A Select Collection of Old English Plays Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the A Select Collection of Old English Plays novel. A total of 1049 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : A Select Collection of Old English Plays.by Robert Dodsley.INTRODUCTION.THOMAS RAWLINS,
A Select Collection of Old English Plays.by Robert Dodsley.INTRODUCTION.THOMAS RAWLINS, author of "The Rebellion," was a medallist by profession, and afterwards became an engraver of the Mint, a vocation which, in his preface, he prefers to the threadba
- 349 SIMONY.Then, this man is answered. Sir Peter Pleaseman, come in with me, And I'll prefer you straightway to my lady.PETER.O sir, I thank ye.[_Exeunt_. _Enter_ SIMPLICITY, _with a basket on his arm_.SIMPLICITY.You think I am going to market to buy roa
- 348 LUCRE.I perceive you have been mindful of me, for which I thank ye.But, Usury, tell me, how have you sped in that you went about?USURY.Indifferently, lady, you need not to doubt. I have taken possession, and because they were dest.i.tute, I have let it fo
- 347 Come, let's go to dinner, cousin, for the gentleman, I think, hath almost din'd, But, and I do get victuals enough, I'll warrant you, I will not be behind.SINCERITY.What, if thou canst not get it then, how wilt thou eat?SIMPLICITY.Marry, on
- 346 SIMPLICITY.Faith, cousin, he's such a testern[182] and proud, 'sembling knave, That he'll do nothing, 'less some bribery he have.There's a great many such promoting knaves, that gets their living With nothing else but facing, lyin
- 345 _Enter_ HOSPITALITY, _while she is writing_.HOSPITALITY.Lady, methinks you are busy.CONSCIENCE.I have done, sir. I was setting my hand to a letter to Lucre for our friend Sincerity. But I would Lady Love were here too.HOSPITALITY.She is at home with me; b
- 344 Of troth, how likest thou this fellow, Dissimulation?DISSIMULATION.Marry, I like him well: he is a cunning clerk, and one of our profession.But come, sir, go with us, and we will prefer you.ARTIFEX. Good Master Fraud, remember me.FRAUD.Leave thy prating:
- 343 Thou must carry over wheat, pease, barley, oats, and vetches, and all kind of grain, Which is well sold beyond sea, and bring such merchants great gain.Then thou must carry beside leather, tallow, beef, bacon, bell-metal and everything, And for these good
- 342 LUCRE.Then, Master Davy, to my palace haste thee away, And will Crafty Conveyance, my butler, to make ready The best fare in the house to welcome thee and thy company.But stay, Dissimulation, I myself will go with thee.Gentlemen, I'll go before; but
- 341 SIMPLICITY.Yes, I will serve ye: but will ye go into dinner, for I am hungry?LOVE.Come, Lady Conscience: pleaseth you to walk home from this company?CONSCIENCE. With right goodwill, for their sights pleaseth not me.[_Exeunt_ LADY LOVE _and_ CONSCIENCE.SIM
- 340 Then, we are luckily well-met; and, seeing we wish all for one thing, I would we our wills and wis.h.i.+ng might win.SIMPLICITY.Yes, they will be sure to win the devil and all, Or else they'll make a man to spew out his gall.O that vild[157] Usury! h
- 339 DISSIMULATION.A name agreeing to thy nature [_Aside_]: but stay; here comes more company._Enter_ FRAUD _with a sword and buckler, like a ruffian_.FRAUD.Huff! once aloft, and I may hit in the right vein, Where I may beguile easily without any great pain. I
- 338 [_A right excellent and famous Comoedy called the Three Ladies of London.Wherein is Notablie declared and set foorth, how by the meanes of Lucar, Loue and Conscience is so corrupted, that the one is married to Dissimulation, the other fraught with all abh
- 337 I'faith, sirrah, thou and I may hold our peace, with their leave, For none but wise men speak here, I perceive.LENTULO.In some respects so, in some respects not; For a fool's bolt is soon enough shot.FORTUNE.Phizanties, fear no longer his distre
- 336 What, you would not? i'faith, you look not with the face: When you have the skin, sir, what will you do with the case?But, master prince, since you are come to this travailation, I'll bring you to my old master's convoculation, Where he hid
- 335 VENUS.Brother Mercury, as I have never been So obstinate, or bent so frowardly, But that I could some time relent the ill-- A woman must a little have her will; So am I now resolved for to do Whatso my father shall entreat me to.FORTUNE.And all the world
