The Dance of St. Paul's, Harley 116

The davnce of macabre

Translator

Translator

O ye folkes that bene harde harted as a stone
Which to this world yeue al your aduertens
Lyke as it shuld laste euer inn one
Where is your witte where is your prudennce
5 To see a fore the sodene vyolennce
Of cruell deth that sleth so wise and sage
[Wiche sleeth allas by stroke of pestilence]
Bothe olde and yonge of high and loue parage

Dethe sparyth not hight ne law degre
10 Popes, kynges ne worthy Emperours
Whanne thay shyne moste in thaire felicite
He can abate the freshnes of hir floures
The brygh[t] sonne clypsen with his shoures
Make hem plonge frome her sees low
15 Mavgre the myght of all this conquerours
Fortune hathe hem frome her whele ithrow

Verba translatoris

Consideryng this, ye folkes, that bene wisse
And yit enprynteth in your memoryall
Lyke the example whych that at parise
20 I fonde depictt oons vppon a walle
But notably as I reherse shall
Ther of franch clerkes takyng acquayntance
I toke on me to translaten all
Oute of the frenche makabres davnce

25 By whos avyce and counsell at þe leeste
Thurght her steryngh and her mocioun
I obeyde vnto hir requeste
Therof to make a playne translacioun
In englysshe tonge of entencioun
30 That prowde folkes whiche ben stoude and bolde
As in a myrroure toforne inn her resoun
Thayre vgly fyne may clerly ther beholde

By this ensample that thay in þer intentes
Amend her lyfe in euery maner age
35 The whiche davnce at saynt Innocentes
Portrayed is with all þe surplusages
To shew this world is but a pilgrymage
youen vnto vs our lyves to correcte
And to delyuere the fyne of our passage
40 Right anoon my style I wylL directe

The authority

The authority

O creatures ye that ben reasonable
The lyfe desyring which þat is eternall
Ye may see here doctryne full notable
Youre lyfe to lede which that is mortall
45 Þerby to lernne in especiall
How ye shall trace þe davnce of macabre
To man and woman yliche naturall
For deth ne spareth hight ne low degre

Death to the pope

Death to the pope

    Dethe to the pope
57 O ye þat ben sett moste hight in dignite
Of all estates in erthe spirituall
And lyke as petre hadde þe souerente
60 Ouere the chirche and states temporall
Vppon this davnce [ye] furst begyn shall
As moste worthy lorde and gouernoure
For all the worshipp of your astate papale
And lordship to god is the honour

The pope

The pope

65 Fyrste me behoueth this davnce for to lede
Which satte in erth hiest in my see
The state full perlyus who so taketh hede
To ocupy petres dingnite
But for all that deth I may nott flee
70 On his davnce with oþer for to trace
For wich all honour who prudently can see
Is lytell worthe that dothe so soone passe

Death to the emperor

Dethe

Sir Emperour lorde of all þe grownde
Souerayne prynce and hieste of noblesse
75 Ye moste forsake of golde your aple ronde
Septre and swerde and all your highe prowesse
Behynde you leue your tresoure and ricchesse
And with oþer to my davnce obeye
Ayenste my myght worthe is none hardinesse
80 Adams children alle thay most dye

The emperor

The Emperoure

I note to whom that I may me appele
Towchinge deth which dothe me so constreyne
Ther is no bote to helpe my quarele
But spade and pykoys my grave to attayne
85 A symple shete þer is no more to sayne
To wrapp in my body and visage
And þer vppon I may me sore complayne
That lordes grete haue so lytell vayntage

Death to the cardinal

Death to the cardinal

Dethe

Ye ben abasshed it semeth and in drede
90 Syr cardynall me semeth by your chere
But yit for thy ye folow shall in dede
With oþer folke my davnce for to lere
Your grete aray al shall ye leve here
Your hatte of rede your vesture of grete coste
95 All this thinges rekened wele in fere
In grete honoure gode a vis is loste

