The dolefull Dance and Song of Death; Intituled, Dance after my Pipe.
To a pleasant new tune.
CAn you dance the shaking of the Shéets,
a dance that every one must do?
Can you trim it up with dainty swéets,
and every things that 'longs thereto?
Make ready then your winding shéet,
And sée how ye can bestir your féet,
For Death is the man that all must méet.
Bring away the Begger and the King,
and every man in his degrée,
Bring away the old and youngest thing,
come all to Death and follow me.
The Courtier with his lofty looks,
The Lawyer with his learned Books,
The Banker with his baiting hooks
Marchants, have you made your Mart in France
in Italy and all about?
Know you not that you and I must dance,
both our héels wrapt in a clout.
What mean you to make your houses gay,
And I must take the tenant away,
And dig for your sake the clods of clay,
Think you on the solemne Sizes past,
how suddenly in Oxfordshire,
I came and made the Iudges all agast,
and Iustices that did appear.
And took both Bell, and Baram away,
And many a worthy man that day,
And all their bodies brought to clay.
Think you that I dare not come to Schools,
where all the cunning C [...]erks be most,
Take I not away both wise and fools?
and am I not in every Coast.
Assure your selves no creature can,
Make death affraid of any man,
Or know my coming where or whon.
Where be they yt make their leases strong,
and joyn about them land to land,
Do you make account to live so long
to have the world come to your hand.
No foolish nowle, for all thy pence,
Full soon thy soul must néeds go hence.
Then who shall toyl for thy defence.
And you that lean on your Ladies Laps,
and lay your heads upon their knée,
Think you for to play with Beautis paps,
and not to come and dance with me,
No, fair Lords and Ladies all,
I will make you come when I no call,
And find you a Pipe to dance withall.
And you that are busie-headed fools,
to brabble of a pelting straw,
Know you not that I have ready fools,
to cut you from your crafty Law.
And you that falsely buy and sell,
And think you make your Markets well,
Must dance with death wheresoe'r you dwel,
P [...]e must have a pretty shéet, I sée,
for properly she loves to dance,
Come away my wanton wench to me,
as gallantly as your eye doth glance.
And all good fellows that flash and swash,
In rods and yellows of revell dash,
I warrant you néed nor be so rash.
For I can quickly cool you all,
how hot or stout soever you be,
Both high and low, both greet and small▪
I nought do fear your high degrée.
The Laidies faire the Beldames old▪
The Champion stout, the Souldier bold,
Must all with me to earthly mold.
Therefore take time while it is lent,
prepare with me your selves to dance,
Forget me not, your lives lament▪
I come often times by sudden chance,
Be ready therefore watch and pray,
That when my Minstrell Pipe doth play,
You may to Heaven dance the way.
Finis.