MEDIEVAL AND FOLK DRAMA

THE YORK FALL OF LUCIFER

[Enter GOD to centre top, turns and speaks:]

God: Alpha sum et Omega
Vita, via et veritas,
Primus sum et postremus!
I am gracious and great, God without beginning.
I am maker unmade, all might is in me.
I am life and way unto well-winning.
I am foremost and first: as I bid, shall it be.
   To mildness my mood shall be moving
   To help ye from harm to be hiding.
   My body in bliss aye abiding
   Unending without any ending.

Since I am Maker unmade, and most so of might
And aye shall be endless and nought is but I,
Unto my dignity dear shall duly be built
A place full of plenty, with my pleasure to comply.
   And there also will I have wrought
   Many various things forthwith
   Which work shall well survive
   And shall all be made of nought.

But only the worthful work of my will
Through my spirit shall inspire the might of me;
And in the first, faithf'ly my thoughts to fulfil
Briefly in my blessing I bid that here be
   A bliss all-embracing about me.
   In the which bliss I bid that be here
   Nine orders of angels full clear,
   In glory aye-lasting to laud me.

[Enter four Angels, to stand on either side of God, chanting:]

Te Deum laudamus, te Dominum confitemur, te aeternum patrem omnis terra veneratur...

God: Here underneath me now an isle I name
Which isle shall be earth. Now let all be at once:
Earth, wholly, and Hell; this highest be Heaven
And well shall they rejoice that dwell in these homes:
   This grant I you, ministers mine,
   The whiles ye are stable in thought,
   And also let them that are nought
   Be put in my prison to pain.

[to Lucifer, the angel]
Of all the mights I have made, most next after me,
I make thee as master and mirror of my might.
I appoint thee here properly, in bliss for to be,
I name thee Lucifer, as bearer of light.
   Nothing here shall thee be hurting:
   In this bliss shall be your helping:
   And have all wealth in your wielding,
   The whiles ye are buxomly bearing.

[Proceed Lucifer and two demons to lower level, chanting:]

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus sabbath, terra et coelum sunt plena gloriae tuae...

Angels: Ah merciful Maker full mickle is thy might,
That all his work at a word worthily has wrought;
Aye lauded be that lovely Lord of his light,
That us thus mighty has made, that now were right nought,
   In bliss to abide, in his blessing
   Aye-lasting. In glory let us laud him
   That appointed us properly about him.
   Mirth nevermore to be missing.

Luc: All the mirth that is made is marked in me!
The beams of my brightness are burning so bright
And I so seemly in sight myself now I see
For like a lord am I left to live in this light.
   Much fairer by far than my friends here,
   In me is no point to repair,
   I feel me fulsome and fair,
   My power surpasses my peers.

Ang: Lord, with a lasting glory we laud Thee alone,
Thou mightful Maker that marked us and made us,
And wrought us thus worthily to dwell in this home,
That there no feeling of filth may foul us nor fade us.
   All bliss is here biding about us
   The whiles we are stable in thought
   In the worship of him that us wrought,
   That harm never here may hurt us.

Luc: Oh, what! I am well-formed and featured full fit!
The form of all fairness upon me is fast;
All wealth in my wield is, I wot by my wit,
The beams of my brightness are built like the best,
   My showing is shimmering and shining
   So firmly to bliss am I brought
   No need to trouble for nought.
   Here shall never pain me be piercing.

Ang: With all the wit that we wield we worship thy will
Thou glorious God that art ground of all grace.
Aye with steadfast song let us stand still,
Lord to be fed with the food of thy fair face,
   In life that is truly aye-lasting.
   Thy gifts, Lord, art generously giving,
   And who on that food may be feasting -
   Before thy fair face - is not fasting.

Luc: Oh certain, I am worthily wrought in worshipfulness.
For in glorious glee my glittering gleams.
I am so mightily made my mirth may never be less.
Aye shall I bide in this bliss through brightness of beams.
   Me needs not nuisance to think on.
   All wealth in my power am I wielding.
   Above yet shall I be building,
   On height in the highest of heaven.

[Lucifer, with the assistance of the two demons, tries to climb to God's level:]

Luc: There shall I set myself, full seemly to sight,
To receive my reverence through right of renown.
I shall be like unto him that is highest on height.
Oh, what! I am dearworth and deft!

[The good angels cast him back to the lower level:]

Luc: Oh! deuce! all goes down.
   My might and my main are all failing!
   Help, fellows in faith I am falling!

Dem: From Heaven we are hurtling on all hand:
   To woe we are wending, I warrant.

[Lucifer & Demons fall to lower level, where clothed in a cloth of flames, they lie writhing about:]

Luc: Out, out, harrow! I'm helpless so hot is it here.
This is a dungeon of despair that I am ditched in.
Where has my countenance gone, so comely and clear?
Now I am loathsome alas, that ere was lovely.
   My brightness is blackest and blue now -
   My penalty's blazing and burning
   That gets me growling and gnashing.
   Out, aye, welaway! I writhe enough in woe now.

