〈…〉 receive by failing Fortune.  

WHy doth the world cark and care, for glory that is vain  
Whose wealth departeth for evermore, and will not come again  
Whose power so soon is overthrown, and falleth in decay  
As doth the pot which we see made, of brittle mould and clay.   

Do sooner trust the letters written, upon the melting ice  
Then flattering chance of worldly gifts, unpleasant as the dice  
Which forgeth vice in virtues place, much mischief to procure  
Who can be certain here to live, one minute of an hour.   

Tell, where is noble Solomon, in wit which did excel  
Or Absalon the beautiful, of whom old storres tell.  
Or where is Samson great and strong, unable to be won  
Or jonathas the pleasauntst man, that reigned under the sun.   

Where is Cesar that mighty Prince, which ruled East and west  
Or Dives that belly God, which spent both fish and beast  
What is become of Cicero, that could so well declaim  
Or where is learned Aristotle that now doth bear the name   

Thus noble men & rulers both, thus time which passeth away  
Thus kings which had their holds full strong to keep them night & day  
Thus princes once which were of might, & with great power did flourish  
In the twinkling of an eye, for evermore doth perish   

In how short space doth slip away, these worldly pleasures all  
Like shadows or such vanities, which soon doth slide and fall  
Seducing us from heavenly gifts, which doth for us remain  
And lead us to things, which are ungodly vile and vain   

O meat for worms, O dew soon melted, O clot of brittle clay  
Why dost thou trust still to possess, that which will soon decay  
Thou canst not tell what shall become, of the to morrow next  
Therefore do good by thy life time, let none of the be vexed.   

For as the leaf which with the wind, we see driven to and fro  
So shall thy pride and gorglous fare, be put away also  
Where is become thy proud carcase, which thou thoughtest fresh and gay  
In scripture likened to the flower, that springeth in the may.   

Think nothing thine that thou mayst lose, nor trust to keep it still  
For that thou hast by worldly chance, it faileth when it will  
Wherefore to search immortal things, see that thou do devise  
The man is blessed that can and will, these worldly gifts despise.   
Quod 〈…〉  
〈…〉