- 334 Welcome, my father; but ten times welcome thou, The constant lady mine, that liveth now.FIDELIA.And lives Hermione? lives my Hermione?What can be added more to my felicity?HERMIONE. Thy life, my life; such comfort dost thou give: Happy my life, because I
- 333 PENULO.c.o.c.k's blood, you villain! what do you here, you slave?Swounds! hath robb'd the Duke of a suit of apparel, Why speak you not, sirrah? yea, will you not tell?Lay him on, my masters: spare him not, I say.Speak you by signs? One of you pu
- 332 Is it not right and lawful both to help thy brother's woe?FIDELIA.It's neither right nor lawful, sir, to help my deadly foe.DUKE.If he have been thy foe, he may become thy friend. FIDELIA.And when I see that come to pa.s.s, I may some succour se
- 331 DUKE.Good father, tell it me: whatever should befall, Mine be the danger, mine the loss, you shall be pleased for all.In any case, express it then.BOMELIO.Fait', then me will. If you no have your son be so dumb still.You mus' get-a de grand enem
- 330 My love is gone, my love is gone out of the basket there, Prepare therefore to kill thyself: farewell, my friends so dear.BOMELIO.Ah, vat-a you do, man?LENTULO.Uplandish, hence away. BOMELIO.Vat-a you do, man? no point yourself to slay.Come de be hang-a.[
- 329 'Twas nothing, fellow, but for 'sample's sake.PENULO.Well, sir, I am content this once it to take.But, sirrah, you must know that squall is the duke's son, That now by mischance is stroken stark dumb, In fetching home his sister, that
- 328 BOMELIO.Come, son, content thee now within a cave to dwell.I will provide for thy redress, and all things shall be well.A darksome den must be thy lofty lodging now.HERMIONE. Father, I am well content to take such part as you.Here is a breathing-fit[101]
- 327 BOMELIO.I spake of such an one indeed.HERMIONE.Why, do you know her name?BOMELIO. Fidelia. Why do you ask? What, do you know the same?HERMIONE.Yea, father, that I do: I know, and knew her well.But did you wish those plagues to light on her, I pray you tel
- 326 Now weary lay thee down, thy fortune to fulfil: Go, yield thee captive to thy care, to save thy life or spill.The pleasures of the field, the prospect of delight, The blooming trees, the chirping birds, are grievous to thy sight.The hollow, craggy rock, t
- 325 LENTULO.By my troth, sir, no more but to try, If you be not as blind a gentleman in the purse as I.PENULO.I use not to carry my money in a purse.LENTULO. All in a pocket? well, never a whit the worse; I must search your pocket.PENULO.What, if it be elsewh
- 324 BOMELIO.Why, when? I say!LENTULO.Anon, forsooth.BOMELIO. You naughty lout; come out, sir knave, come away.LENTULO.Will you not give one leave to pull down his points? what, an a should his breeches beray?[_Enter_ LENTULO.]BOMELIO.Get you to the market, an
- 323 Ah, good my lord, my good lord Hermione!HERMIONE.I am, indeed, as thou dost say, Hermione; For that I am Hermione, I am The unhappiest wight that ever hither came.PENULO.Ah, my good lord! would G.o.d, poor Penulo Might any way but mitigate this woe. And p
- 322 What, shall she, villain?FIDELIA.Help, help! alas!_Enter_ PHIZANTIES [_the prince], a_ LORD, _and_ PENULO [_a parasite_].PHIZANTIES. What stir is here? what means this broil begun?Give me to know th'occasion of this strife?How falls it out? Armenio,
- 321 _Enter_ HERMIONE _and_ FIDELIA.HERMIONE.Why then, my dear, what is the greatest prize in love?FIDELIA.Absence of other griefs, the greatest that loving hearts can prove. HERMIONE.But absence cannot minish love, or make it less in ought.FIDELIA.Yet neverth
- 320 Lord, have mercy upon us! must the devil appear?Come away, wife; when I pray thee, come away.Down on your knees, my masters, and pray.[_Music_._Enter the show of Troilus and Cressida_. MERCURY.Behold, how Troilus and Cressida Cries out on Love, that frame
- 319 VULCAN.How ye agree, my masters, I cannot tell; [_To Venus_.] But, were we a-bed, we two could agree well.JUPITER.Gramercy, Mercury; I know thy will Is ever prest to further my desire: In sign whereof, to quiet all things well, And to suppress betimes the
