i have wist, sin i couthe meen, that children hath by candle light her shadewe on the wal iseen, and ronne therafter all the night. bisy aboute they han ben to catchen it with all here might.
and whome they catchen it best wolde wene, sannest it shet out of her sight. the shadewe catchen they ne might, for no lines that they couthe lay. this shadewe i may likne aright to this world and yesterday.
Translation:
ever since i could remember, i have known, that children, by candle light, have see a shadow on the wall and have chased it all night through. busily they have tried, with all their might, to catch it.
and when they most expect to catch it it shoots most quickly out of sight this shadow never shall be caught in any trap they lay this shadow in the likeness of this world and yesterday.