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The Mirror of Everyman’s Salvation
How Everyman is summoned to give a reckoning to God.
Here begins a nice little book made in the manner of a play or drama on every human being.
...
At first God Almighty speaks thus:
GOD I see from my throne above
that all that is of human kind
lives without fear of God, ignorant.
I see the people so blinded
by sin, that they don’t recognize me as God.
They are enamored of worldly treasures,
which they have chosen over God,
and have forgotten me, who heretofore
had suffered death for the profit of man.
O Pride, Avarice, and Envy,
powerful among the Seven Deadly Sins,
how you have progressed now in the world.
Because of the Seven Deadly Sins together
has my vengeance been awakened; therefore I weep
with all the heavenly hosts.
The Seven Virtues, which were powerful,
are all driven out and chased away,
for the innocent one has sorely complained to me about it.
Everyman now lives without concern;
still they are not sure about tomorrow.
I see how the more I spare the people,
the worse it gets from year to year.
All that grows up becomes ever worse.
Therefore I will now, as it is fitting,
have the reckoning of Everyman.
For if I let the world continue in such a state
in this way of life, in these tempests,
the people would become worse than beasts
and would devour each other.
Pure belief in me, which is completely forgotten,
that which I myself commanded them to keep,
it weakens, it disappears, it gets cold;
for this I died the death out of love,
in innocence, out of my free will and without constraint,
because I hoped that through this
they would enjoy my everlasting glory,
for which I had expressly chosen them.
Now I think that everything is lost,
though I loved them at such a price.
How many goods have I freely lent them
out of the treasure of my mercy
that thus belong to them by right. However, they are so foolish,
and blinded by earthly goods,
that justice must be done
on Everyman, who is living so without fear.
Where are you, my Death, who no one spares?
Come here! Hear what I shall say to you.
DEATH At your command at all times,
Almighty God! Say what you demand.
God speaks
GOD Go hence to Everyman at once,
and tell him immediately in my name
that he must set forth on a pilgrimage
which no one in the world can escape,
and that to me he shall come to make his reckoning
without delay: that is my command.
DEATH It shall be accomplished, Almighty God.
I shall go forth to reign in the world;
also I shall quickly, without delay,
go to Everyman. He lives so beastly
without fear of God and too fleshly.
He worships earthly goods above God,
for which he will have to lack eternal joy.
There I shall go to him soon.
Here he comes walking. Help, Lord God.
How little he anticipates my coming!
Oh, Everyman, you will soon lose
what you think you hold firmly.
You will stand with a heavy burden
and in misery before Almighty God.
Everyman, where are you going
so beautifully dressed? Have you entirely forgotten God?
EVERYMAN Why do you ask?
DEATH This you will certainly discover,
if you listen to me in this hour.
Urgently I have been sent to you
by God from Heaven’s plain.
EVERYMAN Sent to me?
DEATH Yes I was, certainly!
Although you have forgotten him, as it appears,
he thinks of you in his kingdom,
as I will explain to you.
EVERYMAN What does God want from me?
DEATH That I will tell you:
he wants to receive a reckoning from you
without any delay.
EVERYMAN How am I to understand that?
Reckoning? What does that mean?
DEATH Although it may seem strange to you, it must be.
Also, you must without delay undertake
a pilgrimage, from which no one is able to
return by any way or means.
Bring your writing and your papers
with you, and look them over carefully,
for you must before God Almighty
give an account, be sure of that,
of how you have spent your time,
of your works, good and bad.
Also on this matter do not delay
about that. Because it must be accounted now.
EVERYMAN I am hardly prepared just now
to give reckoning just for God alone.
Who are you, messenger?
DEATH I am Death, who does not spare anyone,
but Everyman shall, by
God’s command, give reckoning to me.
EVERYMAN Oh, Death, you are come so near to me
when I least expected it.
Death, do you want money from me?
I will give you a thousand pounds
so that I may retain my life
and be released from this.
DEATH Everyman, that cannot be.
I am not moved by goods, treasure, or property.
Pope, duke, king, nor count
do I spare, after God’s command.
If I were to be tempted by treasures,
I would obtain all worldly goods.
Now everyone must dance with me,
so I give neither delay nor respite.
EVERYMAN Miserable, poor wretch, O woe!
