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18
15. Translation of Cur Mundus Militat
þe saule haskis ryȝt as wrytin is in stor[i]e
Qui wil þis werde be knyȝt vnder þe kenges veynglor[i]e
Wos riches & myȝt is cald but transitorie
As vessel of erþe dyȝt so schort is his memorie
Qui wil þis werde be knyȝt vnder þe kenges veynglor[i]e
Wos riches & myȝt is cald but transitorie
As vessel of erþe dyȝt so schort is his memorie
Treyst more yf þu be wyse in walkeng of a myle
To þe letters wryten in ys þan to þis werdes wyle
In mydis as I am avise disceyuabul is he quyle
Who had euere be held & Ryse trofful teme with gyle
To þe letters wryten in ys þan to þis werdes wyle
In mydis as I am avise disceyuabul is he quyle
Who had euere be held & Ryse trofful teme with gyle
More it sikyr to be . to wyndes þat be fykyle
þan to þis werdes proparte þou it be neuer so mykyle
In falce drems & vanite in fleshely lustes tykyle
In coueteyse of grete pouste. þat is þe deuuls prikyle
þan to þis werdes proparte þou it be neuer so mykyle
In falce drems & vanite in fleshely lustes tykyle
In coueteyse of grete pouste. þat is þe deuuls prikyle
Say where is keng salamon. þat quilum mobul wace
Or wher is nov fayr absolen. so louely wace in face
Or þe strong duk sampson. for hym men seyne allace
þat wer slayne a mong her fon. & swete Ionataas
Or wher is nov fayr absolen. so louely wace in face
Or þe strong duk sampson. for hym men seyne allace
þat wer slayne a mong her fon. & swete Ionataas
Whyder is cesar & emperour. so mykel of power
Whider is prince and conquerour. boþe knyȝt & kayser
Tullius þe disputour of speche þat wace so clere
Virgyl þat had no pere
Arestotle he bar þe senenȝer til he wace her
Whider is prince and conquerour. boþe knyȝt & kayser
Tullius þe disputour of speche þat wace so clere
Virgyl þat had no pere
Arestotle he bar þe senenȝer til he wace her
19
þus many sshyr lædiges. þus many spaes ha gon
Boþe byschop & kyng. of flesche & blode & bon
Dame & dusyper. of hold tyme left non
In a nye tuynkling we xal face euerikkon
Boþe byschop & kyng. of flesche & blode & bon
Dame & dusyper. of hold tyme left non
In a nye tuynkling we xal face euerikkon
Schorte fest made þis werdes blisse : his joys wend son
As þe schadwe þat passande is þerfor man makis mon
Medes lastand with drawt. I wisse & lettis mans bon
To wilful feldes lette. o mys þerfore be thynk þe son
As þe schadwe þat passande is þerfor man makis mon
Medes lastand with drawt. I wisse & lettis mans bon
To wilful feldes lette. o mys þerfore be thynk þe son
As tellis he þat prayet
þe flesch so mykel lothely þat holy wurt vs seyet
As flour of hay he is sothly. as lef of lily þat dyet
With þe wynd þat blowis forby flyes as foule þat playet
Manns lyf welmore lyȝtly : out of his lyȝt flyet
þe flesch so mykel lothely þat holy wurt vs seyet
As flour of hay he is sothly. as lef of lily þat dyet
With þe wynd þat blowis forby flyes as foule þat playet
Manns lyf welmore lyȝtly : out of his lyȝt flyet
A þou flesche þou wurmes wast. of pouder a grete gadering
þou dew þou filth foule of cast. Why makis þou swilk bosting
þou ne wotis for to lyuen a blast or dye in þe morning
To all þe myȝt þat þou hast do god of werdlithing
þou dew þou filth foule of cast. Why makis þou swilk bosting
þou ne wotis for to lyuen a blast or dye in þe morning
To all þe myȝt þat þou hast do god of werdlithing
Say no thing þat it is þine þat þou maist lesen be nyȝt
þe werd wyle raken thurowt þi nyen þat þe ȝaf or lyȝt
Think of gode lyfte up þi bryne in to þe heyr so bryȝt
Sely wer þat ilk pylgryme þis werde þat haten myȝt
þe werd wyle raken thurowt þi nyen þat þe ȝaf or lyȝt
Think of gode lyfte up þi bryne in to þe heyr so bryȝt
Sely wer þat ilk pylgryme þis werde þat haten myȝt
In þe space of halua day Wase made þis schorte geste
Ne myȝt I tenden to swilk play. for sanstoustyns feste
þe Rymis of þe werte aray I hold my beheste
old buystes & nouȝt gay þat is sen of my creste
Ne myȝt I tenden to swilk play. for sanstoustyns feste
þe Rymis of þe werte aray I hold my beheste
old buystes & nouȝt gay þat is sen of my creste
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