Volume I Part 13 (2/2)

HERE BEGINNETH A TREATISE HOW THE HIGH FATHER OF HEAVEN SENDETH DEATH TO SUMMON EVERY CREATURE TO COME AND GIVE ACCOUNT OF THEIR LIVES IN THIS WORLD, AND IS IN MANNER OF A MORAL PLAY.

MESSENGER.

I Pray you all give your audience, And hear this matter with reverence, By figure a moral play; The Summoning of Everyman called it is, That of our lives and ending shows, How transitory we be all day: This matter is wonders[75] precious, But the intent of it is more gracious, And sweet to bear away.

The story saith: man, in the beginning Look well, and take good heed to the ending, Be you never so gay: Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet, Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep, When the body lieth in clay.

Here shall you see how Fellows.h.i.+p and Jollity, Both Strength, Pleasure, and Beauty, Will fade from thee as flower in May; For ye shall hear, how our Heaven King Calleth Everyman to a general reckoning: Give audience, and hear what he doth say.

G.o.d[76] _speaketh_.

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 knew me not for their G.o.d; In worldly riches is all their mind, They fear not my rightwiseness, the sharp rod; My law that I showed, 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 d.a.m.nable, As pride, covetise, wrath, and lechery, Now in the world be made commendable: And thus they leave, of angels the heavenly company, Every man 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 appaireth[77] fast, Therefore I will in all the haste Have a reckoning of every man'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 do all clean forget.

I hoped well that every man 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 mult.i.tude of mercy, And few there be that asketh it heartly; They be so c.u.mbered with worldly riches, That needs on them I must do justice, On every man living without fear.

Where art thou, Death, thou mighty messenger?

DEATH.

Almighty G.o.d, I am here at your will, Your commandment to fulfil.

G.o.d.

Go thou to Everyman, And show him in my name A pilgrimage he must on him take, Which he in no wise may escape; And that he bring with him a sure reckoning Without delay or any tarrying.

DEATH.

Lord, I will in the world go run over all, And cruelly out-search both great and small; Every man will I beset that liveth beastly, Out of G.o.d's laws, and dreadeth not folly: He that loveth riches I will strike with my dart, His sight to blind, and fro heaven to depart, Except that alms be his good friend, In h.e.l.l for to dwell, world without end.

Lo, yonder I see Everyman walking: Full little he thinketh on my coming: His mind is on fleshly l.u.s.ts and his treasure; And great pain it shall cause him to endure Before the Lord, heaven's King.

Everyman, stand still; whither art thou going Thus gaily? hast thou thy Maker forgot?

EVERYMAN.

Why askest thou? Wouldest thou wit?

DEATH.

Yea, sir, I will show you; in great haste I am sent to thee Fro G.o.d out of his Majesty.

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