fol. 148r¶
Verba Translatoris
Words of
the Translator
O yee folkes harde-hertid as a stone,
Wich to the worlde
have
al your advertence,attention
Liche as it shulde
laste evere in oone —Like always the same
Where is your witt,
wher is your providencewit preparation for the future
line5To se
aforn
the sodeine violencein advance sudden
Of
cruel
Dethe, that ben
so wis
and sage,prudent
Wiche sleeth, allas, by stroke of pestilence
Bothe yong and olde,
of lowe and hy
parage?parentage
Deeth sparith not lowe ne hy
degré.status
line10Popes,
kynges, ne worthy emperours
—
Whan thei
shyne most
in felicité,
prosperity
He can abate the fresshnes of her flours,
their
flowers
The
bright sonne
clipsen with his shours,
eclipse its showers
Make
hem plunge from
her
sees lowe.fall low from their high
positions
line15Magré the myght of alle these conquerours,In spite of
Fortune hath hem
from her whele ythrowe.themthrown
Considerith this, ye
folkes that ben
wys,are
wise
And it enprentith
in youre memorial,imprint memory
Like the exawmple
wiche that at Parys
Paris
line20I fonde depict oones in
a walonce
Ful notably,
as I
reherce shal:as I will tell
Ther, of Frensshe clerkis takyng
aqueintaunce,French clerics making
I toke on me to translatyn
al,
Oute of the Frensshe, Machabres Daunce.
fol. 148vBy whos avys
and counceil atte the leste,
advice
and counsel at last
line26Thorugh
her steryng
and her
mocioun,guidance suggestion
I obeide unto her
requeste,their
Therof to make a playn
translaciouncomplete translation
In Englissh tonge, of entencioun
line30That proude folkes, wiche that
ben
stout and bold,valiant
As in a mirrour toforn
in
her resounbefore
Her
ougly fine may cleerly
ther bihold,Their ugly end
By exaumple
that thei in her
ententistheir intentions
Amende her
lif in
every maner age.every stage of their life
line35The wiche Daunce at
Seint Innocentis
Portreied
is with al
the surplusage
with
all the rest
To shewe this worlde is but a pilgrimage
Yeven
unto us our lyves
to correcte.Given
And to declare
the fyne of oure passagerelate outcome journey
line40Right anoon my stile I wille
directe.stylus
¶ Verba AuctorisWords of the Author
O creatures ye that ben resonablewho are reasonable
The liif desiring
wiche is
eternal,
Ye may se
here doctrine ful notable,see
Youre lif to lede wich that is mortal,
line45Therby to lerne in especialin
particular
Howe ye shul
trace the Daunce of Machabre,follow
To man and womman yliche natural,alike
For deth ne spareth
hy ne
lowe degré.does not spare
In this mirrour every
wight may findeperson
line50That him bihoveth to goo
upon this daunce.That he must go
Who goth toforn
or who shal goo behinde,goes first
Al dependith in Goddis ordinaunce.God’s
plan
Wherfore eche
man
lowly
take his chaunce;humbly
Deeth spareth not
pore ne blood royal.
line55Eche
man therfore have in remembraunce:
Of o
mater
God hath forged al.
O yee that ben
set most hie in dignité
Of alle estatis
in
erthe spiritual,
And like as Petir had the soverenité
line60Overe the chirche and statis
temporal:
Upon this daunce ye firste
bigyn shal,
As moste worthy lorde and governour,
For al the worship
of youre astate papalhigh esteem papal estate
And of lordship
to God is the
honour.
dominion
¶ The Pope aunswerith
line65First me bihoveth this daunce
for to ledeit is proper for me
Wich sat in erthe
hiest in my see —Who seat of authority
The state ful perillous
ho
so takith hede
To occupie Petris dignité
—
But al for
that
Deth I may not fle,
line70On his daunce with other
for to trace,to follow
For wich al honour,
who
prudently
can se,
Is litel worth that dothe
so sone pace.so soon pass [away]
¶ Deeth to the Emperour
Sir Emperour, lorde of al the ground,earth
Soverein prince and hiest of noblesse:preeminent nobility
line75Ye must forsake of golde your
appil round,
Septre and
swerd and al youre hy prowesse.Scepter sword martial deeds
Behinde
leve your
tresour and ricchesse,
And with othir to my daunce obeie.obey
Agein
my myght is worth
noon hardinesse;Against no
valor
line80Adamis
children alle thei mosten
deie.Adam’s children (i.e., humanity) must
¶ The Emperour answerith
I not
to whom that I may
apeleknow not
appeal
Touching
Deth wiche doth me so constreine.Concerning
compel
Ther is no gein
to helpe my querele,aid complaint
But spade and pikois
my grave to ateyne,pickaxe reach
line85A simple shete — ther is no more
to seyne —
to say
To wrappe in my body and visage,
face
Therupon sore I may
compleine
fervently
That lordis grete have
litel
avauntage.advantage
fol. 149v¶ Deeth to the Cardinal
Ye ben
abaisshid, it semeth, and in dredeupset full of dread
line90Sir Cardinal
— it shewith
by
youre chere —expression
But yit forthy ye folowe shulle
in dedeyou shall follow forth in death
With othir folke my daunce for to lere.to
learn
Youre grete aray al
shal bileven
here,fine clothingshall be left
Youre hatte of reed,
youre vesture of grete cost.red
hat [ecclesiastical] garment
line95Alle these thingis rekenyd
wele yfere:
In greet honour
good avis is lost.judgment
¶ The Cardinal answerith
I have grete cause — certis this is no faille —certainly mistake
To ben
abaisshid and greetly
drede me,upset to have
great dread
Sithen
Deeth is come me sodeinly to assaille,Because
to attack me suddenly
line100That I shal nevere heraftir
clothed be
In grys ne
ermyn like to my degré,
gray fur (possibly squirrel) ermine
My
hatte of reed
leve eke in distresse,leave also
By wiche I have lerned
wel and see
Howe that al
joie
endith in hevynesse.sorrow
¶ Deeth to the Kyng
line105O noble kyng, moste worthi of
renoun,renown
Come forthe anone
for al youre worthinesse,at once nobility
That somtyme had
aboute yow enviroun
on
all sides
Greet rialté and
passing hy noblesse.royalty very high nobility
But right anoone al
youre grete
hynes
immediately great status
line110Sool fro youre men in hast ye
shul
it lete.
