The Dance of Death in London

O Sire Curate / that ben here now present
That had / 3owre worldli Inclynacioun
3owre herte entier / 3owre study & entent
Moste on 3owre tithes / & oblacioun
Whiche shulde haue ben / of conuersacioun
Mirroure vn-to other / light & exaumplarie
Like 3owre deserte / shal be 3owre guerdoun
And to eche laboure / due is the salarie.

Mawgre my wille / I moste condescende
For dethe assaileth / eueri lifli thynge
Here yn this worlde / who can comprehende
His sodeyn stroke / & his vnware comynge
Fare-wel tithes / and fare-wel myn offrynge
I mote go Counte / yn ordre by and by
[And for my shepe] / make a Juste rekenynge
Whom he acquyteth / I holde he is happi.

Thow laborere / whiche yn sorow & peyne
Haste had thi life / in ful grete trauaile
Thow moste eke daunce / & ther fore not disdeyne
For if thaw do / hit mai the not a-vaile
And cause whi / that I the assaile
Is wonli this / from the to disseuere
The fals worlde / that can so folke faile
He is a fole / that weneth to lyve euere.

I haue wisshed / after dethe ful ofte
Al-be that I wolde / haue fled hym nowe
I had leuere / to haue leyne vnsofte
In wynde & reyne / & haue gon atte plowe
With spade & pikeys / and labored for my prowe
Dolue & diched / & atte Carte goon
For I mai sey / & telle playnli howe
In this worlde / here ther is reste noon.