Everyman

A morality play from the 15th century

Author unknown

Anonymous. Everyman. In Everyman with Other Interludes Including Eight Miracle Plays. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1910. Now in public domain. Some of the words have been modernized by James David Patterson.

[Here begins a treatise how the High Father of Heaven sends Death to summon every creature to come and give account of their lives in this world, and is in manner of a moral play.]

[MESSENGER enters.]

MESSENGER

I pray you all give your audience

And hear this matter with reverence,

By figure a moral play –

The Summoning of Everyman it’s called,

That of our lives and ending shows

How transitory we be all day.

This matter is wondrous precious,

But the intent of it is more gracious

And sweet to bear away.

The story says, – Man, in the beginning,

Look well, and take good heed to the ending,

Be you never so gay!

You think sin in the beginning full sweet,

Which in the end causes the soul to weep,

When the body lies in clay.

Here shall you see how Fellowship and Jollity,

Both Strength, Pleasure, and Beauty,

Will fade from you as flower in May.

For you shall hear, how our heavenly king

Calls Everyman to a general reckoning:

Give audience, and hear what he says.

[MESSENGER exits. GOD speaks.]

GOD

I perceive here in my majesty,

How that all creatures be to me unkind,

Living without dread in worldly prosperity:

Of ghostly* sight the people be so blind, spiritual

Drowned in sin, they know me not for their God;

In worldly riches is all their mind,

They fear not my righteousness, the sharp rod;

My law that I showed when I for them died,

They clean forget, and shedding of my blood red;

I hanged between two, it cannot be denied;

To get them life I suffered to be dead;

I healed their feet, with thorns hurt was my head:

I could do no more than I did truly,

And now I see the people do clean forsake me.

They use the seven deadly sins damnable;

As pride, covetousness, wrath, and lechery,

Now in the world be made commendable;

And thus they leave of angels the heavenly company;

Everyman lives so after his own pleasure,

And yet of their life they be nothing sure:

I see the more that I forbear

The worse they be from year to year;

All that lives is fast impaired,

Therefore I will in all the haste

Have a reckoning of Everyman’s person

For if I leave the people thus alone

In their lives and wicked tempests,

Verily they will become much worse than beasts;

For now one would for envy eat up another;

Charity they do all clean forget.

I hoped well that Everyman

In my glory should make his mansion,

And thereto I had them all elect;

But now I see, like traitors deject,

They thank me not for the pleasure that I meant for them,

Nor yet for their being that I have lent them;

I proffered the people great multitude of mercy,

And few there be that ask for it heartily;

They be so encumbered with worldly riches,

That needs on them I must do justice,

On Everyman living without fear.

Where are you, Death, you mighty messenger?

[DEATH enters.]

DEATH

Almighty God, I am here at your will,

Your commandment to fulfill.

GOD

Go now to Everyman,

And show him in my name

A pilgrimage he must on him take,

Which he in no wise may escape;

And that he bring with him a sure reckoning

Without delay or any tarrying.

DEATH

Lord, I will in the world go run over all,

And cruelly search out both great and small;

[GOD exits.]

Every man will I beset that lives beastly

Out of God’s law, and dreads not folly:

He that loves riches I will strike with my dart,

His sight to blind, and from heaven to depart,

Except that alms be his good friend,

In hell for to dwell, world without end.

[EVERYMAN enters.]

Lo, yonder I see Everyman walking;

Full little he thinks on my coming;

His mind is on fleshly lusts and his treasure,

And great pain it shall cause him to endure

Before the Lord, King of Heaven.

Everyman, stand still; where are you going

Thus gaily? Have you your Maker forgot?

EVERYMAN

Why ask you?

Would you know?

DEATH

Yea, sir. I will you show:

In great haste I am sent to you

From God, out of his majesty.

EVERYMAN

What, sent to me?

DEATH

Yes, certainly,

Though you have forgot him here,

He thinks on you in the heavenly sphere,

As, before we part, you shall know.

EVERYMAN

What desires God of me?

DEATH

That I shall show to you:

A reckoning he will have

Without any longer respite.

EVERYMAN

To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave;

This blind matter troubles my wit.

DEATH

On you, you must take a long journey:

Therefore your book of account with you bring;

For turn again you cannot by no way,

And look you be sure of your reckoning,

For before God you shall answer and show

Your many bad deeds and good but a few;

How you have spent your life, and in what way,

Before the chief lord of paradise.

