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EVERYMAN
My
abridged edition adapted from the text at
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/everyman.html
"Everyman
is late-15th-century English morality play. Called by Death, Everyman
can persuade none of his friends - Beauty, Kindred, Worldly Goods - to
go with him, except Good Deeds."
Messenger:
Listen to this moral play about the summoning of Everyman. It shows
how, at the end of our lives, we are shown to be transitory. You will
see how Friendship, Kin, Worldly Goods and Possessions, Strength and
Beauty will fade from you like a flower fades in May. You will see how
our
heavenly King calls Everyman to a general reckoning. Listen to what he
says:
God:
Everyman lives only for their own pleasure, and yet their own life is
not assured. The more patient I am, the worse they are from year to
year. Therefore I will have a reckoning of Everyman's person. If I
leave the people alone, they will become worse than beasts. They devour
one another with jealousy, forget to be charitable to their fellow man,
and
become preoccupied with material possessions. Therefore I must do
justice on Everyman. Death, my Mighty Messenger, where are you?
Death:
I am here, ready to do your bidding.
God:
Go to Everyman and tell him as my representative that he must take a
journey that
he cannot escape from, and he'd better bring a reckoning without delay.
Death:
Ah, I see Everyman walking over there; meeting me is the last thing on
his mind, for he is preoccupied with his own self and possessions. He
will dread standing before the Lord, heaven's King. Everyman, stand
still, where are you going so cheerfully? Have you forgotten your Maker?
Everyman:
Who wants to know?
Death:
I have been sent to you from heaven by God.
Everyman:
What does God want from me?
Death:
He demands a reckoning from you right away.
Everyman:
Oh Death, you've come when I least expected you. Save me - I'll give
you
whatever you want if you'll be kind to me - a thousand dollars if
you'll leave me alone and come back another day.
Death:
Everyman, that is not possible. I don't stop for gold, riches, pope nor
emperor. Many have offered me gifts, but that is not my way. Come on,
be
quick.
Everyman:
What? Not even a warning? To even think of you makes my heart sick. I'm
not ready to give a reckoning! Come back in a few years and I might be
more prepared. Please spare me until I'm better prepared.
Death:
It's no use to cry, weep or pray. But see if any of your friends might
accompany you. For death waits for no man. All living creatures must
die for Adam's sin.
Everyman:
Oh God in heaven, have mercy on me! Shall I have no company to join me
on this journey?
Death:
See if any are daring enough to accompany you on this journey.
Everyman:
I have no one to help me on my journey! I wish I'd never been born! I
fear great pain, and I don't know what to do! Who might come with me?
Maybe Friendship; we've been close for years. Surely he'll help me.
I'll speak to him right away.
Friendship:
Hello, Everyman, why do you look so sad? If something is wrong, please
tell me so that I can help you.
Everyman:
Yes, dear Friendship, yes, I am in real trouble!
Friendship:
My true friend, tell me what's wrong; I will never forsake you. Through
thick and through thin, you can count on me.
Everyman:
Then you truly are a friend indeed; you have never disappointed me
before.
Friendship:
And I never will; I swear, even if you were to go to hell, I would stay
with you.
Everyman:
I have been commanded to go on a journey - a long, hard, dangerous
journey to give a reckoning before God, the high judge. Please come
with me as you promised.
Friendship:
That's tough luck. But if I were to accompany you, it would be painful
for me, and the very thought scares me.
Everyman:
Indeed, Death was with me here just now.
Friendship:
If Death was the messenger, then I will not go with you. I would not
go on that journey even for my own father!
Everyman:
But, my friend, you promised!.
Friendship:
Not even our friendship can persuade me to go.
Everyman:
You won't come, Friendship? You're forsaking me?
Friendship:
Yes, I'm sorry, but I leave you in God's hands.
Everyman:
Where else can I turn for help if even Friendship fails me? I know
- I'll go to my family. My kinsmen will help me, because blood is
thicker
than water. Kindred, are you there?
Kindred:
In riches or poverty, you can always depend on your family.
Everyman:
God has called me to give account for my life, how I've lived and spent
my days, and my ill deeds. Please come and help me give account.
