O what coueiten
proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in
ydel {and} dedely ?
Chaucer - Boethius
Lete hym loke vpon ?e brode shewyng contreys of
?e heue{n}. {and} vpo{n} ?e streite sete of ?is er?e. {and} 1616
he shal be ashamed of ?e encres of his name. ?at may
nat fulfille ?e litel compas of ?e er?e. ?
O what coueiten
proude folke to liften vpon hire nekkes in
ydel {and} dedely ?
ok of ?is worlde.
[Sidenote: Will splendid titles and renown prolong a man's life?]
? For al ?ou? 1620
[?{a}t] renoune y-spradde passynge to ferne poeples go?
by dyuerse tonges. and al ?ou? grete houses {and} kynredes
shyne wi? clere titles of hono{ur}s.
[Sidenote: In the grave there is no distinction between high and
low.]