Who moste aboundith
here in greet ricchesabounds
Shal bere with hym but a sengle shete.
¶ The Kynge answerith
I have not lernyd here aforn
to daunceheretofore
No daunce in sooth
of footyng
so savage,in truth frenzied
line115Wherfore I see by clere
demonstraunce:by clear proof
What pride is worth force or
hy lynage?power noble birth
Deeth al fordothe — this is his usage —destroys practice
Greet
and smale
that in this worlde sojourne.
Who
is most
meke I hold he is
most sage,meek
wise
line120For we
shal al to dede asshes
tourne.
fol. 150r¶ Deeth to the Patriarke
Sir Patriarke, alle
youre humble
chereattitude
Ne quite
yow
not, ne
youre humilité.Do not acquit
you
Youre double crosse
of gold and stones clere,
double cross
Youre power hoole,
and al youre dignité
whole rank
line125Some othir shal of verrey
equitéin accordance with divine law
Possede anoone, as I reherce can.as I can say
Trustith nevere that ye shal
pope be,
For foly hope
deceiveth many a man.
foolish
¶ The Patriarke aunswereth
Worldly honour, greet tresour, and richesse
line130Have me deceivid sothfastly in dede.truly in death
Myn olde joies ben
turned to
tristesse.sadness
What vailith it
suche
tresour to possede?What use is it
possess
Hy clymbyng up a falle hath for his mede;for its
reward
Grete estates folke wasten oute of
noumbre.
line135Who mountith hy — it is sure and no drede —rises high
Greet berthen
dothe hym
ofte
encoumbre.burden
It is my right
to
reste
and yow constreine
arrest detain
With us to daunce, my maister Sir
Constable,
For more strong
than evere was Charlemayne
Charlemagne
line140Deeth hath
aforced
and more worshipable,forced worthy of respect
For hardines, ne
knyghthood — this is
no fable —
Ne stronge armure
of plates
ne of mayle.plate armor chainmail
What geyneth armes
of folkes
moste notableWhat gain is
Whan cruel Deeth luste
hem to assaile?desires them
line145My purpos was and hool
entenciounentire intent
To assaille
castelles and mighty forteresses,
And bringe folke unto
subjeccioun,
To seke
honour,
fame,
and grete richesses.
But I se wel that
al worldly
prowesses
see
clearly earthly valor
line150Deeth can
abate, wich is a grete dispite.demolishvengeance
To him
aloone sorwe
and eke swetnesses,
alone also
For agein
Deeth is founded
no respite.against
is found reprieve
fol. 150v¶ Deeth to the Archebisshop
Sir Archebisshoppe, whi do ye yow withdraweretreat
So frowardly as it
were by disdeyn?insolently with contempt
line155Ye muste
aproche to
my mortel lawe:draw near to
It to contrarie
it were
not but
in veyn.to oppose
For day by day,
ther is noon othir geyn,
Deeth at
hande pursueth every coost.course of action
Prest and dette mote
be yolde agein,
line160And at o day men counten
with her
oost.the last day
reckon host
¶The Archibisshoppe answereth
Allas, I woote not
what partie
for to flee,don’t
know where to flee
For drede of Dethe I have so grete
distresse,
To ascape
his myght
I can no refute se.
That who so knewe
his constreint and duresse,whoever oppression cruelty
line165He wolde take resoun to
maistresse.mistress
Adewe, my tresour,
my pompe, and pride also,Goodbye
My peintid chaumbres,
my port, and my fresshnesse,
For thing that bihoveth nedes must
be do.
