Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, EVERY-MAN; A MORALITY, by THOMAS HAWKINS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

EVERY-MAN; A MORALITY, by                    
First Line: I perceive here in my majesty
Last Line: Amen, say ye, for saint charity.
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

MESSENGER.
GOD.
DEATH.
EVERY-MAN.
FELLOWSHIP.
KINDRED.
GOODS.
GOOD DEEDS.
KNOWLEDGE
CONFESSION.
BEAUTY.
STRENGTH.
DISCRETION
FIVE WITS.
ANGEL.
DOCTOR.

God speaketh.

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,
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 love that I showed when I for them died
They forget clean, and shedding of my blood red;
I hanged between two it cannot be denied;
To give 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,
Every man liveth so after his own pleasure,
And yet of their life they be nothing sure:
I see the more that I them forbear
The worse they be from year to year;
All that liveth appeareth faste,
Therefore I will in all the haste
Have a reckoning of every man's person;
For, and I leave the people thus alone
In their life and wicked tempests,
Verily they will become much worse than beasts:
For now one would by envy another up eat;
Charity they do all clean forget:
I hoped well that every man
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 to them meant,
Nor yet for their being that I them have lent:
I proffered the people great multitude of mercy,
And few there be that asketh it heartily;
They be so encumbered with worldly riches,
That needs on them I must do justice,
On every man living without fear.—
Where art thou, Death, thou mighty messenger?
Death.—Almighty God, I am here at your will,
Your commandment to fulfill.
God.—Go thou to Every-man,
And show him in my name,
A pilgrimage he must on him take,
Which he in nowise may escape;
And that he bring with him a sure reckoning,
Without delay or any tarrying.
Dea.—Lord, I will in the world go run over all,
And cruelly out search both great and small;
Every man will I beset that liveth beastly,
Out of God's laws, and dreadeth not folly:
He that loveth 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.
Lo, yonder I see Every-man walking:
Full little he thinketh on my coming;
His mind is on fleshly lusts, and his treasure;
And great pain it shall cause him to endure
Before the Lord heaven king.—
Every-man, stand still: whither art thou going
Thus gayly? hast thou thy maker forgot?
Every-man.—Why asketh thou?
Wouldst thou wait?
Dea.—Ye, sir, I will show you;
In great haste I am sent to thee
From God out of his majesty.
Ever.—What, sent to me!
Dea.—Ye, certainly:
Though thou have forgot him here,
He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere;
As, ere we depart, thou shalt know.
Ever.—What desireth God of me?
Dea.—That shall I show thee;
A reckoning he will needs have
Without any longer respite.
Ever.—To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave;
This blind matter troubleth my wit.
Dea.—On thee thou must take a long journey,
Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring,
For turn again thou cannot by no way:
And look, thou be sure of thy reckoning;
For before God thou shalt answer and show
Thy many bad deeds, and good but a few,
How thou hast spent thy life, and in what wise,
Before the chief lord of paradise
Have I do we were in that way,
For, wait thou well, thou shalt make no attorney.
Ever.—Full unready I am such reckoning to give:
I know thee not; what messenger art thou?
Dea.—I am Death, that no man dreadeth;
For every man I rest, and no man spareth,
For it is God's commandment
That all to me should be obedient.
Ever.—O Death, thou comest when I had thee least in mind:
In thy power it lieth me to save;
Yet of my good will I give thee, if thou will be kind,
Yea, a thousand pounds shalt thou have.
And defer this matter till another day.
Dea.—Every-man, it may not be by no way;
I set not by gold, silver nor riches,
Nor by pope, emperor, king, duke nor princes;
For, and I would receive gifts great,
All the world I might get;
But my custom is clean contrary:
I give thee no respite, come hence, and not tarry.
Ever.—Alas, shall I have no longer respite?
