( 6 )
Then man appear to fifty-five years,
and sick both e'en and morn:
Loins legs and thighs without disease,
makers him to sigh and say,
Ah! Christ on high have mind on me,
and learn me for to die.
December sell both sharp and snell,
makes flow'rs creep in the ground,
Then man's threescore, both sick and sore,
no soundness in him found:
His ears and een and teeth of bane,
all these now do him fail,
Then may be say, both night and day,
that death shall him assail.
And if there be thro' nature strong,
some that live ten years more;
Or if he creepeth up and down
till he come to fourscore;
Yet all this time is but a line,
no pleasure can he see
Then may he say both night and day,
have mercy, Lord, on me.
Thus have I shown you as I can,
the course of all mens life:
We will return where we began,
but either sturt or strife.
Dame Memorie doth take her leave,
she'll last no more, we see;
God grant that I may not him grieve,
ye'll get no more of me.
