Volume I Part 14 (1/2)

EVERYMAN.

What! sent to me?

DEATH.

Yea, certainly: Though you have forgot him here, He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere; As, ere we depart, thou shalt know.

EVERYMAN.

What desireth G.o.d of me?

DEATH.

That shall I show thee; A reckoning he will needs have Without any lenger respite.

EVERYMAN.

To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave; This blind matter troubleth my wit.

DEATH.

On thee thou must take a long journey, Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring, For turn again thou cannot by no way: And look thou be sure of thy reckoning; For before G.o.d thou shalt answer and show Thy many bad deeds, and good but a few, How thou hast spent thy life, and in what wise, Before the chief lord of paradise.

Have ado that[78] we were in that way, For, wit thou well, thou shalt make none attorney.

EVERYMAN.

Full unready I am such reckoning to give: I know thee not; what messenger art thou?

DEATH.

I am Death, that no man dreadeth; For every man I 'rrest, and no man spareth, For it is G.o.d's commandment That all to me should be obedient.

EVERYMAN.

O Death, thou comest, when I had thee least in mind; In thy power it lieth me to save; Yet of my good will I give thee, if thou will be kind, Yea, a thousand pounds shalt thou have, And [thou] defer this matter till another day.

DEATH.

Everyman, it may not be by no way; I set not by gold, silver, nor riches, Ne by pope, emperor, king, duke, ne princes; For, and I would receive gifts great, All the world I might get; But my custom is clean contrary; I give thee no respite, come hence, and not tarry.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! shall I have no lenger respite?