[XXXIX. Of þre messagers of deeth. [So the title in Index. The poem was ed. before in Herrig's Archiv LXXIX, p. 432. It is an old imitation of the "Sayings of S. Bernhard," XLV.] ]
Her biginneþ a tretis
Of þreo Messagers of deþ, I-wis.
ÞE Mon þat is of wommon I-bore,
His lyf nis heere but a þrowe—
So seiþ Iob vs heer-bi-fore
Al in a Bok þat I wel knowe.
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He hedde is Muynde al of his deþ,
Wel sore he con grone and grunte,
And seide his lyf nas bote a Breþ,
Heer mou we none stounde stunte.
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ffrom deþ may no mon be fre,
ffor his riȝte wol he not lete.
Now beoþ þer Messagers þre
A-Mong Monkuynde for to meete:
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Auentures, Seeknesse, and Elde—
Þeos beoþ Messagers of deþ;
To hem we moten vs alle ȝelde
And louten þer vr Maystres geþ.
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Whon Deth comeþ þat is so derk,
Þer May no Mon him wiþ-stonde;
I take witnesse on a noble Clerk
Þat wrot þeos vers wiþ his honde:
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Mors necat athletas, [MS. vetat ath letas]
Ego mortis nescio metas,
I[n]ter [MS. Iter] Res letas,
Caueat sibi quelibet etas—
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"Deþ, he sleth þis kempes kene,
And kynges in heore worþly won,
Riche & pore alle bi-dene,
Ȝong ne Old spareþ he non."
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