REBECCA. O Lord, the God of Isaac and Abraham,
I render thanks to thee, though a sinful woman,
Because of thy word and promise true art thou,
In sending Jacob the blessing of Esau;
And for thus regarding a sinner, as I am,
I eftsoons thank thee, O Lord God of Abraham.
Thy mercy and wisdom shall I sing evermore:
And magnify thy name, for God's there is no more.
But I will to my husband Isaac, and see,
That for this matter he take no grief at me.
ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA PRIMA.
RAGAN.
[Ragan bringeth venison at his back.
Nay, now at last we have well sped, I warrant you:
Good luck is not evermore against Esau.
He coursed and coursed again with his dogs here:
But they could at no time take either hare or deer.
At last he killed this with his bow, as God would.
And to say that it is fat venison I be bold.
But dressed it must be at once in all the haste,
That old father Isaac may have his repast.
Then without delay Esau shall blessed be,
Then, faith, cock-on-hoop, all is ours! then, who but he?
But I must in, that it may be dressed in time likely,
And I trow ye shall see it made ready quickly.
[Exit.
ACTUS QUINTI, SCAENA SECUNDA.
MIDO.
MIDO. Nay now, old master Isaac (I warrant you)
Hath blessed Jacob in the place of Esau.
At home here with us it is judged no small change,
But a case wonderful, and also very strange.
The younger brother is made elder: and again
The elder must now serve the younger as his swain.[275]
And from henceforth we must all make courtesy and bow,
Unto master Jacob, and not to Esau now:
And Esau himself must under Jacob be,
At his commandment, even as well as we.
But I care not, I warrant you: for our household
Love Jacob better than Esau twentyfold.
None loveth Esau but for his father's sake:
But all good folks are glad Jacob's part to take.
And now by Esau no man will set a pin,
But yonder he cometh now; I will get me in.