CHESTER 4: BARBERS (AND PAINTERS)
This play, which was in the cycle by 1467, begins with the episode of Melchisadech. The incident is not found elsewhere in the English mystery plays, though there is a separate play devoted to it in Le Mistère du Viel Testament (Play 15). There are hints in other Chester plays that there was some influence from the French cycle. The importance of the incident here lies in its foreshadowing of the bread and wine. There is no doubt that the Chester dramatist was particularly interested in the presentation of themes of symbolic importance.
This tendency is also evident in the main episode, the sacrifice of Isaac. Here the figure presented is that Abraham stands for God the Father, and Isaac for Christ who must be sacrificed. These associations are made clear in the play. Isaac is a willing victim of divine necessity, and it has been suggested that his carrying of the wood to the place of sacrifice is linked with Christ’s carrying of the Cross.
The dramatist is restrained as to style, but the emotional states of both father and son are clearly shown. Isaac is portrayed as a child, and much is made of his pathetic obedience, and his concern for his father and his mother. In the York cycle he appears as a man of thirty: the effect there being to intensify the link with Christ at the Crucifixion, but at the expense of pathos. There is no doubt that in spite of the firm theological basis for the play the Chester dramatist gives a hint of tragedy in the reaction to suffering.
One of the most interesting aspects of this play is the close similarity of part of it to the Brome Abraham and Isaac: this is discussed in the Introduction to the next play.
(1)
NUNTIUS: All peace, lordinges, that be present
And herken now with good intent,
Now Noe away from us is went
And all his companye;
And Abraham through Gods grace
He is comen into this place,
And yow will geve him rowme and space
[To tell you of storye.]
(2)
This playe, forsooth, begin shall he
10 In worship of the Trynitie
That yee may all here and see
That shall be done to-daye.
My name is Gobet-on-the-Grene1.
With yow no longer I maye bene;
Farewell, my lordinges, all by-dene,
Et exit.
[Enter Abraham, with Lot.]
(3)
ABRAHAM: A, thou high God, graunter of grace,
That ending ne beginning hase,
I thank thee, lord, that to me hase
20 To-daye geven victorye.
Lothe2, my brother, that taken was,
I have restored him in this case
And brought him home into this place,
Through thy might and mastrye.
15 by-dene withal, indeed (primarily a rime-word) 16 For letting for fear of preventing
To worship the I will not wond,
To-daye hast sent into my hand,
And of riches great araye.
Therefore of all that I can wyn
30 To geve thee tyth I will begin,
The cyttie sone when I come in
And part with the my praye.
(5)
Melchisadech3, that here kinge is
And Gods preist also, I wis,
The tyth I will geve him of this
God that hase send me victorye
Of 4 kinges graciouslie,
With him my praye departe will I
40 The cittye when I come to.
(6)
LOTHE: Abraham, brother, I thank it thee,
That this daye hast delyvered me
Of enemyes handes and there postye
And saved me from woe.
Therefore I will geve tithinge
Of my good whyle I am lyvinge,
And now also of his sendinge
Tythe I will geve also.
Tunc venit Armiger ad Melchisadech4.
(7)
ARMIGER: My lord, the kings tydinges arighte,
50 Your harte for to glade and lighte,
Abraham hath slayne in fighte
4 kinges sith he went.
25 wond omit 26 uncouth unknown 30 tyth tithe 36 skill proper
Here he will be this ilke nighte
And riches with hym enough dight.
Of grace he had hym sent.
Mekhiseaech extendens manus ad Caelum5
(8)
MELCHISEDECH: Ah, blessed be God that is but one!
Against Abraham I will gone,
Worshipfullie and that anone,
60 My office to fulfill,
And present hym with bread and wyne6
For grace of God is him withine;
For this is Godes will.
(9)
ARMIGER [cum cuppa]: Syr, here is wyne, withouten were,
And [therto] bread, both white and cleere,
To present him in good manere
That so [us] holpen hase.
MELCHISADECH: TO God, I wot, he is full deere,
70 For of all thinges his prayer,
He hath without danger7,
And speciallie great grace.
