A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 22

No more will I unto death's hour, Whatsoever thereof befall.

DISCRETION.

Everyman, advise you first of all, Go with a good advis.e.m.e.nt and deliberation; We all give you virtuous monition That all shall be well.

EVERYMAN.

My friends, hark what I will you tell; I pray G.o.d reward you in His heavenly sphere: Now hearken all that be here; For I will make my testament Here before you all present: In alms half my good I will give with my hands twain In the way of charity with good intent, And the other half still shall remain: I it bequeath to be returned there it ought to be.

This I do in despite of the fiend of h.e.l.l, To go quit[99] out of his peril[100]

Ever after this day.

KNOWLEDGE.

Everyman, hearken what I will say; Go to priesthood, I you advise, And receive of him in any wise The holy sacrament and ointment[101] together, Then shortly see ye turn again hither, We will all abide you here.

FIVE WITS.

Yea, Everyman, hie you that ye ready were: There is no emperor, king, duke, ne baron, That of G.o.d hath commission, As hath the least priest in the world being; For of the blessed sacraments pure and benign He beareth the keys, and thereof hath cure For man's redemption, it is ever sure, Which G.o.d for our soul's medicine Gave us out of his heart with great pain, Here in this transitory life for thee and me: The blessed sacraments seven there be, Baptism, confirmation, with priesthood good, And the sacrament of G.o.d's precious flesh and blood, Marriage, the holy extreme unction, and penance; These seven be good to have in remembrance, Gracious sacraments of high divinity.

EVERYMAN.

Fain would I receive that holy body, And meekly to my ghostly father I will go.

FIVE WITS.

Everyman, that is the best that ye can do; G.o.d will you to salvation bring, For good priesthood exceedeth all other thing; To us holy scripture they do teach, And converteth man fro sin heaven to reach; G.o.d hath to them more power given Than to any angel that is in heaven: With five words he may consecrate G.o.d's body in flesh and blood to take, And handleth his Maker between his hands,[102]

The priest bindeth and unbindeth all bands Both in earth and in heaven; He[103] ministers all the sacraments seven: Though we kiss thy feet, thou wert worthy: Thou art the surgeon that cureth sin deadly, No remedy may we find under G.o.d, But all only priesthood.

Everyman, G.o.d gave priest[s] that dignity, And setteth them in His stead among us to be; Thus be they above angels in degree.

KNOWLEDGE.

If priests be good, it is so surely, But when Jesu heng on the cross with great smart, There he gave us out of his blessed heart The same sacrament in great torment.

He sold them not to us, that Lord omnipotent; Therefore Saint Peter the Apostle doth say, That Jesus' curse hath all they, Which G.o.d their Saviour do buy or sell, Or they for any money do take or tell, Sinful priests giveth the sinners example bad, Their children sitteth by other men's fires, I have heard, And some haunteth women's company, With unclean life, as l.u.s.ts of lechery; These be with sin made blind.

FIVE WITS.

I trust to G.o.d, no such may we find: Therefore let us priesthood honour, And follow their doctrine for our soul's succour; We be their sheep, and they [our] shepherds be, By whom we all be kept in surety.

Peace! for yonder I see Everyman come, Which hath made true satisfaction.

GOOD DEEDS.

Methink it is he indeed.

EVERYMAN.

Now Jesu Christ be your alder[104] speed!

I have received the sacrament for my redemption, And then mine extreme unction; Blessed be all they that counselled me to take it: And now, friends, let us go without longer respite; I thank G.o.d that ye have tarried so long.

Now set each of you on this rod your hand, And shortly follow me; I go before, there I would be: G.o.d be our guide.

STRENGTH.

Everyman, we will not fro you go, Till ye have gone this voyage long.

DISCRETION.

I Discretion will bide by you also.

KNOWLEDGE.

And though this pilgrimage be never so strong, I will never part you fro: Everyman, I will be as sure by thee, As ever I was by Judas Maccabee.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! I am so faint I may not stand, My limbs under me do fold: Friends, let us not turn again to this land, Not for all the world's gold; For into this cave must I creep,

BEAUTY.

And turn to the earth, and there to sleep.

EVERYMAN.

What, into this grave? Alas!

BEAUTY.

Yea, there shall ye consume more and less.

EVERYMAN.

And what, should I smother here?