Example
From Mimus by Lilli Thal translated by John Brownjown
Pages 138-139
Pages 138-139
Leaning against the pillar, they watched the next item on the program. A tall man with the beginnings of a paunch and a mane of flowing gray hair struck a pose in front of the throne.
"His sails all swollen with the whistling wind,
the king set forth from Vinland's sacred shore
and steered for distant lands beyond the seas."
"The gray-haired giant is Theodo's court poet," Mimus whispered. "His name is Perkin Godbold, but he calls himself Haedus Venerabilis."
Florin almost choked on his precious pigeon's egg. "Haedus Venerabilis? Do you know what that means?"
"No, what?"
"Venerable Goat."
"Truly?" Mimus's eyes gleamed. No longer was he the weary, ill-tempered man Florin had seen shortly before. Haedus Venerabilis was in for a hard time, no doubt about it.
For the moment, however, the poet was still in his element:
"Aboard the royal barque were maidens fair
who raised their snow-white arms and sweetly sang:
'Return in triumph, noblest king of all!'"
Tense in every muscle, Mimus seemed to have imbibed the poet's verse like a mug of ale. While Haedus Venerabilis was acknowledged the applause with many a sweeping bow, he tiptoed up behind him, spread his arms, shook his [donkey costume's] ears just as the count had shaken his flowing locks, and loudly declaimed:
"His belly swollen with much whistling wind,
the poet left a steaming stool behind
and swiftly to the nearest privy ran..."
The mood of solemnity was dispelled at once, Scarlet-faced, Haedus Venerabilis was compelled to listen the jester's garbled version of his poem.
"Some hairy goats accompanied him there.
With cloven hooves upraised, the bleated: 'Baa!
The privy is your rightful place so stay!'"
A roar of laughter greeted the jester's recital, but king Theodo laughed loudest of all. He didn't spare his affronted court poet another glance.
[...]
Having concluded his performance with a hilarious imitation of a lovesick billygoat, Mimus returned to his place beside the pillar. He was clearly delighted with himself.
"That was malicious of you," Florin said reproachfully. "Look at that poor man."
Haedus Venerabilis, official poet to the court of Vinland, had subsided onto his chair like a mountain of misery, not daring to raise his eyes.
"His sails all swollen with the whistling wind,
the king set forth from Vinland's sacred shore
and steered for distant lands beyond the seas."
"The gray-haired giant is Theodo's court poet," Mimus whispered. "His name is Perkin Godbold, but he calls himself Haedus Venerabilis."
Florin almost choked on his precious pigeon's egg. "Haedus Venerabilis? Do you know what that means?"
"No, what?"
"Venerable Goat."
"Truly?" Mimus's eyes gleamed. No longer was he the weary, ill-tempered man Florin had seen shortly before. Haedus Venerabilis was in for a hard time, no doubt about it.
For the moment, however, the poet was still in his element:
"Aboard the royal barque were maidens fair
who raised their snow-white arms and sweetly sang:
'Return in triumph, noblest king of all!'"
Tense in every muscle, Mimus seemed to have imbibed the poet's verse like a mug of ale. While Haedus Venerabilis was acknowledged the applause with many a sweeping bow, he tiptoed up behind him, spread his arms, shook his [donkey costume's] ears just as the count had shaken his flowing locks, and loudly declaimed:
"His belly swollen with much whistling wind,
the poet left a steaming stool behind
and swiftly to the nearest privy ran..."
The mood of solemnity was dispelled at once, Scarlet-faced, Haedus Venerabilis was compelled to listen the jester's garbled version of his poem.
"Some hairy goats accompanied him there.
With cloven hooves upraised, the bleated: 'Baa!
The privy is your rightful place so stay!'"
A roar of laughter greeted the jester's recital, but king Theodo laughed loudest of all. He didn't spare his affronted court poet another glance.
[...]
Having concluded his performance with a hilarious imitation of a lovesick billygoat, Mimus returned to his place beside the pillar. He was clearly delighted with himself.
"That was malicious of you," Florin said reproachfully. "Look at that poor man."
Haedus Venerabilis, official poet to the court of Vinland, had subsided onto his chair like a mountain of misery, not daring to raise his eyes.
In the book Mimus, Mimus is a old jester who dislikes Haedus Venerabilis for having a life with more luxuries. Mimus is also very crafty and is ready to humiliate someone else just to please King Theo. To humiliate Haedus Venerabilis, Mimus creates a imitation of his poem that puts him at the same level as a goat. Mimus is inspired by Florin when he learns Haedus Venerabilis means Venerable Goat. The imitation created by Mimus causes everyone to laugh at Haedus Venerabilis. The poem Mimus created is a parody, because it mocks Haedus Venerabilis using a "garbled version of his poem".