Have ado that you were in that way,

For know you well, you shall have no mediator.

EVERYMAN

Full unready I am such reckoning to give.

I know you not. What messenger are you?

[DEATH reveals himself.]

DEATH

I am Death, that dreads no man.

For every man I rest and no man spares;

For it is God’s commandment

That all to me should be obedient.

EVERYMAN

O Death, you come when I had you least in mind;

In your power it lies to save me;

Yet of my goods will I give them, if thou will be kind,

Yea, a thousand pound shall you have,

And defer this matter till another day.

DEATH

Everyman, it may not be by no way;

I set not by gold, silver, nor riches,

Nor by pope, emperor, king, duke, nor princes.

For if I would receive gifts great,

All the world I might get;

But my custom is clean contrary.

I give you no respite: come hence, and tarry not.

EVERYMAN

Alas, shall I have no longer respite?

I may say Death gives no warning:

To think on you, it makes my heart sick,

For all unready is my book of reckoning.

But twelve years, if I might have abiding,

My accounting book I would make so clear,

That my reckoning I should not need to fear.

Wherefore, Death, I pray you, for God’s mercy,

Spare me till I be provided of remedy.

DEATH

It avails you not to cry, weep, and pray:

But haste lightly that you were gone the journey,

And prove your friends if you can.

For you know well the tide abides no man,

And in the world each living creature

For Adam’s sin must die of nature.

EVERYMAN

Death, if I should this pilgrimage take,

And my reckoning surely make,

Show me, for sainted charity,

Should I not come again shortly?

DEATH

No, Everyman; if you be once there

you may never more come here,

Trust me verily.* truly

EVERYMAN

O gracious God, in the high seat celestial,

Have mercy on me in this most need;

Shall I have no company from this vale terrestrial

Of mine acquaintance that way to lead me?

DEATH

Yea, if any be so hardy

That would go with you and bear you company,

Hurry, that you were gone to God’s magnificence,

Your reckoning to give before his presence.

What, you think your life is given you

And your worldly goods also?

EVERYMAN

I had thought so, verily.

DEATH

Nay, nay; it was but lent to you;

For as soon as you are gone,

Another shall have it awhile, and then from there too,

Even as you have done.

Everyman, you are mad; you have your five wits,

And here on earth will not amend your life,

For suddenly I do come.

EVERYMAN

O wretched caitiff,* where shall I flee, person worthy of

That I might escape this endless sorrow? contempt

Now, gentle Death, spare me till tomorrow,

That I may amend me

With good advisement.

DEATH

Nay, thereto I will not consent,

Nor no man will I respite;

But to the heart suddenly I shall smite

Without any advisement.

And now, out of your sight I will fly;

See you make yourself ready shortly;

For you may say this is the day

That no man living may escape away.

[DEATH exits.]

EVERYMAN

Alas, I may well speak with sighs deep;

Now have I no manner of company

To help me in my journey, and me to keep;

And also my writing is full unready.

What shall I do now to excuse me?

I would to God I had never been born!

To my soul a full great profit it had been;

For now I fear pains huge and great.

The time passes; Lord, help that all wrought;

For though I mourn, it avails naught.

The day passes, and is almost ago;

I know not well what for to do.

To whom were I best my complaint to make?

What if I to Fellowship thereof spoke,

And showed him of this sudden chance?

For in him is all my affiance,* trust, confidence

We have in the world so many a day

Been good friends in sport and play.

[FELLOWSHIP enters.]

I see him yonder, certainly;

I trust that he will bear me company;

Therefore to him will I speak to ease my sorrow.

Well met, good Fellowship, and good morrow!

FELLOWSHIP

Everyman, good morrow by this day.

Sir, why look you so piteously?

If anything be amiss, I pray you say,

That I may help to remedy.

EVERYMAN

Yea, good Fellowship, yea,

I am in great jeopardy.

FELLOWSHIP

My true friend, show to me your mind.

I will not forsake you, unto my life’s end,

In the way of good company.

EVERYMAN

That was well spoken, and lovingly.

FELLOWSHIP

Sir, I must needs know your heaviness;

I have pity to see you in any distress;

If any have wronged you, you shall be revenged,

Though I on the ground be slain for you, –

Though that I know before that I should die.

EVERYMAN

Verily, Fellowship, gramercy.

FELLOWSHIP

Tush! by your thanks I set not a straw.

