"Everyman," with other interludes, including eight miracle plays. Various
same wise As I have done thee, and all to his soul's reprief.
Everyman. O false Good, cursed thou be! Thou traitor to God, that hast deceived me, And caught me in thy snare.
Goods. Marry, thou brought thyself in care, Whereof I am glad, I must needs laugh, I cannot be sad.
Everyman. Ah, Good, thou hast had long my heartly love; I gave thee that which should be the Lord's above. But wilt thou not go with me in deed? I pray thee truth to say.
Goods. No, so God me speed, Therefore farewell, and have good day.
Everyman. O, to whom shall I make my moan For to go with me in that heavy journey? First Fellowship said he would with me gone; His words were very pleasant and gay, But afterward he left me alone. Then spake I to my kinsmen all in despair, And also they gave me words fair, They lacked no fair speaking, But all forsake me in the ending. Then went I to my Goods that I loved best, In hope to have comfort, but there had I least; For my Goods sharply did me tell That he bringeth many into hell. Then of myself I was ashamed, And so I am worthy to be blamed; Thus may I well myself hate. Of whom shall I now counsel take? I think that I shall never speed Till that I go to my Good-Deed, But alas, she is so weak, That she can neither go nor speak; Yet will I venture on her now.-- My Good-Deeds, where be you?
Good-Deeds. Here I lie cold in the ground; Thy sins hath me sore bound, That I cannot stir.
Everyman. O, Good-Deeds, I stand in fear; I must you pray of counsel, For help now should come right well.
Goods-Deeds. Everyman, I have understanding That ye be summoned account to make Before Messias, of Jerusalem King; And you do by me14 that journey what15 you will I take.
Everyman. Therefore I come to you, my moan to make; I pray you, that ye will go with me.
Good-Deeds. I would full fain, but I cannot stand verily.
Everyman. Why, is there anything on you fall?
Good-Deeds. Yea, sir, I may thank you of all; If ye had perfectly cheered me, Your book of account now full ready had be. Look, the books of your works and deeds eke; Oh, see how they lie under the feet, To your soul's heaviness.
Everyman. Our Lord Jesus, help me! For one letter here I can not see.
Good-Deeds. There is a blind reckoning in time of distress!
Everyman. Good-Deeds, I pray you, help me in this need, Or else I am for ever damned indeed; Therefore help me to make reckoning Before the redeemer of all thing, That king is, and was, and ever shall.
Good-Deeds. Everyman, I am sorry of your fall, And fain would I help you, and I were able.
Everyman. Good-Deeds, your counsel I pray you give me.
Good-Deeds. That shall I do verily; Though that on my feet I may not go, I have a sister, that shall with you also, Called Knowledge, which shall with you abide, To help you to make that dreadful reckoning.
Knowledge. Everyman, I will go with thee, and be thy guide, In thy most need to go by thy side.
Everyman. In good condition I am now in every thing, And am wholly content with this good thing; Thanked be God my Creator.
Good-Deeds. And when he hath brought thee there, Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart, Then go you with your reckoning and your Good-Deeds together For to make you joyful at heart Before the blessed Trinity.
Everyman. My Good-Deeds, gramercy; I am well content, certainly, With your words sweet.
Knowledge. Now go we together lovingly, To Confession, that cleansing river.
Everyman. For joy I weep; I would we were there; But, I pray you, give me cognition Where dwelleth that holy man, Confession.
Knowledge. In the house of salvation: We shall find him in that place, That shall us comfort by God's grace. Lo, this is Confession; kneel down and ask mercy, For he is in good conceit with God almighty.
Everyman. O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, Wash from me the spots of vices unclean, That on me no sin may be seen; I come with Knowledge for my redemption, Repent with hearty and full contrition; For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, And great accounts before God to make. Now, I pray you, Shrift, mother of salvation, Help my good deeds for my piteous exclamation.
Confession. I know your sorrow well, Everyman; Because with Knowledge ye come to me, I will you comfort as well as I can, And a precious jewel I will give thee, Called penance, wise voider of adversity; Therewith shall your body chastised be, With abstinence and perseverance in God's service: Here shall you receive that scourge of me, Which is penance strong, that ye must endure, To remember thy Saviour was scourged for thee With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently; So must thou, or thou scape that painful pilgrimage; Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, And by that time Good-Deeds will be with thee. But in any wise, be sure of mercy, For your time draweth fast, and ye will saved be; Ask God mercy, and He will grant truly, When with the scourge of penance man doth him bind, The oil of forgiveness then shall he find.
Everyman. Thanked be God for his gracious work! For now I will my penance begin; This hath rejoiced and lighted my heart, Though the knots be painful and hard within.
Knowledge. Everyman, look your penance that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be, And Knowledge shall give you counsel at will, How your accounts ye shall make clearly.
Everyman. O eternal God, O heavenly figure, O way of rightwiseness, O goodly vision, Which descended down in a virgin pure Because he would Everyman redeem, Which Adam forfeited by his disobedience: O blessed Godhead, elect and high-divine, Forgive my grievous offence; Here I cry thee mercy in this presence. O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer Of all the world, hope and conductor, Mirror of joy, and founder of mercy, Which illumineth heaven and earth thereby, Hear my clamorous complaint, though it late be; Receive my prayers; unworthy in this heavy life, Though I be, a sinner most abominable, Yet let my name be written in Moses' table; O Mary, pray to the Maker of all thing, Me for to help at my ending, And save me from the power of my enemy, For Death assaileth me strongly; And, Lady, that I may by means of thy prayer Of your Son's glory to be partaker, By the means of his passion I it crave, I beseech you, help my soul to save.-- Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance; My flesh therewith shall give a quittance: I will now begin, if God give me grace.
Knowledge. Everyman, God give you time and space: Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Saviour, Thus may you make your reckoning sure.
Everyman. In the name of the Holy Trinity, My body sore punished shall be: Take this body for the sin of the flesh; Also thou delightest to go gay and fresh, And in the way of damnation thou did me bring; Therefore suffer now strokes and punishing. Now of penance I will wade the water clear, To save me from purgatory, that sharp fire.
Good-Deeds. I thank God, now I can walk and go; And am delivered of my sickness and woe. Therefore with Everyman I will go, and not spare; His good works I will help him to declare.
Knowledge. Now, Everyman, be merry and glad; Your Good-Deeds cometh now; ye may not be sad; Now is your Good-Deeds whole and sound, Going upright upon the ground.
Everyman. My heart is light, and shall be evermore; Now will I smite faster than I did before.
Good-Deeds. Everyman, pilgrim, my special friend, Blessed be thou without end; For thee is prepared the eternal glory. Ye have me made whole and sound, Therefore I will bide by thee in every stound.16
Everyman.