Kindred:
What! But you're so young and merry! Take heart! But, no, I won't go
with you.
Everyman:
My Cousin, will you go with me?
Cousin:
No, I have a cramp in my toe.
Everyman:
Tell me the truth - will you go with me, or stay behind?
Kindred:
Stay behind? You'd better believe it! Farewell, I'll see you later.
Everyman:
All my life I have loved riches; maybe now they'll help me. My goods
and possessions have made my heart light before, I'll speak to them in
this distress. Where are you, my goods and riches?
Goods:
Here sir; if you have any trouble or adversity in the world, I can help.
Everyman:
It is something else that grieves me; I am sent to give an account
before the highest judge of all. All my life you've given me pleasure,
therefore, come with me and speak to God for me. They say that money
can make all wrongs right.
Goods:
No, Everyman, I sing another song, I follow no man in such voyages. If
I did go with you, it would go worse for you because you set your hope
on me. I have made you forget that this day of reckoning would come.
Your love for me will be your undoing.
Everyman:
Yes, I have loved you, and had great pleasure in the good things your
treasures have provided for me.
Goods:
That is to your damnation, because love of money goes against eternal
love.
If you had loved me more moderately and shared some of me with the
poor, you would not be in this trouble and sorrow.
Everyman:
Curse you, false hope! You deceived me, you traitor, and caught me in
your trap! Oh, who shall go with me on my journey? Friendship, although
he promised to be true, left me alone. Kindred, although he spoke
pleasantly, also refused to go with me. Then I went to the possessions
that meant the most to me, and they said that my love for them may send
me to hell! It's my own fault, I alone am to blame. Who might help me
now? I can ask Good Deeds, but she is so weak that she hasn't the
strength to speak much less accompany me. Nevertheless, I have nothing
to lose by
asking. Good Deeds, where are you? Please say you'll go with me or else
I'm forever damned. Help me to make a reckoning before the redeemer and
king.
Good Deeds:
Everyman, I am sorry for your fall, and I would help you if I were
stronger and more able.
Everyman:
Good Deeds, at least give me some advice.
Good Deeds:
I'll be happy to, although I'm not able to get on my feet; I have a
sister named Knowledge who will go with you in your dreadful reckoning.
Knowledge:
Everyman, I will go with you, and be your guide. In your need, I'll
stay by your side. We'll go together to the cleansing river of
Confession.
Everyman:
Oh, glorious river that cleans all filth, wash me so that no sin is
seen on me. I come with Knowledge for my redemption, I repent with
hearty and full contrition. I am commanded to make a journey and give
account to God. Oh, please, Mother of Salvation, I beg of you to help
my Good Deeds.
Confession:
I know your sorrow well, Everyman; since you have come to me with
Knowledge, I will comfort you as best I can. I will give you a precious
jewel called Penance; it shall punish your body and cancel out your
adversity.
Everyman:
Oh, God, heavenly Figure, good and right Vision, Who descended in a
pure virgin to redeem Everyman who was forfeited by Adam's disobedience
- Oh, blessed God, forgive my great offense and have mercy on me!
Knowledge:
Everyman, I leave you in the hands of our Savior to ensure your
reckoning.
Good Deeds:
I thank God, now I can turn and go; I am delivered from my sickness and
sorrow and now I am able to go with Everyman and help him declare his
good deeds.
Everyman:
Welcome, my Good Deeds; now I hear your voice and I weep for the very
sweetness of your love.
Knowledge:
Don't be sad anymore, but be glad. God has seen your confession from
his throne. Put on this garment which is wet with your tears of
repentance so that He might remember your tears when you come to your
journey's end. Now you must lead three more mighty persons on your
journey.
Everyman:
Who are they?
Good Deeds:
Discretion, Strength and Beauty.
Knowledge:
Also, you must call your Five Senses as your counsellors.
Good Deeds:
You must have them always ready at all hours
Everyman:
My friends, come here and be with me - Discretion, Strength, my Five
Senses and Beauty.
Strength:
We will all bring him there, to help and comfort, believe me. <
Discretion:
So we will go with him all together.