- 318 PHILOLOGUS.Let go my hands at liberty: a.s.sistance I crave none.O, that I had a sword awhile! I should soon eased be.AMBO.Alas! dear father, what do you? EUSEBIUS.His will we may now see.[_Exeunt_ Philologus, Gisbertus, Paphinitius.THEOLOGUS.O glorious G
- 317 No, neither did I once contend from them flesh to refrain.Behold, therefore, the judgments just of G.o.d doth me annoy, Not for amendment of my life, but me for to destroy.EUSEBIUS.We do not altogether like of this your exhortation.Whereas you warn us not
- 316 THEOLOGUS.O, say not so, Philologus, for G.o.d is gracious, And to forgive the penitent his mercy is plenteous.Do you not know that all the earth with mercy doth abound, And though the sins of all the world upon one man were laid, If he one only spark of
- 315 [PHILOLOGUS.]Come on, my children dear, to me, and let us talk awhile Of worldly goods, which I have got, and of my pleasant state Which fortune hath installed me, who on me cheerly smile, So that unto the top of wheel she doth me elevate.I have escaped a
- 314 SUGGESTION.This is the grief which Conscience takes against thee, I am sure, Because thou usest those delights which Conscience may not do; And therefore he persuadeth thee to leave the same also, As did the fox which, caught in snare and scap'd with
- 313 But what do we stay so long in this place?I shall not be well, whilst I am with my Lord's grace.[_Exeunt_.ACT IV. SCENE 4.SPIRIT, PHILOLOGUS, SUGGESTION. [SPIRIT.]Philologus, Philologus, Philologus, I say, In time take heed, go not too far, look well
- 312 SUGGESTION.You have spoken reasonably; but yet, as they say, One bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; So you, now enjoying these worldly joys, may Esteem the other as light as a rush: Thus may you 'scape this perilous push.PHILOLOGUS.Yea, but m
- 311 But my conscience crieth out, and bids me take heed To love my Lord G.o.d above all earthly gain; Whereby all this while I stand in great dread, That if I should G.o.d's statutes disdain, In wretched state then I should remain.Thus crieth my conscien
- 310 PHILOLOGUS.G.o.d keep me and all men from such a frenzy, As to think anything Christ's power to surpa.s.s, When his will to his power joined was; But where his will wanteth, his power is ineffectual: As Christ can be no liar, G.o.d cannot be mortal.S
- 309 CARDINAL.What, Master Hypocrisy, I have stayed for you long.HYPOCRISY [_Aside_].You were best crowd in, and play us among.CARDINAL. Where have you been from me so long absent?I appointed to have been here three hours ago, In my consistory to have sat in j
- 308 CACON.It is the least thing ay car far, bay may charge; Far se lang as thea han images wharon te luke, What need thea be distructed awt af a buik?HYPOCRISY.Tus.h.!.+ that will modify them all well enou': As well a dead image as a dumb idol, I make G.
- 307 [HYP. He is Kit Careless.]None dare reprove me, of that I am sure, So long as authority on my side endure.But to thy words a while I will list; Therefore in brief say on what you will.AVARICE.I would have you show rigour to such as resist, And such as be
- 306 HYPOCRISY.The legates are ready to ride, I am sure; Wherefore we had need to make no small delay: They stay for my coming alone, I dare say.Howbeit the laity would greatly mislike, If they should know all our purpose and intent; Yea, and perhaps some mean
- 305 Marry, then you had need to be kept very warm.AVARICE.I swear to your masters.h.i.+p, by the man in the moon, That to your person I intended no harm.HYPOCRISY.But that I am weary, I would both your tongues charm. See how to my face they do me deride [_Asi
- 304 ACT II., SCENE 3.HYPOCRISY.O loving Father and merciful G.o.d!We through our sins thy punishment deserve, And have provoked to beat with thy rod Us stubborn children, which from thee do swerve.We loathed thy word, but now we shall sterve; For Hypocrisy is
- 303 Now murthering Mars retrograde in Libra, With amiable tryne apply to my beam; And splendent Sol the ruler of the day, After his eclipse to Jupiter will lean: The G.o.ddess of pleasure (dame Venus, I mean) To me her poor servant seem friendly to be: So als
- 302 His son likewise they afterward did kill: And hereupon that man, in fury great, Did soldiers send these husbandmen to spill; Their town to burn he did them also will: But out alas, alas, for woe I cry, To use the same far juster cause have I.For where the
