Everyman, with Other Interludes

God. I perceive here in my majesty, How that all creatures be to me unkind, Living without dread in worldly prosperity: Of ghostly sight the people be so blind, Drowned in sin, they know me not for their God; In worldly riches is all their mind, They fear not my rightwiseness, the sharp rod; My law that I shewed, when I for them died, They forget clean, and shedding of my blood red; I hanged between two, it cannot be denied; To get them life I suffered to be dead; I healed their feet, with thorns hurt was my head: I could do no more than I did truly, And now I see the people do clean forsake me. They use the seven deadly sins damnable; As pride, covetise, wrath, and lechery, Now in the world be made commendable; And thus they leave of angels the heavenly company; Everyman liveth so after his own pleasure, And yet of their life they be nothing sure: I see the more that I them forbear The worse they be from year to year; All that liveth appaireth⁷ fast, Therefore I will in all the haste Have a reckoning of Everyman's person For and I leave the people thus alone In their life and wicked tempests, Verily they will become much worse than beasts; For now one would by envy another up eat; Charity they all do clean forget. I hoped well that Everyman In my glory should make his mansion, And thereto I had them all elect; But now I see, like traitors deject, They thank me not for the pleasure that I to them meant, Nor yet for their being that I them have lent; I proffered the people great multitude of mercy, And few there be that asketh it heartily; They be so cumbered with worldly riches, That needs on them I must do justice, On Everyman living without fear.

Fellowship speaketh. Everyman, good morrow by this day. Sir, why lookest thou so piteously? If any thing be amiss, I pray thee, me say, That I may help to remedy.

Everyman. Yea, good Fellowship, yea, I am in great jeopardy.

Fellowship. 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.

Fellowship. 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, Fellowship, gramercy.

Fellowship. Tush! 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.

Fellowship. 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.

Fellowship. And so ye shall evermore; For, in faith, and thou go to Hell, 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.

Isaac. All ready, father, lo, it is here. But why make you so heavy cheer?   Are you anything adread? Father, if it be your will, Where is the beast that we shall kill?

Abraham. There is none, son, upon this hill   That I see here in this stead.

Isaac. Father, I am full sore afraid To see you bare this naked sword. I hope for all middle-yard⁷⁴   You will not slay your child.

Abraham. Dread thee not, my child, I read Our Lord will send of his godhead Some kind of beast in thy stead,   Either tame or wild.

Isaac. Father, tell me, or I go, Whether I shall have harm or no.

Abraham. Ah, dear God, that me is woe!   Thou bursts my heart in sunder.

Isaac. Father, tell me of this case, Why you your drawn sword has, And bare it naked in this place;   Thereof I have great wonder.

Abraham. Isaac, son, peace! I pray thee, Thou breaks my heart even in three.

Isaac. I pray you, father, leave nothing from me,   But tell me what you think.

Abraham. O Isaac, Isaac, I must thee kill.

Isaac. Alas! father, is that your will, Your own child here for to spill,   Upon this hill's brink? If I have trespassed in any degree, With a rod you may beat me; Put up your sword, if your will be,   For I am but a child.

Abraham. Oh, my son! I am sorry To do to thee this great annoy, God's commandment do must I,   His works are aye full mild.

[Mac enters, with a cloak thrown over his smock.

Mac. Now, Lord, for thy names seven, that made both moon and starns¹¹¹ Well more than I can even: thy will, Lord, of my thorns; I am all uneven, that moves oft my horns,¹¹² Now would God I were in heaven, for there weep no bairns   So still.

1st Shepherd. Who is that pipes so poor?

Mac. Would God ye knew how I fare! Lo, a man that walks on the moor,   And has not all his will.

2nd Shepherd. Mac, where hast thou gone? Tell us tidings.

3rd Shepherd. Is he come? Then each one take heed to his things.

[Takes his cloak from him.

Mac. What, I am a yeoman, I tell you, of the king; The self and the same, sent from a great lording,   And sich.¹¹³ Fy on you, get thee hence, Out of my presence, I must have reverence,   Why, who be ich?¹¹⁴

Abraham. Tell me, blessed Lord, where will thy great malice light? My hope is, all flesh shall not perish in thy sight.

Pater Cœlestis. No truly, Abraham, thou chancest upon the right, The thing I shall do I will not hide from thee, Whom I have blessed for thy true fidelity: For I know thou wilt cause both thy children and servants, In my ways to walk, and trust unto my covenants, That I may perform with thee my earnest promise.

Abraham. All that I will do, by assistance of thy goodness.

Pater Cœlestis. From Sodom and Gomor the abominations call For my great vengeance, which will upon them fall, Wild fire and brimstone shall light upon them all.

Abraham. Pitiful Maker, though they have kindled thy fury, Cast not away yet the just sort with the ungodly. Peradventure there may be fifty righteous persons Within those cities, wilt thou lose them all at once, And not spare the place for those fifty righteous' sake Be it far from thee such rigour to undertake. I hope there is not in thee so cruel hardness, As to cast away the just men with the reckless, And so to destroy the good with the ungodly: In the judge of all: be never such a fury.

Pater Cœlestis. At Sodom, if I may find just persons fifty, The place will I spare for their sakes verily.