Now I do not see any way to avoid this
reckoning: my record
is so confused and in such disarray
that I see no way to set it straight.
Therefore my heart is in fear.
Oh, if I might live another twelve years,
then I would set straight my records
and review them. Please do stop speaking
of punishment, dear Death,
until I am prepared for this business.
This I implore you, by God’s mercy.
DEATH Neither begging nor groaning will do you any good.
Therefore think what you should do.
EVERYMAN Dear Death, just let me know one thing:
though I must undertake this journey,
could I not return soon
when I should have settled my reckoning?
DEATH No, never!
EVERYMAN Almighty power of God,
have pity on me in this need!
May I take no one, high or low,
along there, if I could manage?
DEATH Yes, if there were anyone so bold
that he dares to go that journey with you.
Hurry up, because God, who sees into / all depths with his divine eyes,
commands you to come before him to show
your account of what you have done.
What do you think, that life on earth
and worldly goods were just given to you?
EVERYMAN Alas, so I thought!
DEATH How can you be so foolish,
Everyman, you have five senses after all,
and are so impure inside,
never expecting that I come so hastily.
EVERYMAN Miserable wretch, where shall I flee,
that I might escape from this great distress?
Dear Death, give me respite until tomorrow,
so that I can ponder on this.
DEATH That I will not allow,
nor will I ever do so at any time.
I can smite anyone at once in the ring,
without warning, with one stroke.
Therefore prepare yourself, even today.
I shall depart from your sight.
See that you seriously begin
to say: “Now comes the day
that Everyman cannot avoid.”
EVERYMAN Oh, Everyman, why was I ever born?
I see my life already lost
now that I must take this long journey
for which I am so badly prepared.
I have never done any good;
thus very little has been written down.
How shall I justify myself clearly?
Alas, I now wish that I did not exist:
that would be to my soul a great comfort.
Where might I now seek help or counsel?
Lord God, who foresees all things,
it helps me not so to complain.
Time is passing quickly, it is after noon.
Alas, what am I to do now?
To whom might I complain concerning this matter?
Let’s see, if I first spoke to my Fellowship
and propose to him to come with me,
would he refuse it? No, I think:
in our days in the world we have had
such great friendship together;
so I anticipate all blessings from him.
I see him, which really makes me happy.
I will talk to him without delay.
Good day, Fellowship!
FELLOWSHIP Everyman, a good day
may God give you, and health!
How sad you look; tell me:
is there something special that bothers you?
EVERYMAN Yes, Fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP Poor Fellow, why are you so upset?
Dear Everyman, tell me about your distress.
I will stay with you until death,
because of the good friendship and loyalty that wehave sworn!
EVERYMAN Well said, Fellowship, for all is lost!
FELLOWSHIP I must know all your pain and suffering:
“It is so thick you could cut it with a knife.”
If any harm were done to you, I will help you to avenge it,
even if I would be stabbed to death
and I knew it clearly in advance.
EVERYMAN Thank you, Fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP No thanks at all.
Therefore tell me your grief.
EVERYMAN Fellow, if I should make it clear
and the burden is too heavy for you,
then I would be more distressed.
But you say well; may God reward you.
FELLOWSHIP Well, I am serious, that is no lie.
EVERYMAN You speak well, certainly.
I have never found anything but loyalty in you.
FELLOWSHIP And you will never find differently!
EVERYMAN May God and our Lady reward you for it.
Fellow, you have somewhat given me strength.
FELLOWSHIP Everyman, do not be faint of heart.
I will go with you, even if it might be to Hell.
EVERYMAN You speak as a real fellow.
I will pay you back, as best I can.
FELLOWSHIP There is no need for thanks.
He who would not prove it by deeds
is not worthy to be a fellow.
Therefore reveal to me your trouble
as a true friend.
EVERYMAN I will tell you certainly
here now, in all seriousness.
I have been ordered that I must go
on a long journey, harsh and painful.
Also, I must give a reckoning by command
before the highest King almighty.
Now I pray that you be inclined
to go with me, as you promised.
FELLOWSHIP It is quite obvious:
the promise I consider binding.
But should I undertake such a journey
at your request, I would regret it.
I would be frightened of this burden.
But let’s think it over
and do the best we can.
EVERYMAN Oh, just listen to this sermon!
