University of Virginia Library

Actus quarti

scæna prima.

Rebecca. Iacob.
Rebecca.
Sonne Iacob euen now is come the very houre,
That if thou haue any grace or hearte or power,
To play thy parte well, and sticke vnto it throughout,
Esau his blessing will be thine without dout.

Iacob.
Mother I know your good will to be vnfained:
But I see not which waye the thing may be attained.

Rebecca.
I haue it contriued how all thing shall be done,
Do thou as I shall bid thee, and it will be wonne.

Iacob.
Mother in me shall be no faulte or negligence.

Rebecca.
Then herken very well vnto this my sentence.
I hearde olde Isaac in a long solempne talke,
Bid thy brother Esau to the fielde to walke,
And there with his bowe to kill him some venison,
Which brought and dressed, he to haue his benison.
For I am aged (sayd Isaac) truly:
And would blesse thee dere sonne before that I dye.
Now is Esau gone to do it euen so.
But while he his away, I would haue thee to go,
Abroade vnto the flocke, and fet me kiddes twain.
Of which I shall with a trice make such meate certain,
As shall say come eate me, and make olde Isaac
Licke his lippes therat, so toothsom shall it smacke.
I shall make him therof such as he doth loue,
Which in thy brothers steede to blisse thee shall him moue.

Iacob.
O swete and dere mother, this deuise is but vaine,
For Esau is rough, and I am smothe certaine.
And so when I shal to my father bring this meate,
Perchaunce he will feele me, before that he will eate.
Old men be mistrustfull: he shall the matter take,
That I went about my father a foole to make.
Mother by such a pranck the matter will be wurse:
And I in stede of blissing shal purchase me his curse.

Rebecca.
On me be thy curse my sonne, let it light on me.
Only fet thou the kiddes hither, as I bid thee.
Doo thou thy true deuoire, and let God worke therein.

Iacob.
Upon your worde mother, I will the thing begin,
Send me litle Mido to helpe me beare a kidde.

Rebecca.
He shall come by and by, for so I shall him bidde.
Now lord, & if thou please, that this thing shall take place,
Further this our enterprise, helping with thy grace.

scæna secunda.

Mido.
Are ye here maister Iacob? I came you to looke:
And here dame Rebecca hath sent you your shepecroke
And hath commaunded me to wayte on you this day,
But wherfore or why, she woulde nothing to me say.

Iacob.
Come on then, folow me Mido a litle wayes.

Mido.
Whether ye shall leade me, I am at all assayes.

Iacob.
And art thou able to beare a kidde on thy backe?

Mido,
I am able (I trowe) to beare a quarter sacke.
How say you to this corps? is it not fat and round?
How say ye to these legges? come they not to the ground?
And be not here armes able your matter to spede?
Be not here likely shoulders to do such a deede?
Therfore come maister Iacob, if this your dout be,
For bringing home of kiddes, lay the biggest on me,
So that if we make a feast, I may haue some parte.

Iacob.
Yes that shalt thou Mido, right worthy thou art.

scæna tertia.

Rebecca. Abra.
Rebecca.
I come to see if Iacob be gone a fielde yet,
A litle slacking may all our purpose let.
But now that he is gone, he will be here at once.
Therfore I will call my maide Abra for the nonce,
That all thing within may be in a redinesse.
Abra, where be ye Abra?

Abra.
Here within maistresse.

Rebecca.
Come forth: when? Abra, what Abra I say.

Abra.
Anone.

Rebecca.
Must I call so oft? why come ye not by and by?

Abra.
I was washing my vessell forsooth maistresse I.

Rebecca.
And in very deede, looke that all your vessell be clene.

Abra.
There is not one foule peece in all our tent I wene,

Rebecca.
Then make a great fyre, and make redy your pot
And see there be plenty of water colde and hotte.
And see the spitte be scoured as cleane as any pearle.

Abra.
If this be not quickly done cal me noughtie gyrle.

Rebecca.
Nay, soft, whither away? I haue not yet all done.

Abra.
I thought ye would haue had me as quicke to be gone,
As when ye call Abra, ye would haue me to come.

Rebecca.
Than see ye haue made redy cloaues, mace, and sinamom
Peper and saffron, then set hearbes for the potte,

Abra.
We will haue the best that by me can be got.

Rebecca.
And let no foule corner be about all the tent.

Abra.
If ye find any fault, hardly let me be shent.
Is there any thing else but that I may go now?

