Twelve Centuries of English Poetry and Prose

1 hear

3 in form 2 matter 4 A Morality This play exists also in Dutch, entitled "Elckerlijk," printed about 1495, and attributed to Petrus Dorlandus. The earliest known English editions date about 1525. From the dates and the almost entire lack of humor in the play, it is most probable that the English form is a free translation from the Dutch. We follow the text of the Skot copy in the Britwell Library, as reprinted by W. W. Greg, with capitals and punctuation added. On Moralities and Miracle Plays, see Eng. Lit.. 64-67.

How transytory we be all daye.

This mater is wonderse precyous,

But the entent of it is more gracyous,
And swete to bere awaye.

The story sayth:-Man, in the begynnynge
Loke well, and take good heed to the endynge,
Be you never so gay;

Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete,
Whiche in the ende causeth the soule to wepe,
Whan the body lyeth in claye.

Here shall you se how Felawshyp and Jolyte,
Bothe Strengthe, Pleasure and Beaute,
Wyll fade from thes as floure in Maye.
For ye shall here, how our heven kynge
Calleth Everyman to a generall rekenynge.
Gyve audyence, and here what he doth saye.
GOD speketh.

I perceyve here in my majeste

I heled theyr fete; with thornes hurt was my heed;

I coude do no more than I dyde truely.
And nowe I se the people do clene for sake me:
They use10 the seven deedly synnes dampnable,
As pryde, coveytyse, wrathe and lechery,
Now in the worlde be made commendable,
And thus they leve of aungelles the hevenly
company,

Every man lyveth so after his owne pleasure;
And yet of theyr lyfe they be nothinge sure.
I se, the more that I them forbere,
The worse they be fro yere to yere;
All that lyveth appayreth11 faste.
Therefore I wyll in all the haste

I hoped well that every man

In my glory shulde make his mansyon,
And thereto I had them all electe;
But now I se, like traytours dejecte,

They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment,

Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them have lent.
I profered the people grete multytude of mercy,
And fewe there be that asketh it hertly13;
They be so combred with worldly ryches
That nedes on them I must do justyce,
On every man lyvynge without fere.-
Where arte thou, Deth, thou myghty messen-
gere?

DETHE. That shall I shewe thee: A rekenynge he wyll nedes have, Without ony lenger respyte.

EVERYMAN. To gyve a rekenynge longer layscr18 I crave;

This blynde mater troubleth my wytte.

DETHE. On the thou must take a longe journey,

Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge,

For turne agayne thou can not by no waye;
And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge,
Fcr before God thou shalte answere and shewe
Thy many badde dedes and good but a fewe,

DETHE. Almyghty God, I am here at your How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyll,

wyse, Before the chefe lorde of paradyse.

Have I do19 we were in that waye,

110

For, wete thou well, thou shalte make none attournay20.

EVERYMAN. Full unredy I am suche reken

ynge to gyve.

I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou?
DETHE. I am Dethe, that no man dredeth.
For every man I rest21, and no man spareth,
For it is Goddes commaundement
That all to me sholde be obedyent.
EVERYMAN. O Dethe, thou comest whan I
had thee leest in mynde!

120

In thy power it lyeth me to save;
Yet of my good wyl I gyve the, if thou wyl
be kynde.

Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou have,
80 And dyfferre22 this mater tyll an other daye.

His syght to blynde, and fro heven to departe15,
Excepte that almes be his good frende,
In hell for to dwell, worlde without ende.
Loo, yonder I se Everyman walkynge,
Full lytell he thynketh on my comynge!
His mynde is on flesshely lustes, and his treas-
ure;

And grete payne it shall cause hym to endure
Before the Lorde, heven kynge.-

DETHE. Everyman, it may not be by no waye. I set not by23 golde, sylver, nor rychesse, Ne by pope, emperour, kynge, duke ne prynces; For, and I wolde receyve gyftes grete, All the worlde I myght gete; But my custome is clene contrary.

129

I gyve the no respyte, come hens and not tary. EVERYMAN. Alas! shall I have no lenger respyte?

I may saye Deth geveth no warnynge!
To thynke on the it maketh my herte seke;
For all unredy is my boke of rekenynge.
But, xii yere and I myght have abydynge,
My countynge boke I wolde make so clere,
That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere.
Wherfore, Deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy,
Spare me tyll I be provyded of remedy.
DETHE. The avayleth not to crye, wepe and
praye.

140

But hast1 the lyghtly that thou were gone that | To helpe me in my journey, and me to kepe; journaye.

And preve3 thy frendes, yf thou can.

For, wete thou well, the tyde abydeth no man,
And in the worlde eche lyvynge creature
For Adams synne must dye of nature.
EVERYMAN. Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrym-
age take,

And my rekenynge suerly make,
Shewe me, for saynt Charyte,

Sholde I not come agayne shortly?

