Of deþ whi neltov [neltou] þenche?
Whan þou wenist libbe best,
Þi bodi deþ sal qwench;
Þe pouer chest ssal be þi nest,
Þat sittist bold a bench;
Est and west schal be þi qwest,
Ne miȝt þou noþing blench.
Be þou barun oþer kniȝte,
Þou salt be a sorful wiȝte,
Whan þou liste in bere itiȝte
In fulle pouer wede;
Nastou noþer main no miȝte,
Whil þou no man drede;
Wiþ sorwȝful siȝt — and þat is riȝte —
To erþe me sul þe lede;
Þan ssal þi liȝt turn in to niȝte —
Beþench, man, þis i red. [i-red (!), Ms. ired]
Þe pouer man bit uche dai
Gode of þe, and þou seiist ai:
Begger, [Beggar] wend a deuil wai!
Þou deuist [denist] al min ere.
Hungir-bitte he goth awai
Wiþ mani sorful tere.
A wailowai! þou clotte of clai!
Whan þou list on bere,
Of fow no grai no rede no rai
Nastov bot a here.
Crist [Christ] telliþ in holi writte
Þat a man of wiþir witte
Ibiriid was in helle pitte,
Þat in þis lif was riche;
Ssal he neuer þan flitte
Fram þe sorful diche.
He sal sitte in helle flitte
Wiþ oute wyn and miche,
Þe fent sal sitte is knot to knitte;
Sore mai he skriche.
