Die älteste Fassung des ME. Gedichtes 'Earth upon earth' [Archiv 138 (1919)]

Es folgt hier noch der Abdruck des Textes nach Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Nr. 237:

Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas.

[1]

Erthe vpon erthe js wondyrly wrowyght: Erthe vpon erthe getith worship of nowyght. Erthe vpon erthe hathe set all hys thought, How erthe vpon erthe may on hye be browght.

[2]

Erthe vp erthe wolde be a kyng: But how erthe gothe to erthe, thinkith he no thing. When erthe byddys erthe his rente home bringe, Thanne erthe from erthe hathe an hard partyng.

[3]

Erthe vpon erthe wynnyth casteles and towrys: Than seyth erthe to erthe: 'This ys all owres'. Whan erthe vpon erthe hathe byldyd hallys and bowris, Then shall erthe for erthe sofyr sharpe showrys.

[4]

Erthe gothe vpon erthe, as molde vpon molde: Erthe gothe vpon erthe all gletering in goolde, Lyke as erthe to erthe neuer goo shulde; And yit shall erthe to þe erthe radyr than he wolde.

[5]

Why erthe lovith erthe, merveyle I may thinke, Or why erthe for erthe wyll owdyr swete or swynke; For, when erthe in to erthe ys browyght within þe brynke, Thenne shall erthe for erthe have a fowle stynke.

[6]

Lo, erthe vpon erthe, consyder wele thou may, How erthe comyth to þe erthe nakyd allway. Whi shulde erthe vpon erthe then go prowde and gay, Sithe erthe in to þe erthe shall passe in poore aray?

[7]

I counsell erthe, vpon erthe þat wykyd hathe wrowyght, While erthe is vpon erthe, to amende his thoghte And pray God vpon erthe, þat all erthe hathe wrowght, That erthe owte of þe erthe to blis may be browght.

Amen.