(61) [ H3v-H4 recto (Page 118 [119] ]

118 The Fabillis

The quhilk to droun suld euer stand in dreid,
Of carnall lust be the suggestioun:
Quhilk drawis ay the saull, and druggis doun.

The watter is the warld, ay welterand,
With mony wall of tribulatioun:
In quhilk the saull, and bodye wer steirrand,
Standand distinyt in thair opinioun.
The spreit vpwart, the body precis doun:
The saull rycht fane wald be brocht ouer I wis,
Out of this warld, into the heuinnis blis.

The gled is deith, that cummis suddandlie,
As dois ane theif, and cuttis sone the battall.
Be vigilant thairfoir, and ay reddie,
For mannis lyfe is brukill, and ay mortall.
My freind thairfoir, mak the ane strang castell,
Of gud deidis: for deith will the assay:
Thow wait not quhen, euin, morrow, or midday.

Adew my freind: and gif that ony speiris,
Of this fabill, sa schortlie I conclude.
Say thow, I left the laif vnto the freiris,

To mak a sample or similitude.
Now christ for vs that deit on the rude,
Of saull, and lyfe, as thow art saluiour:
Grant vs till pas, in till ane blissit hour.

Finis.