How erthe louys erth, wondyr me thynke,
How erth for erth wyll swete and swynke.
When erth is in erthe broght with in the brynke,
What as herth than of erth but a fowle stynke?
Erthe wrotys in erth as molys don in molde,
Erth vpon erth glydys as golde,
As erth leve in erthe euer more schulde.
Erthe vpon erth, mynd euer more þou make
How erthe xal to erth, when deth wyll hym take.
Be ware, erth, for erthe for sake of thi sowle;
Erthe may of erth at þe last take a fowle,
When erthe is in erthe here so long in his slogh.
For erth gos in erth walkand in vede,
And erthe rydys on erth on a fayr stede;
When he was [lies has] gotyn in erth erth to his mede,
Than is erth layde in erthe wormys to fede.
Whylke ar the wormys the flesch brede?
Gode wote the wormys for to ryght rede.
Erthe ageyn erthe I holde it onkynde,
Erthe is as sone wroth as is the wynde,
Swyche fowle erth mekyl may we fynde,
That wyl speke fayre before vs and falsly behynde.
When erth vpon erth begynnys to be wroth,
Erth vpon erth swerys many a gret othe,
Erth berys pride in herte and in cloth;
When erth is layde in erth, þan xal it be loth.
Erthly coveytous makyth erth to be schent,
Erth for this erth yeldes a gret rent.
If erth in thys erth levyd in good entent,
Than dare erth nevyr recke, where that he went.
Erth vpon erth is stronge as a mast,
And erth wyth is erth fyghtys ful fast;
There is non so stowte that in erth may hym cast,
And alle xal we be erth at the last.