¶ Deth to the Baroun
Ye that amonge lordis and barouns
line170Hav
had so longe worship and renoun,
Forgete youre trumpetis
and youre clariouns.
This is no dreme ne simulacioun.deception
Somtime youre custome and entencioundesire
Was with ladies to daunce
in the shade,
line175But ofte it happith, in
conclusioun,
That o
man brekith that anothir made.
one breaks
¶ The Baroun or the Knyht answerith
Ful ofte sithe
I have bene auctorised
times authorized
To hie emprises and
thinges of greet fame.enterprises
Of hie and lowe my thanke
also devised,gratitude
contrived
line180Cherisshed with ladies and
wymmen hie of name.
Ne
nevere on me was
put no defame
In lordis court,
wiche that was notable.
But Deethis strook hath made me so lame —stroke helpless
Undre hevene in
erthe is nothing stable.
fol. 151r¶
Deeth to the Lady of Grete Astate
Estate
line185Come forthe anone, my lady and
princesse,
Ye muste also
goo
upon this daunce.
Nowt
may
availle youre grete straungenesse,No help
will be haughtiness
Nouther youre
beauté,
ne youre greet plesaunce,
Neither charm
Youre riche aray,
ne youre daliaunce,fancy clothes flirting
line190That sumtyme cowde so many holde
on
hondecould hold in your sway
In love for al youre double variaunce.duplicity
Ye
mote
as nowe this footing undirstonde.
Allas, I see ther is none othir boote.remedy
Deeth hath in erthe no lady ne maistresse,
mistress
line195And on his
daunce yit muste
I
nedis foote.yet
step
For ther nys
qwene,
contesse, ne duchesse
Flouringe in
beauté
ne in fairnesseFlourishing fair appearance
That she of Deeth
mote
Dethes trace sewe.dance behold
For to youre
bewté
and countirfeet
fresshnesse
false
youthfulness
line200Owre
rympled
age
seith farewele, adewe.Our
wrinkled age goodbye
¶ Deeth to the Bisshoppe
My lorde sir Bisshoppe, with youre mytre
and croos,miter and cross
For al youre ricchesse, sothly I ensure,
truly
I assure you
For al
youre
tresour so longe kept in cloos,privately owned
Youre worldly goodes and goodes of nature,
line205And of youre sheep the
gostli dredeful
cure,flock spiritual pastoral duty
With charge committid to youre prelacie,prelacy
(i.e., office of bishop)
For to acounte
ye
shulle
be broughte to lure.brought
under control
No wight is
sure that clymbeth overe hie.person secure
¶ The Bisshoppe answerith
My herte truly
is
nouther
glad ne myrieneither
happy
line210Of sodein tidinges
wiche that ye bring.
Because of the unexpected news
My festis
turned
into
simple ferye
food
(fare)
That for discomfort me list nothing syng;
desire
The worlde contrarie nowe
to
me in
workyng
That alle folkes can so disherite.disinherit
line215He that al withhalt,
allas, at oure parting,
withholds
And al
shal passe
save only oure merite.
fol. 151v¶ Deeth to the Squier
Come forth Sir Squier, right fresshe of youre aray,youthfulattire
That can of daunces
al the newe gise:knows new fashion
Though ye bare armes fressh horsed yisterday,
line220With spere and shelde at youre
unkouthe devise,
And toke on yow so many hy emprise,undertaking
Daunceth with us, it wil
no bettir be;
Ther is no socour in no manere wise,assistance of any
kind
For no man may fro
Dethes stroke fle.
¶ The Squier aunswerith
line225Sithen
that Dethe
me holdith in his
lace,Because snare
Yet shal Y speke
o worde or Y pace:
I one before go
Adieu, al myrthe, adieu nowe,
al solace;
Adieu,
my ladies,
somtime so fressh of face;youthful
Adieu, beuté,
plesaunce, and solace!
charm
line230Of Dethes
chaunge every day is prime;a new beginning
Thinketh
on youre
soules or that Deth manace,before Death threatens
For al shal rote,
and no man wote
what tyme.decay knows
¶ Deeth to the Abbot
Come forth, Sir Abbot, with youre
brood hatte,broad
Beeth not abaisshed
(though
ye have right).upset good reason
line235Greet is your hede,
youre bely large and fatte;belly
Ye mote
come daunce though ye be nothing
light.must
Leveth
youre abbey
to some othir wight,person
Youre eir is of age
youre state to occupie.heir position
Who
that is
fattest,
I have hym
behight,designated
line240In his grave shal
sonnest putrefie.
soonest decay
¶ The Abbot answerith
Of thi thretis
have I
noon enviethreats grudge
That I shal nowe leve
al
governaunce.
But that I shal as a cloistrer dye —cloistered
monk
This doth to me passinge grete grevaunce.causes me
exceedingly great offense
line245Mi liberté nor
my greet habondaunce
What may availe in any manere wise?help in any kind of
way
Yit axe I
mercy with hertly repentaunce,ask heartfelt
Though
in diynge
too late men
hem avise.
examine themselves
fol. 152r¶ Deeth to the Abbesse
And ye, my lady gentil
Dame Abbesse,
of noble rank or birth
line250With youre mantels
furred large and wide,sleeveless overgarment
Youre veile, youre wymple passinge of
greet richesse,
And beddis softe ye
mote
nowe leie
aside,
bedding discard
For to this daunce I shal
be youre guyde.
