To florische þe erþe, to peynte þe erþe with wan|towne aray;
Ȝit schal þou, erþe, for al þi erþe, make þou it neuere so queynte & gay,
Out of þis erþe into þe erþe, þere to clinge as a clot of clay.
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¶ O wrecchid man, whi art þou proud [page 37] þat art of þe erþe makid?
Hider brouȝttist þou no schroud, But poore come þou, and nakid;
Whanne þi soule is went out, & þi bodi in erþe rakid,
Þan þi bodi þat was rank & Vndeuout, Of alle men is bihatid.
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¶ Out of þis erþe cam to þis erþe þis wrecchid garnement;
To hide þis erþe, to happe þis erþe, to him was cloþinge lente;
Now gooþ erþe upon erþe, ruli, raggid, and rent,
Þerfore schal erþe vndir þe erþe haue hidiose turment.
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¶ Whi þat erþe to myche loueþ erþe, wondir me þink,
Or whi þat erþe for superflue erþe to sore sweete wole or swynk;
For whanne þat erþe upon erþe is brouȝt with|inne þe brink,
Þan schal erþe of þe erþe haue a rewful swynk.
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¶ Lo, erþe upon erþe, considere þou may
How erþe comeþ into erþe nakid al way, [page 38]
¶ Whi schulde erþe upon erþe go now so stoute or gay