Did you not say, if I had need of it,
to go with me into infernal death,
or into Hell, if I had desired it?
FELLOWSHIP That I certainly would, but such a journey
is out of the question, honestly speaking.
To tell you the truth: if we set out on the journey,
when should we come back thereafter?
EVERYMAN There is no coming back.
FELLOWSHIP Then I do not want to be there.
Who has brought the message to you?
EVERYMAN Alas, Death!
FELLOWSHIP Help, holy God almighty,
has Death been the messenger?
For no living creature
would I go if I could avoid it.
EVERYMAN But you promised.
FELLOWSHIP That I frankly admit.
If it were for a serious bout of drinking,
I would go with you until the break of day,
or if it were to go to the fair, outside the city limits,
or to where the beautiful women would be.
EVERYMAN You would surely go with me there.
If it were only to go out for pleasure, then you were compliant.
FELLOWSHIP Here I will not go, God knows.
But if you wanted to go on a pilgrimage,
or if you wanted to slay somebody,
I would help you strip him to his pants and cleave him in two.
EVERYMAN Oh, that is a useless answer!
Fellow, what you want differs completely from what I require now that the need arises.
Fellow, think about that great loyalty
that we to one another many years ago
have promised.
FELLOWSHIP Loyalty here, loyalty there:
I do not wish it, case closed.
EVERYMAN Nevertheless I beseech you, if it were not unpleasant for you,
give me courage, lead me out, take me / up to the gates.
FELLOWSHIP Not one step, by St. James!
But if you had remained in the world,
I would not have forsaken you.
Our Dear Lord may accompany you now.
I will depart from you.
EVERYMAN Is that parting
without looking back? Alas, indeed!
Now I see well: it is a weak support,
Fellowship, when need arises.
But if I still were in great prosperity,
people would be laughing with me all the time.
Alas! They will not weep with me.
They say: “In prosperity one finds a friend
who in need is of little use.”
This should be a warning to others.
Where shall I look for help now?
I know well: with my Friend and Kinsman.
I will go to them to complain of my distress.
Though my Fellowship has abandoned me,
they will certainly stand by me in distress.
For as the saying usually goes,
“Blood is thicker than water.”
I shall test this that I may live.
Where are you, Friends and Kinsman?
KINSMAN We are here, cousin,
at your service, bold and brave.
COUSIN Everyman, do you need us?
Tell us frankly.
KINSMAN Yes, without delay.
We’ll take care of you, whatever you may undertake.
Even if you wished to kill someone,
we would help you with it.
COUSIN For so must it be,
if one truly practices the duties of kinship.
EVERYMAN May God reward you, my dear friends.
I lament to you, with saddened heart, of my predicament,
that I have been commanded, as clearly as can be,
to go on a far pilgrimage
from which there is no returning.
There I must give reckoning, which is hard,
before the Lord, to whom all is revealed.
KINSMAN What is it of which you must give a reckoning?
EVERYMAN Of my works, to speak concisely:
how I have squandered my time here
on earth and wasted away in sins
and of what I have done
in that time, lent to me, not given.
Just go with me, that the Almighty God may reward you,
and assist in clearing my reckoning.
My grief will be less.
KINSMAN What, go with you there?
COUSIN Well, is that all that is the matter?
Truly, I thought it was something else.
KINSMAN I am bowled over!
COUSIN No use pretending:
happily and willingly I’ll send my maid there.
She likes to go to parties.
KINSMAN That is what I say, too.
I would be frightened in the end.
EVERYMAN Will you then not go with me?
COUSIN Don’t go so fast, my dear.
It is not a matter of going to any party
or game!
EVERYMAN Now, then, to make an end of it,
say, will you go with me, without delaying?
KINSMAN Cousin, I shall take counsel, a recess, a time-out,
and an adjournment until the appropriate time.
COUSIN We would like some breathing room.
EVERYMAN How could I be glad?
Whatever fine words they offer me,
when the need comes, then it is all for naught.
Alas! How things have transpired here!
COUSIN Everyman, cousin, may God keep you.
To be blunt, I do not want to come with you.
I also have some business to settle,
for which I still am badly prepared.
Hence I shall stay here.
EVERYMAN So be it.
Fie, Everyman, did you place trust
in your Kinsman? The ones who promised so bravely
leave you in this misery.