Dem: Out, out! I go mad with misery, my mind is so mixed up.
All our food is but filth we find before us.
We that were banded in bliss, in bale are we burned up.
Out on thee Lucifer, rascal! our light hast thou lost us!
   Thy deeds to this despair have condemned us,
   To destroy us thou wast our speeder.
   For thou wast our light and our leader,
   The highest of Heaven had thou promised us.

Luc: Welaway! woe is me now - now it is worse than it was!
Unthrivingly threaten ye: I but spoke my thoughts.

Dem: Woe! rascal, you ruined us!

Luc: Ye lie! out, alas! I wist not this woe should be wrought.
Out on you devils! ye smother me in smoke.

Dem: This woe hast thou wrought us!

Luc: Ye lie! ye lie!

Dem: Thou liest, and that shalt thou pay for!
Yo! rascal, I'll get you, watch me!

[The two demons attack Lucifer and drive him from the stage, so exeunt together]

Ang: Ah, Lord, glorified be thy name that us this light lent!
Since Lucifer our leader is laid so low
For his disobedience badly to burn
(Thy righteousness to reward so
Each work by its worth)
Through grace of thy merciful might
   The cause I see it in sight
   Wherefore to bane he is brought.

God: Those fools for their fairness into fantasies fell,
And moaned at the might that marked them and made them.
So just as their works were, in woe shall they dwell,
For some are fallen into filth that evermore shall foul them.
   So perfect in power they thought them,
   They would not me worship that wrought them,
   So shall my wrath ever go with them,
   But all that me worship shall here remain.

Therefore still more of my work, work now I will.
Since then their might is marred that meant amiss,
Even in my own form, this vacuum to fill,
   Mankind will I make from the dust;
   But first I will form before this
   All thing that shall him refresh
   Whatever will suit him best.

And in my first making to muster my might
Since Earth is vain and void and murky as well,
I bid in my blessing ye angels give light
To the earth, for it faded when the fiends fell.
   In Hell shall never murkiness be missing:
   The mirkiness, thus name I NIGHT,
   The DAY, that call I this light.
   My new works shall they be guiding.

And now in my blessing I part them in two,
The Night even from the Day, so that they meet never,
But either in a kept course their ways for to go.
Both the Night and the Day, do duly your duty!
   To all I shall work be ye guiding.
   This day's work is done overall.
   And all this work likes me right well
   And fully I give it my blessing.

[Perhaps the play ends with a tableau showing God blessing Day and Night, represented by characters in masks standing at the lower level vacated by Lucifer. Perhaps also a hymn would be sung.]

THE WAKEFIELD MACTATIO ABEL

[Enter Cain's Boy to first level and addresses audience:]

Boy: All hail, all hail, both blithe and glad,
For here come I, a merry lad;
Be peace your din, my master bade,
   Or else the devil you speed!
Wot ye not, I come before?
But who that jangles any more,
He must blow my black hole-bore,
Both behind and before,
   Till his teeth bleed.
Fellows, here I you forbid,
To make neither noise ne cry;
Whoso is so hardy to do that deed,
The devil hang him up to dry!
Gadlings, I am a full great wight,
A good yeoman my master hight,
   Full well ye all him ken;
Begin he with you for to strive,
Certes, then hope-ye never thrive;
But I trow, by God on life,
   Some of you are his men.
But let your lips cover your gums,
Simpletons every one,
For if my master come, welcome him then!
   Farewell, for I am gone.

[Exit Boy]

[Enter Cain, to same level, driving pretend oxen and plough:]

Cain: Go forth, Grey-Horn! and watch out, Grimel
Draw on, God give you ill this time!
Ye stand as ye were fallen in dream,
   What! will ye no further, mare?
So, let me see how Down will draw -
Yet, curse you, yet, pull away now!
What, it seems for me ye hold no awe -
   I say Donning, go fare!
A ha! God give thee sorrow and care! [Cain strikes at the beasts]
Lo! now heard she what I said.
Now yet art thou the worst mare
In plough that ever I had.
How! Pike-Harness, how! come hither, look live!

[Re-enter Cain's Boy]

Cain: What boy, shall I both hold and drive?
Hears thou not how I cry?

Boy: Say, Mall and Stott, will ye not go?
[feebly rouses them]
Leming, Morell, White-horn, yo,
[sarcastically....]
Now will ye not see how they hie?

Cain: God give thee sorrow, boy, it's want of food that mars.

Boy: Their provender, sir, forthy, I lay behind their arse,
And ties them fast by the necks,
With many stones in their racks.

[Cain hits boy]

Cain: That shall pay thy false cheek.

[Boy hits Cain back.]

Boy: And have again as right.

Cain: [astonished] I am the master, wilt thou fight?

