My true friend, show to me your mind; I will not forsake thee, to my life's end, In the way of good company.
Sir, I must needs know your heaviness; I have pity to see you in any distress: If any have you wronged, ye shall revenged be, Though I on the ground be slain for thee; Though that I know before that I should die.
Tush! by thy thanks I set not a straw; Show me your grief, and say no more.
If I my heart should to you break, And then you to turn your mind fro me, And would not me comfort, when ye hear me speak, Then should I ten times sorrier be.
Then be you a good friend at need; I have found you true here-before.
And so ye shall evermore; For in faith, and thou go to hell, I will not forsake thee by the way.
Ye speak like a good friend, I believe you well; I shall deserve it, and I may.
I speak of no deserving, by this day; For he that will say and nothing do, Is not worthy with good company to go: Therefore show me the grief of your mind, As to your friend most loving and kind.
I shall show you how it is: Commanded I am to go a journey, A long way, hard and dangerous; And give a strait account without delay Before the High Judge Adonai;[81] Wherefore, I pray you, bear me company, As ye have promised in this journey.
That is matter indeed; promise is duty; But, and I should take such a voyage on me, I know it well, it should be to my pain: Also it make[s] me afeard certain. But let us take counsel here as well as we can, For your words would fear a strong man.
Why, ye said, if I had need, Ye would me never forsake, quick ne dead, Though it were to hell truly.
So I said certainly; But such pleasures be set aside, the sooth to say, And also if ye took such a journey, When should we come again?
In faith, then will not I come there: Who hath you these tidings brought?
Now, by God that all hath bought, If Death were the messenger, For no man that is living to-day I will not go that loath journey, Not for the father that begat me.
I wot well I said so truly, And yet if thou wilt eat and drink, and make good cheer, Or haunt to women the lusty company, I would not forsake you, while the day is clear, Trust me verily.
Yea, thereto ye would be ready; To go to mirth, solace and play, Your mind will sooner apply Than to bear me company in my long journey.