Show me your grief, and say no more.

EVERYMAN

If I should break my heart to you,

And then you to turn your mind from me,

And would not comfort me when you hear me speak,

Then I should be ten times sorrier.

FELLOWSHIP

Sir, I say as I will do in deed.

EVERYMAN

Then be you a good friend in need.

I have found you true here before.

FELLOWSHIP

And so you shall evermore;

For, in faith, if you go to Hell,

I will not forsake you by the way!

EVERYMAN

You speak like a good friend; I believe you well;

I shall deserve it, if I may.

FELLOWSHIP

I speak of no deserving, by this day.

For he that will say and nothing do

Is not worthy with good company to go;

Therefore show me the grief of your mind,

As to your friend most loving and kind.

EVERYMAN

I shall show you how it is;

Commanded I am to go a journey,

A long way, hard and dangerous,

And give a straight account without delay

Before the high judge, Adonai.* God

Wherefore I pray you, bear me company,

As you have promised, in this journey.

FELLOWSHIP

That is matter indeed! Promise is duty,

But if I should take such a voyage on me,

I know it will, it should be to my pain:

Also it makes me afraid, certain.

But let us take counsel here as well as we can,

For your words would fear a strong man.

EVERYMAN

Why, you said, if I had need,

You would never forsake me, quick nor dead,

Though it were to Hell, truly.

FELLOWSHIP

So I said, certainly,

but such pleasures be set aside, thee sooth to say;* the truth be told

And also, if we took such a journey,

When should we again come?

EVERYMAN

Nay, never again till the day of doom.

FELLOWSHIP

In faith, then will not I come there!

Who have you these tidings brought?

EVERYMAN

Indeed, Death was with me here.

FELLOWSHIP

Now, by God that all hath bought,

If Death were the messenger,

For no man that is living today

I will not go that loath journey –

Not for the father that begat me!

EVERYMAN

You promised otherwise, pardie.* truly

FELLOWSHIP

I know well I said so truly;

And yet, if you will eat, and drink, and make good cheer,

Or haunt to women, the lusty company

I would not forsake you, while the day is clear,

Trust me verily!

EVERYMAN

Yea, thereto you would be ready;

To go to mirth, solace, and play,

Your mind will sooner apply

Than to bear me company in my long journey.

FELLOWSHIP

Now, in good faith, I will not that way.

But if you will murder or any man kill,

In that I will help you with a good will!

EVERYMAN

O that is a simple advice indeed!

Gentle fellow, help me in my necessity;

We have loved long, and now I need,

And now, gentle Fellowship, remember me.

FELLOWSHIP

Whether you have loved me or no,

By Saint John, I will not with you go!

EVERYMAN

Yet, I pray you, take the labor and do so much for me

To bring me forward, for sainted charity,

And comfort me till I come without the town.

FELLOWSHIP

Nay, if you would give me a new gown,

I will not a foot with you go;

But if you had tarried, I would not have left you so.

And as now, God speed you in your journey,

For from you I will depart as fast as I may.

EVERYMAN

Wither away, Fellowship? Will you forsake me?

FELLOWSHIP

Yea, by my faith! To God I entrust you.

EVERYMAN

Farewell, good Fellowship! For you my heart is sore;

Adieu forever, I shall see you no more.

FELLOWSHIP

In faith, Everyman, farewell now at the end;

For you I will remember that parting is mourning.

[FELLOWSHIP exits.]

EVERYMAN

Alack, shall we thus depart indeed?

Our Lady, help, without any more comfort,

Lo, Fellowship forsakes me in my most need:

For help in this world whither shall I resort?

Fellowship here before with me would merry make;

And now little sorrow for me does he take.

It is said, “In prosperity men friends may find,

Which in adversity are full unkind.”

Now whither for succor* shall I flee, help, assistance

Since that Fellowship has forsaken me?

To my kinsmen I will, truly,

Praying them to help me in my necessity;

I believe that they will do so,

For kind will creep where it may not go.

[KINDRED and COUSIN enter.]

I will go say, for yonder I see them go.

Where are you now, my friends and kinsmen?

KINDRED

Here are we now at your commandment.

Cousin, I pray you show us your intent

In any wise, and not spare.

COUSIN

Yea, Everyman, and to us declare

If you be disposed to go any whither,

For know you well, we will live and die together.

KINDRED

In wealth and woe we will with you hold,

For over his kin a man may be bold.

