A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 24

EVERYMAN.

Alas! then may I both wail and weep; For I took you for my best friend.

FIVE WITS.

I will no lenger thee keep: Now farewell, and here an end.

EVERYMAN.

Now, Jesu, help! all hath forsaken me.

GOOD DEEDS.

Nay, Everyman, I will abide with thee, I will not forsake thee indeed; Thou shalt find me a good friend at need.

EVERYMAN.

Gramercy, Good Deeds, now may I true friends see They have forsaken me everychone; I loved them better than my good deeds alone: Knowledge, will ye forsake me also?

KNOWLEDGE.

Yea, Everyman, when ye to death shall go; But not yet for no manner of danger.

EVERYMAN.

Gramercy, Knowledge, with all my heart.

KNOWLEDGE.

Nay, yet I will not from hence depart, Till I see where ye shall be come.

EVERYMAN.

Methinketh, alas! that I must be gone To make my reckoning, and my debts pay; For I see my time is nigh spent away.

Take ensample, all ye that this do hear or see, How they that I loved best now forsake me; Except my Good Deeds, that bideth truly.

GOOD 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.

EVERYMAN.

Have mercy on me, G.o.d most mighty, And stand by me, thou mother and maid Mary.

GOOD DEEDS.

Fear not, I will speak for thee.

EVERYMAN.

Here I cry, G.o.d mercy!

GOOD DEEDS.

Short our end and minish our pain: Let us go, and never come again.

EVERYMAN.

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 fro the fiend's boast, That I may appear with that blessed host That shall be saved at the day of doom: _In ma.n.u.s tuas_, of might most, For ever _commendo spiritum meum_.

[_Everyman dies_.

KNOWLEDGE.

Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure: The Good Deeds shall make all sure; Now hath he made ending, Methinketh that I hear angels sing, And make great joy and melody, Where Everyman's soul shall received be.

THE ANGEL.

Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesu, Here above thou shalt go.

Because of thy singular virtue: Now thy soul is taken thy body fro, Thy reckoning is crystal clear; Now shalt thou into the heavenly sphere, Unto the which all ye shall come That liveth well, after the day of doom.

DOCTOR.

This memory all 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 last do Everyman forsake, Save his Good Deeds; [them he] there doth take: But beware, for, and they be small, Before G.o.d he hath no help at all; None excuse may be there for Everyman: Alas, how shall he do then?

For after death amends may no man make, For then mercy and pity doth him forsake; If his reckoning be not clear, when he doth come, G.o.d will say, _Ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum_; And he that hath his account whole and sound, High in heaven he shall be crowned; Unto which place G.o.d bring us all thither, That we may live body and soul together; Thereto help the Trinity: Amen, say ye, for Saint Charity.[108]

FINIS.