Part 4
_Everyman._ I had wend surer I should you have found. He that trusteth in his _Strength_ She him deceiveth at the length. Both _Strength_ and _Beauty_ forsaketh me, Yet they promised me fair and lovingly.
_Discretion. Everyman_, I will after _Strength_ be gone, As for me I will leave you alone.
_Everyman._ Why, _Discretion_, will ye forsake me?
_Discretion._ Yea, in faith, I will go from thee, For when _Strength_ goeth before I follow after evermore.
_Everyman._ Yet, I pray thee, for the love of the Trinity, Look in my grave once piteously.
_Discretion._ Nay, so nigh will I not come. Farewell, every one!
_Everyman._ O all thing faileth, save God alone; _Beauty_, _Strength_, and _Discretion_; For when _Death_ bloweth his blast, They all run from me full fast.
_Five-wits. Everyman_, my leave now of thee I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake.
_Everyman._ Alas! then may I wail and weep, For I took you for my best friend.
_Five-wits._ I will no longer thee keep; Now farewell, and there an end.
_Everyman._ O Jesu, help, all hath forsaken me!
_Good-Deeds._ Nay, _Everyman_, I will bide with thee, I will not forsake thee indeed; Thou shalt find me a good friend at need.
_Everyman._ Gramercy, _Good-Deeds_; now may I true friends see; They have forsaken me every one; I loved them better than my _Good-Deeds_ alone. _Knowledge_, will ye forsake me also?
_Knowledge._ Yea, _Everyman_, when ye to death do go: But not yet for no manner of danger.
_Everyman._ Gramercy, _Knowledge_, with all my heart.
_Knowledge._ Nay, yet I will not from hence depart, Till I see where ye shall be come.
_Everyman._ Methinketh, alas, that I must be gone, To make my reckoning and my debts pay, For I see my time is nigh spent away. Take example, all ye that this do hear or see, How they that I loved best do forsake me, Except my _Good-Deeds_ that bideth truly.
_Good-Deeds._ All earthly things is but vanity: _Beauty_, _Strength_, and _Discretion_, do man forsake, Foolish friends and kinsmen, that fair spake, All fleeth save _Good-Deeds_, and that am I.
_Everyman._ Have mercy on me, God most mighty; And stand by me, thou Mother and Maid, holy _Mary_.
_Good-Deeds_. Fear not, I will speak for thee.
_Everyman._ Here I cry God mercy.
_Good-Deeds._ Short our end, and minish our pain; Let us go and never come again.
_Everyman._ Into thy hands, Lord, my soul I commend; Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost; As thou me boughtest, so me defend, And save me from the fiend's boast, That I may appear with that blessed host That shall be saved at the day of doom. _In manus tuas_--of might's most For ever--_commendo spiritum meum_.
_Knowledge._ Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure; The _Good-Deeds_ shall make all sure. Now hath he made ending; Methinketh that I hear angels sing And make great joy and melody, Where _Everyman's_ soul received shall be.
_Angel._ Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesu: Hereabove thou shalt go Because of thy singular virtue: Now the soul is taken the body fro; Thy reckoning is crystal-clear. Now shalt thou into the heavenly sphere, Unto the which all ye shall come That liveth well before the day of doom.
_Doctor._ This moral men may have in mind; Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young, And forsake pride, for he deceiveth you in the end, And remember _Beauty_, _Five-wits_, _Strength_, and _Discretion_, They all at the last do _Everyman_ forsake, Save his _Good-Deeds_, there doth he take. But beware, and they be small Before God, he hath no help at all. None excuse may be there for _Everyman_: Alas, how shall he do then? For after death amends may no man make, For then mercy and pity do him forsake. If his reckoning be not clear when he do come, God will say--_ite maledicti in ignem æternum_. And he that hath his account whole and sound, High in heaven he shall be crowned; Unto which place God bring us all thither That we may live body and soul together. Thereto help the Trinity, Amen, say ye, for saint _Charity_.
THUS ENDETH THIS MORALL PLAY OF EVERYMAN.
