A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 20

Now go we together lovingly To Confession, that cleansing river.

EVERYMAN.

For joy I weep: I would we there were; But I pray you to instruct me by intellection,[91]

Where dwelleth that holy virtue Confession?

KNOWLEDGE.

In the house of salvation; We shall find him in that place, That shall us comfort by G.o.d's grace.

Lo, this is Confession: kneel down, and ask mercy; For he is in good conceit with G.o.d Almighty.

EVERYMAN.

O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, Wash from me the spots of vices unclean, That on me no sin may be seen; I come with Knowledge for my redemption, Redempt with heart and full contrition, For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, And great accounts before G.o.d to make.

Now I pray you, Shrift, mother of salvation, Help hither my good deeds for my piteous exclamation.

CONFESSION.

I know your sorrow well, Everyman: Because with Knowledge ye come to me, I will you comfort as well as I can; And a precious jewel I will give thee, Called penance, voider[92] of adversity: Therewith shall your body chastised be With abstinence and perseverance in G.o.d's service; Here shall you receive that scourge of me, Which is penance strong that ye must endure, Remember thy Saviour was scourged for thee With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently: So must thou, ere thou pa.s.s thy pilgrimage.

Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, And by that time Good Deeds will be with thee; But in anywise be sure of mercy, For your time draweth fast; and ye will saved be, Ask G.o.d mercy, and he will grant truly: When with the scourge of penance man doth him bind, The oil of forgiveness then shall he find.

EVERYMAN.

Thanked be G.o.d for his gracious work; For now I will my penance begin: This hath rejoiced and lighted my heart, Though the knots be painful and hard within.

KNOWLEDGE.

Everyman, look your penance that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be; And I shall give you counsel at will, How your account ye shall make clearly.

EVERYMAN.

O eternal G.o.d, O heavenly figure, O way of rightwiseness, O goodly vision, Which descended down in a virgin pure, Because he would Everyman redeem, Which Adam forfeited by his disobedience, O blessed G.o.dhead, elect and high Divine, Forgive me my grievous offence; Here I cry thee mercy in this presence: O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer!

Of all the world hope and conduyter, Mirror of joy, foundation of mercy, Which enlumineth heaven and earth thereby, Hear my clamorous complaint, though it late be, Receive my prayers of thy benignity, Though I be a sinner most abominable, Yet let my name be written in Moses' table.

O Mary, pray to the Maker of all thing Me for to help at my ending, And save me from the power of my enemy; For Death a.s.saileth me strongly: And, Lady, that I may by mean of thy prayer Of your son's glory to be partiner.

By the mean of his pa.s.sion I it crave; I beseek you help me my soul to save.

Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance, My flesh therewith shall give acquittance; I will now begin, if G.o.d give me grace.

KNOWLEDGE.

Everyman, G.o.d give you time and s.p.a.ce!

Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Saviour; Now may you make your reckoning sure.

EVERYMAN.

In the name of all the Holy Trinity, My body punished sore shall be, Take this body for the sin of the flesh; Also thou delightest to go gay and fresh; And in the way of d.a.m.nation thou did me bring, Therefore suffer now strokes and punis.h.i.+ng: Now of penance I will wade the water clear, To save me from purgatory, that sharp fire.[93]

GOOD DEEDS.

I thank G.o.d, now I can walk and go, And am delivered of my sickness and woe; Therefore with Everyman I will go, and not spare, His good works I will help him to declare.

KNOWLEDGE.

Now, Everyman, be merry and glad; Your Good Deeds cometh now, ye may not be sad: Now is your Good Deeds whole and sound, Going upright upon the ground.

EVERYMAN.

My heart is light, and shall be evermore; Now will I smite faster than I did before.

GOOD DEEDS.

Everyman pilgrim, my special friend, Blessed be thou without end; For thee is prepared the eternal glory: Ye have me made whole and sound, Therefore I will bide by thee in every stound.

EVERYMAN.

Welcome, my Good Deeds, now I hear thy voice, I weep for very sweetness of love.

KNOWLEDGE.

Be no more sad, but evermore rejoice, G.o.d seeth thy living in His throne above; Put on this garment to thy behove, Which with your tears is now all wet, Lest before G.o.d it be unsweet, When ye to your journey's end come shall.

EVERYMAN.

Gentle Knowledge, what do ye it call?

KNOWLEDGE.

It is the garment of sorrow, From pain it will you borrow; Contrition it is, That getteth forgiveness, It pleaseth G.o.d pa.s.sing-well.

GOOD DEEDS.

Everyman, will you wear it for your hele?[94]