literary analysis paper
Through an analysis of the literature, provethat the play, Everymanshould be considered a Renaissance play. •Create your argument/analysis through any of the following means:•1. Use of literary devices –symbolism; character analysis; style•2. Use of themes•3. Use of compare/contrast with historical and/or contextual ideas/conceptsThe format for the assignment has been presented to you; now, you will need to decide the method of analysis.
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The Literary Analysis
Research Assignment
Assignment Instructions
• Your paper must follow MLA documentation style.
• It should be 3-4 pages, and no longer than 5 pages (this does NOT include the Works Cited page). In
addition to your primary source, the play, you must use a minimum of two additional, reliable,
credible sources. The primary source is the play, Everyman.
• Use library databases and catalog. Remember that an analysis is NOT a summary. Be prepared to
delve into your chosen topic with the help of critics/academics.
• Review this material for how to write a successful literary analysis.
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/everyman.asp
https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/gPd7uEiZc2MXq1/html
Paper Organization
• Section 1. Introduction – State your thesis. What is the question that you are raising? What topic
will you be analyzing in the literature text?
• An introduction must be based on the powerful thesis statement, which is the main argument in your essay.
• Make sure to attract attention from the opening paragraph.
• Involve a hook sentence, referencing the title of the chosen writing piece along with its author, and revealing the purpose of
writing in a clear, concise thesis sentence.
• A good thesis includes at least three subtopics in the order the writer is going to write for the analysis: from the least to most
important.
• Section 2. Summary – Briefly, (one paragraph) summarize the literary text. Assume that the
readers will not have read your selection. Bring the reader up to speed without using the
summary as the basis of your paper.
• Section 3. Analysis – This is the section where you will address your thesis statement or question.
Most of your sources will be cited here. Remember, if the reader may ask, “How did you know
this?” you need to be sure to document your research within every paragraph. The rest of the
essay has a typical academic paper structure.
• Section 4. Conclusion – End your paper by incorporating your opinion. This is the only section in
the paper where you will be able to write in the first person. Sections 1 through 3 must be written
in the third person. Write an impressive conclusion which will motivate the readers to agree with
you.
https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis
Analysis Topic
• Through an analysis of the literature, prove that the play, Everyman
should be considered a Renaissance play.
• Create your argument/analysis through any of the following means:
• 1. Use of literary devices – symbolism; character analysis; style
• 2. Use of themes
• 3. Use of compare/contrast with historical and/or contextual ideas/concepts
The format for the assignment has been presented to you; now, you
will need to decide the method of analysis.
Tips on How to Write the Literary Analysis Essay
The purpose of a literary analysis essay is to carefully examine and
sometimes evaluate a work of literature or an aspect of a work
of literature. As with any analysis, this requires you to break the
subject down into its component parts.
For example, if you were to analyze (discuss and explain) a play,
you might analyze the relationship between a subplot and the
main plot, or you might analyze the character flaw of the tragic
hero by tracing how it is revealed through the acts of the play.
The Thesis Statement
• The thesis statement tells your reader what to expect: it is a
restricted, precisely worded declarative sentence that states the
purpose of your essay — the point you are trying to make. Without a
carefully conceived thesis, an essay has no chance of success.
• The fate of the main characters in Gilgamesh illustrates the danger of
excessive pride.
• The imagery in Dylan Thomas‟s poem “Fern Hill” reveals the
ambiguity of humans‟ relationship with nature.
• Typically, the thesis statement falls at the end of your introductory
paragraph.
Introduction
• The introduction to your literary analysis essay should try to capture
your reader’s interest.
• To bring immediate focus to your subject, you may want to use a
quotation, a provocative question, a brief anecdote, a startling
statement, or a combination of these.
• You may also want to include background information relevant to
your thesis and necessary for the reader to understand the position
you are taking.
• In addition, you need to include the title of the work of literature and
name of the author. The following are satisfactory introductory
paragraphs which include appropriate thesis statements:
Intro Example
• What would one expect to be the personality of a man who has his
wife sent away to a convent (or perhaps has had her murdered)
because she took too much pleasure in the sunset and in a
compliment paid to her by another man? It is just such a man—a
Renaissance duke—who Robert Browning portrays in his poem “My
Last Duchess.” A character analysis of the Duke reveals that through
his internal dialogue, his interpretation of earlier incidents, and his
actions, his traits—arrogance, jealousy, and greediness—emerge.
The Body Paragraphs
• Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence
• Example: Sammy’s descriptions of the A & P present a setting that is ugly,
monotonous, and rigidly regulated.
• The purpose of the topic sentence is twofold:
• 1. To relate the details of the paragraph to your thesis statement.
• 2. To tie the details of the paragraph together.
The Body Paragraphs Continued
• Good literary analysis essays contain an explanation of your ideas and
evidence from the text (short story, poem, play) that supports those
ideas.
• Textual evidence consists of summary, paraphrase, specific details,
and direct quotations, as well as use of your research to support your
ideas.
The Conclusion
• Your literary analysis essay should have a concluding paragraph that
gives your essay a sense of completeness and lets your readers know
that they have reached the end of your paper.
• End your paper by incorporating your opinion.
• This is the only section in the paper where you will be able to write in the first
person. Sections 1 through 3 must be written in the third person. Write an
impressive conclusion which will motivate the readers to agree with you.
• Do not introduce a new topic in your conclusion.
Title your Analysis Essay
• It is essential that you give your essay a title that is descriptive of the
approach you are taking in your paper.
• Just as you did in your introductory paragraph, try to get the reader’s
attention.
• For example: Theme in “The Secret Lion”: The Struggle of
Adolescence
The Audience
• Imagine you are writing for the other students in your class who have
about as much education as you do.
• They have read the assigned work just as you have, but perhaps they have
not thought about it in exactly the same way.
• In other words, it is not necessary to “retell” the work of literature in any
way.
• Rather, it is your role to be the explainer or interpreter of the work—to tell
what certain elements of the work mean in relation to your central idea
(thesis).
• When you make references to the text of the short story, poem, or play,
you are doing so to remind your audience of something they already know.
• The principle emphasis of your essay is to draw conclusions and develop
arguments. Be sure to avoid plot summary.
Using Textual Evidence
• The skillful use of textual evidence — summary, paraphrase, specific
detail, and direct quotations — can illustrate and support the ideas
you are developing in your essay.
• However, textual evidence should be used judiciously and only when
it directly relates to your topic.
• The correct and effective use of textual evidence is vital to the
successful literary analysis essay.
