"Everyman," With Other Interludes, Including Eight Miracle Plays Part 3

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ My true friend, show to me your mind; I will not forsake thee, unto 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 from me, And would not me comfort, when you 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 count without delay Before the high judge Adonai.[11]

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 me afeard, certain.

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

_Everyman._ Why, ye said, If I had need, Ye would me never forsake, quick nor dead, Though it were to h.e.l.l truly.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ So I said, certainly, But such pleasures be set aside, thee sooth to say: And also, if we took such a journey, When should we come again?

_Everyman._ Nay, never again till the day of doom.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ In faith, then will not I come there!

Who hath you these tidings brought?

_Everyman._ Indeed, _Death_ was with me here.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ Now, by G.o.d that all hath bought, If _Death_ were the messenger, For no man that is living to-day I will not go that loath journey-- Not for the father that begat me!

_Everyman._ Ye promised other wise, pardie.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ I wot well I say so truly; And yet if thou wilt eat, and drink, and make good cheer, Or haunt to women, the l.u.s.ty company, I would not forsake you, while the day is clear, Trust me verily!

_Everyman._ Yea, thereto ye would be ready; To go to mirth, solace, and play, Your mind will sooner apply Than to bear me company in my long journey.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ Now, in good faith, I will not that way.

But and thou wilt murder, or any man kill, In that I will help thee with a good will!

_Everyman._ O that is a simple advice indeed!

Gentle _fellow_, help me in my necessity; We have loved long, and now I need, And now, gentle _Fellows.h.i.+p_, remember me.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ Whether ye have loved me or no, By Saint John, I will not with thee go.

_Everyman._ Yet I pray thee, take the labour, and do so much for me To bring me forward, for saint charity, And comfort me till I come without the town.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ Nay, and thou would give me a new gown, I will not a foot with thee go; But and you had tarried I would not have left thee so.

And as now, G.o.d speed thee in thy journey, For from thee I will depart as fast as I may.

_Everyman._ Whither away, _Fellows.h.i.+p_? will you forsake me?

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ Yea, by my fay, to G.o.d I betake thee.

_Everyman._ Farewell, good _Fellows.h.i.+p_; for this my heart is sore; Adieu for ever, I shall see thee no more.

_Fellows.h.i.+p._ In faith, _Everyman_, farewell now at the end; For you I will remember that parting is mourning.

_Everyman._ Alack! shall we thus depart indeed?

Our Lady, help, without any more comfort, Lo, _Fellows.h.i.+p_ forsaketh me in my most need: For help in this world whither shall I resort?

_Fellows.h.i.+p_ herebefore with me would merry make; And now little sorrow for me doth he take.

It is said, in prosperity men friends may find, Which in adversity be full unkind.

Now whither for succour shall I flee, Sith that _Fellows.h.i.+p_ hath forsaken me?

To my kinsmen I will truly, Praying them to help me in my necessity; I believe that they will do so, For kind will creep where it may not go.

I will go say, for yonder I see them go.

Where be ye now, my friends and kinsmen?

_Kindred._ Here be we now at your commandment.

_Cousin_, I pray you show us your intent In any wise, and not spare.

_Cousin._ Yea, _Everyman_, and to us declare If ye be disposed to go any whither, For wete you well, we will live and die together.

_Kindred._ In wealth and woe we will with you hold, For over his kin a man may be bold.

_Everyman._ Gramercy, my friends and kinsmen kind.

Now shall I show you the grief of my mind: I was commanded by a messenger, That is an high king's chief officer; He bade me go a pilgrimage to my pain, And I know well I shall never come again; Also I must give a reckoning straight, For I have a great enemy, that hath me in wait, Which intendeth me for to hinder.

_Kindred._ What account is that which ye must render?

That would I know.

_Everyman._ Of all my works I must show How I have lived and my days spent; Also of ill deeds, that I have used In my time, sith life was me lent; And of all virtues that I have refused.

Therefore I pray you go thither with me, To help to make mine account, for saint _charity_.

_Cousin._ What, to go thither? Is that the matter?

Nay, _Everyman_, I had liefer fast bread and water All this five year and more.

_Everyman._ Alas, that ever I was bore![12]