Rebecca.
Nought, but that when I come I finde no faut in you.

Abra.
No I warrant you, I will not let my matters slepe.

Rebecca.
Any good wenche will at hir dames bidding take kepe.
Now God of Abraham, as I trust in thy grace,
Sende Iacob the blissing in Esau his place.
As thou hast ordeyned right so must all thing be.
Performe thine own wordes lord which thou spakest to me.
Now will I go in to see that mine olde husband,
May of my secrete working nothing vnderstand.
Or in case he smell what we haue thus farre begonne,
He may thinke it all for Esau to be done.

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,
That there shall any filthe about our tent be kepte,
But that both within and without it shall bee swepte.
The second song.

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.

Deborra.
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.

scæna quinta.

Abra.
Abra.
How say ye? haue not I dispatched me quickely?
A straw for that wenche that doth not somwhat likely,
I haue brought here good herbes, & of them plenty
To make both broth and farcing, and that full deinty,
I trust to make such broth, that when all things are in,
God almighty selfe may wet his finger therein.
Here is time and percelie, spinache, and rosemary.
Endiue, suckorie, lacteux, violette, clary,
Liuerworte, marigolde, sorell, hartes tong, and sage:
Peniryal, purselane, buglosse and borage,
With many very good herbes mo than I do name.
But to tary here thus long, I am muche to blame.
For if Iacob should come, I not in readinesse:
I must of couenaunt be shent of our maistresse.
And I would not for twenty pounde I tell ye,
That any pointe of default should be found in me.

scæna sexta.

Rebecca. Mido. Iacob.
Rebecca.
I come to see if Iacob do not returne yet,
I can not maruell enough what should be his let,
And greatly wonder he is away thus long.
I feare much of his absence, lest som thing be wrong.
As well as hearte can wishe all thing is ready here.
And now to me eche moment semeth a whole yere.
But hearke, me thinketh I here a yong kidde blee
It is so in deede, I see Iacob, well is mee.

Mido.
Hearke maister Iacob, hearde ye euer kidde blea so?
I wene she knoweth afore hande wherto she shall go.

Iacob.
I would not my father Isaac should heare:

Mido.
Nay, she will scarsly be stil, when she is dead, I do feare.

Iacob.
But loe I see my mother stande before the tent.

Rebecca.
O Lord, me thinketh long sonne Iacob since thou went

Iacob.
And me thinketh mother, we haue hyed vs well:

Mido.
I haue made many feete to folowe, I can tell.

Rebecca.
Geue me thy kidde my sonne, and nowe leat me alone,
Bring thou in thine Mido, and see thou bee a stone.

Mido.
A stone? howe shoulde that be maistresse? I am a lad:
And a boy aliue, as good as ere ye had:
And nowe in bringyng home this kyd I haue I trow,
Tried my selfe a man, and a preatie fellow,

Rebecca.
I ment thou shouldest nothing saye..

Mido.
One warning is enough, ye bad vs so last day.

Rebecca.
Well let me go in, and venison hereof make:

Iacob.
And hearest thou Mido? see that good hede thou take,
In any wise to come in my fathers sight.

Mido.
Why he seeth no better at noone than at midnight.
Is he not blinde long since, and dooth his eyes lacke?
Therfore go in dame, I beare an heauy packe.

Rebecca.
I leaue you here Iacob, and hartely you pray,
That when neede shall require, you be not farre away.

Iacob.
I shall be ready mother, when so ere you call.

scæna septima.

Iacob. Mido.
Iacob.
O how happy is that same daughter or that sonne,
Whome the parentes loue with harty affection.
And among all others howe fortunate am I,
Whome my mother Rebecca tendreth so greatly?
If it lay in her to do any good ye see,
She would do her earnest deuoire to preferre me.
But as for this matter which she doth now intende,
Without thy aide O Lorde, howe should it come to ende.
Neuerthelesse forasmuche as my said mother,
Worketh vpon thy worde O Lorde, and none other,
It shall become me to shewe mine obedience,
And to thy promise O Lorde, to giue due credence.
For what is so possible to mans iudgement,
Which thou canst not with a beck performe incontinent?
Therfore thy will O Lord, be done for euermore.

Mido.
Oh Iacob, I was neuer so afearde afore.

Iacob.
Why what newe thing is chaunced Mido, I pray thee?