(10)
Tunc Melchisadeck equitabit versus Abraham, offerens calicem cum vino et panem super patinam.8
Abraham, welcome must thou be;
Gods grace is fullie in the;
Blessed ever [must thou] be
I have brought, as you may see,
Bread and wyne for thy degree
54 dight ready 55 hard heard 63 Speedes be quick 65 were doubt 76 meke (v) humble
Receave this present now at me,
(11)
ABRAHAM: Syr kinge, welcome in good faye,
Thy present is welcome to my paye.
God hase holpen me to-daye,
Unworthy though I were.
He shall have parte of my praye
That I wan, sith I went awaye.
Therfore to thee thou take it maye,
The tenth I offer here.
Tunc tradet equum oneratum sibi9.
(12)
MELCHISADECH: And your present, sir, take I,
90 And honour yt devoutelye
For much good yt may signefie
In tyme that is cominge.
Therfore horse, harnes, and perye,
As falles for your dignitie,
The tythe of yt [I] take of thee,
And receave thy offringe.
Tunc Abraham recipiet parnem et vinum, et Melchisedech equum oneratum Loth Decimae10.
(13)
LOTHE: And I will offer with good intent
Of such good [as] God hath me sent
To Melchisadech here present,
100 As Godis will [is to] be.
Abraham, my brother, offred hase,
And so will I through Gods grace,
This royall cupp before your face;
Receave yt now at mee.
Tunc Loth offeret cuppam cum vino et pane et recipiet Melchisadech11.
80 beseke beseech 93 perye jewellery
MELCHISADECH: Syr, your offringe welcome is
And well I wot forsoth, I wis,
That fullie Gods will yt is
That is now done to-daye.
Goe wee together to my cyttie,
110 And now God hartelie thank we
That helpes us aye through his postye;
For so we full well maye.
(15)
EXPOSITOR [equitando]: Lordinges, what this may signifie
May knowe that this may be.
This offring, I saie verament,
Signifieth the new testament,
That now is used with good intent
120 Througheout all Christianitye.
(16)
In the old lawe, without leasing,
When these two good men were lyving,
Of beastes was all their offring,
But sith Christ dyed on the roode tree
With bread and wyne him worship we;
And on Sherthursday, in his maundye12,
Was his comaundment.
(17)
But for this thinge used shold be
130 Afterward as now done wee,
In signification, [as] leve you me,
Melchisedech did soe;
114 apertlie openly 115 lewed ignorant people 117 verament truly 121 leasing lying 124 eck also 127 Sherthursday Holy (Maundy) Thursday 131 leve believe
And tythes-makinge, as you se here,
Of Abraham begunnen were,
Therfore he was to God full deare,
And so were they both twoo.
(18)
By Abraham understand I may
The Father of heaven13 in good faye,
Melchisadech a preist to his paye
140 To minister that sacrament,
That Christ ordayned on Sherethursday
In bread and wyne to honour him aye –
[This signifieth the south to saye]
Melchisadechs present.
(19)
DEUS: Abraham, my servant, I saie to thee
Thy helpe and succour I will be,
For thy good deed much pleaseth me,
ABRAHAM: Lord, one thing that thou wilt see
150 That I praie after with hart free:
Graunt me, Lord, through thy postye,
Some fruyte of my bodye!
(20)
I have no childe, fowle ne fayre,
Safe my Nurry14 to be my heyre;
That makes me greatlie to apayre,
On me, Lord, have mercye!
DEUS: My frend, Abraham, leve thou me,
Thy Nurry thyne heyre shall not bee,
But one sonne I shall send the,
160 [Be]gotten of thy bodye.
148 wyturlie surely 154 Safe except 155 apayre decay
(21)Abraham, doe as I thee saye:
Looke up and tell me, if thou maye,
Starres standing on the straye –
That unpossible were.
No more shalt thou for thy meede,
Nomber of thy bodye the seede,
That thou shalt have for thy good deede,
Thou art to me so deere.
(22)
Wherfore, Abraham, servant free,
170 Loke that thou be trewe to me,
And forward here I make with the
Thy seede to multeplie.