• Review this document for ways to use textual evidence.
https://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/HOWTOWRITEALITERARYANALYSISESSAY_10.15.07_001
Remember . . .
• Your objective in writing a literary analysis essay is to convince the
person reading your essay that you have supported the idea you are
developing.
• Unlike ordinary conversation and classroom discussion, writing must
remain with great determination to the specific point of
development.
• This kind of writing demands tight organization and control.
• Therefore, your essay must have a central idea (thesis), it must have
several paragraphs that grow systematically out of the central idea,
and everything in it must be directly related to the central idea and
must contribute to the reader’s understanding of that central idea.
A Note about Plagiarism
• Plagiarism Checker by Grammarly
• Grammarly’s plagiarism checker detects plagiarism in your text and checks for
other writing issues.
• Commit to doing your own work. Cite your sources scrupulously.
Academic dishonesty carries a penalty that is easily avoidable.
• Best Practices for Avoiding Plagiarism
https://www.grammarly.com/plagiarism-checker?&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=searchunitedstateslocalizationpldsa&utm_targetid=aud-834333299656:dsa-810934138786&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2or8BRCNARIsAC_ppyaynu9XVrdUelML-vBF3zCXxGAI0z7lkHnwgD2BlqyVZ6cPw2bghosaAknWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://guides.library.ucla.edu/citing/plagiarism/avoid
EVERYMAN
16th Century English Play
Everyman
› Original Title: “The
Summoning of Everyman”
› A Morality Play
› Author: Anonymous
› Published: 1508
› Written in Middle English
› “Here begynneth a
treatyse”
› Renaissance Edition of
Everyman
http://www.luminarium.org/renascence-editions/everyman.html
Introduction
› First published in England around the 16th Century
– Now thought to be based on an earlier Dutch play, published in
1495.
– Frequent reprintings indicate the text was bought and read a
great deal, but not necessarily performed.
Author Biography
› Author is unknown
– But speculated by scholars that the play was written by a cleric
under the direction of the church.
› Although the author is unknown, the play’s content,
themes, and ideology reflect those of Catholic Europe.
– The play’s emphasis on good deeds as a mechanism for
salvation reflects medieval Catholic ideology.
Opposition to Theater
› Traditionally, the Catholic Church opposed the theatre
because it frequently included nudity, fights with wild beasts,
and because Roman sacrifice of Christians was often included
as a part of pagan spectacle.
› An additional reason for church opposition was the use of
falsehood.
– In drama, an actor pretends to be someone else. (lying)
– The promotion of transsexuality (men dressing up as women)
› There were suggestions to overthrow the government
› Although modern audiences accept this as “acting,” it was
interpreted by the early church to be lying. By the tenth
century, drama would again become acceptable to clergy
when it was reborn as liturgical drama.
Church and Theater
› The earliest liturgical dramas were included as a part of
the church service and frequently took the form of a
simple dialogue, often sung, between two clerics.
› Eventually this exchange began to include additional
participants and by the thirteenth century, these dramas
became a means to educate an illiterate congregation.
Church and Theater Continued
› More elaborate staging of plays began to be included in
feast day celebrations, and they eventually moved from
the church to the town square, which accommodated a
larger audience.
› Eventually plays were sponsored by various guilds or
trades, and they became known as miracle or mystery
plays, derived from the Latin word, minister.
› By the end of the fifteenth century, these early mystery
plays evolved into morality plays, of which Everyman is
the best known.
Theater Grows in Popularity
› These plays were being performed in the vernacular
(everyday language) instead of Latin by the year 1350
› As popularity grew, the church began to lose control.
– Parts played by religious clerics and alter boys were now being
performed by community members.
– Trained performers now began to emerge into these dramatic
performances.
Morality Plays
› Morality Plays did not deal with biblical stories but with personal
views and morals
› These plays utilized a moral lesson to members of the audience
› These plays were dramatized allegories of the life of man
– Man trying to get to Heaven
› The general theme of a Morality Play is the conflict between good
and evil for the soul
– These plays always ended with the saving of the soul
› Everyman was, and still is, one of the most well-known Morality
Plays
Plot Summary
› Everyman is a one-act play written in the late 15th century.
› The play begins with a messenger calling on the audience to watch the
play.
› The messenger relates to the audience that this play is a moral play
about when Everyman is called in front of God.
› He explains that in the beginning of the Bible, God created man, and
everything was perfect.
› However man created sin and for that, Everyman is going to have a
reckoning with God.
› The messenger warns that even though now the spectators think that sin
is a good thing, when it comes to the end, it will make people sad.
› Those things which now make you happy will fade and it is then that
Everyman will have to answer for his actions.
Background of Everyman
› Everyman is very different from of Morality Plays in that it
does not contain any humor
– It is also short: only 900 lines long
› All characters in the play are abstractions (not
individualized but represent all people)
› Usually the main character of a Morality Play would be
“Everyman” or “Mankind”
Everyman and the Cycle of Grief
› In Scene 1, Everyman is told by Death that he has to die
and make a pilgrimage to the afterlife.
› Everyman starts to go through a grief cycle, exactly
following a theory proposed by Kubler-Ross in her book,
On Death and Dying
Grief Cycle
› Denial: Everyman says he feels fine and is not ready to
go to the afterlife
› Anger: Everyman becomes enraged asks why this is
happening to him
› Bargaining: Everyman starts to bargain with Death and
ask him if he can have more time
› Depression: Everyman begins to understand the
inevitability and starts to “fear pains huge and great”
› Acceptance: Everyman accepts the fact that he has to
make a pilgrimage and begins to prepare
Grief Cycle Continued
Scenes 2 & 3
Scene 2: Everyman asks his friends to go with him
– Fellowship: he says no
– He says he will gladly go drink with Everyman and have fun, but
not to die
› Scene 3:
– Everyman asks his family to go with him
– Kindred and Cousin: they say no
– Cousin has a cramp in his toe
Scenes 4 & 5
› Scene 4:
– Everyman goes to his money and wealth
– Goods: says no
– Goods has to stay; he is a temporary aspect of the world
› Scene 5:
– Everyman goes to his good deeds
– Good-Deeds: says no
› Sick because Everyman has never done any good deeds
Scenes 6 & 7
› Scene 6:
– Everyman learns about the doctrine of the church to try and
revitalize his good deeds
› Scene 7:
– Everyman’s soul is saved and he ascends into Heaven
Purpose
› It was obviously written to be preformed for the common
people.
› At the time, most people did not know how to read or
write.
› Most of that knowledge was reserved for high positions
and the Church.
› At the time, most of Europe followed the Roman Catholic
Church.
› This play had a purpose to educate the people about
salvation.
