Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse Part 42

GOODS. What! weenest thou that I am thine?

EVERYMAN. I had weened so.

GOODS. Nay, Everyman, I say no!

As for a while I was lent thee, A season thou hast had me in prosperity.

My conditions is man's soul to kill; If I save one, a thousand I do spill.

Weenest thou that I will follow thee From this world? nay, verily!

EVERYMAN. I had weened otherwise.

GOODS. Therefore to thy soul Good is a thief; For when thou art dead, this is my guise-- Another to deceive, in the same wise As I have done thee, and all to his soul's reprief.

EVERYMAN. Oh false Good, cursed thou be!

Thou traitor to G.o.d, thou 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 my heartly love!

I gave thee that which should be the Lord's above.

But wilt thou not go with me indeed?

I pray thee truth to say.

GOODS. No, so G.o.d me speed!

Therefore farewell, and have good day!

EVERYMAN. Oh, to whom shall I make my moan, For to go with me in that heavy journey?

First Fellowship, he said he would with me go-- His wordes 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 wordes 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 in h.e.l.l.

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 have me so sore bound That I cannot stir.

EVERYMAN. Oh, Good Deeds, I stand in fear!

I must you pray of counsel, For help now should come right well.

GOOD DEEDS. Everyman, I have understanding That thou art summoned account to make Before Messias, of Jerusalem King; And you do by me, that journey with you will I take.

EVERYMAN. Therefore I come to you, my moan to make; I pray thee to 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 full ready now had be.

Look! the books of your workes and deedes eke, Behold how they lie under the feet, To your soules heaviness!

EVERYMAN. Our Lord Jesus helpe me!

For one letter herein can I 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 d.a.m.ned indeed; Therefore help me to make my 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 everything And am wholly content with this good thing: Thanked be G.o.d, my Creator!

GOOD DEEDS. And when he hath brought thee there Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart, Then go thou with thy reckoning and thy good deeds together, For to make thee joyful at the heart, Before the Blessed Trinity.

EVERYMAN. My good Deeds, I thank thee heartily; I am well content, certainly, With your wordes sweet.

KNOWLEDGE. Now go we thither, lovingly, To confession, that cleansing river.

EVERYMAN. For joy I weep! I would we were there!

But I pray you to instruct me by intellection, Where dwelleth that holy virtue, Confession?

KNOWLEDGE. In the house of salvation; We shall find him, in that place, That shall us comfort, by G.o.d's grace.

Lo! this is Confession; kneel down and ask mercy, For he is in good conceit with G.o.d Almighty.

EVERYMAN. Oh 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, Redeemed with heart, and full of contrition; For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, And great accounts before G.o.d 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, voider of adversity; Therewith shall your body chastised be, With abstinence, and perseverance in G.o.d'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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d 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, your penance look that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be, And Knowledge will give you counsel at will, How your accounts ye shall make clearly.

EVERYMAN. Oh eternal G.o.d! Oh heavenly figure!

O way of righteousness! Oh goodly vision!

Which descended down in a virgin pure, Because He would every man to redeem, Which Adam forfeited by his disobedience; Oh blessed G.o.dhead elect and high divine, Forgive me my grievous offence!

Here I cry thee mercy in this presence.

Oh 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!