"Everyman," with other interludes, including eight miracle plays. Various
Welcome, my Good-Deeds; now I hear thy voice, I weep for very sweetness of love.
Knowledge. Be no more sad, but ever rejoice, God seeth thy living in his throne above; Put on this garment to thy behove, Which is wet with your tears, Or else before God you may it miss, When you to your journey's end come shall.
Everyman. Gentle Knowledge, what do you it call?
Knowledge. It is a garment of sorrow: From pain it will you borrow; Contrition it is, That getteth forgiveness; It pleaseth God passing well.
Good-Deeds. Everyman, will you wear it for your heal?
Everyman. Now blessed be Jesu, Mary's Son! For now have I on true contrition. And let us go now without tarrying; Good-Deeds, have we clear our reckoning?
Good-Deeds. Yea, indeed I have it here.
Everyman. Then I trust we need not fear; Now, friends, let us not part in twain.
Knowledge. Nay, Everyman, that will we not, certain.
Good-Deeds. Yet must thou lead with thee Three persons of great might.
Everyman. Who should they be?
Good-Deeds. Discretion and Strength they hight, And thy Beauty may not abide behind.
Knowledge. Also ye must call to mind Your Five-wits as for your counsellors.
Good-Deeds. You must have them ready at all hours.
Everyman. How shall I get them hither?
Knowledge. You must call them all together, And they will hear you incontinent.
Everyman. My friends, come hither and be present Discretion, Strength, my Five-wits, and Beauty.
Beauty. Here at your will we be all ready. What will ye that we should do?
Good-Deeds. That ye would with Everyman go, And help him in his pilgrimage, Advise you, will ye with him or not in that voyage?
Strength. We will bring him all thither, To his help and comfort, ye may believe me.
Discretion. So will we go with him all together.
Everyman. Almighty God, loved thou be, I give thee laud that I have hither brought Strength, Discretion, Beauty, and Five-wits; lack I nought; And my Good-Deeds, with Knowledge clear, All be in my company at my will here; I desire no more to my business.
Strength. And I, Strength, will by you stand in distress, Though thou would in battle fight on the ground.
Five-wits. And though it were through the world round, We will not depart for sweet nor sour.
Beauty. No more will I unto death's hour, Whatsoever thereof befall.
Discretion. Everyman, advise you first of all; Go with a good advisement and deliberation; We all give you virtuous monition That all shall be well.
Everyman. My friends, hearken what I will tell: I pray God reward you in his heavenly sphere. Now hearken, all that be here, For I will make my testament Here before you all present. In alms half my good I will give with my hands twain In the way of charity, with good intent, And the other half still shall remain In quiet to be returned there it ought to be. This I do in despite of the fiend of hell To go quite out of his peril Ever after and this day.
Knowledge. Everyman, hearken what I say; Go to priesthood, I you advise, And receive of him in any wise The holy sacrament and ointment together; Then shortly see ye turn again hither; We will all abide you here.
Five-Wits. Yea, Everyman, hie you that ye ready were, There is no emperor, king, duke, ne baron, That of God hath commission, As hath the least priest in the world being; For of the blessed sacraments pure and benign, He beareth the keys and thereof hath the cure For man's redemption, it is ever sure; Which God for our soul's medicine Gave us out of his heart with great pine; Here in this transitory life, for thee and me The blessed sacraments seven there be, Baptism, confirmation, with priesthood good, And the sacrament of God's precious flesh and blood, Marriage, the holy extreme unction, and penance; These seven be good to have in remembrance, Gracious sacraments of high divinity.
Everyman. Fain would I receive that holy body And meekly to my ghostly father I will go.
Five-wits. Everyman, that is the best that ye can do: God will you to salvation bring, For priesthood exceedeth all other thing; To us Holy Scripture they do teach, And converteth man from sin heaven to reach; God hath to them more power given, Than to any angel that is in heaven; With five words he may consecrate God's body in flesh and blood to make, And handleth his maker between his hands; The priest bindeth and unbindeth all bands, Both in earth and in heaven; Thou ministers all the sacraments seven; Though we kissed thy feet thou were worthy; Thou art surgeon that cureth sin deadly: No remedy we find under God But all only priesthood. Everyman, God gave priests that dignity, And setteth them in his stead among us to be; Thus be they above angels in degree.
Knowledge. If priests be good it is so surely; But when Jesus hanged on the cross with great smart There he gave, out of his blessed heart, The same sacrament in great torment: He sold them not to us, that Lord Omnipotent. Therefore Saint Peter the apostle doth say That Jesu's curse hath all they Which God their Saviour do buy or sell, Or they for any money do take or tell. Sinful priests giveth the sinners example bad; Their children sitteth by other men's fires, I have heard; And some haunteth women's company, With unclean life, as lusts of lechery These be with sin made blind.
Five-wits. I trust to God no such may we find; Therefore let us priesthood honour, And follow their doctrine for our souls' succour; We be their sheep, and they shepherds be By whom we all be kept in surety. Peace, for yonder I see Everyman come, Which hath made true satisfaction.
Good-Deeds. Methinketh it is he indeed.
Everyman. Now Jesu be our alder speed.17 I have received the sacrament for my redemption, And then mine extreme unction: Blessed be all they that counselled me to take it! And now, friends, let us go without longer respite; I thank God that ye have tarried so long. Now set each of you on this rod your hand, And shortly follow me: I go before, there I would be; God be our guide.
Strength. Everyman, we will not from you go, Till ye have gone this voyage long.
Discretion. I, Discretion, will bide by you also.
Knowledge. And though this pilgrimage be never so strong, I will never part you fro: Everyman, I will be as sure by thee As ever I did by Judas Maccabee.
Everyman. Alas, I am so faint I may not stand, My limbs under me do fold; Friends, let us not turn again to this land, Not for all the world's gold, For into this cave must I creep And turn to the earth and there to sleep.
Beauty. What, into this grave? alas!
Everyman. Yea, there shall you consume more and less.
Beauty. And what, should I smother here?
Everyman. Yea, by my faith, and never more appear. In this world live no more we shall, But in heaven before the highest Lord of all.
Beauty. I cross out all this; adieu by Saint John; I take my cap in my lap and am gone.
Everyman. What, Beauty, whither will ye?
Beauty. Peace, I am deaf; I look not behind me, Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest.
Everyman. Alas, whereto may I trust? Beauty goeth fast away hie;