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Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744

"A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2"


MIDO. Why, dame Rebecca, then all wedded men should be blind.
REBECCA. What, thou foolish lad, no such thing was in my mind.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCAENA PRIMA.
RAGAN, _the servant of Esau_.

RAGAN. I have heard it oft, but now I feel a wonder,
In what grievous pain they die, that die for hunger.
O my greedy stomach, how it doth bite and gnaw?
If I were at a rack, I could eat hay or straw.
Mine empty guts do fret, my maw doth even tear,
Would God I had a piece of some horsebread here.
Yet is master Esau in worse case than I.
If he have not some meat, the sooner he will die:
He hath sunk for faintness twice or thrice by the way,
And not one seely bit we got since yesterday.
All that ever he hath, he would have given to-day
To have had but three morsels his hunger to allay.
Or in the field to have met with some hogs;
I could scarcely keep him from eating of these dogs.
He hath sent me afore some meat for to provide,
And cometh creeping after, scarce able to stride.
But if I know where to get of any man,
For to ease mine own self, as hungry as I am,
I pray God I stink; but if any come to me,
Die who die will; for sure I will first served be.
I will see, if any be ready here at home,
Or whether Jacob have any, that peakish mome.
But first I must put all my dogs up,
And lay up this gear, and then God send us the cup.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCAENA SECUNDA.
ESAU, _the master_. RAGAN, _the servant_.


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