EVERYMAN

Gramercy,* my friends and kinsmen kind. many thanks

Now shall I show you the grief of my mind:

I was commanded by a messenger,

That is a high king’s chief officer;

He bade me go a pilgrimage to my pain,

And I know well I shall never come again;

Also I must give a reckoning straight,

For I have a great enemy that has me in wait,

Which intends to hinder me.

KINDRED

What account is that which you must render?

That would I know.

EVERYMAN

Of all my works I must show

How I have lived and my days spent;

Also of ill deeds, that I have used

In my time, since life was lent me;

And of all virtues that I have refused.

Therefore I pray you go thither with me

To help to make mine account, for saint charity.

COUSIN

What, to go thither? Is that the matter?

Nay, Everyman, I had rather fast bread and water

All this five years and more.

EVERYMAN

Alas, that ever I was born!

For now shall I never be merry

If that you forsake me.

KINDRED

Ah, sir; what, you be a merry man!

Take good heart to you, and make no moan.

But one thing I warn you, by Saint Anne,

As for me, you shall go alone.

EVERYMAN

My Cousin, will you not with me go?

COUSIN

No, by our Lady! I have the cramp in my toe.

Trust not to me, for, so God me speed,

I will deceive you in your most need.

KINDRED

It avails us not to entice.

You shall have my maid with all my heart;

She loves to go to feasts, there to be nice,

And to dance and abroad to start:

I will give her leave to help you in that journey,

If that you and she may agree.

EVERYMAN

Now show me the very effect of your mind.

Will you go with me, or abide behind?

KINDRED

Abide behind? yea, that will I, if I may!

Therefore farewell until another day.

[KINDRED exits.]

EVERYMAN

How should I be merry or glad?

For fair promises men to me make,

But when I have most need they forsake me.

I am deceived; that makes me sad.

COUSIN

Cousin Everyman, farewell now,

For verily I will not go with you;

Also of mine own an unready reckoning

I have to account; therefore I make tarrying.

Now God keep you, for now I go.

[COUSIN exits.]

EVERYMAN

Ah, Jesus, is all come hereto?

Lo, fair words makes fools feign;

They promise and nothing will do certain.

My kinsmen promised me faithfully

For to abide with me steadfastly,

And now fast away do they flee:

Even so Fellowship promised me.

What friend were it best of me to provide?

I lose my time here longer to abide.

Yet in my mind a thing there is; –

All my life I have loved riches;

If that my goods now might help me,

He would make my heart light full.

I will speak to him in this distress. –

Where are you, my Goods and riches?

[GOODS revealed in a corner.]

GOODS

Who calls me? Everyman? what haste you have!

I lie here in corners, trussed and piled so high,

And in chests I am locked so fast,

Also sacked in bags, you may see with your own eye,

I cannot stir; in packs low I lie.

What would you have? Lightly tell me.

EVERYMAN

Come hither, Goods, in all the haste you may,

For of counsel I must desire you.

GOODS

Sir, if you in the world have trouble or adversity,

That can I help you to remedy shortly.

EVERYMAN

It is another disease that grieves me;

It is not in this world, I tell you so.

I am sent for, another way to go,

To give a straight account general

Before the highest Jupiter of all;

And all my life I have had joy and pleasure with you.

Therefore I pray you go with me,

For, peradventure, you may before God Almighty

My reckoning help to clean and purify;

For it is said ever among,

That “money makes all right that is wrong.”

GOODS

Nay, Everyman, I sing another song.

I follow no man in such voyages;

For if I went with you

You should fare much the worse for me;

For because on me you did set your mind,

Your reckoning I have made blotted and blind,

That your account you cannot make truly;

And that you have for the love of me.

EVERYMAN

That would grieve me full sore,

When I should come to that fearful answer.

Up, let us go thither together.

GOODS:

Nay, not so, I am too brittle, I may not endure;

I will follow no man one foot, be sure.

EVERYMAN

Alas, I have loved you, and had great pleasure

All my life-days on goods and treasure.

GOODS

That is to your damnation without lying,

For my love is contrary to the love everlasting.

But if you had loved me moderately during,

As, to the poor given part of me,

Then should you not in this dolor* be, anguish

Nor in this great sorrow and care.

EVERYMAN

Lo, now was I deceived before I was aware,

And all I may blame my spending of time.

GOODS

What, think you that I am yours?

EVERYMAN

I had thought so.

