Lectio quinta: Homo natus.
(22)
¶ Man, that is of woman born,
Lyuynge short tyme he is.
Er his nauel be knytte and shorn,
ffulfilde with many wrechidnes.
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Er he fro moder be forborn,
In peryl of deth, bothe partie es.
Ȝif flesch be lord, the soule is lorn;
Bote soule be lord, he leseth his blys.
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(23)
¶ Man geth out as don floures,
Corage and strengthe, and fayre of hewe;
Makeþ moche of hymself, sayþe al is oures,
And repeth þat he neuere ne sewe.
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He is defouled be dayes and houres,
And fleeþ as shadow, þat neuere grewe;
Dwelleþ neuere in þe self stat of ouris,
Encresceþ mo vyces þan vertew.
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(24)
¶ And þou holdest worthy to open thyn ey,
And come to me, and clayme for rent,
To loke on such a wrecche as y,
And lede hym with the to iugement,
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Þer al mankynde in company,
Atte thy general parlement;
Vertues to heuen ther schul ȝe try,
The vyces in helle fyre be brent.
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(25)
¶ What man may make hym clene,
Þat is conceyued in vnclene sed?
Ywhether þou art alone, withoute mene?
To felowschipe þou hast non nede.
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Short ar mannys dayes sene,
And the nombre of hys monthes in thy dede.
Þou hast sette his terme of fat and lene,
He passeþ it noȝt for no mede.
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