation; deserving, or for which one deserves, to be damned; of a damning nature. [L. damnabilis, fr. damnare: cf. F. damnable. See Damn.]
- indite v. t.
- To compose; to write; to be author of; to dictate; to prompt. [OE. enditen to indite, indict, OF. enditer to indicate, show, dictate, write, inform, and endicter to accuse; both fr. LL. indictare to show, to accuse, fr. L. ]
- scantly adv.
- In a scant manner; not fully or sufficiently; narrowly; penuriously.
- snite n.
- A snipe. Carew.
- solemnize v. t.
- To perform with solemn or ritual ceremonies, or according to legal forms. [Cf. F. solemniser, sollemniser.]
- camous a.
- Flat; depressed; crooked; -- said only of the nose. [F. camus (equiv. to camard) flat-nosed, fr. Celtic Cam croked + suff. -us; akin to L. camur, camurus, croked.]
- heroicall a.
- Heroic. Spectator.
- dote n.
- A marriage portion. See 1st Dot, n. Wyatt. [See Dot dowry.]
- errour n.
- A wandering; a roving or irregular course. [OF. error, errur, F. erreur, L. error, fr. errare to err. See Err.]
- unapt a.
- Inapt; slow; dull.
- ambages n.
- A circuit; a winding. Hence: Circuitous way or proceeding; quibble; circumlocution; indirect mode of speech. [L. (usually in pl.); pref. ambi-, amb- + agere to drive: cf. F. ambage.]
- frere n.
- One who frees, or sets free.
- versus prep.
- Against; as, John Doe versus Richard Roe; -- chiefly used in legal language, and abbreviated to v. or vs. [L., toward, turned in the direction of, from vertere, versum, to turn. See Verse.]
- chare v. t.
- To perform; to do; to finish. Nores. [See 3d Char.]
- beware v. t.
- To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for.
- mell v. i.
- To mix; to meddle. [F. mêler, OF. meller, mester. See Meddle.]
- tenderly adv.
- In a tender manner; with tenderness; mildly; gently; softly; in a manner not to injure or give pain; with pity or affection; kindly.
- rase v. t.
- To rub along the surface of; to graze. [F. raser, LL. rasare to scrape often, v. freq. fr. L. radere, rasum, to scrape, shave; cf. Skr. rad to scratch, gnaw, L. rodere to gnaw. Cf. Raze, Razee, Razor,]
- ragman n.
- A document having many names or numerous seals, as a papal bull. Piers Plowman. [See Ragman's roll.]
- presume v. t.
- To assume or take beforehand; esp., to do or undertake without leave or authority previously obtained. [F. présumer, L. praesumere, praesumptum; prae before + sumere to take. See Assume, Redeem.]
- goodly a.
- Pleasant; agreeable; desirable. [OE. godlich, AS. g. See Good, and Like.]
- royall a.
- Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.]
- domino n.
- A kind of hood worn by the canons of a cathedral church; a sort of amice. Kersey. [F. domino, or It. dominò, or Sp. dominó, fr. L. dominus master. The domino was orig. a hood worn by the canons of a cathedral. See Don, Dame.]
- legato a.
- Connected; tied; -- a term used when successive tones are to be produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner. It is often indicated by a tie, thus staccato. [It., tied, joined, fr. legare to tie, bind, L. ligare.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
“In Clarissimi Scheltonis Louaniensis Poetæ Laudes Epigramma is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 1 (of 2), Project Gutenberg ebook #59997; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: John Skelton, “In Clarissimi Scheltonis Louaniensis Poetæ Laudes Epigramma, in Poetical Works, Volume I (1500–1529), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #59997, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/skelton-poems/in-clarissimi-scheltonis-louaniensis-poet-laudes-epigramma.html, id L08611.
Form and metre
“In Clarissimi Scheltonis Louaniensis Poetæ Laudes Epigramma is 273 lines in 24 stanzas. The metre is trochaic hexameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 76%). 92% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 11.7 syllables. 43 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 17% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.
