A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 38

RAGAN. Even when ye will, is there let in me or no?

[_Exeunt ambo_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA PRIMA.

REBECCA. JACOB.

REBECCA. Son Jacob, even now is come the very hour That, if thou have any grace, or heart, or power, To play thy part well, and stick unto it throughout Esau his blessing will be thine without doubt.

JACOB. Mother, I know your good-will to be unfeigned; But I see not which way the thing may be attained.

REBECCA. I have it contrived, how all things shall be done, Do thou as I shall bid thee, and it will be won.

JACOB. Mother, in me shall be no fault or negligence.

REBECCA. Then harken very well unto this my sentence.

I heard old Isaac, in a long, solemn talk, Bid thy brother Esau to the field to walk, And there with his bow to kill him some venison, Which brought and dressed, he is to have his benison.

For I am aged (said Isaac truly), And would bless thee, dear son, before that I die.

Now is Esau gone to do it even so; But while he is away, I would have thee to go Abroad unto the flock, and fetch me kids twain, Of which I shall with a trice make such meat certain, As shall say, _Come, eat me_, and shall make old Isaac Lick his lips thereat, so toothsome shall it smack.

I shall make him thereof such as he doth love, Which in thy brother's stead to bless thee shall him move.

JACOB. O sweet and dear mother, this device 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 instead of blessing shall purchase me his curse.

REBECCA. On me be thy curse, my son, let it light on me: Only fetch thou the kids. .h.i.ther, as I bid thee, Do thou thy true devoir, and let G.o.d work therein.

JACOB. Upon your word, mother, I will the thing begin, Send me little Mido to help me bear a kid.

REBECCA. He shall come by and by, for so I shall him bid.

Now, Lord, and if thou please that this thing shall take place, Further this our enterprise, helping with thy grace.

[_Exit_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA SECUNDA.

JACOB _and_ MIDO.

MIDO. Are ye here, master Jacob? I came you to look, And here dame Rebecca hath sent you your sheep-crook; And hath commanded me to wait on you this day, But wherefore or why, she would nothing to me say.

JACOB. Come on then, follow me, Mido, a little ways.

MIDO. Whither ye shall lead me; I am at all a.s.says.

JACOB. And art thou able to bear a kid on thy back?

MIDO. I am able, I trow, to bear a quarter-sack.

How say you to this corpse? is it not fat and round?

How say ye to these legs? come they not to the ground?

And be not here arms able your matter to speed?

Be not here likely shoulders to do such a deed?

Therefore come, master Jacob, if this your doubt be For bringing home of kids, lay the biggest on me, So that if we make a feast, I may have some part.

JACOB. Yes, that shalt thou, Mido; right worthy thou art.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA TERTIA.

REBECCA. ABRA.

REBECCA. I come to see, if Jacob be gone a-field yet; A little slacking may all our purpose let.

But now that he is gone, he will be here at once, Therefore I will call my maid Abra for the nonce, That all thing within may be in a readiness.

Abra, where be ye, Abra?

ABRA. Here within, mistress.

REBECCA. Come forth: when, Abra? what, Abra, I say!

ABRA. Anon.

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

ABRA. I was washing my vessel forsooth, mistress, I.

REBECCA. And in very deed, look that all your vessels be clean.

ABRA. There is not one foul piece in all our tent, I ween.

REBECCA. Then make a great fire, and make ready your pot, And see there be plenty of water, cold and hot; And see the spit be scoured as clean as any pearl.

ABRA. If this be not quickly done, call me naughty girl.

REBECCA. Nay, soft, whither away? I have not yet all done.

ABRA. I thought ye would have had me as quick to be gone, As when ye call Abra, ye would have me to come.

REBECCA. Then see ye have made ready cloves, mace, and cinnamon: Pepper and saffron; then fet herbs for the pot;

ABRA. We will have the best that by me can be got.