I may say, Death giveth no warning:
To think on thee it maketh my heart sick;
For all unready is my book of reckoning:
But twelve years and 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 thee for God's mercy,
Spare me till I be provided of remedy.
Dea.—Thee availeth not to cry, weep and pray:
But hast thee lightly that thou were going this journey:
And prove thy friends if thou can;
For, wait thou well, the tide abideth no man,
And in the world each living creature
For Adam's sin must die of nature.
Ever.—Death, if I should this pilgrimage take,
And my reckoning surely make,
Show me, for Saint Charity,
Should I not come again shortly?
Dea.—No, Every-man, and thou be once there,
Thou mayst never more come here,
Trust me verily.
Ever.—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 me to lead?
Dea.—Yea, if any be so hardy,
That would go with thee, and bear thee company:
High thee that thou were gone to God's magnificence,
Thy reckoning to give before his presence.
What, wantest thou thy life is given thee,
And thy worldly goods also?
Ever.—I had wanted so, verily.
Dea.—Nay, nay; it was but lent thee,
For as soon as thou art gone,
Another awhile shall have it, and then go therefrom,
Even as thou hast done.
Every-man, thou art made, thou hast thy wits five;
And here on earth will not amend thy life;
For suddenly I do come.
Ever.—O wretched caitiff, whither shall I flee,
That I might escape this endless sorrow!—
Now, gentle Death, spare me till to-morrow,
That I may amend me
With good advisement.
Dea.—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 thy sight I will me hie;
See thou make thee ready shortly,
For thou mayst say, this is the day
That no man living may escape away.
Ever.—Alas! I may well weep with sighs deep:
Nor have I no manner of company
To help me in my journey, and me to keep;
And also my writing is full unready.
How shall I do now for to excuse me!
I would to God I had never beget;
To my soul a full great profit it had be;
For now I fear pains huge and great.
The time passeth:—Lord, help that all wrought;
For though I mourn it availeth naught:
The day passeth, and is almost agone;
I wot not well what for to do.
To whom were I best my complaint to make?
What, and I to Fellowship thereof spake,
And showed him of this sudden chance!
For in him is all mine affiance;
We have in the world so many a day
Been good friends in sport and play.
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 speaketh.

Fellowship.—Every-man, good-morrow by this day:
Sir, why lookest thou so piteously?
If anything be amiss, I pray thee, me say,
That I may help to remedy.
Every-man.—Yea, good Fellowship, yea;
I am in great jeopardy.
Fel.—My true friend, show to me your mind;
I will not forsake thee to my life's end,
In the way of good company.
Ever.—That was well spoken, and lovingly.
Fel.—Sir, I must needs know your heaviness;
I have pity to see you in any distress:
If any have you wronged ye shall revenged be,
Though I on the ground be slain for thee,
Though that I know before that I should die.
Ever.—Verily, Fellowship, gramercy.
Fel.—Tusshe! by thy thanks I set not a straw;
Show me your grief, and say no more.
Ever.—If I my heart should to you break,
And then you to turn your mind from me,
And would not me comfort when ye hear me speak,
Then should I ten times sorrier be.
Fel.—Sir, I say as I will do, indeed
Ever.—Then be you a good friend at need;
I have found you true here before.
Fel.—And so ye shall evermore;
For, in faith, and thou go to hell,
I will not forsake thee by the way.
Ever.—Ye speak like a good friend, I believe you well;
I shall deserve it and I may.
Fel.—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 lovingly and kind.
Ever.—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:
Wherefore I pray you, bear me company,
As ye have promised, in this journey.
Fel.—That is matter, indeed; promise is duty,
But and I should take such a voyage on me,
I know it well 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.
Ever.—Why, ye said—if I had need,
Ye would me never forsake quick indeed,
Though it were to hell truly.
Fel.—So I said, certainly;
But such pleasures be set aside, the sooth to say,
And also if we took such a journey,
When should we come again?
Ever.—Nay, never again till the day of doom.
