The text of these lines by the grammarian William Lily (1468?–1522) comes from British Library MS Harley 540, f. 57v. The translation is that made by bishop Thomas Fuller in 1662 (see below, No. 24).
Quid me Scheltone fronte sic aperta
Carnis vipereo potens veneno
Quid versus trutina meos iniqua
Libras. Dicere vera num licebit
Doctrina tibi dum parari famam
Et doctus fieri studes poeta:
Doctrinam nec habes nec es poeta(With face so bold, and teeth so sharp
Of Viper's venome, why dost carp?
Why are my verses by thee weigh'd
In a false scale? May truth be said?
Whilst thou, to get the more esteem,
A learned Poet fain wouldst seem;
Skelton, thou art, let all men know it,
Neither learned, nor a poet.)