See other poems in trochaic hexameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 ------------AA----B---B----------C--C-D-D----------------E---E-------------F-F-----G--G--G-G---G-----------H--H--I---I-------------------- amictu · erat · honores · rosa · tumescunt · caput · anhelans · feræ · olympo · jubet · sereno · polo · trinodisA · comisA · ales · eridani · orbis · micant · ocellisB · oceano · soporat · jacet · somnisB · fide · salutans · citat · vireta · sinus · eundum · sacros · medusei · pede · undas · lacusC · cithæron · sacer · subimusC · manet · sororumD · sonat · suorumD · poli · athenæ · erat · leones · rogis · natum · tacet · tellus · sinu · sophoclem · phaon · carebant · paros · pelasga · decus · texit · probatE · andes · taphum · amore · eratE · ille · tulit · pingens · solo · amorum · lates · atque · notans · tragœdus · ducis · fovebant · foret · sorores · nitetF · videtis · viretF · undæ · mihi · ministros · adest · cedro · sacrisG · linenda · notis · poesisG · petunt · auro · favisG · horto · rosisG · albo · nive · ipso · violisG · ulyxim · pylos · atrides · æacides · venusque · agat · claudo · modis · illa · tuba · camenis · citosH · leonum · lyræ · morbosH · truces · furores · eritI · amores · queat · calores · canitI · olympi · potest · almo · mare · uno · volat · sorores · viro · lycæi · colunt · napææ · hamadryadum · atque · præconiis · honore · eat · liquore · ait · laudi · vale
- 3 ABABBCC theA · facundiousB · beA · sentenciousB · religiousB · laureateC · lateC
- 6 AA-ABBCCDDD spelleA · excelleA · parcele · welleA · crystallyneB · nyneB · remordeC · lordeC · roialleD · calleD · primordialleD
- 7 ABAB-CC wasA · englondeB · pasA · hondeB · vnderstande · astateC · preordinateC
- 9 ABAB contemplacyounA · proseB · peregrynaciounA · discloseB
- 14 ABAB--- goodA · goodnesB · hoodA · viciousnesB · wantonnes · cunning · singe
- 15 ABABBCC fateA · chaunceB · rateA · greuaunceB · countenaunceB · menC · penneC
- 16 AABBCCBBBB--DDEE--FFGG----HHIIII damnableA · rableA · inditeB · sniteB · intendeC · commendeC · laureateB · graduateB · noteB · promoteB · thais · testalis · nineD · diuineD · ietE · petE · triuiall · heroicall · doteF · noteF · honestieG · grauitieG · eloquence · sentence · taught · caught · excellentH · improuidentH · inclineI · doctrineI · aloneI · oneI
- 18 -----AA aperta · veneno · iniqua · licebit · famam · poetaA · poetaA
- 19 A-AABB chareA · wynde · stareA · bewareA · mellB · spellB
- 20 ABA-B-- afraydA · graceB · praydA · rase · placeB · owte · aboute
- 21 A-A---- sadA · be · hadA · gre · mageste · scrollis · rollis
- 23 ABAB- barkamstedeA · kyndeB · redeA · myndeB · —
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against trochaic hexameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| Quum terra omnifero lætissima risit amictu, | 16 | ·/˘············· |
| Plena novo fœtu quælibet arbor erat; | 13 | ··/˘·····/˘·· |
| Vertice purpurei vultus incepit honores | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Extensis valvis pandere pulchra rosa; | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Et segetum tenero sub cortice grana tumescunt, | 15 | ··········/˘··· |
| Flavescens curvat pendula spica caput. | 12 | ········/˘˘/ |
| Vix Cancri tropicos æstus lustravit anhelans | 13 | ············· |
| Pythius, et Nemeæ vertit ad ora feræ, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Vesper solis equos oriens dum clausit Olympo, | 14 | /˘/˘·········· |
| Agmina stellarum surgere cuncta jubet: | 12 | ············ |
| Hic primo aspiceres ut Cynthia vecta sereno | 14 | ·/·····/˘··˘/˘ |
| Extulerat surgens cornua clara polo; | 12 | ········/˘/˘ |
