 | Iacob and Esau |  |
scæna quarta.
Abra the mayde, Deborra, the nourse,Abra.
He that were now within, should find all thing I wene,
As trimme as a trēcher, as tricke, as swete, as cleane.
And seing that my dame prepareth suche a feast,
I will not I trow be found such a sluttishe beast,
But that both within and without it shall bee swepte.
The second song.
It hath bene a prouerbe before I was borne,
Yong doth it pricke that wyll be a thorne.
Who will be euill, or who will be good,
Who geuen to truth or who to falshood,
Eche bodies youth sheweth a great likelihood.
For yong doth it pricke that will be a thorne.
Who so in youth will no goodnesse embrace.
But folow pleasure, and not vertues trace,
Great meruaile it is if such come to grace.
For yong doth it pricke that will be a thorne.
Suche as in youth will refuse to be tought,
Or will be slacke to worke as he ought,
When they come to age, their proofe will be nought.
For yong doth it pricke that will be a thorne.
If a childe haue bene giuen to any vice,
Except he be guided by such as be wyse,
He will therof all his lyfe haue a spice.
For yong doth it pricke that will be thorne.
It hath bene a prouerbe. &c.
Yong doth it pricke that wyll be a thorne.
Who will be euill, or who will be good,
Who geuen to truth or who to falshood,
Eche bodies youth sheweth a great likelihood.
For yong doth it pricke that will be a thorne.
Who so in youth will no goodnesse embrace.
But folow pleasure, and not vertues trace,
Great meruaile it is if such come to grace.
For yong doth it pricke that will be a thorne.
Suche as in youth will refuse to be tought,
Or will be slacke to worke as he ought,
When they come to age, their proofe will be nought.
For yong doth it pricke that will be a thorne.
If a childe haue bene giuen to any vice,
Except he be guided by such as be wyse,
He will therof all his lyfe haue a spice.
For yong doth it pricke that will be thorne.
It hath bene a prouerbe. &c.
Then let her sweepe with a brome, and while she doth it, sing this song, and when she hath song, let her say thus
Abra.
Now haue 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 herbes I might go play.
Deborra nurse Deborra, a worde I you pray.
Deborra.
What is the matter? who calleth me Deborra?
Abra.
Forsoth gentle nourse euen I litle Abra,
I pray you sweete Deborra take in this same brome,
And looke well to all thing till I returne home:
I must to the gardine as fast as I can trotte,
As I was commaunded to fet hearbes for the potte.
But in the meane time, I pray you nourse looke about
And see well to the fyre that it go not out,
I will aumble so fast, that I will soone be there,
And here again I trow, ere an horse licke his eare.
There is not a pretier gyrle within this mile,
Than this Abra will be within this litle while.
As true as any stele: ye may trust her with gold.
Though it were a bushell, and not a peny tolde.
As quicke about her worke that must be quickly spead
As any wenche in twenty mile about her head.
As fine a peece it is as I knowe but a few,
Yet perchaunce her husbande of her maye haue a shrewe.
Cat after kinde (saith the prouerbe) swete milke wil lap,
If the mother be a shrew, the daughter can not scape.
Once our marke she hath, I maruell if she slippe:
For hir nose is growing aboue hir ouer lippe.
But it is time that I into the tent be gone.
Lest she come and chide me, she will come now anone.
| Iacob and Esau | |