EVERYMAN. Good Deeds, I pray you help me in this need, Or else I am for ever damned indeed; Therefore help me to make my reckoning Before the Redeemer of all thing, That King is, and was, and ever shall. GOOD DEEDS. Everyman, I am sorry of your fall, And fain would I help you, and I were able. EVERYMAN. Good Deeds, your counsel I pray you give me. GOOD DEEDS. That shall I do, verily! Though that on my feet I may not go, I have a sister, that shall with you also, Called Knowledge, which shall with you abide, To help you to make that dreadful reckoning. KNOWLEDGE. Everyman, I will go with thee and be thy guide, In thy most need to go by thy side. EVERYMAN. In good condition I am now in everything And am wholly content with this good thing: Thanked be God, my Creator! GOOD DEEDS. 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. EVERYMAN. My good Deeds, I thank thee heartily; I am well content, certainly, With your wordes sweet. KNOWLEDGE. Now go we thither, lovingly, To confession, that cleansing river. EVERYMAN. For joy I weep! I would we were there! But I pray you to instruct me by intellection, Where dwelleth that holy virtue, Confession? KNOWLEDGE. 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. EVERYMAN. Oh 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, Redeemed with heart, and full of 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 my Good Deeds, for my piteous exclamation! CONFESSION. 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 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, To remember thy Saviour was scourged for thee With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently. So must thou, or thou scape that painful pilgrimage: Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, And by that time Good Deeds will be with thee; But in any wise 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.