75 !
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, 790
not for all the worlds 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. 795
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! 800
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? 805
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? 810
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. 815
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 i am 820
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.) 825
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. 830
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; 835
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.) 840
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 845
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.) 850
everyman. o jesu, ! 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! 855
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 860
shall go; but not yet, for no manner of danger.