University of Virginia Library

155. Three Lessons to Make Ready for Death

Wake, man, slepe not, rise vp and thynk þat erth thou art;
And that erth thou shal be, whan the hath cayht deth smart.
Com to churche, & serve thy maker with dredefull hart,
lest that thou repent the when thou art owte of quart.

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Remember that thou shall dye,
ffor this world yn certentee
Hath nothyng save deth truele.
Therfore yn thy mynde vse this lessone:
Liffe so that deth take the yn sesone.

ffor deth to make the ripe, I shal teche the thynges three,
Which and thou vse, owte of sesone thou can not dye.
The furst is a knowlage of the vij synnes dedlye
hoole with other to make to thy ffader gostlye.

Secoundly, that thy conscience dayly be well soght
Of wronges to thy neighbor done both in dede and thoght,
And that therof satisfaccioun hastly be broght;
ffor ellis thou shal leese that which, bledyng, thy lord boght.

The third lessone vse til thy mouth stopp the cold clay:
ffor thy synnes both wepe & weyle—bere this well away!
In harte be meke and contrite, and than thou shall play
In Blys with hym that of A mayde was borne this Day.