The cardinal

The cardynale

I haue grete cause certes þat is is no fable
To be abasshed, and gretly drede me
Sithe deth is come me sodenly to assayle
100 In gryse ne ermyne lyke to my degree
All myn aray to leue behend me
Myne hatte of rede leue eke in distresse
By which I haue conceyued wel and see
That worldly ioy endyth in hevynesse

Death to the king

Dethe

105 O noble kynge most worthi of renovne
Come forth anonne for all your worthynesse
That hadd somtyme aboute you envy<ro>ron
Grete ryalte and passing high noblesse
But right anoone for all your highnesse
110 Sole frome youre men in haste you shall it lette
Who moste habovndeth here in gret richesse
Shall bere with him but a single shete

The king

The kynge

I haue not lerned here afore to davnce
No davnce in soth of fotynge so sage
115 Where for I see my clere demonstraunce
What pryde is worth force or high lynage
Deeth all fordoth this is his vsage
Bothe greet and smale þat in þis world soiorne
Who is moste meke I holde he is most sage
120 For we shall al to dede asshes turne

Death to the patriarch

Death to the patriarch

Dethe

Sir patryarke with all your humble chere
Ne quite you not for your humilite
Your doble crosse of gold and stones clere
Your pouer hole and al your dignite
125 Some oþer shall of veray equite
Possed anon as I reherce can
Trusteth neuer þat ye shall pope be
For foly hope dissayueth many a man

The patriarch

The patriarke

Worldly honour grett tresoure and ricchesse
130 Haue me dissayvid sothfastly in dede
Myne olde ioyes ben turned to trystesse
What avayleth such tresoure to possede
Hie clymbyng vp a falle hath for his mede
Grett estates folke wasten oute of nowmbre
135 Who mownteth hie it is sure and no dredde
Gret byrthine dothe him oft encombre

Death to the constable

Dethe

It is [my] right to rest and you constrayne
With vs to davnce my maister sir constable
For more strynger than euer was charlemayne
140 Dethe hath enforcede and more worshippable
For hardynes nor knyghthode [this] is no fable
Ne stronge armure of plates ne of mayle
What gayneth armes of folkes moste notable
Whann cruell deth luste hem to assaille

The constable

The Constable

145 My purpose was and hole entencion
To haue assayled castelles and fortresse
And brynge folke vnto subieccion
To seke honour fame and grett ricchesse
But I see well þat all worldly prouesse
150 Dethe can abate which is a greet dispite
To him alone sorow and eke swetnesse
For ayenst dethe is founde no respite

Death to the archbishop

Death to the archbishop

Dethe

Sir archebusshope why do ye so withdrow
So frowardly as it were by disdeyne
155 Ye most approche vnto my mortal law
It to contrare it were but in veyne
For day by day þer is noon oþer gayne
Deth at hande pursueth euery cooste
Prest and dett moste be yolde ageyne
160 And at oo day men compten with her hoste

The archbishop

The Archebusshop

Alas I wott not what partie for to flee
For drede of deth I haue so grett distresse
To escape his myght I can non refute see
That who so knew his constraynt and duresse
165 He wolde take reson to maistresse
Adew my tresoure my pompe and pride also
My paynted chambres my port and my freshnesse
For thinge that behoueth nedis must be doo

Death to the baron/knight

Dethe

Ye that amo[n]ge ladies and barons
170 Haue hade so longe worshippe and renowne
Forget your trumpets and your clarions
This is no dreme ne symelacioun
Somtyme your custovme and entenc[i]oun
Was with ladies to davn[c]e in the shade
175 But oft hit happeth in conclusioun
That oo man breketh þat anodyr made

The baron/knight

The Baroune

Full oft tymes I haue ben auctoriezed
To hieth empryse and thynges of gret fame
Of high and low my thanke also devisede
180 Cherished with ladies and women hie of name
Ne neuer on me was putt no defame
In lordys cowrt which þat was notable
But dethes stroke hath made me so lame
Vnder heuen in erthe is no thing stable