Purpose Continued
› Everyman refers to everyone.
› Everyone will someday have to go before the Lord in the
reckoning.
– It is the time when the Lord will judge whether or not the person
before him is worthy enough to get into heaven.
› There are a couple of warnings throughout the play.
– No one can ever escape death, and no one knows when they will
die, so one should not put off salvation because it may be too
late.
– There is also a point made that priests are human. Therefore,
since all humans are sinners, priests are not above sinning.
Setting & Tone
› Setting: The action begins in heaven when God sends
Death to summon the main character, Everyman.
› Thereafter, the action takes place on Earth.
– Since the author intended the main character to represent every
human being, the action on Earth could take place anywhere.
› Tone: Solemn & Dignified
Characters
› Everyman: Typical human being who has neglected his
spiritual life but repents his sins in time to be saved
› God: Just but merciful Supreme Being
› Death: Messenger commanded by God to summon
Everyman
› Fellowship, Kindred, Cousin, Material Goods: Earthly
acquaintances of Everyman who abandon him in his time
of need
Allegorical Figures Representing Abstract
Characters
› Angel
› Beauty
› Cousin
› Death
› Discretion
› Doctor
› Everyman
› Fellowship
› Five Wits
› God
› Good Deeds
› Goods
› Kindred
› Knowledge
› Messenger
› Strength
Themes
› Alienation and Loneliness
› Atonement and
Forgiveness
› Betrayal
› Death
› Material vs. Spiritual Gain
› Pilgrimage
› Reckoning & Judgment
› God and Religion
› Good Deeds
› Knowledge
› Sin
› Live for Tomorrow
› Deceptive Appearance of
Sin
Theme: Alienation and Loneliness
› As Everyman is abandoned by Fellowship, Kindred, and
Goods, he begins to feels increasingly isolated and alone.
› When his overtures to Fellowship are rejected, Everyman
thinks that surely his family will stand by him as he faces
his final judgment.
› Instead, what he discovers is that every man must face
God’s judgment alone.
› Earthly friendships and family are left behind in such a
situation, and man is never more isolated than in facing
death.
Theme: Atonement and Forgiveness
› When Everyman is feeling most afraid and alone, he is
given the opportunity to atone for his sins.
› The recognition of his sin, provided by Knowledge, leads
to his meeting with Confession and to penance.
› The medieval Christian tradition is that man must seek
atonement for earthly sins, but that God’s forgiveness is
always available to those who truly repent.
› At the end of Everyman, forgiveness is given freely, and
Everyman is prepared to meet God.
Theme: Betrayal
› Everyman has placed his faith in friends and family.
› They have been his companions throughout life and each initially
indicates their willingness to accompany him on a journey.
› Fellowship even vows to accompany his friend to Hell.
› But Fellowship and Kindred are both afraid of the real hell; both
decline
› Everyman’s invitation when they learn he is going to meet God’s
final judgement.
– This indicates that man will always be betrayed by earthly companions, since
each man is ultimately selfish and must confront God alone.
– Their betrayal of Everyman serves a purpose, however, as their rejection
forces him to search for greater truths.
Theme: Death
› Death is the means by which man finally meets God.
› It is impending death that forces Everyman to consider his life and
his accomplishments.
› Like most men, Everyman is unprepared for death and seeks extra
time.
› In this respect he is like all men, who would plead for time to make
final plans and, most importantly, to make peace with God.
› Generally, most Christian religions suggest that death is not to be
feared, but that a better, eternal existence will be known as a result
of death.
› Still, the approach of death is often the most frightening experience
that man will face.
› Everyman is no exception to this idea.
Theme: God and Religion
› Plays such as Everyman are intended to help reinforce the
importance of God and religion in people’s lives.
› In this play, God represents salvation, but it is religion that
provides the means to achieve that salvation.
› Like most drama of the medieval period, the focus of this
play is how religion and a belief in God will help man
overcome any travail, including death.
› Although God appears as a character only at the
beginning of the play, his presence is felt throughout as
Everyman begins to recognize his need for help beyond
the earthly realm.
Theme: Good Deeds
› According to Catholic belief, it is man’s accounting of himself
and his good deeds that will provide admittance to heaven.
› Thus it is only Good Deeds who can accompany Everyman on
his final journey.
› When faced with God’s judgment, man’s riches, the notoriety
of his friends, and the importance of his family will not speak
for his worth.
› Only the good deeds that a man does here on earth can
speak for him before God.
› Accordingly, good deeds is more important than faith in
achieving salvation.
Theme: Knowledge
› When abandoned by his friends, it is Knowledge that
leads Everyman to the help he needs.
› It is knowledge that helps man to recognize and
understand how he has sinned.
› It is knowledge that permits him to recognize deception
and falsehoods.
› And finally, it is knowledge that allows Everyman to find
the way to Confession and penance.
› If it is only his good deeds that can save man, it is
knowledge that allows man to recognize the importance
of good deeds in finding salvation.
Theme: Sin
› Sin is the reason for this play. It is sin that angers God in
the opening lines.
› As a theme, sin is central, since it is Everyman’s sins that
force his final judgment.
› He has sinned much in his life, and the audience is told
that his sins are so great that Good Deeds is immobile.
› Only when he can recognize and renounce his sins can
Everyman be saved.
Style
› Archetype
› Audience
› Character
› Drama
› Genre
› Morality Play
› Parable
› Plot
Style: Archetype
› The word archetype is generally used to describe a character
who represents a pattern from which all characters or “types”
are derived.
› The term derives from the work of Carl Jung, who expressed
the theory that behind every unconscious lies the collective
memories of the past.
› In literature, the term is often applied to a character type or
plot pattern that occurs frequently and is easily recognized.
› In Everyman, Death is such a character, and the audience
would immediately recognize this character and his purpose
in the plot.
Style: Audience
› Authors usually write with an audience in mind.
› Certainly the unknown author of Everyman intended this
drama to instruct the audience.
› Since few people were literate, a medieval writer could
use drama to tell a story or teach a moral.
› The lesson in this play is how to lead a proper religious
life and prepare for death and God’s judgement.
Style: Character
› The actions of each character are what constitute the
story.
› Characters can also include the idea of a particular
individual’s morality.
› Characters can range from simple stereotypical figures to
more complex multi-faceted ones.
› Characters may also be defined by personality traits,
such as the rogue or the damsel in distress.
Style: Character Continued
› The actions of each character are what constitute the
story.
› Characterization is the process of creating a life-like
person from an author’s imagination.
› To accomplish this the author provides the character with
personality traits that help define who he will be and how
he will behave in a given situation.
