In good condition I am now in every thing, And am wholly content with this good thing, Thanked be God my Creature.[90]
And when he hath brought thee there, Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart, Then go thou with thy reckoning and thy good deeds together. For to make thee joyful at the heart Before the blessed Trinity.
My Good Deeds, I thank thee heartfully: I am well content certainly With your words sweet.
Now go we together lovingly To Confession, that cleansing river.
For joy I weep: I would we there were; But I pray you to instruct me by intellection,[91] Where dwelleth that holy virtue Confession?
In the house of salvation; We shall find him in that place, That shall us comfort by God's grace. Lo, this is Confession: kneel down, and ask mercy; For he is in good conceit with God Almighty.
O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, Wash from me the spots of vices unclean, That on me no sin may be seen; I come with Knowledge for my redemption, Redempt with heart and full contrition, For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, And great accounts before God to make. Now I pray you, Shrift, mother of salvation, Help hither my good deeds for my piteous exclamation.
I know your sorrow well, Everyman: Because with Knowledge ye come to me, I will you comfort as well as I can; And a precious jewel I will give thee, Called penance, voider[92] of adversity: Therewith shall your body chastised be With abstinence and perseverance in God's service; Here shall you receive that scourge of me, Which is penance strong that ye must endure, Remember thy Saviour was scourged for thee With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently: So must thou, ere thou pass thy pilgrimage. Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, And by that time Good Deeds will be with thee; But in anywise be sure of mercy, For your time draweth fast; and ye will saved be, Ask God mercy, and he will grant truly: When with the scourge of penance man doth him bind, The oil of forgiveness then shall he find.
Thanked be God for his gracious work; For now I will my penance begin: This hath rejoiced and lighted my heart, Though the knots be painful and hard within.
Everyman, look your penance that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be; And I shall give you counsel at will, How your account ye shall make clearly.