The Poetical Works of John Skelton, Volume 1 (of 2)

Volume 2 — OF THE DEATH[155] OF THE NOBLE PRINCE, KYNGE EDWARDE THE FORTH, PER SKELTONIDEM LAUREATUM.

Reading edition

OF THE DEATH[155] OF THE NOBLE PRINCE, KYNGE EDWARDE THE FORTH, PER SKELTONIDEM LAUREATUM.

Miseremini mei, ye that be my frendis! This world[156] hath formed me downe to fall: How may[157] I endure, when that eueri thyng endis? What creature is borne to be eternall? Now there[158] is no more but pray for me all: Thus say I Edward, that late was youre kynge, And twenty two[159] yeres ruled this imperyall, Some vnto pleasure, and some to no lykynge: Mercy I aske of my mysdoynge; What auayleth it,[160] frendes, to be my foo, 10 Sith I can not resyst, nor amend your complaining? Quia, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! I slepe now in molde, as it is naturall That[161] erth vnto erth hath his reuerture: What ordeyned God to be terestryall, Without recours to the erth[162] of nature? Who to lyue euer may himselfe assure?[163] What is it[164] to trust on mutabilyte, Sith that in this world nothing may indure? For now am I gone, that late was in prosperyte: 20 To presume thervppon, it is but a vanyte, Not certayne, but as a cheryfayre[165] full of wo: Reygned not I of late in greate felycite? Et, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! Where was in my lyfe such one as I, Whyle lady Fortune with me had continuaunce? Graunted not she me to haue victory, In England to rayne, and to contribute Fraunce? She toke me by the hand and led me a daunce, And with her sugred lyppes on me she smyled; 30 But, what for her dissembled countenaunce, I coud not beware tyl I was begyled: Now from this world she hath me excyled, When I was lothyst hens for to go, And I am in age but, as who sayth, a chylde, Et, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! I se wyll,[166] they leve that doble my ȝeris: This[167] dealid this world with me as it lyst,[168] And hathe me made, to ȝow that be my perys, Example to thynke on Had I wyst: 40 I storyd my cofers and allso my chest[169] With taskys takynge of the comenalte; I toke ther tresure, but of ther prayȝeris mist; Whom I beseche with pure humylyte For to forgeve and have on me pety; I was ȝour kynge, and kept ȝow from ȝowr foo: I wold now amend, but that wull not be, [Quia,] ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! I had ynough, I held me not content, Without remembraunce that I should dye; 50 And more euer to incroche[170] redy was I bent, I knew not how longe I should it occupy: I made the Tower stronge, I wyst not why; I knew not to whom I purchased Tetersall; I amendid Douer on the mountayne hye, And London I prouoked to fortify the wall; I made Notingam a place full[171] royall, Wyndsore, Eltam,[172] and many other mo: Yet at the last I went from them all, Et, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! 60 Where is now my conquest and victory? Where is my riches and my royal aray? Wher be my coursers and my horses hye? Where is my myrth, my solas, and my[173] play? As vanyte, to nought al is wandred[174] away. O lady Bes, longe for me may ye call! For I[175] am departed tyl domis day; But loue ye that Lorde that is soueraygne of all. Where be my castels and buyldynges royall? But Windsore alone, now I haue no mo, 70 And of Eton the prayers perpetuall, Et, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! Why should a man be proude or presume hye? Sainct Bernard therof nobly doth trete, Seyth a man is but[176] a sacke of stercorry, And shall returne vnto wormis mete. Why, what cam of Alexander the greate? Or els of stronge Sampson, who can tell? Were not[177] wormes ordeyned theyr flesh to frete? And of Salomon, that was of wyt the well? 80 Absolon profferyd his heare for to sell, Yet for al his bewte wormys ete him also; And I but late in honour dyd excel, Et, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio! I haue played my pageyond, now am I past; Ye wot well all I was of no great yeld: This[178] al thing concluded shalbe at the last, When death approchyth, then lost is the felde: Then sythen this world me no longer vphelde, Nor nought[179] would conserue me here in my place, 90 In manus tuas, Domine, my spirite vp I yelde, Humbly[180] beseching thé, God, of thy[181] grace! O ye curtes commyns, your hertis vnbrace Benyngly now to pray for me also; For ryght wel you know your kyng I was, Et, ecce, nunc in pulvere dormio!

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Of the death, &c.] From the ed. by Kynge and Marche of Certaine bokes compyled by Mayster Skelton, n. d.—collated with the same work, ed. Da Note 2 · This world, &c.] MS.: “For the world hathe conformid me to fall.”Note 3 · may] MS. “myzt.”Note 4 · Now there, &c.] MS.: “Now is ther no helpe but pray for my sovle.”Note 5 · twenty-two] So MS. and Mir. for Mag. Eds. “xxiii.;” see notes.Note 6 · it] So other eds. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, “hit.”Note 7 · That] So MS. Eds. “As.”Note 8 · the erth] MS. “dethe.”Note 9 · himselfe assure] So Mir. for Mag. Eds. and MS., “be sure.”Note 10 · What is it, &c.] MS.: “What ys it to trust the mutabylyte Of this world whan no thyng may endure.”Note 11 · cheryfayre] MS. “cheyfeyre.”Note 12 · I se wyll, &c.] This stanza only found in MS.Note 13 · This] See notes.Note 14 · lyst] MS. “lust”—against the rhyme.Note 15 · chest] MS. “chestys”—against the rhyme.Note 16 · euer to incroche] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “ouer to,” &c. MS. gives this line and the next thus: “And more to encrese was myne entent And n Note 17 · full] So Mir. for Mag. Not in eds. or MS.Note 18 · Wyndsore, Eltam, &c.] This line and the next given thus in MS.: “Wynsore and eton and many oder mo As Westmynster Eltham and sone went I fr Note 19 · my] So Mir. for Mag. Not in eds. or MS.Note 20 · wandred] Mir. for Mag. “wythered.”Note 21 · For I, &c.] MS.: “Now are we departid [i. e. parted] onto domys day.”Note 22 · Seyth a man is but, &c.] Day’s ed. “Seeth a man is nothing but,” &c. Marshe’s ed. “Sythe a man is nothing but,” &c. Mir. for Mag. “Saying a Note 23 · Were not] So Lant’s ed. and Mir. for Mag. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, “Where no.” Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “Wher no.” MS. “Was not.”Note 24 · This] Mir. for Mag. “Thus;” but see note.Note 25 · Nor nought, &c.] Mir. for Mag.: “For nought would conserue mee here in this place.” MS.: “Ne nougt wold concerue me my place.”Note 26 · Humbly] So other eds. Kynge and Marche’s ed. “Humble.”Note 27 · thy] Other eds. “his.”