[So much more further shalt thou be
Kingis of thie seed men shall see]
And one Child of great degree
(23)
I will that from henceforth alwaie
Ech knaveschild [one] the eight daye
Be cyrcumcised15, as I saye,
180 And thou thy-self full sone;
And who circumcised ne is
Forsaken [shalbe with me,] i-wis;
For inobedyent that man is.
Therfore looke that this be done.
(24)
ABRAHAM: Lord, already, in good faye,
Blessed be thou, ever and aye;
Thy folke from other men,
163 straye ?open sky 169 free noble 171 forward bargain 176 forbye redeem 178 knaveschild boy one on 187 verey truly
190 Anon for ought that may befall.
[I thank thie,] lord, thy owne thrall,
(25)
EXPOSITOR: Lordinges all, takes good intent
What betokens this comaundment;
This was sometyme a sacrament
As followeth now verament
So was this in the Old Testament;
But when Christ dyed, away yt went,
200 And Baptisme then began.
(26)
To Abraham, his servant deere,
So much seede that in no manere
Nombred might not be;
And one seede, mankinde to forby,
That was Ihesus Christ witterlye,
For of his kinde was our Lady,
And so also was he.
(27)
DEUS: Abraham, my servant Abraham!
210 ABRAHAM: Loe, Lord, already here I am.
DEUS: Take Isaack, thy sonne by name
That thou lovest best of all,
And in sacrafice offer him to me
Upon that hill, besyde thee.
Abraham, I will that yt be so
For ought that may befall.
191 thrall servant 192 knen knees 196 thould the old tane taken 201 behetes (v) promises 205 for by redeem
ABRAHAM: My Lord, to thee is my entent
Ever to be obedyent;
That sonne that thou to me hast sent
220 Offer I will to thee,
And fulfill thy comaundment
With harty will, as I am kent.
High God, Lord omnipotent,
Thy bydding done shall be.
(29)
My meany and my childer ech one
Lenges at home, both all and one,
Safe Isaak shall with me gone
To an hill here besyde.
Make thee ready, my derling16,
230 For we must doe a lyttle thing.
This wood upon thy back it bring.
We must not long abyde.
(30)
A sword and fire I will take
For sacrifice I must make;
[Godis] bydding will I not forsake,
But aye obedyent bee.
ISAAK: Father, I am all readye
To doe your bydding mekelie,
To beare this wood [full] bowne am I,
240 As you comaund me.
(31)
ABRAHAM: O Isaak, Isaak, my derling deere,
My blessing [now] I geve the here.
Take up this fagot with good cheare,
And on thy backe yt bringe,
222 kent instructed 225 meany followers 226 Lenges remain 239 bowne ready
ISAAK: Your bydding I will not forsake;
Father, I will never slake
To fulfill your byddinge.
Tunc Isaak accipiet lignum super tergum et ad montem pariter ibunt17.
(32)
ABRAHAM: Now Isaake, sonne, goe we our waye,
250 To yonder mowntayne, if that we maye.
ISAAK: My deere father, I will assaye
To follow you full fayne.
ABRAHAM: O! My hart will break in three,
To heare thy wordes I have pyttie.
As thou wilt, lord, so must yt be:
(33)
Lay downe thy fagot, my owne sonne deere.
ISAAK: All ready, father, loe yt is here.
But why make you so heavie cheare?
260 Are you any thing adred?
Father, if it be your will,
Where is the beast that we shall kill?
ABRAHAM: Therof, sonne, is none upon this hill,
That I see here in this steed.
(34)
ISAAK: Father, I am full sore afraide
To see you beare this drawen sworde.
You will not slaye your childe18.
ABRAHAM: Dread not thou, my childe, I red.
270 Our lord will send of his godhead,
Some maner beast into this stydd,
Ether tayme or wylde.
256 bayne obedient 264, 271 steed, stydd place 267 middle-yorde world
ISAAK: Father, tell me, or I goe,
Whether I shall have harme or noe.
ABRAHAM: Ah dere God, that me is woel
Thou burstes my hart in sunder.
