To this summons the sorrowful juggler replies:

What may availe mankynde naturale?

Not any crafte schevid [668] by apparance,

Or course of steres above celestial [669],

Or of heavens all the influence,

Ageynst Deth to stonde at defence.

Lygarde-de-mayne [670] now helpith me right noughte:

Farewell, my craft and all such sapience;

For Deth hath mo masteries [671] than I have wroughte.