The Works of William Herebert, OFM


Poem 13: Vous purueez en cete vye; Fol. 208v-209r
Bysœth ȝou in þysylke lyf of lyflode in þat oþer lyf.
Sœthþe mon shal hœnne wende
And néde déȝen at þen ende
And wonyen he not whare,
Gód ys þat he trusse hys pak,
And tymliche pute hys stor in sak,
Þat not when hœnne váre.
Þys lyf nys bote sorewe awáy,
Ounnéþe ys mon gladuol o day
Vor sorewe and tœne and káre;
Mon wyth sorewe is uurst ybore,
And eft wyth sorewe rend and tore,
Ȝyf he ryth þencþ of hys wáre.
Œuch mon þenche uor to spede, etc., sicut prius.
What ys lordshype and heynesse,
What helpth katel and rychesse?
Góld and sœluer awey shal uáre.
Þy gost shal wonye þou ne wost nout where,
Þy body worth wounde in grete oþer here;
Of oþer þyng þou worst al báre.
Œuch mon þenche uor to spede, etc.
Byþench, mon, ȝœrne on œuche wyse
Er þou bœ brouht to þylke asyse,
On what þou shalt truste þáre.
What gód þou hauest, mon, here ydon
Prest þer þou shalt ounderuon
Elles euer þou worst in káre.
Œuch mon þenche nou to spede, etc.
Bœ mon ȝong oþer bœ he old,
Non so strong ne wel ytold
Þat hœnnes ne mot fare.
Deth is hud, mon, in þy gloue,
Wyth derne dunt þat shal he proue
And smyte þou nost wháre.
Œuch mon þenche uor to spede, etc.
Touore þe deth ys betere o dede
Þen after téne, and more of mede
And more quencheth kare.
Bœ monnes wyttes hym byreued,
Hys eȝen blynd, hys eren deued,
Þe cofres bœ´th al bare.
Œuch mon þenche uor to spede, etc.
Bœ þe gost urom body reued,
Þe bernes sone shulle bœ´n sheued,
Ne shal me noþyng spáre.
Bœ þe body wyth grœ´th byweued,
Þe soule sone shal bœ´ leued,
Alas, of froendes báre.
Œuch mon þenche uor t[o] spede, etc.