A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 35

The world is now meetly well amended indeed,

ESAU. By my truth, if I had bidden[267] from meat any longer, I think my very maw would have fret asunder.

Then had I been dead and gone, I make G.o.d a vow.

RAGAN. Surely then the world had had a great loss of you; For where should we have had your fellow in your place?

[_Aside_.

ESAU. What should I have done with my birthright in this case?

RAGAN. Kept it still, and you had not been a very a.s.s. [_Aside_.

ESAU. But the best pottage it was yet, that ever was.

It were sin not to sell one's soul for such gear.

RAGAN. Ye have done no less in my conscience, I fear. [_Aside_.

ESAU. Who is this that standeth clattering at my back?

RAGAN. A poor man of yours, sir, that doth his dinner lack.

ESAU. Dinner, wh.o.r.eson knave? dinner at this time a' day?

Nothing with thee but dinner and munching alway.

Why, thy wh.o.r.eson villain slave, who is hungry now?

RAGAN. Indeed, sir (as seemeth by your words) not you.

ESAU. A man were better fill the bellies of some twelfe, Than to fill the gut of one such wh.o.r.eson elf; That doth none other good but eat, and drink, and sleep.

RAGAN. He shall do something else, whom ye shall have to keep. [_Aside_.

ESAU. And that maketh thee so slothful and so lither, I dare say he was six hours coming hither, When I sent him to make provision afore, Not pa.s.sing a mile hence or very little more.

And yet being so far pa.s.s'd 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?

RAGAN. I may fast, for any meat that of you I have. [_Aside_.

ESAU. Or deserve thy dinner, before thou do't crave.

RAGAN. If I have not deserved it at this season, I shall never deserve it in mine own reason.

Ye promised I should eat, till I cried ho.

ESAU. Yea, that was, if we took either hare, teg, or doe.

RAGAN. But when yourself were hungry, ye said, I wot what----

ESAU. What, thou villain slave, tellest thou me now of that?

RAGAN. Then, help, run apace, Ragan, my good servant.

ESAU. Yea then was then, now is it otherwise: avaunt!

Have I nothing to do but provide meat for you?

RAGAN. Ye might have given me some part, when ye had enough.

ESAU. What, of the red rice pottage with Jacob I had?

Why, the crow would not give it her bird--thou art mad, Is that meat for you? nay, it would make you too rank.

Nay, soft, brother mine, I must keep you more lank.

It hath made me ever[268] since so l.u.s.ty and[269] fresh, As though I had eaten all delicates of flesh.

I feel no manner faintness whereof to complain.

RAGAN. Yet to-morrow ye must be as hungry again, Then must ye and will ye wish again for good cheer: And repent you, that ever ye bought this so dear.

ESAU. 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?

RAGAN. But a matter of a straw and a thing of nought!

ESAU. My birthright and whole t.i.tle of mine eldership, Marry, sir, I pray G.o.d 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 casuality, Better a mess of pottage than nothing, pardy!

If my father live long, when should I it enjoy?

If my father die soon, then it is 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 enou'?

Do none but men's eldest sons prosper well?

How live younger brethren then, I beseech you, tell?

Once, if anything be by the sword to be got, This falchion and I will have part to our lot.

But now come on, go we abroad awhile and walk, Let my birthright go, and of other matters talk.

RAGAN. Who--I, walk? nay, I trow not, till I have better din'd.

It is more time to seek, where I may some meat find.

ESAU. What say'st thou, drawlatch? come forth, with a mischief!

Wilt thou not go with me? on, forward, wh.o.r.eson thief?

Shall it be as pleaseth you, or as pleaseth me?

RAGAN. Nay, as pleaseth you, sir, methink it must be.

ESAU. And where be my dogs and my hound? be they all well?

RAGAN. Better than your man, for they be in their kennel.

ESAU. Then go see all be well in my part of the tent.

RAGAN. With a right good will, sir, I go incontinent.

ESAU. And I will to my field, the which I cleansed last, To see what hope there is, that it will yield fruit fast.