John Skelton - Excerpt from Speke, Parrot lyrics

Parotte. So many morall maters,* and so lytell vsyd ; So myche newe makyng,* and so madd tyme spente ; So myche translacion in to Englyshe confused ; So myche nobyll prechyng, and so lytell amendment ; So myche consultacion, almoste to none entente ; So myche provision, and so lytell wytte at nede ;— Syns Dewcalyons flodde there can no clerkes rede. So lytyll dyscressyon, and so myche reasonyng ; So myche hardy dardy, and so lytell manlynes ; So prodigall expence, and so shamfull reconyng ; So gorgyous garmentes, and so myche wrechydnese ; So myche portlye pride, with pursys penyles So myche spente before, and so myche vnpayd behynde ;— Syns Dewcalyons flodde there can no clerkes fynde. So myche forcastyng, and so farre an after dele ; So myche poletyke pratyng, and so lytell stondythe* in stede ; So lytell secretnese, and so myche grete councell ; So manye bolde barons, there hertes as dull as lede ; So many nobyll bodyes vndyr on dawys hedd ;* So royall a kyng as reynythe vppon vs all ;— Syns Dewcalions flodde was nevyr sene nor shall. So many complayntes, and so smalle redresse ; So myche callyng on, and so smalle takyng hede ; So myche losse of merchaundyse, and so remedyles ; So lytell care for the comyn weall, and so myche nede ; So myche dow3tfull daunger,* and so lytell drede ; So myche pride of prelattes, so cruell and so kene ;— Syns Dewcalyons flodde, I trowe, was nevyr sene. So many thevys hangyd, and thevys never the lesse ; So myche prisonment ffor matyrs not worthe an hawe ;* So myche papers weryng for ryghte a smalle exesse ;* So myche pelory pajauntes* vndyr colower of good lawe ; So myche towrnyng on the cooke stole* for euery guy gaw ;* So myche mokkyshe makyng of statutes of array ;— Syns Dewcalyons flodde was nevyr, I dar sey. So braynles caluys hedes, so many shepis taylys ; So bolde a braggyng bocher,* and flesshe sold so dere ; So many plucte partryches, and so fatte quaylles ; So mangye a mastyfe curre, the grete grey houndes pere ; * So bygge a bulke of brow auntlers cabagyd that yere;* So many swannes dede, and so small revell ; Syns Dewcalyons flodde, I trow, no man can tell. So many trusys takyn, and so lytyll perfyte trowthe ; So myche bely joye, and so wastefull banketyng ;* So pynchyng and sparyng, and so lytell profyte growthe ; So many howgye* howsys byldyng, and so small howseholding ; Suche statutes apon* diettes, suche pyllyng and pollyng ;* So ys all thyng wrowghte wylfully withowte reson and skylle* ;— Syns Dewcalyons flodde the world was never so yll. So many vacabondes, so many beggers bolde ; So myche decay of monesteries and of relygious places ; So hote hatered agaynste the Chyrche, and cheryte so colde ; So myche of my lordes grace, and in hym no grace ys ; So many holow hartes, and so dowbyll faces ; So myche sayntuary brekyng,* and preuylegidde barrydd ;— Syns Dewcalyons flodde was nevyr sene nor lyerd.* So myche raggyd ryghte of a rammes horne ; So rygorous revelyng1 in a prelate specially ; So bold and so braggyng, and was so baselye borne ; So lordlye of hys lokes and so dysdayneslye ;* So fatte a magott, bred of a flesshe flye ; Was nevyr suche a ffylty gorgon,* nor suche an epycure, Syn[s] Dewcalyons flodde, I make thé faste and sure. So myche preuye wachyng in cold wynters nyghtes ; So myche serchyng of loselles, and ys hymselfe so lewde ;* So myche coniuracions for elvyshe myday sprettes ;* So many bullys of' pardon puplysshyd* and shewyd ; So myche crossyng and blyssyng, and hym all beshrewde ; * Suche pollaxis and pyllers, suche mvlys trapte with gold ;— Sens Dewcalyons flodde in no cronycle ys told. Dixit, quod Parrot. Crescet in immensum me vivo Psittacus iste ; Hinc mea dicetur Skeltonidis inclyta fama. Quod Skelton Lawryat, Orator Regius. 34.]