Though ye be tendre
and born of gentil blood,delicate noble
line255While that ye lyve for
youresilfe provide,
prepare yourself
For aftir Deeth no man
hath no good.possessions
¶ The Abbesse answerith
Allas, that Deeth hath thus for me
ordeined
That in no wise I
may it not declyne,way avoid
Though it so be ful ofte I have constreynedvery often compelled
line260Brest and throte my notes out to
twyne,to sing
My chekes round vernysshed for to shyne,coated (i.e., as with a
cosmetic)
Ungirt ful ofte
to
walke atte large
—Ungirdled out and about
Thus cruel Dethe dothe al estates
fyne.
bring
to an end
Who hath no ship mote
rowe yn bote or barge.must boat
¶ Deeth to the Bally
line265Come forthe, Sir
Bailly, that
knowen
al the gise,ways
By youre office, of trouthe and rightwisnes.
Ye must
come to a
newe assisesession of civil court
Extorciouns and wronges to redres.
Ye ben
somonyd
as lawe bit
expres,summoned as required by law
line270To yelde
acountes,
the Juge wole
yow charge,give accounts
Wiche hath ordeyned, to exclude al falsnes,
That every man shal bere his owne
charge.accept responsibility for
¶ The Bayly answerith
O thou, Lorde God, this is an hard journé,
To whiche
aforne
I tooke
but litel hede.before paid little
attention
line275Mi chaunge
is turned and that forthinkith me.fortuneunsettles me
Sumtyme with juges what me list
to spedeliked to accomplish
Lay in my myght by
favour or for
mede.power
through favors or bribes
But sithen ther is
no rescuse
by
bataille,Because deliverance by
battle
I holde hym wys that cowde see indede
line280Agein
Deeth that none apele may vaille.
no
appeal will prevail
fol. 152v¶ Deeth to the Astronomere
Come forthe, maister, that loken up so ferre
With instrumentis
of astronomy
To take the grees and heighte of every sterre.degrees and
height
What may availe al
youre astrologie,help
line285Sethen of
Adam alle
the
genolagie,Since descendants
Made ferst
of
God to walke
uppon
the grounde,
Deeth dooth areste?
Thus seith
theologie,
And al shal die for an appil round.
¶ The Astronomere answerith
For al my craft, kunnynge, or scienceknowledge
line290I cannot finde no
provisioun,provision (i.e., against Death)
Ne in the sterris serche oute no
defence,
By domefiynge
ne
calculacioun,By locating the position
of the stars
Safe
finally — in conclusioun —Except
For to discrive
oure kunnyng every dele,explain in every
aspect
line295Ther is no more by sentence of resoun:by doctrine
Who
lyveth aright
mote
nedis dye wele.
must
necessarily die well
¶ Deeth to the Burgeys
Sir Burgeis, what do ye lenger tarielonger delay
For al youre aver
and youre greet
ricchesse?possessions
Though ye be straunge,
deynous, and contrarie,haughty,
scornful cross
line300To this daunce ye mote yow
nedis dresse,you must necessarily prepare
yourself
For youre tresour, plenté, and largesseplenty abundance
From othere it cam
and shal unto straungers.
He is a fool that in suche bysynes
business
Woot not for whom
he stuffith his garners.Knows storerooms
¶ The Burgeis aunswerith
line305Certis
to me it is greet displesaunceCertainly displeasure
To leve al this and may it not
assure.I may not secure it
Houses, rentes, tresour, and substaunce:material
goods
Deeth al fordothe,
suche is his nature.destroys
Therfore wys is
no
creature
line310That set his herte on good that
moot
dissevere.must fall
away
The worlde it lente,
and he wille
it recovere,
And who most hath lothest dieth evere.loathes
to die always
fol. 153r¶
Deeth to the Chanoun
And ye, Sir Chanoun, with many grete prebende,
Ye may no lenger have distribuciouna share [of alms]
line315Of golde and silver largely to
dispende,extravagantly to squander
For ther
is nowe no
consolacioun,
But daunce with us for al youre hie renoun,lofty
reputation
For ye of deeth stonde uppon the brink.
Ye may therof have no dilacioun,
postponement
line320Deeth
comyth ay
whan men lest on him think.always least
¶ The Chanoun answerith
My benefices with
many a personage,
parsonage
God wote, ful lite
may me nowe comforte.
knows, very little
Deeth hath of
me so grete avauntage;
Al my ricches may me not
disporte.cheer me up
line325Amys of grys,
thei wille
agein
resorteGarments of gray again return
Unto the worlde, surplys
and prebende;surplice
Al is veinglorie, truly to reporte,
To die wel eche man shulde
entende.