Death to the princess

Dethe

185 Come forth anoon my lady and princesse
Ye most also go vpon this davnce
Nowght may avayle your grett strangenesse
Noþer your beaute ne your gret pleasance
Your riche aray ne your daliaunce
190 That somtyme cowde holde so many an honde
In love for al your doble varyaunce
Ye most as now this fotinge vndirstonde

The princess

The princesse

Alas I see þer is non other bote
Deth hath in erthe no lady ne maistres
195 And on his davnce yit must I nedis fote
For there is quene covntes ne dochesse
Flowryng in beaute ne in fayrnesse
That she of right most nedys the trace sew
For to oure beaute and countrefet Fresshnes
200 Oure reueled age saith farwell adiev

Death to the bishop

Death to the bishop

Dethe

My lord sir bysshopp with your myter and crosse
For all your ricches sothely I ensure
All your tresour so longe kepte in close
Youre worldly goodes and godes of nature
205 And of your shepe the gostly dredfull cure
With charge commyttid to youre prelacie
For to accompte ye shal be broght to lure
No wight is suer that clymbeth hie

The bishop

The Busshop

My hert truly is nothing gladd ne merye
210 Of soden tydynges which þat ye me brynge
My feest is turned vnto a simple ferye
That for discomfort me lyst no thing to singe
The world contrarye now to me workynge
That all folkes can so disherite
215 He that all withhalte allas at our partynge
And all shall passe saue oonly oure merite

Death to the nobleman

Deth

Come forthe sir squyer right fressh in your aray
That can of davnce all þe new gyse
Thoght ye bare armes fresshe horsed yesterday
220 With spere and shelde at your vncouth devyse
And toke on you so many hie empryse
Davnce with vs it will not better be
There is no socoure in no maner wyse
For no man may fro dethes stroke flee

The nobleman

Squier

225 Sithe dethe me holdeth in his lace
Yit shall I speke oo worde or þat I passe
Adu all myrthe adu al solace
Adu my ladyes somtyme so fresshe of face
Adu beaute plesance and solace
230 Of dethes change euery day is pryme
Thenke on your soules or that dethe manace
For all shall roote and no man woot what tyme

Death to the abbot

Death to the abbot

Dethe

Come forth sir abbott with your brode hatte
Be not abasshed thogh ye haue right
235 Grett ys your hede your bely large and fatte
Ye most come davnce thogh ye be nothing lyght
Leueth your abbay to some oþer wight
Your eyer is of age your state to ocupye
Who is most fatte I haue him behight
240 Shall in his grave sonnest putrefye

The abbot

The Abbott

Of thi tretyse I haue noon envie
That I shall now leue all gouernance
But that I shall as a cloystre dye
This dethe to me passinge grete grevaunce
245 My liberte nor my gret habundance
What may avaylle in any maner wyse
Yit I haske mercy with hartly repentance
Thogh in dying to late men hem avyse

Death to the abbess

Dethe

And ye my lady gentyll dame abbasse
250 With your mantelles furred large and wyde
Your vaile your wymple passing of gret ricchesse
And beddys softe ye must now lay on syde
For to this davnce I muste be your gyde
Thogh ye be tendre and borne of gentell blode
255 While that ye lyue for your selfe provide
For after deth no wyght hath no goode

The abbess

The Abbasse

Alas that deth hath thus for me orde[i]ned
That in no wyse I may it not declyne
Thogh it so be full oft I am constreyned
260 Brest and throtte my notes owte to twyne
My chekes rounde vernysshed for to shyne
Vngirt full ofte to walke at þe large
Thus cruell deth doth all estates fyne
Who hath no chippe muste rowe in bote or barge

Death to the bailiff

Dethe

265 Come forth sir Bailly that know al the gyse
By your offyce of trowgh and rightwysnesse
Ye muste come to a new assise
Extorc[i]on and wronges to redresse
Ye ben somovnde as lawe byddith expresse
270 To yeue accomptes the Iuge wyll you charge
Whiche hath ordenyde to exclude all falsnes
That euery man shall bere his owne charge