Strength:
And I, Strength, will by you stand in distress, and help you in any
fight.
Five
Senses: Through thick and through thin, we will not depart from
you in
good times or bad.
Beauty:
Even to death, I will stay with you, whatever may happen.
Knowledge:
Everyman, listen to me; Go to Priesthood, I advise you, he will give
you the holy sacrament and ointment. Then return here to us. We will
wait for you here.
Five
Senses: Yes, Everyman, there is no emperor, king, duke, nor
baron, that
is greater in importance than the least priest, for he bears the keys
and therefore has the cure for man's redemption. God gave that cure out
of of his own heart with great pain. In this earthly life there are
seven sacraments - baptism, confirmation, priesthood, communion,
marriage, the holy extreme unction, and penance; these are gracious
sacraments of high divinity.
Everyman:
I will receive holy communion.
Five
Senses: Everyman, that is the best that you can do; God will
bring you
to salvation, for Priesthood exceeds all other things; he teaches us
the Holy Scriptures.
Knowledge:
When priests are good then it is true; when Jesus hung on the cross
with great pain, he gave, out of his blessed heart, that same sacrament
in great torment. But that sacrament is not for sale and those priests
who take money for giving the sacraments have God's curse on them for
being such a sinful example.
Everyman:
Now may Jesus help me. I have received the sacrament for my redemption,
blessed be you who gave me the suggestion! And now, friends, let us go
on without further delay. I thank you for waiting for me so patiently.
Oh, dear, my legs are so tired I can barely stand! I'm sorry, but I
can't go a step further, I must creep into this cave and rest.
Beauty:
But, alas! This is a grave!
Everyman:
Yes, there you shall consume more and less.
Beauty: What,
would you have me smother here? I'm out of here, goodbye, I'm taking
my things and leaving.
Strength:
Everyman, this is no longer any fun, I'm leaving as well.
Everyman:
He that trusts in his Strength will find that it deceives him in the
end. Both Strength and Beauty have forsaken me, although they promised
me so faithfully.
Discretion:
Everyman, I will also be leaving you alone now that Strength has gone.
Everyman:
Why, Discretion, why must you abandon me, too?
Discretion:
When Strength goes, I follow him.
Everyman:
Everything fails except God alone; Beauty, Strength, and Discretion;
for when Death blows his blast, they all run from me as fast as they
can.
Five
Senses: Everyman, I must be going, too; I am following the
others. Here's where
I leave you.
Everyman:
Oh Jesus, help, all have forsaken me!
Good Deeds:
Not all, Everyman, I will stay with you. I will never abandon you. You
will find me a good friend when you need one.
Everyman:
Thank you, Good Deeds; now I see who my real friends are; the rest have
forsaken me, every one, although I loved them better than my
Good Deeds. Knowledge, will you forsake me too?
Knowledge:
Yes, Everyman, I will leave when you go to death; but not until I see
what happens to you.
Everyman:
I think it's time for me to go, to make my reckoning and pay my debts,
I see my time is up. Heed my example, everyone, note that those I loved
best
left me, every one except my Good Deeds who stayed til the end.
Good Deeds:
Don't be afraid, I will speak for you.
Everyman:
Here I plead, Oh, God, have mercy! Into your hands I commend my soul.
Receive it, Lord, that it may not be lost. As you bought me, so defend
me and save me from the fiend so that I may appear with the angels and
be saved on the day of doom.
Knowledge:
Now he has suffered so that we all shall endure; Good Deeds shall make
everything certain. Now he has ended, I think I hear angels singing and
making
great joy and melody where Everyman's soul shall be received.
Angel:
Come, beloved of Jesus: Hereabove you shall go.
Doctor:
You who hear, this is the moral: Forsake pride, for he deceives you in
the end. And remember Beauty, Five Senses, Strength, and Discretion;
they all abandoned Everyman in the end, everyone except his Good Deeds.
But
beware, if your Good Deeds are small before God, you will have no help
at all. No excuse will be found there for Everyman, and what shall he
do then? For after death, no man may make amends, for then even mercy
and pity will forsake him if his reckoning is not clear when he comes.
This
ends the moral play of Everyman
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