fol. 179vMontextual note 1 may longe lyves wene,
Ac ofte him lyeth the wrench;explanatory note 1textual note 2
Feyr weder turneth ofte into reyne
And wunderliche maketh his blench.explanatory note 2textual note 3
line5Tharvore, mon, thu the bythench
Al schal falwy thi grene.
Waylaway! Nys king ne quene
That ne schal drynke of Dethes drench.
Mon, er thu falle of thi bench,
line10Thyne sunne thu aquench.explanatory note 3
Nis non so strong, ne sterk, ne kene
That may ago Dethes wyther-blenchexplanatory note 4 —
fol. 180rYung and olde, briht and schene,
Alle he ryveth on o streng.
line15Fox and ferlych is his wrench —
Ne may no mon thar-toyeynes.explanatory note 5
Waylaway! Threting ne bene,
Mede, liste, ne leches drench.explanatory note 6
Mon, let sunne and lustes thine.
line20Wel thu do and wel thu thench!
Dotextual note 4 bi Salomones rede,
Mon, and thenne thu schalt wel do.
Do as he the tauhte and seyde
That thin endinge the bringeth to.
line25Thenne ne schaltu never mysdo,
Ac sore thu myht the adrede.explanatory note 7
Waylaway! Such weneth to lede
Long lif and blysse underfo,
Ac Deth luteth in his scho
line30Hym stilliche to fordo.explanatory note 8
Mon, hwi nultu the biknowe?
Mon, hwi nultu the biseo?
Of fule fulthe thu art isowe;
Wurmes fode thu schalt beo.
line35Her navestu blisse dayes thre,
Ac thi lif al thu last in wowe.
Weylawey! Deth the schal adun throwe
Ther thu wenest heyust to steo.
In deth schal thi lyf endi,
line40And in wop al thi gleo.
World and Weole the biswiketh —
Iwis, heo beoth thine ifo.
If the World with Weole the slyketh,
That is for to do the wo;
line45Tharefore let lust overgo,
And eft hit the liketh.
fol. 180vWeylawey! Sore he him biswiketh
That, for one stunde other two,
Wurcheth him pyne evermo.
line50Mon, ne do thu nouht swo!
fol. 179vMan may plan to have a long life,
But often the reverse happens;
Fair weather often turns to rain
And suddenly changes its course.
line5Therefore, man, consider how
All your green will wither.
Wailaway! There’s no king or queen
Who won’t drink of Death’s potion.
Man, before you fall off your bench,
line10Quench your sinfulness.
There’s none so strong, hardy, or lively
That he may avoid Death’s counterblow —
fol. 180rYoung and old, handsome and fair,
All of them he strikes violently.
line15His trick is cunning and terrifying —
No one may strive against it.
Wailaway! Threats are worthless,
As are bribes, schemes, and potions.
Man, abandon sin and your bad desires.
line20You must do well and think well!
Do according to Solomon’s advice,
Man, and then will you do well.
Do as he taught you and explained
What your ending brings you to.
line25Then will you never misdo,
But sorely afraid might you be.
Wailaway! Whoever plans to lead
A long life and receive bliss,
Still Death lurks in his shoe
line30To quietly undo him.
Man, why won’t you remember?
Man, why won’t you see yourself?
You are sown with foul filth;
You’ll become the food of worms.
line35Here you don’t have three days’ bliss,
But you’ll suffer your whole life in woe.
Wailaway! Death will toss you down
Just where you think to climb the highest.
In death will you end your life,
line40And all your joy in weeping.
World and Wealth deceive you —
Indeed, they are your foes.
If the World tricks you with Wealth,
That’s done so as to bring you woe;
line45Therefore let bad desires pass by,
And later on you’ll be pleased.
fol. 180vWailaway! Sorely is he deceived
Who, because of a moment or two,
Falls into pain forevermore.
line50Man, don’t you ever do so!