The relucent mirror[117] for all Prelats and Presidents, as well
spirituall as temporall, sadly to loke vpon, deuised in English by
Skelton.
All noble men,[118] of this take hede,
And beleue it as your Crede.
To hasty of sentence,
To ferce for none offence,
To scarce of your expence,
To large in neglygence,
To slacke in recompence,
To haute in excellence,
To lyght [in] intellegence,
And to lyght in[119] credence; 10
Where these kepe resydence,
Reson is banysshed thence,
And also dame Prudence,
With sober Sapyence.[120]
All noble men, of this take hede,
And beleue it as your Crede.
Than without collusyon,
Marke well this conclusyon,
Thorow[121] suche abusyon,
And by suche illusyon, 20
Vnto great confusyon
A noble man may fall,
And his honour appall;
And[122] yf ye thynke this shall
Not rubbe you on the gall,
Than the deuyll take all!
All noble men, of this take hede,
And beleue it as your Crede.
_Hæc vates ille,_
_De quo loquuntur mille._[123] 30