GOODS

Nay, Everyman, I say no;

As for a while I was lent to you,

A season you have had me in prosperity;

My condition is a man’s soul to kill;

If I save one, a thousand do I spill.

Think you that I will follow you?

Nay, not from this world, verily.

EVERYMAN

I had thought otherwise.

GOODS

Therefore to your soul Goods is a thief;

For when you are dead, this is my guise

Another to deceive in this same wise

As I have done to you, and all to his soul’s reprieve

EVERYMAN

O false Goods, cursed thou be!

You traitor to God, that has deceived me

And caught me in your snare.

GOODS

Marry, you brought it on yourself,

Whereof I am glad.

I must needs laugh, I cannot be sad.

EVERYMAN

Ah, Goods, you have long had my hearty love;

I gave you that which should be the Lord’s above.

But will you not go with me indeed?

I pray you say the truth.

GOODS

No, so God speed you,

Therefore farewell, and have good day.

[GOODS exists.]

EVERYMAN

O, to whom shall I make my moan

For to go with me in that heavy journey?

First Fellowship said he would with me go;

His words were very pleasant and gay,

But afterward he left me alone.

Then spoke I to my kinsmen, all in despair,

And also they gave me words 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 tell me

That he brings many into Hell.

Then of myself I was ashamed,

And so I am worthy to be blamed;

Thus may I well hate myself.

Of whom shall I now take counsel?

I think that I shall never speed

Until I go to my Good Deeds.

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 revealed on the ground.]

GOOD DEEDS

Here I lie cold in the ground;

Your sins have so sore bound me

That I cannot stir.

EVERYMAN

O Good Deeds, I stand in fear;

I must ask you of counsel,

For help now should come right well.

GOOD DEEDS

Everyman, I have understanding

That you are summoned to make account

Before Messiah, of Jerusalem King;

If you do by me, that journey with you will I take.

EVERYMAN

Therefore I come to you, my moan to make;

I pray you, that you will go with me.

GOOD DEEDS

I would full fain, but I cannot stand verily.

EVERYMAN

Why, is there anything fallen on you?

GOOD DEEDS

Yea, sir, I may thank you of all.

If you had perfectly cheered me,

Your book of account would be full ready.

Look, the books of your works and deeds also,

Oh, see how they lie under the feet,

To your soul’s heaviness.

EVERYMAN

Our Lord Jesus, help me!

For one letter here I cannot 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 forever damned indeed;

Therefore help me to make reckoning

Before the Redeemer of all things,

That King is, and was, and ever shall.

GOOD DEEDS

Everyman, I am sorry of your fall,

And fain would I help you, if 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 enters.]

KNOWLEDGE

Everyman, I will go with you, and be your guide,

In your most need to go by your side.

EVERYMAN

In good condition I am now in everything,

And am wholly content with this good thing;

Thanked be God my Creator.

GOOD DEEDS

And when she has brought you there,

Where you shall heal yourself of your smart,

Then go you with your reckoning and your Good Deeds together

For to make you joyful at heart

Before the Blessed Trinity.

EVERYMAN

My Good Deeds, gramercy;

I am well content, certainly,

With your words sweet.

[EVERYMAN and KNOWLEDGE leave GOOD DEEDS.]

KNOWLEDGE

Now go we together lovingly,

To Confession, that cleansing river.

[CONFESSION enters.]

EVERYMAN

For joy I weep; I would we were there;

But, I pray you, give me cognition

Where dwells that holy man, Confession.

KNOWLEDGE

In the house of salvation:

We shall find him in that place

That shall comfort us, by God’s grace.

[KNOWLEDGE and EVERYMAN to CONFESSION.]

Lo, this is Confession; kneel down and ask mercy,

For he is in good esteem with God Almighty.

EVERYMAN

O glorious fountain, that all uncleanness clarifies,

Wash from me the spots of vice unclean,

That on me no sin may be seen,

I come with Knowledge for my redemption,

Repent with hearty and full contrition;

For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take

And great accounts before God to make. a remission of

Now I pray you, Shrift,* Mother of Salvation, sin pronounced

Help my Good Deeds for my piteous exclamation. by a priest

CONFESSION

I know your sorrow well, Everyman;

Because with Knowledge you come to me,

I will comfort you as well as I can,

And a precious jewel I will give you,

Called penance, wise voider of adversity;

Therewith shall your body be chastised,

With abstinences and perseverance in God’s service:

Here shall you receive that scourge of me

Which is penance strong that you must endure,

To remember your Savior was scourged for you

With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently;

So must you, before you escape that painful pilgrimage;

[CONFESSION gives scourge to KNOWLEDGE.]

