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

Die älteste Fassung des me. Gedichtes 'Earth upon Earth'.

(1) Die fünfstrophige Urform:

(nach St. John's College, Cambridge, E. 24, fol. 44^a)

Prouerbia qualiter terra reuertetur in terram et terra non cognoscet terram. [Lat. Überschrift: so nur in C; dafür: Memento, homo, quod cinis es et in cine∣rem reuerteris T R^a E [dahinter noch: Fac bene, dum uiuis, post mortem viuere si vis in H^c sowie (am Ende des Gedichtes) in Bⁱ L T^b]; in C^p: Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas (= Eccles. I 2); sonst fehlend]

Whan lyf is <most> [Dies most steht in allen Hss. ausser C, wird also der Urform angehört haben.] louyd and deþ ys most hatid, Deþ drawiþ his drawȝtis and makith man ful nakid. [Engl. Überschrift: nur in C E L O R^b H^c und (am Ende des Gedichtes) in Bⁱ H^b ‖ most fehlt C ‖ ys ² fehlt Bⁱ ‖ Thanne deeth dr. Bⁱ O H^c, þanne dooþ deeþ drawe L ‖ drawȝt Bⁱ E H^b L O R^b H^c ‖ a man H^b R^b ‖ full fehlt E R^b]

[1] [1 fehlt H^a; V. 1-2 hinter 4 R^a]

Erþe owt of [Da neun Hss. upon statt out of lesen, sei angegeben, was Zupitza zur Rechtfertigung der letzteren Lesart bemerkt: 'Der Dichter konnte nur die Absicht haben, zu sagen, dass der Mensch aus Erde, nicht dass er auf Erden wunderbar geschaffen worden ist. Es kann also nur out of die rich∣tige Präposition sein.'] erþe ys wondirli wrowȝt: [1 owt of] owte of þe E, vpone R^a U P T^a C^p S H^b M R^e ‖ ys] so T^a ‖ wondirli] waxyne and U H^b, wondirfullie (vor is) M, wonderfull (vor is) R^e, worldly B^a] Erþe haþ getyn of [Wie der Variantenapparat lehrt, halten sich hier die Lesarten of (9 Hss.) und on (10 Hss.) so ziemlich die Wage; und Zupitza hat auf Grund des ihm bekannten geringen Handschriftenmaterials on in den Text aufgenommen. Indes empfiehlt sich ein Beibehalten des of nicht nur der älteren Überliefe∣rung wegen, sondern auch mit Rücksicht auf den Sinn. Der Dichter will doch wohl sagen: Der Mensch ist wunderbar aus Erde geschaffen, hat aber von der Erde her einen niederen Stand empfangen.] erþe a nobli of nowȝt. [2 fehlt E H^b P; dafür neu als Z. 4 in H^b: But how that erth scal to the erth thyngketh he noht, in P: Ther is none vppon erth has hit in þouȝte. Take hede! Whoso þinkyse on his end, ful well schal he sped ‖ For erth Bⁱ ‖ ȝetyn (hinter erthe ²) R^b, gotyn J B^a L^d M R^e ‖ haþ gete hinter erthe ² T^a L O L^d T^b H^c, getith (hin∣ter erthe ²) C^p, gete (hinter erthe ²) B^r, hath (hinter erthe ²) S, hase R^a, takys U ‖ of ¹ Bⁱ R^a L T^b] of the O L^d H^c R^b, on U T (one), upon T^a B^r C^p J B^a M R^e, apon S ‖ a fehlt B^r C^p S ‖ nobli C, nobylay U, nobley B^r, nobul thyng Bⁱ, dignyte T R^a T^a J B^a M R^e L O T^b L^d R^b, abbey H^c, worschyp S C^p ‖ of ²] for M R^e] Erþe apon erþe haþ sette al his þowȝt, [3 And erthe H^b, Now erthe U ‖ haþ sette (ysette H^b)] layes U ‖ al fehlt E] How erþe upon erþe may be hye browȝt. [4 How þat T R^a T^b H^b B^a L O M R^e ‖ may] myght B^a H^b (hinter hye), myth S, to erthe schall P H^b (scal vor to) ‖ be vor browght C^p H^b ‖ hye] hiere R^b, on hye C^p, on hyght T^a, till hicht (vor may) M R^e, fehlt P ‖ y-broughte R^b ‖ may be hye browȝt] sattys all at noght U]