| Inde Hydram cernas, stravit quam clava trinodis | 13 | ···/˘········ |
| Alcidæ, nitidis emicuisse comis; | 10 | ·········· |
| Tum Procyon subiit, præpes Lepus, hinc Jovis ales, | 13 | ·/˘˘······/˘· |
| Arctos, et Engonasus, sidus et Eridani; | 14 | ·············· |
| Ignivomis retinet radiis quæ stellifer orbis | 15 | ·············/˘ |
| (Quid multis remorer?) sidera cuncta micant. | 13 | ·/˘·········· |
| Nutat Atlanteum convexum pondus, ocellis | 13 | ············· |
| Dum lustro hæc ægris, vergit et oceano. | 11 | ··········· |
| Tum furtim alma quies repens mihi membra soporat, | 15 | ···/˘·········· |
| Curaque Lethæo flumine mersa jacet: | 10 | ·········· |
| O mihi quam placidis Icelos tulit aurea somnis | 17 | ············˘/˘·· |
| Somnia, musiphilis non caritura fide! | 12 | ············ |
| Nuncia percelebris Polyhymnia blanda salutans | 15 | ··········/˘··· |
| Me Clarii ut visam numina sacra citat. | 13 | ·········/˘·· |
| Ut sequar hanc lætus, mihi visus amœna vireta | 16 | ················ |
| Et nemorum umbrosos præteriisse sinus: | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Scilicet hæc montes monstraverat inter eundum | 14 | /˘˘·/˘····˘/·· |
| Et fontes Musæ quos coluere sacros; | 9 | ·/˘······ |
| Castalios latices, Aganippidos atque Medusei | 15 | ··············· |
| Vidimus alipedis flumina rupta pede; | 13 | ············· |
| Antra hinc Libethri monstrat Pimpleidos undas, | 13 | ············· |
| Post vada Cephisi, Phocidos atque lacus; | 12 | ············ |
| Nubifer assurgit mons Pierus atque Cithæron, | 13 | ············· |
| Gryneumque nemus dehinc Heliconque sacer; | 11 | ··········· |
| Inde et Parnasi bifidi secreta subimus, | 14 | ·············· |
| Tota ubi Mnemosynes sancta propago manet. | 14 | /˘··········˘/ |
| Turba pudica novem dulce hic cecinere sororum; | 15 | ··············· |
| Delius in medio plectra chelynque sonat: | 11 | ···/˘····/˘ |
| Aurifluis laudat modulis monumenta suorum | 14 | ·············· |
| Vatum, quos dignos censet honore poli: | 11 | ·······/˘/˘ |
| De quo certarunt Salamin, Cumæ, vel Athenæ, | 12 | ············ |
| Smyrna, Chios, Colophon, primus Homerus erat; | 13 | /˘·/˘˘/˘····· |
| Laudat et Orpheum, domuit qui voce leones, | 11 | ···/˘····˘/ |
| Eurydicen Stygiis qui rapuitque rogis; | 11 | ··········· |
| Antiquum meminit Musæum Eumolpide natum, | 13 | ············· |
| Te nec Aristophanes Euripidesque tacet; | 12 | ···˘/˘····/˘ |
| Vel canit illustrem genuit quem Teia tellus, | 12 | ············ |
| Quemque fovit dulci Coa camena sinu; | 11 | ··········· |
| Deinde cothurnatum celebrem dat laude Sophoclem, | 13 | ············· |
| Et quam Lesbides pavit amore Phaon; | 9 | ······/˘· |
| Æschylus, Amphion, Thespis nec honore carebant, | 12 | ·······/˘··· |
| Pindarus, Alcæus, quem tuleratque Paros; | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Sunt alii plures genuit quos terra Pelasga, | 12 | ·······/˘··· |
| Daphnæum cecinit quos meruisse decus: | 10 | ·········· |
| Tersa Latinorum dehinc multa poemata texit, | 15 | ··············· |
| Laude nec Argivis inferiora probat; | 11 | ··········· |
| Insignem tollit ter vatem, cui dedit Andes | 13 | ···········/˘ |
| Cunas urbs, clarum Parthenopæa taphum; | 11 | ··········· |
| Blanda Corinna, tui Ponto religatus amore, | 14 | /˘·/˘·/˘····/˘ |
| Sulmoni natus Naso secundus erat; | 12 | ·····/˘····· |
| Inde nitore fluens lyricus genere Appulus ille | 13 | ············· |
| Qui Latiis primus mordica metra tulit; | 12 | ···/˘···/˘·· |
| Statius Æacidem sequitur Thebaida pingens, | 12 | ·····/˘····· |
| Emathio hinc scribens prælia gesta solo; | 12 | ··········/· |
| Cui Verona parens hinc mollis scriptor amorum, | 14 | ·˘/˘·········· |