Style: Character in Everyman
› Everyman differs slightly from this definition, since each
character is little more than a “type.”
› The audience does not really know or understand the
character as an individual.
› For instance, Fellowship represents little more than a
quality, not an individual.
› The audience understands that Fellowship signifies the
friendships than men have while here on earth.
Style: Drama
› A drama is often defined as any work designed to be
presented on the stage.
› It consists of a story, of actors portraying characters, and
of action.
› But historically, drama can also consist of tragedy,
comedy, religious pageant, and spectacle.
› In modern usage, drama explores serious topics and
themes but does not achieve the same level as tragedy.
› In Everyman, drama is aligned with spectacle and is
intended as a mechanism to instruct the audience on
how to prepare for death.
Style: Genre
› Genres are a way of categorizing literature. Genre is a
French term that means “kind” or “type.”
› Genre can refer to both the category of literature such as
tragedy, comedy, epic, poetry, or pastoral.
› It can also include modern forms of literature such as
drama, novels, or short stories.
› This term can also refer to types of literature such as
mystery, science fiction, comedy, or romance.
› Everyman is a morality play.
Style: Morality Play
› Following the revival of theatre in the eleventh century,
the Catholic Church began to introduce brief dramatized
episodes into the mass on the occasion of major
festivals.
› These gradually developed into complete plays,
performed in public places by the trade guilds, and were
known as mystery plays
Style: Morality Play Continued
› In some towns, there was a cycle of dramatized stories
from the Creation to the Last Judgement.
› These were succeeded in the fifteenth century by morality
plays, allegorical presentations of human vices and
virtues in conflict.
› Among these, Everyman is perhaps the best known.
Style: Parable
› A parable is a story intended to teach a moral lesson.
› The story in Everyman is designed to teach people to
lead a good, religious life so that they may properly
prepare for death and the afterlife.
› The Bible is one of the most obvious sources of parables,
since religion traditionally relies upon stories to teach
lessons.
› This tradition stems from a period in which most men and
women could not read, and the clergy found that stories
were the most effective way to instruct moral lessons.
Style: Plot vs Theme
› Students are often confused between the two terms; but
themes explore ideas, and plots simply relate what
happens in a very obvious manner.
› Thus the plot of Everyman is how a man searches for a
friend to accompany him to his final judgment.
› But the theme is how man can find salvation in God and
Good Deeds.
Historical Context
Cultural Changes in England
Cultural Changes in England
› The end of the fifteenth century marked the end of the medieval
period in England.
› The ascension of commerce changed the face of England.
› Once a predominantly agrarian culture, the cities of England,
especially London, became more densely populated and urban.
› Farmlands were enclosed, and displaced rural families fled to the
larger cities, where crowding, unemployment, and plague were a
greater problem.
› The feudal order was ending, as well as the era of knights on
horseback, who became obsolete after Henry V proved that there
was a more efficient way to win a battle.
› Literacy increased too, as moveable typesetting made books and
other printed material more available.
Conclusion
› There is no record of Everyman being produced on stage
during the medieval period.
› The title page refers to the work as a treatise, and
occasionally such works were fashioned as dialogues between
characters.
› This was especially true when the author intended the work to
provide a moral lesson.
› Whether Everyman was ever performed or not, it proved
popular among readers, achieving four reprintings in the first
years following its publication.
› But with the move to a Protestant religion in England and the
development of the more sophisticated Elizabethan theater,
the morality plays of the medieval period were forgotten.
Conclusion Continued
› Everyman was not reprinted again until 1773 and was then
regarded as an artifact of the ancient past.
› However, by the nineteenth century, medieval drama became
an important topic of study, and eventually interest in
Everyman surged enough to warrant a production in 1901.
› In the latter half of the twentieth century, Everyman has
achieved a level of popularity as a subject for study,
particularly as interest in England’ s medieval period has
increased.
› Often cited as the best representation of morality plays and of
medieval drama in general, Everyman appears in many
anthologies of drama.
› The play continues to be taught in college English courses
and occasional productions can be found at universities.
What’s Next?
› After viewing the video lecture for Everyman, it’s now time
for you to review the requirements for the literary analysis
assignment; choose your topic idea as you read the
literature.
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Medieval Sourcebook: Everyman is late-15th-century English morality play. Called by Death, Everyman————————-Strength And here this matter with reverence, God: I perceive How that all the creatures be to me unkind, Death: Almighty God, I am here at Your commandment to fulfil. God: Go thou And show him in my name Death: Lord, I will in the world go And cruelly outsearch both great and small; Everyman, stand still; whither art thou going Thus gaily? Hast thou thy Maker forget? Everyman: Why askst thou? Wouldest thou wete*? *know Death: Yea, sir, I will show you; In great haste I am sent to thee Everyman: What, sent to me? Death: Yea, certainly. Though thou have forget him here, Everyman: What desireth God of me? Death: That shall I show thee; A reckoning he will needs have Everyman: To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave; This blind matter troubleth my wit. Death: On thee thou must take a Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring; Everyman: Full unready I am such reckoning to give I know thee not: what messenger art thou? Death: I am Death, that For every man I rest and no man spareth; Everyman: O Death, thou comest when I had thee least in mind; In thy power it lieth me to save, Death: Everyman, it may not be I set not by gold, silver nor, riches, Everyman: Alas, shall I have no longer respite? I may say Death giveth no warning: Death: Thee availeth not to cry, But haste thee lightly that you were gone the journey, Everyman: Death, if I should this pilgrimage take, And my reckoning surely make, Death: No, Everyman; and thou Thou mayst never more come here, Everyman: O gracious God, in the high seat celestial, Have mercy on me in this most need; Death: Yea, if any be so hardy That would go with thee and bear thee company. Everyman: I had went so verily. Death: Nay, nay; it was but lent For as soon as thou art go, Everyman: O wretched caitiff, whither shall I flee, That I might scape this endless sorrow! Death: Nay, thereto I will not Nor no man will I respite, Everyman; Alas, I may well weep with sighs deep; Now have I no manner of company Fellowship: Everyman, good morrow by this day. Sir, why