LV. ‘Alle worldly welth passed me fro:
Nunc in puluere dormio.’
1
‘I had richesse, I had my helthe,
I had honoure and worldely welth,
Yet deth hath take me hens by stelthe:
Nunc in puluere dormio.
2
Of alle solace I had my wille
Of mete and drinke having my fille,
Yet dethe hathe smyt me with his bille:
Nunc in puluere dormio.
3
I had beawte in hande and face,
I had comforte in euery case,
Yet arested with dethys mace
Nunc in puluere dormio.
4
I hadde musyk, I hadde swete songe
And other game and myrthe amonge,
Yet dethe hathe felde me with his pronge:
Nunc in puluere dormio.
5
I hadde konnyng, wisdome and witte,
Manhoode and strengthe in me were knyt,
Yet dethe hath brought me to my pitte:
Nunc in puluere dormio.’
6
O man, whiche art erthe by thy kyende,
Whose lyfe is but a blast of wyende,
This dredefull worde bere in thy myende:
‘Nunc in puluere dormio.’
7
While thou art here, man, wele the guyde,
For thou shalt not ay here abyde,
But thou shalt sei, man, at a tyde:
‘Nunc in puluere dormio.’
8
Almyghty god graunte vs alle grace
Wele to expende oure tyme and space,
Or that we come vnto that case:
‘Nunc in puluere dormio.’