Mido.
Old Isaac your father, hearde your yong kidde blea.
He asked what it was, and I said, a kidde.
Who brought it from the folde, I said you did.
For what purpose? forsoth syr saide I,
There is some matter that Iacob would remedy:
And where hast thou ben so long litle Mido, quod he,
That all this whole houre thou wert not once with me?
Forsooth (quod I) when I went from you last of all,
You bade me be no more but be ready at your call.

Iacob.
But of the kiddes bleayng he did speake no more.

Mido.
No, but and if he had called me afore,
I must haue told him al, or els I must haue made a lye,
Which woulde not haue bene a good boyes part truely.
But I will to him, and no longer here remaine,
Lest he should happen to call for Mido againe.

scæna octaua.

Iacob. Rebecca. Deborra.
Iacob.
I were best also to get me into the tent,
That if my mother neede me, I may be present.
But I see hir come forth, and nourse Deborra also,
And bring geare with them what so ere it shall do.

Rebecca.
Where is my sonne Iacob? I do him now espie.
Come apace Deborra, I pray thee let vs hye,
That all thing were dispatched somwhat to my minde.

Deborra.
It is happy that Iacob ready here ye finde.

Iacob.
Mother, what haue ye brought? & what things are those?

Rebecca.
Geare that I haue prepared to serue our purpose.
And bicause that Esau is so rough with heare:
I haue brought sleues of kid next to thy skin to weare.
They be made glouelike, and for eche finger a stall:
So that thy fathers feeling soone beguile they shall.
Then haue I brought a coller of roughe kiddes heare,
Here she doth the sleues vpon Iacobs armes.
Fast vnto the skinne round about thy necke to weare.
Come, let me do it on, and if Isaac feele,
He shall therwyth be beguiled wondrous wele.

Iacob.
And what shall this geare do, that ye haue brought?

Rebecca.
It shall serue anon I warraunt you, take no thought.
Now, throughly to rauishe thy father Isaac,
Thou shalt here incontinent put vpon thy backe,
Esau his best apparell, whose fragraunt flauour,
Shall coniure Isaac to beare thee his fauour.

Deborra.
Mary sir now is maister Iacob trimme in deede,
That is all triksie and gallaunt so God me speede,
Now I see apparell setteth out a man.
Doth it become Esau so? nay beshrewe me then.

Rebecca.
Ye may now go in nourse, and leaue lookyng on him.

Deborra.
I go, mary sir Iacob is now gay and trim.

Iacob.
No forsoth mother, this raiment liketh not me.
I could with mine owne geare better contented be.
Iacob standeth looking on himselfe.
And but for satisfying of your minde and will,
I would not weare it, to haue it for mine owne still.
I loue not to weare an other birdes feathers.
Mine owne poore homely geare will serue for all wethers.

Rebecca.
Well content thy selfe, and folow my minde this day.
Now the meate by this time is ready I dare say.
Before that with to much enough it be all spilt,
Take thy time, and assaile thy father when thou wilt.

Iacob.
Yea, but haue ye prouided mother I you pray,
That no body within may your counsaille bewray?

Rebecca.
I warrant the matter all safe from vttering,
I haue stopped all mouthes for once muttering.
Therfore whyle the tyme serueth, I thee warne,
To slacke when all thinges are ready may do harme.

Iacob.
Goe before, & I folow: but my chekes will blushe red,
To be sene among our folke thus apparailed.

scæna nona.

Isaac. Mido. Iacob.
Isaac.
Come Mido, for without thee I can nothing do.

Mido.
What is it syr, that ye would haue my helpe vnto?

Isaac.
Nothing but to sitte abrode, and take th'open aire.

Mido.
That shalbe well done, the weather is very faire,

Isaac.
Praised be the God of my father Abraham.
Who sendeth all thing nedefull for the vse of man,
And most tenderly prouideth he for me Isaac,
Better than I can feele or perceiue what I lacke.

Iacob.
Where is my most dere father? as I would haue it,
Taking the open ayre, here I see him sitte.
O my most deere father Isaac, well thou be.

Isaac.
Here I am my sweete sonne, and who art thou tell me?

Iacob.
Dere father, I am Esau thine eldest sonne,
According as thou baddest me, so haue I done.
Come in dere father, and eate of my venison,
That thy soule may geue vnto me thy benison.

Isaac.
But how hast thou sped so soone? let me vnderstande.

Iacob.
The Lorde thy God at the first brought it to my hande.

Isaac.
And art thou Esau mine elder sonne in deede?

Iacob.
To aske that question father, what dooth it neede?

