Cap. XLI. Howe He Was Arested by Death

But whan I thought longest to endure, Deth with his darte arest me sodenly; Obey! he sayd, as ye may be sure. You can resist nothing the contrary But that you must obey me naturally. What you avayleth such treasure to take, Sithens by force ye must it now forsake?

Alas! quod I, nothing can me ayde, This worldly treasure I must leve behinde, For erth of erth wyll have his dette now payde; What is this world but a blast of wynde. I must nedes dye, it is my native kinde. And as I was at his last conclusyon, To me did come dame Confession,

With dame Contricion, which gan to bewayle My synnes great with hole repentaunce, And Satisfaccion without any fayle, Wyth dame Conscience, did wey in balaunce How that they might than without doutaunce My treasure and good so gotten wrongfully To restore agayne to the rightfull party.

Of holy church with all humilite My rightes I toke, and than incontinent Nature avayled in so lowe degre That deth was come, and all my lyfe was spent. Out of my body my soule than it wente To Purgatory, for to be purifyed, That after that it might be glorified.