DEATH. Yea, certainly. Though thou hast forgot Him here, He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere, As, or we depart, thou shalt know. EVERYMAN. What desireth God of me? DEATH. That shall I shew thee: A reckoning he will needs have, Without any longer respite. EVERYMAN. To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave; This blind matter troubleth my wit. DEATH. On thee thou must take a long journey, Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring-- For turn again thou cannot by no way-- And look thou be sure of thy reckoning; For before God shalt thou answer, and shew Thy many bad deeds, and good but a few-- How thou hast sped thy life, and in what wise-- Before the chief Lord of Paradise. Have ado that we were in that way, For wot thou well thou shalt make none attorney. EVERYMAN. Full unready I am such reckoning to give, I know thee not; what messenger art thou? DEATH. I am Death, that no man dreadeth, For every man I rest, and none spareth; For it is God's commandement That all to me should be obedient. EVERYMAN. O Death, thou comest when I had thee least in mind! In thy power it lieth me to save; Yet of my good will I give thee, if ye will be kind, Yea, a thousand pound shalt thou have, And defer this matter till another day. DEATH. Everyman, it may not be by no way: I set not by gold, silver, nor riches, Ne by pope, emperor, king, duke, ne princes; For, and I would receive giftes great, All the world I might get-- All my custom is clean contrary; I give thee no respite; come hence and not tarry. EVERYMAN. Alas! shall I have no longer respite? I may say Death giveth no warning. To think on thee it maketh my heart sick, For all unready is my book of reckoning. But twelve years, and I might have abiding, My counting book I would make so clear That my reckoning I should not need to fear; Wherefore, Death, I pray thee for God's mercy, Spare me, till I be provided of remedy. DEATH. Thee availeth not to cry, weep, and pray, But haste thee lightly that thou were gone the journey, And prove thy friendes if thou can; For wot you well the tide abideth no man, And in the world each living creature, For Adam's sin, must die of Nature. EVERYMAN. Death, if I should this pilgrimage take, And my reckoning surely make, Show me, for saint charity, Should I not come again shortly? DEATH. No, Everyman; and thou be once there, Thou must never more come here, Trust me, verily! EVERYMAN. Gracious God, in high seat celestial, Have mercy on me in this most need! Shall I have no company, from this vale terrestrial, Of mine acquaintance, that way me to lead? DEATH. Yea, if any be so hardy That would go with thee, and bear thee company. Hie thee that thou were gone to God's Magnificence Thy reckoning to give before His presence! What! weenest thou thy life is given thee, And thy worldly goods also?