THE CHESTER PAGEANT OF THE WATER-LEADERS AND DRAWERS OF THE DEE CONCERNING NOAH'S DELUGE
CHARACTERS
God Noah Shem Ham Japhet Noah's Wife Shem's Wife Ham's Wife Japhet's Wife
THE CHESTER PAGEANT OF THE DELUGE
_God._ I, God, that all the world have wrought Heaven and Earth, and all of nought, I see my people, in deed and thought, Are foully set in sin. My ghost shall not lodge in any man That through fleshly liking is my fone,[18] But till six score years be gone To look if they will blynne.[19] Man that I made I will destroy, Beast, worm, and fowl to fly, For on earth they me annoy, The folk that is thereon. For it harms me so hurtfully The malice now that can multiply, That sore it grieveth me inwardly, That ever I made man. Therefore Noah, my servant free, That righteous man art, as I see, A ship soon thou shalt make thee, Of trees dry and light. Little chambers therein thou make And binding slich[20] also thou take Within and out, thou not slake To annoint it through all thy might. Three hundred cubits it shall be long, And so of breadth to make it strong, Of height so, then must thou fonge,[21] Thus measure it about. One window work though thy might; One cubit of length and breadth make it, Upon the side a door shall fit For to come in and out. Eating-places thou make also, Three roofed chambers, one or two: For with water I think to stow[22] Man that I can make. Destroyed all the world shall be, Save thou, thy wife, and sons three, And all their wives, also, with thee, Shall saved be for thy sake.
_Noah._ Ah, Lord! I thank thee, loud and still, That to me art in such will, And spares me and my house to spill As now I soothly find. Thy bidding, Lord, I shall fulfil, And never more thee grieve nor grill[23] That such grace has sent me till Among all mankind. Have done you men and women all; Help, for aught that may befall, To work this ship, chamber, and hall, As God hath bidden us do.
_Shem._ Father, I am already bowne,[24] An axe I have, by my crown! As sharp as any in all this town For to go thereto.
_Ham._ I have a hatchet, wonder keen, To bite well, as may be seen, A better ground one, as I ween, Is not in all this town.
_Japhet._ And I can well make a pin, And with this hammer knock it in; Go and work without more din; And I am ready bowne.[24]
_Noah's Wife._ And we shall bring timber too, For women nothing else to do Women be weak to undergo Any great travail.
_Shem's Wife._ Here is a good hackstock; On this you must hew and knock: Shall none be idle in this flock, Nor now may no man fail.
_Ham's Wife._ And I will go to gather slich,[25] The ship for to clean and pitch; Anointed it must be, every stitch, Board, tree, and pin.
_Japhet's Wife._ And I will gather chips here To make a fire for you, in fear, And for to dight[26] your dinner, Against you come in.
[_Here they make signs as though they were working divers instruments._
_Noah._ Now in the name of God I will begin, To make the ship that we shall in, That we be ready for to swim, At the coming of the flood. These boards I join together, To keep us safe from the weather That we may roam both hither and thither And safe be from this flood. Of this tree will I have the mast, Tied with gables that will last With a sail yard for each blast And each thing in its kind. With topmast high and bowsprit. With cords and ropes, I hold all fit To sail forth at the next weete[27] This ship is at an end. Wife in this castle we shall be kept: My children and thou I would in leaped!
_Noah's Wife._ In faith, Noe, I had as lief thou had slept, for all thy frankishfare,[28] For I will not do after thy rede.[29]
_Noah._ Good wife, do as I thee bid.
_Noah's Wife._ By Christ not, or I see more need, Though thou stand all the day and rave.
_Noah._ Lord, that women be crabbed aye! And never are meek, that I dare say. This is well seen of me to-day In witness of you each one. Good wife, let be all this beere[30] That thou makest in this place here, For they all ween thou art master; And so thou art, by St. John!
