help you in that journey,
If that you and she may agree.
_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 merry or glad?
For fair promises to me make,
But when I have most need, they me forsake.
I am deceived; that maketh me sad.
_Cousin._ Cousin _Everyman_, farewell now,
For verily I will not go with you;
Also of mine own an unready reckoning
I have to account; therefore I make tarrying.
Now, God keep thee, for now I go.
_Everyman._ Ah, _Jesus_, is all come hereto?
Lo, fair words maketh fools feign;
They promise and nothing will do certain.
My kinsmen promised me faithfully
For to abide with me steadfastly,
And now fast away do they flee:
Even so _Fellowship_ promised me.
What friend were best me of to provide?
I lose my time here longer to abide.
Yet in my mind a thing there is;--
All my life I have loved riches;
If that my good now help me might,
He would make my heart full light.
I will speak to him in this distress.--
Where art thou, my _Goods_ and riches?
_Goods._ Who calleth me? _Everyman?_ what haste thou hast!
I lie here in corners, trussed and piled so high,
And in chests I am locked so fast,
Also sacked in bags, thou mayst see with thine eye,
I cannot stir; in packs low I lie.
What would ye have, lightly me say.
_Everyman._ Come hither, _Good_, in all the haste thou may,
For of counsel I must desire thee.
_Goods._ Sir, and ye in the world have trouble or adversity,
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.
I am sent for another way to go,
To give a straight account general
Before the highest _Jupiter_ of all;
And all my life I have had joy and pleasure in thee.
Therefore I pray thee go with me,
For, peradventure, thou mayst before God Almighty
My reckoning help to clean and purify;
For it is said ever among,
That money maketh all right that is wrong.
_Goods._ Nay, _Everyman_, I sing another song,
I follow no man in such voyages;
For and I went with thee
Thou shouldst fare much the worse for me;
For because on me thou did set thy mind,
Thy reckoning I have made blotted and blind,
That thine account thou cannot make truly;
And that hast thou for the love of me.
_Everyman._ That would grieve me full sore,
When I should
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