ISAAK: Father, tell me of this case
Why you your sword drawen hase
And beare yt naked in this place;
280 Thereof I have great wonder.
(36)
ABRAHAM: Isaac, sonne, peace! I pray thee,
Thou breakes my harte even in three.
ISAAC: I praye you, father, leane nothing from me,
But tell me what you thinke.
ABRAHAM: O Isaac, Isaac, I must thee kill.
ISAAC: Alas! Father, is that your will,
Your owne childe here for to spill,
Upon this hilles brynke?
(37)
If I have trespassed in any degree,
290 With a yard you maye beate me;
Put up your sword if your will be,
For I am but a childe.
ABRAHAM: O my sonne, I am sory
To doe to thie this great anye;
Gods comaundment do must I;
His workes are ay full mylde.
(38)
ISAAC: Wold God my mother were here with me!
She wolde knele upon her knee,
Praying you, father, if it might be,
300 For to save my life.
ABRAHAM: O comelie creature, but I thee kill,
I greeve my God, and that full ill:
I may not worke against his will
But ever obedyent be.
O Isaac, sonne, to thee I saye:
God has comaunded me this daye
To make of thy [boddye.]
(40)
ISAAC: Is it Gods will I shold be slayne?
310 ABRAHAM: Yea, sonne, it is not for to layne;
To his bydding I will be bayne,
Ever to his pleasinge.
But that I doe this dolefull deede,
My lord will not quyte me my meede.
ISAAC: Mary, father, God forbydd
But you doe your offringe.
(41)
Father, at home your sonnes you shall finde
That you must love by course of kinde.
Be I out once of your mynde
320 Your sorrow may sone cease;
But you must doe Gods bydding.
Father, tell my mother for nothing.
ABRAHAM: For sorrow I may my handes wring,
Thy mother I cannot please.
(42)
O Isaac, Isaac, blessed mot thou be!
Almost my wyt I lose for thee,
The blood of thy bodye so free
Me think full loth to sheed.
ISAAC: Father, sith you must needs doe soe,
330 Let it passe lightlie and overgoe;
301 but unless 307 naye denying 310 layne hide 314 quyte repay meede desert 330 overgoe pass by
Your blessing on me spreade!
(43)
ABRAHAM: My blessing, deere sonne, give I the
And thy mothers with hart so free;
The blessing of the Trynitie,
My deare sonne, on the lighte!
ISAAC: Father, I pray you, hyde myne eyne,
That I se not your sword so kene;
Your stroke, father, wold I not seene,
(44)
ABRAHAM: My deere sonne Isaac, speak no more,
Thy wordes make my hart full sore.
ISAAC: O deere father, wherfore? Wherfore?
Syth I must nedes be dead.
Of one thing I wold you praye,
[Since I must die the death this daye,]
As few strokes as you maye,
When you smyte of my heade.
(45)
ABRAHAM: Thy mekenes, childe, makes me afray;
350 My song may be ‘well awaye!’
ISAAC: O deare father, doe awaye, doe awaye,
Now truly, father, this talking
Doth but make long tarying.
I praye you, come and make ending,
And let me hence gone!
(46)
ABRAHAM: Come hither, my child, that art so sweete:
Thou must be bounden, hand and feete.
Tunc colliget eum, et liga[b]it19.
340 grill complain 352 mickle great
ISAAC: A, father, we must no more mete
360 By ought that I can see,
But doe with me right as you will;
I must obay, and that is skill,
Gods comaundment to fulfill,
[For needis so must it be.]
(47)
Upon the purpose that you have set you,
For sooth, father, I will not let you20,
But evermore unto you bowe
Whyle that I maye.
Father, greete well my brethren yonge,
370 And praye my mother of her blessinge,
I come no more under her winge.
Farewell for ever and aye!
(48)
But, father, I crye you mercye.
Of that I have trespassed to thee,
Forgeven, father, that yt may be
Untill Domes-daye.
(49)
ABRAHAM: My deare sonne, let be thy mones
My child, thou greaved me but ones.