_God._ Noah, take thou thy company And in the ship hie that you be, For none so righteous man to me Is now on earth living. Of clean beasts with thee thou take Seven and seven, or thou seake, He and she make to make Quickly in that thou bring. Of beasts unclean two and two, Male and female, without more; Of clean fowls seven also, The he and she together. Of fowles unclean two, and no more; Of beasts as I said before: That shall be saved through my lore Against I send the weather. Of all meats that must be eaten Into the ship look there be gotten, For that no way may be forgotten And do all this by deene.[31] To sustain man and beasts therein, Aye, till the waters cease and blyn.[32] This world is filled full of sin And that is now well seen. Seven days be yet coming, You shall have space them in to bring; After that it is my liking Mankind for to annoy. Forty days and forty nights, Rain shall fall for their unrights; And that I have made through my might, Now think I to destroy.
_Noah._ Lord, at your bidding I am bayne,[33] Since none other grace will gain, It will I fulfil fain, For gracious I thee find. A hundred winters and twenty This ship making tarried have I: If, through amendment, any mercy Would fall unto mankind. Have done, you men and women all. Hie you, lest this water fall, That each beast were in his stall And into ship brought. Of clean beasts seven shall be; Of unclean two, this God bade me; This flood is nigh, well may we see, Therefore tarry you nought.
_Shem._ Sir, here are lions, leopards in, Horses, mares, oxen, and swine, Goats, calves, sheep, and kine, Here sitten[34] may you see.
_Ham._ Camels, asses, men may find; Buck, doe, hart and hind, And beasts of all manner kind. Here be, as thinks me.
_Japhet._ Take here cats and dogs too, Otter, fox, fulmart also; Hares, hopping gaily, can ye Have kail here for to eat.
_Noah's Wife._ And here are bears, wolves set, Apes, owls, marmoset; Weasels, squirrels, and ferret Here they eat their meat.
_Shem's Wife._ Yet more beasts are in this house! Here cats come in full crowse,[35] Here a rat and here a mouse; They stand nigh together.
_Ham's Wife._ And here are fowls less and more, Herons, cranes and bittern; Swans, peacocks, have them before! Meat for this weather.
_Japhet's Wife._ Here are cocks, kites, crows, Rooks, ravens, many rows; Cuckoos, curlews, whoso knows, Each one in his kind. And here are doves, ducks, drakes, Redshanks, running through the lakes, And each fowl that language makes In this ship men may find.
[_In the stage direction the sons of Noah are enjoined to mention aloud the names of the animals which enter; a representation of which, painted on parchment, is to be carried by the actors._
_Noah._ Wife, come in, why standest thou there? Thou art ever forward, that I dare swear: Come on God's half, time it were, For fear lest that we drown.
_Noah's Wife._ Yea, sir, set up your sail And row forth with evil heale, For, without any fail, I will not out of this town. But I have my gossips every one, One foot further I will not go; They shall not drown, by St. John! If I may save their life. They loved me full well, by Christ! But thou wilt let them in thy chest, Else row forth, Noah, whither thou list, And get thee a new wife.
_Noah._ Shem, some love thy mother, 'tis true; Forsooth, such another I do not know!
_Shem._ Father, I shall set her in, I trow, Without any fail. Mother, my father after thee sends, And bids thee unto yonder ship wend,[36] Look up and see the wind, For we be ready to sail.
_Noah's Wife._ Son, go again to him and say I will not come therein to-day!
_Noah._ Come in, wife, in twenty devils' way, Or else stand without.
_Ham._ Shall we all fetch her in?
_Noah._ Yea, sons, in Christ's blessing and mine, I would you hied you betime, For of this flood I am in doubt.
_Japhet._ Mother, we pray you altogether, For we are here, your children; Come into the ship for fear of the weather, For his love that you bought!
_Noah's Wife._ That I will not for your call, But if I have my gossips all.
_Gossip._ The flood comes in full fleeting fast, On every side it broadens in haste; For fear of drowning I am aghast: Good gossip, let me come in! Or let us drink ere we depart, For oftentimes we have done so; For at a time thou drinkst a quart, And so will I ere that I go.
_Shem._ In faith, mother, yet you shall, Whether you will or not!