lookest thou so piteously? Everyman: Yea, good Fellowship, yea, I am in great jeopardy. Fellowship: My true friend, show me your mind; I will not forsake thee, unto my life’s end, Everyman: That was well spoken, and lovingly. Fellowship: Sir, I must needs know your heaviness; I have pity to see you in any distress; 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, 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 Everyman: Ye speak like a good friend; I believe you well; I shall deserve it, and I may. Fellowship: I speak of no deserving, by this day. For he that will say and nothing do Everyman: I shall show you how it is; Commanded I am to go on a journey, Fellowship: That is a matter indeed! Promise is duty, But, and I should take such a voyage on me, Everyman Why, ye said, If I had need, Ye would me never forsake, quick nor dead, Fellowship: So I said, certainly, But such pleasures be set aside, thee sooth to say: Everyman: Nay, never again till the day of doom. Fellowship: In faith, then will not I come there! Who hath you these tidings brought? Everyman: Indeed, Death was with me here Fellowship: Now, by God that all hath brought, If Death were the messenger, Everyman: Ye promised other wise, pardie. Fellowship: I wot well I say so truly; And yet if thou wilt eat, and drink, and make good cheer, Everyman: Yea, thereto ye would be ready; To go to mirth, solace, and play, Fellowship: Now, in good faith, I will not that way. But and thou wilt murder, or any man kill, Everyman: O that is a simple advice indeed! Gentle fellow, help me in my necessity; Fellowship: Whether ye have loved me or no, By Saint John, I will not with thee go. Everyman: Yet I pray thee, take the labour, and do so much for me To bring me forward, for saint charity, Fellowship: Nay, and thou would give me a new gown, I will not a foot with thee go; Everyman: Whither away, Fellowship? Will you forsake me? Fellowship: Yea, by my fay, to God I betake thee. Everyman: Farewell, good Fellowship; for this my heart is sore; Adieu for ever, I shall see thee no more. Fellowship: In faith, Everyman, farewell now at the end; For you I will remember that parting is mourning. Everyman: Alack! Shall we thus depart indeed? Our Lady, help, without any more comfort, Fellowship herebefore with me would merry make; Kindred: Here be we now at your commandment. Cousin, I pray you show us your intent Cousin: Yea, Everyman, and to us declare If ye be disposed to go any whither, Kindred: In wealth and woe we will with you hold, For over his kin a man may be bold. Everyman: Gramercy, my friends and kinsmen kind. Now shall I show you the grief of my mind: Kindred: What account is that which ye must render? That would I know. Everyman: Of all my works I must show How I have lived and my days spent; Cousin: What, to go thither? Is that Nay, Everyman, I had liefer fast bread and water Everyman: Alas, that ever I was bore! For now shall I never be merry Kindred: Ah, sir; what, ye be a merry man! Take good heart to you, and make no moan. Everyman: My Cousin, will you not with me go. Cousin: No by our Lady; I have the Trust not to me, for, so God me speed, Kindred: It availeth not us to tice. Ye shall have my maid with all my heart; Everyman: Now show me the very effect of your mind. Will you go with me, or abide behind? Kindred: Abide behind? Yea, that I will and I may! Therefore farewell until another day. Everyman: How should I be mary or glad? For fair promises to me make, Cousin: Cousin Everyman, farewell now, For varily I will not go with you; Everyman: Ah, Jesus, is all come hereto? Lo, fair words maketh fools feign; Goods: Who calleth me? Everyman? I lie here in corners, trussed and piled so high, Everyman: Come hither, Goods, in all the hast thou may, For of counsel I must desire thee. Goods: Sir, and ye in the world have That can I help you to remedy shortly. Everyman: It is another disease that grieveth me; In this world it is not, I tell thee so. Goods: Nay, Everyman, I sing I follow no man in such voyages; Everyman: That would grieve me full sore, When I should come to that fearful answer. Goods: Nay, not so, I am, to brittle, I will follow no man one foot, be ye sure. All my life-days on good and treasure. Goods: That is to thy damnation For my love is contrary to the love everlasting. Everyman: Lo, now was I deceived or was I ware, And all may wyte* my spending time. *blame Goods: What, weenest thou that I am Everyman: I had wend so. Goods: Nay, Everyman, say As for a while I was lent thee, Everyman: I had wend otherwise. Goods: Therefore to thy soul Good is a thief; For when thou art dead, this is my guise Everyman: O false Good, cursed thou be! Thou traitor to God, that hast deceived me, Goods: Marry, thou brought Whereof I am glad, Everyman: Ah, Good, thou hast had long my heartly love; I gave thee that which should be the Lord’s above. Goods: No, so God me speed, Therefore farewell, and have good day. Everyman: O, to whom shall I make my moan For to go with me in that heavy journey? Good-Deeds: Here I lie cold in the ground; Thy sins hath me sore bound, Everyman: O, Good-Deeds, I stand in fear; I must you pray counsel, Good-Deeds: Everyman, I have understanding That ye be summoned account to make Everyman: Therefore I come to you, my moan to make; I pray you, that ye will go with me. Good-Deeds: I would full fain, but I cannot stand verily. Everyman: Why, is there anything on you fall? Good-Deeds: Yea, sir, I may thank you of all; If ye had perfectly cheered me, Everyman: Our Lord Jesus, help me! For one letter here I can not see. Good-Deeds: There is a blind reckoning in time of distress! Everyman: Good-Deeds, I pray you, help me in this need, Or else I am forever damned indeed; Good-Deeds: Everyman, I am sorry for your fall, And fain would I help you, and I were able. Everyman: Good-Deeds, you counsel I pray you give me. Good-Deeds: That shall I do verily; Though that on my feet I may not go, Knowledge: Everyman, I will go with thee, and be thy guide, In thy most need to go by thy side. Everyman: In good condition I am now in every thing, And am wholly content with this good thing; Good-Deeds: And when he hath brought thee there, Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart, Everyman: My Good-Deeds, gramercy; I am well content, certainly, Knowledge: Now we go together lovingly, To Confession, that cleansing river. Everyman: For joy I weep; I would we were there; But, I pray you, give me cognition Knowledge: in the house of salvation: We shall find him in that place, Everyman: O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, That on me no sin may be seen; Confession: I know your sorrow well, Everyman; Because with Knowledge ye come to me, Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, Everyman: Thanked be God for his gracious work! For now I will my penance begin; Knowledge: Everyman, look your penance that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be, Everyman: O eternal God, O heavenly figure, O way of rightwiseness, O goodly vision, Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance; Knowledge: Everyman, God give you time and space: Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Savior, Everyman: In the name of the Holy Trinity, My body sore punished shall be: Good-Deeds: I thank God, now I can walk and go; And am delivered of my sickness and