The bailiff

The Baylly

O thou lorde god this is an harde Iourne
To the which aforne I toke but litell hede
275 My chaunce is tourned and that forthynkith me
Somtyme with Iuges what me lyste to spede
Lay in my myght by favor or for mede
Bot sethyn þer is no rescusse ne baitalle
I hold him wise that cowde see in dede
280 Ayen dethe that noon appele may vaile

Death to the astrologer

Death to the astrologer

Dethe

Come forth maister þat loken vp so ferne
With Instrumentes of Astronomye
To take the grees and hight of euery starne
What may availe all your astrologie
285 Sith that of adam alle þe genelogie
Made firste of god to walke vpon the grounde
Dethe aresteth thus saith theologie
And all shall dye for an apple rounde

The astrologer

Astronomer

For all my crafte connynge and science
290 I can not fynde no provision
Ne in the sterves seke no defence
By demonstrynge ne calculacion
Saue fynally in conclusion
For to discrive all our connyng euery dele
295 Þer is no more by sentence of reson
But who so lyueth ryght most nedys dye well

Death to the citizen

Dethe

Sir burgoies what do ye lenger tarie
For all your haueur and your gret ricches
Thoghe ye be strange deyinous and contrarie
300 To this davnce ye muste now nedys dresse
For your tresoure plente and largesse
From oþer it come and shall vnto strongers
He is a fole that in such besinesse
Wote not for whom he stuffeth his garners

The citizen

Burges

305 Certes to me it is gret displeasance
To leue all this and may it not assure
Howses rentes tresoure and substance
Deth all distroieth sich is his nature
Þerfore wise is no creature
310 That sett his harte of good that moste disseuere
The world is lent and he will hit recure
And who moste hath lothest dieth euer

Death to the canon

Death to the canon

Dethe

And ye sir chanon with many grete prebende
Ye may no lenger haue distribusion
315 Of golde and siluer largely to dyspende
For þer is now no consolac[i]on
But davnce with vs for all youre highe renovne
For ye of deth stande vpon the brynke
Ye may þer of haue none dilacion
320 Deeth comyth euer when men leest on him thinke

The canon

The Chanon

My benefices with many a personage
God wote ful lytell may me now comforte
Deth hath on me so grette avauntage
All my riches may me not support
325 Amys of grise thay ayene resorte
Vnto the world surplis and prebende
All is veynglorie truly to reporte
To dye wele yche man shuld entend

Death to the merchant

Dethe

Ye riche merchaunt ye must loke hedyrwarde
330 That passed haue full many a diuerse londe
On horse on fote hauyng moste reward
To lucre and wynnynge as I vndirstonde
But now to davnce ye muste gyfe me youre hond
For all youre laboure full lytell avaylleth now
335 Adev vaynglorie both of fre and bonde
No more covetos than thay that haue Inowe

The merchant

The Marchaunt

By many an hill and many a stronge vayle
I haue traueled with many merchandyse
Ouer the see do carye many a bale
340 To sondre Iles mo than I can deuyse
Myne herte Inwarde ay frete with couetyse
But all for nought now deth me dothe constre[y]ne
By which I see by recorde of þe wise
Who all embraceth lytell shall restrayne

Death to the Carthusian

Death to the Carthusian

Dethe

345 Yeue me your hande with chekes dede and pale
Caused of wacche and longe abstynence
Sir chartereux and your selfe avale
Vnto this davnce with vmble pacience
To str[i]ve ayene may be no recistence
350 Lenger to lyve set nott your memorie
Thoughe I be lothesom in apparence
Aboue all men deth hath the victorie

The Carthusian monk

The monke of charterhous

Unto this world I was dede longe agone
By myne ordre and my professione
355 Thoghe euery man be he neuer so stronge
Dredeth to dye by kyndly mocyon
After his fleshly inclynacion
But pleas it to god my soule for to borowe
From fendis myght and dampnacion
360 Some men be this day þat shall not be to morow

Death to the sergeant

Dethe

Come forth sir sargeant with youre statly mace
Make no defense ne no rebellyon
Nowght may awaile to grucche in this case
Thoght ye be deynous of condicion
365 For nether appele ne proteccion
May you francheise to do nature wronge
For þer is noon so sturdy a champyon
Thoght he be myghty deth is a[s] stronge

