It is the garment of sorrow, From pain it will you borrow; Contrition it is, That getteth forgiveness, It pleaseth God passing-well.
Everyman, will you wear it for your hele?[94]
Now blessed be Jesu, Mary's son; For now have I on true contrition: And let us go now without tarrying. Good Deeds, have we clear our reckoning?
Then I trust we need not to fear; Now, friends, let us not depart in twain.
Yet must thou lead with thee Three persons of great might.
Discretion and Strength they hyght,[95] And thy Beauty may not abide behind.
Also ye must call to mind Your Five Wits[96] as for your councillors.
You must call them all together, And they will hear you incontinent.
My friends, come hither, and be present, Discretion, Strength, my Five Wits and Beauty.
Here at your will we be all ready; What will ye that we should do?
That ye would with Everyman go, And help him in his pilgrimage: Advise you, will ye go with him or not in that voyage?
We will bring him all thither To help and comfort him, ye may believe me.
Almighty God, loved may Thou be; I give Thee laud[97] that I have hither brought Strength, Discretion, Beauty, Five Wits: lack I nought: And my Good Deeds, with Knowledge clear, All be in my company at my will here; I desire no more to my business.[98]
And I Strength will by you stand in distress, Though thou wouldest in battle fight on the ground.
And though it were thorow the world round, We will not depart for sweet ne for sour.
No more will I unto death's hour, Whatsoever thereof befall.
Everyman, advise you first of all, Go with a good advisement and deliberation; We all give you virtuous monition That all shall be well.
My friends, hark what I will you tell; I pray God reward you in His heavenly sphere: Now hearken all that be here; For I will make my testament Here before you all present: In alms half my good I will give with my hands twain In the way of charity with good intent, And the other half still shall remain: I it bequeath to be returned there it ought to be. This I do in despite of the fiend of hell, To go quit[99] out of his peril[100] Ever after this day.
Everyman, hearken what I will say; Go to priesthood, I you advise, And receive of him in any wise The holy sacrament and ointment[101] together, Then shortly see ye turn again hither, We will all abide you here.