[2] [2 fehlt H^a; Str. 2 und 3 umgestellt in U]

Erþe upon erþe wolde be made [made ist jedenfalls zu streichen, da es allen Hss. ausser C R^b fehlt.] a kynge; [1 upon] vp C^p ‖ wolde] wolde he L, he (hinter be über der Zeile) H^c, yet wolde Bⁱ, wald fayne M, wold fane R^e ‖ made nur in C R^b, sonst fehlend] How [Die Mehrzahl der Hss. liest But how statt How; und in der Tat hebt das hinzugefügte But den Gegensatz zur vorhergehenden Zeile passend her∣vor. Die ältere Überlieferung ohne But entspricht aber wohl besser der Gedrungenheit des Originals, das auch sonst, z. B. Str. 1, 2, solche Gegen∣sätze ohne Adversativpartikel nebeneinanderstellt.] erþe schal to erþe, þynkith he no þyng. [2 How C E P S B^r R^b] Bot how Bⁱ R^a C^p U L O L^d T^b H^c, Bot how þat T T^a H^b J B^a, And how þat M R^e ‖ schall] sall hinter erthe ² T, goth T^a C^p, gois M R^e, gott J ‖ to] to þe S, vnto E ‖ þynkith he] he þinkis P J B^a, thynkyng R^b] W<h>en erþe biddiþ erþe his rentis hom to [to ist nur in C M R^e L^d überliefert, also jedenfalls zu streichen.] bringe, [3 When] wen C, whanne þat L O L^d, whanne þan T^b, but when Bⁱ, for whan B^r H^b, Ya bot when R^a ‖ biddiþ] bredis T, says to U ‖ his] and his T, that he his R^b, my U ‖ rentis] rent U T^a C^p B^r H^b P S H^c R^b, dute Bⁱ ‖ home] whome P J, hym R^a, þou me U ‖ to nur in C M R^e L^d, sonst fehlend] Þen schal erþe haue [Alle Hss. ausser C R^a M R^e stellen haue hinter of erþe; und so wird auch das Original gelesen haben: Þen schal erþe of erþe haue a petous par∣tyng, zumal die unmittelbare Zusammenstellung der beiden erþe in der über∣wiegenden Mehrzahl aller Verse des Gedichtes erscheint.] of erþe a petuos partynge. [4 schal ... haue] hath U T^a C^p H^b ‖ haue vor of erthe nur in C R^a M R^e, sonst da∣hinter ‖ of] of the E, out of L L^d T^b H^c, out of the O, from T^a B^r C^p, fro Bⁱ, fro þe U P S, for B^a R^b, to M R^e, apon H^b J ‖ a fehlt T T^a B^r H^b M R^e ‖ petuos C] petous O R^b, petus B^r, pytous L^d, pyteous H^c, pytyus E, peteus Bⁱ, piteuous L T^b, heuy H^b, harde C^p P J B^a, herd M R^e,full harde T R^a T^a, dolefull U, d[e]lful (das e nach Zupitza undeutlich) S ‖ depairtiny M R^e ‖ dahinter in P: With Care; Ffor erth vppon erþe wottis neuer wer þerfor [lies weder for, Zupitza] to fare]

[3] [3 fehlt H^a; V. 1-2 hinter 4 R^b]