The sergeant

The sargant

How durste thou sett on me areste
370 That am the kynges chosen offycere
Which yisterday both este and weste
Myne office did with surquidus chere
But now this day I am arested here
And may nott fle thoghe I hadd it sworne
375 Eche man is lothe to dye fer or nere
That hath not lerenned for to dye beforne

Death to the monk

Death to the monk

Deth

Sir monke also with your blake abyte
Ye may no lenger holde here soioure
Þer may thinge here you respite
380 Ayenste my myght you to do socoure
Ye muste accompte touchinge your laboure
How ye haue spendid [it in] worde dede and thoght
To erth and asshes turneth euery floure
The lyfe of man is but a thinge of noght

The monk

The monke

385 I hade leuer in my cloistre to be
At my boke and study my seruyse
Which is a place contemplatyff to se
But I haue spente my lyfe in many vise
Liche as a fole dissolute and nyce
390 God of his mercy gravnte me repentance
By chere outewarde harde to dyvise
All be no mery which þat men see davnce

Death to the usurer

Dethe

Thou vserer loke vp and beholde
Vnto wynnyng that setteste all thy peyne
395 Whos couetyse wexith neuer colde
Thi gredy thyrste so sore þe doth constrayne
But thou shalt neuer thy desire attayne
Such an etik thyne harte fret shall
That but of petie god his hand refreyne
400 O perlyous stroke shall make the lese all

The usurer

The vserere

Now me behoueth sodenly to dye
Which is to me gret payne and grevance
Socoure to fynde I se no maner way
Of gold nor syluer by no chevisance
405 Deth thurghe his haste abydith no purviance
Of folkys blynde that can not se wele
Full ofte happith by kynde or fatall change
Som haue faire eyyn that se neuer a dele

Death to the physician

Death to the physician

Deth to the phisicion

Maister of phesike which in youre vryne
So loke and gase and stare ayenste the sonne
For all your crafte and study of medycine
420 And all þe practyke and scyens þat ye kanne
Youre lyues course so ferforth is Ironne
Ayenste my myght youre craft may not endure
For all the golde that þe þerby hath wonne
Good leche is he that can him selfe recure

The physician

Phesicion

425 Full longe a gone that I vnto phisik
Sett my witte and my deligence
In speculatife and allso in practyke
To gett a name thorghe myne excellence
To fynde oute a yenst pestylence
430 Preseruatifs to staunche it and to fyne
But I dar say shortly in sentence
Ayenste deth is worth no medicyne

Death to the suitor

Deth

Ye that bene I gentyll so fresshe and amerous
Of yers yonge flowrynge in youre grene age
435 Lysty and fre and [of hert eke desirous]
Full of devises and chanche in your courage
Plesante of porte of loke and of visage
But all shall turne vnto asshes dede
For all your beaute is but a faynte Image
440 Which stelyth a way or folkes can take hede

The suitor

The Galant Squier

Allas alas I can now no socoure
Ayenste deth for my selfe provide
Adieu of youth the lusty fresshe floure
Adieu vaynglorie of beaute and of pride
445 Adieu all seruyce of the gode cupide
Adev my lad[i]es so well and fresshe be seyne
For ayenst deth no thing may abyde
And wyndes grete goon dovne with litell rayne

Death to the gentlewoman

Deth

Com forth maistres of yers yonge and grene
450 Which holde youre selfe of beaute souerayne
As faire as ye was somtyme pollexene
Penylope and the quene Elyen
Yit on this davnce thay wente bothe twayne
And so shall ye for all your strangnesse
455 Thoghe dangere longe in love haue lede your reyne
Areste is youre change of doblenesse

The gentlewoman

The yonge Gentylwoman

O cruell deth that spareth noon astate
To olde and yonge thou arte indifferent
To my beaute thou haste sayde chekemate
460 So hasty is thy mortale Iugement
For in my yougehe this was myne entente
To my seruyce many a man [to] haue alevred
But sche is a fole shortly in sentence
That in her beaute is to muche assured

