A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. II by Robert Dodsley

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RAGAN. Lick, quod thou? now a shame take him that can all lick.

MIDO. The pot shall need no washing, he will it so lick;
And by this he is sitting down to bread and drink.

RAGAN. And shall I have no part with him, dost thou think?

MIDO. No, for he pray'd Jacob, ere he did begin,
To shut the tent fast, that no mo guests come in.

RAGAN. And made he no mention of me his servant?

MIDO. He said thou were a knave, and bad thee hence avaunt:
Go shift, where thou couldest, thou gottest nothing there.

RAGAN. God yield you, Esau, with all my stomach cheer![265]

MIDO. I must in again, lest perhaps I be shent,
For I asked noboby licence, when I went. [_Exeat_.

RAGAN. Nay, it is his nature, do what ye can for him,
No thank at his hand; but choose you, sink or swim.
Then reason it with him in a meet time and place,
And he shall be ready to flee straight in your face.
This proverb in Esau may be understand:
Claw a churl by the tail, and he will file[266] your hand.
Well i-wis, Esau, ye did know well enou',
That I had as much need to be meated as you.
Have I trotted and trudged all night and all day,
And now leave me without door, and so go your way?
Have I spent so much labour for you to provide,
And you nothing regard what of me may betide?
Have I run with you while I was able to go,
And now you purchase food for yourself and no mo?
Have I taken so long pain you truly to serve,
And can ye be content, that I famish and starve?
I must lacquey and come lugging greyhound and hound,
And carry the weight, I dare say, of twenty pound,
And to help his hunger purchase grace and favour,
And now to be shut out fasting for my labour!
By my faith, I may say I serve a good master,
Nay, nay, I serve an ill husband and a waster.
That neither profit regardeth nor honesty,
What marvel I then, if he pass so light on me?
But, Esau, now that ye have sold your birthright,
I commend me to you, and God give you good night.
And let a friend tell him his fau't at any time,
Ye shall hear him chafe beyond all reason or rhyme.
Except it were a friend or a very hell-hound,
Ye never saw the match of him in any ground.
When I shew him of good-will, what others do say,
He will fall out with me, and offer me a fray.
And what can there be a worser condition,
Than to do ill, and refuse admonition?
Can such a one prosper, or come to a good end?
Then I care not how many children God me send.
Once Esau shall not beguile me, I can tell:
Except he shall fortune to amend, or do well.
Therefore why do I about him waste thus much talk,
Whom no man can induce ordinately to walk?
But some man perchance doth not a little wonder,
How I, who but right now did roar out for hunger,
Have now so much vacant and void time of leisure,
To walk and to talk, and discourse all of pleasure.
I told you at the first, I would provide for one:
My mother taught me that lesson a good while agone.
When I came to Jacob, his friendship to require,
I drew near and near till I came to the fire:
There hard beside me stood the pottage-pot,
Even as God would have it, neither cold nor hot;
Good simple Jacob could not turn his back so thick,
But I at the ladle got a gulp or a lick;
So that, ere I went, I made a very good meal,
And din'd better cheap than Esau a good deal.
But here cometh now master Esau forth.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCAENA QUARTA.

ESAU _and_ RAGAN.

RAGAN. Ah, sir, when one is hungry, good meat is much worth.
And well fare a good brother yet in time of need,

[_Esau cometh forth, wiping his mouth_.

The world is now meetly well amended indeed,

ESAU. By my truth, if I had bidden[267] from meat any longer,
I think my very maw would have fret asunder.
Then had I been dead and gone, I make God a vow.

RAGAN. Surely then the world had had a great loss of you;
For where should we have had your fellow in your place?
[_Aside_.

ESAU. What should I have done with my birthright in this case?

RAGAN. Kept it still, and you had not been a very ass. [_Aside_.

ESAU. But the best pottage it was yet, that ever was.
It were sin not to sell one's soul for such gear.

RAGAN. Ye have done no less in my conscience, I fear. [_Aside_.

ESAU. Who is this that standeth clattering at my back?

RAGAN. A poor man of yours, sir, that doth his dinner lack.

