Everyman

Here beginneth a treatise how the High Father of Heaven sendeth Death to summon every creature to come and give account of their lives in this world, and is in manner of a moral play.

Messenger.

I pray you all give your audience

 

 

And hear this matter with reverence,

 

 

By figure a moral play:

 

 

The Summoning of Everyman called it is,

 

 

That of our lives and ending shows

 

 

How transitory we be all day.

 

 

This matter is wondrous precious,

 

 

But the intent of it is more gracious,

 

 

And sweet to bear away.

 

 

The story saith: Man, in the beginning

 

 

Look well, and take good heed to the ending Be you never so gay!

 

Wisdom

Fyrst enteryde WYSDOME in a ryche purpull clothe of golde wyth a mantyll of the same ermyn-nyde wythin, hawynge abowt hys neke a ryall hood furred wyth ermyn, wpon hys hede a cheweler wyth browys, a berde of golde of sypres curlyed, a ryche imperyall crown [...] thus seyenge:

WYSDOM. Yff "e wyll wet že propyrte
Ande že resun of my name imperyall,
I am clepyde of hem žat in erthe be
Euerlastynge Wysdom, to my nobley egalle;
Wyche name acordyt best in especyall
And most to me ys convenyent,
Allthow eche persone of že Trinyte be wysdom eternall
And all thre on euerlastynge wysdome togedyr present.

Specimen: Morality Plays
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