JACOB

Forsooth mother, I thought you had said all your mind. What soever pleases you, speak to me you may. He lacketh not that mother, if it would avail. But when I do him any thing of his fault tell, He calls me foolish proud boy with him to mell. He will sometime demand by what authority, I presume to teach them which mine elders be? He will sometime ask if I learn of my mother, To take on me teaching of mine elder brother? Sometime when I tell him of his leude behaviour, He will lend me a mock or twain for my labour: And sometime for anger he will out with his purse And call me as please him, and swear he will do worse. Mother, we must be content with Gods ordinance. Mother, it is to late to wish for that is passed: It will not be done now wish you never so fast. And I would not have you to wish against Gods will: For both it is in vain, and also it is ill. Whatsoever mystery the Lord therein meant, Must be referred to his unsearched judgement. And what soever he hath pointed me unto, I am his own vessel his will with me to do. And what he hath decreed, must sure come to pass. So it be not displeasing to the Lord I must. Mother Rebecca, if withouten fraud I might, I would your advise put in use with all my heart, But I may not attempt any such guileful partly: To buy my brother's eldership and his birthright, I fear would be a great offence in Gods sighed. Which thing if I wist, to redeem I ne would, Though I might get thereby ten millions of gold. Upon your word mother, I will assay ere long, Yet it grudgeth my heart to do my brother wrong. Then by Gods leave once assay I will. I will again to the Tent. Well you been. Exeat Jacob. Marry God forbid. Fie brother Esau, what a folly is this? About vain pastime to wander abroad, and peak, Till with hunger you make your self thus faint & weak. Alack brother, I have in my little cottage, Nothing but a mease of gross and homely pottage. Can you be content to fell your birthright to Me? Then swear thou hand in hand before the living Lord, This bargain to fulfil, and to stand by thy word. Thou shalt also with me by this promise indent, With this bargain and sale to hold thy self content. Come, let us set him on foot that he may go sup. Come, that with my pottage thou mayest refreshed be. God grant I have enough for Esau alone. THou knowest little Mido where my mother is. Go call his, and come again with her thine own self. Where I have by the enticement of my mother, Bargained and bought the birthright of my brother: Turn it all to good Oh Lord, if it be thy will: Thou knowest my heart Lord, I did it for no ill. And what ever shall please Thee to work or to do, Thou shalt find me pressed and obedient thereto. But here is my mother Rebecca now in place. Yes, and a good son to go quick on your errand. Forsooth mother, I did so as you me bade, Esau to fell me all his birthright persuade. Yea, and have his promise that he will never repent. Yea that I have, a mease of read pottage of rice, And he eaten up every whit well I wot. Yea? how may that be wrought? Mother I know your good will to be unfeigned: But I see not which way the thing may be attained. Mother in me shall be no fault or negligence. Oh sweet and dear mother, this devise is but vain, For Esau is rough, and I am smooth certain. And so when I shall to my father bring this meat, Perchance he will feel me, before that he will eat. Old men be mistrustful: he shall the matter take, That I went about my father a fool to make. Mother by such a prank the matter will be worse: And I in stead of blissing shall purchase me his curse. Upon your word mother, I will the thing begin, Send me little Mido to help me bear a kid. Come on then, follow me Mido a little ways. And art thou able to bear a kid on thy back? Yes that shalt thou Mido, right worthy thou art. I would not my father Isaac should hear: But lo I see my mother stand before the tent. And me thinketh mother, we have hied us well: And hearest thou Mido? see that good heed thou take, In any wise to come in my father's sighed. I shall be ready mother, when so ere you call. Oh How happy is that same daughter or that son, Whom the parents love with hearty affection. And among all others how fortunate am I, Whom my mother Rebecca tendereth so greatly? If it lay in her to do any good you see, She would do her earnest devoir to prefer me. But as for this matter which she does now intend, Without thy aid Oh Lord, how should it come to end. Nevertheless forasmuch as my said mother, Works upon thy word Oh Lord, and none other, It shall become me to show mine obedience, And to thy promise Oh Lord, to give endue credence. For what is so possible to men judgement, Which thou canst not with a beck perform incontinent? Therefore thy will Oh Lord, be done for evermore. Why what new thing is chanced Mido, I pray Thee? But of the kids bleayng he did speak no more. I Were best also to get me into the tent, That if my mother need me, I may be present. But I see his come forth, and nurse Deborra also, And bring gear with them what so ere it shall do. Mother, what have you brought? & what things are those? And what shall this gear do, that you have brought? No forsooth mother, this raiment liketh not me. Jacob stands looking. on himself. I could with mine own gear better contented be. And but for satisfying of your mind and will, I would not wear it, to have it for mine own still. I love not to wear and other birds feathers. Mine own poor homely gear will serve for all wethers. Yea, but have you provided mother I you pray, That no body within may your counsaille bewray? Go before, & I follow: but my cheeks will blush read, To be seen among our folk thus appareled. Where is my most dear father? as I would have it, Taking the open air, here I see him sit. Oh my most dear father Isaac, well thou be. Dear father, I am Esau thine eldest son, According as thou badst me, so have I done. Come in dear father, and eat of my venison, That thy soul may give unto me thy benison. The Lord thy God at the first brought it to my hand. To ask that question father, what doth it need? If it were to your liking I am very glad. It was the best meat and wine that ever I had. Come kiss me son Esau with the kiss of peace, Jacob kisses Isaac: and the ̄ kneeleth down to have his blessing. That my love towards Thee may the more increase. I bless Thee here for ever my son in this place, The Lord my God of might endue Thee with his grace. What sweet flavour my sons raiment doth yield, Even the fragrant smell that comes from a field. Which the Lord hath blessed, and the same lord bless Thee: With the dew of heaven, the Lord thy ground increase That the fatness of the earth may never cease. The Lord send Thee abundance of corn and wine, And prosper continually all thing that is thine. The Lord make great people servants unto Thee: And nations to do homage and fealty. And here to succeed my place, mine heir I Thee make, Of all things that I have, possession to take. Lord and ruler be thou over thy brother all, And bow to Thee as head, thy mother's children shall. Cursed be that man that shall Thee curse or missay: And who that blesses Thee, blessed be he for aye. Thus here have I made my last will and testament, Which the Lord God ratify never to repent. Serve the Lord our God, and then well shalt thou speed, And he shall keep promise to multiply thy seed. My day draws on, for old and Feeble I am. When I die, put me to my father Abraham. Now kiss me once again my son, and then depart, And enter upon all, whereof now Lord thou art. The Lord God reward your fatherly tenderness. Which you have here showed me of your mere goodness. MOther Rebecca, did you send for me hither? In deed to men's malice we must sometime give place. Yea, but how will my father herewith be content? As you command me mother Rebecca, I shall. Now most tender parents, as well with heart and word, I bid you well to fare, and leave you to the Lord. Even with all my heart farewell little Mido. God save the Queens counsellors most noble and true, And with all godliness their noble hearts endue.