University of Virginia Library

Actus secundi

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.
And not one siely bitte we got since yesterday.
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.

scæna secunda.

Esau the maister. Ragau the seruant.
Esau.
Commeth in so faint that he can scarse go.
Oh what a grieuous pain is hunger to a man?
Take all that I haue for meate, helpe who that can.
O Lorde, some good body for Gods sake gyue me meate.
I force not what it were, so that I had to eate.
Meate or drinke, saue my life, or breade, I recke not what.
If there be nothing else, some man giue me a cat.
If any good body on me will doe so much cost,
I will teare and eate hir rawe, she shall nere be rost,
I promise of honestie I will eate hir rawe.
And what a nody was I, and a hooreson dawe,
To let Ragau goe with all my doggs at ones:
A shoulder of a dogge were nowe meate for the nones.
Oh what shall I doe? my teeth I can scarsely charme,
From gnawyng away the braune of my very arme.
I can no longer stande for faynt, I must needes lie.
And except meate come soone, remedilesse I die.
And where art thou Ragau whome I sent before?
Unlesse thou come at once, I neuer see thee more.
Where art thou Ragau, I heare not of thee yet?

Ragau.
Here as fast as I can, but no meate can I get.
Not one draught of drink, not one poore morsel of bread
Not one bit or crum though I shold streight way be dead.
Therfore ye may nowe see how much ye are to blame,
That wil thus sterue your self for folowing your game.

Esau.
Ah thou villain, tellest thou me this now?
If had thee, I woulde eate thee, to God I vowe,
Ah, meat thou horson, why hast thou not brought me meat?

Ragau.
Would you haue me bring you that I can nowhere geat.

Esau.
Come hither, let me tell thee a worde in thine eare.

Ragau.
Nay, speake out aloude: I will not come a foote nere.
Fall ye to snatching at folkes? adieu I am gone.

Esau.
Nay for gods loue Ragau, leaue me not alone:
I will not eate thee Ragau, so God me helpe.

Ragau.
No, I shall desire you to choose some other whelpe.
Being in your best lust I woulde topple with ye,
And plucke a good crowe ere ye brake your fast with me.
What? are you mankene now? I recken it best I,
To bind your handes behind you euen as ye lye.

Esau.
Nay haue mercy on me, and let me not perishe.

Ragau.
In faith nought could I get wherwith you to cherishe.

Esau.
Was there nothing to be had among so many?

Ragau.
I coulde not finde one but Iacob that had any,
And no grannt would he make for ought that I could say,
Yet no man aliue with fairer wordes coulde him pray.
But the best redde pottage he hath that euer was.

Esau.
Go pray him I may speake with him once ere I passe.

Ragau.
That message by Gods grace shall not long be vndone.

Esau.
Hie thee go apace, and returne againe soone.
If Iacob haue due brotherly compassion.
He will not see me fainte after this fashion,
But I dare say, the wretche had rather see me throst,
Than he would finde in his harte to do so muche cost:
For where is betwene one fremman and an other,
Lesse loue found than now betwene brother and brother?
Will Iacob come foorth to shewe comforte vnto me?
The horeson hypocrite will as soone hanged be.
Yet peace, me thinketh Iacob is comming in dede:
And my minde geueth me at his hande I shall spede.
For he is as gentle and louing as can be,
As full of compassion and pitie.
But let me see, doth he come? no I warrant you.
He come quod I? tushe, he come? then hang Esau.
For there is not this daye in all the worlde rounde,
Suche an other hodypeake wretche to be founde.
And Ragau my man, is not that a fine knaue?
Haue any mo maisters suche a man as I haue?
So idle, so loytring, so trifling, so toying?
So pratling, so tratling, so chiding, so boying?
So iesting, so wresting, so mocking, so mowing?
So nipping, so tripping, so cocking, so crowyng?
So knappishe, so snappishe, so eluishe, so frowarde?
So crabbed, so wrabbed, so stiffe, so vntowarde?
In play or in pastime, so iocunde, so mery?
In worke or in labour so dead or so weary?
Oh that I had his eare betwene my teeth now,
I should shake him euen as a dog that lulleth a sow.
But in faith if euer I recouer my selfe,
There was neuer none trounced as I shal trounce that elf.
He and Iacob are agreed I dare say, I,
Not to come at all, but to suffre me here to die.
Whiche if they doo, they shall finde this same word true,
That after I am dead, my soule shall them pursue.
I wyll be auenged on all foes till I dye.
Yea and take vengeaunce when I am deade too I.
For I mistrust against me agreed they haue:
For thone is but a foole, and thother a starke knaue.

