A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 42

Nor never drank I better wine that I can tell.

JACOB. If it were to your liking, I am very glad.

ISAAC. It was the best meat and wine that ever I had.

Come kiss me, son Esau, with the kiss of peace,

[_Jacob kisseth Isaac; and then 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 G.o.d of might endue thee with his grace.

What sweet flavour my son's raiment doth yield!

Even the fragrant smell that cometh 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 brethren all, And bow to thee as head thy mother's children shall!

Cursed be that man, that shall thee curse or mis-say, And who that blesseth thee, blessed be he for aye!

Thus here have I made my last will and testament, Which the Lord G.o.d ratify never to repent.

Serve the Lord our G.o.d, and then well shalt thou speed, And he shall keep promise to multiply thy seed.

My day draweth 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.

JACOB. The Lord G.o.d reward your fatherly tenderness, Which ye have here showed me of your mere goodness.

ISAAC. Go in peace, my dear son, leaving me here alone: And send little Mido to lead me in anon.

[_Exeat Jacob_.

Lord G.o.d, when thou shalt see time, as thou thinkest best, Dissolve this feeble carcase, and take me to thy rest.

_Enter_ MIDO.

MIDO. How do ye, master Isaac? I am here now.

For my master Jacob did bid me come to you.

ISAAC. Nay, boy, it was not Jacob, I dare well say so.

MIDO. Forsooth, it was Jacob, if my name be Mido.

ISAAC. If that be a true tale, somebody is come slack, But, Lord, that I have done I will not now call back.

But yet I will go see, if I be deceived: For indeed methought Jacob's voice I perceived.

[_Exeunt_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA DUODECIMA.

REBECCA.

[_Then she speaketh kneeling, and holding up her hands_.

REBECCA. O Lord, the G.o.d of Isaac and Abraham, I render thanks to thee, though a sinful woman, Because of thy word and promise true art thou, In sending Jacob the blessing of Esau; And for thus regarding a sinner, as I am, I eftsoons thank thee, O Lord G.o.d of Abraham.

Thy mercy and wisdom shall I sing evermore: And magnify thy name, for G.o.d's there is no more.

But I will to my husband Isaac, and see, That for this matter he take no grief at me.

ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA PRIMA.

RAGAN.

[_Ragan bringeth venison at his back_.

Nay, now at last we have well sped, I warrant you: Good luck is not evermore against Esau.

He coursed and coursed again with his dogs here: But they could at no time take either hare or deer.

At last he killed this with his bow, as G.o.d would.

And to say that it is fat venison I be bold.

But dressed it must be at once in all the haste, That old father Isaac may have his repast.

Then without delay Esau shall blessed be, Then, faith, c.o.c.k-on-hoop, all is ours! then, who but he?

But I must in, that it may be dressed in time likely, And I trow ye shall see it made ready quickly.

[_Exit_.

ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA SECUNDA.

MIDO.

MIDO. Nay now, old master Isaac (I warrant you) Hath blessed Jacob in the place of Esau.

At home here with us it is judged no small change, But a case wonderful, and also very strange.

The younger brother is made elder: and again The elder must now serve the younger as his swain.[275]

And from henceforth we must all make courtesy and bow, Unto master Jacob, and not to Esau now: And Esau himself must under Jacob be, At his commandment, even as well as we.

But I care not, I warrant you: for our household Love Jacob better than Esau twentyfold.

None loveth Esau but for his father's sake: But all good folks are glad Jacob's part to take.

And now by Esau no man will set a pin, But yonder he cometh now; I will get me in.

ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA TERTIA.

ESAU.

ESAU. I trow I have now won my spurs for ever; For once better venison killed I never, And though it were somewhat long, ere I could it take, Yet the goodness thereof doth some recompense make.

My father Isaac shall thereof have such meat, As in all his life he hath not the better eat.

Whereupon, I doubt not, after tender kissing, To be straight endowed with his G.o.dly blessing: As his full and true heir in his place to succeed, And t'enjoy the promise that G.o.d made to his seed, And when I am once in my place of succession, And have all manner things in full possession: I shall wring all louts and make them stoop (I trow); I shall make the slaves couch as low as dog, and bow.