Fel.—In faith, then will not I come there:
Who hath you these tidings brought?
Ever.—Indeed, Death was with me here.
Fel.—Now, by God that all hath bought,
If Death were the messenger,
For no man that is living to-day
I will not go that loath journey,
Not for the father that begat me.
Ever.—Ye promised otherwise, pard.
Fel.—I know well I say so truly,
And yet if thou wilt 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.
Ever.—Yea, thereto ye would be ready:
To go to mirth, solace and play.
Your mind will sooner apply
Than to bear me company in my long journey.
Fel.—Now in good faith, I will not that way;
But and thou will murder, or any man kill,
In that I will help thee with a good-will.
Ever.—O, that is a simple advice indeed:
Gentle Fellowship, help me in my necessity;
We have loved long, and now I need,
And now, gentle Fellowship, remember me.
Fel.—Whether ye have loved me or no,
By Saint John, I will not with thee go.
Ever.—Yet I pray thee, take the labor, and do so much for me,
To bring me forward, for Saint Charity,
And comfort me till I come without the town.
Fel.—Nay, and thou would give me a new gown,
I will not a foot with thee go;
But and thou had tarried, I would not have left thee so:
And as now, God speed thee in thy journey!
For from thee I will depart as fast as I may.
Ever.—Whither away, Fellowship? will you forsake me?
Fel.—Ye, by my say; to God I betake thee.
Ever.—Farewell, good Fellowship; for this my heart is sore:
Adieu forever, I shall see thee no more.
Fel.—In faith, Every-man, farewell now at the end;
For you I will remember that parting is mourning.
Ever.—Alack! shall we thus depart, indeed?
Aye! Lady, help, without any more comfort,
Lo, Fellowship forsaketh 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 doth he take.
It is said, in prosperity men friends may find,
Which in adversity be full unkind.
Now, whither for succor shall I flee,
Since that Fellowship hath 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.
I will go say; for yonder I see them go:—
Where be ye now, my friends and kinsmen?
Kindred.—Here be we now at your commandment:
Confession, I pray you, show us your intent
In any wise, and not spare.
Confession.—Yea, Every-man, and to us declare
If ye be disposed to go anywhere;
For, wait you well, will live and die together.
Kin.—In wealth and woe we will with you hold;
For over his kin a man may be bold.
Ever.—Gramercy, my friends and kinsmen kind;
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 hath me in wait,
Which intendeth me for to hinder.
Kin.—What account is that which ye must render?
That would I know.
Ever.—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 this life was me lent,
And of all virtues that I have refused:
Therefore I pray you, go thither with me
To help to make my account, for Saint Charity.
Con.—What, to go thither? Is that the matter?
Nay, Every-man, I had rather fast on bread and water,
All this five year and more.
Ever.—Alas, that ever I was born!
For now shall I never be merry,
If that you forsake me.
Kin.—Aye, sir; what, ye be a merry man:
Take good heart to you, and make no moan.
But one thing I warn you, by Saint Ann,
As for me ye shall go alone.
Ever.—My Confession, will you not with me go?
Con.—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.
Kin.—It availeth not us to ties:
Ye shall have my maid, with all my heart;
She loveth 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.
Ever.—Now show me the very effect of your mind;
Will you go with me, or abide behind?
Kin.—Abide behind! yea, that will I and I may;
Therefore farewell till another day.
Ever.—How should I be merry or glad?
For fair promises men to me make;
But, when I have most need, they me forsake;
I am deceived, that maketh me sad.
Con.—Confession Every-man, 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 thee, for now I go.
Ever.—Aye, Jesus, is all come here to?
Lo, fair words maketh fools vain;
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 best me of 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 good now help me might,
He would make my heart full light:
I will speak to him in this distress.—
Where art thou, my Goods, and riches?
Goods.—Who calleth me? Every-man? what haste thou hast?