Ragau.
I assure you Iacob, the man is very weake.

Esau.
But hearke once again, me thinke I heare them speake.

Ragau.
I promise you I feare his lyfe be alreadie past.

Iacob.
Mary God forbidde.

Esau.
Loe nowe they come at last.

Ragau.
If ye beleue not me, see your selfe where he is.

Iacob.
Fye brother Esau, what a foly is this?
About vaine pastime to wander abroade, and peake,
Til with hunger you make your selfe thus faint & weake.

Esau.
Brother Iacob, I pray you chide now no longer,
But giue me somewhat wherwith to slake mine honger.

Iacob.
Alack brother, I haue in my little cotage,
Nothing but a mease of grosse and homely pottage.

Esau.
Refreshe me therwithall, and boldly aske of me,
The best thing that I haue, what soeuer it be.
I were a very beast, when thou my life doest saue,
If I shoulde sticke with thee for the best thyng I haue.

Iacob.
Can ye be content to sell your birthright to mee?

Esau.
Holde, here is my hande, I doe sell it here to thee.
With all the profites thereof henceforth to be thine,
As free, as full, as large, as euer it was mine.

Iacob.
Then sweare thou hand in hande before the lyuing Lord,
This bargaine to fulfill, and to stande by thy worde.

Esau.
Before the Lord I sweare, to whom eche heart is known
That my birthright that was, from hensforth is thine owne.

Iacob.
Thou shalt also with me by this promise indent,
With this bargaine and sale to holde thy selfe content.

Esau.
If eche penie therof might be worth twentie pounde,
I willingly to thee surrender it this stounde.
And if eche cicle might be worth a whole talent,
I promise with this sale to holde me content.

Iacob.
Come, let vs set him on foote that he may goe sup.

Ragau.
Nay, fyrst I will knowe a thing, ere I helpe him vp.
Sirra, will ye eate folke when ye are long fasting?

Esau.
No, I pray thee helpe me vp, and leaue thy iestyng.

Ragau.
No trow, eate your brother Iacob nowe if you lust.
For you shall not eate me, I tell you, that is iust.

Iacob.
Come, that with my pottage thou mayst refreshed be.

Esau.
There is no meate on earth that so wel liketh me.

Ragau.
Yet I may tell you, it is potage dearely bought.

Esau.
No not a whitte, for my bargaine take thou no thought.
I defye that birthright that shoulde be of more price,
Than helping of ones selfe, I am not so vnwise.

Ragau.
And how then sir, shall poore Ragau haue no meate?

Esau.
Yes, and if thou canst my brother Iacob intreate.

Iacob.
God graunt I haue inough for Esau alone.

Ragau.
Why then I perceyue poore Ragau shall haue none.
Well, much good do it you with your potage of Rice:
Esau entring into Iacobs tēt shaketh Ragau off.
I woulde fast and fare yll, ere I eate of that price.
Woulde I sell my birthright beyng an eldest sonne?
Forsoth then were it a faire threede that I had sponne.
And then to lette it goe for a mease of pottage,
What is that, but bothe vnthriftinesse and dotage?
Alack, alack, good blessed father Isaac,
That euer sonne of thine, shoulde play such a leude knacke.
And yet I doe not thinke but God this thyng hath wrought,
For Iacob is as good as Esau is nought.
But foorth commeth Mido, as fast as he can trot:
For a cicle, whether to call me in or not?

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.
Ye neuer sawe hungry dogge so slabbe potage vp.

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?