ESAU. Dinner, whoreson knave? dinner at this time a' day?
Nothing with thee but dinner and munching alway.
Why, thy whoreson villain slave, who is hungry now?

RAGAN. Indeed, sir (as seemeth by your words) not you.

ESAU. A man were better fill the bellies of some twelfe,
Than to fill the gut of one such whoreson elf;
That doth none other good but eat, and drink, and sleep.

RAGAN. He shall do something else, whom ye shall have to keep. [_Aside_.

ESAU. And that maketh thee so slothful and so lither,
I dare say he was six hours coming hither,
When I sent him to make provision afore,
Not passing a mile hence or very little more.
And yet being so far pass'd the hour of dining,
See, and the knave be not for his dinner whining!
Fast a while, fast with a mischief, greedy slave,
Must I provide meat for every glutton knave?

RAGAN. I may fast, for any meat that of you I have. [_Aside_.

ESAU. Or deserve thy dinner, before thou do't crave.

RAGAN. If I have not deserved it at this season,
I shall never deserve it in mine own reason.
Ye promised I should eat, till I cried ho.

ESAU. Yea, that was, if we took either hare, teg, or doe.

RAGAN. But when yourself were hungry, ye said, I wot what----

ESAU. What, thou villain slave, tellest thou me now of that?

RAGAN. Then, help, run apace, Ragan, my good servant.

ESAU. Yea then was then, now is it otherwise: avaunt!
Have I nothing to do but provide meat for you?

RAGAN. Ye might have given me some part, when ye had enough.

ESAU. What, of the red rice pottage with Jacob I had?
Why, the crow would not give it her bird--thou art mad,
Is that meat for you? nay, it would make you too rank.
Nay, soft, brother mine, I must keep you more lank.
It hath made me ever[268] since so lusty and[269] fresh,
As though I had eaten all delicates of flesh.
I feel no manner faintness whereof to complain.

RAGAN. Yet to-morrow ye must be as hungry again,
Then must ye and will ye wish again for good cheer:
And repent you, that ever ye bought this so dear.

ESAU. Repent me? wherefore? then the Lord give me sorrow;
If it were to do, I would do it to-morrow.
For, thou foolish knave, what hath Jacob of me bought?

RAGAN. But a matter of a straw and a thing of nought!

ESAU. My birthright and whole title of mine eldership,
Marry, sir, I pray God much good do it his maship,
If I die to-morrow, what good would it do me?
If he die to-morrow, what benefit hath he?
And for a thing hanging on such casuality,
Better a mess of pottage than nothing, pardy!
If my father live long, when should I it enjoy?
If my father die soon, then it is but a toy.
For if the time were come, thinkest thou that Jacob
Should find Esau such a lout or such a lob
To suffer him to enjoy my birthright in rest?
Nay, I will first toss him and trounce him of the best;
I think to find it a matter of conscience,
And Jacob first to have a fart, sir reverence.
When my father Isaac shall the matter know,
He will not let Jacob have my birthright, I trow.
Or if he should keep it as his own, I pray you,
Might not I live without it, and do well enou'?
Do none but men's eldest sons prosper well?
How live younger brethren then, I beseech you, tell?
Once, if anything be by the sword to be got,
This falchion and I will have part to our lot.
But now come on, go we abroad awhile and walk,
Let my birthright go, and of other matters talk.

RAGAN. Who--I, walk? nay, I trow not, till I have better din'd.
It is more time to seek, where I may some meat find.

ESAU. What say'st thou, drawlatch? come forth, with a mischief!
Wilt thou not go with me? on, forward, whoreson thief?
Shall it be as pleaseth you, or as pleaseth me?

RAGAN. Nay, as pleaseth you, sir, methink it must be.

ESAU. And where be my dogs and my hound? be they all well?

RAGAN. Better than your man, for they be in their kennel.

ESAU. Then go see all be well in my part of the tent.

RAGAN. With a right good will, sir, I go incontinent.

ESAU. And I will to my field, the which I cleansed last,
To see what hope there is, that it will yield fruit fast.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCAENA QUINTA.

JACOB. MIDO. REBECCA. ABRA, _the handmaid_.