Death to the lawyer

Death to the lawyer

Dethe

465 Sir aduocate shorte processe for to make
Ye must com and plete afore the Iuge
Many a quarell ye haue vndirtake
And for lucre to do folke refuge
But my franchese is so large and huge
470 That cownsell noon may awale but trouthe
He schapith wysely of deth the grete diluge
Before the doome who is not tayne with slowthe

The lawyer

The Aduocate

Of right and reson by natures law
I can putt ayene deth no defense
475 Ne by my sleight me kepe ne with drew
For all my witte and my grett prudence
To make apple from his dredfull sentence
No no man in erthe may a man preserue
Ayens his myght to make no resistence
480 God quiethe all men liche as thay deserue

Death to the juror

Dethe

Maister Iorrour which that at is assises
And at schires questes didiste enbrace
Departest londe lyke to thy devise
And who most haue most stode in thi grace
485 The pore man loste londe and place
For gold thou cowdest folkes dysherite
But now late see with thy taynte face
To fore the Iuge how thou canste the quiete

The juror

The Iorrour

Somtyme I was clepide in my contree
490 The belwether and that was not a lite
Not loued but dradde of hight and low degre
For whom me luste by crafte I cothe endyte
Hange the tru and the thefe respite
All þe contrey by my worde was ladde
495 But I dar say shortly for to write
Of my deth many a man is glade

Death to the minstrel

Deth

O thou mynstrall þat canst so note and pipe
Vnto folkes for to do pleasance
By thi right hande soon I shall þe gryppe
500 Withe thes other to go vpon my davnce
þer is no skape nether avoidance
On noo side to contrary my sentance
For in musek by crafte and acordance
Who maister is shall shew his science

The minstrel

The Mynstryll

505 This new davn[c]e is to me so strange
Wonder dyuerse and passingly contrarie
The dredfull fotynge dethe so oft change
And the musures so oft tymes varie
Which now to me is no thinge nessesarie
510 Yife it ware so þat I myght astarte
But many a man yif I shall not tarie
Oft tyme dawnceth but no thinge of herte

Death to the conjuror

Dethe

Maister Iohn Rykell somtyme tregetoure
Of noble heenry kynge of Englonde
515 And of Fravnce the myghty conqueroure
For alle the sleightes and turnyng of thyne honde
Thou must come nere this davnce to vndirstonde
Nowght may awaile all thi conclusions
For deth shortly noþer on see and lande
520 Is not dysceyued by noon yllusions

The conjuror

The Tregitoure

What may awaile mankynde naturale
Or any crafte sheved by apparence
Or course of sterres aboue celestiall
Or of heuen all the influence
525 Ayenste deth to stonde at defence
Lygarde damayn now helpith me right nought
Farwell my craft and all such sapience
For deth hath mo maistries than I haue at longe

Death to the priest

Death to the priest

Deth

O sir curet þat bene here present
530 Þat hadd your worldly inclynacion
Your hert entire your study and your entente
Most on your tythes and oblacion
Which shuld haue ben of conuersacion
Myrrowre vnto oþer light and exemplary
535 Lyke youre desert shall be your guerdon
And to yche labour deu is the sylary

The parish priest

The Persone

Mavgre my wyll I must condiscende
For deth assaileth euery lyuely thinge
Here in this world who can comprehende
540 His soden stroke and his vnware commynge
Farwell ny tythes farwell myne offerynge
I must go compte in ordre by and by
And for my shepe make a Iuste reconynge
Whom he aquiteth I holde he is happy

Death to the peasant

Dethe

545 O thou laborer which in sorow and peyne
Haste ledd thy lyfe in full gret trauayle
Thou muste eke davnce and þerfor not disdeyne
For thoghe thou do it may the not avayle
And cause whi þat I the assayle
550 Is oonly this the to disseuere
For the fals worlde þat can folkes faile
He is a fole that wenyth to lyve euer