Boy: Yes, with the same measure and weight
That I borrow will I requite.

Cain: No more of that, make them spry,
If we're to plow this land.

Boy: Harrer! Morrel! Yo-forth, hie!
[aside] And let the plow stand.

[Boy goes out, driving plough etc. before him.]

[Abel enters, to same level as Cain:]

Abel: God as He both may and can
Speed thee, brother, and thy man!

Cain: Come kiss my arse! I don't make moan,
But thee I could do without.
Thou should have bided till thou were called.
Come here, and either drive or hold,
   Or kiss the devil's hide.
Go grease thy sheep under the backside,
For that is thee most lief!

Abel: Brother, there is none here about
That would thee any grief.
But dear brother, hear my say,
It is the custom of our law,
All that work as the wise
Shall worship God with sacrifice.
Our father us bade, our father us learned
That our tenth should be burned.
Come forth, brother, and let us gang
To worship God; we dawdle full long.
Give we him the tenth part of our fee,
Corn or cattle, whichever it be;
And therefore brother, let us wend,
And first cleanse us from the fiend
   Ere we make sacrifice:
Then bliss withouten end
   Get we for our service,
Of Him that is our soul's leach.

Cain: Hey, give up your geese, the fox will preach!
How long wilt thou me impeach
   With thy sermonising?
Bold thy tongue yet, I say,
Where the good wife rubbed the hay.
Or sit down in the devil's way,
   With thy vain carping.
Should I leave my plough and everything
And go with thee to make offering?
Nay! thou finds me not so mad!
Go to the devil, and say I bade!
What gives God thee to praise Him so?
Me gives He nought but sorrow and woe.

Abel: Cain, leave this vain carping.
For God gives thee all thy living.

Cain: Yet borrowed I never a farthing
Of Him, here in my hand.

Abel: Brother, as elders have us learned,
First should we tithe it with our hand
And to His worship then see it burned.

Cain: My farthing is still in the priest's hand
Since last time I offered.

Abel: Dear brother, let us be walking on,
I would our tenth were proferred.

Cain: Yah, whereof should I tithe, dear brother?
For I am each year worse than the other,
Hear my pledge, it is not other!
My winnings are but mean,
No wonder if that I be lean,
Full long to Him I may complain.
For by Him that me dear bought,
I trow that He will give me nought.

Abel: Yea, all the good thou has at home
Of God's grace is, but alone!

Cain: The little he lends, may it be your lot alsó!
For he has ever yet been my foe.
For had he my friend been
Otherwise it had been seen.
When all men's corn was fair in field
Then was mine not worth a needle;
When I should sow, and wanted seed,
And of corn had full great need,
Then gave He me none of His,
No more will I give Him of this!
Hardly hold me to blame
But if I serve Him of the same!

Abel: Dear brother, say not so,
But let us forth together go;
Good brother, let us be on our way.
No longer here I say should we delay.

Cain: Yea, yea, thou hast jingles to waste!
The devil me speed if I make haste
(As long as I may live)
To deal out my goods or give
Either to God or yet to man
Of any good that ever I won.
For had I given away my goods
Then might I go with a tattered hood,
And it is better to hold that I have
Than go from door to door and crave.

Abel: Brother, come forth, in God's name -
I am full feared that we'll get blame;
Hie we fast that we were there!

Cain: Yah, run on, in the devil's name before.
Yorrah, man, I hold thee mad.
Thinks thou now that I will gad
To give away my world's own?
The devil him speed that me so taught!
What need had I my travail to lose
To wear out my shoes and tear my hose?

Abel: Dear brother, it were great wonder
That thou and I should go asunder.
Then would our father have great surprise -
Are we not brothers, you and I?

Cain: No but cry on, cry, while it seems to thee good;
Hear my troth, I hold thee mad,
(Whether that He be blithe or wrath)
To split my goods is me full loth.
(I have gone oft on softer wise
There I trowed some profit'ld rise!)
But well I see, go must I needs:
Now wend before - (ill may thou speed!)
Since that we have got to go.

Abel: Dear brother, why says thou so?
But go we forth both together -
Blessed be God we have fair weather.



[Cain and Abel arrive at the upper level, carrying various equipment for the sacrifice.]

Cain: Let down thy trestle upon this hill.

Abel: Forsooth, brother, so I will -
God of Heaven take it to good!

Cain: Thou shalt tend first if thou'art that mad.

[Abel kneels:]

Abel: God that shaped both earth and heaven
I pray to thee thou hear my speaking,
And well receive, if thy will be,
The tenth that I offer here to thee.
For I give it in good intent
To thee, my Lord, that all has sent.
I burn it now with steadfast thought,
In worship of Him that all has wrought.

[Abel makes his successful offering.]