¶ Deeth to the Marchaunt
Ye riche marchaunt,
ye mote
loke hiderwarde,must over here
line330That passid have ful many
divers
londe,various
On hors, on foot, havynge moste rewardesteem
To lucre and wynnyng, as I undirstond:To profit and
wealth
But nowe to daunce ye mote
yeve
me youre honde,must give
For al youre laboure ful litel availeth now.
helps
line335Adieu, veinglorie, bothe of free
and bonde!master and servant
No more coveite
than
thei that have
ynow.covet enough
¶ The Marchaunt answerith
By manie an hil and many a straunge valeforeign
valley
I have traveilid with my marchandise,
Overe the see do
carie many a balesea measurement of goods
line340To sundry iles,
mo than I can devise.tell
My
herte
inwarde ay fret
with covetise,always loaded
But al for nought — nowe Deeth doth me
constreine
—detain
By wiche I seie,
by
recorde of the wise,
Who al enbraceth
litel shal restreine.
embraces restrain
fol. 153v¶ Deeth to the ChartereuxCarthusian
line345Yeve
me youre hond with chekis dede and
pale,Give
Causid of wacche
and longe
abstinence,wakefulness (i.e., for a vigil)
Sir Chartereux,
and youresilfe
avalehelp yourself
Unto this daunce with humble pacience.
To stryve agein
may be no resistence;against
line350Lenger to lyve set not
youre memorie.direct not your
attention
Thow I be lothsom
as in
apparence,loathsome
Above alle men Deth hath the victorie.
¶ The Chartereux aunswerith
Unto the worlde I
was dede longe agoneago
By my
ordre and my professioun.[Carthusian] order
line355Though every man, be he nevere
so stronge,
Dredith to die by kindly mociounnatural instinct
Aftir his flesshly
inclinacioun,
But plese it to God my soule for to
borowe
From fendis myght
and from dampnacioun;
the
Devil’s power damnation
line360Some bene
today
that shulle
not be
tomorwe.are
¶ Deeth to the Sergaunt
Come forthe, Sir Sergant with youre statly
mace;
Make no defence ne no rebellioun.
Not
may availe to grucche in this cace,aid complain case
Though ye be deynous of condicioun,arrogant by nature
line365For nouther pele
ne protecciounappeal
May yow fraunchise
to do nature wrong.empower
For ther is noone so sturdy champioun;
Though he be myghty, another
is as stronge.
¶ The Sergeant answereth
Howe dare this Dethe sette on me areste,take me
into custody
line370That am
the kinges chosen
officere,Who
Wiche yisterday bothe west and este
Min office dide ful surquidous of
chere?haughty attitude
But nowe this day I am arestid heredetained
And may not flee, though I
hadde it sworn.
line375Eche man is lothe to die, ferre and
nere,unwilling
That hath not lerned for to die aforn.before
fol. 154r¶ Deeth to the Monke
Sir Monke also, with youre blak habite,
black
habit
Ye may no
lenger
holde here sojour.
sojourn
Ther is
nothing
that may yow here
respite,reprieve
line380Agein
my myght yow for to do
socour.Against to
render assistance
Ye mote
acounte
touching youre labour,must concerning
Howe ye have spent it
in dede, worde,
and
thought.
To erthe and asshes turneth every flour;
The life of man is but a thing of nought.
¶ The Monke answerith
line385I hadde levere in the cloistre be
would rather
cloister
At my book and studie my service,the Mass
Wiche is a place contemplatif to se,
But I have spent my life in many vice,
Liche as a fool
dissolut
and nyce.Like frivolous
line390God of his
mercy graunt me repentaunce,
By chere outwarde
harde to
devise.appearance
Alle be
not mery
wich that men se
daunce.see
¶ Deeth to the Usurere
Thou
Usurer,
loke up and
biholde:
Unto wynnynge
you
settist al thi
peine,profit
effort
line395Whos covetise wexith nevere colde.grows
Thy gredy thrust
so sore thee doth constreine,thirst powerfully
But you
shalt
nevere thi desire ateyne.
Such an etik thin
herte frete shalconsuming passion devour
That, but of pité
God his hande refreine,unless
stay
line400O perillous strook shal make thee lese al.One
dreadful lose
¶ The Usurere answerith
Nowe me bihoveth sodeinly to dey
Wiche is to me grete peine and greet grevaunce.
Socour to finde I
see no maner wey,Assistance
Of golde ne
silver
by no chevesaunce.
relief
line405Deeth
thorugh
his haste abit
no parveaunce
makes
no provisions
Of folkes blinde, that cannot look
wel.