- 301 A Select Collection of Old English Plays.Vol. VI.by Robert Dodsley.FIVE PLAYS.[These five dramas were originally edited for the Roxburghe Club in 1851 by Mr J. Payne Collier, and are now incorporated with the present Collection precisely as they stand in
- 300 [402] Prize. [403] Pretend. [404] Old copy, _heare_. [405] Old copy, _trade_. [406] Bonds. [407] A proverbial expression not found in the collections. It may signify the hangmans cord. [408] Old copy, _desire_. [409] Old copy, _breeds_. [410] Old copy,
- 299 [352] A dagger. See "Hamlet," iii. 1.--_Halliwell_. [353] Cared. [354] [A rather common phrase. See Hazlitts "Proverbs," 1869, p. 205.] [355] Care. [356] [Nearer.] [357] Necessary, fit. [358] Business. [359] _Fool. "Folte, _stol
- 298 [305] i.e., By.[306] [Original reads _trembled_.][307] [This account, if founded on fact, is a curious ill.u.s.tration of the scholastic discipline of that period. We know that Udall the dramatist was remarkable for his severity to his pupils at Eton.][30
- 297 [255] Reprove.[256] The colophon is: Imprinted at London, in Paules Churche yearde at the Sygne of the Swane by John Kyng.[257] From the time he calls.[258] A young deer. "_Tegge or p.r.i.c.ket, saillant_"--Palsgrave's _Eclairciss.e.m.e.nt_
- 296 [207] Spring. [208] Calicow or Calicut, i.e., Calcutta. [209] Shut. [210] Original has _I_. [211] [The colophon is: Imprinted at London in Lothbury by me Wyllyam Copland. The only copy known, formerly Ingliss and Hebers, is now in the Devons.h.i.+re colle
- 295 [162] _This_, Veles edition. [163] _Austine_, Coplands edition. [164] _As_, Coplands edition. [165] _Returned_, Veles edition. [166] _Borde_, Veles edition. [167] Mr Garricks copy is imperfect, and ends at this mark.--_Hawkins_. [168] _Mot_, Veles editi
- 294 [112] _Wylt_, Veles edition. [113] _Dogs_, Coplands edition. [114] This mode of expression occurs in Shakespeares "Midsummer Nights Dream," A. 3, S. 3, needlessly altered by some to, I shall desire of you more acquaintance.--_Hawkins_. [115] Ori
- 293 [63] _The which_, omitted in Copland's edition.[64] _Is_, omitted, Copland's edition.[65] _G.o.d_, Vele's edition.[66] _Pervarce_, Copland's edition.[67] _One_, Copland's edition. [68] _They_, Copland's edition.[69] _To_, Cop
- 292 [13] Found.[14] [Vele's ed. _nilet_.][15] [Intended as a sneer at Charity's pious sentiments. _Sir John_ is the common term in old plays, and literature generally, for a parson.][16] Cool.[17] [Trumpington is in Ess.e.x, a county proverbial, rig
- 291 WIT.Have hold, here is a morsel for thee to eat. [_Strikes_.STUDY, INSTRUCTION.Here is a pelt to make your knave's heart fret.DILIGENCE. There is a blow able to fell a hog.WIT.And here is a foin behind for a mad dog![_Let Will trip you[440] down_.Hol
- 290 WILL.Once in my life I have an odd half-hour to spare, To ease myself of all my travail and my care.I stood not still so long this twenty days, I ween, But ever more sent forth on messages I have been.Such trudging and such toil, by the ma.s.s, was never
- 289 O haps of haps, O rueful chance to me!O Idleness, woe-worth the time, that I was ruled by thee!Why did I lay my head within thy lap to rest?Why was I not advis'd by her, that wish'd and will'd[427] me best?O ten times treble[428] blessed wi
- 288 WIT.Yes, yes, have ye no doubt, all is and shall be well.REASON.What one art thou? thereof how canst thou tell?WIT. Reason, most n.o.ble sir, and you, my lady dear: How have you done in all this time, since first I saw you here?SCIENCE.The fool is mad, I
- 287 ACT IV., SCAENA 4.WIT, WILL, IDLENESS, IGNORANCE.WIT.One dance for thee and me; my boy, come on.WILL. Dance you, sir, if you please, and I will look upon.WIT.This gear doth make me sweat, and breathe apace.IDLENESS.Sir, ease yourself awhile; here is a res
- 286 _Give a leg, &c.This is no deadly wound: It may be cured well.See here what physic we have found Thy sorrows to expel.[Wit lifting himself up, sitting on the ground.The way is plain, the mark is fair, Lodge not thyself in deep despair_. WIT.[412]What nois
- 285 STUDY.Go, that go list, I will at home remain, I have more need to take a nap in my bed.WILL.Do so, and, hear you, couch a cod's-head! [_Aside_.INSTRUCTION. Well, since it will none otherwise frame, Let us twain, Study, return[410] from whence we cam