And also my wrytynge? is full unredy.
How shall I do now for to excuse me?
I wolde to God I had never begetes!

189

To my soule a full grete profyte it had be,
For now I fere paynes huge and grete.
The tyme passeth, Lorde, helpe, that all
wrought!

For though I mourne it avayleth nought.
The day passeth, and is almoost ago9,
I wote not well what for to do.

DETHE. No, Everyman, and thou be ones To whome were I best my complaynt to make! there,

What and I to Felawshyp therof spake.
And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce!
For in hym is all myne affyaunce1o.

199

EVERYMAN. O gracyous God, in the hye sete We have in the worlde so many a daye

celestyall,

Have mercy on me in this moost nede.

Shall I have no company fro this vale teres-
tryall

Of myne acqueynce that way me to lede?
DETHE. Ye, yf ony be so hardy

That wolde go with the and bere the company.
Hye the, that thou were gone to Goddes mag-
nyfycence,

Be good frendes in sporte and playe.

I se hym yonder certaynely;

I trust that he wyll bere me company,
Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe,
Well mette, good Felawshyp, and good morowe.
FELAWSHYP Speketh: Everyman, good morowe!

By this day,

Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously?

If ony thynge be a mysse I praye the me saye,

Thy rekenynge to gyve before His presence. 160 That I may helpe to remedy,

What, wenest thou thy lyve is gyven the

And thy worldely gooddes also?

EVERYMAN. I had wende so veryle.

DETHE. Nay, nay, it was but lende the,

For as soone as thou arte go,

EVERYMAN. Ye, good Felawshyp, ye, 210 I am in greate jeoparde.

FELAWSHYP. My true frende, shewe to me your mynde;

I wyll not forsake the to my lyves ende,

Another a whyle shall have it and than go ther In the waye of good company.

fro,

Even as thou hast done.

Everyman, thou arte made5! Thou hast thy

wyttes fyve,

And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyve!
For sodeynly I do come.

170

EVERYMAN. O wretched caytyfes, wheder
shall I flee,

That I myght scape this endles sorowe?
Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll to morowe,
That I may amende me

With good advysement.

DETHE. Naye, thereto I wyll not consent, Nor no man wyll I respyte;

But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte

Without ony advysement.

And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy.
Se thou make the redy shortely,

For thou mayst saye this is the daye
That no man lyvynge may scape awaye.

EVERYMAN. Alas!

syghes depe;

180

I may well wepe

with

4 acquaintance

6 captive, wretch

9 gone

10 trust

11 pity

12 great thanks

230

FELAWSHYP. And so ye shall evermore,

For, in fayth, and thou go to hell

I wyll not forsake the by the waye.

Truste me veryly.

EVERYMAN. Ye, therto ye wolde be redy: To go to myrthe, solas, and playe,

EVERYMAN. Ye speke lyke a good frende, I Your mynde wyll soner apply,

byleve you well,

I shall deserve it, and I may.

FELAWSHYP. I speke of no deservynge, by this daye,

For he that wyll saye and nothynge do

Is not worthy with good company to go. Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde As to your frende mooste lovynge and kynde. 240

EVERYMAN. I shall shewe you how it is:
Commaunded I am to go a journaye,
A long waye, harde and daungerous,
And gyve a strayte counte, without delaye,
Before the hye Juge Adonay3.
Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company,
As ye have promysed, in this journaye.

FELAWSHYP. That is mater in dede! Promyse is duty.

But and I sholde take suche a vyage on me,
I knowe it well, it shulde be to my payne; 250
Also it make me aferde, certayne.

But let us take counsell here as well as we can,
For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man.

EVERYMAN. Why, ye sayd, yf I had nede, Ye wolde me never forsake, quyckes ne deed, Though it were to hell, truely.

FELAWSHYP. So I sayd certaynely.

But such pleasures be set a syde the sothe?

to saye,

And also, yf we toke suche a journaye,

Whan sholde we come agayne?

260

Than to bere me company in my longe jour

naye.

FELAWSHYP. Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye;

280

But, and thou wyll murder, or ony man kyll,
In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll.
EVERYMAN. O that is a symple12 advyse in
dede!

Gentyll felawe, help me in my necessyte;
We have loved longe, and now I nede!
And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me.
FELAWSHYP. Wheder ye have loved me or no,
By saynt John, I wyll not with the go.

EVERY MAN. Yet I pray the, take the labour and do so moche for me,

To brynge me forwarde, for saynt Charyte, 290 And comforte me tyll I come without the towne.

