A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 14

EVERYMAN.

What! sent to me?

DEATH.

Yea, certainly: Though you have forgot him here, He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere; As, ere we depart, thou shalt know.

EVERYMAN.

What desireth G.o.d of me?

DEATH.

That shall I show thee; A reckoning he will needs have Without any lenger respite.

EVERYMAN.

To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave; This blind matter troubleth my wit.

DEATH.

On thee thou must take a long journey, Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring, For turn again thou cannot by no way: And look thou be sure of thy reckoning; For before G.o.d thou shalt answer and show Thy many bad deeds, and good but a few, How thou hast spent thy life, and in what wise, Before the chief lord of paradise.

Have ado that[78] we were in that way, For, wit thou well, thou shalt make none attorney.

EVERYMAN.

Full unready I am such reckoning to give: I know thee not; what messenger art thou?

DEATH.

I am Death, that no man dreadeth; For every man I 'rrest, and no man spareth, For it is G.o.d's commandment That all to me should be obedient.

EVERYMAN.

O Death, thou comest, when I had thee least in mind; In thy power it lieth me to save; Yet of my good will I give thee, if thou will be kind, Yea, a thousand pounds shalt thou have, And [thou] defer this matter till another day.

DEATH.

Everyman, it may not be by no way; I set not by gold, silver, nor riches, Ne by pope, emperor, king, duke, ne princes; For, and I would receive gifts great, All the world I might get; But my custom is clean contrary; I give thee no respite, come hence, and not tarry.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! shall I have no lenger respite?

I may say Death giveth no warning: To think on thee it maketh my heart sick; For all unready is my book of reckoning: But, [for] twelve year and I might have abiding, My counting-book I would make so clear, That my reckoning I should not need to fear.

Wherefore, Death, I pray thee for G.o.d's mercy, Spare me, till I be provided of remedy.

DEATH.

Thee availeth not to cry, weep, and pray: But haste thee lightly, that thou wert gone this journey; And prove thy friends, if thou can; For, wit thou well, the tide abideth no man, And in the world each living creature For Adam's sin must die of nature.

EVERYMAN.

Death, if I should this pilgrimage take, And my reckoning surely make, Show me, for Saint Charity, Should I not come again shortly?

DEATH.

No, Everyman, and thou be once there, Thou mayest never more come here, Trust me verily.

EVERYMAN.

O gracious G.o.d, in the high seat celestial, Have mercy on me in this most need.

Shall I have no company from this vale terrestrial Of mine acquaince,[79] that way me to lead?

DEATH.

Yea, if any be so hardy, That would go with thee, and bear thee company: Hie thee that thou were gone to G.o.d's magnificence, Thy reckoning to give before his presence.

What, weenest thou thy life is given thee, And thy worldly goods also?

EVERYMAN.

I had ween'd so verily.

DEATH.

Nay, nay; it was but lend thee; For, as soon as thou art gone, Another awhile shall have it, and then go therefro, Even as thou hast done.

Everyman, thou art mad, thou hast thy wits five, And here on earth will not amend thy life; For suddenly I do come.

EVERYMAN.

O wretched caitiff, whither shall I flee, That I might escape this endless sorrow!

Now, gentle Death, spare me till to-morrow, That I may amend me With good advis.e.m.e.nt.