A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 15

DEATH.

Nay, thereto I will not consent, Nor no man will I respite; But to the heart suddenly I shall smite Without any advis.e.m.e.nt.

And now out of thy sight I will me hie; See thou make thee ready shortly, For thou mayest say, this is the day That no man living may 'scape away.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! I may well weep with sighs deep: Now have I no manner of company To help me in my journey, and me to keep; And also my writing is full unready.

How shall I do now for to excuse me!

I would to G.o.d I had never be got;[80]

To my soul a full great profit it had be; For now I fear pains huge and great.

The time pa.s.seth: Lord, help, that all wrought!

For though I mourn, it availeth nought: The day pa.s.seth, and is almost ago; I wot not well what for to do.

To whom were I best my complaint to make?

What, and I to Fellows.h.i.+p thereof spake, And showed him of this sudden chance!

For in him is all mine affiance; We have in the world so many a day Be good friends in sport and play, I see him yonder certainly; I trust that he will bear me company, Therefore to him will I speak to ease my sorrow, Well met, good Fellows.h.i.+p, and good morrow.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P _speaketh_.

Everyman, good morrow, by this day: Sir, why lookest thou so piteously?

If anything be amiss, I pray thee, me say, That I may help to remedy.

EVERYMAN.

Yea, good Fellows.h.i.+p, yea; I am in great jeopardy.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

My true friend, show to me your mind; I will not forsake thee, to my life's end, In the way of good company.

EVERYMAN.

That was well spoken and lovingly.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

Sir, I must needs know your heaviness; I have pity to see you in any distress: If any have you wronged, ye shall revenged be, Though I on the ground be slain for thee; Though that I know before that I should die.

EVERYMAN.

Verily, Fellows.h.i.+p, gramercy.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

Tus.h.!.+ by thy thanks I set not a straw; Show me your grief, and say no more.

EVERYMAN.

If I my heart should to you break, And then you to turn your mind fro me, And would not me comfort, when ye hear me speak, Then should I ten times sorrier be.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

Sir, I say as I will do in deed.

EVERYMAN.

Then be you a good friend at need; I have found you true here-before.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

And so ye shall evermore; For in faith, and thou go to h.e.l.l, I will not forsake thee by the way.

EVERYMAN.

Ye speak like a good friend, I believe you well; I shall deserve it, and I may.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

I speak of no deserving, by this day; For he that will say and nothing do, Is not worthy with good company to go: Therefore show me the grief of your mind, As to your friend most loving and kind.

EVERYMAN.

I shall show you how it is: Commanded I am to go a journey, A long way, hard and dangerous; And give a strait account without delay Before the High Judge Adonai;[81]

Wherefore, I pray you, bear me company, As ye have promised in this journey.

FELLOWs.h.i.+P.

That is matter indeed; promise is duty; But, and I should take such a voyage on me, I know it well, it should be to my pain: Also it make[s] me afeard certain.

But let us take counsel here as well as we can, For your words would fear a strong man.

EVERYMAN.