Syth that ye lyste to be my hostesse, Since desire And in youre book to set myne image, my image Wake and remembre wyth grete avyses much consideration Howe my custome and mortall usageline5 Ys for to spare nether olde ne yonge of age, nor But that ye nowe in thys world levyng living Afore be redy, or I my belle rynge. Be ready in advance, lest

My dredefull spere full sharpe ygrounde, spear very honed Doth yow now lo here thys manace: youthreatenline10 Armoure ys noonne that may withstande hys wounde, There is no armor Ne whomme I merke, ther ys non other grace whom I mark no other To fynde respite of day, oure, ne space; reprieve brief while Wherfore be redy and have no dysdeyne, Therefore take no offence Yef of my commyng, the tyme be uncerteyne. Although

line15 Remembre, youre yeres almost past be; Of flowryng age lasteth but a seasoun; age of flourishing (i.e., youth) By procese at ey men may see In due course with their own eyes Beauté declyneth, hys blossom falleth doune. falls down And lytyll and lytyll by successioun by degreesline20 Cometh croked elde unwarly crepyng, old ageunexpectedly With hys patent purely thanne manysshyng.

The gospell byddeth than wake and pray, bids them For of my commyng there is no tyme sette; Ne no manne knoweth whenne he shall dye, knows dieline25 Ne agayne myne entré no gate may be shutte; against my entry Twene me and kynde there is a knot unknyt, Between creation loosened That in thys worlde every lyvyng creature living For Adams synne must dye of nature. sin naturally

Thyese balades that thus ben wrytenne here be tak owte of the book of Johnne Lucas and sayde to the peple that shall see thys lytell tretyse in tyme to come.

O worldely folke, averteth and take hede take noticeline30 What vengeaunce and punicyoun punishment God shall take after ye be dede you are dead For youre trespas and youre transgressioun, Whiche breke his preceptys ayenst al reasoun; against all reason Ye have foryete how with his precious bloode, have forgotten bloodline35 Yow for to save, he dyed onne the Roode. In order to save you the Cross

Lerne for to dye and hate for to lye; hate to live [in sin] Of olde offens amonge have repentaunce; sins constantly And, to eschewe al scorne and mokry mockery Ayenst vyces, do almes and penaunce, Against do (perform)line40 And for to have moste souveranly plesaunce highest pleasure To sewe the pathes of oure lorde Jhesu, show (reveal) Trewe exampeleré of grace and vertew, True exemplar virtue

Whyche for oure sake and oure redempcioun Who And for oure love was nayled to a tre, tree (i.e., the Cross)line45 Suffred payne and passioun, pain And nothyng asketh of hygh ne lowe degree Recompensed ayenwarde for to be, But that we sette all holy oure ententes For to fulfyll Hys commaundmentys.

line50 Wherby menne may, that prudent be and wyse, The joyes clayme, whiche be eternall, claim the joys And entré in to paradyse, again From whens Adam had a fall; whence To whyche place above celestiallline55 O Cryste Jhesu, so brynge us to that glory, Whyche by thy dethe had the victory. Amen.