Were fayne wyth a chalke
To score on the balke,
Or score on the tayle:
God gyue it yll hayle!
For my fyngers[539] ytche;
I haue wrytten to mytche
Of this mad mummynge 620
Of Elynour Rummynge.
Thus endeth the gest
Of this worthy fest.
Quod Skelton, Laureat.
LAUREATI SKELTONIDIS IN DESPECTU MALIGNANTIUM DISTICHON.
Quamvis insanis, quamvis marcescis inanis,
Invide,[540] cantamus: hæc loca plena jocis.[541]
Bien men souuient.
Omnes fœminas, quæ vel nimis bibulæ sunt, vel quæ sordida labe squaloris, aut qua spurca[542] fœditatis macula, aut verbosa loquacitate notantur, poeta invitat ad audiendum hunc libellum, &c.
Ebria, squalida, sordida fœmina, prodiga verbis,
Huc currat, properet, veniat! Sua gesta libellus[543]
Iste volutabit: Pæan sua plectra sonando
Materiam risus cantabit carmine rauco.
Finis.
Quod Skelton, Laureat.
[474] Here after foloweth, &c.] From the ed. by Kynge and Marche of Certaine bokes compyled by mayster Skelton, n. d., collated with the same work, ed. Day, n. d., and ed. Lant, n. d., with Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s Workes, 1568, and occasionally with the comparatively modern ed. of Elinovr Rummin by Rand, 1624.
[475] Grained] So eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand). Eds. of Kynge and Marche, and of Lant, “Greuyned.”
[476] huckels] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “buckels.”
[477] Lyke as they were, &c.] This line not in eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand).
[478] Legged] So Rand’s ed. Other eds. “Legges.”
[479] iolly fet] Lant’s ed. “Joyly fet.” Marshe’s ed., (and Rand’s ed.), “iolly set.”
[480] doth it] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “it dothe.”
[481] For] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “And.”
[482] gytes] Marshe’s ed. “getes.” (Rand’s ed. “geetes.”)
[483] pletes] Qy. “plytes?”
[484] That wey] So Lant’s ed., (and Rand’s ed.) Other eds. “That they way.”
[485] in] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “in a.”
[486] Capped] Lant’s ed. “Lapped”—rightly, perhaps.
[487] as a gose] So eds. of Day, and Marshe. Eds. of Kynge and Marche, and of Lant, “as she gose.”
[488] blanket] So Lant’s ed. (Rand’s ed. “blanked.”) Other eds. “blauket.”
[489] Ouer the falowe] Not in eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand.)
[490] dwelt] Qy. “dwels?”
[491] port sale] So Lant’s ed. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, “pore sale.” Day’s ed. “poore sale.” Marshe’s ed. “poorte sale.” (Rand’s ed. “pot-sale.”) See notes.
[492] on] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “of.”
[493] vnlased] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “vnbrased.”
[494] Some huswyues, &c.] This line not in eds. of Day, and Marshe. (Rand’s ed. “And some all unlaced.”)
[495] It … it] Qy. “That … that?”
[496] My] Lant’s ed. “Myne.”
[497] hogges] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “dogges.”
[498] His rumpe, &c.] This line not in eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand).
[499] Agaynst] Day’s ed. “Againe.”
[500] dyrt] So Lant’s ed. (and Rand’s ed.) Other eds. “drit.”
[501] into] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, (and Rand), “in.”
