Volume Ii Part 27 (2/2)

RAGAN, _the servant_.

ESAU, _a young man, his master_.

[_Ragan entereth with his horn at his back and his hunting staff in his hand, and leadeth three greyhounds, or one, as may be gotten_.

Now let me see what time it is by the starlight?

G.o.d's for his grace, man, why it is not yet midnight!

We might have slept these four hours yet, I dare well say; But this is our good Esau his common play:

[_Here he counterfeiteth how his master calleth him up in the mornings, and of his answers_.

What the devil aileth him? now truly, I think plain, He hath either some worms or botts in his brain.

He scarcely sleepeth twelve good hours in two weeks.

I wot well his watching maketh me have lean cheeks, For there is none other life with him day by day, But, up, Ragan! up, drowsy hogshead! I say!

Why, when? up, will it not be? up. I come anon.

Up, or I shall raise you in faith, ye drowsy wh.o.r.eson.

Why, when? shall I fet you? I come, sir, by and by.

Up, with a wild wanion! how long wilt thou lie?

Up, I say, up, at once! up, up, let us go hence: It is time we were in the forest an hour since.

Now the devil stop that same yalling throat (think I) Somewhiles: for from the call[257] farewell all wink of eye!

Begin he once to call, I sleep no more that stound, Though half an hour's sleep were worth ten thousand pound.

Anon, when I come in, and bid him good morrow: Ah sir, up at last? the devil give thee sorrow!

Now the devil break thy neck (think I by and by), That hast no wit to sleep, nor in thy bed to lie.

Then come on at once; take my quiver and my bow, Fet Lovel my hound, and my horn to blow.

Then forth go we fasting an hour or two ere day, Before we may well see either our hands or way, And there range we the wild forest, no crumb of bread From morning to stark night coming within our head; Sometimes Esau's self will faint for drink and meat, So that he would be glad of a dead horse to eat.

Yet of fresh the next morrow forth he will again, And sometime not come home in a whole night or twain: Nor no delight he hath, no appet.i.te nor mind.

But to the wild forest, to hunt the hart or hind, The roebuck, the wild boar, the fallow-deer, or hare: But how poor Ragan shall dine, he hath no care.

Poor I must eat acorns or berries from the tree.

But if I be found slack in the suit following, Or if I do fail in blowing or hallooing; Or if I lack my staff or my horn by my side: He will be quick enough to fume, chafe, and chide.

Am I not well at ease such a master to serve, As must have such service, and yet will let me starve?

But, in faith, his fas.h.i.+ons displease mo than me, And will have but a mad end one day, we shall see.

He pa.s.seth nothing on Rebecca his mother, And much less pa.s.seth he on Jacob his brother.

But peace, mum, no more: I see master Esau.

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