With an encouraging smile, Knowledge bade the penitent Everyman be of good cheer; and, with these words, she gave him a robe, which she told him to wear. “It is (she said) a garment of sorrow: From pain it will you borrow; Contrition it is That getteth forgiveness; It pleaseth God passing well.” So Everyman put on the sad-coloured robe, and was preparing to set forward on his journey with the two beautiful women, when Good Deeds told him that three other people must go with them, their names being _Discretion_, _Strength_, and _Beauty_. “Also (said Knowledge), ye must call to mind Your five wits [five senses] as for your counsellors.” So Everyman called aloud, and Discretion, Strength, Beauty, and the Five Senses (or wits), one after another, came towards him. They were all splendid and stately figures, and the _Five Wits_ were five beautiful women dressed in rainbow-coloured garments. Then Good Deeds addressed them, praying them all to accompany Everyman on his last long journey, and each one in turn promised faithfully never to forsake him. It seemed, therefore, as though the poor traveller had many friends with him after all, and when Knowledge advised him to go to a priest and take the Holy Sacrament, he consented gladly and humbly. On his return, Everyman found his companions waiting for him, but suddenly he felt so weak that he knew he was almost at the end of that journey commanded by Death. In the courtyard below the platform, at some distance, there was an open grave; and looking at it he said to Beauty: “Friends, let us not turn again to this land, Not for all the world’s gold; For into this cave must I creep And turn to earth, and then to sleep.” “What! into this grave? Alas! (exclaimed Beauty) And what—should I smother here?” “Yes, by my faith (said Everyman), and never more appear; In this world live no more we shall, But in heaven, before the highest Lord of all.” Then, full of fear, Beauty declined to go with Everyman. “Peace, I am deaf; I look not behind me; Not and thou would give me all the gold in thy chest,” she exclaimed; and turning from him in spite of her promise, she hurried away. Strength followed, crying: “Thy game liketh me not at all!” And, after him, fled Discretion, saying: “When Strength goeth before, I follow after evermore.” Deserted by these three friends, Everyman, who had descended the steps of the stage, was now quite close to the grave, and the scene was very solemn and impressive. Evening was drawing near. Long shadows were cast upon the courtyard, and across the sky, still clear, but rosy with sunset, flights of birds moved slowly. The last rays of the sun touched the roofs of the old grey houses, and the bells from the city churches near were chiming together.