- 284 I burn and yet I freeze, I flame and cool as fast, In hope to win and for to lese, my pensiveness doth last; Why should my dull spirit appal my courage so?O, salve my sore, or sle me quite, by saying yea or no!You are the mark at whom I shoot to hit or mi
- 283 STUDY.No.WIT.A month?STUDY. Neither.WIT.No?STUDY.Not so.INSTRUCTION.No, nor so many mo.WIT.Then, farewell all, for, as I hope to thrive, I will prove him, ere I sleep, if I be alive, And if ye be mine, and good fellows all three, Go thither out of hand, a
- 282 Perhaps you had never occasion to try her?REASON.That were great marvel in so many years.WILL.She hath won the mastery of you, it appears. WIT.Well, quiet yourself; thou shalt take no wrong, Methink our three companions tarry very long.ACT III, SCAENA 3.I
- 281 WIT.Thou shalt be what thou wilt, all in all.WILL.Promise me faithfully that, if your wife brawl, Or set her father to check me out of measure, You will not see me abused to their pleasure.WIT. Give me thy hand, take here my faith and troth, I will mainta
- 280 His mother taught him first to love, while he was young: Which love with age increaseth sore, and waxeth wondrous strong; For very fame displays your bounty more and more, And at this pinch he burneth so as never heretofore.Not fantasies forsooth,[391] no
- 279 Mild in behaviour and loth to fall out, You may run, you may ride and rove round about, With wealth at your will and all thing at ease, Free, frank and l.u.s.ty: easy to please.But when you be clogged and tied by the toe, So fast that you shall not have p
- 278 WIT.Then must I p.r.i.c.k you, child, if you be drown'd in sloth.NATURE.Agree, you twain, for I must leave you both; Farewell, my son: farewell, mine own good Will, Be ruled by Wit, and be obedient still; Force thee I cannot, but as far as lies in me
- 277 NATURE.What is her name?WIT.Reason is her sire, Experience her dame, The lady now is in her flower, and Science is her name.Lo, where she dwells; lo, where my heart is all possest; Lo, where my body would abide; lo, where my soul doth rest. Her have I bor
- 276 And last of all to make an end, O G.o.d, to thee we most humbly pray, That to Queen Elizabeth thou do send Thy lively path and perfect way!Grant her in health to reign With us many years most prosperously, And after this life for to attain The eternal bli
- 275 There is no gentleman, knight, or lord: There is no duke, earl, or king, But, if I list, I can with one word Shortly send unto their lodging.Some I disquiet with covetousness: Some with wrath, pride and lechery; And some I do thrust into such distress, Th
- 274 Now by experience true I do find, Which oftentimes unto me heretofore My father did say, declaring his mind, That in matrimony was pain evermore; What shall I do, most pitiful creature?Just cause I have, alas, to lament: That frantic woman my death will p
- 273 HUSBAND. If they do not, it may be a shame, For I love you heartily, I you a.s.sure: Or else I were truly greatly to blame, Ye are so loving, so kind and demure.WIFE. I trust that with neither hand or foot Ye shall see any occasion by me: But that I love
- 272 THE SONG._Spite of his spite, which that in vain Doth seek to force my fantasy, I am professed for loss or gain, To be thine own a.s.suredly; Wherefore let my father spite[334] and spurn, My fantasy will never turn!Although my father of busy wit Doth babb
- 271 And if it be true that his servant did say, He hath utterly lost his friends' good-will, Because he would not their counsel obey, And in his own country[320] tarry still; As for this woman, which he shall marry, At Saint Albans always hath spent her
- 270 FATHER. Now therefore ask; what is thy pet.i.tion?SON. Lo, this it is, without further dilation;[312]For so much as all young men for this my beauty, As the moon the stars, I do far excel, Therefore out of hand[313] with all speed possibly To have a wife,
- 269 SON. When all is said and all is done, Concerning all things, both more and less, Yet like to the school none under the sun Bringeth to children so much heaviness.FATHER. What, though it be painful, what, though it be grievous, For so be all things at the
- 268 Of thine own will thou didst Abraham elect, Promising him seed as stars of the sky, And them as thy chosen people to protect, That they might thy mercies praise and magnify.Perform thou, O Lord, thine eternal decree To me and my seed, the sons of Abraham;