I lie here in corners trussed and piled so high,
And in chests I am locked so fast,
Also sacked in bags, thou mayst see with thine eye,
I cannot stir; in packs low I lie:
What would ye have, lightly me say?
Ever.—Come hither, Good, in all the haste thou may;
For of counsel I must desire thee.
Goods.—Sir, and ye in the world have sorrow or adversity,
That can I help you to remedy shortly.
Ever.—It is another disease that grieveth me;
In this world it is not, I tell thee 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 in thee,
Therefore I pray thee go with me;
For, peradventure, thou mayst before God Almighty
My reckoning help to clean and purify,
For it is said ever among
That money maketh all right that is wrong.
Goods.—Nay, Every-man, I sing another song;
I follow no man on such voyages,
For, and I went with thee,
Thou should fare much the worse for me:
For because on me thou did set thy mind,
Thy reckoning I have made blotted and blind,
That thine account thou cannot make truly;
And that hast thou for the love of me.
Ever.—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 ye sure.
Ever.—Alas, I have thee loved, and had great pleasure
All my life days on good and treasure.
Goods.—That is to thy damnation without lessening,
For my love is contrary to the love everlasting;
But if thou had me loved moderately during,
As, to the poor give part of me,
Then shouldst thou not in this dolor be,
Nor in this great sorrow and care.
Ever.—Lo, now was I deceived or I was aware,
And all I may wait my spending of time.
Goods.—What, wantest thou that I am thine?
Ever.—I had wanted so.
Goods.—Nay, Every-man, I say no:
As for a while I was lent thee;
A season thou hast had me in prosperity;
My condition is man's soul to kill,
If I save one, a thousand I do spill:
Wantest thou that I will follow thee?
Nay, from this world not verily.
Ever.—I had wanted otherwise.
Goods.—Therefore to thy soul Good is a thief,
For when thou art dead, this is my guise,
Another to deceive in this same wise,
As I have done thee, and all to his soul's reprieve.
Ever.—O false Good, cursed thou be,
Thou traitor to God that hast deceived me,
And caught me in thy snare.
Goods.—Mary, thou brought thyself in care,
Whereof I am glad,
I must needs laugh, I cannot be sad.
Ever.—Aye, Good, thou hast had long my heartily love;
I gave thee that which should be the Lord's above:
But wilt thou not go with me, indeed?
I pray the truth to say.
Goods.—No, so God me speed;
Therefore farewell, and have good-day.
Ever.—O, to whom shall I make my moan
For, to go with me on that heavy journey,
First, Fellowship said he would with me gone;
His words 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 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 me tell,
That he bringeth many into hell.
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 hath me so bound,
That I cannot stir.
Ever.—O Good-deeds, I stand in fear;
I must you pray of counsel,
For help now should come right well.
Good-deeds.—Every-man, I have understanding,
That ye be summoned a count to make
Before Myssias of Jerusalem king,
And you do by me that journey what you will I take.
Ever.—Therefore I come to you my moan to make:
I pray you, that ye will go with me.
Good-deeds.—I would full fain, but I can not stand verily.
Ever.—Why, is there anything on your fall?
Good-deeds.—Yes, sir, I may thank you of all;
If ye had perfectly cheered me,
Your book of count full ready had be.
Look, the books of your works and deeds eke;
Aye, see how they lie under the feet,
To your souls's heaviness.
Ever.—Our Lord Jesus help me,
For one letter here I cannot see.
Good-deeds.—There is a blind reckoning in time of distress.
Ever.—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 thing,
That king is, and was, and ever shall.
Good-deeds.—Every-man, I am sorry for your fall,
And fain would I help you and I were able.
Ever.—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 make that dreadful reckoning.
Knowledge.—Every-man, I will go with thee, and be thy guide,
In thy most need to go by thy side.
Ever.—In good condition I am now in everything,
And am whole content with this good thing,
Thanked by God my creature.