[_She goes._
_Noah._ Welcome, wife, into this boat!
_Noah's Wife._ And have them that for thy note![37]
[_Et dat alapam victa._[38]
_Noah._ Aha! marry, this is hot! It is good to be still. My children! methinks this boat removes! Our tarrying here hugely me grieves! Over the land the water spreads! God do as he will! Ah, great God, thou art so good! Now all this world is in a flood As I see well in sight. This window will I close anon, And into my chamber will I gone Till this water, so great one, Be slakèd through thy might.
[_Noah, according to stage directions, is now to shut the windows of the ark and retire for a short time. He is then to chant the psalm, Salva me, Domine! and afterwards to open them and look out._
Now forty days are fully gone. Send a raven I will anon; If aught were earth, tree, or stone, Be dry in any place. And if this fowl come not again It is a sign, sooth to say, That dry it is on hill or plain, And God hath done some grace.
[_A raven is now despatched._
Ah, Lord! wherever this raven lie, Somewhere is dry well I see; But yet a dove, by my lewtye[39] After I will send. Thou wilt turn again to me For of all fowls that may fly Thou art most meek and hend.[40]
[_The stage direction enjoins here that another dove shall be ready with an olive branch in its mouth, which is to be dropped by means of a cord into Noah's hand._
Ah Lord! blessed be thou aye, That me hast comforted thus to-day! By this sight, I may well say This flood begins to cease. My sweet dove to me brought has A branch of olive from some place; This betokeneth God has done us some grace, And is a sign of peace. Ah, Lord! honoured must thou be! All earth dries now I see; But yet, till thou command me, Hence will I not hie. All this water is away, Therefore as soon as I may Sacrifice I shall do in faye[41] To thee devoutly.
_God._ Noah, take thy wife anon, And thy children every one, Out of the ship thou shalt gone, And they all with thee. Beasts and all that can flie, Out anon they shall hie, On earth to grow and multiply: I will that it be so.
_Noah._ Lord, I thank thee, through thy might, Thy bidding shall be done in hight,[42] And, as fast as I may dight[43] I will do thee honour. And to thee offer sacrifice, Therefore comes in all wise, For of these beasts that be his Offer I will this stower.[44]
[_Then leaving the ark with his whole family, he shall take the animals and birds, make an offering of them, and set out on his way._
Lord God, in majesty, That such grace has granted me, When all was borne safe to be, Therefore now I am boune.[45] My wife, my children, my company, With sacrifice to honour thee, With beasts, fowls, as thou may see, I offer here right soon.
_God._ Noah, to me thou art full able, And thy sacrifice acceptable, For I have found thee true and stable, On thee now must I myn.[46] Curse earth will I no more That man's sin it grieves sore, For of youth man full of yore Has been inclined to sin. You shall now grow and multiply And earth you edify, Each beast and fowl that may flie Shall be afraid for you. And fish in sea that may flitt Shall sustain you--I you behite[47] To eat of them you not lett[48] That clean be you may know. There as you have eaten before Grasses and roots, since you were born, Of clean beasts, less and more, I give you leave to eat. Save blood and fish both in fear Of wrong dead carrion that is here, Eat not of that in no manner, For that aye you shall lett.[49] Manslaughter also you shall flee, For that is not pleasant to me That sheds blood, he or she Ought where among mankind. That sheds blood, his blood shall be And vengeance have, that men shall see; Therefore now beware now all ye You fall not in that sin. And forward now with you I make And all thy seed, for thy sake, Of such vengeance for to slake, For now I have my will. Here I promise thee a behest,[50] That man, woman, fowl, nor beast With water while the world shall last, I will no more spill. My bow between you and me In the firmament shall be, By very tokens, that you may see That such vengeance shall cease. That man, nor woman, shall never more Be wasted by water, as is before, But for sin that grieveth sore, Therefore this vengeance was. Where clouds in the welkin That each bow shall be seen, In token that my wrath or tene[51] Should never this wroken be. The string is turned toward you, And toward me bent is the bow, That such weather shall never show, And this do I grant to thee. My blessing now I give thee here, To thee Noah, my servant dear; For vengeance shall no more appear; And now farewell, my darling dear!
