 | Iacob and Esau |  |
scæna prima.
Ragau. the Seruant of Esau.Ragau.
I haue hearde it ofte, but nowe I feele a wonder,
In what grieuous paine they die, that die for hunger.
Oh my greedie stomacke howe it doth bite and gnawe?
If I were at a racke, I could eate hey or strawe.
Mine emptie gutts doe frette, my mawe doth euen teare,
Woulde God I had a piece of some horsebread here.
Yet is maister Esau in worse case than I.
If he haue not some meate the sooner he will die:
He hath sonke for faintnesse twice or thrice by the way.
All that euer he hath, he woulde haue giuen to day
To haue had but three morsels his hunger to allay.
Or in the fielde to haue mette with some hoggs,
I coulde scarsely kepe him from eating of these doggs.
He hath sent me afore some meate for to prouide,
And commeth creeping after, scarse able to stride.
But if I knowe where to get of any man,
For to ease myne owne selfe, as hungry as I am,
I pray God I stinke: but if any come to me,
Die who die will, for sure I will first serued be.
I will see if any be ready here at home:
Or whether Iacob haue any that peakishe mome.
But first I must put all my dogges vp,
And lay vp thys geare, and then God sende vs the cup.
| Iacob and Esau | |