Lament for the Makers

by William Dunbar

I that in heill was and gladness
Am trublit now with great sickness
And feblit with infirmitie: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

Our plesance here is all vain glory,
This fals world is but transitory,
The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

The state of man does change and vary,
Now sound, now sick, now blyth, now sary,
Now dansand mirry, now like to die: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

No state in Erd here standis sicker;
As with the wynd wavis the wicker
So wannis this world’s vanitie: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

Unto the Death gois all Estatis,
Princis, Prelatis, and Potestatis,
Baith rich and poor of all degree: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

He takis the knichtis in to the field
Enarmit under helm and scheild;
Victor he is at all mellie: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

That strong unmerciful tyrand
Takis, on the motheris breast sowkand,
The babe full of benignitie: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

He takis the campion in the stour,
The captain closit in the tour,
The lady in bour full of bewtie: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

He spairis no lord for his piscence,
Na clerk for his intelligence;
His awful straik may no man flee: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

Art-magicianis and astrologgis,
Rethoris, logicianis, and theologgis,
Them helpis no conclusionis slee: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

In medecine the most practicianis,
Leechis, surrigianis, and physicianis,
Themself from Death may not supplee: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

I see that makaris amang the lave
Playis here their pageant, syne gois to grave;
Sparit is nocht their facultie: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

He has done petuously devour
The noble Chaucer, of makaris flour,
The Monk of Bury, and Gower, all three: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

* * * * * * *

Sen he has all my brether tane,
He will naught let me live alane;
Of force I man his next prey be: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.

Since for the Death remeid is none,
Best is that we for Death dispone,
After our death that live may we: —
Timor mortis conturbat me.