| Tu nec in obscuro, culte Tibulle, lates; | 11 | ··········· |
| Haud reticendus erat cui patria Bilbilis, atque | 14 | ·············· |
| Persius hinc mordax crimina spurca notans; | 12 | ············ |
| Eximius pollet vel Seneca luce tragœdus, | 12 | ···/˘·/˘···· |
| Comicus et Latii bellica præda ducis; | 13 | ············· |
| Laudat et hinc alios quos sæcula prisca fovebant; | 15 | ··············· |
| Hos omnes longum jam meminisse foret. | 9 | ········· |
| Tum Smintheus, paulo spirans, ait, ecce, sorores, | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Quæ clausa oceano terra Britanna nitet! | 13 | ······/˘····· |
| Oxoniam claram Pataræa ut regna videtis, | 14 | ·············· |
| Aut Tenedos, Delos, qua mea fama viret: | 12 | ····/˘··/˘·· |
| Nonne fluunt istic nitidæ ut Permessidos undæ, | 12 | ····/˘······ |
| Istic et Aoniæ sunt juga visa mihi? | 12 | ········/˘·· |
| Alma fovet vates nobis hæc terra ministros, | 13 | /˘···/˘·/˘··· |
| Inter quos Schelton jure canendus adest: | 11 | ˘/········· |
| Numina nostra colit; canit hic vel carmina cedro | 16 | ···/˘··········· |
| Digna, Palatinis et socianda sacris; | 12 | ············ |
| Grande decus nobis addunt sua scripta, linenda | 13 | ···/˘········ |
| Auratis, digna ut posteritate, notis; | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Laudiflua excurrit serie sua culta poesis, | 13 | ······/˘····· |
| Certatim palmam lectaque verba petunt; | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
| Ora lepore fluunt, sicuti dives fagus auro, | 14 | /˘˘/˘········· |
| Aut pressa Hyblæis dulcia mella favis; | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
| Rhetoricus sermo riguo fecundior horto, | 13 | ············· |
| Pulchrior est multo puniceisque rosis, | 11 | ··˘/······· |
| Unda limpidior, Parioque politior albo, | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Splendidior vitro, candidiorque nive, | 9 | ···/˘···· |
| Mitior Alcinois pomis, fragrantior ipso | 12 | ············ |
| Thureque Pantheo, gratior et violis; | 9 | ········· |
| Vincit te, suavi Demosthene, vincit Ulyxim | 13 | ············· |
| Eloquio, atque senem quem tulit ipse Pylos; | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Ad fera bella trahat verbis, nequiit quod Atrides | 14 | ·/˘/˘········· |
| Aut Brisis, rigidum te licet, Æacides; | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Tantum ejus verbis tribuit Suadela Venusque | 13 | ············· |
| Et Charites, animos quolibet ille ut agat, | 13 | ············· |
| Vel Lacedæmonios quo Tyrtæus pede claudo | 12 | ············ |
| Pieriis vincens martia tela modis, | 10 | ········/˘ |
| Magnus Alexander quo belliger actus ab illa | 15 | /˘·˘/˘····/˘··· |
| Mæonii vatis grandisonante tuba; | 10 | ········/˘ |
| Gratia tanta suis virtusque est diva camenis, | 14 | ·······˘//˘··· |
| Ut revocet manes ex Acheronte citos; | 11 | ··········· |
| Leniat hic plectro vel pectora sæva leonum, | 13 | ············· |
| Hic strepitu condat mœnia vasta lyræ; | 11 | ········/˘· |
| Omnimodos animi possit depellere morbos, | 14 | ·············· |
| Vel Niobes luctus Heliadumque truces; | 9 | ·······/˘ |
| Reprimat his rabidi Saulis sedetque furores, | 13 | ···········/˘ |
| Inter delphinas alter Arion erit; | 11 | ˘/˘/˘/˘···· |
| Ire Cupidineos quovis hic cogat amores, | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Atque diu assuetos hic abolere queat; | 10 | ·········· |
| Auspice me tripodas sentit, me inflante calores | 13 | /˘·········/˘ |
| Concipit æthereos, mystica diva canit; | 12 | ········/˘·· |
| Stellarum cursus, naturam vasti et Olympi, | 14 | ·············· |
