Udall, Nicholas · published 1568 · first performed or written 1554 [c.1550-1557] (Annals) biblical play T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig typicality 0.81 · 440 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
I assure you Iacob, the man is very weak. But hark once again, methink I hear them speak. I promise you I fear his life be already past. marry God forbid. Lo now they come at last. If ye believe not me, see yourself where he is. Fie brother Esau, what a folly is this? About vain pastime to wander abroad, and peak, Till with hunger you make yourself thus faint & weak. Brother Iacob, I pray you chide now no longer, But give me somewhat wherewith to slake mine hunger, Alack brother, I have in my little cottage, Nothing but a mess of gross and homely pottage. Refresh me therewithal, and boldly ask of me, The best thing that I have, whatsoever it be. I were a very beast, when thou my life dost save, If I should stick with thee for the best thing I have. Can ye be content to sell your birthright to me? Hold, here is my hand, I do sell it here to thee. With all the profits thereof henceforth to be thine, As free, as full, as large, as ever it was mine. Then swear thou hand in hand before the living Lord, This bargain to fulfil, and to stand by thy word. Before the Lord I swear, to whom each heart is known That my birthright that was, from henceforth is thine own. Thou shalt also with me by this promise indent, With this bargain and sale to hold thyself content. If each penny thereof might be worth twenty pound, I willingly to thee surrender it this stound. And if each cycle might be worth a whole talon, I promise with this sale to hold me content. Come, let us set him on foot that he may go sup. Nay, first I will know a thing, ere I help him up. Sirrah, will ye eat folk when ye are long fasting? No, I pray thee help me up, and leave thy jesting. No trow, eat your brother Iacob now if you lust. For you shall not eat me, I tell you, that is just. Come, that with my pottage thou mayst refreshed be. There is no meat on earth that so well liketh me. Yet I may tell you, it is pottage dearly bought. No not a whit, for my bargain take thou no thought. I defy that birthright that should be of more price, Than helping of one's self, I am not so unwise. And how then sir, shall poor Ragau have no meat? Yes, and if thou canst my brother Iacob entreat. God grant I have enough for Esau alone.
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)
I aſſure you Iacob, the man is very weake. But hearke once again, me thinke I heare them ſpeake. I promiſe you I feare his lyfe be alreadie paſt. Mary God forbidde. Loe nowe they come at laſt. If ye beleue not me, ſée your ſelfe where he is. Fye brother Eſau, what a foly is this? About vaine paſtime to wander abroade, and peake, Til with hunger you make your ſelfe thus faint & weake. Brother Iacob, I pray you chide now no longer, But giue me ſomewhat wherwith to ſlake mine honger, Alack brother, I haue in my little cotage, Nothing but a meaſe of groſſe and homely pottage. Refreſhe me therwithall, and boldly aſke of me, The beſt thing that I haue, what ſoeuer it be. I were a very beaſt, when thou my life doeſt ſaue, If I ſhoulde ſticke with thée for the beſt thyng I haue. Can ye be content to ſell your birthright to mée? Holde, here is my hande, I doe ſell it here to thée. With all the profites thereof henceforth to be thine, As frée, as full, as large, as euer it was mine. Then ſweare thou hand in hande before the lyuing Lord, This bargaine to fulfill, and to ſtande by thy worde. Before the Lord I ſweare, to whom eche heart is known That my birthright that was, from henſforth is thine owne. Thou ſhalt alſo with me by this promiſe indent, With this bargaine and ſale to holde thy ſelfe content. If eche penie therof might be worth twentie pounde, I willingly to thée ſurrender it this ſtounde. And if eche cicle might be worth a whole talent, I promiſe with this ſale to holde me content. Come, let vs ſet him on foote that he may goe ſup. Nay, fyrſt I will knowe a thing, ere I helpe him vp. Sirra, will ye eate folke when ye are long faſting? No, I pray thée helpe me vp, and leaue thy ieſtyng. No trow, eate your brother Iacob nowe if you luſt. For you ſhall not eate me, I tell you, that is iuſt. Come, that with my pottage thou mayſt refreſhed be. There is no meate on earth that ſo wel liketh me. Yet I may tell you, it is potage dearely bought. No not a whitte, for my bargaine take thou no thought. I defye that birthright that ſhoulde be of more price, Than helping of ones ſelfe, I am not ſo vnwiſe. And how then ſir, ſhall poore Ragau haue no meate? Yes, and if thou canſt my brother Iacob intreate. God graunt I haue inough for Eſau alone.