Blessed by thou, bodye and bones,
380 And I forgeve thee here.
Loe, my deare sonne, here shalt thou lye;
Unto my worke now must I hye,
As thou my darling dere.
359 mete meet 362 skill right 383 leefe rather
ISAAC: Father, if you be to me kinde,
About my heade a kercher bynde,
And let me lightlie out of your mynde,
And sone that I were spedd.
ABRAHAM: Farewell, my sweete sonne of grace!
390 ISAAC: I praye you, father, turne downe my face
A lyttle whyle, whyle you have space,
For I am full sore adred.
(51)
ABRAHAM: To doe this deede I am sorye.
ISAAC: Yea, lord, to thee I call and crye:
On my soule thou have mercye,
Hartelie I the praye.
ABRAHAM: Lord, I wold fayne worke thy will –
This yonge inocent that lyes so still
Full loth were me hym to kill,
400 By any manner of waye.
(52)
ISAAC: My deare father, I you praye,
Let me take my clothes awaye,
For sheeding blood21 on them to-daie
At my last endinge.
(53)
ABRAHAM: Harte, if thou wolde breake in three,
Thou shake never master me22.
I will no lenger let for thee,
My God I may not greeve.
ISAAC: A mercye, father! Why tary you so?
410 Smyte of my head, and let me goe!
I praie you, rydd me of my woe;
For now I take my leave.
386 kercher kerchief, cloth 407 let refrain
ABRAHAM: Ah, sonne, my harte will breake in three
To heare thee speake such wordes to me.
Ihesu, on me thou have pittie,
That I have most in mynde!
ISAAC: Nowe, father, I se that I shall die,
Almightie God in maiestie,
My soule I offer unto thee:
420 Lord, to yt be kinde.
Tunc accipietgladium, faciens occidendi signum, et Angelus veniens capiet punctum gladii illius, ac postea dicat Angelus23
(55)
ANGELUS: Abraham, my servant deere!
ABRAHAM: Loe, lord! I am alreadye here.
ANGELUS I: Laie not thy sword in no maner
On Isaac, thy deare derling!
Naie, do thou hym no anoy.
For thou dreades God, well se I,
That of thy sonne hast no mercy
To fulfill his byddinge.
(56)
ANGELUS II: And for his bydding thou doest aye,
430 And spares nether for feare nor fraie
To doe thy sonne to death to-daye,
Isaac to thee full deere;
Therefore God hase sent by me, in faye,
A lambe24 that is both good and gaie
Into this place, as thou se maye.
Loe, it is right here!
(57)
ABRAHAM: Ah, lord of heaven and king of blise,
Thy bydding shall I doe, I wis.
430 fraie strife
440 And all, lord, throughe thy grace.
To the offred it shall be
Anone right in this place.
Tunc Abraham mactabit arietem25.
(58)
DEUS: Abraham, by my selfe I sweare,
For thou hast bene obedyent ever,
And spared not thy sonne so deare,
To fulfill my bydding,
Thou shalt be blessed, thou art worthy,
450 Thy seede I shall multeplye,
As Starrs and sand, so many het I,
Of thy bodie cominge.
(59)
Of enemyes thou shalt have power,
And thy bloode also in feare26,
For thou hast bene meke and boneere,
To doe as I the bade.
And all nations, leeve thou me,
Blessed evermore shal be
Through fruyt that shall come of thee,
460 And saved throughe thy seede.
(60)
EXPOSITOR: Lordinges, this significacion
Of this deed of devotion,
And you will, you wit mon,
May turne you to much good27.
This deed you se done in this place,
In example of Ihesu28 done yt was,
441 wedder wether 442 breeres briars 451 het promise 455 boneere willing, courteous
That for to wyn mankinde grace
Was sacrifised on the [rode.]
(61)
By Abraham I may understand
470 The Father of heaven that can fand
With his sonnes blood to breake that band
The Devil had brought us too.
By Isaac understand I may
Ihesu that was obedyent aye,
His fathers will to worke alway,
Finis paginae quartae.
470 fand try 476 underfonge receive, endure