Erþe opon erþe wynnith castellis and towris: [Whan erthe L^d ‖ wynnith] vor vppon Bⁱ, byggis (aus Z. 3) R^a, hath U ‖ castellis] both castellys Bⁱ, hallys U] Þen seiþ erþe on-to erþe: 'þis is al owris'. [2 þen] and H^b, fehlt U ‖ erthe saythe E H^b M R^e ‖ on-to C] unto T Bⁱ R^a J B^r B^a E, vntill M R^e, to U C^p P T^a L O L^d T^b H^c R^b, to þe S H^b ‖ þis is] now is þis L, þir ar M, now ar R^e þose beth S, these byth H^c ‖ all vor þis R^a P M R^e] When erþe upon erþe haþ byggid his bowris, [3 When] But whan Bⁱ B^r B^a, But quan U, Ya bot when R^a, And whan L^d ‖ haþ byggid] syttyth wythin H^b ‖ byggid (byg∣gyt S M R^e)] bildyd B^a C^p, bylde T^a E P J, byllyd Bⁱ R^b ‖ his] vp his T R^a E L T^b H^c, all his Bⁱ P S M R^e O R^b, halles and T^a C^p] Þen schal erþe for erþe suffur scharp schouris. [4 þen] yeȝt H^b ‖ for] for þe U B^r E H^b S H^c, fro T^a, fro þe P, upon L L^d M R^e ‖ suffur] haue U ‖ scharpe] hard B^a, ful harde R^b, many hard J, grit R^e ‖ dahinter in P: And smarte. Man, amend þe betyme; þi lyfe ys but a starte.]

[4] [4 fehlt H^a]

Erþe goþ upon erþe as molde upon molde: [1 hinter 3 in R^a ‖ Erþe] Ya bot when erthe R^a ‖ goþ] byldyth Bⁱ, wrotys U, fehlt B^a M R^e ‖ upon¹] on R^a P S E H^b, in U ‖ as] and M R^e, f. B^a ‖ molde ¹] molys U, man J, hath welth B^a ‖ upon ²] doþe on S, don in U ‖ molde upon molde] golde appone golde (aus Z. 2) T, colde opon colde R^a] Erþe goþ upon erþe as [Dieses as steht nur in C J; und es ist daher wohl mit fast allen übrigen Hss. all zu lesen.] glisterynge as golde, [2 hinter 3 P J M R^e ‖ And erth Bⁱ H^b, He that T ‖ Erþe goþ] So goth erthe L O L^d T^b H^c ‖ goth fehlt U S ‖ upon] on R^a P S H^b ‖ as ¹ C J] al(le) C^p E L O L^d T^b H^c und (nach glyttryng) Bⁱ B^a R^b, and T^a, fehlt Bⁱ T R^a U B^r H^b P S M R^e ‖ glisterynge C J] gliteringe P L L^d T^b, gleterynge C^p E O H^c R^b, glytteryng Bⁱ, glitterand R^a M R^e, gleterande T H^b, glydderande S, glyderyng B^r B^a, glytereth T^a, glydys U ‖ as ²] in C^p E P S B^a L O L^d T^b H^c R^b, fehlt Bⁱ J] Lyk as erþe on-to erþe neuer go schulde; [Lies scholde des Reimes wegen, wie auch die Mehrzahl der Hss. überliefert.] [3 Lyk as] Lyke als T, As thouh R^b, as U ‖ erþe ¹] he B^a ‖ onto] vnto Bⁱ R^a E B^a M R^e L O T^b into L^d H^c, to T T^a C^p B^r S R^b, to þe P, in U, apon H^b J ‖ neuer] neuer more T, neuer agayne P R^b, euer more U ‖ go] torn B^a, dye H^b, leve (nach erþe ¹) U, fehlt P ‖ schulde C U L R^b, shulde R^a C^p B^r O, shuld B^a, schoulde H^b, scholde T E P S T^b H^c, sholde Bⁱ T^a L^d, schold J, sold M R^e] And ȝut schal erþe on-to erþe raþir þen <he> [Dies he steht in allen Hss. ausser C.] wolde. [4 fehlt U ‖ And] but R^b, fehlt R^a B^r P S M R^e H^b O ‖ ȝut] ȝitt T R^a B^a S C^p M R^e L T^b H^b R^b ȝet T^a E P B^a J L^d, justly than Bⁱ ‖ erþe ¹] erth go Bⁱ, eird go M R^e ‖ onto C] vnto T R^a B^a E J L O T^b, into L^d H^c, to Bⁱ T^a B^r M R^e, to þe C^p H^b P S R^b ‖ he] fehlt nur C, þei S ‖ raþir] radyr C^p, soner B^a, sonar nor M R^e, ȝa rathere T ‖ dahinter in P: Be owris! Ȝefe þi almis with þi hand. Trust to no secatovrs.]

