Whan erth hath erthe i-gette
And of erthe so hath i-nouȝ,
Whan he is therin i-stekke,
Wo is him that was in wouȝ!
What is the gode that man ssal hab,
Ute of this world whan he ssal go?
A sori wed,—whi ssal ic gab?—
For he broȝt him no mo.
Riȝt as he com, he ssal wend,
In wo, in pine, in poverté;—