A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 41

REBECCA. Ye may now go in, nurse, and leave looking on him.

DEBORAH. I go; marry, sir, Jacob is now gay and trim.

[_Jacob standeth looking on himself_.

JACOB. No, forsooth, mother, this raiment liketh not me.

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 another bird's feathers: Mine own poor homely gear will serve for all weathers.

REBECCA. Well, content thyself, and follow my mind this day.

Now the meat by this time is ready, I dare say.

Before that with too much _enough_ it be all spilt, Take thy time, and a.s.sail thy father, when thou wilt.

JACOB. Yea, but have ye provided, mother, I you pray, That n.o.body within may your counsel bewray?

REBECCA. I warrant the matter all safe from uttering, I have stopped all mouths fro once muttering.

Therefore, while the time serveth, I thee warn; To slack, when all things are ready, may do harm.

JACOB. Go before, and I follow: but my cheeks will blush red, To be seen among our folk thus appareled.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA NONA.

ISAAC. MIDO. JACOB.

ISAAC. Come, Mido, for without thee I can nothing do.

MIDO. What is it, sir, that ye would have my help unto?

ISAAC. Nothing but to sit abroad, and take th' open air.

MIDO. That shall be well done; the weather is very fair.

ISAAC. Praised be the G.o.d of my father Abraham, Who sendeth all thing needful for the use of man, And most tenderly provideth he for me Isaac, Better than I can feel or perceive what I lack.

_Enter_ JACOB _disguised_.

JACOB. Where is my most dear father? as I would have it; Taking the open air, here I see him sit.

O my most dear father Isaac, well thou be!

ISAAC. Here I am, my sweet son, and who art thou, tell me?

JACOB. Dear father, I am Esau, thine eldest son, According as thou badest me, so have I done.

Come in, dear father, and eat of my venison, That thy soul may give unto me thy benison.

ISAAC. But how hast thou sped so soon? let me understand.

JACOB. The Lord thy G.o.d at the first brought it to my hand,

ISAAC. And art thou Esau, mine elder son indeed?

JACOB. To ask that question, father, what doth it need?

ISAAC. Come near, that I may feel, whether thou be he or not, For Esau is rough of hair as any goat.

Let me feel thy hand; right! Esau, by the hair: And yet the voice of Jacob soconeth in mine ear.

G.o.d bless thee, my son, and so will I do anon, As soon as I have tasted of thy venison.

Come on, lead me in; I will eat a pittance: A little thing, G.o.d wot, to me is suffisance.

[_They go in_.

MIDO. I may now go play; Jacob leadeth Isaac.

But I never saw such a pretty knack, How Jacob beguiled his father, how sleightly: Now I see it true, the blind eat many a fly!

I quaked once for fear, that Jacob would be caught, But, as hap was, he had his lesson well taught.

But what will Esau say, when he cometh home?

Choose him; but for me to go in it is wisdom.

[_Exit_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA DECIMA.

REBECCA. ABRA.

REBECCA. Now I beseech the Lord prosper Jacob my son In our hardy enterprise, which we have begun.

Isaac is eating such meat as he doth love, Which thing to bless Jacob, I doubt not, will him move: If he obtain the blessing, as I trust he shall, Then shall my soul give to G.o.d laud perpetual.

But I will in to harken, how the thing doth frame.

ABRA.[274] Come in, dame Rebecca.

REBECCA. Who is it, that doth me name?

ABRA. My master Isaac is coming forth straightway.

REBECCA. He shall not find me here in no wise, if I may.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA VNDECIMA.

ISAAC. JACOB.

ISAAC. Set me down on the bench, where thou didst me first find: Now forsooth I have ate meat even to my mind.

It hath refreshed my soul wonderfully well.