Look, it is as if someone has driven them from here.
I see: one speaks well with one’s mouth
out of hypocrisy, but without the deed.
Then they say: “Cousin, if you lack anything,
I am here for you.” It surely is nothing.
And Fellowship says the same thing; yet
it is all betrayal and deceit.
Whoever wishes may rely on it.
Now where can I turn?
Remaining here any longer is useless.
What friends would assist me now?
A new thought comes to me:
I have given great love to my Goods.
If that would assist me to my benefit,
I would not have lost everything yet.
From him I still expect my comfort.
O Lord, who shall judge all,
open thy grace to me.
Where are you, my Goods?
GOODS I lie here locked up,
neglected, mouldy, as you see me,
heaped up, filthy; I cannot
move, pressed as I am together.
What will you have of me?
EVERYMAN Come forward here immediately,
quickly, Goods, and show yourself.
You must help me.
GOODS What counsel must you have from me?
If you have any need in the world,
I will set it right.
EVERYMAN Something entirely different troubles me.
It is not of this world, you understand.
I have been summoned to where I must go
on a long pilgrimage, without delay.
I must also give, and that is the worst of all,
a reckoning before the Lord most high,
for which I seek help from you.
Because, since my younger years,
I had great joy in you,
and my confidence rests entirely on you.
So I beg you, my dear Goods,
that you go with me without hesitation.
For you could easily clear me before God,
since Goods can erase stains completely.
GOODS No, Everyman, I might hinder you there.
I follow no man on such a journey.
And even if I went with you, do consider,
you would fare far worse off because of me,
for reasons I will tell you candidly:
I have botched your accounts terribly.
Since you have given your whole being
to me, for this you may be sorry.
Your reckoning will not be in order
before God Almighty, through my fault.
EVERYMAN That I may well repent
when I must give a strict account.
Up, let’s go together.
GOODS No, I will not budge.
Therefore I simply will not follow you.
EVERYMAN Alas! But I have loved you
my whole life until the present day.
GOODS That means everlasting damnation for you:
love for me is contrary to Heaven.
But had you loved me in moderation
and shared me with the poor,
then you would not need to whine now,
nor be sad, which is painful for you.
EVERYMAN Alas, God! I admit that this is true.
GOODS Think you that I am yours?
EVERYMAN I had thought so.
GOODS Be silent! I am only lent to you
by God; he tests, it is as clear as day,
how you shall handle your wealth.
Many more are lost because of me
than are saved, be sure of that.
Do you think that I will follow you, Everyman,
from this world? No, certainly not!
EVERYMAN That I thought for sure, because I always loved you so much.
GOODS Therefore I know Goods as a thief of souls.
When you are gone from here now, this is for sure:
I will deceive another,
just as I did one prior to your time.
EVERYMAN Oh false Goods, curse on you!
How you have caught me in your net,
traitor to God!
GOODS You have done it all to yourself,
which amuses me now.
It makes me laugh!
EVERYMAN You are pleased about this,
that you have robbed me of God?
He is foolish who puts his trust in any goods.
This I, Everyman, may well lament.
Will you not go with me then?
GOODS Absolutely not!
EVERYMAN Oh, to whom shall I then complain
to go with me in this great need?
First I had counted on Fellowship,
who repeatedly made me beautiful promises
but who was not faithful to me afterwards.
Then I found that it was all deception.
Thereafter I went also to my kinsmen,
who promised it to me clear as glass.
In the end I found it to be all foolishness.
Then I started to think of my Goods,
on which I had set my heart.
That gave me neither help nor counsel
other than that Goods stands damned.
Therefore I may as well spit at myself.
Fie, Everyman, you may indeed shudder,
how thoroughly can I despise you!
Lord God, who will now help me
by which I yet would be happy?
No one better than my Virtue.
But, alas! She is so weak in her limbs
I think she would not be able to move from her place.
Ah, shall I not then dare to speak to her?
Shall I? No! I shall nevertheless.
Fare as it may, I must go there.
Where are you, my Virtue?
VIRTUE I lie here all withered
in bed, paralyzed and entirely dejected.
I cannot move a limb.
Thus you have made me with your misdeeds.
What do you desire?
EVERYMAN You must help me,
for I need it to my benefit.
