These riotoures three, of which I tell, Long erst ere[207] prime rung of any bell, Were set hem in a tavern for to drink: And as they sat, they heard a belle clink Before a corpse, was carried to his grave: That one of hem gan callen to his knave,[208] "Go bet,"[209] quoth he, "and aske readily, What corpse is this, that passeth here forby: And look that thou report his name well." "Sir," quoth this boy, "it needeth never a del; It was me told ere ye came here two hours: He was pardie an old fellow of yours, And suddenly he was yslain to-night, Fordrunk[210] as he sat on his bench upright: There came a privy thief, men clepeth[211] Death, That in this country all the people slayeth, And with his spear he smote his heart atwo, And went his way withouten wordes mo. He hath a thousand slain this pestilence: And, master, ere ye come in his presence, Methinketh that it were necessary, For to be ware of such an adversary; Be ready for to meet him evermore: Thus taughte me my dame; I say no more." "By Sainte Mary," said this taverner,[212] "The child saith sooth, for he hath slain this year Hence over a mile, within a great village, Both man and woman, child, and hine,[213] and page; I trow his habitation be there: To be avised[214] great wisdom it were, Ere that he did a man a dishonour." "Yea, Godes armes," quoth this riotour, "Is it such peril with him for to meet? I shall him seek by way and eke by street, I make avow to Godes digne[215] bones. Hearkeneth, fellowes, we three be all ones[216]: Let each of us hold up his hand till other, And each of us becomen otheres brother, And we will slay this false traitor Death: He shall be slain, which that so many slayeth, By Godes dignity, ere it be night." Together have these three hir truthes plight To live and dien each of hem for other, As though he were his own yboren[217] brother. And up they start all drunken, in this rage, And forth they go towardes that village. Of which the taverner had spoke beforn, And many a grisly[218] oath then have they sworn, And Christes blessed body they to-rent;[219] Death shall be dead,[220] if that they may him hent.[221] When they have gone not fully half a mile, Right as they would have trodden o'er a stile, An old man and a poore with hem met. This olde man full meekely hem gret,[222] And saide thus: "Now, lordes, God you see."[223] The proudest of these riotoures three Answered again: "What, carl,[224] with sorry grace, Why art thou all forwrapped[225] save thy face? Why livest thou so long in so great age?" This olde man gan look on his visage, And saide thus: "For I ne cannot find A man, though that I walked into Ind, Neither in city, nor in no village, That woulde change his youthe for mine age; And therefore mote I have mine age still As longe time as it is Godes will. Ne death, alas! ne will not have my life;