| Aeris et vires hic aperire potest, | 10 | ·········· |
| Vel quid cunctiparens gremio tellus fovet almo, | 14 | ············/˘ |
| Gurgite quid teneat velivolumque mare; | 10 | ·········· |
| Monstratur digito phœnice ut rarior uno, | 13 | ···········˘/ |
| Ecce virum de quo splendida fama volat! | 12 | ········/˘·· |
| Ergo decus nostrum quo fulget honorque, sorores, | 13 | /˘··/˘······· |
| Heroas laudes accumulate viro; | 9 | ···˘/˘··· |
| Laudes accumulent Satyri, juga densa Lycæi, | 14 | ·············· |
| Pindi, vel Rhodopes, Mænala quique colunt; | 11 | ··········· |
| Ingeminent plausus Dryades facilesque Napææ, | 11 | ··········· |
| Oreadum celebris turba et Hamadryadum; | 13 | ············· |
| Blandisonum vatem, vos Oceanitidesque atque | 13 | ············· |
| Naiades, innumeris tollite præconiis; | 10 | ·········· |
| Æterno vireat quo vos celebravit honore, | 12 | ··········/˘ |
| Illius ac astris fama perennis eat: | 12 | ··//··/˘···· |
| Nunc maduere satis vestro, nunc prata liquore | 12 | ············ |
| Flumina, Pierides, sistite, Phœbus ait. | 12 | ···˘/˘˘····· |
| Sat cecinisse tuum sit, mi Schelton, tibi laudi | 14 | ····/˘····/··· |
| Hæc Whitintonum: culte poeta, vale. | 9 | ········· |
| Quæ Whitintonus canit ad laudes tibi, Schelton, | 13 | ·········/··· |
| Anglorum vatum gloria, sume libens.” | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| “To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the, | 12 | ····/˘······ |
| Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious, | 11 | /˘···/˘˘/˘˘ |
| And to all other whiche present nowe be; | 10 | ···/˘·˘/·· |
| Fyrst to maister Chaucer and Ludgate sentencious, | 12 | ··/˘/˘······ |
| Also to preignaunt Barkley nowe beying religious, | 12 | /˘···/˘··˘/˘ |
| To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate; | 11 | ···/˘·/˘/˘˘ |
| Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.” | 11 | ····/˘·/˘·· |
| Johannes Skelton poete sic laureatus Lond. dioc. ad titulum | 16 | ˘/˘/˘··········· |
| Mon. de Graciis juxta turrim London.” | 10 | ········/˘ |
| “[In ecclesia conuentuali hospitalis beate Marie de Elsyng per | 20 | ·˘/˘˘·········˘/···· |
| “The honor of Englond I lernyd to spelle, | 12 | ·/˘········· |
| In dygnyte roialle that doth excelle: | 9 | ·······˘/ |
| Note and marke wyl thys parcele; | 8 | ········ |
| I yaue hym drynke of the sugryd welle | 9 | ········· |
| Of Eliconys waters crystallyne, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Aqueintyng hym with the Musys nyne. | 9 | ········· |
| Yt commyth thé wele me to remorde, | 9 | ········· |
| That creaunser was to thy sofreyne lorde: | 9 | ········· |
| It plesyth that noble prince roialle | 9 | ····/˘··· |
| Me as hys master for to calle | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| In hys lernyng primordialle.” | 8 | ····˘/˘˘ |
| “The Duke of Yorkis creauncer whan Skelton was, | 11 | ········/˘· |
| Now Henry the viii. Kyng of Englonde, | 9 | ·/˘······ |
| A tratyse he deuysid and browght it to pas, | 11 | ··········· |
| Callid Speculum Principis, to here in his honde, | 13 | /˘/˘˘········ |
| Therin to rede, and to vnderstande | 8 | ········ |
| All the demenour of princely astate, | 10 | ······/˘˘/ |
| To be our Kyng, of God preordinate.” | 11 | ··/˘···˘/˘˘ |
| “Jam puer Henricus, genitoris nomine lætus, | 14 | ·/˘··········· |
| Monstrante fonteis vate Skeltono sacros, | 10 | ·········· |
| Palladias teneris meditatur ab unguibus arteis.” | 16 | ················ |
| “Of my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun, | 11 | ··/˘······· |
| Owt of Frenshe into Englysshe prose, | 8 | ········ |
| Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun, | 9 | ········· |
| He did translate, enterprete, and disclose.” | 10 | ··˘/····˘/ |
| It has been supposed that Skelton was curate of Trumpington near | 16 | ···˘/·/˘·/˘····· |
| Cambridge (celebrated as the scene of Chaucer’s Milleres Tale), | 15 | /˘/˘·˘····/˘/˘· |
| because at the end of one of his smaller poems are the following words: | 18 | ·········/˘/˘··/˘· |
| Finis, &c. Apud Trumpinton scriptum per Curatum ejusdem, | 17 | /˘··············· |
| quinto die Januarii Anno Domini, secundum computat. Angliæ, | 18 | /˘····/˘/˘········ |
| MDVII.” | 1 | · |
| “Hanc volo transcribas, transcriptam moxque remittas | 13 | ············· |
| Pagellam; quia sunt qui mea scripta sciunt.” | 10 | ·········· |
| Bale mentions among the writings of Alexander Barclay a piece “against | 19 | ·/˘···/˘··˘/˘/····· |
| Skelton.” It has not come down to us; but the extant works of | 15 | /˘·········/˘·· |
| Barclay bear testimony to the hearty dislike with which he regarded our | 20 | /··/˘·˘··/˘˘/···˘/˘/ |
| author. At the conclusion of The Ship of Fooles is this contemptuous | 17 | /˘··˘/˘·······˘/˘ |
| notice of one of Skelton’s most celebrated poems; | 14 | /˘···/˘·/˘·˘/˘ |
| “Holde me excused, for why my will is good, | 10 | ··˘/······ |
| Men to induce vnto vertue and goodnes; | 8 | ··˘/···· |
| I write no ieste ne tale of Robin Hood, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Nor sowe no sparkles ne sede of viciousnes; | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Wise men loue vertue, wilde people wantonnes; | 9 | ·····/˘/˘ |
| It longeth not to my science nor cunning, | 11 | ·/˘···/˘·/˘ |
| For Philip the Sparow the Dirige to singe:” | 12 | ·/˘····/˘˘·· |
| “Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate, | 10 | ·/˘···˘/˘· |
| The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce, | 11 | ·/˘·····/˘· |
| Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate; | 10 | ··/˘···/˘· |
| Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce, | 9 | ····˘/··· |
| And grudge therat with frownyng countenaunce; | 10 | ·········· |
| But what of that? hard it is to please all men; | 11 | ··········· |
| Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne.” | 11 | ··········· |
| “Another thing yet is greatly more damnable: | 12 | ˘/˘···/˘·/˘˘ |
| Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable, | 12 | ···/˘······· |
| Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite, | 12 | ······˘/˘·˘/ |
| Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite; | 11 | ···/˘·/˘··· |
| And to what vices that princes moste intende, | 12 | ···/˘·/˘/˘·· |
| Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende. | 10 | ····/˘˘··· |
| Then is he decked as Poete laureate, | 10 | ····˘··/˘˘ |
| When stinking Thais made him her graduate: | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| When Muses rested, she did her season note, | 11 | ·/˘/˘···/˘· |
| And she with Bacchus her camous did promote. | 11 | ···/˘····˘/ |
| Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais, | 9 | ····˘/˘·· |
| Bacchus, Licoris, or yet by Testalis, | 11 | /˘········· |
| Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine, | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine; | 9 | ········· |
| They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet, | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet: | 11 | ···/˘·/˘··· |
| If they haue smelled the artes triuiall, | 9 | ····˘·/˘· |
| They count them Poetes hye and heroicall. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote, | 10 | ······/˘·· |
| Thinking that none can their playne errour note: | 10 | /˘·····/˘· |
| Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie, | 10 | ·········· |
| Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie, | 10 | /˘/˘˘····· |
| Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence, | 9 | ··/˘··/˘˘ |
| With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence; | 10 | ·/˘·····/˘ |
| Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught, | 10 | ˘/········ |
| Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught; | 10 | ··/˘······ |
| And worst yet of all, they count them excellent, | 11 | ········/˘˘ |
| Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident. | 10 | ·········· |
| To such ambages who doth their minde incline, | 11 | ··˘/˘····/˘ |
| They count all other as priuate of doctrine, | 10 | ···/˘···/˘ |
| And that the faultes which be in them alone, | 10 | ········˘/ |
| Also be common in other men eche one.” | 12 | /˘·/˘·/˘·/˘· |
| “a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne, | 9 | ········· |
| That frownyd on me full angerly and pale;” | 11 | ······/˘˘·· |
| “Quid me, Scheltone, fronte sic aperta | 9 | ········· |
| Carpis, vipereo potens veneno? | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Quid versus trutina meos iniqua | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| Libras? dicere vera num licebit? | 10 | /˘··/˘···· |
| Doctrinæ tibi dum parare famam | 9 | ··/······ |
| Et doctus fieri studes poeta, | 8 | ········ |
| Doctrinam nec habes, nec es poeta.” | 9 | ········· |
| “Item Apollo that whirllid up his chare, | 11 | /˘˘/˘······ |
| That made sum to snurre and snuf in the wynde; | 10 | ·········· |
| It made them to skip, to stampe, and to stare, | 10 | ·········· |
| Whiche, if they be happy, haue cause to beware | 11 | ····/˘···˘/ |
| In ryming and raylyng with hym for to mell, | 11 | ··········· |
| For drede that he lerne them there A, B, C, to spell. | 12 | ············ |
| With that I stode vp, halfe sodenly afrayd; | 11 | ··········· |
| Suppleyng to Fame, I besought her grace, | 9 | ·····˘/·· |
| And that it wolde please her, full tenderly I prayd, | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
| Owt of her bokis Apollo to rase. | 10 | ·····˘/˘·· |
| Nay, sir, she sayd, what so in this place | 9 | ········· |
| Of our noble courte is ones spoken owte, | 10 | ·//˘···/˘· |
| It must nedes after rin all the worlde aboute. | 11 | ··········· |
| God wote, theis wordes made me full sad; | 8 | ········ |
| And when that I sawe it wolde no better be, | 11 | ········/˘· |
| But that my peticyon wolde not be had, | 10 | ·········· |
| What shulde I do but take it in gre? | 9 | ········· |
| For, by Juppiter and his high mageste, | 10 | ·········· |
| I did what I cowde to scrape out the scrollis, | 11 | ··········· |
| Apollo to rase out of her ragman rollis.” | 12 | ˘/˘·····/˘/˘ |
| From a passage in the poem just mentioned, we may presume that Skelton | 17 | ··/˘··/·/˘··˘/·/˘ |
| used sometimes to reside at the ancient college of the Bonhommes at | 17 | ·˘/·˘/··/˘/˘····· |
| Ashridge; | 2 | ·· |
| “Of the Bonehoms of Ashrige besyde Barkamstede, | 13 | ············· |
| That goodly place to Skelton moost kynde, | 9 | ·/˘··/˘·· |
| Where the sank royall is, Crystes blode so rede, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Whervpon he metrefyde after his mynde; | 10 | ·········· |
| A pleasaunter place than Ashrige is, harde were to fynde,” &c. | 14 | ·············· |
| “Ad serenissimam Majestatem Regiam, pariter cum Domino | 19 | ················/˘· |
| Cardinali, Legato a latere honorificatissimo, &c. | 18 | ˘/˘˘/············· |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.