In thy power it lieth me to save,
Yet of my good will I give thee, if ye will be kind—
Yea, a thousand pound shalt thou have,
And defer this matter till another day.”
But Death replied that “to cry, weep, and pray” was of no avail, since he took neither gold, silver, nor riches from pope, emperor, king, duke, nor princes. He must instantly set forth on the journey from which there was no returning.
Then, in his great trouble, Everyman called upon God:
“O gracious God, in the high seat celestial,
Have mercy on me in this most need!...
Shall I have no company from this vale terrestrial?”
he asked of Death. For he dreaded to take the long journey alone.