VIRTUE Everyman, I have understood
that you have been summoned to a reckoning
before the Lord who is over all things.
EVERYMAN Oh, about that I want to complain to you.
I come to ask you urgently
that you go there with me.
VIRTUE Even if I might gain all the world,
I could not stand by myself.
EVERYMAN Alas! Are you so feeble?
VIRTUE You have done all this to me.
Had you altogether gone along with me,
I would have cleansed your reckoning,
which now is unclean, and that is why your soul is so sad.
Look at your records and your deeds,
how they lie here.
EVERYMAN May God’s power strengthen me!
One does not see a single letter that is clean.
Are these all my records?
VIRTUE I certainly believe so.
You can see that from the state of my health.
EVERYMAN My dear Virtue, from the goodness of your heart,
I beg you to help me to my advantage,
or I will be lost forever.
For Fellowship, Friend, Kinsman, and Goods
have forsaken me, in just humility
help me to balance my reckoning here before the highest Lord.
VIRTUE Everyman, you have my deepest sympathy.
I would help you, if I were able.
EVERYMAN Virtue, would you indeed advise me?
VIRTUE This I intend,
though I cannot move from my place.
Yet I have a sister who will go with you.
Her name is Knowledge, who will guide you
and show you another who will prepare you
for setting forth to the reckoning, which is severe.
KNOWLEDGE Everyman, I shall protect you.
EVERYMAN I believe I feel better now.
I am a little reassured by this.
In this God may be praised.
VIRTUE When without delay she has led you
where you shall cleanse yourself from stains,
then I shall receive my health and help you
and go with you to the reckoning as Virtue,
to help you with your accounting, to your joy,
before the Lord who is over all.
EVERYMAN Thank you, Virtue, my favorite!
I am extremely comforted
by your sweet words.
KNOWLEDGE Now we will go
to Confession. She is a clear river,
she will cleanse you.
EVERYMAN With pure intent
we shall go there. Pray, tell me, both of you:
where does Confession live?
KNOWLEDGE In the House of Salvation.
There we shall find her, I think.
EVERYMAN Our Lord may grant us grace
with her, who may comfort us.
KNOWLEDGE Everyman, this is Confession; fall at her feet.
She is very dear and precious to God.
EVERYMAN O glorious flower, that shines
and makes dark stains to disappear,
I kneel before you. Do cleanse me
of my sins. Into your sight
I come with Knowledge for my salvation,
sad of heart and very afraid,
because I have been summoned by Death
to go on a great pilgrimage.
Also, I must give a reckoning, as is clear,
before him, who sees through all reasoning.
Now I pray, Confession, mother of health:
cleanse my records, for Virtue is very ill.
CONFESSION Everyman, to me your suffering is well known.
Because you have come to me with Knowledge,
I will help you to your advantage.
Also, I will give you a perfect jewel,
that is simply called Penance.
With that you shall chastise your body
with abstinence and suffering.
Imagine, see the pure scourge:
that is Penance, hard and sour.
Remember that Our Lord also was beaten
with scourges, which he willed to endure,
just before his cruel pilgrimage.
Knowledge, keep him on this path;
then his Virtue will become strong.
And always humbly hope in God,
for your time will soon end.
Beg mercy of him; you will find it fully,
and always use the hard knots of the scourge.
Knowledge, see that you are beside him
when he turns to Penance.
KNOWLEDGE Gladly, Confession.
EVERYMAN God be honored in this!
Now I shall begin my penance,
for the light has enlightened me within,
though these knots are harsh and hard.
KNOWLEDGE Everyman, however unpleasant it may become for you,
see that you carry out your penance.
I, Knowledge, will help you,
so that you can openly show your reckoning.
EVERYMAN O living Life! O heavenly Bread!
O Way of truth! O Divine Being,
who descended from his Father’s bosom,
coming down into a pure Maid,
because you wanted to heal Everyman,
whom Adam disinherited by Eve’s counsel.
O Holy Trinity of supreme excellence,
do forgive me my misdeeds,
for I seek mercy from you.
O divine Treasure! O royal Seed!
O Refuge for the entire world,
ever-replenishing Food of angels,
Mirror of joy on whom all depends,
whose light covers Heaven and earth,
hear my crying, even if it may be too late.
Receive my prayer at the throne.