Good-deeds.—And when he hath brought you there,
Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart,
Then go you with your reckoning and your good deeds together,
For to make you joyful at heart
Before the blessed Trinity.
Ever.—My Good-deeds, gramercy;
I am well content certainly
With your words sweet.
Kno.—Now go we together lovingly
To Confession, that cleansing river.
Ever.—For joy I weep: I would we were there;
But, I pray you, give me cognition,
Where dwelleth that holy man Confession?
Kno.—In the house of salvation;
We shall find him in that place,
That shall us comfort by God's grace.—
Lo, this is Confession: kneel down, and ask mercy;
For he is in good conceit with God Almighty.
Ever.—O glorious fountain that all uncleanliness doth clarify,
Wash from me the spots of vice unclean,
That on me no sin may be seen;
I come with Knowledge for my redemption,
Redempt with heart and full contrition,
For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take,
And great accounts before God to make.
Now I pray you, Shrift, mother of salvation,
Help my good deeds for my piteous exclamation.
Con.—I know your sorrows well, Every-man:
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, voice voider of adversity:
Therewith shall your body chastised be
With abstinence and perseverance in God'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 escape that painful pilgrimage.—
Knowledge, keep him in this voyage,
And by that time Good-deeds will be with thee;
But in any wise be seeker of mercy,
For your time draweth fast; and ye will saved be,
Ask God mercy, and he will grant truly:
When with the scourge of penance man doth him bind,
The oil of forgiveness then shall he find.
Ever.—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.
Kno.—Evrery-man, look your penance that ye fulfill,
What pain that ever it to you be;
And Knowledge shall give you counsel at will,
How your account ye shall make clearly.
Ever.—O eternal God, O heavenly figure,
O way of righteousness, O goodly vision,
Which descended down in a virgin pure
Because he would Every-man redeem,
Which Adam forfeited by his disobedience,
O blessed Godhead elect and high divine,
Forgive my grievous offence;
Here I cry thee mercy in this presence:
O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer
Of all the world, hope and conduiter,
Mirror of joy, foundator of mercy,
Which illumineth heaven and earth thereby,
Hear my clamorous complaint, though it late be,
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
Me for to help at my ending,
And save me from the power of my enemy;
For Death assaileth me strongly:
And, Lady, that I may by means of thy prayer
Of your son's glory be a partner,
By the means of his passion, I it crave;
I beseech you, help my soul to save.—
Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance,
My flesh therewith shall give acquaintance;
I will now begin, if God give me grace.
Kno.—Every-man, God give you time and space:
Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Saviour;
Now may you make your reckoning sure.
Ever.—In the name of the holy Trinity,
My body sore punished shall be,
Take this body for the sin of the flesh;
Also thou delightest to go gay and fresh;
And in the way of damnation thou did me bring,
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.—I thank God, now I can walk and go,
And am delivered of my sickness and woe;
Therefore with Every-man I will go, and not spare,
His good works I will help him to declare.
Kno.—Now, Every-man, be merry and glad;
Your Good-deeds cometh now, ye may not be sad:
Now is your Good-deeds whole and sound,
Going upright upon the ground.
Ever.—My heart is light, and shall be evermore;
Now will I smite faster than I did before.
Good-deeds.—Every-man, pilgrim, my special friend,
Blessed be thou without end;
For thee is prepared the eternal glory:
Ye have me made whole and sound,
Therefore I will abide by thee in every stound.
Ever.—Welcome, my Good-deeds, now I hear thy voice
I weep for very sweetness of love.
Kno.—Be no more sad, but ever rejoice,
God seeth thy living in his throne above;
Put on his garment to thy behave,
Which is wet with your tears,
Or else before God you may it miss,
When ye to your journey's end come shall.
Ever.—Gentle Knowledge, what do ye it call?
Kno.—It is a garment of sorrow,
From pain it will you borrow;
Contrition it is,
That getteth forgiveness,
He pleaseth God passing well.
