Classic Poem

Skelton Laureate, Defender, against Master Garnesche, Challenger, with Greasy, Gorbellied Godfrey

How may I your mockery meekly tolerate,
Your groaning, your grunting, your groining like a swine?
Your pride is all to-peevish, your port importunate:
You manticore, ye malapert, ye can both wince and whine;
Your loathsome lere to look on, like a greased boot doth shine.
Ye capped Cayface copyus, your paltock on your pate,
Though ye prate like proud Pilate, beware yet of checkmate.

Whole is your brow that ye brake with Durandal your own sword;
Why hold ye on your cap, sir, then? your pardon is expired:
Ye hobble very homely before the king's board;
Ye counter umwhile too captiously, and ere ye be desired;
Your moth-eaten mockish manners, they be all to-mired
Ye capped Cayface copyus, your paltock on your pate,
Though ye prate like proud Pilate, beware of checkmate.

O Gabionite of Gabion, why do ye gane and gasp?
Huf a gallant Garnesche, look on your comely corse!
Lusty Garnesche, like a louse, ye jet full like a jasp;
As witless as a wild goose, ye have but small remorse
Me for to challenge that of your challenge maketh so little force.
Ye capped Cayface copyus, your paltock on your pate,
Though ye prate like proud Pilate, beware of checkmate.

Sir Guy, Sir Gawain, Sir Cayus, for and Sir Olivere,
Pyramus, nor Priamus, nor Sir Pyrrus the proud,
In Arthur's ancient act─ùs nowhere is proved your peer;
The fashion of your phys'nomy the devil in a cloud;
Your heart is too haut, ywis, it will not be allowed
Ye capped Cayface copyus, your paltock on your pate,
Though ye prate like proud Pilate, beware of checkmate.

Ye ground you upon Godfrey, that grisly gorgon's face,
Your standard, Sir Olifaunte, against me for to 'splay:
Baile, baile at you both, frantic fools! follow on the chase!
Come Garnesche, come Godfrey, with as many as ye may!
I advise you beware of this war, range you in array.
Ye capped Cayface copyus, your paltock on your pate,
Though ye prate like proud Pilate, beware of checkmate.

Gup, gorbellied Godfrey, gup, Garnesche, gawdy fool!
To tourney or to taunt with me ye are too far to seek:
For these twain whipslovens call for a cuck-stool:
Thou manticore, ye marmoset, garnished like a Greek,
Wrangling, wayward, witless, raw, and nothing meek.
Ye capped Cayface copyus, your paltock on your pate,
Though ye prate like proud Pilate, beware of checkmate.

Mirres vous y,

Look not too high.