Ful ofte happith
by
kinde or fatal chauncenature accident
Some have
faire
eyghen that see
nevere adele.good eyes
a bit
fol. 154v¶ The Pore Man to the Usurere
Usuré to God is ful grete offence
line410And in his sight a grete
abusioun.abuse
The pore borwith
par cas for indigence,borrow because of
The riche lent
by fals colluciounlend conspiracy
Only for lucre in
his entencioun.profit
Deeth shal hem bothe to acountes
sette,
take
to account
line415To make rekenynge by computacioun;settle accounts counting
No man
is quit that is bihinde of dette.
discharged [from debt]
behind
¶ Deeth to the FisicianPhysician
Maister of phisik, wiche on youre urynemedicine who urine
So loke and gase
and stare agein
the sonne,
gaze against
For al youre craft and studie of medicine,
line420Al
the practyk and sience
that ye konne,practical and theoretical
knowledge
Your lyves cours so ferforthe is ironne.to a great extent
run
Agein
my myght
youre craft may not endure
For al the golde that ye therby have
wonne.
Good
leche is he that can himsilfe recure.
doctor cure
¶ The Fisician answerith
line425Ful longe agon
that I unto phisikago medicine
Sette my witt and my dilligence,
In speculatif and
also in
practik,theorizing practice
To gete
a name
thorugh
myn excellence,
To finde oute agens
pestilence
line430Preservatives
to staunche it and to fine,Protections stop end (it)
But I dar seie, shortly in sentence,concisely
Agens
Deeth is worth no medicine.
Ye that be
gentil,
so fresshe and amerous,
noble youthful amorous
Of yeres yonge, flouringe in youre grene
age,
line435Lusty, free of herte,
and eke desirous,
Vigorous also filled with desire
Ful of devises and
chaunge in youre corage,intrigues inconstancy heart
Plesaunt of port,
of look, and of visage
—deportment appearance
But al shal turne into asshes
dede,
For al bewté
is but a feint ymage,beauty unreliable image
line440Wiche stelith aweye or folkes can take hede.steals
away before take notice
fol. 155r¶ The Squier answerith
Allas, allas I can
nowe no socourknow assistance
Agens
Dethe for mysilfe provide.
Adieu, of youthe the lusty fresshe flour,lively
youthful
Adieu, veinglorie of bewté and of pride,beauty
line445Adieu, al service
of the god Cupide,
Adieu, my ladies, so fressh, so wel besein,
youthful good looking
For agein
Dethe nothing may abide,
And windes grete gon
doun with litil reyn.
¶ Deeth to the
Gentilwomman Amerous
Come forthe, maistresse, of yeris yonge and grenemistress fresh
line450Wiche holde youresilfe of bewté sovereyne.preeminent
As faire as yee was
somtyme Polycene,
fair once Polyxena
Penolope,
and the quene Eleyne,
Helen
Yit on this daunce
thei wente
bothe tweine,
Yet both of them
And so shulle
ye
for al youre
straungenesse.despite haughtiness
line455Though daunger longe in love hath
lad youre reine,resistance reign
Arestid
is youre chaunge of doubilnesse.
Halted faithlessness
¶ The Gentilwomman answerith
O cruel Deeth that sparest none estate,
To old and yonge thou art indifferent.
To my bewté thou hast yseide
chekmate,
line460So hasty is thi mortal jugement.swift
For in my youthe this was myn entent,
To my service many a man
to have
lured.
But she is a fool,
shortly in sentement,
concisely
That in hir bewté is too moche assurid.
line465Sir
Advocate, short
processe for to make,legal argument
Ye
mote come
plete afore the highe Juge.
plead your case
before
Many a quarel ye
have undirtakecomplaint
And for lucre to do
folke refuge,profit legal redress
But my fraunchise
is so large and hugebody of legal
rights
line470That counceile none availe
may
but trouthe.
He skapith wisly of
Deeth the greet delugeescapes
flood
Tofore
the doom who is not teint with
slouthe.Before
judgment tainted
fol. 155v¶ The Man of Lawe answerith
Of right and resoun by Naturis lawe,
I cannot putte
agein
Deeth no defence,
line475Ne by no sleighte me kepe
ne
withdrawecunning protect nor excuse myself
For al my wit and my greet prudence
To make apele from
his dredful sentence.appeal
Nothing
in erthe
may a man preserve
Ageins
His myght to
make resistence;
line480God
quite
al men like as thei deserve.repays
Maister Jurrour, wiche that at assise
Juror sessions of civil court
And atte
shires
questes doste
embrace,shire’s inquests illegally
influence
Departist
londe
like to thi devise,
Divided scheme
And who most yaf
moste stode in thi grace:gave (i.e.,
bribed)
line485The pore man lost londe and
place;position
For golde thou cowdest
folkes
disherite.disinherit
But nowe lete
se, with thi teint face,see guilty
Tofore the
Juge howe thou canst
thee quite.Before acquit yourself
¶ The Jourour answerith
Somtyme I was clepid in my cuntrécalled country
line490The bellewedir,
and that was
not a lite.bellwether small
thing
Nought
loved but
drad of lowe and hie
degré,feared by
For whom me list
by crafte I coude endite,I pleased cunning convict
And hange
the trewe
and the theef respite;
reprieve
Al the cuntré by my worde was lad.
led
line495But I dar sey, shortly for to writequickly
Of my dethe many a man is glad.
