A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 28

[_Here Esau appeareth in sight, and bloweth his horn, ere he enter_.

ESAU. How now, are we all ready, servant Ragan?

Art thou up for all day, man? art thou ready now?

RAGAN. I have been here this half-hour, sir, waiting for you,

ESAU. And is all thing ready, as I bad, to my mind?

RAGAN. Ye have no cause, that I know, any fault to find: Except that we disease our tent and neighbours all With rising over early each day, when ye call.

ESAU. Ah, thou drowsy draffsack, wouldest thou rise at noon?

Nay, I trow the sixth hour with thee were over-soon.

RAGAN. Nay, I speak of your neighbours, being men honest, That labour all the day, and would fain be at rest: Whom with blowing your horn ye disease all-abouts.

ESAU. What care I for waking a sort of clubbish louts?

RAGAN. And I speak of Rebecca your mother, our dame.

ESAU. Tut, I pa.s.s not, whether she do me praise or blame.

RAGAN. And I speak of your good father, old Isaac.

ESAU. Peace, foolish knave: as for my father Isaac, In case he be asleep, I do him not disease, And if he be waking, I know I do him please, For he loveth me well from mine nativity, [_Here Esau bloweth his horn again_.

And never so as now for mine activity.

Therefore have at it: once more will I blow my horn To give my neighbour louts an hail-peal in a morn.

[_Here he speaketh to his dogs_.

Now, my master Lightfoot, how say you to this gear, Will you do your duty to red or fallow deer?

And, Swan, mine own good cur, I do think in my mind The game shall run apace, if thou come far behind: And ha, Takepart, come, Takepart, here: how say you, child, Wilt not thou do thy part? yes, else I am beguil'd.

But I shrew your cheeks, they have had too much meat.

RAGAN. I blame not dogs to take it, if they may it get: But as for my part, they could have, parde, A small remnant of that that ye give me.

They may run light enough for ought of me they got, I had not a good meal's-meat this week, that I wot.

ESAU. If we have luck this day to kill hare, teg,[258] or doe, Thou shalt eat thy bellyful, till thou criest ho.

RAGAN. I thank you, when I have it, Master Esau.

ESAU. Well, come on, let us go now, servant Ragan.

Is there anything more, that I should say or do?

For perhaps we come not again this day or two.

RAGAN. I know nothing, master, to G.o.d I make a vow, Except you would take your brother Jacob with you: I never yet saw him with you an hunting go, Shall we prove him once, whether he will go or no?

ESAU. 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 loveth not of all thing.

Jacob loveth 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.

RAGAN. In good sooth, I ween he would think each hare a bear.

ESAU. What, brother mine, what a word call ye that?

RAGAN. Sir, I am scarce waked: I spake, ere I wist what.

ESAU. Come on your ways, my child, take the law of the game.

I will wake you, I trow, and set your tongue in frame.

RAGAN. O, what have you done, Master Esau, G.o.d's apes?

ESAU. Why can ye not yet refrain from letting such scapes?

Come on, ye must have three jerts[259] for the nonce.

One-- [_Beats him_.

RAGAN. O, for G.o.d's love, sir, have done, dispatch at once.

ESAU. Nay there is no remedy but bide it--there is twain.

[_Gives him another jerk_.

RAGAN. O, ye rent my cheverel; let me be past my pain.

ESAU. Take heed of hunting terms fro henceforth!--there is three.

[_Jerks him again_.

RAGAN. Whoop! now a mischief on all moping fools for me!

Jacob shall keep the tents ten year for Ragan, Ere I move again that he hunt with Esau.

ESAU. Come on, now let us go. G.o.d send us game and luck, And if my hand serve me well--

RAGAN (_aside_). Ye will kill a duck.

[_Exeant ambo_.

ACTUS PRIMI, SCAENA SECUNDA.

HANAN, ZETHAR, _two of Isaac's neighbours_.

HANAN. Ah, sir, I see I am an early man this morn, I am once more beguil'd with Esau his horn.

But there is no such stirrer as Esau is: He is up day by day, before the crow p.i.s.s: Then maketh he with his horn such toohing and blowing, And with his wide throat such shouting and hallooing, That no neighbour shall in his tent take any rest, From Esau addresseth him to the forest.

So that he maketh us, whether we will or no, Better husbands than we would be, abroad to go Each of us about our business and our wark.

But whom do I see yonder coming in the dark?

It is my neighbour Zethar, I perceive him now.

ZETHAR. What, neighbour Hanan, well met, good morrow to you.

I see well now I am not beguiled alone: But what boot to lie still? for rest we can take none; That I marvel much of old father Isaac, Being so G.o.dly a man, why he is so slack To bring his son Esau to a better stay.

HANAN. What should he do in the matter, I you pray?