Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

John Skelton (1460?–1529)

Extract from The Garlande of Laurell: To Maystress Margaret Hussey

MIRRY Margaret,

As mydsomer flowre;

Jentill as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towere:

With solace and gladnes,

Moche mirthe and no madness,

All good and no badness,

So joyously,

So maydenly,

So womanly,

Her demenyng

In every thynge,

Far, far passynge

That I can endyght,

Or suffyce to wryghte,

Of mirry Margarete,

As mydsomer flowre,

Jentyll as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre:

As pacient and as styll,

And as full of good wyll

As faire Isaphill;

Colyaunder,

Swete pomaunder,

Goode Cassaunder;

Stedfast of thought,

Wele made, wele wrought;

Far may be sought,

Erst that ye can fynde

So corteise, so kynde,

As mirry Margaret,

This mydsomer floure,

Jentyll as fawcoun

Or hawke of the towre.