Udall, Nicholas · published 1568 · first performed or written 1554 [c.1550-1557] (Annals) biblical play T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig typicality 0.79 · 461 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Oh wife, I perceive ye speak of affection, To Iacob ye bear love, and to his brother none. I deed sir, I can not love Esau so well As I do Iacob, the plain truth to you to tell. For I have no comfort of Esau God wot: I scarce know where I have a son of him or not. He goeth abroad so early before day light, And returneth home again so late in the night, And uneath I set eye on him in the whole week: No sometime not in twain, though I do for him seek. And all the neighbours see him as seldom as I. But when they would take rest, they hear him blow & cry. Some see him so seldom, they ask if he be sick: Sometimes some demand whether he be dead or quick. But to make short tale, such his conditions be, That I wish of God he had near been borne of me. Well wife, I love Esau, and must for causes twain. Surely your love is bestowed on him in vain. 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. If God were so pleased, I would that were fordone. And the eldest son is called the father's might. If yours rest in Esau, God give us good night. A prerogative he hath in every thing. More pity he should have it without deserving. Of all the goods his portion is greater. That the worthy should have it, I think much better. Among his brethren, he hath the pre-eminence. Where Esau is chief, there is a gay presence. Over his brethren he is sovereign and lord. Such dignity in Esau doth ill accord. He is the head of the father's succession. I would Esau had lost that possession. And he hath the chief title of inheritance. Wisdom would in Esau change that ordinance. To the eldest son is due the father's blessing. That should be Iacobs, if I might have my wishing. And the chief endowment of the father's substance. Which will thrive well in Esau his governance. By title of Eldership he hath his birthright. And that would I remove to Iacob if I might. He must have double portion to another. That were more fit for Iacob his younger brother. In all manner of things divided by a rate. Well given goods to him that the Lord doth hate. Why say ye so of Esau mine eldest son? I say true, if he proceed as he hath begun. Is he not your son too, as well as he is mine? Wherefore do ye then against him thus sore repine?
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)
Oh wife, I perceiue ye ſpeake of affection, To Iacob ye beare loue, and to his brother none. I déede ſyr, I can not loue Eſau ſo well As I doe Iacob, the plaine truth to you to tell. For I haue no comforte of Eſau God wot: I ſcarſe know where I haue a ſonne of hym or not. He goeth abroade ſo early before day light, And returneth home againe ſo late in the night, And vneth I ſette eye on hym in the whole weeke: No ſometime not in twaine, though I doe for hym ſéeke. And all the neighbours ſée him as ſeldome as I. But when they would take reſt, they heare hym blow & cry. Some ſée him ſo ſeldome, they aſke if he be ſicke: Somtimes ſome demaunde whether he be dead or quicke. But to make ſhort tale, ſuch his conditions be, That I wiſhe of God he had nere bene borne of me. Well wyfe, I loue Eſau, and muſt for cauſes twaine. Surely your loue is beſtowed on him in vayne. Fyrſt actiue he is, as any yong man can be: And many a good morſell he bringeth home to me. Then he is myne eldeſt and firſt begotten ſonne. If God were ſo pleaſed, I woulde that were fordonne. And the eldeſt ſonne is called the fathers might. If yours reſt in Eſau, God giue vs good night. A prerogatiue he hath in euery thing. More pitie he ſhoulde haue it without deſeruing. Of all the goodes his porcion is greater. That the worthy ſhould haue it, I thinke much better. Emong his bretherne, he hath the preeminence. Where Eſau is chiefe, there is a gay preſence. Ouer his bretherne he is ſoueraigne and lorde. Such dignitie in Eſau doth yll accorde. He is the head of the fathers ſucceſſion. I woulde Eſau had loſte that poſſeſſion. And he hath the chiefe title of inheritaunce. Wiſedome woulde in Eſau chaunge that ordinaunce. To the eldeſt ſonne is due the fathers bleſſing. That ſhould be Iacobs, if I might haue my wiſhing. And the chiefe endowement of the fathers ſubſtance. Which will thriue well in Eſau his gouernance. By title of Elderſhip he hath his birthright. And that would I remoue to Iacob if I might. He muſt haue double porcion to an other. That were more fitte for Iacob hys yonger brother. In all maner of things diuided by a rate. Well gyuen goodes to him that the Lorde doth hate. Why ſay ye ſo of Eſau mine eldeſt ſonne? I ſay true, if he procéede as he hath begonne. Is he not your ſonne too, as well as he is myne? Wherfore do ye then againſt him thus ſore repine?