PAROT
My name is Parrot, a byrd of Paradyse,
By Nature devised of a wonderowus kynde,
Deyntely dyeted with dyvers dylycate spyce,
Tyl Euphrates, that flode, dryveth me into Inde;
Where men of that countrey by fortune me fynde,
And send me to greate ladyes of estate;
Then Parot must have an almon or a date.
A cage curyously carven, with sylver pyn,
Properly paynted, to be my covertowre;
A myrrour of glasse, that I may toote therin;
These maidens ful mekely with many a divers flowre
Freshly they dresse, and make swete my bowre,
With, ‘Speke, Parrot, I pray you,’ full curtesly they say;
‘Parrot is a goodly byrd, a prety popagey.’
...
(complete poem at http://http://www.skeltonproject.org/spekeparott/)
[video=youtube;tCckcTHWqKw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCckcTHWqKw&feature=youtu.be[/video]
The author was John Skelton, poet-laureate to Henry VIII. Not too difficult to get the gist of, with subtitles. Though diversions from Early Modern English (or late Middle English, by some definitions) into Latin, French, Dutch etc aren't particularly helpful. Skelton appears to be using the parrot as an excuse to demonstrate his own linguistic skills...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Skelton
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-29536411
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