Good-deeds.—Every-man, will you wear it for your heal?
Ever.—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.
Ever.—Then I trust we need not fear:—
Now, friends, let us not part entwain.
Kin.—Nay, Every-man, that will we not certain.
Good-deeds.—Yet must thou lead with thee
Three persons of great might.
Ever.—Who should they be?
Good-deeds.—Discretion and Strength they height,
And thy Beauty may not abide behind.
Kno.—Also, ye must call to mind
Your Five-wits as for your counselors.
Good-deeds.—You must have them ready at all hours.
Ever.—How shall I get them hither?
Kin.—You must call them all together,
And they will hear you in continent.
Ever.—My friends, come hither, and be present,
Discretion, Strength, my Five-wits and Beauty.
Beauty.—Here at your will we be all ready;
What will ye that we should do?
Good-deeds.—That ye would with Every-man 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.
Ever.—Almighty God, loved might thou be;
I give thee laud that I have hither brought
Strength, Discretion, Beauty, Five-wits, lack I naught:
And my Good-deeds, with Knowledge clear,
All be in my company at my will here;
I desire no more to my business.
Str.—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.
Bea.—No more will I unto death's hour,
Whatsoever thereof befall.
Disc.—Every-man, advise you first of all,
Go with a good advisement and deliberation:
We all give you virtuous monition,
That all shall be well.
Ever.—My friends, harken what I will tell;
I pray God reward you in his heaven sphere;
Now hearken all that be here;
For I will make my testament
Here before you all present:
In alms, half 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 queth to be returned there it ought to be.
This I do in despite of the fiend of hell,
To go quite out of his parallel
Ever after and this day.
Kno.—Every-man, 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 return again hither,
We will all abide you here.
Five-wits.—Yea, Every-man, hie you that ye ready were:
There is no emperor, king, duke nor baron,
That of God hath commission,
As hath the least priest in the world benign;
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 God for our soul's medicine
Gave us out of his heart with great pain,
Here in this transitory life for thee 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.
Ever.—Fain would I receive that holy body;
And meekly to my ghostly father I will go.
Five-wits.—Every-man, that is the best that ye can do;
God will you to salvation bring,
For priesthood exceedeth all other things;
To us holy scripture they do teach,
And converteth man from sin heaven to reach;
God hath to them more power given
Than to any angel that is in heaven:
With five words he may consecrate
God'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 kiss thy feet thou were worthy,
Thou art surgeon that cureth sin deadly,
No remedy we find under God,
But all only priesthood.
Every-man, God gave priest that dignity,
And setteth them in his stead among us to be;
Thus be they above angels in degree.
Kno.—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 Jesus' curse hath all they
Which God their favor 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 lusts of lechery;
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 Every-man come,
Which hath made true satisfaction.
Good-deeds.—Methink, it is he, indeed.
Ever.—Now Jesus be your alder speed!
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 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: God be your guide.
Str.—Every-man, we will not from you go,
Till ye have done this voyage long.
Disc.—I, Discretion, will abide by you also.
Kno.—And though this pilgrimage be never so strong,
I will never part you from:
Every-man, I will be as sure by thee
As ever I did by Judas Machabee.
Ever.—Alas! I am so faint I may not stand.
My limbs under me doth fold:
Friends, let us not return again to this land,
Not for all the world's gold;
For into this cave must I creep,
And return to earth and there to sleep.
Bea.—What, into this grave? Alas!
Ever.—Yea, there shall ye consume more and less.
Bea.—And what, should I smother here?
Ever.—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.
Bea.—I cross out all this: adieu, by Saint John;
I take my tap in my lap, and am gone.
Ever.—What, Beauty? whither will ye?
Bea.—Peace! I am deaf, I look not behind me,
Not and thou wouldst give me all the gold in thy chest.
Ever.—Alas! whereto may I trust?
Beauty goeth fast away from me,
She promised with me to live and die.
