Everyman :

Scene 2

God speketh.

God.

I perceyue, here in my maieste, Line 22 How that all creatures be to me vnkynde, Line 23 Lyuynge without drede in worldly prosperyte. Line 24

Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde, Line 25 Drowned in synne, they know me not for theyr God. Line 26 In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde; Line 27 They fere not my ryghtwysnes, the sharpe rod. Line 28 My lawe that I shewed, whan I for them dyed, Line 29 They forget clene / and shedynge of my blode rede. [signature A.ii] Line 30 I hanged bytwene two theues, it can not be denyed; Line 31 To gete them lyfe I suffred to be deed; Line 32 I heled theyr fete / with thornes hurt was my heed. Line 33 I coude do no more than I dyde, truely; Line 34 And nowe I se the people do clene for-sake me. Line 35 They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable, Line 36 As pryde, coueytyse, wrath, and lechery Line 37 Now in the worlde be made commendable; Line 38 And thus they leue of aungelles the heuenly company. Line 39 Euery man lyueth so after his owne pleasure, Line 40 And yet of theyr lyfe they be nothynge sure. Line 41 I se the more that I them forbere Line 42 The worse they be fro yere to yere. Line 43 All that lyueth appayreth faste; Line 44 Therefore I wyll, in all the haste, Line 45 Haue a rekenynge of euery mannes persone; Line 46 For, and I leue the people thus alone Line 47 In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes, Line 48 Veryly they will become moche worse than beestes, Line 49 For now one wolde by enuy another vp ete; Line 50 Charyte they do all clene forgete. Line 51 I hoped well that euery man Line 52 In my glory sholde make his mansyon, Line 53 And therto I had them all electe; Line 54 But now I se, lyke traytours deiecte, Line 55 They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment, Line 56 Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them haue lent. Line 57 I profered the people grete multytude of mercy, Line 58 And fewe there be that asketh it hertly. Line 59 They be so combred with worldly ryches Line 60

That nedes on them I must do iustyce, Line 61 On euery man lyuynge without fere. Line 62 Where arte thou, Deth, thou myghty messengere? Line 63