“Nay, Everyman, I had liefer fast bread and water

All this five year and more!”

exclaimed one of them.

And the cousin said:

“I have the cramp in my toe. Trust not to me.”

One by one they hastened away, and poor Everyman was left lamenting, till suddenly a thought struck him:

“All my life I have loved riches” (he reflected);

“If that my Good [wealth] now help me might,

He would make my heart full light.

I will speak to him in this distress.