Earth.
Whanne liif is moost loued, and deeþ is moost hatid: þanne dooþ deeþ drawe his drawȝt, and makiþ man ful nakid. De terra plasmasti me, &c.
ERþe out of erþe is wondirly wrouȝt,
Erþe of erþe haþ gete a dignyte of nouȝt,
Erþe upon erþe haþ sett al his þouȝt,
How þat erþe upon erþe may be hiȝ brouȝt.
Line 4
¶ Erþe upon erþe wold be a king;
But how erþe schal to erþe, þenkiþ he no [page 36] þing;
Whanne þat erþe biddiþ erþe hise rentis hom bring,
Þan schal erþe out of erþe haue a piteuous parting.
Line 8
¶ Erþe vpon erþe wynneþ castels & touris,
Þan seiþ erþe to erþe 'now is þis al houris:'
Whanne erþe upon erþe haþ biggid up hise boure[s],
Þanne schal erþe upon erþe suffir scharpe schouris.
Line 12
¶ Erþe gooþ vpon erþe as molde upon molde,
So gooþ erþe upon erþe al gliteringe in golde,
Like as erþe vnto erþe neuere go schulde;
And ȝit schal erþe vn-to erþe raþer þan he wolde.
Line 16
¶ O þou wrecchid erþe þat on erþe traueilist nyȝt and day