¶ Deeth to the Minstral
O thou mynstral,
that canst
so note and pipesing
Unto folkes for to do
plesaunce,delight
By the right honde I shal anoone
thee
gripe
line500With these other
to goo
upon my daunce.
Ther is no scape
neither avoidaunce
escape
On no side to contrarie my sentence,resist judgment
For in musik, by craft and acordaunce,harmony
Who maister
is
shewe
his science.
knowledge
fol. 156r¶ The Minstral answerith
line505This newe daunce is to me so straunge,
Wondir diverse and
passingly
contrarie.Extraordinarily unusual very inconsistent
The dredful fotyng
doth so ofte chaunge,hazardous steps
And the mesures so
ofte sithes
varie,patterns continually vary
Wiche nowe to me is
nothing necessarie,Which is to me not at all profitable
line510If it were so that I myght
asterte,escape
But many a man (if I shal not tarie
)delay
Ofte
daunceth but
nothing of
herte.although
his heart’s not in it
¶ Deeth to the TregetourCourt magician
Maister John Rikele, sometyme Tregetour
Of noble Harry,
Kyng of Engelond
England
line515And of
Fraunce the mighty conquerour:
For alle the sleightes
and turnyng of thin hondhand
Thou must
come
ner this
daunce to undirstond.
near
Nought
may
availe al thi conclusions,help intentions
For Deeth shortly, nouther
on
see ne
lond,in brief
sea
line520Is nought
deceivid by none
illusions.any
¶ The Tregetour answerith
What may availe magik natural,
sorcery
Or any
craft shewid by apparence,conjuring
Or cours of sterres above celestial,
Or of the hevene
al
the influence,
line525Ageins
Deeth to stonde at defence?
Legerdemeyn
nowe helpith me right nought.Sleight of hand
Farewel, my craft and al suche sapience,wisdom
For Deth moo
maistries yit than
I
hath
wrought.
¶ Deeth to the Parsoun
O Sir Curat that bene
nowe here
present,
line530That had youre wordly
inclinacioun,
Youre herte entire, youre studie, and entent
Moste on youre tithes and oblacioun,offerings
Wiche shulde have bene of conversacioun,manner of
living
Mirrour unto othir, light and exaumplarie:example
line535Like
youre desert shal be
youre guerdoun,worth reward
And
to eche labour
dewe is the salarie.
due
fol. 156v¶ The Persoun answerith
Maugré my wille I
must condiscende,Despite acquiesce
For Deeth assailith every lifly
thing.living
Here in this worlde who can comprehende
line540His sodein stroke and his unware comyng?sudden unforeseen
Farewele, tithis,
and
farewel, myn offryng,tithes
I mote
goo
counte
in ordre by and by,go to judgment
And for my shepe make
a just rekenyng;
Whom He aquyteth I holde he is
happy.believe
¶ Deeth to the Laborer
line545Thou, laborer, wiche in sorwe and peine
Hast lad
thi life
in ful greet travaile,toil
Thou
moste
eke
daunce and therfore not disdeyne,also do not be angry
For if
thou do, it
may thee not availe.help
And cause why that I thee assaileattack
line550Is oonly
this: from thee
to dissevereto separate
The
fals worlde
that can so folke
faile.
He is a fool
that
weneth to lyve evere.desires
¶ The Laborer answerith
I have wisshed
aftir Deeth ful ofte,
Al be that
I wolde have
fled hym now —Although
line555I had levere to have
leyn
unsofterather uncomfortable
In winde and reyn
and
have gone at
plow,
With spade and pikoys and
labourid for my prow,pickaxe fortune
Dolve
and
diched
and at the carte
goone.Worked hard at manual labor
For I may seie and telle pleinly howe
line560In this worlde here ther is
reste none.
¶ Deeth to the Frere Minour
Sir Cordeler, to yow myn
hand is
raughtextended
To this daunce yow to conveie and lede,
Wiche in youre preching have
ful ofte itaught:
taught
Howe that
I am
moste gastful
forto drede
terrifying
line565(Al be that folke take therof noon hede).Although
Yit is ther
noon so stronge ne
so hardy,no one
fearless
But Deth dare reste
and let for no mede,capture free compensation
For Deeth eche hour is present and
redy.
fol. 157r¶ The Frere answerith
What may this be that in this world no man
line570Here to abide may have no
sureté?
certainty
Strengthe,
ricchesse, ne what so
that he can,nor
anything else he can do
Worldly
wisdom: al
is but vanité.vanity
In grete astate ne
in povertéestate
Is nothing found that may fro
Dethe defende.
line575For wiche I seie, to hie and
lowe degré,
Wys is that synner that dooth his life amende.
Litel enfaunte that
were but late borne,
infant recently
Shape in this
worlde to have no plesaunce,Created delight
Thou must
with
other that goone here toforn
before
line580Be lad
in haste by fatal
ordinaunce.led
predetermined judgment
Lerne of newe to
goo
on
my daunce,again
Ther may noon age escape in soth
therfroo.escape in truth there from
Lete every
wight have this in remembraunce:person
Who lengest lyveth moost
shal suffre woo.
