HERE SHOWETH A CHAPITLE TAKEN OUT OF A BOOK CLEPED TOURE OF ALL TOURES: AND TEACHETH A MAN FOR TO DIE
Against his will he dieth that hath not learned to die. Learn to die and thou shalt con[1] to live, for there shall none con to live that hath not learned to die; and he shall be cleped a wretch that cannot live and dare not die.
If thou wilt live freely learn to die wilfully;[2] and if thou ask of me how many it learneth, I shall tell it thee anon.
Thou shalt understand that this life is not else but death; for death is a passing as every man knoweth well. Wherefore men say of a man when he dieth that he passeth; and when he is dead he is passed. This life is not but only a passing, yea, forsooth, and that a full short passing. For all the life of a man's youth — if he lived a thousand year — were not as a moment in regard to the other life that ever shall last; other in joy withouten end, other in torment everlasting. This witnesseth to us well earls, kings, and emperors, which some time had the joy of this
