[fol. 170.]
This text (in MS. not written in metrical lines) preserves 9 stanzas of the 12-stanza version in MSS. Lambeth and Laud, and appears to represent a distinct and perhaps older copy of the original of these two. The mistake in v. 8 precludes its being the original.
De terra plasmasti me, etc.
1 [1]Erþe out of erþe is wondirli wrouȝt,
Erþe of erþe haþ gete a dignite of nouȝt,
Erþe vpon erþe haþ sett al his þouȝt,
4
Howe þat erþe vpon erþe may be hiȝ brouȝt.
2 Erþe vpon erþe wolde ben a king;
But how erþe schal to erþe þenkiþ he no þing;