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Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century


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DIALOGUES BETWEEN THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND CHILD.
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MARIAN LAMENTS.
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SONGS AND PRAYERS TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
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HYMNS TO THE TRINITY.
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HYMNS TO GOD THE FATHER, CREATOR.
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HYMNS AND PRAYERS TO CHRIST.
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SONGS OF THE ANNUNCIATION.
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SONGS OF THE NATIVITY
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SONGS FOR THE EPIPHANY.
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HYMNS AND SONGS OF THE PASSION.
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APPEALS TO MAN FROM THE CROSS.
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COMPLAINTS OF CHRIST.
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EASTER SONGS.
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SONGS OF THE EUCHARIST.
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THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH.
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OCCASIONAL PRAYERS AND SONGS.
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PRAYERS TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.
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TWO PRAYERS BY LYDGATE AGAINST THE PESTILENCE.
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SONGS OF PENITENCE.
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SONGS OF OLD AGE.
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SONGS OF MORTALITY.
 149. 
149. Farewell, this World is but a Cherry Fair
 150. 
150. Man Begins and Ends in Wretchedness
 151. 
151. Vanitas Vanitatum
 152. 
152. A Mirror for Young Ladies at Their Toilet
 153. 
153. On the Untimely Death of a Fair Lady
 154. 
154. The Mirror of Mortality
 155. 
155. Three Lessons to Make Ready for Death
 156. 
156. Against Death Is no Defence
 157. 
157. Devouring Death Makes All Unbold
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158. Knight, King, Clerk Wend to Death
  
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 159. 
159. The Lament of the Soul of Edward IV
 160. 
160. The Rich Man's Farewell to the World
 161. 
161. Beware the Pains of Purgatory
 162. 
162. The Testament of a Christian
 163. 
163. Death, the Soul's Friend
 164. 
164. Death, the Port of Peace
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SONGS AGAINST FORTUNE.
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SONGS OF THE DECADENCE OF VIRTUE.
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SONGS AGAINST VICES.
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PROVERBS AND MORAL SENTENCES.

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158. Knight, King, Clerk Wend to Death

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A. Cotton MS. Faustina B. vi, Part II (verses written on scrolls)

I wende to dede, knight stithe in stoure,
thurghe fyght in felde i wane þe flour;
Na fightis me taght þe dede to quell—
weend to dede, soth i ȝow tell.
249

I weende [to dede], a kynge I-wisse;
What helpis honor or werldis blysse?
Dede is to mane þe kynde wai—
i wende to be clade in clay.
I wende to dede, clerk ful of skill,
þat couth with worde men mare & dill.
Sone has me made þe dede ane ende—
beese ware with me! to dede i wende.
[_]

B. B.M. Addit. MS. 37049

I wende to dede, a kyng y-wys;
What helps honour or warldis blys?
Ded is to man þe kynde way—
I wende to be cled in claye.
I wende to dede, clerk ful of skill,
þat cowthe with wordes men mate & stylle.
So Sone has þe dede me made ane ende—
Bes war with me! to dede I wende.
I wende to dede, knyght styf in stowre,
þorow fyght in felde I wan þe flowre;
No fyghts me taght þe ded to qwell—
[[OMITTED]] telle.
[_]

C. Stowe MS. 39

I wende to ded, clerk full of skill,
þat couth with word mate men at will;
Sone has me made þe ded an ende—
Be war with me! to ded I wende.
I wende to ded, a kyng I-wys;
What helpes here honur or worldis blys?
250

I wende to ded, knyght styffe in stoure,
Thurgh fight in felde I wane þe floure;
No feghtis me taght þe ded to qwell—
I wende to ded, soth I ȝow tell.
Be ȝe wele now warre with me!
My name þen is ded;
May þer none fro me fle,
þat any lyfe gun led,
kynge, kasere, þeȝn, no knyght,
Ne clerke þat cane on boke rede,
Beest, ne foghel, ne oþer wyght,
Bot I sal make þam dedde.
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