Cain: Rise: let me now, since thou has done:
Lord of Heaven - thou hear my boon!
And, God forbid it, I wish thee
The mind and mood to be grateful to me.
For, as I enjoy these two shanks,
It is full sore and with réluctance
The tenth that here I give to thee
Of corn, or anything that's needful to me!
But now begin will I then
Since I must needs my tenth to burn.

[Cain sorts through his sheaves of corn, assigning the meagre ones to God and reserving all the good ones on one side for his own use later...]

One sheaf (one!) and this makes two...
But neither of these may I forgo.
Two (two!), now this is three,
Yea... this also shall stay with me.
For I will chose and have,
Thus keep I the profit of all this thrave.
Woe me, woe me, four, lo, here!
Better grew me not this year.

At proper time I sow fair corn,
Yet was it such when it was shorn,
Thistles and briars, yea great and plenty,
And all kinds of weeds that could be.
Four sheaves (four!); lo, this makes five,
Deuce! but I'll be fasting long to thrive -
Five and six - now this is seven -
But this one's not for the God of Heaven!
Nor none of these four, by my might,
Shall ever come in God's sight.
Seven (seven!), now this is eight -

Abel: Cain, brother, thou wilt not God delight.

Cain: Yo, therefore is it what I say,
For I will not throw my goods away;
But had I given Him this for tenth
Then would thou say He were my friend.
But I think not, by my hood,
To part so lightly from my goods.
Yo, eight (eight!) and nine, and ten is this,
Well, this one may we easily miss.
Give Him that that lies there?
It goes against my heart full sore.

Abel: Cain, make it a tenth of everything.

Cain: Yo, lo, twelve, fifteen and sixteenl

Abel: Cain, you're counting wrong, and of the worst.

Cain: Yo, come near, and cover my eyes.
In an ill-moon, hush ye now at last
Or else will thou that I work blind?
Then shall I do no wrong, me thinks.
Let me see now how it is.

[He shuts his eyes and makes a redivision of the corn, but this time God only gets one or two sheaves at the most.]

Lo, now I hold me paid,
I divided wondrous well by guess,
And so even I laid.

Abel: Cain, of God methinks thou has no dread.

Cain: Now if He get more, the devil me speed,
as much as one wisp -
For He got it all full cheap -
And not as much more, great or small,
As He might wipe his arse withall.
For that, and this that lies here
Have cost me full dear:
Ere it was shorn and brought in stack,
Had I many a weary back.
Therefore ask me no more of this
For I have given what my will is.

Abel: Cain, I warn you to tend right
For dread of Him that sits on high.

Cain: How I offer, concerns thee never a dell,
But tend thy own scabby sheep well;
For if thou my tenth debate
It'll be the worse for thy sake.
Thou would I'd give Him this sheaf or this sheaf
But neither of these two will I release.
But take this, so He has two,
And for my soul, now may that do -
But it goes sore against my will,
And he shall suffer for it as well.

Abel: Cain, I warn you so to tend
That God of Heaven may be thy friend.

Cain: My friend? Nay, not if He will!
I treated Him never yet but well
If He be even so my foe
I am advised to give Him no more.
But change your outlook as I do mine -
Why not save Him the leprous swine?

Abel: If you tend right, you soon shall find.

Cain: Yea, kiss the devil's arse behind!
The devil hang thee by the neck!
How that I tend never thou reck!
Will thou not yet hold thy peace?
Of this jangling I bid thee cease!
And tend I well, or tend I ill,
Take it the same and speak with goodwill.
But now since thou has divided thine
Now will I set fire to mine.

[Cain tries to, but can only produce a smouldering failure...]

Yo, out, harrow! help me blow!
It will not burn for me, I trow!
Puff! this smoke does me much shame,
Now burn, in the devil's name!
Ah, what devil of hell is it?
Almost had my breath been quit!
Had I blown one blast more
I had been choked right there.
It stank like the devil in hell,
That long there I could not stay well.

Abel: Cain, this is not worth a leak -
Thy tithe should burn withouten smoke.

Cain: Come kiss the devil right on his arse!
Because of you it burns the worse,
I would that it were in thy throat,
Fire, and sheaf, and every sprout!

God: Cain, why art thou so rebellious
Against thy brother Abel?
You need neither flite nor chide:
Thou gets thy due, if thou tend right.
And be thou sure, if thou tend false
Thou wiIt be adjudged by that also.

[God disappears, leaving Cain aghast with astonishment...]

Cain: Why, who is that Hob over the wall?
Why, who was that piped up so small?
Come, go we hence, for perils all -
   God is out of his wits!
Come forth Abel, and let us wend.
Me thinks that is not my friend,
   Far off then will I flit.

Abel: Cain, brother, that is ill-done.

Cain: No, but go we hence soon,
And if it may, I shall be
Somewhere God shall not see me.

[Cain tries to draw Abel with him back to the lower level, but Abel wishes to return to his work by a different route...]

Abel: Dear brother, I must fare
To the field where our beasts are
To look if they be hungry or full.

