by John Skelton (1460 - 1529)

Burlesca ‑ Epitaph on John Jayberd of Diss
Language: Latin 
Sequitur trigintale
Tale quale rationale,
Licet parum curiale,
Tamen satis est formale,
Joannis Clerc, hominis
Cujusdam multinominis,
Joannes Jayberd qui vocatur,
Clerc cleribus nuncupatur.
Obiit sanctus iste pater
Anno Domini Millesimo Quingentesimo sexto.
In parochia de Diss
Non erat sibi similis;
In malitia vir insignis,
Duplex corde et bilinguis;
Senio confectus,
Omnibus suspectus,
Nemini dilectus,
Sepultus est among the weeds:
God forgive him his misdeeds!
Carmina cum cannis
Cantemus festa Joannis:
Clerk obiit vere,
Jayberd nomenque dedere:
Diss populo natus,
Clerk cleribus estque vocatus.
Nunquam sincere
Solitus sua crimina flere:
Cui male linguo loquax -- 
 -- Qui mendax que, fuere
Et mores tales
Resident in nemine quales;
Carpens vitales
Auras, turbare sodales
Et cives socios.
Asinus, mulus velut, et bos.
Quid petis, hic sit quis?
John Jayberd, incola de Diss;
Cui, dum vixerat is,
Sociantur jurgia, vis, lis.
Jam jacet hic stark dead,
Never a tooth in his head.
Adieu, Jayberd, adieu,
In faith, deacon thou crew!
Fratres, orate
For this knavate,
By the holy rood,
Did never man good:
I pray you all,
And pray shall,
At this trental
On knees to fall
To the football,
With 'Fill the black bowl
For Jayberd's soul'.
Bibite multum:
Ecce sepultum
Sub pede stultum.
Asinum et mulum.
With, 'Hey, ho, rumbelow!'
Rumpopulorum
Per omnia Secula seculorum!

Note: Vaughan Williams' score contains a "FREE TRANSLATION" as follows: 

Here follows a trental, more or less
reasonable, hardly fitting for the Church, but formal enough,
for John the Clerk, a certain man of many
names who was called John Jayberd. He
was called clerk by the clergy. This holy
father died in the year of our Lord 1506.
In the parish of Diss there was not his like; a man
renowned for malice, double-hearted
and double-tongued, worn out by old
age, suspected of all, loved by none. He is buried. . .
Sing we songs in our cups to celebrate
John. The clerk truly is dead and was
given the name of Jayberd. He was born
among the people of Diss and was called
clerk by the clergy. Never was he wont
truly to bewail his sins. His evil tongue
was loquacious and lying. Such morals as
his were never before in anyone. When
he breathed the vital air he disturbed his
companions and his fellow citizens as if
he were an ass, a mule, or a bull. Do you
ask who this is? John Jayberd, inhabitant
of Diss with whom while he lived were
associated quarrels, violence and strife.
Now here he lies. . . Pray, brethren. . . "
Drink your fill. See he is buried under
your feet, a fool, an ass, and a mule. . .
For ever and ever.


Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-04-10
Line count: 61
Word count: 212