Though I am sinful, wicked and evil,
write me in the book of Heaven,
for I seek mercy from you.
O Mary, mother of the heavenly Almighty,
stand carefully by me in need
so that the Devil does not overpower me.
For mighty Death is approaching me.
Pray diligently for me to your Son,
so that I am able to walk on the right path
re not crooked.
Impart to me the kingdom of your Child,
so that I can bathe in his Passion,
for I desire mercy from you.
Knowledge, give me the scourge for my own good
which by name is called Penance.
I shall begin, may God favor me.
KNOWLEDGE Everyman, may God give you time!
I will give [the scourge] to you in the name of our Lord,
to whom you must come to give reckoning.
EVERYMAN In the name of the Father and the Son, also
the Holy Ghost, in the Trinity,
I am beginning to do my penance.
Take this, body, for the fact that you were so reckless
to lead me on the path of disaster.
Therefore now you must be beaten.
You have truly indeed deserved it.
Oh, brothers, you must truly
wade through penance in preparation for the time you go on your pilgrimage,
which Everyman must undertake.
VIRTUE Thank God, I am beginning to feel well,
because Everyman has healed me.
Therefore I shall be with him forever.
I shall also testify to his good deeds; for that I shall go with him at once.
KNOWLEDGE Everyman, be happy and pleased:
Good Deeds comes to you, now rejoice!
EVERYMAN Who can it be, Knowledge?
KNOWLEDGE It is your Virtue,
whole and healthy on her legs.
EVERYMAN I weep for joy.
Now I will strike harder than before.
VIRTUE Everyman, elect pilgrim,
blessed be you, son of victory,
for the light of glory is coming to you.
You have made me completely healthy;
therefore I shall remain with you forever.
God will have mercy on you, be assured.
EVERYMAN Welcome, Virtue, my eyes grow misty
in truly humble, sweet joy.
KNOWLEDGE Strike no more, cheer up:
God on his throne sees you live.
Put on this garment as your reward.
It is soaked with your tears,
so wear it freely, in perseverance;
otherwise you would be lacking before God.
EVERYMAN What is this garment called?
KNOWLEDGE The garment of Remorse.
It will please God very much.
VIRTUE Everyman, wear this garment
that Knowledge has put on you.
EVERYMAN Thus I will receive Remorse,
because God values this garment so highly.
Now let us go without fear.
Virtue, have you our reckoning clear?
VIRTUE Yes, Everyman.
EVERYMAN Then I have no fear.
Let’s go, friends, do not part from me.
KNOWLEDGE Not us, Everyman.
VIRTUE You must take with you also
three persons of great power.
EVERYMAN Who might they be?
VIRTUE Prudence and your Strength;
your Beauty may not stay behind.
KNOWLEDGE You must also without delay have
your Five Senses as your assistants.
EVERYMAN How should I obtain them?
KNOWLEDGE Call all of them.
They will hear all about it without delay.
EVERYMAN My friends, come all on this my day:
Prudence, Strength, Beauty, and Five Senses!
STRENGTH Here we are, all of us, at your service.
What do you want us to do?
VIRTUE That you will go with Everyman
to help him complete his pilgrimage.
For he has been summoned to come
at once before God for a reckoning.
See if you want to come with him.
BEAUTY We all want to go with him
to help and assist him.
PRUDENCE That we will, certainly.
EVERYMAN O Almighty God, mercy!
I praise you that I thus have brought along
Prudence, Beauty, Five Senses, and Strength,
and my Virtue and clear Knowledge.
Now I have company here that pleases me.
I have no more wishes for myself.
STRENGTH I shall remain with you, bold and brave,
even if it meant to going into battle.
FIVE SENSES Me too, even if we had to go the whole wide world,
I shall not part from you in any distress.
BEAUTY Neither shall I until death,
come of it what may!
PRUDENCE Everyman, what I wanted to tell you:
go with foresight, calm and collected.
We will counsel you in all good things
and guide you in the right direction.
EVERYMAN These are friends who do not fail;
may God, the heavenly Father, reward them.
Now listen, all my friends:
I am going to make my will
before all of you here present.
In charity and genuine humility
I distribute to the poor of my goods
one half, and the other half thereafter
I assign to where by right it should go.
I do this now to shame the Devil,
to get out of his claws,
when my life ends this day.