[5] [5 fehlt H^a S L^d T^b, hinter (Zusatz-)Strophe 10 in L O R^b]

Why þat erþe louiþ erþe, wondir me [Die Hs. C gebraucht hier die Abkürzung m (mit einem Strich dar∣über); dass dies als me aufzulösen, beweisen die anderen Handschriften die me ausschreiben.] þinke, [1 Why] How U M R^e, Now why T ‖ þat] man Bⁱ, fehlt U T^a C^p E H^c ‖ louiþ] loweth B^a, to myche loueþ L ‖ wondir] grit wondir M R^e, merveyle C^p P (mer∣wel) ‖ me] I E B^a M R^e, y may T^a C^p R^b] Or whi þat erþe for erþe wolde swete or swink; [2 Or whi þat] How U ‖ þat fehlt C^p T^a E P ‖ for] for the E R^b, for superflue L, vpon B^r P H^b ‖ wolde] wold vor for J, wyl U T^a C^p P und (vor for) B^a M R^e und (vor or) Bⁱ E R^a H^c, wole (vor or) O R^b, scholde T, fehlt B^r J H^b ‖ wolde swete] swe∣tys B^r, oþer swete T T^a J C^p (owdyr) M (owþir) R^e (owther), to sore sweete L, unresonably swete R^b ‖ or] and U ‖ swynkes B^r]

Whan [Alle Hss. ausser C U J M R^e lesen For when, und so mag denn auch das Original gelautet haben.] erþe upon erþe is browȝt with-in þe brinke, [3 Whan C U J] For whan Bⁱ R^a T^a B^r C^p E H^b P B^a H^c R^b, For when þat T L O, Quhone þat M, Quhen þat R^e ‖ upon] upon the O, vnder R^b, within M R^e, in U, into T^a C^p ‖ browȝt] brente B^r, closit M R^e ‖ within] to P, vndir M R^e ‖ þe fehlt T R^a E M R^e R^b ‖ brink] brynkes B^r, byrik M R^e] Þan schal erþe haue [Da haue vor of erþe nur in C und R^a überliefert ist, wird das Original of erþe haue gelautet haben. Ferner ist das nur in C und Bⁱ überlieferte riȝt sicherlich zu streichen, so dass der Vers ursprünglich also lautete: Þan schal erþe of erþe haue a foule stink.] of erþe riȝt² a foule stink. [4 þan] what U ‖ schal] as U, ys H^b ‖ erþe ¹] þe erthe Bⁱ ‖ haue vor of erþe nur in C R^a, sonst dahinter ‖ haue] suffre B^a, botte H^b but U ‖ of] of the L O H^c R^b, than of U, for B^a C^p, for the B^r, frov the P, apon H^b J, within M, with R^e ‖ riȝt nur in C und (hinter a) Bⁱ überliefert, sonst fehlend ‖ foul] fool P, wonder foule R^a rewful L O, oribyll R^b, ewill M, evill R^e ‖ stink] swynk L ‖ dahinter in P: To smele [lies smell], Wars þen þe caryon þat lyis in þe fele [lies feld].]

(2) Die gemeinsamen Zusatzstrophen:

a) der zweiten Handschriftengruppe:

(Kritischer Text unter Zugrundelegung der Handschrift L [Die Hs. L erweist sich allerdings auch hier als stark entstellt durch Sonderlesarten und kleinere Zusätze (vgl. Anglia 42, 180 f.). Jedoch empfiehlt sie sich wegen ihrer guten Schreibung.] )

[6] [6 fehlt L^d T^b R^b, v. 1-2 fehlt H^a]