Knowledge, keep him in this voyage,

And by that time Good Deeds will be with you.

But in any wise be sure of mercy,

For your time draws fast; if you will be saved,

Ask God mercy, and He will grant truly.

When with the scourge of penance man does bind him,

The oil of forgiveness then shall he find.

[EVERYMAN and KNOWLEDGE leave CONFESSION.]

[CONFESSION exits.]

EVERYMAN

Thanked be God 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, look to your penance that you fulfill,

What pain that ever it be to you;

And Knowledge shall give you counsel at will,

How your account you shall make clearly.

EVERYMAN

O eternal God, O heavenly figure,

O way of righteousness, O goodly vision,

Which descended down in a virgin pure

Because he would Everyman redeem,

Which Adam forfeited by his disobedience:

O blessed Godhead, elect and high divine,

Forgive me my grievous offense;

Here I cry for mercy in this presence.

O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer,

Of all the world, hope and conductor,

Mirror of joy, foundation of mercy,

Which illumines Heaven and earth thereby,

Hear my clamorous complaint though it be late;

Receive my prayers; unworthy in this heavy life,

Though I be a sinner most abominable,

Yet let my name be written in Moses’ table.

O Mary, pray to the Maker of all things,

To help me at my ending;

And save me from the power of my enemy,

For Death assails me strongly;

And, Lady, that I may by means of your prayer

Of your Son’s glory to be partaker,

By the means of his passion, I crave it;

I beseech you, help me my soul to save. –

Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance;

My flesh therewith shall give acquittance:

I will now begin if God give me grace.

[KNOWLEDGE gives scourge to EVERYMAN.]

KNOWLEDGE

Everyman, God give you time and space:

Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Savior,

Thus may you make your reckoning sure.

EVERYMAN

In the name of the Holy Trinity,

My body sore punished shall be:

Take this, body, for the sins of the flesh;

Also you delighted to go gay and fresh,

And in the way of damnation you did bring me;

Therefore suffer now strokes of punishing.

Now of penance I will wade the water clear

To save me from Purgatory, that sharp fire.

[GOOD DEEDS rises from the ground.]

GOOD DEEDS

I thank God, now I can walk and go;

And am delivered of my sickness and woe.

Therefore with Everyman I will go and not spare;

His good works I will help him to declare.

KNOWLEDGE

Now, Everyman, be merry and glad;

Your Good Deeds comes now; you need not be sad;

Now is your Good Deeds whole and sound,

Going upright upon the ground.

EVERYMAN

My heart is light and shall be evermore;

Now I will smite faster than I did before.

GOOD DEEDS

Everyman, pilgrim, my special friend,

Be blessed without end;

For you is prepared the eternal glory.

You have made me whole and sound,

Therefore I will bide by you in every season.

EVERYMAN

Welcome, my Good Deeds; now I hear your voice,

I weep for very sweetness of love.

KNOWLEDGE

Be no more sad, but ever rejoice,

God sees your living from his throne above.

[KNOWLEDGE gives EVERYMAN the garment of contrition.]

Put on this garment to your benefit,

Which is wet with your tears,

Or else before God you may miss it,

When you to your journey’s end shall come.

EVERYMAN

Gentle Knowledge, what do you it call?

KNOWLEDGE

It is the garment of sorrow:

From pain it will you borrow.

Contrition it is,

That gets forgiveness;

It pleases God passing well.

GOOD DEEDS

Everyman, will you wear it for your heal?

[EVERYMAN puts on the garment of contrition.]

EVERYMAN

Now blessed be Jesus, 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 you lead with you

Three persons of great might.

EVERYMAN

Who should they be?

GOOD DEEDS

Discretion and Strength they are called,

And your Beauty may not abide behind.

KNOWLEDGE

Also you must call to mind

Your Five Wits as for your counselors.

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.* unceasing

EVERYMAN

My friends, come hither and be present:

Discretion, Strength, my Five Wits, and Beauty.

[DISCRETION, STRENGTH, FIVE WITS, and BEAUTY enter.]

BEAUTY

Here at your will we be all ready.

What would you that we should do?

GOOD DEEDS

That you would with Everyman go,

And help him in his pilgrimage,

Advise you, will you with him or not in that voyage?