Cain: Nay, abide, we have a bone to pick, Abel!
Hark, speak with me ere thou go,
What, hopes thou to escape so?
Why, now, I owe thee a foul dispute,
And now is time that I pay it right!

Abel: Brother, why art thou so to me in ire?

Cain: Well, thief, why burned thy tithe so sheer?
There mine did but smoulder
Right as it would us both have smothered.

Abel: God's will I trow it were
That mine burned so clear.
If thine smoked am I to blame?

Cain: Why, yea, you for that shall sorely pay!
With a cheek-bone, while the chance is mine,
Shall I thee and thy life divide.

[Cain strikes Abel and kills him...]

So lie down there and take thy rest -
Thus shall shrews be chastised best.

[Abel topples to the lower level]

Abel: Vengeance, vengeance, Lord, I cry!
For I am slain, and not guilty!

Cain: Yes, lie there old shrew, lie there, lie!

[Cain turns and threatens the audience...]

And if any one think I did amiss,
I shall correct it worse than this
   That all men may it see.
Well worse than it is,
   Right so shall it be.
But now, since he is put asleep
Into yon hole fain would I creep;
For fear I quake & cannot use my head,
If I be taken, I be but dead.
Here will I lie these 40 days
And I curse him that me first raise.

[Cain covers or removes Abel's body, and himself hides and sleeps in one corner of the lower level.]

[At length, God appears on the upper level:]

God: Cain, Cain!

Cain: Who is that that's calling me?
I am yonder, may thou not see?

God: Cain, where is thy brother Abel?

Cain: Why asks you me? I trow in hell,
In hell I trow he be -
Whoso were there then might he see -
Or somewhere lying down sleeping -
When was he in MY keeping?

[Cain points to a member of the audience:]

God: Cain, Cain, thou was mad!
The voice of thy brother's blood
That thou has slain, in false wise,
From earth to heaven vengeance cries.
And, as thou has brought thy brother down,
Here I give thee my malison.

Cain: Yes, deal about thee! for I will none,
Or take it back when I am gone.
Since I have done such mickle sin
That I may not They mercy win,
And Thou thus does me from Thy grace,
I shall hide me from Thy face;
[playing for sympathy]
And whereso any man may find me,
Let him slay me harshly,
Whereso any man may me meet,
Either by track or by street;
And 'suredly when I am dead,
Bury me at Goodbrough quarry-head;
(But if I get out of this unharmed
For all men care I not a fart!)

God: Nay, Cain, it will not so.
I will that no man another slay.
For he that slays young or old,
It shall be punished sevenfold.

[Exit God]

Cain: No matter, I know whither I shall -
In hell I wot must be my stall.
It is no use mercy to crave,
For if I do I may none have!
But this corpse I would were hid,
For some man could come by chance:
"Flee false shrew!" would he bid,
And deem I had my brother slain.
But were Pike-Harness, my knave, here,
We should bury him, both together.
How, Pike-Harness, scapethrift! How, Pike-Harness, how!

[Enter Boy, plus plough, to same level as Cain]

Boy: Master, master?

Cain: Hears-t'ou boy? We have a pudding in the potl

[Cain strikes the Boy a few times]

Take thee that, boy, take thee that!

Boy: I curse thy head under thy hood
Though thou were my sire of flesh and blood.
All day to run and trot
And all the time to feel your hand -
Thus am I come more buffets to get.

Cain: Peace, man, I did it but to try out my hand.
But hark, boy, I have some news to thee to say,
I slew my brother this same day.
I pray thee good boy, if you may,
To clear away the body.

Boy: [with exaggerated loudness:]
Woe, out upon thee, thief!
Has thou thy brother slain!

Cain: Peace, man, for God's pain!
I said it as a joke.

Boy: Yea, but for fear of the rope
Here I thee forsake!
We will have mickle misluck
If the baillifs us take.

Cain: Ah, sir, I beg you mercy, cease!
I'll give you your servitude's release.

Boy: What, wilt thou declare our safeties
Throughout this land?

Cain: Yea, that I give God a vow on, quick.

Boy: How, is this some trick?

Cain: Stand up, my good boy, quick.
And make them quiet both man and wife.

[Boy goes to upper level above Cain]

And who so will do after me
Full smooth of fortune will he be.
But thou must be my good boy
And cry "Oyez! Oyez! Oi!"
Boy: Oysters, oysters for thy boy!
Cain: "I command you in the King's name"
Boy: And in my master's, false Cain
Cain: "That no man in them find aught to blame..."
Boy: Yea, cold roast is at my master's home...
Cain: "Neither in him nor in his knave..."
Boy: Listen how my master raves!
Cain: "For they are true, full manifold..."
Boy: My master sups on stew that's cold...
Cain: "The King writes you this bill..."
Boy: Yet ate I never half my fill..
Cain: "The King wishes that they be safe..."
Boy: Yea, a draught of drink fain would I have -
Cain: "At their own will let them proceed..."
Boy: My stomach is ready to receive...
Cain: "Look no man condemn them, the one or the other... "
Boy: This same is he that slew his brother...
Cain: "Bid every man them love and treat well."
Boy: Yea, ill-spun weft aye turns out foul...
Cain: [to Boy] If you carry on like that, you'll soon get a clout!
[to audience] "Bid every man to help them as he may"
Boy: Yea, give Don, my horse, a wisp of hay!
Cain: Come down in twenty devil way
May the devil you take!
Execpt for Abel my brother
Knew I never thy like.

