Sire Patriark / al 3owre humble chere
Ne quyte 3ow not / ne 3owre humylite 3owre dowble cros / of golde & stones clere 3owre power hole / and al 3owre dignyte
Somme other shal / of verrei equyte
Possede a-noon / as I reherce can
Trusteth neuere / that 3e shul pope be
For foli hope / deceyueth many a man.
3owre: Your, chere: mien /appearance Ne quyte 3ow not: will not save you
Worldli honowre / grete tresowre and richesse
Haue me deceyued / sothfastli in dede
Myne olde Joies / ben turned to tristesse
What vaileth hit / suche tresowr to possede
Hi[e] clymbyng vp / [a f]alle hathe for his mede
Grete estates folke / wasten owte of nombre
Who mounteth hye / hit is sure & no drede
Grete burdoun / dothe hym ofte encombre.
Hit is my right / to reste & yow constrayn
With vs to daunce / my maiester sire Conestable
For more stronge / than euer was Charlemayn
Dethe hathe a-forced / & more worshipable
For hardynesse [n]e kny3thode / this is no fable
Ne stronge armoure / of plates ne of maile
What geyneth armes / of folkes most notable
Whan cruel deth / luste hem to assaile.
kny3thode: knighthood
hem: them
X,The Constable answereth
Mi purpose was / & hole entencioun
To assaille castelles / and my3ty [forteresses]
And brynge folke / vn-to subieccioun
To seke honowre / fame & grete richesses
But I se welle / that alle wordli prowesses
Deth can a-bate / whiche is a grete despite
To hym al-on sorowe / & eke swetenesse[s]
For a3eyne deth / is founden no respite.
eke: also a3eyne: against
(1)Patriark: A dignitary of the Roman Church in rank superior to an Archbishop.
(2)Constable: The constable is not a British policeman. Webster's
has another explanation: "An officer of high rank in medieval monarchies,
usually the commander of all armed forces esp. in the absence of the ruler".
The part about "absence of the ruler" is interesting, considering that in 1424 France was under English rule
and Henry VI was only 3 years old!
Medieval dances of death
St. Paul's, London