A dolfull daunce and song of deathIntituled: the shakeing of the sheetes
Canne yea dance the shakinge of the sheetes,
A daunce that everie man
most dooe?Can yea trime it up with daintie sweetes,And everie thinge that longs there too?belongsline5Make readie then your winding sheete,And see how yea canne besturre youre feete,For Death is the man that all must meete.
Bringe away the beggar and the king,And everie man in his degree;line10Bring away both ould and yongest thinge;Come all to Death and follow me —The courtier with his loftie lookes,The lawier with his learned bookes,lawyerAnd the banker with his beating hookes.
line15Marchantes that make your mart in France,business (market)In Italie, and all about,Know you not that you and I must daunce,With both our heeles wrapt in a clout?a [burial] clothWhat meane you to make your houses gayline20And I must take the tenant away,And digge for your sakes the clods of clay?(i.e., a grave)
Thinke on the solempe syses last,solemn assizesHow sodenlie in OxfordshiresuddenlyI came and made the judges agast,line25And justices that did appear,And tooke both Bell and Baram away,And manie a worthie man that day,And all their bodies brought to clay.
Thinke you I dare not come in scooles,schoolsline30Where all the cunninge clarkes be most?clericsTake not I away both wise and fooles?And am not I in everie coast?Assure youreselves noe creature canMake Death afraid of any man,line35Or know my comminge where or when.
And you that are busie-headed foolesbusy-headed (distracted)To brawle for everie peltinge straw,brawl worthlessKnow yea not that I have readie toolesTo cut away youre craftie law?line40And you that foolishly buy and sell,And thinke you make your market well,Must daunce with Death wheresoever you dwell.
Where be they that make their leases stronge,And joyne about them land to land?line45Doe yea acount to live soe longe,expectTo have all the world come to your hand?Noe, foolish nowell, for all thy pencene’er-do-well moneyThis night thy soule must sure goe hence —Then whoe shall toile for thy defence?
line50And you that leane on your ladies lappes,And lay your heades upon her knee,Doe you thinke to play with bewties pappes,beauties’ breastsAnd not to come and daunce with me?Noe, faith, fair laddes and ladies all,line55I’le make you come when I do call,And find you a pipe to dance withall.
Pryd must have a prittie sheete, I see,Pride prettyFor properly he learnes to daunce,Come away, my wanton wench to meline60As gallantlie as your eye doth glance;And all good fellowes that swash and flashswaggerIn reds and yellows of revell dash,revelryI warrant you neede not be soe rash.
For I cane quicklie coole you all,line65How hot or stout soever you be,Both high and lowe, both great and small,I nought doe feare your highe degree.The ladie faire, the beldam ould,old grandmotherThe champion stout, the souldier bould,line70Must all with me to erthie mould.soil
Take time therefore while it is lent,Prepare youreselves with me to daunce,Forget mee not, your lives lament —I come oft-times by soden chance.suddenline75Be readie therefore, watch and prayThat when my minstrell pypes his playYea may to heaven daunce readie way.
finisendThomas Hill