Boy: [to audience] Now old and young, ere that ye wend,
The same bliss withouten end
Altogether shall ye have
That God of Heaven my master has given
Enjoy it well; while that ye live,
He vouches it full well safe.

Cain: Come down, yet, in the devil's way,
And anger us no more.
And take yon plough I say
And wend thee forth fast before.
And I shall, if I may,
Teach thee another lore.
I warn thee lad, for aye.
From now forth, evermore,
   That thou grieve me nought.
For by God's sides, if thou do,
I shall hang thee upon this plow,
With this rope - lo,lad,lo! -
By Him that me dear bought!

[Boy comes down, and handles plough out, leaving Cain to address the audience...]

(Cain:) Now farewell, fellows all,
For I must needs wend,
And to the devil be a thrall,
World without en end.
Ready there is my stall,
With Satanas the fiend.
May ever ill them befall
That thither me do send!
Now it's time:
Farewell less, and farewell more,
For now and ever more,
I will go me to hide!

[Exit...]

ROBIN HOOD PLAY AFTER MS. of 1475

MUMMERS PLAY FROM ICOMB, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Leader-In: In comes I Old Hindbefore
I comes first to open your door,
I comes first to kick up a dust,
I comes first to sweep up your house.
I went down a dark narrow lane.
Weren't very dirty, neither very clean.
I come to Wrought-Iron House
Thatched with brass candlesticks.
There was an iron pear tree before the door.
I knocked at the door and the Maid came out.
I asked her one, and she gave me one
as hard as a blacksmith's anvil.
I returned her many thanks.
She asked me to have a crust of her ale
And a glass of her bread and cheese.
I said Yes Thanks but I meant No Please.
I went down a little bit further
I come to two men threshing Bacca-Carns. [see note]
One hit a rearing blow, t'other hit a driving blow
Which cut a Bacca-Carn through a nine-inch wall,
Killed a dead dog t'other side,
The dog jumps up and hollows Bow-wow-wow.
I took me a dog without a tail
And loaded me a gun with long spiked nail.
I met a man, he fled with glee;
I nailed his shadow to a tree.
I've travelled here, I've travelled there;
I should like to taste a drop of your strong beer.

[Understandable Pause]

A Room! A Room! Brave Gallants all,
Room to rise and room to fall,
Please make room for me and my company all.
We was come round this merry Christmas time
To act activity of young, activity of age,
Some of the funniest activities as ever was acted on King George's stage.

[Enter King of Prussia]

Prussia: In comes I, the Royal of Prussia King.
Many a battle have I fought in
England, Ireland, Scotland, and Spain,
Now I return to Old England again.
Where is the man that forbids me stand?
Said he would knock me down with his gracious hand;
He would hit me, hack me, as small as flies,
Send me to the cook-shop to make mince-pies;
Mince-pies hot, mince-pies cold,
Send me to Gibraltar before I be nine days old.
So he and I will have a try
To see which on the floor shall lie,
So guard thy head and guard thy blows,
For on the floor thee bist sure to go.

[Enter John Bull]

John Bull: In comes I little John Bull Robin.
John Bull Robin is my name.
Sword and pistol at my side,
And I wish to win the game.
So thee and I will have a try
To see which on the floor shall lie,
So guard thy head and guard thy blows
For on the floor thee bist sure to go.

[They fight with swords. Prussia falls]

Leader-In: Five pounds for a good Doctor. Won't come.
Ten pounds for a good Doctor. Won't come.
Fifteen pounds for a good doctor. Won't come.
Twenty pounds for a good Doctor. Won't come.
I'll give thee good bad farthing for a doctor.
Doctor: I'll come and be glad of the money.
Hold my horse Jack.
Jack: Hold him theeself.
Doc: What's that, you saucy young beggar?
Jack: Got 'ead fast by the tail, Sir.
What be I to do with him when I gets him 'ome?
Doc: Oh! Sup him up with rack staves, [see note]
Bed him down with thorns,
give him a bucket of warm ashes to drink
and rub him down dry with a wet snowball.
That's the way to do a 'oss, Jack.
I am the Doctor come from Spain
To fetch the dead to life again.
And if his life he should transgress
Ten thousand pound'ld distress the grave.
Bring unto me an old woman
Seven years wed, eight years dead,
Nine years led in her grave. If her can rise up
And crack one of my small pills
I'll be bound her life to save.
Lead: What else canst cure?
Doc: Why a magpie with toothache.
Lead: How'ldst do it?
Doc: Chop his head off and chuck his body in the ditch.
Lead: I shan't have my man served like that.