woe. Knowledge: Now, Everyman, be merry and glad; Your Good-Deeds cometh now; Everyman: My heart is light, and shall be evermore; Now will I smite faster than I did before. Good-Deeds: Everyman, pilgrim, my special friend, Blessed by thou without end; Everyman: Welcome, my Good-Deeds; now I hear thy voice, I weep for very sweetness of love. Knowledge: Be no more sad, but ever rejoice, God seeth they living in this throne above; Everyman: Gentle Knowledge, what do you it call? Knowledge: It is a garment of sorrow: From pain it will you borrow; Good-Deeds: Everyman, will you wear it for your heal? Everyman: Now blessed by Jesu. Mary’s Son! From now have I on true contrition. Good-Deeds, have we clear our reckoning? Good-Deeds: Yea, indeed I have it here. Everyman: Then I trust we need not fear; Now friends, let us not part in twain. Knowledge: Nay, Everyman, that will we not, certain. Good-Deeds: Yet must thou lead with thee Three persons of great might. Everyman: Who should they be? Good-Deeds: Discretion and Strength, they hight, And thy Beauty may not abide behind. Knowledge: Also ye must call to mind. Your Five-wits as for your counsellors. Good-Deeds: You must have them ready at all hours Everyman: How shall I get them hinder? Knowledge: You must call them all together, And they will hear you incontient. Everyman: My friends, come hither and be present Discretion, Strength, my Five-wits and Beauty. Beauty: Here at you will we be all What will ye that we should do? Good-Deeds: That ye would with Everyman go, And help him in his pilgrimage, Strength: We will bring him all thither, To his help and comfort, ye may believe me. Discretion: So will we go with him all together. Everyman: Almighty God, loved thou be, I give thee laud that I have hither brought Strength, Discretion, Beauty, and Five-wits; lack I Strength: And I, Strength, will by you stand in Though thou would be battle fight on the ground,. Five-Wits: And though it were through the world round, We will not depart for sweet nor sour. Beauty: No more will I unto Whatsoever thereof befall. Discretion: Everyman, advise you first of all; Go with a good advisement and deliberation; Everyman: My friends, harken what I will tell: I pray God reward you in his heavenly sphere. Knowledge: Everyman, hearken what I say; Go to priesthood, I you advise, Five-Wits: Yea, Everyman, hie you that ye ready There is no emperor, king, duke, ne baron, Everyman: Fain would I receive that holy body And meek to my ghostly father I will go. Five-wits: Everyman, that is the best that ye can do: God will you to salvation bring, Everyman, God gave priests that dignity, Knowledge: If priests be good it is so surely; But when Jesus hanged on the cross with great smart Five-wits: I trust to God no such may we find; Therefore let us priesthood honour, Good-Deeds: Methinketh it is he indeed. Everyman: Now Jesu be our alder speed*. * speed in help of all I have received the sacrament for my redemption, Strength: Everyman, we will not from you go, Till ye have done this voyage long. Discretion: I, Discretion, will bide by you also. Knowledge: And though this pilgrimage be never so strong, I will never part you fro: Everyman, I will be as sure by the Everyman: Alas, I am so faint I may not stand, My limbs under me do fold; Beauty: What into this grave? Alas! Everyman: Yea, there shall you consume more and less. Beauty: And what, should I smother Everyman: Yea, by my faith, and never more appear. In this world live no more we shall, Beauty: I cross out all this; adieu by I take my cap in my lap and am gone. Everyman: What, Beauty, whither will ye? Beauty: Peace, I am deaf; I look not Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest. Everyman: Alas, whereto may I trust? Beauty goeth fast away hie; Strength: Everyman, I will thee also forsake and deny; Thy game liketh me not at all. Everyman: Why, then ye will forsake me all. Sweet Strength, tarry a little space. Strength: Nay, sir, by thy rood of grace I will hie me from thee fast, Everyman: Ye would ever bide by me, ye said. Strength: Yea, I have you far enough conveyed; Ye be old enough, I understand, Everyman: Strength, you to displease I am to blame; Will you break promise that is debt? Strength: In faith, I care not; Thou art but a fool to complain, Everyman: I had went surer I should you have found. He that trustest in his Strength Discretion: Everyman, I will after Strength be 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 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! Everyman: O all thing faileth, save God alone; Beauty, Strength, and Discretion; Five-wits: Everyman, my leave now of thee I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake. Everyman: O Jesu, help, all hath forsaken me! Good-Deeds: Nay, Everyman, I will bide with thee, I will not forsake thee indeed; Everyman: Gramercy, Good-Deeds; now may I true friends see; They have forsaken me every one; Knowledge, will ye forsake me also? Knowledge: Yea, Everyman, when ye to death do go; But not yet for no manner of danger. Everyman: Gramercy, Knowledge, with all me heart. Knowledge: Nay, yet I will not depart from hence depart, Till I see where ye shall be come. Everyman: Methinketh, alas, that I must be gone, To make my reckoning and my debts pay, Good-Deeds: All earthly things is but vanity: Beauty, Strength, and Discretion, do man forsake, Everyman: Have mercy on me, God, most mighty; And stand by me, thou Mother and Maid, holy Mary. Good-Deeds: Fear not, I will speak for thee. Everyman: Here I cry God mercy. Good-Deeds: Short our end, and minish our pain; Let us go and never come again. Everyman: Into thy hands, Lord, my soul I commend; Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost; In manus tuas- of might’s most For ever- commendo spiritum meum. Knowledge: Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure; The Good-Deeds shall make all sure. Angel: Come, excellent elect Hereabove thou shalt go Doctor: This moral men may have in Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young, Source. This text is part of the Internet The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet © Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 20 January 2021 |
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Medieval Sourcebook: Everyman is late-15th-century English morality play. Called by Death, Everyman————————-Strength And here this matter with reverence, God: I perceive How that all the creatures be to me unkind, Death: Almighty God, I am here at Your commandment to fulfil. God: Go thou And show him in my name Death: Lord, I will in the world go And cruelly outsearch both great and small; Everyman, stand still; whither art thou going Thus gaily? Hast thou thy Maker forget? Everyman: Why askst thou? Wouldest thou wete*? *know Death: Yea, sir, I will show you; In great haste I am sent to thee Everyman: What, sent to me? Death: Yea, certainly. Though thou have forget him here, Everyman: What desireth God of me? Death: That shall I show thee; A reckoning he will needs have Everyman: To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave; This blind matter troubleth my wit. Death: On thee thou must take a Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring; Everyman: Full unready I am such reckoning to give I know thee not: what messenger art thou? Death: I am