KNOWLEDGE Everyman, listen to what I say:
go to the priesthood
and see that you from them receive
the Sacrament and the Chrism.
Then come back to this place here.
We shall all wait for you.
FIVE SENSES Yes, Everyman, go prepare yourself.
There is no emperor, king, duke, or count
who has from God such a gift
as does the lowliest priest alone.
Of all the pure sacraments
he has the key, always ready
for humankind’s salvation,
which God for a medicine
gave us from out of his heart
here, in this earthly life.
The Seven Holy Sacraments:
Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders,
and the Eucharist, God’s flesh and blood,
Marriage and the Extreme Unction also:
these are the seven unblemished:
Sacraments of great value.
EVERYMAN I will receive God’s body with love
and go with humility to the priest.
FIVE SENSES Everyman, that is well done.
May God allow you to accomplish this to your salvation!
The priest is above all things:
he teaches us Scripture
and turns humankind from sins.
God has given him more power
than the angels in eternity.
For every priest can without doubt make,
with five words on the altar
during Mass (be sure about this),
God’s body, true flesh and blood,
and holds his Creator in his hands.
The priest binds and looses all bonds
in Heaven and on earth.
O noble priest of great worth,
if we kissed your footsteps, you are worthy of it!
Whoever needs comfort from sins
can find no refuge
but with a priest.
This the Lord has bestowed upon the priest,
and he is present here [in the world] in his place.
Thus he is placed above the angels.
KNOWLEDGE That is true, for those who stay unblemished.
When he hung in great pain
on the Cross, he gave us then from his heart
the Seven Sacraments in sorrow.
He did not sell them to us, the Lord!
Therefore St. Peter says
that they are all damned
who buy or sell God
and make heaps of money out of this.
They set a bad example for the sinner.
Their children walk in the temple,
and some of them live with women
in bodily corruption.
They have after all been robbed of their senses.
FIVE SENSES I hope, God willing, that none do this.
Let us therefore honor the priests
and always follow their teachings.
We are their sheep and they our shepherds,
by whom we all are protected.
Let’s not talk about this anymore.
VIRTUE Everyman comes; he has settled up.
Therefore let us all be on guard.
EVERYMAN Lord God, I am so happy
that I weep for joy just like a child.
I have received my Sacrament
and the Unction also. Thanks to the one who advised it.
Now, friends, without any further delay,
I thank God that I found all of you.
Place your hands on this little pilgrim’s cross
and follow me then promptly.
I will lead the way to the place I want to be.
Our Lord God, he will guide me!
STRENGTH Everyman, we will not part from you
before you have made this journey.
PRUDENCE We will continually stay with you,
as for a long time we have assured you.
KNOWLEDGE Oh, this is a very tough pilgrimage,
on which Everyman has to go.
STRENGTH Everyman, see how we stand by you:
strong, brave, and have no fear.
EVERYMAN Alas, my limbs are so heavy
that they begin to tremble with fear.
Dear friends, let us not turn back now.
If I am to complete my pilgrimage
then I must go down here
into this pit and become earth.
BEAUTY What? Into this pit?
EVERYMAN Yes, into such
we, both great and small, must turn.
BEAUTY What, smother in here?
EVERYMAN Yes, smother in here and die
to the world, but be alive forever
before the supreme Lord.
BEAUTY I take back everything.
Adieu! Farewell! I take my leave; I go as the dumb.
EVERYMAN What? Beauty!
BEAUTY I am totally deaf; oh, I do not look back
even if it would gain me all the world’s riches.
EVERYMAN In what shall I trust?
Beauty flees as if chased away.
Though when I asked her earlier,
she would live and die with me.
STRENGTH Everyman, I will also leave you.
Your game does not entirely please me.
EVERYMAN Strength, will you also flee from me?
STRENGTH Yes, I will surely go away.
The matter is closed, once and for all.
EVERYMAN Dear Strength, please wait.
STRENGTH By St. Eloy I will not!
Do you think that I want to smother in that pit?
EVERYMAN Will you leave me then?
STRENGTH Yes, it is all in vain,
though you may cry yourself into a hernia.
EVERYMAN Will you thus redeem your promise?
You said you would stay with me.
STRENGTH I have guided you far enough.