[Enter Jack Finney]

Jack: Jack Finney is not my name:
Mr Finney is my name.
In comes I with my bold heart
To see the Doctor play his part.
Doctor, thee hasn't done thy part by this man.
Doc: I thought thee'ld find fault, Jack,
when thee comst in. What wants doing now?
Jack: Large tooth wants drawing.
Doc: Canst thee draw him?
Jack: I'll have a try.
Doc: Get out of the road. I can see thee can't do it.
Jack: No more can't thee without help.
Doc: Fetch my implements.
Jack: Fetch 'em theeself.
Doc: What's that, you saucy young beggar?
Jack: I'll fetch 'em meself.
Doc: Fetch 'em then and be quick about it!

[Jack brings tools, throws them down]

Doc: Well, what dost want to throw 'em down there for?
Jack: For thee to pick 'em up.
Doc: What's that, you saucy young beggar?
Jack: For me to pick 'em up.
Doc: Pick 'em up, then, and quick about it.

[They make to pull a "tooth" from the King's mouth]

Doc: Catch hold of my tail and pull.
Jack: Be he out, Sir?
Doc: No.
Jack: Be he out yet, Sir?
Doc: Yes, and more like an elephant's tooth than a Christian's.
Hold a sack of beans one side and a quart of best ale t'other.
Any better, old fellow?
Prussia: Yes.
Doc: Rise up and sing.

[King sings. Enter Beelzebub]

Beelzebub: In comes I, old Beelzebub,
And on my shoulder I carry a club,
In me hand me dripping pan,
Don't you think I'm a jolly old man?
Out of children eleven I've got but seven,
And they be started up to heaven;
Out of seven I've got but five,
And they be starved to death alive;
Out of five I've got but three,
And they be popped behind a tree;
Out of three I've got but one,
And he got round behind the sun.
Me father is an old Shopkeeper,
And you can plainly see,
Me mother give I this old tin can
To play the girdy-gee.

[They sing, dance, while Little Judy collects money]

notes: Bacca-Carns: probably tobacco-corns i.e. snuff.
Rack-staves: a rack-staff is a wooden stick, part of mill machinery.

KASPERLE AND THE BEAR

Scene 1 - At Home

[Enter Kasperle]

Kasp: Hello! hello! Are you there children?.... Good, I've somethinq to tell you. I'm off to the forest today with my friend Seppl. We're going to pick blackberries. Do you like fruit too?.... Yes? Then you can come along with us. I wonder where Seppl's qot to? [calling out] Hey, Seppl! Where are you?
Seppl: [entering]: Here I am.
Kasp: Come on, you slow coach, it's time for us to go to the Forest.
Seppl: Splendid, we can collect some bears.
Kasp: Berries! not bears! Bears are dangerous great animals.
Seppl: Uggh! No bears for me then. They're too friqhtening.
Kasp: Ho ho, you scared baby! Come on, let's get going.
[Enter Grandmother]
Gran: Kasperle, Kasperle, where are you off to?
Kasp: To find some bears.
Gran: What's that? Bears?
Kasp: Oh, Seppl has got me all mixed up. We're looking for some bears - oh drat and darn, I mean berries, we want to pick blackberries.
Gran: Ah, you're going to the woods? Then you must take a picnic with you.
Kasp: Oh lovely.
Gran: Here you are, Kasperle, some bread and a jar of honey. You won't stay out too long?
Kasp & Seppl: [together] We won't!
We're off to the woods
-We promise to be good!

Scene 2 - In the forest

Kasp & Seppl: [together, singing]:
We're walking in the woods today,
Lots of time to sing and play!

[Enter policeman]

PC: Hello, hello, hello,
What's all this to-do?
Let's have some peace and quiet now,
Why are you making such a row?
I, the policeman, tell you so.
It's dangerous to be so loud you know.
Kasp: Dangerous?
Seppl: D-d-d-d-angerous?
PC: Of course it is! For some days now a big bear called Grumblegrowl has been roaming the forest!
Kasp: Has he complained about us then?
PC: Don't you be so cocky! Bears can gobble children up!
Seppl: Oh my! K-k-kasperle, quick, let's get out of here!
Kasp: Get out? - and our bears - I mean berries? No way!
PC: Well, I've warned you. We've dug bear-traps everywhere, big holes in the ground you know, covered with turf, so just look out!
Kasp: What've you done that for?
PC: You silly! If the bear walks across it - crash! - he falls in and can't get out again. Kasp: Ha ha, then he would have something to grumble about, eh?
PC: You'd soon be laughing on the other side of your face, if you fell in one of those.
Kasp: Watch out you don't fall in yourself, Smirkwhiskers! I'm not frightened at all. Come on, Seppl, we're going to find our berries. You go that way, I'll go this.