STRENGTH

We will bring him all thither

To his help and comfort, you may believe me.

DISCRETION

So will we go with him all together.

EVERYMAN

Almighty God, loved may you be,

I give you laud* that I had hither brought praise

Strength, Discretion, Beauty and Five Wits. Lack I naught;

And my Good Deeds, with Knowledge clear,

All be in company at my will here.

I desire no more to my business.

STRENGTH

And I, Strength, will by you stand in distress,

Though you 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 of my goods 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 where it ought to be.

This I do in spite 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 advise you,

And receive of him in any wise

The holy sacrament and ointment together;

Then shortly see you turn again hither;

We will all abide you here.

FIVE WITS

Yea, Everyman, hie* you that you already were. go

There is no emperor, king, duke, nor baron

That of God hath commission

As has the least priest being in the world;

For of the blessed sacraments pure and benign,

He has the keys, and thereof has the cure

For man’s redemption, it is every sure;

Which God for our soul’s medicine

Gave us out of his heart with great pine. anguish

Here in this transitory life, for you 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, willingly

And meekly to my ghostly father will I go.

FIVE WITS

Everyman, that is the best that you can do:

God will bring you to salvation,

For priesthood exceeds all other things;

They to us do Holy Scripture teach,

And convert man from sin, Heaven to reach;

God has given to them more power,

Than to any angel that is in Heaven;

With five words he may consecrate,

God’s body in flesh and blood to make,

And handles his Maker between his hands;

The priest binds and unbinds all bands,

Both in earth and in Heaven. . . .

No remedy we find under God

But all only priesthood.

Everyman, God gave priests that dignity,

And set them in his stead among us to be;

Thus be they above angels in degree.

[EVERYMAN exits.]

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 sacraments in great torment:

He sold them not to us, that Lord Omnipotent,

Therefore Saint Peter the apostle says

That Jesus’ curse have all they

Which God their Savior do buy or sell,

Or they for any money do take or tell.

Sinful priests give the sinners bad examples;

Their children sit by other men’s fires, I have heard;

And some haunt 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 honor

And follow their doctrine for our soul’s succor;

We be their sheep, and they shepherds be

By whom we all be kept in surety.

Peace, for yonder I see Everyman come,

Which has made true satisfaction.

GOOD DEEDS

Methinks it is he indeed.

[EVERYMAN re-enters.]

EVERYMAN

Now Jesus be your alder speed* speed in help for all

I have received the sacrament for my redemption,

And then mine extreme unction:

Blessed be all they that counseled me to take it!

And now, friends, let us go without longer respite.

I thank God that you have tarried so long.

Now set each of you on this rod your hand

And shortly follow me:

I go before where I would be; God be our guide.

[They go toward the grave.]

STRENGTH

Everyman, we will not go from you,

Till you have done this voyage long.

DISCRETION

I, Discretion, will bide by you also.

KNOWLEDGE

And though this pilgrimage be never so strong,

I will never part from you.

Everyman, I will be as sure by you

As ever I did by Judas Maccabee.

[They arrive at the grave.]

EVERYMAN

Alas, I am so faint I may not stand;

My limbs do fold under me;

Friends, let us not turn again to this land,

Nor for all the world’s gold;

For into this cave must I creep

And turn to earth, and there to sleep.

BEAUTY

What, into this grave? alas!

EVERYMAN

Yea, there shall you be consumed, more and less.

BEAUTY

And what, should I smother here?

EVERYMAN

Yea, by my faith, and never more appear.

In this world we shall live no more,

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 you?

BEAUTY

Peace, I am deaf; I look not behind me,

Not if you would give me all the gold in your chest.

[BEAUTY exits.]

EVERYMAN

Alas, whereto may I trust?

Beauty goes fast away;

She promised with me to live and die.

STRENGTH

Everyman, I will also forsake and deny you;

Your game I like not at all.

EVERYMAN

Why, then you will forsake me all?

Sweet Strength, tarry a little space.

STRENGTH

Nay, sir, by the rod of grace

I will hie me from you fast,

Though you weep till your heart breaks.

EVERYMAN

You would ever bide by me, you said.

STRENGTH

Yea, I have you far enough conveyed.

You be old enough, I understand,

Your pilgrimage to take in hand.

I repent me that I hither came.

EVERYMAN

Strength, for your displeasure I am to blame;

Will you break promise that is debt?

