Everyman | Everyman - Page 7

Everyman.
Why, then ye will forsake me all!
Sweet Strength, tarry a little space.
Strength.
Nay, Sir, by the rood of grace,
I haste me fast my way from thee to take,
Though thou weep till thy heart do break.(815)
Everyman.
Ye would ever abide by me, ye said.
Strength.
Yea, I have you far enough conveyed.
Ye be old enough, I understand,
Your pilgrimage to take in hand.
I repent me that I thither came.(820)
Everyman.
Strength, for displeasing you I am to blame.
Will ye 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.(825)
Go, thrust thyself into the ground!
Everyman.
I had thought more sure I should you have found,
But I see well, who trusteth in his Strength,
She him deceiveth at length.
Both Strength and Beauty have forsaken me,(830)
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,(835)
For when Strength goeth before
I follow after, evermore.
Everyman.
Yet, I pray thee, for love of the Trinity
Look in my grave once in pity of me.
Discretion.
Nay, so nigh will I not come, trust me well!(840)
Now I bid you each farewell.
Everyman.
Oh, all things fail save God alone—
Beauty, Strength, and Discretion!
For when Death bloweth his blast,
They all run from me full fast.(845)
Five Wits.
Everyman, my leave now of thee I take.
I will follow the others, for here I thee forsake.
Everyman.
Alas! then may I wail and weep,
For I took you for my best friend.
Five Wits.
I will thee no longer keep.(850)
Now farewell, and here’s an end!
Everyman.
O Jesu, help! All have forsaken me.
Good Deeds.
Nay, Everyman, I will abide by thee,
I will not forsake thee indeed!
Thou wilt find me a good friend at need.(855)
Everyman.
Gramercy, Good Deeds, now may I true friends see.
They have forsaken me everyone,
I loved them better than my Good Deeds alone.
Knowledge, will ye forsake me also?
Knowledge.
Yea, Everyman, when ye to death shall go,(860)
But not yet, for no manner of danger.
Everyman.
Gramercy, Knowledge, with all my heart!
Knowledge.
Nay, yet will I not from hence depart,
Till whereunto ye shall come, I shall see and know.
Everyman.
Methinketh, alas! that I must now go(865)
To make my reckoning, and my debts pay,
For I see my time is nigh spent away.
Take example, all ye that this do hear or see,
How they that I love best do forsake me,
Except my Good Deeds that abideth faithfully.(870)
Good Deeds.
All earthly things are but vanity.
Beauty, Strength and Discretion do man forsake,
Foolish friends and kinsmen that fair spake,
All flee away save Good Deeds, and that am I!
Everyman.
Have mercy on me, God most mighty,(875)
And stand by me, thou Mother and Maid, holy Mary!
Good Deeds.
Fear not, I will speak for thee.
Everyman.
Here I cry God mercy!
Good Deeds.
Shorten our end and minish our pain,
Let us go and never come again.(880)
Everyman.
Into thy hands, Lord, my soul I commend—
Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost!
As thou didst me buy, so do thou me defend,
And save me from the fiend’s boast
That I may appear with that blessed host(885)
That shall be saved at the day of doom.
In manus tuas, of mights the most,
Forever commendo spiritum meum.

[Everyman goes into the grave.

Knowledge.
Now that he hath suffered that we all shall endure,
The Good Deeds shall make all sure;(890)
Now that he hath made ending,
Methinketh that I hear angels sing,
And make great joy and melody,
Where Everyman’s soul shall received be!

[The Angel appears.

The Angel.
Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesu!(895)
Here above shalt thou go,
Because of thy singular virtue.
Now thy soul from thy body is taken, lo!
Thy reckoning is crystal clear.
Now shalt thou into the heavenly sphere,(900)
Unto which ye all shall come
That live well before the day of doom.

[The Angel goes and the Doctor enters.

Doctor.
This moral men may have in mind,—
Ye hearers, take it as of worth, both young and old,
And forsake Pride, for he deceiveth you in the end, as ye will find,(905)
And remember Beauty, Five Wits, Strength, and Discretion, all told,
They all at the last do Everyman forsake
Save that his Good Deeds there doth he take.
But beware, if they be small,(910)
Before God he hath no help at all,
None excuse for Everyman may there then be there.
Alas, how shall he then do and fare!
For after death amends may no man make,
For then Mercy and Pity do him forsake.(915)
If his reckoning be not clear when he doth come,
God will say, Ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum.
And he that hath his account whole and sound,
High in heaven he shall be crowned,
Unto which place God bring us all thither(920)
That we may live, body and soul, together!
Thereto their aid vouchsafe the Trinity—
Amen, say ye, for holy Charity!

Finis.

Thus endeth this moral play of Everyman.

  • a long journey, usually holy in nature
  • near
  • to lessen
  • [Latin] “Into thy hands”
  • [Latin] “I commend my spirit”
  • [Latin] “Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire”
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