JACOB. Thou knowest, little Mido, where my mother is.

MIDO. I can go to her as straight as a thread, and not miss.

JACOB. Go call her, and come again with her thine own self.

MIDO. Yes, ye shall see me scud like a little elf.

JACOB. Where I have, by the enticement of my mother,
Bargained and bought the birthright of my brother.
Turn it all to good, O Lord, if it be thy will:
Thou knowest my heart, Lord, I did it for no ill.
And whatever shall please thee to work or to do,
Thou shalt find me prest and obedient thereto.
But here is my mother Rebecca now in place.

MIDO. How say you, master Jacob, ran not I apace?

JACOB. Yes, and a good son to go quick on your errand.

REBECCA. Son, how goeth the matter? let me understand.

JACOB. Forsooth, mother, I did so, as ye me bad,
Esau to sell me all his birthright persuade.

REBECCA. Hast thou bought it indeed, and he therewith content?

JACOB. Yea, and have his promise, that he will never repent.

REBECCA. Is the bargain through? hast thou paid him his price?

JACOB. Yea, that I have, a mess of red pottage of rice,
And he ate it up every whit, well I wot.

MIDO. When he had supp'd up all, I saw him lick the pot;
Thus he licked, and thus he licked, and this way:
I thought to have lick'd the pot myself once to-day;
But Esau beguil'd me, I shrew him for that,
And left not so much as a lick for puss our cat.

REBECCA. Son Jacob, forasmuch as thou hast so well sped,
With an hymn or psalm let the Lord be praised.
Sing we all together, and give thanks to the Lord,
Whose promise and performance do so well accord.

MIDO. Shall we sing the same hymn, that all our house doth sing?
For Abraham and his seed to give God praising.

REBECCA, Yea, the very same.

MIDO. Then must we all kneel down thus,
And Abra, our maid, here must also sing with us,
Kneel down, Abra; what, I say, will ye not kneel down?
Kneel, when I bid you, the slackest wench in this town!

[_Here they kneel down to sing all four, saving that
Abra is slackest, and Mido is quickest_.]

THE FIRST SONG.

_Blessed be thou, O the God of Abraham,
For thou art the Lord our God, and none but thou:
What thou workest to the glory of thy name,
Passeth man's reason to search what way or how.
Thy promise it was Abraham should have seed
More than the stars of the sky to be told;
He believed, and had Isaac indeed,
When both he and Sara seemed very old.
Isaac many years longed for a son,
Rebecca, thy handmaid, long time was barren,
By prayer in thy sight such favour he won,
That at one birth she brought him forth sons twain,
Wherefore, O Lord, we do confess and believe,
That both thou canst and wilt thy promise fulfil:
But how it shall come, we can no reason give,
Save all to be wrought according to thy will.
Blessed be thou, O God of Abraham, &c_.

REBECCA. Now, doubt not, Jacob, but God hath appointed thee
As the eldest son unto Isaac to be:
And now have no doubt, but thou art sure elected,
And that unthrift Esau of God is rejected.
And to sell thee his birthright since he was so mad,
I warrant thee the blessing that he should have had.

JACOB. Yea? how may that be wrought?

REBECCA. Yes, yes, let me alone.
Our[270] good old Isaac is blind, and cannot see,
So that by policy he may beguiled be,
I shall devise how for no ill intent ne thought,
But to bring to pass that I know God will have wrought,
And I charge you twain, Abra and little Mido.

MIDO. Nay, ye should have set Mido before Abra, I trow,
For I am a man toward, and so is not she.

ABRA. No, but yet I am more woman toward than ye.

REBECCA. I charge you both that, whatever hath been spoken,
Ye do not to any living body open.

ABRA. For my part it shall to no body uttered be.

MIDO. And slit my tongue, if ever it come out for me:
But if any tell, Abra here will be prattling.
For they say, women will ever be clattering.

ABRA. There is none here that prattleth so much as you.

REBECCA. No mo words, but hence we altogether now.

[_Exeunt omnes_.

ACTUS TERTIJ, SCAENA PRIMA.

ESAU. ISAAC. MIDO.