Then too, you are old enough, I think,
to go on your pilgrimage alone.
I regret now that I came here.
EVERYMAN Alas, dear Strength, am I angering you?
STRENGTH It is all in vain. Rest your head,
and go into that dark house.
EVERYMAN I had never thought this of you.
Who will trust in his Strength?
It flees like mist from the ditch.
Beauty is like a wind that flees!
Alas, trusty friends, that you lie so,
after making promises to me.
PRUDENCE Everyman, I also will go away
and wish to put this off.
Do you think that we want to go in here?
Don’t think of it, I know better.
EVERYMAN O Prudence, Prudence!
PRUDENCE I will not go with you.
It is clearly imprudent.
EVERYMAN Dear Prudence, come at least closer,
so that you can see the bottom of the earth in here.
I humbly beg this of you.
PRUDENCE By St. Eloy, I will not do this!
I regret that I ever came so close.
EVERYMAN Oh, everything that is not God will fail.
Beauty, Strength, great Prudence,
they fly from Everyman when Death approaches.
Poor mankind, on whom shall I rely now?
FIVE SENSES Everyman, I will also leave
and follow the others who turn their backs on you.
EVERYMAN Oh, dear Five Senses!
FIVE SENSES I will not gain anything from this;
it is no use to cry so much.
EVERYMAN Oh, are you all going to leave me?
VIRTUE No, Everyman. Rest assured.
EVERYMAN Alas, my Five Senses!
FIVE SENSES Cry all that you want.
You will not see my face again.
EVERYMAN Dear Virtue, will you stay with me?
VIRTUE I will never leave you in the lurch,
for life, death, or any torment.
EVERYMAN You are able to know your true friends here.
Those who leave me altogether,
I loved them more than my Virtue alone.
Knowledge, will you also leave me?
KNOWLEDGE Yes, Everyman, when you end your life,
but definitely not before, no danger of that.
EVERYMAN Thank you, Knowledge.
KNOWLEDGE I will not depart from here
before you are where you belong.
EVERYMAN Alas, I think we must go on,
to give reckoning and pay my debt.
My time is almost up.
Whoever hears and sees this: take example from it.
And see how all flee from me;
my Virtue only will go with me.
VIRTUE All earthly things are nothing at all.
EVERYMAN But see, Virtue, how all flee from me now.
VIRTUE Beauty, Strength, Prudence, who deserted him,
Fellowship, who were Friends and Kinsmen.
EVERYMAN Now see how all flee from me,
except my Virtue, who will go with me.
Mercy, King of the angelic host,
Mercy, Mother of God, stand by me.
VIRTUE I will appear unblemished before God.
EVERYMAN Mercy, King of the angelic host!
VIRTUE Shorten the pain for us, do not let it worsen,
make the end for us light and free.
EVERYMAN Mercy, King of the angelic host,
Mercy, Mother of God, stand by me.
Into thy hands, Father, however it may be,
I commend to you my spirit in peace.
I go with Virtue.
Knowledge He has undergone
what we all have to pay.
Virtue will now herself testify
before him who shall judge everything.
I think I hear the sound of angels
here above; certainly, Heaven is opened,
wherein Everyman will be taken in.
The Angel says:
Come chosen bride,
here above, and hear that sweet sound
of the angels because of your good Virtue.
I take the soul out of the body:
her reckoning is pure and clean.
Now I take her onto the plain of Heaven,
where all together we may
enter, great and small.
Amen.
THE EPILOGUE
Accept this, small and great,
and see how Everyman comes to his Death.
Fellowship, Friends, and Goods
desert Everyman; be sure about this.
Beauty, Strength, Prudence, and Five Senses,
it is all fleeting, bear this in mind.
Only Virtue follows before all others.
But when Virtue is so weak
that she may or cannot come along,
poor Everyman, how then will you go
to the reckoning before the Lord?
Then you will perish of woe, of pain,
for after Death it is difficult to reform;
no intercession or pleading will help you then.
Ah, Everyman, how are you able to be
proud, envious!
Very honorable audience,
mark this mirror, hold it before your eyes
and avoid pride
and all other sins as well.
Now let us pray at once
that this may be imprinted into everyone’s heart
in order that we come pure before God in the end.
May the heavenly Father grant us this.
Say “Amen” all together.
God be praised!
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