A Select Collection of Old English Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
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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.
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 ye?
BEAUTY.
Peace! I am deaf, I look not behind me, Not, and thou wouldst give me--all the gold in thy chest.
EVERYMAN.
Alas! whereto may I now trust?
Beauty doth fast away hie: She promised with me to live and die.
STRENGTH.
Everyman, I will thee also forsake and deny, The game liketh me not at all.
EVERYMAN.
Why then ye will forsake me all: Strength, tarry, I pray you, a little s.p.a.ce.
STRENGTH.
Nay, sir, by the rood of grace, I will hie me from thee fast, Though thou weep till thy heart brast.
EVERYMAN.
Ye would ever bide by me, ye said.
STRENGTH.
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.
EVERYMAN.
Strength, you to displease I am to blame; Yet promise is debt;[105] this ye well wot.
STRENGTH.
In faith, as for that I care not: Thou art but a fool to complain; Thou spendest thy speech and wasteth thy brain: Go, thrist[106] thee into the ground.
EVERYMAN.
I had ween'd surer I should you have found: But I see well, he that trusteth in his Strength, Is greatly deceived at the length; Both Strength and Beauty hath forsaken me, Yet they promised me steadfast to be.
DISCRETION.
Everyman, I will after Strength be gone; As for me, I will leave you alone.
EVERYMAN.
Why, Discretion, will ye forsake me?
DISCRETION.
Yea, in faith, I will go fro thee; For when Strength is gone before, Then I follow after evermore.
EVERYMAN.
Yet, I pray thee, for love of the Trinity, Look in my grave once piteously.
DISCRETION.
Nay, so nigh will I not come.
Now farewell, fellows everichone.[107]
EVERYMAN.
Oh, all thing faileth, save G.o.d alone, Beauty, Strength, and Discretion; For, when Death bloweth his blast, They all run fro me full fast.
FIVE WITS.
Everyman, of thee now my leave I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake.
