 | Yorkshire writers |  |
VI.
[When Adam delf & Eue span, spir, if þou wil spede]
When Adam delf & Eue span, spir, if þou wil spede,
Whare was þan þe pride of man, þat now merres his mede?
Of erth & slame, als was Adam, maked to noyes & nede,
Ar we als he maked to be, whil we þis lyf sal lede.
With I & E, born ar we, als Salomon vs hyght,
To trauel here, whils we ar fere, als fouls to þe flight.
Whare was þan þe pride of man, þat now merres his mede?
Of erth & slame, als was Adam, maked to noyes & nede,
Ar we als he maked to be, whil we þis lyf sal lede.
With I & E, born ar we, als Salomon vs hyght,
To trauel here, whils we ar fere, als fouls to þe flight.
In worlde we ware kast for to kare, to we be broght to wende
Til wele or wa, an of þa twa, to won with-outen ende.
For-þi whils þou may helpe þe now, amend þe & haf mynde
When þou sal ga, he bese þi fa, þat are was here þi frende.
With E & I, I rede for-þi, þou thynk apon þies thre:
What we ar, & what we ware, & what we sal be.
Til wele or wa, an of þa twa, to won with-outen ende.
For-þi whils þou may helpe þe now, amend þe & haf mynde
When þou sal ga, he bese þi fa, þat are was here þi frende.
With E & I, I rede for-þi, þou thynk apon þies thre:
What we ar, & what we ware, & what we sal be.
War þou als wyse praysed in pryce, als was Salomon,
Fayrer fode, of bone & blode, þen was Absalon,
Strengthy & strang, to wreke þi wrang, als euer was Sampson:
Þou ne myght a day, na mare þen þai, dede withstand allon.
With I & E, dede to þe sal com als I þe kenne,
Þou ne wate, in what state, how, ne whare, ne when.
Fayrer fode, of bone & blode, þen was Absalon,
Strengthy & strang, to wreke þi wrang, als euer was Sampson:
Þou ne myght a day, na mare þen þai, dede withstand allon.
With I & E, dede to þe sal com als I þe kenne,
Þou ne wate, in what state, how, ne whare, ne when.
Of erth aght, þat þe was raght, þou sal not haue, I hete,
Bot seuen fote, þer-in to rote, & þi wyndyng-schete.
For-þi gyf, whils þou may lyf, or all gase þat þou gete,
Þi gast fra god, þi godes olod, þi flesch fowled vndur fete.
With I & E, syker þow be þat þi secutowrs
Of þe ne wil rek, bot skelk & skek ful boldly in þi bowrs.
Bot seuen fote, þer-in to rote, & þi wyndyng-schete.
For-þi gyf, whils þou may lyf, or all gase þat þou gete,
Þi gast fra god, þi godes olod, þi flesch fowled vndur fete.
With I & E, syker þow be þat þi secutowrs
Of þe ne wil rek, bot skelk & skek ful boldly in þi bowrs.
Of welth & witt, þis sal be hitt, in world þat þou here wroght,
Rekken þou mon, & ȝelde reson of thyng þat þou here thoght.
May no fals help in þis case, ne cownsel getes þou noght,
Gyft ne grace nane þare gase, bot brok als þou hase boght.
With I & E, þe boke biddes þe, man, be ware of þi werkes:
Terme of þe ȝere hase þou nan here, þi mede bese þer þi merkes.
Rekken þou mon, & ȝelde reson of thyng þat þou here thoght.
May no fals help in þis case, ne cownsel getes þou noght,
Gyft ne grace nane þare gase, bot brok als þou hase boght.
With I & E, þe boke biddes þe, man, be ware of þi werkes:
Terme of þe ȝere hase þou nan here, þi mede bese þer þi merkes.
What may þis be þat I here se, þe fayrehede of þi face?
Þi ble sa bryght, þi mayn þi myght, þi mowth þat miri mas(e)?
Al mon als was to powder passe, to dede when þow gase:
A grysely geste bese þan þi breste in armes til enbrase;
With I & E, syker þou be, þare es nane, I þe hete,
Of al þi kyth, wald slepe þe with, a nyght vnder schete.
Þi ble sa bryght, þi mayn þi myght, þi mowth þat miri mas(e)?
Al mon als was to powder passe, to dede when þow gase:
A grysely geste bese þan þi breste in armes til enbrase;
With I & E, syker þou be, þare es nane, I þe hete,
Of al þi kyth, wald slepe þe with, a nyght vnder schete.
| Yorkshire writers | |