Lo, erþe, upon erþe considere þou may, [1 Lo] now B^a, fehlt H^b ‖ upon] on J ‖ considere] consider well T^a C^p, consayfe þis P ‖ cons. þou may] knoweth eche day H^b] How erþe comeþ *to erþe nakid al-way. [2 How] þat S P ‖ erþe] þou P ‖ comeþ] vor nakid O, com∣mys P B^r, gois (vor nakit) M R^e ‖ to] to the T^a H^b, into L, into þe O B^r, vnto M R^e, owte of þe S, frome þe P ‖ al way] away M R^e, alle day E] Whi schulde erþe upon erþe go [*] stoute or gay, [3 Whi] how P H^a, þan how S ‖ schulde] schall J ‖ upon] than opon T^a ‖ go] go now so L, then go C^p, soe P, be S H^a ‖ stoute] prowt S, prowde C^p P H^a, ower proud M R^e ‖ or] and E H^a T^a C^p] Whanne erþe schal passe out of erþe in [*] poore aray? [4 Whanne] syn E, sen P M R^e, syth C^p B^a H^b, sethen B^r, seth J T^a ‖ passe] wend M R^e, fehlt S H^a ‖ schal passe vor in E H^b B^r T^a C^p B^a J P M R^e ‖ out of] to H^a, to þe S, into T^a, into þe C^p, vnto EP, vntill M R^e, apon H^b ‖ poore] so poore L S, a poor H^a T^a O H^c, symple P ‖ dahinter in P: Unclade! Cloth þe nakyd whyl þou may, for so God þe bade.]

[7] [7 fehlt L^d R^b]

*I counsail erþe, upon erþe þat [*] wickidli *haþ wrouȝt, [1 I counsail] þerfore þou L T^b, therfor H^c, thow O ‖ erþe ¹] you B^a ‖ wickidli] so wickidli L, wikyd H^a T^a C^p, wondirlie M R^e J H^b ‖ haþ] hast L T^b O H^c, has B^r P, haue B^a, hade H^a, is J M R^e] While [*] erþe *is upon erþe *to turne *al his þouȝt, [2 While] while þat þou L, while that O T^b B^a, whyles that H^b, the whyle þat B^r J. ‖ ‖ is] art L ‖ upon] on P B^a ‖ to fehlt L O T^b H^c B^a ‖ turne] amende C^p ‖ al] aȝen L O T^b, agayne H^c, vp T^a B^r B^a E, fehlt J C^p ‖ his] þi L O T^b H^c, your B^a]

And praie to [*] God upon erþe, þat al [*] erþe [*] wrouȝt, [3 And] now S ‖ praie] pray we S, y pray H^b ‖ to] to þat L, fehlt T^a ‖ upon erþe f. H^a S ‖ al] al þe L O E B^r B^a H^a, hinter maid M R^e, fehlt T^b ‖ erþe] world H^a vickidli T^b, fehlt P M R^e ‖ wrouȝt] haþ wrouȝt L O H^b B^a E C^p H^c T^b (hast), made of novȝte P M R^e (maid vor all)] Þat [*] erþe *out of erþe to blis may be brouȝt. [4 þat] þat þou L ‖ erþe out of erþe] all crystyn soullys J ‖ erþe ¹] this erthe H^c ‖ out of] owte of þe C^p E, upon L O M R^e T^b, apon this H^c ‖ to] to þe J ‖ may] myth S ‖ dahinter in P: Witt myȝthe, Thorow helpe Jesu Cryst þat was our ladis byrthe. Do for þiself]

b) der dritten Handschriftengruppe:

(Kritischer Text unter Zugrundelegung von L)

[8] [8 fehlt H^c]

O þou wrecchid erþe, þat on erþe traueilist nyȝt and day [1 O fehlt R^b ‖ on] in þe T^b, on the O, thus for R^b ‖ trauayles L^d] To florische þe erþe, to peynte þe erþe with wantowne aray, [2 þe erþe ¹ fehlt L^d ‖ to] and L^d ‖ with] with thi R^b] Ȝit schal þou, erþe, for al þi erþe, make þou it neuere so queynte and gay [3 schalt T^b R^b ‖ it fehlt R^b ‖ queynte and fehlt R^b ‖ and] or T^b L^d] Out of þis erþe in-to [*] erþe [*] to clinge as [*] clot of clay. [4 Out of] for R^b (lies fro, Zupitza) ‖ þis] thi R^b, the O ‖ into] into þe L O T^b ‖ to] þere to L O T^b, fehlt R^b ‖ as] as a L T^b ‖ of] in L^d J R^b]

[9] [9 fehlt R^b H^c]

