University of Virginia Library

Of two wayes in this worlde.

Two wayes there be in this worlde full ryfe
One is way of death, another of lyfe
This worlde is the way and also passage
Throughe the whiche lyeth our pylgrymage
By this way all we must nedes go
And eche man beleueth, that it is so
In this worlde be two wayes of kynde
Who that wyll assay, the soth he may fynde
One is the way of death here tolde
And that other is the way of lyfe holde
But the way of death, semeth large and easy
For that may vs lede, euen and lyghtly
To the horryble lande of darckenes
Where sorowe and payne is, and wretchydnes
But the way of lyfe, semeth narowe and harde
That ledeth vs, euen to our countre warde
And that is the kyngdome of heauen bryght
Where we shall be in Goddes syght
And as Goddes sones there ben ytolde
If we do well, both yonge and olde
For the way of the worlde, is here vnstable
And our lyfe also, well chaungeable
As often is sene in many maner wyse
Through tempest of wethers, that maketh men anguyse
For the worlde, and the worldly lyfe yfere
Chaungeth full ofte, and in dyuers manere
And in her state dwelleth but a whyle
Unneth the space of a lytell myle
And for the worlde is so vnstedfast
For all thynge theron soone is ouercast.