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>20 EYERYMAN AND MEDIEYAL MIRACLE PLAYS

For when thou art dead, this is my guise—    practice

Another to deceive in this same wise [50 As I have done thee, and all to his soul’s reprief. shatne Everyman. O false Good, cursed may thou be,

Thou traitor to God, that hast dcceived me And caught me in thy snare!

Goods. Marry, thou brought thyself in care,

J55 Whereof I am glad;

I must needs laugh, I cannot be sad.

Everyman. Ah, Good, thou hast had long my

heartly love;    heartfelt

I gave thee that which should be the Lord’s above.

But wilt thou not go with me indced ?

|6o I pray thee truth to say.

Goods. No, so God me speed!

Therefore farewell, and have good day.

[Exit Goods.

Everyman. O, to whom shall I make my moan For to go with me in that heavy journey ?

465 First Fellowship said he would with me gone;    go

His words were very pleasant and gay,

But afterward he left me alone.

Then spake I to my kinsmen, all in despair,

And also they gavc me words fair;

470 They lacked no fair speaking,

But all forsook me in the ending.

Then went I to my Goods, that I loved best,

In liope to liave comfort, but therc had I least;

For my Goods sharply did me tell 475 That he bringeth many into heli.

Then of myself I was ashamed,

And so I am worthy to be blamed;

Thus may I wcll myself hate.

Of whom shall I now counsel take ?

480 I think that I shall never speed Till that I go to my Good Deed.

But, alas, she is so wcak

That she can ncither go nor speak;    walk

Yct will I vcnturc on her now.    gambie

485 My Good Deeds, whcrc be you?

[Good Deeds speaks from the ground]

Good Deeds. Here I lie, cold in the ground;

Thy sins hath me sore bound,

That I cannot stir.

Eueryman. O Good Deeds, I stand in fear!

490 I must you pray of counsel,

For help now should comc right well.

Good Deeds. Everyman, I have understanding That yc be summoned account to make Before Messias, of Jerusalem King;

495 And you do by me, that journey with you will I take. Everyman. Therefore I come to you, my moan to make;

I pray you that ye will go with me.

Good Deeds. I would fuli faln, but I cannot stand, verily.

Everyman. Why, is there anything on you fali ?    befallen

500 Good Deeds. Yea, sir, I may thank you of all;    for

If ye had perfectly cheered me,

Your book of count fuli ready had be.

Look, the books of your works and deeds ekc!    also

Behold how they lie under the feet,

505 To your soul’s hcaviness.

Everyman. Our Lord Jesus help me!

For one letter here I cannot see.

Good Deeds. There is a blind reckoning in time of distress.

Everyman. Good Deeds, I pray you help me in this need,

510 Or else I am for ever damned indeed;

Therefore help me to make reckoning Before the Redeemer of all thing,

That King is, and was, and ever shall.

Good Deeds. Evcryman, I am sorry of your fali,

515 And fain would I help you, and I were able. 1

491 For help would now be vcry wclcome.

495 If you do as I advise.

501 If you had cncouragcd me fully.

508 i.e. a sinful person in his hour of need finds that the account of his good deeds is dimly written and dillicult to rcad.