ESAU

How now, are we all ready servant Ragau? Art thou up for all day man? art thou ready now? And is all thing ready as I had, to my mind? Ah thou drousy draffesacke, wouldst thou rise at noon? Nay I trow the sixth hour with Thee were oversoon. What care I for waking a sort of clubbish louts? Tutte I pass not whither she do me praise or blame. Peace foolish knave: As for my father Isaac, In case he be a sleep, I do him not disease, And if he be waking, I know I do him please, For he loves me well from mine nativity, And never so as now, for mine activity. Here Esau blo weth his horn again. Therefore have at it, once more will I blow my Horn To give my neighbour louts and hail peal in a morn. Now my master Lightfoot, how say you to this gear, Here he spea keth to his Dogs. Will you do your duty to red or fallow Dear? And Swan mine own good cur, I do think in my mind, The game shall run apace, if thou come far behind: And would Takepart, come Takepart, here, how say you child Wilt not thou do thy partly? yes, else I am beguiled. But I shrew your cheeks, they have had too much meat. If we have luck this day to kill Hare, Teg, or Do, Thou shalt eat thy belly full, till thou criest hoe. Well, come on, let us go now servant Ragau. Is there any thing more, that I should say or do? For perhaps we come not again this day or two. No, no, that were in vain: Alas good simple mome. Nay, he must tarry and suck mother's dug at home: Jacob must keep home I trow, under mother's wing, To be from the Tents he loves not of all thing. Jacob loves no Hunting in the wild forest: And would fear if he should there see any wild beast. Yea to see the game run, Jacob would be in fear. What brother mine, what a word call you that? Come on your ways my child, take the law of the game. I will wake you I trow, and set your tongue in frame. Why can you not yet refrain from letting such escapes? Come on, you must have three iertes for the nonce. One. Nay there is no remedy but bide it, there is twain. Take heed of Hu ̄ ting terms from ̄ henceforth, there is three. Come on, now let us go. God send us game and luck, And if my hand serve me well, Take all that I have for meat, help who that can. Oh Lord, some good body for Gods sake gyve me meat. Comes in so faint that he can scarce go. I force not what it were, so that I had to eat. Meat or drink, save my life, or bread, I reck not what. If there be nothing else, some man give me a cat. If any good body on me will do so much cost, I will tear and eat his raw, she shall never be rost, I promise of honesty I will eat his raw. And what a nody was I, and a hooreson daw, To let Ragau go with all my dogs at ones: A shoulder of a dog were now meat for the nonce. O what shall I do? my tooth I can scarcely charm, From gnawing away the braune of my very arm. I can no longer stand for faint, I must needs lie. And except meat come soon, remediless I die. And where art thou Ragau whom I sent before? Unless thou come at once, I never see Thee more. Where art thou Ragau, I hear not of Thee yet? Ah thou villain, tellest thou me this now? If had Thee, I would eat Thee, to God I vow, Ah, meat thou horson, why hast thou not brought me meat? Come hither, let me tell Thee a word in thine ear. Nay for gods love Ragau, leave me not alone: I will not eat Thee Ragau, so God me help. Nay have mercy on me, and let me not perish. Was there nothing to be had among so many? Go pray him I may speak with him once ere I pass. High thee go apace, and return again soon. If Jacob have endue brother y compassion. He will not see me faint after this fashion, But I dare say, the wretch had rather see me thrust, Than he would find in his heart to do so much cost: For where is between one fremman and and other, Less love found than now between brother and brother? Will Jacob come forth to show comfort unto me? The whoreson hypocrite will as soon hanged be. Yet peace, me thinketh Jacob is coming in deed: And my mind giveth me at his hand I shall speed. For he is as gentle and loving as can be, As full of compassion and pity. But let me see, does he come? no I warrant you. He come quod I? tush, he come? then hang Esau. For there is not this day in all the world round, Such and other hodypeake wretch to be found. And Ragau my man, is not that a fine knave? Have any more masters such a man as I have? So idle, so loitering, so trifling, so toying? So prattling, so tram ling, so chiding, so boying? So jesting, so wresting, so mocking, so mowing? So nipping, so tripping, so cocking, so crowing? So knappishe, so snappishe, so elvish, so forward? So crabbed, so wrabbed, so stiff, so untoward? In play or in pastime, so jocund, so merry? In work or in labour so dead or so weary? O that I had his ear between my tooth now, I should shake him even as a dog that lulleth a sow. But in faith if ever I recover my self, There was never none trounced as I shall trounce that elf He and Jacob are agreed I dare say, I, Not to come at all, but to suffer me here to die. Which if they do, they shall find this same word true, That after I am dead, my soul shall them pursue. I will be avenged on all foes till I die. Yea and take vengeance when I am dead too I. For I mistrust against me agreed they have: For thone is but a fool, and tother a stark knave. But hark once again, me think I hear them speak. Lo now they come at last. Brother Jacob, I pray you chide now no longer, But give me somewhat wherewith to slake mine hunger, Refresh me therewithal, and boldly ask of me, The best thing that I have, what soever it be. I were a very beast, when thou my life dost save, If I should stick with Thee for the best thing I have. Hold, here is my hand, I do fell it here to Thee. With all the profits thereof henceforth to be thine, As free, as full, as large, as ever it was mine. Before the Lord I