THE CHESTER PAGEANT OF THE BARBERS AND WAX-CHANDLERS REPRESENTING ABRAHAM, MELCHISEDEC, AND ISAAC
CHARACTERS
God Abraham Lot Isaac Melchisedec A Knight Expositor A Messenger
THE CHESTER PAGEANT OF ABRAHAM, MELCHISEDEC, AND ISAAC
Abraham, _newly returned from the slaughter of the four kings, meets_ Melchisedec _riding_.
PRELUDE
_Messenger._ All peace, Lordings, that be present, And hearken now with good intent, How Noah away from us he went With all his company; And Abraham, through God's grace, He is come forth into this place, And you will give him room and space To tell you his storye. This play, forsooth, begin shall he, In worship of the Trinity, That you may all hear and see What shall be done to-day. My name is Gobbet-on-the-Green, No longer here I may be seen, Farewell, my Lordings, all by dene[52] For letting[53] of your play.
[_Exit._
[_Enter Abraham._]
_Abraham._ Ah! thou high God, granter of grace That ending nor beginning has, I thank thee, Lord, that to me has To-day given victory. Lot, my brother, that taken was, I have restored him in this case, And brought him home into his place Through thy might and mastery. To worship thee I will not wond,[54] That four kings of uncouth land To-day hast sent into my hand, And of riches great array. Therefore of all that I can win To give thee tithe I will begin, When I the city soon come in, And share with thee my prey. Melchisedec, that here king is And God's priest also, I wis, The tithe I will give him of this, As just is, what I do. God who has sent me victory O'er four kings graciously, With him my spoil share will I, The city, when I come to.
_Lot._ Abraham, brother, I thank it thee, Who this day hast delivered me From enemies' hands, and their postye,[55] And saved me from woe! Therefore I will give tithing Of my goods while I am living, And now also of his sending, Tithe I will give also.
[_Then comes a knight to Melchisedec._
_Knight._ My lord, the king's tidings aright Your heart for to gladden and light: Abraham hath slain in fight Four kings, since he went. Here he will be this same night, And riches with him enough dight. I heard him thank God Almight For grace he had him sent.
_Melchisedec_ (_stretching his hand to heaven_). Ah! blessed be God that is but one! Against Abraham I will be gone Worshipfully, and then anon, My office to fulfil, Will present him with bread and wine, For, grace of God is him within; Speeds fast for love mine! For this is God's will.
_Knight_ (_with a cup_). Sir, here is wine withouten were,[56] And thereto bread, both white and clear, To present him in good manere That so us helped has.
_Melchisedec._ To God, I know he is full dear, For of all things his prayer He hath, without danger, And specially great grace.
_Melchisedec_ (_coming to Abraham and offering him a cup of wine and bread on a plate_). Abraham, welcome must thou be, God's grace is fully in thee, Blessed ever must thou be That enemies so can make. I have brought, as thou may'st see, Bread and wine for thy degree; Receive this present now from me, And that I thee beseke.[57]
_Abraham._ Sir king, welcome in good say, Thy present is welcome to my pay. God has helpéd me to-day Unworthy though I were. He shall have part of my prey That I won since I went away. Therefore to thee thou take it may The tenth I offer here.
[_He delivers to the King a laden horse._
_Melchisedec._ And your present, sir, take I, And honour it devoutly, For much good it may signify In time that is coming. Therefore horse, harness, and peryé,[58] As falls to my dignity, The tithe of it I take of thee, And receive thy off'ring.
[_Abraham receives the bread and wine, and Melchisedec the laden horse as tithe from Lot._
_Lot._ And I will offer with good intent Of such goods as God hath me sent To Melchisedec here present, As God's will is to be. Abraham, my brother, offered has; And so will I with God's grace: This royal cup before your face, Receive it now of me.
[_Lot offers the wine and bread, which Melchisedec receives._