o, this is _Confession_; kneel down and ask mercy,
For he is in good conceit with God almighty.

_Everyman._ O 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,
Repent with hearty and full 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, wise 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.

_Everyman._ Thanked be God for his gracious work!
For now I will my penance begin;
This hath rejoiced and lighted my heart,
Though the knots be painful and hard within.

_Knowledge._ _Everyman_, look your penance that ye fulfil,
What pain that ever it to you be,
And _Knowledge_ shall give you counsel at will,
How your accounts ye shall make clearly.

_Everyman._ O eternal God, O heavenly figure,
O way of rightwiseness, O goodly vision,
Which descended down in a virgin pure
Because he would _Everyman_ redeem,
Which _Adam_ forfeited by his disobedience:
O blessed Godhead, elect and high-divine,
Forgive my grievous offence;
Here I cry thee mercy in this presence.
O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer
Of all the world, hope and conductor,
Mirror of joy, and founder of mercy,
Which illumineth heaven and earth thereby,
Hear my clamorous complaint, though it late be;
Receive my prayers; unworthy in this heavy life,
Though I be, a sinner most abominable,
Yet let my name be written in _Moses'_ table;
O _Mary_, pray to the Maker of all thing,
Me for to help at my ending,
And save me from