A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 39

REBECCA. And let no foul corner be about all the tent.

ABRA. If ye find any fault, hardly let me be shent.

Is there anything else but that I may go now?

REBECCA. Nought but that, when I come, I find no fault in you.

ABRA. No, I warrant you, I will not let my matters sleep.

REBECCA. Any good wench will at her dame's bidding take keep.

Now, G.o.d of Abraham, as I trust in thy grace, Send Jacob the blessing in Esau his place.

As thou hast ordained, right so must all thing be: Perform thine own words, Lord, which thou spakest to me.

Now will I go in to see, that mine old husband May of my secret working nothing understand.

Or in case he smell what we have thus far begun, He may think it all for Esau to be done.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA QUARTA.

ABRA, _the maid_, DEBORAH, _the nurse_.

ABRA. He, that were now within, should find all thing, I ween, As trim as a trencher, as trick, as sweet, as clean.

And seeing that my dame prepareth such a feast, I will not, I trow, be found such a s.l.u.ttish beast, That there shall any filth about our tent be kept, But that both within and without it shall be swept.

[_Then let her sweep with a broom, and while she doth it, sing this song, and when she hath sung, let her say thus_:[271]

THE SECOND SONG.

_It hath been a proverb, before I was born, Young doth it p.r.i.c.k, that will be a thorn.

Who will be evil, or who will be good; Who given to truth, or who to falsehood.

Each body's youth showeth a great likelihood.

For young doth it p.r.i.c.k, that will be a thorn.

Who so in youth will no goodness embrace, But follow pleasure, and not virtue's trace, Great marvel it is, if such come to grace.

For young doth it p.r.i.c.k, that will be a thorn.

Such as in youth will refuse to be taught, Or will be slack to work, as he ought, When they come to age, their proof will be nought.

For young doth it p.r.i.c.k, that will be a thorn.

If a child have been given to any vice, Except he be guided by such as be wise, He will thereof all his life have a spice.

For young doth it p.r.i.c.k, that will be a thorn.

It hath been a proverb, &c_.

ABRA. Now have I done, and, as it should be for the nonce, My sweeping and my song are ended both at once.

Now but for fetting mine herbs I might go play.

Deborah, nurse Deborah, a word, I you pray.

_Enter_ DEBORAH.

DEBORAH. What is the matter? who calleth me Deborah?

ABRA. Forsooth, gentle nurse, even I, little Abra, I pray you, sweet Deborah, take in this same broom, And look well to all thing, till I return home: I must to the garden as fast as I can trot, As I was commanded, to fet herbs for the pot.

But, in the meantime, I pray you, nurse, look about, And see well to the fire, that it go not out; I will amble so fast, that I will soon be there, And here again, I trow, ere an horse lick his ear.

[_Exit_.

DEBORAH. There is not a prettier girl within this mile, Than this Abra will be within this little while.

As true as any steel, ye may trust her with gold.

Though it were a bushel, and not a penny told.

As quick about her work, that must be quickly sped As any wench in twenty mile about her tread.

As fine a piece it is, as I know but a few, Yet perchance her husband of her may have a shrew.

Cat after kind (say'th the proverb) sweet milk will lap; If the mother be a shrew, the daughter cannot 'scape.

One sure[272] mark she hath: I marvel, if she slip: For her nose is growing above her over lip.

But it is time, that I into the tent be gone, Lest she come and chide me; she will come now anon.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA QUINTA.

ABRA.

ABRA. How say ye? have not I despatched me quickly?

A straw for that wench that doth not somewhat likely, I have brought here good herbs, and of them plenty, To make both broth and farcing,[273] and that full dainty, I trust to make such broth that, when all things are in, G.o.d Almighty self may wet his finger therein.

Here is thyme and parsley, spinach and rosemary.

Endive, succory, lacture, violet, clary, Liverwort, marigold, sorrel, hart's-tongue, and sage: Pennyroyal, purslane, bugloss, and borage, With many very good herbs, mo than I do name.

But to tarry here thus long, I am much to blame.

For if Jacob should come, I not in readiness, I must of covenant be shent of our mistress.

And I would not for twenty pound, I tell ye, That any point of default should be found in me.

[_Exit_.

ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA s.e.xTA.

REBECCA. MIDO. JACOB.

REBECCA. I come to see, if Jacob do not return yet, I cannot marvel enough what should be his let, And greatly wonder he is away thus long.

I fear much of his absence, lest something be wrong.

As well as heart can wish, all thing is ready here; And now to me each moment seemeth a whole year.

But hark, methinketh I hear a young kid blea!

It is so indeed; I see Jacob; well is me!

MIDO. Hark, master Jacob, heard ye ever kid blea so?

I ween she knoweth aforehand, whereto she shall go.