Volume Ii Part 28 (1/2)

[_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.