Everyman :

Scene 5

Eueryman.

Eueryman.

Why askest thou? Line 87 Woldest thou wete? Line 88

Dethe.

Ye, syr. I wyll shewe you: Line 89 In grete hast I am sende to the Line 90 Fro God out of his mageste. Line 91

Eueryman.

What, sente to me? Line 92

[signature A.iii.]

Dethe.

Ye, certaynly. Line 93 Thoughe thou haue forgete hym here, Line 94 He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere, Line 95 As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe. Line 96

Eueryman.

What desyreth God of me? Line 97

Dethe.

That shall I shewe the: Line 98 A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue Line 99 Without ony lenger respyte. Line 100

Eueryman.

To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue; Line 101 This blynde mater troubleth my wytte. Line 102

Dethe.

On the thou must take a long iourney; Line 103 Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge, Line 104 For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye. Line 105 And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge, Line 106 For before God thou shalte answere, and shewe Line 107 Thy many badde dedes, and good but a fewe; Line 108 How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyse, Line 109 Before the chefe Lorde of paradyse. Line 110 Haue ado that thou were in that waye, Line 111 For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay. Line 112

Eueryman.

Full vnredy I am suche rekenynge to gyue. Line 113 I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou? Line 114

Dethe.

I am Dethe that no man dredeth— Line 115 For euery man I reste — and no man spareth; Line 116 For it is Goddes commaundement Line 117 That all to me sholde be obedyent. Line 118

Eueryman.

O Deth, thou comest whan I had the leest in mynde! Line 119 In thy power it lyeth me to saue; Line 120 Yet of my good wyl I gyue the, yf thou wyl be kynde — Line 121 Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou haue — Line 122 And dyfferre this mater tyll an other daye. Line 123

Dethe.

Eueryman, it may not be by no waye. Line 124 I set not by golde, syluer, nor rychesse, Line 125 Ne by pope / emperour / kynge / duke, ne prynces; Line 126 For, and I wolde receyue gyftes grete, Line 127 All the worlde I myght gete; Line 128

But my custome is clene contrary. Line 129 I gyue the no respyte. Come hens, and not tary! Line 130

Eueryman.

Alas, shall I haue no lenger respyte? Line 131 I may saye Deth gyueth no warnynge! Line 132 To thynke on the, it maketh my herte seke, Line 133 For all vnredy is my boke of rekenynge. Line 134 But xii. yere and I myght haue a-bydynge, Line 135 My countynge-boke I wolde make so clere Line 136 That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere. Line 137 Wherfore, Deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy, Line 138 Spare me tyll I be prouyded of remedy. Line 139

Dethe.

The auayleth not to crye, wepe, and praye; Line 140 But hast the lyghtly that thou were gone that iournaye, Line 141 And preue thy frendes yf thou can. Line 142 For wete thou well the tyde abydeth no man, Line 143 And in the worlde eche lyuynge creature Line 144 For Adams synne must dye of nature. Line 145

Eueryman.

Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take, Line 146 And my rekenynge suerly make, Line 147 Shewe me, for saynt charyte, Line 148 Sholde I not come agayne shortly? Line 149

Dethe.

No, Eueryman; and thou be ones there, Line 150 Thou mayst neuer more come here, Line 151 Trust me veryly. Line 152

Eueryman.

O gracyous God in the hye sete celestyall, Line 153 Haue mercy on me in this moost nede! Line 154 Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestryall Line 155 Of myne acqueyntaunce, that way me to lede? Line 156

Dethe.

Ye, yf ony be so hardy Line 157 That wolde go with the and bere the company. Line 158 Hye the that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence, Line 159 Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence. Line 160 What, wenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the, Line 161 And thy worldely gooddes also? Line 162

Eueryman.

I had wende so, veryle. Line 163

Dethe.

Nay, nay, it was but lende the; Line 164 For as soone as thou arte go, Line 165

Another a whyle shall haue it, and than go ther-fro, Line 166 Euen as thou hast done. Line 167 Eueryman, thou arte made! Thou hast thy wyttes fyue, Line 168 And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue; Line 169 For sodeynly I do come. Line 170

Eueryman.

O wretched caytyfe, wheder shall I flee, Line 171 That I myght scape this endles sorowe? Line 172 Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll to-morowe, Line 173 That I may amende me Line 174 With good aduysement. Line 175

Dethe.

Naye, therto I wyll not consent, Line 176 Nor no man wyll I respyte; Line 177 But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte Line 178 Without ony aduysement. Line 179 And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy. Line 180 Se thou make the redy shortely, Line 181 For thou mayst saye this is the daye Line 182 That no man lyuynge may scape a-way. Line 183

Eueryman.

Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe! Line 184 Now haue I no maner of company Line 185 To help me in my iourney, and me to kepe; Line 186 And also my wrytynge is full vnredy. Line 187 How shall I do now for to exscuse me? Line 188 I wolde to God I had neuer be gete! Line 189 To my soule a full grete profyte it had be, Line 190 For now I fere paynes huge and grete. Line 191 The tyme passeth. Lorde, helpe, that all wrought! Line 192 For though I mourne, it auayleth nought. Line 193 The day passeth and is almoost ago; Line 194 I wote not well what for to do. Line 195 To whome were I best my complaynt to make? Line 196 What and I to Felawshyp therof spake, Line 197 And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce? Line 198 For in hym is all muyne affyaunce; Line 199 We haue in the worlde so many a daye Line 200 Be good frendes in sporte and playe. Line 201 I se hym yonder, certaynely. Line 202

I trust that he wyll bere me company; Line 203 Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe. Line 204 Well mette, Good Felawshyp, and good morowe!

Felawshyp speketh.

Line 205

Felawship.