ESAU. Now, since I last saw mine old father Isaac,
Both I do think it long, and he will judge me slack,
But he cometh forth; I will here listen and see,
Whether he shall chance to speak any word of me.
[_Steps aside_.

ISAAC. On, lead me forth, Mido, to the bench on this hand,
That I may sit me down, for I cannot long stand.

MIDO. Here, sir, this same way, and ye be at the bench now,
Where ye may sit down in God's name, if please you.

ISAAC. I marvel, where Esau my son doth become,
That he doth now of days visit me so seldom.
But it is oft seen, whom fathers do best favour,
Of them they have least love again for their labour.
I think, since I saw him, it is a whole week.
In faith, little Mido, I would thou wouldest him seek.

MIDO. Forsooth, Master Isaac, and I knew it where,
It should not be very long ere I would be there.
But shall I at adventure go seek where he is?

ESAU. Seek no farther, Mido: already here he is.

ISAAC. Methinketh, I have Esau his voice perceived.

ESAU. Ye guess truly, father, ye are not deceived.

MIDO. Here he is come now invisible, by my soul:
For I saw him not, till he spake hard at my poll!

ISAAC. Now, go thou in, Mido, let us two here alone.

MIDO. Sir, if ye command me, full quickly I am gone.

ISAAC. Yet, and if I call thee, see thou be not slack.

MIDO. I come at the first call, good Master Isaac.

ISAAC. Son Esau.

ESAU. Here, father.

ISAAC. Is none here but we?

ESAU. None to harken our talk, father, that I do see.

[_Rebecca entereth behind unseen, and listens_.

ISAAC. Son Esau, why hast thou been from me so long?

ESAU. I cry you mercy, father, if I have done wrong.
But I am both to trouble you, having nothing
To present you withal, nor venison to bring.

ISAAC. Son Esau, thou knowest that I do thee love.

ESAU. I thank you for it, father, as doth me behove.

ISAAC. And now thou seest my days draw towards an end.

ESAU. That is to me great ruth, if I could it amend.

ISAAC. I must go the way of all mortal flesh,
Therefore, while my memory and wit is yet fresh,
I would thee endow mine heritage to succeed:
And bless thee, as I ought, to multiply my seed.
The God of my father Abraham and of me
Hath promised, that our seed as the sand shall be.
He is a God of truth, and in his words just.
Therefore in my working shall be no fault, I trust.
Now, therefore, son Esau, get thee forth to hunt,
With thy bow and quiver, as erst thou hast been wont;
[And] bring me of thy venison that is good.

ESAU. Ye shall have of the best that runneth in the wood.

ISAAC. When thou comest home, to dress it it shall behove,
And to make for mine own tooth such meat as I love.
Thus do, mine own dear son, and then I shall thee kiss
With the kiss of peace, and thee for ever bless.

ESAU. Your will t'accomplish, most dear father Isaac,
With all good haste and speed I shall not be found slack.

ISAAC. Then help lead me home, in my tent that I were set,
And then go, when thou wilt.

ESAU. I shall withouten let.

ACTUS TERTIJ, SCAENA SECUNDA.

REBECCA.

REBECCA. This talk of Isaac in secret have I heard,
And what end it should come to, my heart is afeard,
Ne'er had I so much ado to forbear to speak.
But the Lord, I trust, will Isaac's purpose break.
[_Here she kneeleth down, and prayeth_.
O God of Abraham, make it of none effect:
Let Jacob have the blessing, whom thou hast elect.
I for my part shall work what may be wrought,
That it may to Jacob from Esau be brought,
And in will I go to see what I can devise,
That Isaac's intent may fail in any wise.

ACTUS TERTIJ, SCAENA TERTIA.

RAGAN. ESAU.

RAGAN. Nay, we must on hunting go yet once more again,

[_Here he cometh forth with his hunting staff
and other things, and a bag of victuals_.

