"Everyman," With Other Interludes, Including Eight Miracle Plays Part 6

_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 G.o.d, 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 advis.e.m.e.nt and deliberation; We all give you virtuous monition That all shall be well.

_Everyman._ My friends, hearken what I will tell: I pray G.o.d 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 h.e.l.l 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d'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: G.o.d 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; G.o.d hath to them more power given, Than to any angel that is in heaven; With five words he may consecrate G.o.d'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 G.o.d But all only priesthood.

_Everyman_, G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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 l.u.s.ts of lechery These be with sin made blind.

_Five-wits._ I trust to G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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; G.o.d 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; She promised with me to live and die.

_Strength._ _Everyman_, I will thee also forsake and deny; Thy game liketh me not at all.

_Everyman._ Why, then ye will forsake me all.

Sweet _Strength_, tarry a little s.p.a.ce.

_Strength._ Nay, sir, by the rood of grace I will hie me from thee fast, Though thou weep till thy heart brast.

_Everyman._ Ye would ever bide by me, ye said.

_Strength._ Yea, I have you far enough conveyed; Ye be old enough, I understand, Your pilgrimage to take on hand; I repent me that I hither came.

_Everyman._ _Strength_, you to displease I am to blame; Will you break promise that is debt?

_Strength._ In faith, I care not; Thou art but a fool to complain, You spend your speech and waste your brain; Go thrust thee into the ground.

_Everyman._ I had wend surer I should you have found.

He that trusteth in his _Strength_ She him deceiveth at the length.

Both _Strength_ and _Beauty_ forsaketh me, Yet they promised me fair and lovingly.

_Discretion. Everyman_, I will after _Strength_ be gone, As for me I will leave you alone.

_Everyman._ Why, _Discretion_, will ye forsake me?

_Discretion._ Yea, in faith, I will go from thee, For when _Strength_ goeth before I follow after evermore.

_Everyman._ Yet, I pray thee, for the love of the Trinity, Look in my grave once piteously.

_Discretion._ Nay, so nigh will I not come.

Farewell, every one!