¶ The Childe answerith
line585A, A, A — o
worde I cannot
speke.one
I am so yonge, I was bore
yisterday.
Deeth is so hasty on me to be
wreke
eager
to do me harm
And list
no lenger
to make no delay.desires
I cam
but nowe and
nowe I goo my way,
line590Of me no more no tale
shal be told.
The wil
of
God no man withstonde may,
As sone dieth a
yonge man as an old.soon
O ye Sir
Clerke, suppose ye to be free
Fro my daunce or
youreselfe defende,
line595That wende have
rysen unto
hie degréthought
to position
Of benefices
or
some greet prebende?
Who clymbeth hiest
sometyme shal dissende.descend
Lat no man grucche agens
his fortune,complain against
But take in gree
whatevere God hym sende,good
will
line600Wich ponissheth
al whan tyme is oportune.Who punishes
fol. 157v¶ The
Clerke answerith
Shal I that am so yonge a clerke nowe deye
Fro my service and have no bettir guerdoun?reward
Is ther no
geyn
ne
no bettir
weye,scheme
No sure
fraunchise ne proteccioun?privilege
line605Deeth
makith alweie a short conclusioun.always a quick end
Too late ware whan
men bene
on the brinke;aware
The worlde shal faile and al possessioun,
For moche faileth of thing that foles thinke.fools
¶ Deeth to the Hermyte
Ye that have lived longe in wildernesse
line610And ther contynued longe in
abstinence;
Atte
laste yet ye
mote
yow dresse
must prepare
Of my daunce to have experience,
For ther agein
is
no recistence.
Take nowe leve of thin ermytage.hermitage
line615Wherfore eche man adverte this
sentence:take note of wisdom
That this
life here
is
no sure heritage.inheritance
¶ The Hermite answerith
Life in desert callid solitariesolitary
May agein
Dethe have no respite
ne space.reprieve
At unset our
his comyng doth
not
tarie,unspecified hour delay
line620And for my part welcome be
Goddes grace,
Thonkyng hym with
humble chere and faceThanking attitude
Of al his yiftes
and greet haboundaunce,gifts abundance
Fynally affermynge in this place,
No man is riche that lackith suffisaunce.
contentment
¶ Deeth ayein to the Hermite
line625That is wel seide, and thus
shulde every wightperson
Thanke his God and alle his wittis
dressedirect
To love and drede Hym with al his herte and myght,
Seth
Deeth to ascape may be no sikernesse.Since
certainty
As men deserve
God quit
of rightwisnesserepays
line630To
riche and pore uppon every side.
A bettir lessoun ther can no clerke expresse,
Than til tomorwe is no man sure to
abide.
fol. 158r¶ The
Kyng ligging dead and eten of wormes
Ye folke that lokyn
upon this portrature,
Biholdyng here alle the estates
daunce,
line635Seeth
what ye bene and what is youre nature:See are
Mete unto wormes,
not
ellis in substaunce.Meat nothing else
And have this mirrour evere in remembraunce,
Howe I
lie here
somtyme crownyd kyng,
once
To alle estates a trewe resemblaunce
line640That wormes food
is fyne
of oure lyvyng.final end
Man is not
ellis, platly forto thinke,nothing
else plainly
But as a winde wiche
is transitorie,
Passinge ay forthe,
whether
he
wake or winke,always sleep
Towarde this Daunce. Have this in memorie,
line645Remembringe ay
ther is no bet
victoriealways better
In this life here than fle synne at the
leste.fleeing at least
Than shul
ye regne in Paradys
with glorie;shall
Happy is he that maketh in hevene
his feste.feast
Yit ther be folke
mo than six or sevene,Yet more
line650Reckles of liif in many maner
wise,many different ways
Like as ther were helle none ne
hevene.neither hell nor heaven
Suche false errour lete every man dispice.despise
For hooly seintis and oolde clerkis wise
Writen contrarie her falsnes to deface.their falseness refute
line655To lyve wel
— take this
for best
emprice —undertaking
Is
moche worth whan men shul
hens pace.
much hence
¶ Lenvoye de
Translator
The
envoy of the Translator
O ye, my lordis and
maistres
alle in ferealtogether
Of aventure that
shal this Daunce rede,By chance
Lowly I preie with
al myn
herte entereHumbly entire
line660To correcte whereas ye see
nede.
For nought ellis I aske
for my mede,reward
But goodly
support
of this
translacioun
And with favour to sowpouaile drede,
encourage reverence
Benignely
in youre correccioun.With good will
line665Out of the Frensshe I drewe it of entente,with purpose
Not worde by
worde
but folwyng the substaunce.
And fro Paris to
Engelonde
it
sente
Oonly of purpos yow to do plesaunce.delight
Rude of langage (I was not born in
Fraunce),
line670Have
me excusid; my name is John Lidgate.
Of her
tunge I have no suffisauncetheir
language fluency
Her
corious
metris in Englisshe to translate.
Their unfamiliar meters