QUAM VARIIS TERRAS. — Metrum 5
"The beestes passen by the erthes be ful diverse figures.
For some of hem han hir bodyes straught, and crepyn in the dust,
and drawen aftir hem a traas or a furwe icontynued (that is to
sein, as naddres or snakes); and oothre beestis by the wandrynge
lyghtnesse of hir wynges beten the wyndes, and overswymmen the
spaces of the longe eir by moyst fleynge; and oothere beestes
gladen hemself to diggen hir traas or hir steppys in the erthe
with hir goinges or with hir feet, and to gon either by the grene
feeldes or elles to walken undir the wodes. And al be it so that
thou seest that thei alle discorden by diverse foormes, algatis
hir faces enclyned hevyeth hir dulle wittes. Only the lynage of
man heveth heyest his heie heved, and stondith light with his
upryght body, and byholdeth the erthes undir hym. And, but yif
thou, erthly man, waxest yvel out of thi wit, this figure
amonesteth the, that axest the hevene with thi ryghte visage and
hast areised thi forhheved, to beren up an hye thi corage, so
that thi thought ne be nat ihevyed ne put lowe undir fote, syn
that thi body is so heyghe areysed.
