Shaking of the Sheets
Can you dance the shaking of the sheets,
the dance that everyone must do
Can you trim it up with dainty sweets
and everything that longs thereto
Make ready then your winding sheets
and see if you can bestir your feet
For death is the man that all must meet
Bring away the beggar and the king
and every man in his degree
Bring away the young and oldest thing,
come all to death and follow me
The lawyer with his learned books
the courtier with his lofty looks
The banker with his baiting hooks
Think you I dare not come to schools
where all the cunning clerks are most
Bring I not away both wise and fools
and am I not on every coast
Assure yourself no preacher can
make death afraid of any man
Or know my coming where or when
For I can quickly cool you all
Or hot or stout however you be
Both old and young, both great and small
Come all to death and follow me
The lady faire, the beldame old
The champion stoute, the soldier bold
Must all with me to earth be mowed
Therfore make time while it is Lent
Prepare with me your soules to dance
Forget me not, your lives lament
I come ofttimes by sudden chance
Make ready then your soules and pray
That when my minstrel pipe doth play
Your may to heaven dance the way
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Shaking of the Sheets