Eueryman, good morowe, by this daye! Line 206 Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously? Line 207 If ony thynge be a-mysse, I praye the me saye, Line 208 That I may helpe to remedy. Line 209

Eueryman.

Ye, good Felawshyp, ye, Line 210 I am in greate ieoparde. Line 211

Felawship.

My true frende, shewe to me your mynde. Line 212 I wyll not forsake the to my lyues ende, Line 213 In the waye of good company. Line 214

Eueryman.

That was well spoken and louyngly. Line 215

Felawshyp.

Syr, I must nedes knowe your heuynesse; Line 216 I haue pyte to se you in ony dystresse. Line 217 If ony haue you wronged, ye shall reuenged be, Line 218 Thoughe I on the grounde be slayne for the, [signature B.i] Line 219 Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye. Line 220

Eueryman.

Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy. Line 221

Felawship.

Tusshe! by thy thankes I set not a strawe. Line 222 Shewe me your grefe, and saye no more. Line 223

Eueryman.

If I my herte sholde to you breke, Line 224 And than you to tourne your mynde fro me Line 225 And wolde not me comforte whan ye here me speke, Line 226 Than sholde I ten tymes soryer be. Line 227

Felawship.

Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede. Line 228

Eueryman.

Than be you a good frende at nede. Line 229 I haue founde you true here-before. Line 230

Felawship.

And so ye shall euermore; Line 231 For, in fayth, and thou go to hell, Line 232 I wyll not forsake the by the waye. Line 233

Eueryman.

Ye speke lyke a good frende; I byleue you well Line 234 I shall deserue it, and I maye. Line 235

Felawship.

I speke of no deseruynge, by this daye! Line 236

For he that wyll saye, and nothynge do, Line 237 Is not worthy with good company to go; Line 238 Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde, Line 239 As to your frende moost louynge and kynde. Line 240

Eueryman.

I shall shewe you how it is: Line 241 Commaunded I am to go a iournaye, Line 242 A longe waye harde and daungerous, Line 243 And gyue a strayte counte, without delaye, Line 244 Before the hye Iuge, Adonay. Line 245 Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company, Line 246 As ye haue promysed, in this iournaye. Line 247

Felawship.

That is mater in dede! Promyse is duty; Line 248 But, and I sholde take suche a vyage on me, Line 249 I knowe it well, it sholde be to my payne; Line 250 Also it maketh me aferde, certayne. Line 251 But let vs take counsell here as well as we can, Line 252 For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man. Line 253

Eueryman.

Why, ye sayd yf I had nede Line 254 Ye wolde me neuer forsake, quycke ne deed, Line 255 Thoughe it were to hell, truely. Line 256

Felawship.

So I sayd, certaynely, Line 257 But suche pleasures be set a-syde, the sothe to saye; Line 258 And also, yf we toke suche a iournaye, Line 259 Whan sholde we agayne come? Line 260

Eueryman.

Naye, neuer agayne tyll the daye of dome. Line 261

Felawship.

In fayth, than wyll not I come there! Line 262 Who hath you these tydynges brought? Line 263

Eueryman.

In dede, Deth was with me here. Line 264

Felawshyp.

Now, by God that all hathe bought, Line 265 If Deth were the messenger, Line 266 For no man that is lyuynge to-daye Line 267 I wyll not go that lothe iournaye — Line 268 Not for the fader that bygate me! Line 269

Eueryman.

Ye promysed other wyse, parde. Line 270

Felawship.

I wote well I sayd so, truely; Line 271

And yet, yf thou wylte ete & drynke & make good chere, Line 272 Or haunt to women the lusty company, Line 273 I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere, Line 274 Trust me veryly. Line 275

Eueryman.

Ye, therto ye wolde be redy! Line 276 To go to myrthe, solas, and playe Line 277 Your mynde wyll soner apply, Line 278 Than to bere me company in my longe iournaye. Line 279

Felawship.

Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye; Line 280 But and thou wyll murder, or ony man kyll, Line 281 In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll. Line 282

Eueryman.

O, that is a symple aduyse in dede. [signature B.ii] Line 283 Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte! Line 284 We haue loued longe, and now I nede; Line 285 And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me. Line 286

Felawship.

Wheder ye haue loued me or no, Line 287 By Saynt Iohan I wyll not with the go! Line 288

Eueryman.

Yet, I pray the, take the labour & do so moche for me Line 289 To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyte, Line 290 And comforte me tyll I come without the towne. Line 291

Felawship.

Nay, and thou wolde gyue me a newe gowne, Line 292 I wyll not a fote with the go; Line 293 But, and thou had taryed, I wolde not haue lefte the so. Line 294 And as now God spede the in thy iournaye, Line 295 For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye. Line 296

Eueryman.

Wheder a-waye, Felawshyp? Wyll thou forsake me? Line 297

Felawship.

Ye, by my faye! To God I be-take the. Line 298

Eueryman.

Farewell, good Felawshyp! For the my herte is sore. Line 299 A-dewe for euer! I shall se the no more. Line 300

Felawship.

In fayth, Eueryman, fare well now at the endynge! Line 301 For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge. Line 302

Eueryman.

A-lacke, shall wee thus departe in ded — Line 303

A, Lady, helpe! — without ony more comforte? Line 304 Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede. Line 305 For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte? Line 306 Felawshyp here-before with me wolde mery make, Line 307 And now lytell sorowe for me dooth he take. Line 308 It is sayd, 'In prosperyte men frendes may fynde, Line 309 Whiche in aduersyte be full vnkynde.' Line 310 Now wheder for socoure shall I flee, Line 311 Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me? Line 312 To my kynnesmen I wyll, truely, Line 313 Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessyte. Line 314 I byleue that they wyll do so, Line 315 For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go. Line 316 I wyll go saye, for yonder I se them. Line 317 Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen? Line 318