How do you think Everyman feels?
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
And turn to earth, and there to sleep.
BEAUTY:
What, into this grave? Alas!
EVERYMAN:
Yea, there shall you consume, more and less.
BEAUTY:
And what, should I smother here?
EVERYMAN:
Yea, by my faith, and never more appear.
In this world live no more we shall,
But in heaven before the highest Lord of all.
BEAUTY:
I cross out all this; adieu; by Saint John!
I take my cap in my lap and am gone.
EVERYMAN:
What, Beauty, whither will ye?
BEAUTY:
Peace! I am deaf. I look not behind me,
Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest.
(Exit BEAUTY.)
EVERYMAN:
Alas, whereto may I trust?
Beauty goeth fast away from me;
She promised with me to live and die.
STRENGTH:
Everyman, I will thee also forsake and deny.
Thy game liketh me not at all.
EVERYMAN:
Why, then ye will forsake me all?
Sweet Strength, tarry a little space.
STRENGTH:
Nay, sir, by the rood of grace,
I will hie me from thee fast,
Though thou weep till thy heart to-brast. (burst)
EVERYMAN:
Ye would ever bide by me, ye said.
STRENGTH:
Yea, I have you far enough conveyed.
Ye be old enough, I understand,
Your pilgrimage to take on hand.
I repent me that I hither came.
EVERYMAN:
Strength, you to displease I am to blame;
Yet, promise is debt, this ye well wot.
STRENGTH:
In faith, I care not!
Thou art but a fool to complain.
You spend your speech and waste your brain.
Go, thrust thee into the ground. (Exit STRENGTH.)
EVERYMAN:
I had weened surer I should you have found.
He that trusteth in his Strength,
She him deceiveth at the length.
Both Strength and Beauty forsaketh me,
Yet they promised me fair and lovingly.
DISCRETION:
Everyman, I will after Strength be gone;
As for me I will leave you alone.
EVERYMAN:
Why, Discretion, will ye forsake me?
DISCRETION:
Yea, in faith, I will go from thee;
For when Strength goeth before,
I follow after evermore.
EVERYMAN:
Yet, I pray thee, for the love of the Trinity,
Look in my grave once piteously.
DISCRETION:
Nay, so nigh will I not come.
Farewell, every one! (Exit DISCRETION.)
EVERYMAN:
O all thing faileth, save God alone,
Beauty, Strength, and Discretion;
For when Death bloweth his blast,
They all run from me full fast.
FIVE WITS:
Everyman, my leave now of thee
I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake.
EVERYMAN:
Alas! then may I wail and weep,
For I took you for my best friend.
FIVE WITS:
I will no longer thee keep;
Now farewell, and there an end. (Exit FIVE WITS.)
EVERYMAN:
O Jesu, help! All hath forsaken me!
GOOD DEEDS:
Nay, Everyman; I will bide with thee,
I will not forsake thee indeed;
Thou shalt find me a good friend at need.
EVERYMAN:
Gramercy, Good Deeds!
Now may I true friends see.
They have forsaken me, every one;
I loved them better than my Good Deeds alone.
Knowledge, will ye forsake me also?
KNOWLEDGE:
Yea, Everyman, when ye to death shall go;
But not yet, for no manner of danger.