swear, to whom eke heart is known That my birthright that was, from henceforth is thine own. If eke penny thereof might be worth twenty pound, I willingly to Thee surrender it this stound. And if eke cicle might be worth a whole talon, I promise with this sale to hold me content. No, I pray Thee help me up, and leave thy jesting. There is no meat on earth that so well liketh me. No not a whit, for my bargain take thou no thought. I defy that birthright that should be of more price, Than helping of ones self, I am not so unwise. Yes, and if thou canst my brother Jacob entreat. And well fare a good brother yet in time of need, He comes forth wiping his mouth. The world is now metely well amended in deed. By my truth if I had bidden from meat any longer, I think my very maw would have fret asunder. Then had I be dead and gone I make God a vow What should I have done with my birthright in this case. But the best pottage it was yet that ever was. It were sin not to fell ones soul for such gear. Who is this that stands clattering at my back? Dinner whoreson knave? dinner at this time a day? Nothing with Thee, but dinner and mounching always. Why thou whoreson villain slave, who is hungry now? A man were better fill the bellies of some twelve, Than to fill the gut of one such whoreson self, That does none other good but eat and drink and sleep. And that makes Thee so slothful and so lyther, I dare say he was six hours coming hither, When I sent him to make provision afore, Not passing a mile hence or very little more. And yet being so far passed the hour of dining, See and the knave be not for his dinner whining. Fast a while, fast with a mischief greedy slave, Must I provide meat for every glutton knave? Or deserve thy dinner before thou do it crave. Yea that was if we took either hare, tegge, or Do. What thou villain slave, tellest thou me now of that Yea then was then, now is it otherwise: avant. Have I nothing to do but provide meat for you? What, of the read rice pottage with Jacob I had? Why, the crow would not give it his bird, thou art mad Is that meat for you? nay it would make you to rank. Nay soft brother mine, I must keep you more lank. It hath made me even since so lusty and Fresh, As though I had eaten all delicates of flesh. I feel no manner faintness whereof to complain. Repent me? wherefore, then the Lord give me sorrow, If it were to do, I would do it to morrow. For thou foolish knave, what hath Jacob of me bought? My birthright and whole title of mine eldership. Marry sir I pray God much good do it his maship, If I die to morrow, what good would it do me? If he die to morrow, what benefit hath he? And for a thing hanging on such casualty: Better a mease of pottage than nothing pardy. If my father live long, when should I it enjoy? If my father die soon, then is it but a toy. For if the time were come, thinkest thou that Jacob, Should find Esau such a lout or such a lob, To suffer him to enjoy my birthright in rest? Nay, I will First toss him and trounce him of the best, I think to find it a matter of conscience, And Jacob first to have a fart sir reverence. When my father Isaac shall the matter know: He will not let Jacob have my birthright I trow. Or if he should keep it as his own, I pray you, Might not I live without it and do well enough? Do none but men's eldest sons prosper well? How live younger brothers then, I beseech you tell? Once, if any thing be by the sword to be God: This falchion and I will have partly to our lot. But now come on, go we abroad a while and walk, Let my birthright go, and of other matters talk. What sayest thou drawlatch? come forth with a mischief. Wilt thou not go with me? on forward whoreson thief. Shall it be as pleases you, or as pleases me? And where be my dogs? and my hound? be they all well? Then go see all be well in my part of the tent. And I will to my field the which I cleansed last, To see what hope there is, that it will yield fruit fast. Now since I last saw mine old father Isaac, Both I do think it long, and he will judge me slack But he comes forth, I will here listen and see, Whither he shall chance to speak any word of me. Seek no farther Mido, already here he is. You guess truly father, you are not deceived. Here father. None to Harken our talk father, that I do see. I cry you mercy father, if I have done wrong But I am loath to trouble you having nothing To present you withal, nor venison to bring. I thank you for it father as does me behoove. That is to me great ruth if I could it amend. You shall have of the best that runneth in the wood. Your will accomplish most dear father Isaac, Wits all good hast and speed, I shall not be found slack. I shall withouten let. What is it that thou dost say? Well, come on, let us go. I Trow I have now won my spurs for ever, For once better venison killed I never. And though it were somewhat longer I could it take, Yet the goodness thereof doth some recompense make. My father Isaac shall thereof have such meat, As in all his life he hath not the better eat. Whereupon I doubt not, after tender kissing, To be straight endowed with his godly blessing. As his full and true heir in his place to succeed, And enjoy the promise that God made to his seed, And when I am once in my place of succession, And have all manner things in full possession: I shall wring all louts and make them stoop (I trow) I shall make the slaves couch as low as dog to bow. I shall ruffle among them of and other sort, Than Isaac hath done, and with and other port. But now will I go see what hast within they make That partly of my hunting my old father may take. Now where is Isaac that he may come and eat? Lo where he is sitting abroad upon his seat. Dear father Isaac, the Lord thy God Thee save. I am your eldest son Esau by my name, New come home from hunting, where I had