"Everyman," With Other Interludes, Including Eight Miracle Plays Part 29

_1st Torturer._ Now since it may no better be, Chevithe thee with it for me; Methinks thou art full fain.

_2nd Torturer._ How, fellows, see ye not yon scraw?[389]

It is written yonder within a thraw, Now since that we drew lot.

_3rd Torturer._ There is no man that is alive, Unless Pilate, as I might thrive That durst it there have put.

_4th Torturer._ Go we fast, and let us look What is written on yon book And what it may be, mean.

_1st Torturer._ All the more I look thereon, All the more I think I fon;[390]

All is not worth a bean.

_2nd Torturer._ Yes for sooth, methinks I see Thereon written language three Hebrew and Latn And Greek methinks written thereon, For it is hard for to expoun.

_3rd Torturer._ Thou read, by Apollyon!

_4th Torturer._ Yea, as I am a true knight.

I am the best Latin wright Of this company; I will go withouten delay And tell you what it is to say.

Behold, sirs, verily, Yonder is written--Jesus of Nazarene He is King of Jews, I ween.

_1st Torturer._ Ah, that is written wrong.

_2nd Torturer._ He calls himself so, but he is none.

_3rd Torturer._ Go we to Pilate and make our moan, Have done, and dwell not long. [_They go to Pilate._ Pilate, yonder is a false table, Thereon is written naught but fable, Of Jews he is not king, He calls him so, but he not is, It is falsely written, I wis, This is a wrong-wise thing.

_Pilate._ Boys, I say, what melle ye yon?[391]

As it is written shall it be now, I say certain _Quod scriptum scripsi_,[392]

That same wrote I, What gadlyng[393] grumbles there again.

_4th Torturer._ Since that he is a man of law He must needs have his will; I trow he had not written that saw Without some proper skill.

_1st Torturer._ Yea, let it hang above his head It shall not save him from the dead Naught that he can write.

_2nd Torturer._ Now ill a hale[394] was he born!

_3rd Torturer._ My faith, I tell his life is lorn He shall be slain as tyte.[395]

If thou be Christ, as men thee call Come down now among us all And thole[396] not these missays.[397]

_4th Torturer._ Yea, and help myself that we may see And we shall all believe in thee, Whatsoever thou says.

_1st Torturer._ He calls himself good of might, But I would see him be so wight[398]

To do such a deed.

He raised Lazare out of his delf[399]

But he cannot help himself Now in his great need.

_Jesus._ Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani!

My G.o.d, my G.o.d! wherefor and why Hast thou forsaken me?

_2nd Torturer._ How, hear ye not as well as I How he can upon Eli cry Upon this wise?

_3rd Torturer._ Yea, there is no Eli in this country Shall deliver him from this meneye[400]

No, in no wise.

_4th Torturer._ I warrant you now at the last That he shall soon yield the ghost For bursten is his gall.

_Jesus._ Now is my pa.s.sion brought to end, Father of heaven, into thy hende[401]

I do commend my soul.

_1st Torturer._ Let one p.r.i.c.k him with a spear, And if it should do him no dere[402]

Then is his life near past.

_2nd Torturer._ This blind knight may best do that.

_Longeus._ Gar me not do, save I wit what.

_3rd Torturer._ Naught, but strike up fast.

_Longeus._ Ah! Lord, what may this be?

Once I was blind, now I can see; G.o.de's son, hear me, Jesu!

For this trespa.s.s on me thou rue[403]

For, Lord, other men me gart[404]

That I thee struck unto the heart, I see thou hangest here on high, And dies to fulfil the prophecy.

_4th Torturer._ Go we hence, and leave him here For I shall be his bail, this year He feels now no more pain; For Eli, ne for none other man All the good that ever he won Gets not his life again. [_Exeunt Torturers._

_Joseph._ Alas, alas, and well a way!

That ever I should abide this day To see my master dead; Thus wickedly as he is shent, With so bitter tornament[405]

Thro' the false Jews' red.[406]

Nicodeme, I would we yede[407]

To Sir Pilate, if we might spede His body for to crave; I will strive with all my might For my service to ask that knight, His body for to grave.[408]

_Nicodemus._ Joseph, I will wend with thee For to do what is in me For that body to pray; For our good-will and our travail I hope that it may us avail Hereafterward some day.

_Joseph._ Sir Pilate, G.o.d thee save!

Grant me what I crave If that it be thy will.

_Pilate._ Welcome, Joseph, might thou be, What so thou askest, I grant it thee So that it be skill.[409]

_Joseph._ For my long service, I thee pray, Grant me the body, say me not nay Of Jesus dead on rood.

_Pilate._ I grant it well if he dead be, Good leave shalt thou have of me.

Do with him what thou think good.

_Joseph._ Gramercy, sir, of your good grace That you did grant me in this place.

Go we our way: Nicodeme, come me forth with, For I myself shall be the smith The nails out for to dray.[410]

_Nicodemus._ Joseph, I am ready here To go with thee with full good cheer To help with all my might.

Pull forth the nails on either side And I shall hold him up this tide; Ah, Lord, how art thou dight!