Isaac.
Come nere that I may feele whether thou be he or not,
For Esau is rough of heare as any goate.
Let me feele thy hande, right Esau by the heare,
And yet the voice of Iacob sowneth in mine eare.
God blesse thee my sonne, and so will I do anone,
As soone as I haue tasted of thy venison.
Come on, leade me in, I will eate a pittance.
A litle thing God wotte to me is suffisance,

Mido.
I may now go play, Iacob leadeth Isaac.
But I neuer saw such a prety knacke,
How Iacob beguiled his father, how slightly.
Now I see it true the blinde eate many a flye.
I quaked once for feare lest Iacob would be caught,
But as happe was, he had his lesson well taught.
But what will Esau say, when he commeth home?
Choose him, but for me to go in it is wisedome.

scæna decima.

Rebecca. Abra.
Rebecca.
Now I beseche the Lorde prosper Iacob my sonne,
In our hardy enterprise which we haue begonne.
Isaac is eating such meate as he doth loue,
Which thing to blesse Iacob I dout not will him moue:
If he obteyne the blessing as I trust he shall,
Then shall my soule geue to God laude perpetuall.
But I will in to harken how the thing doth frame.

Mido.
Come in dame Rebecca,

Rebecca.
Who is it that doth me name?

Abra.
My maister Isaac is comming foorth streight way.

Rebecca.
He shall not finde me here in no wise if I may.

scæna vndecima.

Isaac. Iacob.
Isaac.
Set me down on the bench where thou didst me first find:
Now forsooth I haue eate meate euen to my minde.
It hath refreshed my soule wonderfully well.
Nor neuer dranke I better wine that I can tell.

Iacob.
If it were to your liking I am very glad.


It was the best meat and wine that euer I had.
Come kysse me sonne Esau with the kysse of peace,
Iacob kisseth Isaac: and thē kneleth down to haue his blessing.
That my loue towardes thee may the more increace.
I blesse thee here for euer my sonne in this place,
The Lorde my God of might endue thee with his grace.
What swete flauour my sonnes raiment dooth yelde,
Euen the fragrant smell that commeth from a fielde.
Which the Lord hath blessed, and the same lord blesse thee:
With the dewe of heauen, the Lorde thy ground encrease
That the fatnesse of the earth may neuer cease.
The Lorde send thee abundaunce of corne and wine,
And prosper continually all thing that is thine.
The Lord make great people seruants vnto thee:
And nations to do homage and fealty.
And here to succede my place, mine heyre I thee make,
Of all things that I haue, possession to take.
Lord and ruler be thou ouer thy brethern all,
And bowe to thee as head, thy mothers children shall.
Cursed be that man that shall thee curse or missay:
And who that blesseth thee, blessed be he for aye.
Thus here haue I made my last will and testament,
Which the Lord God ratifie neuer to repent.
Serue the Lord our God, and then wel shalt thou speede,
And he shall kepe promise to multiply thy seede.
My day draweth on, for olde and feeble I am.
When I dye, put me to my father Abraham.
Now kisse me once again my sonne, and then depart,
And enter vpon all, wherof now Lorde thou art.

Iacob.
The Lord God reward your fatherly tendernesse.
Which ye haue here shewed me of your mere goodnesse.

Isaac.
Go in peace my dere sonne, leauing me here alone:
And send litle Mido to leade me in anone.
Exeat Iacob.
Lord God when thou shalt see time as thou thinkest best,
Dissolue this feeble carkesse, and take me to thy reste.

Mido.
How do ye maister Isaac? I am here now.
For my maister Iacob did bid me come to you.

Isaac.
Nay boye, it was not Iacob, I dare well say so.

Mido.
Forsooth it was Iacob, if my name be Mido.

Isaac.
If that be a true tale, some body is come slacke,
But lord that I haue done, I will not now call backe.
But yet I will go see if I be deceiued:
For in deede me thought Iacobs voyce I perceiued.

scæna duodecima.

Rebecca.
Rebecca.
Then she speaketh kneeling, and holding vp her handes.
O Lorde , the God of Isaac and Abraham,
I render thanks to thee though a sinfull woman,
Bicause of thy worde and promise true arte thou,
In sending Iacob the blessing of Esau.
And for thus regarding a sinner as I am,
I eftsoones thanke thee O Lorde God of Abraham,
Thy mercy and wysedome shall I sing euermore:
And magnifie thy name, for Gods there is no more.
But I will to my husbande Isaac, and see,
That for this matter he take no greefe at me.