A Scotch Version of the Lives of Esau and Jacob
Within the grounds of Hamilton Palace, in the west of Scotland, is a mausoleum. The walls are ornamented with bas-reliefs forming Bible illustrations. These have been paraphrased in verse by a local bard. One of the series is a history of Jacob, and from it the following extracts are taken. The brothers are thus introduced:
When Esau and Jacob were boys,
A wild boy Esau was;
Jacob was a peaceable boy,
But Esau loved the chase.
One day from hunting he came home,
A hungry man was he;
Jacob some famous pottage had,
Which soon caught Esau's e'e.
Rebekah instructs Jacob in the proposed deception of Isaac, but he is fearful of discovery. The former replies:
No fear of that, my darling son;
Just do as I direct—
I will you dress up for the scene,
That he will ne'er suspect.
Jacob obeys:
Away he went as he was bid,
And quickly he them slew;
His mother straightway did them cook
And made a fav'rite stew.
Isaac is suspicious of Jacob:
Then Isaac unto Jacob said,
"Come near to me, I pray,
That I may feel it is the truth
That unto me you say."
Then Jacob he went unto him,
And he his hands did feel.
"The hands are Esau's hands, my son,
But it's like Jacob's squeal."