 | Iacob and Esau |  |
Actus tertij
scæna prima.
Esau. Isaac. Mido.Esau.
Now since I last saw mine olde father Isaac,
Both I do thinke it long, and he will iudge me slack
But he commeth forth, I will here listen and see,
Whether he shall chaunce to speake any worde of me.
Isaac.
On leade me forth Mido, to the benche on this hand,
That I may sitte me downe, for I can not long stand.
Mido.
Here syr this same way, and ye be at the benche now,
Where ye may sit doune in gods name if please you.
Isaac.
I maruel where Esau my sonne doth become,
That he doth now of daies visite me so seldome.
But it is oft sene whome fathers do best fauour,
Of them they haue left loue againe for their labour.
I thinke since I saw him it is a whole weeke.
In faith litle Mido I would thou wouldest him seeke.
Mido.
Forsoth maister Isaac, and I knew it where,
It should not be very long ere I would be there.
But shall I at aduenture go seeke where he is?
Esau.
Seeke no farther Mido, already here he is.
Isaac.
Me thinketh I haue Esau his voice perceiued.
Esau.
Ye gesse truly father, ye are not deceiued.
Mido.
Here he is come now inuisible by my soule:
For I saw him not till he spake harde at my poule,
Isaac.
Now go thou in Mido, let vs twoo here alone.
Mido.
Sir if ye commaund me, full quickely I am gone.
Isaac.
Yet and if I call thee, see thou be not slacke.
Mido,
I come at the first call, good maister Isaac.
Isaac.
Sonne Esau.
Esau.
Here father.
Isaac.
Is none here but we?
Esau.
None to herken our talke father, that I doo see.
Isaac.
Sonne Esau, why hast thou bene from me so long?
Esau.
I cry you mercy father, if I haue done wrong.
To present you withall, nor veneson to bring.
Isaac.
Sonne Esau, thou knowest that I do thee loue.
Esau.
I thancke you for it father as doth me behoue.
Isaac.
And now thou seest my dayes draw towardes an ende.
Esau.
That is to me great ruth if I coulde it amende.
Isaac.
I must go the way of all mortall fleshe.
Therfore while my memory and witte is yet freshe,
I woulde thee endow mine heritage to succeede:
And blisse thee, (as I ought) to multiply my seede.
The God of my father Abraham, and of me,
Hath promised, that our seede as the sande shal be.
He is a God of truth, and in his wordes iust.
Therfore in my workyng shall be no faute I trust.
Now therfore sonne Esau, get thee forth to hunte,
With thy bowe and quiuer, as erst thou hast bene wont,
Bring me of thy venison that is good.
Esau.
Ye shall haue of the best that runneth in the wood.
Isaac.
When thou commest home, to dresse it, it shall behoue:
And to make for mine owne tooth such meate as I loue.
Thus doo mine owne dere sonne, and then I shal thee kisse
With the koosse of peace, and thee for euer blisse.
Esau.
Your will t'accomplishe moste dere father Isaac,
Wits all good hast and spede, I shall not be found slack.
Isaac.
Then helpe lead me home, in my tente that I were set.
And then go when thou wilt.
Esau.
I shall withouten lette.
scæna secunda.
Rebecca.Rebecca.
This talke of Isaac in secrete haue I heard.
And what end it should come to my hert is afeard.
Nere had I so muche ado to forbeare to speake.
But the Lorde (I trust) will Isaacs purpose breake.
O God of Abraham, make it of none effecte:
Let Iacob haue the blessing whom thou hast elect.
I for my parte shall worke what may be wrought,
That it may to Iacob from Esau be brought,
And in will I go to see what I can deuise,
That Isaacs intent may fayle in any wise.
Scæna tertia.
Ragau. Esau.Ragau.
Here he commeth forth with his hunting staffe and other things and a bag of vitailes.
Nay , we must on hunting go, yet once more again
And neuer com home now except we spede certain
But I trowe for hunger I haue prouided here:
That what euer befall, I Ragau shall haue chere.
I haue no time to tell what delicates here be,
But thinke this to be true) for better men than me.
And what? shall Esau hereof haue any parte?
Nay I trust to conueigh it by such prety arte,
That till the bag be clere, he shal it neuer see.
I shall, and if he faint, feede him as he fedde me.
I shall requite his shutting me out of the dore.
That if he bidde me runne to get him meat afore,
I shall runne as fast as my feet were made of leade,
And tell him, there is none, though I may wel be spead.
I will be euen with him for my fare last day
When he was with Iacob.
Esau.
What is it that thou doest say?
Ragau.
Sir on your behalfe I earnestly wishe and pray,
That if like nede chaunce, ye may fare as last day
When ye were with Iacob.
Esau.
Well, come on, let vs go.
Ragau.
Euen when ye will, is there let in me or no?
Exeāt ambo.
| Iacob and Esau | |