 | Iacob and Esau |  |
scæna tertia
Mido the boy. Ragau.Mido
cometh in clapping his hands, and laughing.
Ha , ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
Nowe who sawe ere suche an other as Esau?
By my truthe I will not lie to thee Ragau,
Since I was borne, I neuer see any man
So greedily eate rice out of a potte or pan.
He woulde not haue a dishe, but take the pot and sup.
Ragau.
Why howe did he suppe it? I pray thee tel me how?
Mido.
Mary euen thus, as thou shalte see me doo now.
Oh I thanke you Iacob: with all my hart Iacob.
Here he counterfaiteth supping out of the potte.
Gently done Iacob: A frendely parte Iacob.
I can suppe so Iacob.
Yea than wyll I suppe too Iacob.
Here is good meate Iacob.
Ragau.
As ere was eate Iacob.
Mido.
As ere I sawe Iacob.
Ragau.
Esau a dawe Iacob.
Mido.
Swete rice pottage Iacob.
Ragau.
By Esaus dotage Iacob.
Mido.
Ioily good cheere Iacob.
Ragau.
But bought full deere Iacob.
Mido.
I was hungry Iacob.
Ragau.
I was an vnthrift Iacob.
Mido.
Ye will none nowe Iacob.
Ragau.
I can not for you Iacob.
Mido.
I will eate all Iacob.
Ragau.
The deuyll go withall Iacob.
Mido.
Thou art a good sonne Iacob.
Ragau.
And would he neuer haue done Iacob?
Mido.
No, but styll cogeld in like Iacke daw that cries ka kob.
That to be kylde I coulde not laughyng forbeare:
And therfore I came out, I durst not abide there.
Ragau.
Is there any pottage lefte for me that thou wotte?
Mido.
No. I left Esau about to licke the potte.
Ragau.
Lick quod thou? now a shame take him that can all lick.
Mido.
The potte shall nede no washing, he will it so licke.
And by this he is sitting downe to bread and drinke.
Ragau.
And shal I haue no part with hym, doste thou thinke?
Mido.
No, for he praide Iacob ere he did begin,
To shutte the tent fast that no mo gestes come in.
Ragau.
And made he no mention of me his seruant?
He sayd thou were a knaue, and bad thee hence, auant.
Go shift where thou couldest, thou gottest nothing there.
Ragau.
God yelde you Esau, with all my stomachere.
Mido.
I must in againe, lest perhaps I be shent,
For I asked no body licence when I went.
Exeat.
Ragau.
Nay it is his nature, doo what ye can for him,
No thanke at his hand but choose you sinke or swim.
Then reason it with him in a mete time and place,
And he shall be ready to flee straight in your face.
This prouerbe in Esau may be vnderstande:
Clawe a churle by the tayle, and he will file your hand.
Well ywisse Esau, ye did knowe well ynouw
That I had as muche nede to be meated as you.
Haue I trotted and trudged all night and all day,
And now leaue me without dore, and so go your way?
Haue I spent so muche labour for you to prouide,
And you nothing regarde what of me may betide?
Haue I runne with you while I was able to go,
And now you purchase foode for your selfe and no mo?
Haue I taken so long paine you truly to serue,
And can ye be content that I famishe and sterue?
I must lackey and come lugging greyhound and honud
And carry the weight I dare say of twentie pound,
And to helpe his hunger purchasse grace and fauour,
And now to be shutte out fasting for my labour.
By my faith I may say, I serue a good maister,
Nay nay, I serue an ill husband and a waster.
That neither profite regardeth nor honestie,
What meruaile I then if he passe so light on me?
But Esau nowe that ye haue solde your birthright,
I commende me to you, and god geue you good night.
And let a friend tell him his faute at any time,
Ye shall heare him chafe beyonde all reason or rime.
Except it were a fiende or a verie helhounde,
Ye neuer sawe the matche of him in any grounde.
He wil fall out with me, and offer me a fray.
And what can there be a worser condition,
Than to doe yll, and refuse admonition?
Can suche a one prosper, or come to a good ende?
Then I care not howe many children God me sende.
Once Esau shall not beguile me, I can tell:
Except he shall fortune to amende, or doe well.
Therfore why doe I about hym wast thus much talke,
Whome no man can induce ordinately to walke?
But some man perchaunce doth not a little wonder,
Howe I who but right nowe did rore out for hunger,
Haue nowe so muche vacant and voyde time of leasure,
To walke and to talke, and discourse all of pleasure.
I tolde you at the fyrst, I woulde prouide for one:
My mother taught me that lesson a good whyle agone.
When I came to Iacob his friendshyp to require,
I drewe nere and nere tyl I came to the fyre.
There harde besyde me stode the potage pot,
Euen as God would haue it, neither colde nor hot,
Good simple Iacob coulde not tourne his backe so thicke,
But I at the ladell got a goulpe or a licke.
So that ere I went I made a very good meale.
And dynde better cheape than Esau a good deale.
But here commeth nowe maister Esau forth.
| Iacob and Esau | |