Mido.
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.
When I shewe him of good will what others do say,
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.

Scæna quarta.

Esau, and Ragau.
Esau.
He commeth forth wiping his mouth.
Ah sir, when one is hungry, good meat is much worth.
And well fare a good brother yet in time of neede,
The worlde is now metely well amended in deede.
By my truth if I had bidden from meate any longer,
I thinke my very mawe would haue frette asonder.
Then had I bene dead and gone I make God a vowe.

Ragau.
Surely then the world had had a great losse of you.
For where should we haue had your felow in your place?

Esau.
What shold I haue done with my birthright in this case.

Ragau.
Kept it still, and ye had not bene a very asse.

Esau.
But the best pottage it was yet that euer was.
It were sinne not to sell ones soule for such geare.

Ragau.
Ye haue done no lesse in my conscience I feare.

Esau.
Who is this that standeth clattering at my backe?

Ragau.
A poore man of yours sir, that doth his dinner lacke.

Esau.
Dinner whoreson knaue? dinner at this time a day?
Nothing with thee, but dinner and mounching alway.
Why thou whoreson villain slaue, who is hungry now?

Ragau.
In dede syr (as seemeth by your wordes) not you.

Esau.
A man were better fyll the bellies of some twelfe,
Than to fill the gutte of one such whoreson elfe,
That doth none other good but eate and drink and slepe.

Ragau.
He shall do some thing els whom ye shall haue to kepe.

Esau.
And that maketh thee so slouthfull and so lyther,
I dare saie he was sixe houres comming hither,
When I sent him to make prouision afore,
Not passing a myle hence or very litle more.
And yet being so farre past the houre of dining,
See and the knaue be not for his dinner whining.
Fast a while, fast with a mischiefe greedy slaue,
Must I prouide meate for euery glutton knaue?

Ragau.
I may fast for any meate that of you I haue.

Esau.
Or deserue thy dinner before thou do it craue.

Ragau.
If I haue not deserued it at this season,
I shall neuer deserue it in mine owne reason.
Ye promised I should eate tyll I cried hoe.

Esau.
Yea that was if we toke either hare, tegge, or Doe.

Ragau.
But when your selfe were hungry, ye said I wot what.

Esau.
What thou villaine slaue, tellest thou me now of that?

Ragau.
Then, helpe, runne apace, Ragau my good seruant.

Esau.
Yea then was then, now is it otherwise: auaunt.
Haue I nothing to do but prouide meate for you?

Ragau.
Ye might haue geuē me som part when ye had ynough.

Esau.
What, of the red rice pottage with Iacob I had?
Why, the crow would not geue it hir bird, thou art mad
Is that meate for you? nay it would make you to ranke.
Nay soft brother mine, I must kepe you more lanke.
It hath made me euen since so lusty and freshe,
As though I had eaten all delicates of fleshe.
I fele no maner faintnesse wherof to complaine.

Ragau.
Yet to morow ye must be as hungry againe,
Then must ye and will ye wishe againe for good chere:
And repent you that euerye bought this so dere.

Esau.
Repent me? wherefore, then the Lorde geue me sorow,
If it were to do, I would do it to morow.
For thou foolish knaue, what hath Iacob of me bought?

Ragau.
But a matter of a strawe, and a thing of nought.

Esau.
My birthright and whole title of mine eldership.
Mary sir I pray God much good do it his maship,
If I die to morow, what good would it do me?
If he die to morow, what benefite hath he?
And for a thing hanging on suche casualtie:
Better a mease of pottage than nothing pardy.
If my father liue long, when should I it enioye?
If my father die soone, then is it but a toye.
For if the time were come, thinkest thou that Iacob,
Should finde Esau such a loute or such a lob,
To suffer him to enioy my birthright in rest?
Nay, I wil fyrst tosse him and trounce him of the beste,
I thinke to finde it a matter of conscience,
And Iacob first to haue a fart syr reuerence.
When my father Isaac shall the matter know:
He will not let Iacob haue my birthright I trow.
Or if he should kepe it as his owne, I pray you,
Might not I liue without it and doo wel ynow?
Do none but mennes eldest sonnes prosper well?
How liue yonger brethren then, I beseche you tell?
Once, if any thing be by the sword to be got:
This falchion and I will haue part to our lot.
But now come on, go we abroade a while and walke,
Let my birthright go, and of other matters talke.