Death, that For every man I rest and no man spareth; Everyman: O Death, thou comest when I had thee least in mind; In thy power it lieth me to save, Death: Everyman, it may not be I set not by gold, silver nor, riches, Everyman: Alas, shall I have no longer respite? I may say Death giveth no warning: Death: Thee availeth not to cry, But haste thee lightly that you were gone the journey, Everyman: Death, if I should this pilgrimage take, And my reckoning surely make, Death: No, Everyman; and thou Thou mayst never more come here, Everyman: O gracious God, in the high seat celestial, Have mercy on me in this most need; Death: Yea, if any be so hardy That would go with thee and bear thee company. Everyman: I had went so verily. Death: Nay, nay; it was but lent For as soon as thou art go, Everyman: O wretched caitiff, whither shall I flee, That I might scape this endless sorrow! Death: Nay, thereto I will not Nor no man will I respite, Everyman; Alas, I may well weep with sighs deep; Now have I no manner of company Fellowship: Everyman, good morrow by this day. Sir, why lookest thou so piteously? Everyman: Yea, good Fellowship, yea, I am in great jeopardy. Fellowship: My true friend, show me your mind; I will not forsake thee, unto my life’s end, Everyman: That was well spoken, and lovingly. Fellowship: Sir, I must needs know your heaviness; I have pity to see you in any distress; 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, 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 Everyman: Ye speak like a good friend; I believe you well; I shall deserve it, and I may. Fellowship: I speak of no deserving, by this day. For he that will say and nothing do Everyman: I shall show you how it is; Commanded I am to go on a journey, Fellowship: That is a matter indeed! Promise is duty, But, and I should take such a voyage on me, Everyman Why, ye said, If I had need, Ye would me never forsake, quick nor dead, Fellowship: So I said, certainly, But such pleasures be set aside, thee sooth to say: Everyman: Nay, never again till the day of doom. Fellowship: In faith, then will not I come there! Who hath you these tidings brought? Everyman: Indeed, Death was with me here Fellowship: Now, by God that all hath brought, If Death were the messenger, Everyman: Ye promised other wise, pardie. Fellowship: I wot well I say so truly; And yet if thou wilt eat, and drink, and make good cheer, Everyman: Yea, thereto ye would be ready; To go to mirth, solace, and play, Fellowship: Now, in good faith, I will not that way. But and thou wilt murder, or any man kill, Everyman: O that is a simple advice indeed! Gentle fellow, help me in my necessity; Fellowship: Whether ye have loved me or no, By Saint John, I will not with thee go. Everyman: Yet I pray thee, take the labour, and do so much for me To bring me forward, for saint charity, Fellowship: Nay, and thou would give me a new gown, I will not a foot with thee go; Everyman: Whither away, Fellowship? Will you forsake me? Fellowship: Yea, by my fay, to God I betake thee. Everyman: Farewell, good Fellowship; for this my heart is sore; Adieu for ever, I shall see thee no more. Fellowship: In faith, Everyman, farewell now at the end; For you I will remember that parting is mourning. Everyman: Alack! Shall we thus depart indeed? Our Lady, help, without any more comfort, Fellowship herebefore with me would merry make; Kindred: Here be we now at your commandment. Cousin, I pray you show us your intent Cousin: Yea, Everyman, and to us declare If ye be disposed to go any whither, Kindred: In wealth and woe we will with you hold, For over his kin a man may be bold. Everyman: Gramercy, my friends and kinsmen kind. Now shall I show you the grief of my mind: Kindred: What account is that which ye must render? That would I know. Everyman: Of all my works I must show How I have lived and my days spent; Cousin: What, to go thither? Is that Nay, Everyman, I had liefer fast bread and water Everyman: Alas, that ever I was bore! For now shall I never be merry Kindred: Ah, sir; what, ye be a merry man! Take good heart to you, and make no moan. Everyman: My Cousin, will you not with me go. Cousin: No by our Lady; I have the Trust not to me, for, so God me speed, Kindred: It availeth not us to tice. Ye shall have my maid with all my heart; Everyman: Now show me the very effect of your mind. Will you go with me, or abide behind? Kindred: Abide behind? Yea, that I will and I may! Therefore farewell until another day. Everyman: How should I be mary or glad? For fair promises to me make, Cousin: Cousin Everyman, farewell now, For varily I will not go with you; Everyman: Ah, Jesus, is all come hereto? Lo, fair words maketh fools feign; Goods: Who calleth me? Everyman? I lie here in corners, trussed and piled so high, Everyman: Come hither, Goods, in all the hast thou may, For of counsel I must desire thee. Goods: Sir, and ye in the world have That can I help you to remedy shortly. Everyman: It is another disease that grieveth me; In this world it is not, I tell thee so. Goods: Nay, Everyman, I sing I follow no man in such voyages; Everyman: That would grieve me full sore, When I should come to that fearful answer. Goods: Nay, not so, I am, to brittle, I will follow no man one foot, be ye sure. All my life-days on good and treasure. Goods: That is to thy damnation For my love is contrary to the love everlasting. Everyman: Lo, now was I deceived or was I ware, And all may wyte* my spending time. *blame Goods: What, weenest thou that I am Everyman: I had wend so. Goods: Nay, Everyman, say As for a while I was lent thee, Everyman: I had wend otherwise. Goods: Therefore to thy soul Good is a thief; For when thou art dead, this is my guise Everyman: O false Good, cursed thou be! Thou traitor to God, that hast deceived me, Goods: Marry, thou brought Whereof I am glad, Everyman: Ah, Good, thou hast had long my heartly love; I gave thee that which should be the Lord’s above. Goods: No, so God me speed, Therefore farewell, and have good day. Everyman: O, to whom shall I make my moan For to go with me in that heavy journey? Good-Deeds: Here I lie cold in the ground; Thy sins hath me sore bound, Everyman: O, Good-Deeds, I stand in fear; I must you pray counsel, Good-Deeds: Everyman, I have understanding That ye be summoned account to make Everyman: Therefore I come to you, my moan to make; I pray you, that ye will go with me. Good-Deeds: I would full fain, but I cannot stand verily. Everyman: Why, is there anything on you fall? Good-Deeds: Yea, sir, I may thank you of all; If ye had perfectly cheered me, Everyman: Our Lord Jesus, help me! For one letter here I can not see. Good-Deeds: There is a blind reckoning in time of distress! Everyman: Good-Deeds, I pray you, help me in this need, Or else I am forever damned indeed; Good-Deeds: Everyman, I am sorry for your fall, And fain would I help you, and I were able. Everyman: Good-Deeds, you counsel I pray you give me. Good-Deeds: That shall I do verily; Though that on my feet I may not go, Knowledge: Everyman, I will go with thee, and be thy guide, In thy most need to go by thy side. Everyman: In good condition I am now in every thing, And am wholly content with this good thing; Good-Deeds: And when he hath brought thee there, Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart, Everyman: My Good-Deeds, gramercy; I am well