ESAU. By my truth, if I had bidden[267] from meat any longer, I think my very maw would have fret asunder. Then had I been dead and gone, I make God a vow. RAGAN. Surely then the world had had a great loss of you; For where should we have had your fellow in your place? [_Aside_. ESAU. What should I have done with my birthright in this case? RAGAN. Kept it still, and you had not been a very ass. [_Aside_. ESAU. But the best pottage it was yet, that ever was. It were sin not to sell one's soul for such gear. RAGAN. Ye have done no less in my conscience, I fear. [_Aside_. ESAU. Who is this that standeth clattering at my back? RAGAN. A poor man of yours, sir, that doth his dinner lack. ESAU. Dinner, whoreson knave? dinner at this time a' day? Nothing with thee but dinner and munching alway. Why, thy whoreson villain slave, who is hungry now? RAGAN. Indeed, sir (as seemeth by your words) not you. ESAU. A man were better fill the bellies of some twelfe, Than to fill the gut of one such whoreson elf; That doth none other good but eat, and drink, and sleep. RAGAN. He shall do something else, whom ye shall have to keep. [_Aside_. ESAU. And that maketh thee so slothful and so lither, I dare say he was six hours coming hither, When I sent him to make provision afore, Not passing a mile hence or very little more. And yet being so far pass'd the hour of dining, See, and the knave be not for his dinner whining! Fast a while, fast with a mischief, greedy slave, Must I provide meat for every glutton knave? RAGAN. I may fast, for any meat that of you I have. [_Aside_. ESAU. Or deserve thy dinner, before thou do't crave. RAGAN. If I have not deserved it at this season, I shall never deserve it in mine own reason. Ye promised I should eat, till I cried ho. ESAU. Yea, that was, if we took either hare, teg, or doe. RAGAN. But when yourself were hungry, ye said, I wot what---- ESAU. What, thou villain slave, tellest thou me now of that? RAGAN. Then, help, run apace, Ragan, my good servant. ESAU. Yea then was then, now is it otherwise: avaunt! Have I nothing to do but provide meat for you? RAGAN. Ye might have given me some part, when ye had enough. ESAU. What, of the red rice pottage with Jacob I had? Why, the crow would not give it her bird--thou art mad, Is that meat for you? nay, it would make you too rank. Nay, soft, brother mine, I must keep you more lank. It hath made me ever[268] since so lusty and[269] fresh, As though I had eaten all delicates of flesh. I feel no manner faintness whereof to complain. RAGAN. Yet to-morrow ye must be as hungry again, Then must ye and will ye wish again for good cheer: And repent you, that ever ye bought this so dear. ESAU. Repent me? wherefore? then the Lord give me sorrow; If it were to do, I would do it to-morrow. For, thou foolish knave, what hath Jacob of me bought? RAGAN. But a matter of a straw and a thing of nought!