And never come home now, except we speed certain,
But I trow for hunger I have provided here:
That whatever befal, I, Ragan, shall have cheer.
I have no time to tell what delicates here be,
But (think this to be true) they're fit for better men than me.
And what? shall Esau hereof have any part?
Nay, I trust to convey it by such pretty art
That, till the bag be clear, he shall it never see.
I shall, and if he faint, feed him as he fed me:
I shall requite his shutting me out of the door
That, if he bid me run to get him meat afore,
I shall run as fast as my feet were made of lead,
And tell him there is none, though I may well be sped.
I will be even with him for my fare last day,
When he was with Jacob.

[_Esau enters suddenly behind him_.

ESAU. What is it that thou dost say?

RAGAN. Sir, on your behalf I earnestly wish and pray
That, if like need chance, ye may fare as last day,
When ye were with Jacob.

ESAU. Well, come on, let us go.

RAGAN. Even when ye will, is there let in me or no?

[_Exeunt ambo_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA PRIMA.

REBECCA. JACOB.

REBECCA. Son Jacob, even now is come the very hour
That, if thou have any grace, or heart, or power,
To play thy part well, and stick unto it throughout
Esau his blessing will be thine without doubt.

JACOB. Mother, I know your good-will to be unfeigned;
But I see not which way the thing may be attained.

REBECCA. I have it contrived, how all things shall be done,
Do thou as I shall bid thee, and it will be won.

JACOB. Mother, in me shall be no fault or negligence.

REBECCA. Then harken very well unto this my sentence.
I heard old Isaac, in a long, solemn talk,
Bid thy brother Esau to the field to walk,
And there with his bow to kill him some venison,
Which brought and dressed, he is to have his benison.
For I am aged (said Isaac truly),
And would bless thee, dear son, before that I die.
Now is Esau gone to do it even so;
But while he is away, I would have thee to go
Abroad unto the flock, and fetch me kids twain,
Of which I shall with a trice make such meat certain,
As shall say, _Come, eat me_, and shall make old Isaac
Lick his lips thereat, so toothsome shall it smack.
I shall make him thereof such as he doth love,
Which in thy brother's stead to bless thee shall him move.

JACOB. O sweet and dear mother, this device is but vain,
For Esau is rough, and I am smooth certain.
And so, when I shall to my father bring this meat,
Perchance he will feel me, before that he will eat.
Old men be mistrustful: he shall the matter take,
That I went about my father a fool to make.
Mother, by such a prank the matter will be worse:
And I instead of blessing shall purchase me his curse.

REBECCA. On me be thy curse, my son, let it light on me:
Only fetch thou the kids hither, as I bid thee,
Do thou thy true devoir, and let God work therein.

JACOB. Upon your word, mother, I will the thing begin,
Send me little Mido to help me bear a kid.

REBECCA. He shall come by and by, for so I shall him bid.
Now, Lord, and if thou please that this thing shall take place,
Further this our enterprise, helping with thy grace.

[_Exit_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA SECUNDA.

JACOB _and_ MIDO.

MIDO. Are ye here, master Jacob? I came you to look,
And here dame Rebecca hath sent you your sheep-crook;
And hath commanded me to wait on you this day,
But wherefore or why, she would nothing to me say.

JACOB. Come on then, follow me, Mido, a little ways.

MIDO. Whither ye shall lead me; I am at all assays.

JACOB. And art thou able to bear a kid on thy back?

MIDO. I am able, I trow, to bear a quarter-sack.
How say you to this corpse? is it not fat and round?
How say ye to these legs? come they not to the ground?
And be not here arms able your matter to speed?
Be not here likely shoulders to do such a deed?
Therefore come, master Jacob, if this your doubt be
For bringing home of kids, lay the biggest on me,
So that if we make a feast, I may have some part.

JACOB. Yes, that shalt thou, Mido; right worthy thou art.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA TERTIA.

REBECCA. ABRA.

REBECCA. I come to see, if Jacob be gone a-field yet;
A little slacking may all our purpose let.
But now that he is gone, he will be here at once,
Therefore I will call my maid Abra for the nonce,
That all thing within may be in a readiness.
Abra, where be ye, Abra?

ABRA. Here within, mistress.

REBECCA. Come forth: when, Abra? what, Abra, I say!

ABRA. Anon.

REBECCA. Must I call so oft? why come ye not by and by?