O wrecchid man, whi art þou proud, þat art of [*] erþe makid? [1 art vor maked L^d ‖ of] of þe L] Hider brouȝttist þou no schroud, but poore come þou and nakid. [2 Hider] And hider L^d ‖ thou broght L^d ‖ come] cam O ‖ þou ² fehlt L^d] Whanne þi soule is went out and þi bodi in erþe rakid, [3-4 anders in L^d: Lewe thy syne and lyffe in ryght, And than shalt thou lyffe in heuyn as a knyght] Þan þi bodi, þat was rank and undeuout, of alle men is bihatid. [4 undeuout L] bilouid T^b, louyd O ‖ bihatid] hatyd O]

[10] [10 fehlt L^d H^c]

Out of *þe erþe cam [*] *þe erþe *wanting his garnement: [1 þe ¹] þis L T^b ‖ þe ²] to þis L O T^b ‖ wanting his R^b] his wantyng O, þis wantinge T^b, þis wrecchid L] To hide *þe erþe, to happe *þe erþe to him was cloþinge lente. [2 þe ¹^-² R^b] þis L T^b O ‖ happe ('bedecken' NED)] lappe R^b, wrappe O ‖ lent] ylent R^b] Now gooþ erþe upon erþe ruli raggid and rent; [3 Now] But now T^b ‖ erþe ¹] the erthe R^b ‖ ruli ('kläglich', ae. hrēowlīce)] disgesily R^b ‖ rent] to-rent R^b] Þerfore schal erþe vndir [*] erþe haue hidiose turment. [4 vndir þe L T^b ‖ hidous O T^b ‖ haue hidiose t.] suffer ful grete turment R^b]

[11] [11 fehlt T^b L^d H^c]

* Ȝif erþe wolde of erþe þus hertili haue þinkyng [1 So nach R^b: Yif erthe wold of erthe thus hartily haue thynkynge; anders O: Wolde therfor this erthe on this erthe, on this hertly thinke und L: Wolde God þerfore þis erþe, while þat he is upon this erþe, vpon þis wolde hertili þinke] And how [*] erþe out of [*] erþe schal haue his aȝen-risynge [2 And fehlt O ‖ how] how that O ‖ erþe ¹] þe erþe L ‖ erþe ²] þe erþe L O ‖ schal] shal at last R^b ‖ his aȝen-risynge] risynge O R^b] And *how erþe for [*] erþe schal ȝeelde streite rekenyng, [3 And how] And þis L, And thus O, thanne R^b ‖ erþe ¹^-²] þis erþe L ‖ shal hinter yeelde L, vor erþe ¹ R^b ‖ streite] riht streite R^b] *Þan schulde [*] erþe for [*] erþe *neuere mysplese heuene-king. [4 þan] vor þis erþe L, fehlt O ‖ schulde] schal R^b ‖ erþe ¹^-²] þis erþe L ‖ for] of the R^b ‖ neuere hinter schulde L O]

[12] [12 fehlt L^d]

*Lord God, þat *erþe *tokist *in erþe and suffridist [*] peynes ille, [1 Lord God O R^b] O þou Lord L, now Lord T^b H^c ‖ erþe tokist R^b] erþe madist O T^b, madist þis erþe L, madyst H^c ‖ in erþe and R^b] for erþe and T^b H^c, for þis erþe and L, and for the erthe O ‖ suffridist] suffridist heere L ‖ ille] ful stille R^b] Lete neuere [*] erþe for þis erþe myscheue ne spille, [2 erþe ¹] þis erþe L O H^c T^b ‖ þis] the R^b ‖ myscheue] in myschyffe H^c, in dedly synne R^b ‖ ne fehlt H^c] But þat [*] erþe on þis erþe be euere worchinge þi wille, [3 erþe ¹] þis erþe L O H^c T^b ‖ on] in O H^c T^b R^b ‖ euere worchinge] doynge euer R^b] So þat [*] erþe from þis erþe [*] stie up to þin *holi hille. [4 erþe ¹] þis erþe L H^c ‖ from] fro O H^c T^b, for R^b ‖ þis] the R^b ‖ stie] may stie L H^c ‖ to] on O holy R^b] hiȝ L O T^b, fehlt H^c]

Amen.

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.