Ragau.
Who? I walke? nay I trow not, til I haue better dinde.
It is more time to seeke where I may some meate finde.

Esau.
What saist thou drawlatch? come forth with a mischeef.
Wilt thou not go with me? on forward whoreson theef.
Shall it be as pleaseth you, or as pleaseth me?

Ragau.
Nay as pleaseth you syr, me thinke it must be.

Esau.
And where be my dogs? and my hound? be they all wel?

Ragau.
Better than your man, for they be in their kenell.

Esau.
Then go see all be well in my parte of the tent.

Ragau.
With a right good will syr, I go incontinent.

Esau.
And I will to my fielde the which I clensed last,
To see what hope there is, that it will yelde fruite faste.

scæna quarta

Iacob. Mido. Rebecca. Abra, the handmayde.
Iacob.
Thou knowest litle Mido where my mother is.

Mido.
I can go to hir as streight as a threde, and not misse.

Iacob.
Go cal hir, and come againe with her thine owne selfe.

Mido.
Yes, ye shall see me scudde like a litle elfe.

Iacob.
Where I haue by the enticement of my mother,
Bargained and boughte the birthrighte of my brother:
Tourne it all to good O Lorde, if it be thy wyll:
Thou knowest my heart Lord, I did it for no ill.
And what euer shall please thee to worke or to do,
Thou shalt finde me prest and obedient therto.
But here is my mother Rebecca now in place.

Mido.
How say you master Iacob, ranne not I apace?

Iacob.
Yes, and a good sonne to go quicke on your errand.

Rebecca.
Sonne how goeth the matter? let me vnderstand.

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

Rebecca.
Hast thou bought it in dede, and he therwith content?

Iacob.
Yea, and haue his promise that he will neuer repent.

Rebecca.
Is the bargaine through? hast thou paid him his price?

Iacob.
Yea that I haue, a mease of red pottage of rice,
And he eat it vp euery whit well I wotte.

Mido.
When he had supte vp all, I sawe him licke the potte.
Thus he licked, and thus he licked, and this way.
I thought to haue lickt the potte my selfe once to day.
But Esau beguilde me, I shrewe him for that,
And left not so muche as a licke for pusse our catte.

Rebecca.
Sonne Iacob, forasmuche as thou hast so well sped,
With an himne or psalme let the Lord be praised.
Sing we all together, and geue thankes to the Lord,
Whose promise and performaunce do so wel accord.

Mido.
Shal we sing the same himne that al our house doth sing?
For Abraham and his seede to geue God praising.

Rebecca.
Yea the very same.

Mido.
Then must we all knele downe thus,
And Abra our maide here muste also sing with vs,
Knele downe Abra, what I say, will ye not knele downe?
Knele when I bid you, the slackest wench in this towne.

Here they knele doune to sing all foure, sauing that Abra is slackest, and Mido is quickest.
The firste song.

Rebecca.
Now dout not Iacob, but God hath appointed thee
As the eldest sonne vnto Isaac to bee:
And now haue no dout, but thou art sure elected,
And that vnthrift Esau of God reiected.
And to sell thee his birthright since he was so madde,
I warrant thee the blessing that he should haue had.

Iacob.
Yea? how may that be wrought?

Rebecca.
Yes, yes, let me alone.
Ones good olde Isaac is blinde, and can not see,
So that by policie he maye beguiled bee.
I shall deuise howe, for no yll intent, ne thought,
But to bring to passe that I know god wil haue wrought
And I charge you twaine, Abra, and litle Mido.

Mido.
Nay ye should haue set Mido before Abra, 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 what euer hath bene spoken,
Ye do not to any liuing body open.

Abra.
For my parte it shall to no body vttered be.

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

Abra.
There is none here that pratleth so much as you.

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

exeāt omnes.