ABRA. I was washing my vessel forsooth, mistress, I.

REBECCA. And in very deed, look that all your vessels be clean.

ABRA. There is not one foul piece in all our tent, I ween.

REBECCA. Then make a great fire, and make ready your pot,
And see there be plenty of water, cold and hot;
And see the spit be scoured as clean as any pearl.

ABRA. If this be not quickly done, call me naughty girl.

REBECCA. Nay, soft, whither away? I have not yet all done.

ABRA. I thought ye would have had me as quick to be gone,
As when ye call Abra, ye would have me to come.

REBECCA. Then see ye have made ready cloves, mace, and cinnamon:
Pepper and saffron; then fet herbs for the pot;

ABRA. We will have the best that by me can be got.

REBECCA. And let no foul corner be about all the tent.

ABRA. If ye find any fault, hardly let me be shent.
Is there anything else but that I may go now?

REBECCA. Nought but that, when I come, I find no fault in you.

ABRA. No, I warrant you, I will not let my matters sleep.

REBECCA. Any good wench will at her dame's bidding take keep.
Now, God of Abraham, as I trust in thy grace,
Send Jacob the blessing in Esau his place.
As thou hast ordained, right so must all thing be:
Perform thine own words, Lord, which thou spakest to me.
Now will I go in to see, that mine old husband
May of my secret working nothing understand.
Or in case he smell what we have thus far begun,
He may think it all for Esau to be done.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA QUARTA.

ABRA, _the maid_, DEBORAH, _the nurse_.

ABRA. He, that were now within, should find all thing, I ween,
As trim as a trencher, as trick, as sweet, as clean.
And seeing that my dame prepareth such a feast,
I will not, I trow, be found such a sluttish beast,
That there shall any filth about our tent be kept,
But that both within and without it shall be swept.

[_Then let her sweep with a broom, and while she doth it,
sing this song, and when she hath sung, let her say thus_:[271]

THE SECOND SONG.

_It hath been a proverb, before I was born,
Young doth it prick, that will be a thorn.
Who will be evil, or who will be good;
Who given to truth, or who to falsehood.
Each body's youth showeth a great likelihood.
For young doth it prick, that will be a thorn.

Who so in youth will no goodness embrace,
But follow pleasure, and not virtue's trace,
Great marvel it is, if such come to grace.
For young doth it prick, that will be a thorn.

Such as in youth will refuse to be taught,
Or will be slack to work, as he ought,
When they come to age, their proof will be nought.
For young doth it prick, that will be a thorn.

If a child have been given to any vice,
Except he be guided by such as be wise,
He will thereof all his life have a spice.
For young doth it prick, that will be a thorn.

It hath been a proverb, &c_.

ABRA. Now have I done, and, as it should be for the nonce,
My sweeping and my song are ended both at once.
Now but for fetting mine herbs I might go play.
Deborah, nurse Deborah, a word, I you pray.

_Enter_ DEBORAH.

DEBORAH. What is the matter? who calleth me Deborah?

ABRA. Forsooth, gentle nurse, even I, little Abra,
I pray you, sweet Deborah, take in this same broom,
And look well to all thing, till I return home:
I must to the garden as fast as I can trot,
As I was commanded, to fet herbs for the pot.
But, in the meantime, I pray you, nurse, look about,
And see well to the fire, that it go not out;
I will amble so fast, that I will soon be there,
And here again, I trow, ere an horse lick his ear.
[_Exit_.

DEBORAH. There is not a prettier girl within this mile,
Than this Abra will be within this little while.
As true as any steel, ye may trust her with gold.
Though it were a bushel, and not a penny told.
As quick about her work, that must be quickly sped
As any wench in twenty mile about her tread.
As fine a piece it is, as I know but a few,
Yet perchance her husband of her may have a shrew.
Cat after kind (say'th the proverb) sweet milk will lap;
If the mother be a shrew, the daughter cannot 'scape.
One sure[272] mark she hath: I marvel, if she slip:
For her nose is growing above her over lip.
But it is time, that I into the tent be gone,
Lest she come and chide me; she will come now anon.

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