The peasant / labourer

The laborer

I haue wissede after deth full ofte
All be that I wold haue fledd him now
555 I had leuer to had leyne vnsofte
In wynde and reyne to haue goon at þe plow
With spad and pyckes haue labored for my prow
Delue and dyke and at þe carte goon
For I may say and tell playnly how
560 In this worlde here þer is rest noon

Death to the Franciscan

Death to the Franciscan

Dethe

Sir corduler to you myn hand is raught
To this davnce you to convey and lede
Which in your prechinge haue full oft taught
How I am most gastfull for to dredde
565 [Al be that folke take therof noon hede]
Yit is þer noon so stronge ne so hardy
But deth dar arest him and lete for no man
For deth yche houre is present and redy

The Franciscan monk

The Frere Menore

What may this be þat in þis world no man
570 Here to abide may haue no suerte
Strength ricches ne what þat he can
Worldly wisdome al is but vanyte
573 In gret estate ne in pouerte

The clerk

601 Shall I that am so yong a clarke nowe dye
Fro my seruyce and haue no better guerdon
Is þer no gayne ne no better way
Ne seuer frawnchese ne proteccion
605 Deth maketh alway a schorte conclusion
To late ware whan men bene on the brynke
Þe world shall fayll and all possession
For much faylleth of thing þat foles thynke

Death to the hermit

Dethe

Ye that haue lyued longe in wyldernesse
610 And þer contynued longe in abstyna[n]ce
At þe laste yit ye muste you dresse
Of my davnce to haue experience
For þer ayen may be no recistence
Take now leue of thyne Ermytage
615 For yche man aduerte this sentence
That in this lyfe is no suer heritage

The hermit

The Herymyte

Lyff in desert called solytarie
May ayenst deth haue respitt noon ne space
At vnsett stewyne his commyng doth not tarie
620 And for my parte welcome be godds grace
Thankyn hym with vmble chere and face
Of all his yeftes and grett habundance
Fynally affermynge in this place
No man is riche that lacketh suffysance

Death

Dethe

625 That is well sayd and thus shuld euery wight
Thanke his god and all his wittes dresse
To loue and drede him with harte and myght
Sithe dethe to escape may be no sekernesse
As men serue god quite of rightwisnesse
630 The riche and pour vpon euery side
A better lesson þer can no clarke expresse
Than tyll to morow is no man suer to abide

The dead king

The dead king

The Kyng lying in his grave

Ye folken that loke vpon this purturature
Beholdithe here all estates davnce
635 Seethe what ye ben and what is your nature
Mete vnto wormes not elles in substance
And haue this myrrovre euer in remembrance
Howe I lye here somtyme crowned a kynge
To all estates a tru resemblance
640 That wormes food is fyne of oure lyvynge

The authority

The authority

Verba doctoris Machabre

Man is life elles platly for to thinke
But as a wynde which is transitorie
Passing ay forth wheder he wake or wynke
Toward this davnce haue this in memorie
645 Remembre ay þer is no better victorie
In this lyfe here thanne fle synne at leste
Than shall ye reigne in paradys with glorye
Happy is he in heuen that maketh his feste

Yit þer ben mo thanne sex or seven
650 Rekkeles of lyffe in many maner wise
Lyke as þer ware hell noon ne heven
Such fals errours late euery man dispise
For holy sayntes and olde clarks wise
Writen contrarye her falsnes to deface
655 To lyue well take for the beste empryse
Is moche worthe whan men shall hens pace

The translator

The translator

Verba translatoris

O ye maistres and folkes all in feer
Of aventure that shall this davnce rede
Lowly I pray with all my herte entere
660 To correcte wher as ye se nede
For nought elles I haske for my mede
But godely supporte of this translacion
And with fauor to sowpowle drede
Benygnely in your correcion

665 Oute of the frenche I drow it of entent
Not worde by worde but [folwynge] the substance
And fro paris to Englonde it sent
Only of purposse you to do plesance
Rude of langage I was not borne in franche
670 Haue [me] excusyd my name is Iohn Lydegate
Of þer tonge I haue no suffisance
Theyer coryous metres in ynglyche to translate

Explicit ut supra