Thus quoth Alfred,

"All world's wealth

Shall come to nought,
And each kind's treasures

To dirt shall melt,

And our own life

Little while last..

For though one man

Wielded all the world,

And all the joy

That therein abideth,

He might not therewith his life

No while hold,

But all he shall leave

In a little space;

And our bliss shall

To bale us bring,

But if we work

The will of Christ.

Now bethink we then ourselves,

Our life to lead

As Christ us 'ginneth teach,
Then may we ween

That He will us honour;

For so said Solomon the wise
'The man that here well doth,
He cometh there he meed getteth,
On his life's end;

He it shall find.""

(Early English Text Society.)

任

DEATH.

EAR ye of one thing,

That ye ought of think,

Ye that weareth that rich