Everyman :

About this Item

Title
Everyman :
Author
Anonymous
Publication
Manchester, Eng.: Manchester University Press
1961
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Oxford Text Archive number: U-1350-A

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Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/Everyman
Cite this Item
"Everyman :." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/Everyman. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 19, 2025.

Pages

Scene 6

Kynrede.
Here be we now at your commaundement. Line 319 Cosyn, I praye you shewe vs your entent Line 320 In ony wyse, and not spare. Line 321
Cosyn.
Ye, Eueryman, and to vs declare Line 322 If ye be dysposed to go ony-whyder; Line 323 For, wete you well, we wyll lyue and dye to-gyder. Line 324
Kynrede.
In welth and wo we wyll with you holde, Line 325 For ouer his kynne a man may be bolde. Line 326
Eueryman.
Gramercy, my frendes and kynnesmen kynde. Line 327 Now shall I shewe you the grefe of my mynde: Line 328 I was commaunded by a messenger, Line 329 That is a hye kynges chefe offycer. Line 330 He bad me go a pylgrymage, to my payne, Line 331 And I knowe well I shall neuer come agayne. Line 332 Also I must gyue a rekenynge strayte, Line 333 For I haue a grete enemy that hath me in wayte, Line 334 Whiche entendeth me for to hynder. Line 335
Kynrede.
What a-counte is that whiche ye must render? Line 336 That wolde I knowe. Line 337
Eueryman.
Of all my workes I must shewe Line 338

Page 11

How I haue lyued and my dayes spent; Line 339 Also of yll dedes that I haue vsed Line 340 In my tyme, syth lyfe was me lent; Line 341 And of all vertues that I haue refused. Line 342 Therfore, I praye you, go thyder with me Line 343 To helpe to make myn accounte, for saynt charyte. Line 344
Cosyn.
What, to go thyder? Is that the mater? Line 345 Nay, Eueryman, I had leuer fast brede and water Line 346 All this fyue yere and more. [signature B.iii] Line 347
Eueryman.
Alas, that euer I was bore! Line 348 For now shall I neuer be mery, Line 349 If that you forsake me. Line 350
Kynrede.
A, syr, what ye be a mery man! Line 351 Take good herte to you, and make no mone. Line 352 But one thynge I warne you, by Saynt Anne — Line 353 As for me, ye shall go alone. Line 354
Eueryman.
My Cosyn, wyll you not with me go? Line 355
Cosyn.
No, by our Lady! I haue the crampe in my to. Line 356 Trust not to me; for, so God me spede, Line 357 I wyll deceyue you in your moost nede. Line 358
Kynrede.
It auayleth not vs to tyse. Line 359 Ye shall haue my mayde with all my herte; Line 360 She loueth to go to feestes, there to be nyse, Line 361 And to daunce, and a-brode to sterte. Line 362 I wyll gyue her leue to helpe you in that iourney, Line 363 If that you and she may a-gree. Line 364
Eueryman.
Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde: Line 365 Wyll you go with me, or abyde be-hynde? Line 366
Kynrede.
Abyde behynde? / Ye, that wyll I, and I maye! Line 367 Therfore farewell tyll another daye. Line 368
Eueryman.
Howe sholde I be mery or gladde? Line 369 For fayre promyses men to me make, Line 370 But whan I haue moost nede they me forsake. Line 371 I am deceyued; that maketh me sadde. Line 372
Cosyn.
Cosyn Eueryman, farewell now, Line 373 For veryly I wyll not go with you. Line 374 Also of myne owne an vnredy rekenynge Line 375 I haue to accounte; therfore I make taryenge. Line 376

Page 12

Now God kepe the, for now I go. Line 377
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