20. A Warning to be ware. (On the Earthquake of 1382. [Printed from the Simeon MS. by T. Wright in Polit. Poems and Songs, Rolls Series, i. 250-2.] )
(11 stanzas of 8, abab bcbc.)
(1)
Yit is God a Curteis lord
And Mekeliche con schewe his miht;
ffayn he wolde bringe til a-cord
Monkuynde, to liue in treuþe ariht.
Line 4
Allas! whi set we þat lord so liht,
And al to foule wiþ him we fare?
In world is non so wys, no wiht,
Þat þei ne haue warnyng to be ware.
Line 8
(2)
We may not seye, but ȝif we lyȝe,
Þat god wol vengaunce on vs stele,
ffor openly we seo wiþ eiȝe,
Þis warnynges beoþ wonder & fele.
Line 12
But nou þis wrecched worldes wele
Makeþ vs liue in Sunne and care.
Of Mony Merueyles I may of Mele,
And al is warnyng to be ware.
Line 16
(3)
Whon þe Comuynes bigan to ryse,
Was non so gret lord, as I gesse,
Þat þei in herte bi-gon to gryse,
And leide heore Iolyte in presse.
Line 20
Wher was þenne heore worþinesse,
Whon þei made lordes droupe & dare?
Of alle wyse men I take witnesse,
Þis was a warnyng to be ware.
Line 24
(4)
Bi-fore, ȝif men hedde haad a graas,
Lordes mihte wondur weel
Han let the rysing þat þer was,
But þat god þouȝte ȝit sumdel
Line 28
Þat lordes schulde his lordschup feel,
And of heore lordschipe make hem bare.