- 267 JACOB. Even with all my heart: farewell, little Mido.[_Exit Jacob_.ISAAC. Now will I depart hence into the tent again.REBECCA. As pleaseth G.o.d and you, but I will here remain.ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA DECIMA. ESAU. RAGAN. REBECCA. ISAAC. MIDO.ESAU. And is he
- 266 What devil was in me, that I had not the grace, With kicking back my heel, to mar his mopish face?But my father Isaac will not long live now; If he were gone, Jacob, I would soon meet with you.For my soul hateth Jacob even to the death, And I will ne'
- 265 ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA QUINTA.RAGAN.Where are we now become? marry, sir, here is array!With Esau, my master, this is a black day.I told you Esau one day would s.h.i.+t a rag, Have we not well hunted, of blessing to come lag?[280] Nay, I thought ever it woul
- 264 I shall ruffle among them of another sort Than Isaac hath done, and with another port.But now will go see, what haste within they make, That part of my hunting my old father may take.[_Exit_.ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA QUARTA.ISAAC. MIDO. ESAU. ISAAC. Mido, come
- 263 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 b
- 262 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. An
- 261 JACOB. I would not my father Isaac should hear; MIDO. Nay, she will scarcely be still when she is dead, I do fear.JACOB. But lo, I see my mother stand before the tent._Enter_ JACOB _and_ MIDO.REBECCA. O Lord, methinketh long, son Jacob, since thou went. J
- 260 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
- 259 RAGAN. Even when ye will, is there let in me or no?[_Exeunt ambo_.ACTUS QUARTI, SCAENA PRIMA.REBECCA. JACOB.REBECCA. Son Jacob, even now is come the very hour That, if thou have any grace, or heart, or power, To play thy part well, and stick unto it throu
- 258 I think, since I saw him, it is a whole week.In faith, little Mido, I would thou wouldest him seek.MIDO. Forsooth, Master Isaac, and I knew it where, It should not be very long ere I would be there.But shall I at adventure go seek where he is?ESAU. Seek n
- 257 ACTUS SECUNDI, SCAENA QUINTA.JACOB. MIDO. REBECCA. ABRA, _the handmaid_.JACOB. Thou knowest, little Mido, where my mother is.MIDO. I can go to her as straight as a thread, and not miss.JACOB. Go call her, and come again with her thine own self. MIDO. Yes,
- 256 The world is now meetly well amended indeed, ESAU. By my truth, if I had bidden[267] from meat any longer, I think my very maw would have fret asunder.Then had I been dead and gone, I make G.o.d a vow.RAGAN. Surely then the world had had a great loss of y
- 255 RAGAN. Why, how did he sup it? I pray thee, tell me, how?MIDO. Marry, even thus, as thou shalt see me do now.[_Here he counterfeiteth supping out of the pot_.O, I thank you, Jacob: with all my heart, Jacob.Gently done, Jacob: a friendly part, Jacob! I can
- 254 So nipping, so tripping, so c.o.c.king, so crowing?So knappish, so snappish, so elvish, so froward?So crabbed, so wrabbed, so stiff, so untoward?In play or in pastime so jocund, so merry?In work or in labour so dead or so weary? O, that I had his ear betw
- 253 MIDO. And who shall lead you? I?REBECCA. No, it is my office as long as I am by.And I would all wives, as the world this day is, Would unto their husbands likewise do their office.MIDO. Why, dame Rebecca, then all wedded men should be blind.REBECCA. What,
- 252 ISAAC. Well, wife, I love Esau, and must for causes twain.REBECCA. Surely your love is bestowed on him in vain?ISAAC. First, active he is, as any young man can be, And many a good morsel he bringeth home to me.Then he is mine eldest and first-begotten son
- 251 ACTUS PRIMI, SCAENA QUARTA.ISAAC, _the husband_. REBECCA, _the wife_. MIDO, _the lad that leadeth blind Isaac_.ISAAC. Where art thou, my boy Mido, when I do thee lack?MIDO. Who calleth Mido? here, good master Isaac.ISAAC. Come, lead me forth of doors a li
- 250 ZETHAR. O, it is no small charge to fathers, afore G.o.d, So to train their children in youth under the rod That, when they come to age, they may virtue ensue, Wicked pranks abhor, and all lewdness eschew, And me-thinketh Isaac, being a man as he is-- A c