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It happenyd̛ onys, that the vnicorne folowed̛ a man, that fledde faste; and̛ fownde a tree, in the which were many feyre appils; and̛ vndir the tre was a depe dyke, fuƚƚ of serpentes, todes, and̛ othere Crepynge bestes; and̛ the rote of the tree gnawed̛ ij. wormys, on white, anothere black. on this tree the man̛ wente, and̛ fedde hym̛ with the appils, and̛ had̛ grete delite in the braunches and̛
leuys; but he toke no hede of the ij. wormys gnawyng̘ the rote of the tree, that atte laste it felle, and̛ wrechid̛ man̛ felle into the pitte. Be the vnicorne is vndirstonde dethe, that no man̛ may with stonde; and̛ by the tree is vndirstondyn̛ the worlde, whose appils are delictable and̛ dyuerse, the which be richesse, metes and̛ drynkes, and̛ fayre women. the braunchys and̛ levys are fayre wordys and̛ veyne pride. the ij. wormys are day and nyght̘, that aƚƚ thing̘ in processe of tyme consumen̛, and̛ bryngen̛ to nought̘. But wolde god̛, that wrechid̛ man̛, that sitteth vpon̛ this tree, and̛ hathe delite in thes appils, braunchys, and̛ levys, sauered̛ and̛ vndirstode, and̛ ordeyned̛ for his laste Ende! wherfore Salamon̛ seithe, sone, haue in mynde the laste Ende, and̛ thou shalte neuere synne, &c.