ioyly game, I have made meat thereof for your own appetite, Meat for your own tooth, wherein you will much delight. Come eat your partly, dear father, that when you have done, Your soul may bless me as your heir and eldest son. Alas, Then am I the unhappiest that ever was, I would the salvage beasts had my body torn. Alas, what wretched villain hath done me such scathe? Ah Jacob, Jacob, well may he be called so: For he hath undermined me times two. For first mine heritage he took away me from, And see, now hath he away my blessing also. Ah father, father, though Jacob hath done this thing: Yet let me Esau also have thy blessing. Shall all my good huntings for Thee be in vain? And hast thou never a blessing then left for me? A most poignant sword unto my heart is that word. That word is to me sharper than a rasers blade. Woe be the day and hour that ever I was born. Ah Jacob, Jacob, that thou hast me thus undone. O unhappy happen: o misfortune, well away, That ever I should live to see this woeful day. But hast thou one blissing and no more my father? Let me also have some blessing good sweet father. O, to my younger brother must I be servant? O, that ever a man should be so oppressed. Father, change that piece of thy sentence & judgement. O would not this chafe a man, and fret his guts out? To live as and underling under such a lout? Ah hypocrite, ah hedgecréeper, ah sembling wretch: I will be even with Thee for this subtle fetch. Oh God of Abraham, what reason is herein, That to slay ones enemy it should be made sin? Were not one as good his partly of heaven forgo, As not to be revenged on his deadly foe? God was angry with Caim for killing Abel: Else might I kill Jacob marvelously well. I may fortune one day him to dispatch and rid: The Lord will not see all things, some thing may be hid. But as for these misers within my father's tent, Which to the supplanting of me put their consent, Not one, but I shall coil them till they stink for pain, And then for their stinking, coil them of Fresh again. I will take no days, but while the matter is hot, Not one of them shall escape but they shall to the pot. COme out whores & thieves, come out, come out I say. Come out little whoreson ape, come out of thy den. Come out thou little fend, come out thou skittish Gill. And come out thou mother Mab, out old rotten witch, As white as midnights arsehole, or virgin pitch. Where be you? come together in a cluster. Ere you escape my fingers, you shall all be taught. For these be they which have all this against me wrought. Hence then, get Thee in, and do against me no more. What sayest thou little thief? if I may Thee catch, Nay for his sake, Abram, you shall drink of the whip. A little fiend it is, and will be a right devil, And she is one of them that love not me a deal. Then hence out of my sighed at once, and get Thee in. What sayest thou thou Ti ? once you shall have a rap. Now come on thou oh de heg, what shall I say to Thee? Yes, and make powder of Thee, for I dare say, thou, Hast be the cause of all this feast to Esau. Nay I thought such a witch would do such business. But wilt thou tell me truth if I do forgive Thee? Is it true that when I and my brother were first born, And I by Gods ordinance came forth him before, Jacob came forthwith, holding me fast by the he'll? Is it true? well Jacob I pray God I be dead, But for my heles sake, I will have Thee by the head. What devil was in me, that I had not the grace With kicking back my he'll to mar his mopish face? But my father Isaac will not long live now, If he were gone, Jacob I would soon meet with you. For my soul hates Jacob even to the death, And I will never but hate him while I shall have breath. I may well dissemble until I see a day: But trust me Jacob, I will pay Thee when I may. This he spea keth to De borra. But if ever I hear that thou speak word of this, I shall cut out thy tongue, I will not miss. But come on Ragau with me, so mote I thrive, I will get a good sword, for thereby must I live. Didst thou see her stand here, & wouldst not warn me? Mother what is it you herd of me of late? Hate Jacob? I hate him and will do till I die. For he hath done me both great wrong and vilanny. And that shall he well know if the Lord give me life. My birthright to fell did he not make me consent? Yea mother, see that you hold with that mopish self. It is your dainty darling, your princkoxe, your golpoll, He can never be praised enough of your soul, He must ever be extolled above the Moon, It is never amiss that he hath said or done. I would he were rocked or dandled in your lap: Or I would with this falchion I might give him pap. I marvel why you should so love him, and me not? You groaned as well for the one as tother I wot. But Jacob must be advanced in any wise: But I shall one day handle him of the new guise. And what should I take all this wrong at Jacob's hand? Mother, though it be a great thing that you require: Yet must all malice pass at your desire. And for your cause mother, this mine anger shall slake. For your sake with Jacob I will be at accord. As pleases you mother, I can be well content. It must now be thus, but when I shall Jacob find, I shall then do, as God shall put into my mind. That all quarrel to Jacob thou haste remitted. It was the Lords pleasure that it should thus be, Against whose ordinance to stand is not for Thee: But now to the intent it may please the Lord, To knit your hearts one day in a perfect concord, We shall first in a song give laud unto his name, And than with all gladness, within confirm the same. Me you may command to what you will have me to do: And so may you do also Ragau my man. Lord save the nobility and preserve them all: And prosper the Queens subjects universal. And never any more ado against me make? What you saucy Merchant, are you a prater now?