FELAWSHYP. Nay, and thou wolde gyve me a newe gowne,

I wyll not a fote with the go;

But and thou had taryed, I wolde not have lefte the so:

And as now, God spede the in thy journaye! For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye. EVERYMAN. Wheder a waye, Felawshyp? wyll thou forsake me?

FELAWSHYP. Ye, by my faye13! To God I betake14 the.

EVERYMAN. Farewell, good Fellawshyp! For the my herte is sore!

EVERYMAN. Naye, never agayne, tyll the A dewe for ever, I shall se the no more. 300 daye of domes.

FELAWSHYP. In fayth, Everyman, fare well now at the ende,

For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge.

EVERYMAN. A lacke! shall we thus departe15 in dede?

A! Lady, helpe! without ony more comforte, Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede. For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte?

Felawshyp here before with me wolde mery make,

And now lytell sorowe for me dooth he take. It is sayd, in prosperyte men frendes may fynde

Whiche in adversyte be full unkynde.

I wolde not forsake you, whyle the daye is Now wheder for socoure shall I flee, clere,

Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me?
To my kynnesmen I wyll truely,
Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessyte.

310

I byleve that they wyll do so,

For kynde2 wyll crepe where it may not go3.
I wyll go saye; for yonder I se them go:-
Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen?
KYNREDE. Here be we now at your com-
maundement.

Cosyn, I praye you, shewe us your entent 320
In ony wyse, and not spare.

COSYN. Ye, Everyman, and to us declare
If ye be dysposed to go ony whyder;
For, wete you well, wyll lyve and dye to gyder.
KYNREDE. In welth and wo we wyll with
you holde;

For over his kynne a man may be bolde.
EVERYMAN. Gramercy, my frendes and kynnes-
men kynde!

359

I wyll deceyve you in your moost nede.
KYNREDE. It avayleth not us to tyses:
Ye shall have my mayde, with all my herte;
She loveth to go to feestes there to be nyse3,
And to daunce, and a brode to sterte1o,

I wyll gyve her leve to helpe you in that
journey,

If that you and she may a gree.

EVERYMAN. Now shewe me the very effecte
of your mynde;

Wyll you go with me, or abyde be hynde?
KYNREDE. Abyde behynde! ye11, that wyll
I and I maye;

Therfore farewell tyll another daye.

EVERYMAN. Howe sholde I be mery or gladde? For fayre promyses men to me make,

sake;

370

Now shall I shewe you the grefe of my mynde. But, whan I have moost nede, they me for-
I was commaunded by a messenger,
That is a hye kynges chefe offycer;

330

I am deceyved, that maketh me sadde.
COSYN. Cosyn Everyman, farewell now,
For, veryly, I wyll not go with you.
Also of myne owne an unredy rekenynge

He bad me go a pylgrymage to my payne,
And, I knowe well, I shall never come agayne.
Also I must gyve a rekenynge strayte;
For I have a grete enemy that hath me in I have to accounte, therfore I make taryenge;
wayte4,
Now God kepe the, for now I go.
EVERYMAN. A! Jesus, is all come here to?

Whiche entendeth me for to hynder.

KYNREDE. What a counte is that whiche ye Lo, fayre wordes maketh fooles fayne;

must render?

That wolde I knowe.

379

They promyse, and nothynge wyll do certayne.
My kynnesmen promysed me faythfully
For to a byde with me stedfastly;
And now fast a waye do they flee;
340 Even so Felawshyp promysed me.
What frende were best me of to provyde?
I lose my tyme here longer to abyde;
Yet in my mynde a thynge there is,-
All my lyfe I have loved ryches;
Yf that my Good now helpe me myght,

EVERYMAN. Of all my workes I must shewe,
How I have lyved, and my dayes spent;
Also of yll dedes that I have used
In my tyme, syth lyfe was me lent,
And of all vertues that I have refused.
Therefore, I praye you, go thyder with me
To helpe to make myn accounte, for saynt
Charyte.

COSYN. What, to go thyder! Is that the He wolde make my herte full lyght;
mater?

I wyll speke to hym in this dystresse,

Nay, Everyman, I had levers fast brede and Where arte thou, my Gooddes and Ryches? water,

390

GOODES. Who calleth me? Everyman? What
hast thou haste?

I lye here in corners, trussed and pyled so hye,
And in chestes I am locked so fast,

Also sacked in bagges, thou mayst se with thyn
eye,

I can not styre; in packes lowe I lye.
What wolde ye have? Lyghtly me saye.
EVERYMAN. Come hyder, Good, in al the hast
thou may,

400

For of counseyll I must desyre the.
GOODES. Syr, and ye in the worlde have
sorowe or adversyte,

That can I helpe you to remedy shortly.
EVERYMAN. It is another dysease that greveth
me;

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