Str.—Every-man, I will thee also forsake and deny,
Thy game liketh me not at all.
Ever.—Why, then, ye will forsake me all:
Sweet Strength, tarry a little space.
Str.—Nay, sir, by the rod of grace,
I will hie me from thee fast,
Though thou weep to thy heart to brast.
Ever.—Ye would ever bide by me, ye said.
Str.—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.
Ever.—Strength, you to displease I am to blame;
Will ye break promise that is debt?
Str.—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.
Ever.—I had wanted surer I should you have found:
He that trusteth in his Strength,
She him deceiveth at the length,
Both Strength and Beauty forsake me,
Ye they promised me fair and lovingly.
Disc.—Every-man, I will after Strength be gone;
As for me, I will leave you alone.
Ever.—Why, Discretion, will ye forsake me?
Disc.—Yea, in faith, I will go from thee;
For when Strength goeth before,
I follow after evermore.
Ever.—Yet I pray thee, for the love of the Trinity,
Look into my grave once piteously.
Disc.—Nay, so nigh will I not come.
Farewell every one.
Ever.—O, all things faileth, save God alone,
Beauty, Strength and Discretion;
For, when Death bloweth his blast,
They all run from me full fast.
Five-wits.—Every-man, my leave now of thee I take;
I willl follow the other, for here I thee forsake.
Ever.—Alas! then may I wail and weep;
For I took you for my best friend.
Five-wits.—I will no longer thee keep:
Now farewell, and there an end.
Ever.—O Jesus, help! all hath forsaken me.
Good-deeds.—Nay, Every-man, I will bide with thee,
I will not forsake thee, indeed;
Thou shalt find me a good friend at need.
Ever.—Gramercy, Good-deeds, now may I true friends see;
They have forsaken me every one,
Knowledge, will ye forsake me also?
Kno.—Ye, Every-man, when ye to death shall go;
But not yet for no manner of danger.
Ever.—Gramercy, Knowledge, with all my heart.
Kno.—Nay, yet I will not from hence depart,
Till I see where ye shall be come.
Ever.—Methink, 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 ye that this do hear or see,
How they that I love best do forsake me;
Except, my Good-deeds, that abideth truly.
Goods-deeds.—All earthly things is but vanity,
Beauty, Strength and Discretion do man forsake,
Foolish friends, and kinsmen, that fair spake;
All fleeth save Good-deeds, and that am I.
Ever.—Have mercy on me, God most mighty,—
And stand by me thou mother and maid, holy Mary
Goods-deeds.—Fear not, I will speak for thee.
Ever.—Hear I cry God mercy.
Goods-deeds.—Shorten our end and diminish our pain:
Let us go, and never come again.
Ever.—Into thy hands, Lord, my soul I commend,
Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost;
As thou me boughtest, so me defend,
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
Forever—(commendo spiritum meum.)
Kno.—Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure,
The Good-deeds shall make all sure;
Now hath he made ending:
Me thinketh that I hear angels sing,
And make great joy and melody,
Where every man's soul received shall be.
The Angel.—Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesus.
Here above thou shalt go,
Because of thy singular virtue:
Now the soul is taken the body from,
Thy reckoning is crystal clear;
Now shalt thou into the heavenly sphere,
Unto which all ye shall come
That liveth well before the day of doom.
Doctor.—This moral men may have in mind;
Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young,
And forsake pride, for he deceiveth you in the end,
And remember Beauty, Five wits, Strength and Discretion,
They all at the last do Every-man forsake,
Save his good-deeds, there doth he take:
But beware, and they be small,
Before God he hath no help at all;
None excuse may be there for Every-man:
Alas! how shall be do then,
For after death amends may no man make;
For then mercy and pity doth him forsake;
If his reckoning be not clean when he doth come,
God will say—Ite, maledicti, in ignem æternum:
And he that hath 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 ye, for Saint Charity.





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