STRENGTH

In faith, I care not;

You are but a fool to complain;

You spend your speech and waste your brain.

So thrust you into the ground.

[STRENGTH exits.]

EVERYMAN

I had thought I should have found.

He that trusts in his Strength,

She deceives him at length.

Both Strength and Beauty forsake 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 you forsake me?

DISCRETION

Yea, in faith, I will go from you;

For when Strength goes before,

I follow after evermore.

EVERYMAN

Yet, I pray you, for the love of the Trinity,

Look in my grave once piteously.

DISCRETION

Nay, so nigh* will I not come. near

Farewell, everyone!

[DISCRETION exits.]

EVERYMAN

O, all things fail, save God alone;

Beauty, Strength, and Discretion;

For when Death blows his blast,

They all run from me full fast.

FIVE WITS

Everyman, I take my leave of you now.

I will follow the others, for here I forsake you.

EVERYMAN

Alas, then may I wail and weep,

For I took you for my best friend.

FIVE WITS

I will no longer keep you.

Now farewell, and there an end.

[FIVE WITS exits.]

EVERYMAN

O Jesus, help, all have forsaken me!

GOOD DEEDS

Nay, Everyman, I will bide with you.

I will not forsake you indeed;

You shall find me a good friend in need.

EVERYMAN

Gramercy, Good Deeds! Now may I true friends see;

They have forsaken me, every one;

I loved them better than my Good Deeds alone.

Knowledge, will you forsake me also?

KNOWLEDGE

Yea, Everyman, when you to death shall go:

But not yet, for no manner of danger.

EVERYMAN

Gramercy, Knowledge, with all my heart.

KNOWLEDGE

Nay, yet I will not from hence depart

Till I see where you shall be come.

EVERYMAN

Methinks, alas, that I must be gone,

To make my reckoning and my debts pay,

For I see my time is nigh spent away.

Take example, all you that this do hear or see,

How they that I loved best do forsake me,

Except my Good Deeds that bides truly.

GOOD DEEDS

All earthly things are but vanity;

Beauty, Strength, and Discretion do man forsake,

Foolish friends and kinsmen that spoke fair,

All flee save Good Deeds, and that am I.

EVERYMAN

Have mercy on me, God most mighty,

And stand by me, you mother and maid, Holy Mary.

GOOD DEEDS

Fear not, I will speak for you.

EVERYMAN

Here I cry God mercy.

GOOD DEEDS

Shorten our end, and diminish our pain;

Let us go and never come again.

[GOOD DEEDS leads EVERYMAN to grave.]

EVERYMAN

Into your hands, Lord, my soul I commend;

Receive it, Lord that it be not lost.

As you bought me, so defend me,

And save me from the fiend’s boast,

That I may appear with that blessed host

That shall be saved at the day of doom.

In manus tuas – of might’s most Into thy hands

For ever – commendo spiritum meum. I commend my spirit

[EVERYMAN and GOOD DEEDS exit.]

KNOWLEDGE

Now has he suffered what we all shall endure;

The Good Deeds shall make all sure.

Now has he made ending;

Methinks that I hear angels sing

And make great joy and melody

Where Everyman’s soul shall be received.

[ANGEL enters.]

ANGEL

Come, excellent elect spouse, to Jesus:

Here above you shall go

Because of your singular virtue.

Now your soul is taken from your body,

Your reckoning is crystal clear.

Now shall you into the heavenly sphere,

Unto the which all you shall come

That live well before the day of doom.

[ANGEL and KNOWLEDGE exit.]

[DOCTOR enters.]

DOCTOR

This moral men may have in mind;

You hearers, take it of worth, old and young,

And forsake Pride, for he deceives you in the end,

And remember Beauty, Five Wits, Strength, and Discretion,

They all at the last do Everyman forsake,

Save his Good Deeds, there he takes.

But beware, for if they be small

Before God, he has no help at all.

No excuse may be there for Everyman:

Alas, how shall he do then?

For after death, amends may no man make,

For them mercy and pity do him forsake.

If his reckoning be not clear when he comes,

God will say, “Ite maledicti in ignem eternum.”

And he that has his account whole and sound,

High in Heaven he shall be crowned;

Unto which place God bring us all thither,

That we may live body and soul together.

Thereto help the Trinity,

Amen, say you, for saint charity.

[DOCTOR exits.]

[Thus ends this moral play of Everyman.]