content, certainly, Knowledge: Now we go together lovingly, To Confession, that cleansing river. Everyman: For joy I weep; I would we were there; But, I pray you, give me cognition Knowledge: in the house of salvation: We shall find him in that place, Everyman: O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, That on me no sin may be seen; Confession: I know your sorrow well, Everyman; Because with Knowledge ye come to me, Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, Everyman: Thanked be God for his gracious work! For now I will my penance begin; Knowledge: Everyman, look your penance that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be, Everyman: O eternal God, O heavenly figure, O way of rightwiseness, O goodly vision, Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance; Knowledge: Everyman, God give you time and space: Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Savior, Everyman: In the name of the Holy Trinity, My body sore punished shall be: Good-Deeds: I thank God, now I can walk and go; And am delivered of my sickness and woe. Knowledge: Now, Everyman, be merry and glad; Your Good-Deeds cometh now; Everyman: My heart is light, and shall be evermore; Now will I smite faster than I did before. Good-Deeds: Everyman, pilgrim, my special friend, Blessed by thou without end; Everyman: Welcome, my Good-Deeds; now I hear thy voice, I weep for very sweetness of love. Knowledge: Be no more sad, but ever rejoice, God seeth they living in this throne above; Everyman: Gentle Knowledge, what do you it call? Knowledge: It is a garment of sorrow: From pain it will you borrow; Good-Deeds: Everyman, will you wear it for your heal? Everyman: Now blessed by Jesu. Mary’s Son! From now have I on true contrition. Good-Deeds, have we clear our reckoning? Good-Deeds: Yea, indeed I have it here. Everyman: Then I trust we need not fear; Now friends, let us not part in twain. Knowledge: Nay, Everyman, that will we not, certain. Good-Deeds: Yet must thou lead with thee Three persons of great might. Everyman: Who should they be? Good-Deeds: Discretion and Strength, they hight, And thy Beauty may not abide behind. Knowledge: Also ye must call to mind. Your Five-wits as for your counsellors. Good-Deeds: You must have them ready at all hours Everyman: How shall I get them hinder? Knowledge: You must call them all together, And they will hear you incontient. Everyman: My friends, come hither and be present Discretion, Strength, my Five-wits and Beauty. Beauty: Here at you will we be all What will ye that we should do? Good-Deeds: That ye would with Everyman go, And help him in his pilgrimage, Strength: We will bring him all thither, To his help and comfort, ye may believe me. Discretion: So will we go with him all together. Everyman: Almighty God, loved thou be, I give thee laud that I have hither brought Strength, Discretion, Beauty, and Five-wits; lack I Strength: And I, Strength, will by you stand in Though thou would be battle fight on the ground,. Five-Wits: And though it were through the world round, We will not depart for sweet nor sour. Beauty: No more will I unto Whatsoever thereof befall. Discretion: Everyman, advise you first of all; Go with a good advisement and deliberation; Everyman: My friends, harken what I will tell: I pray God reward you in his heavenly sphere. Knowledge: Everyman, hearken what I say; Go to priesthood, I you advise, Five-Wits: Yea, Everyman, hie you that ye ready There is no emperor, king, duke, ne baron, Everyman: Fain would I receive that holy body And meek to my ghostly father I will go. Five-wits: Everyman, that is the best that ye can do: God will you to salvation bring, Everyman, God gave priests that dignity, Knowledge: If priests be good it is so surely; But when Jesus hanged on the cross with great smart Five-wits: I trust to God no such may we find; Therefore let us priesthood honour, Good-Deeds: Methinketh it is he indeed. Everyman: Now Jesu be our alder speed*. * speed in help of all I have received the sacrament for my redemption, Strength: Everyman, we will not from you go, Till ye have done this voyage long. Discretion: I, Discretion, will bide by you also. Knowledge: And though this pilgrimage be never so strong, I will never part you fro: Everyman, I will be as sure by the Everyman: Alas, I am so faint I may not stand, My limbs under me do fold; Beauty: What into this grave? Alas! Everyman: Yea, there shall you consume more and less. Beauty: And what, should I smother Everyman: Yea, by my faith, and never more appear. In this world live no more we shall, Beauty: I cross out all this; adieu by I take my cap in my lap and am gone. Everyman: What, Beauty, whither will ye? Beauty: Peace, I am deaf; I look not Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest. Everyman: Alas, whereto may I trust? Beauty goeth fast away hie; Strength: Everyman, I will thee also forsake and deny; Thy game liketh me not at all. Everyman: Why, then ye will forsake me all. Sweet Strength, tarry a little space. Strength: Nay, sir, by thy rood of grace I will hie me from thee fast, Everyman: Ye would ever bide by me, ye said. Strength: Yea, I have you far enough conveyed; Ye be old enough, I understand, Everyman: Strength, you to displease I am to blame; Will you break promise that is debt? Strength: In faith, I care not; Thou art but a fool to complain, Everyman: I had went surer I should you have found. He that trustest in his Strength Discretion: Everyman, I will after Strength be 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 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! Everyman: O all thing faileth, save God alone; Beauty, Strength, and Discretion; Five-wits: Everyman, my leave now of thee I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake. Everyman: O Jesu, help, all hath forsaken me! Good-Deeds: Nay, Everyman, I will bide with thee, I will not forsake thee indeed; Everyman: Gramercy, Good-Deeds; now may I true friends see; They have forsaken me every one; Knowledge, will ye forsake me also? Knowledge: Yea, Everyman, when ye to death do go; But not yet for no manner of danger. Everyman: Gramercy, Knowledge, with all me heart. Knowledge: Nay, yet I will not depart from hence depart, Till I see where ye shall be come. Everyman: Methinketh, alas, that I must be gone, To make my reckoning and my debts pay, Good-Deeds: All earthly things is but vanity: Beauty, Strength, and Discretion, do man forsake, Everyman: Have mercy on me, God, most mighty; And stand by me, thou Mother and Maid, holy Mary. Good-Deeds: Fear not, I will speak for thee. Everyman: Here I cry God mercy. Good-Deeds: Short our end, and minish our pain; Let us go and never come again. Everyman: Into thy hands, Lord, my soul I commend; Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost; In manus tuas- of might’s most For ever- commendo spiritum meum. Knowledge: Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure; The Good-Deeds shall make all sure. Angel: Come, excellent elect Hereabove thou shalt go Doctor: This moral men may have in Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young, Source. This text is part of the Internet The Internet Medieval Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of Fordham University, New York. The Internet © Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 20 January 2021 |