[Exit separately]

PC: [shaking his head] Well,well, they're taking quite a risk,
They shouldn't play about like this!

[Exit]

Scene 3 - Elsewhere in the Forest

Bear: Grumble, grumble, grumble,
Here I come all growl and mumble.
Two paws, four paws, never stumbling,
Sniffing, searching, tummy rumbling.
Wait! I can smell humans! Growl, growl, I shall catch them! Growl, growl, growl, what's here? - A trap? Nicely covered with turf! Ha ha, these humans think I'm stupid! A full-grown Grumblegrowl won't fall for that - grumble, grumble, grumble, ho ho ha. Hang on! Sniff, sniff, isn't there someone coming? I'll get him. I'll hide in these bushes, growl, growl. I don't want any of you warning them now!

[Enter Seppl - kids shout to warn him - there's a bear etc]

Seppl: [to audience] What's up? What are you shouting for?
What? A bear? - a b-b-b-bear?
Oh help! What can I do? Help, where shall I go?

[The bear growls and emerges - Seppl runs but falls into the bear-trap]

Seppl: Help - help! I've fallen into the bear-trap. Oh mummy, mummy, oh Kasperle, help! help!
Bear: Grumble, grumble, a lovely snack he'll make! Oh rumble, rumble, I'm starving! Seppl: Help! Kasperle!
Bear: I'm sure of this one, growl, he's properly cauqht in the trap! I'll qo and fetch my wife. The dinner will taste better with two of us, grumble, grumble!

[Exit bear]

Scene 4 The Same

Seppl: Help, Kasperle, Help!
Kasp: [offstage] What's up, Seppl? Why are you shouting? Where are you?
Seppl: Kasperle, help me! I'm here, over here!
Kasp: [entering]: Seppl, Seppl, where have you got to?
Seppl: Here, Kasper, over here; in the bear-trap.
Kasp: Crikey! How did you get in there?
Seppl: Kasperle, quick, pull me out. Grumble growl the Bear will be back any second. He's going to eat me!
Kasp: Oh, Seppl, you've really taken a tumble. That's where the bear should be, not you!
Seppl: Never mind the jokes, get me out!
Kasp: OK, - hup, hup! [pulls him out]
Seppl: And now let's get away, before the bear comes back!
Kasp: Oh you scared baby!
Seppl: You can laugh! He's that big and that wide! His mouth is as big as a railway tunnel, and he growls like ten express trains at once! Hurry!
Kasp: Ho ho ho; that's funny.
Seppl: Don't stand there laughing. Let's get going!
Kasp: Hold on, Seppl, hold on. I've got an idea.
Seppl: An idea?
Kasp: Listen - we'll cover up the hole aqain, and put our jar of honey on top, get it? Seppl: The honey?
Kasp: Yes, the honey! Grumblegrowl the bear comes along - scents the honey - and then -
Seppl: - Then he eats us both!
Kasp: No - he makes for the honey - and then he falls in the hole - and then -
Seppl: Then he eats us both!
Kasp: Oh, you're so slow, Seppl! When he's down in the hole, he can't get out, so we -
Seppl: - We get eaten!
Kasp: No,no! When he grabs for the honey, whoosh! down he goes -
Seppl: - And down we go, into his belly.
Kasp: Listen, you fathead! He's the one that's trapped. And we'll be heroes, real household heroes, understand?
Seppl: You mean it? Real heroes?
Kasp: Of course. Now let's get the turf back on - like that - and now the honey on top of it - like that - and now, quick, we'll hide in the bushes. I can hear his growlinq already - get a move on!

[They both hide]

Scene 5 - The Same

[Enter Bear]

Bear: Grumble, grumble, grumble, where's the hole got to?
Growl growl, growl, it was here a minute ago!
Sniff, sniff, sniff, what can I smell....?
Oh, look! Honey in a jar! Well, well, well!
Slurp, slurp, slurp, I like honey best,
With all sorts of sweetness I am quite obsessed!

[He falls into the trap of course]

Ow! Ow! Ow! Aren't I the silly one!
I've fallen straight in, that's what I've done!

Kasp & Seppl: [together:] Hurray, hurray! Just look at that,
The bear has fallen for our trap!
Seppl: Hurray, hurray! I'm a hero!
Kasp: You what? Just whose idea was it?
Seppl: Alright - Kasper, you're the hero!
Kasp: Seppl, Seppl, we're both heroes!
[to the audience]
Give us a cheer, the bear is safely penned.
Playmates, the story's reached an end.


Go back to Contents & Introduction
Go back to Ancient Epic and Balanced Line
Go back to Classical Greek & Roman Drama
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