Udall, Nicholas · published 1568 · first performed or written 1554 [c.1550-1557] (Annals) biblical play T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig typicality 0.83 · 512 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
What neighbour Hanan, well met, good morrow to you. I see well now I am not beguiled alone: But what boot to lie still? for rest we can take none. That I marvel much of old father Isaac, Being so godly a man, why he is so slack To bring his son Esau to a better stay. What should he do in the matter I you pray? Oh it is no small charge to fathers afore God, 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 methinketh Isaac, being a man (as he is) A chosen man of God, should not be slack in this. Alack good man, what should he do more than he hath done? I dare say no father hath better taught his son, Nor no two have given better example of life Unto their children, than both he and his wife: As by their younger son Iacob it doth appear, He liveth no loose life, he doth God love and fear. He keepeth here in the Tents like a quiet man: He giveth not himself to wildness any when. But Esau evermore from his young childhood Hath been like to prove ill, and never to be good. Young it pricketh (folks do say) that will be a thorn, Esau hath been nought ever since he was borne. And whereof cometh this, of Education? Nay it is of his own ill inclination. They were brought up both under one tuition, But they be not both of one disposition. Esau is given to loose and lewd living. In faith I warrant him have but shrewd thriving. Neither see I any hope that he will amend. Then let him even look to come to an ill end. For youth that will follow none but their own bridle, That leadeth a dissolute life and an idle, Youth that refuseth wholesome documents, Or to take example of their godly parents, Youth that is reckless, and taketh no regard, What become of themself, nor which end go forward, It is great marvel and a special grace, If ever they come to goodness all their life space. But why do we consume this whole morning in talk, Of one that hath no reck ne care what way he walk, We had been as good to have kept our bed still. Oh it is our part to lament them that do ill. Like as very Nature, a godly heart doth move other good proceedings to tender and to love: So such as in no wise to goodness will be brought: What good man but will mourn, since god us all hath wrought But ye have some business, and so have I. And we have been long, farewell neighbour heartily. COme forth son Iacob, why tarriest thou behind? Forsooth mother, I thought ye had said all your mind. Nay, come I have yet a word or two more to say. whatsoever pleaseth you, speak to me ye may.
seed 43: T48 · seed 44: T49 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What neighbour Hanan, well met, good morow to you. I ſée well nowe I am not beguiled alone: But what boote to lye ſtill? for reſt we can take none. That I meruayle much of olde father Iſaac, Beyng ſo godly a man, why he is ſo ſlacke To bryng hys ſonne Eſau to a better ſtay. What ſhoulde he do in the matter I you pray? Oh it is no ſmall charge to fathers afore God, So to traine their children in youth vnder the rod, That when they come to age they may vertue enſue, Wicked prankes abhorre, and all leudneſſe eſchue. And me thinketh Iſaac, being a man (as he is) A choſen man of God, ſhoulde not be ſlacke in this. Alack good man, what ſhould he do more than he hath don? I dare ſay no father hath better taught his ſonne, Nor no two haue giuen better example of life Vnto their children, than bothe he and his wife: As by their yonger ſonne Iacob it doth appeare▪ He lyueth no looce life, he doth God loue and feare. He kéepeth here in the Tentes lyke a quiete man: He geueth not hymſelfe to wildneſſe any whan. But Eſau euermore from his yong childehoode Hath ben lyke to proue yll, and neuer to be good. Yong it pricketh (folkes do ſay) that wyll be a thorne, Eſau hath ben nought euer ſince he was borne. And wherof commeth this, of Education? Nay it is of his owne yll inclination. They were brought vp bothe vnder one tuition, But they be not bothe of one diſpoſition▪ Eſau is gyuen to looce and leude liuyng. In fayth I warrant him haue but ſhreude thriuing. Neither ſee I any hope that he will amende. Then let hym euen looke to come to an yll ende. For youth that will folow none but theyr owne bridle, That leadeth a diſſolute lyfe and an ydle, Youth that refuſeth holſome documentes, Or to take example of theyr godly parentes, Youth that is retcheleſſe, and taketh no regarde, What become of them ſelfe, nor which ende goe forwarde, It is great meruaile and a ſpeciall grace, If euer they come to goodneſſe all theyr life ſpace. But why doe we conſume this whole mornyng in talke, Of one that hath no recke ne care what way he walke, We had bene as good to haue kept our bedde ſtill. Oh it is our parte to lamente them that doe yll. Lyke as very Nature, a godly heart dothe moue Others good procéedings to tender and to loue: So ſuche as in no wiſe to goodneſſe will be brought: What good mā but wil mourn, ſince god vs al hath wrought But ye haue ſome buſyneſſe, and ſo haue I. And we haue ben long, farewell neighbour heartily. COme forth ſonne Iacob, why tarrieſt thou behinde? Forſoth mother, I thought ye had ſayd al your minde. Nay, come I haue yet a worde or two more to ſay. What ſoeuer pleaſeth you, ſpeake to me ye may.