| |
| WHO 1 shall profoundly way or scan | |
| The assured state of man, | |
| Shall well perceiue by reason than, | |
| That where is no stabilitie, | |
| Remaineth nought but vanitie. | 5 |
| |
| For what estate is there, think ye, | |
| Throughly content with his degre? | |
| Wherby we maie right clerely see | |
| That in this vale of miserie | |
| Remaineth nought but vanitie. | 10 |
| |
| The great men wishe the meane estate, | |
| Meane men again their state doe hate; | |
| Old men thinke children fortunate, | |
| A boy a man would fainest be: | |
| Thus wandreth man in vanitie. | 15 |
| |
| The countrey man doth daily swell | |
| With great desire in court to dwel; | |
| The courtier thinks hym nothyng well, | |
| Till he from court in countrey be, | |
| He wandreth so in vanitie. * * * * * * * | 20 |
| If thou haue lands or goods great store, | |
| Consider thou thy charge the more, | |
| Since thou must make account therefore: | |
| Thei are not thine, but lent to thee, | |
| And yet thei are but vanitie. | 25 |
| |
| If thou be strong or faire of face, | |
| Sicknes or age doth both disgrace; | |
| Then be not proude in any case: | |
| For how can there more folly be, | |
| Then for to bost of vanitie? | 30 |
| |
| Now finally, be not infect | |
| With worldly cares; but haue respect | |
| How God rewardeth his true electe | |
| With glorious felicitie, | |
| Free from all worldly vanitie. | 35 |
