The kalender of shepherdes the edition of Paris 1503 in photographic facsimile: a faithful reprint of R. Pynson's edition of London 1506. Edited with a critical introduction and glossary by H. Oskar Sommer |
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A remembraunce of the vnstabylnes of the worlde. |
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 | The kalender of shepherdes |  |
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A remembraunce of the vnstabylnes of the worlde.
wolde euery man thynke one his begynnynge.
Fro whense he came and whether he shall.
Than wolde they fere bothe duke and kynge.
And euery lorde bothe greate and small.
Lytell wote they when they syt on theyr benche.
whan dethe wyll come and make them fall
A waye fro him they may nat wrenche.
Thoughe he be gretyst lorde of all.
And for as one thynge to thy mynde call
Trust nat to myche to thy wyfe nor thyne eyre.
But do well here what so euer be fall
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre
Fro whense he came and whether he shall.
Than wolde they fere bothe duke and kynge.
And euery lorde bothe greate and small.
Lytell wote they when they syt on theyr benche.
whan dethe wyll come and make them fall
A waye fro him they may nat wrenche.
Thoughe he be gretyst lorde of all.
And for as one thynge to thy mynde call
Trust nat to myche to thy wyfe nor thyne eyre.
But do well here what so euer be fall
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre
But well were he that ware so wyse.
That coude be ware or he be wo.
He were a man of ful grete pryce.
In thys worlde that coude do so.
we waxe nowe so worldly nyse.
we cast our wyttes full farre vs fro.
Lyke a player at the dyce.
we wot nat well where that we go.
But wolde we be ware of the fende our foo.
Leste that he do oure soules apayre
Than shulde we be ware or we be woo.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
That coude be ware or he be wo.
He were a man of ful grete pryce.
In thys worlde that coude do so.
we waxe nowe so worldly nyse.
we cast our wyttes full farre vs fro.
Lyke a player at the dyce.
we wot nat well where that we go.
But wolde we be ware of the fende our foo.
Leste that he do oure soules apayre
Than shulde we be ware or we be woo.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
It hath euer be sene yet bothe daye and nyght.
Oft longe tyme here beforne.
For there knowe the not kynge ne knyght.
whether that he shall lyue vntyll the morne.
To daye thoughe he be hole and lyght.
And honteth bothe with hounde and horne.
whan he is man moste in his myght.
In shorte tyme thy lyfe is lorne.
For on thy bere whan thou art borne.
Than clymeste thou on a sledyr stayre.
Late thy gode dedys man go the beforne.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
Oft longe tyme here beforne.
For there knowe the not kynge ne knyght.
whether that he shall lyue vntyll the morne.
To daye thoughe he be hole and lyght.
And honteth bothe with hounde and horne.
whan he is man moste in his myght.
In shorte tyme thy lyfe is lorne.
For on thy bere whan thou art borne.
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Late thy gode dedys man go the beforne.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
Thys worlde nowe adayes is il to truste.
For couetus walkethe a boute so wyde.
And to all other synnes is ouer lust.
Both enuy and slouthe lechery and pryde.
And symony full swete is kyste.
And on hye horses dothe ryde.
Some locketh him full fast in his cheste.
And sette full nye his bede syde.
But the daye shall come they shall curse the tyde.
Bothe barone burges preste and mayer.
That euer they dyd that tyme abyde
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre.
For couetus walkethe a boute so wyde.
And to all other synnes is ouer lust.
Both enuy and slouthe lechery and pryde.
And symony full swete is kyste.
And on hye horses dothe ryde.
Some locketh him full fast in his cheste.
And sette full nye his bede syde.
But the daye shall come they shall curse the tyde.
Bothe barone burges preste and mayer.
That euer they dyd that tyme abyde
For thys worlde is but a chery fayre.
where is thy tresoure there is thy mynde.
So saythe the gospell yf thou wylte loke.
Alacke men why be you to Iesu so vnkynde.
To loue so myche a lytell mocke
And all shalt thou leue behynde.
Thoughe thou loue rauany as dothe a roke
Goodes of this worlde maketh many one blynde.
And the fende them taketh with many a croke.
Nowe Ihū that mary to thy moder toke.
That was euer cleryste vnder the ayer.
Thou wasshe vs in thy mercyfull broke.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
So saythe the gospell yf thou wylte loke.
Alacke men why be you to Iesu so vnkynde.
To loue so myche a lytell mocke
And all shalt thou leue behynde.
Thoughe thou loue rauany as dothe a roke
Goodes of this worlde maketh many one blynde.
And the fende them taketh with many a croke.
Nowe Ihū that mary to thy moder toke.
That was euer cleryste vnder the ayer.
Thou wasshe vs in thy mercyfull broke.
For this worlde is but a chery fayre.
| The kalender of shepherdes | |