| Somtyme the world was so stedfast and stable |
| That mannes word was obligacioun, |
| And now it is so fals and deceivable |
| That word and deed, as in conclusioun, |
| 5 | Ben nothing lyk, for turned up-so-doun |
| Is al this world for mede and wilfulnesse, |
| That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse. |
| |
| What maketh this world to be so variable |
| But lust that folk have in dissensioun? |
| 10 | For among us now a man is holde unable, |
| But if he can by som collusioun |
| Don his neighbour wrong or oppressioun. |
| What causeth this but wilful wrecchednesse, |
| That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse? |
| |
| 15 | Trouthe is put doun, resoun is holden fable, |
| Vertu hath now no dominacioun; |
| Pitee exyled, no man is merciable. |
| Through covetyse is blent discrecioun. |
| The world hath mad a permutacioun |
| 20 | Fro right to wrong, fro trouthe to fikelnesse, |
| That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse. |
| |
| O prince, desyre to be honourable, |
| Cherish thy folk and hate extorcioun. |
| Suffre nothing that may be reprevable |
| 25 | To thyn estat don in thy regioun. |
| Shew forth thy swerd of castigacioun, |
| Dred God, do law, love trouthe and worthinesse, |
| And wed thy folk agein to stedfastnesse. |