Chapter VI: Prepositions (2)

ðe duue fond no clene ſtede,
And wente a-gen and wel it dede;

After seven days
the dove left the
ark and returned
with an olive
bough.

ðe ſeuendai eſt ut it tog,
And brogt a grene oliues bog; 608
Seue nigt ſiðen eu_er_ilc on

Seven nights
after all are let
out of the ark.

He is let ut flegen, crepen, and gon,
wið-uten ilc ſeuend clene der
ðe he ſacrede on an aucter. 612
Sex hundred ger and on dan[113] olde

Noah looked out
of the ark and
saw that the earth
was dry.

Noe ſag ut of ðe arche-wolde;
ðe firſt moned[112] and te firſt dai,
He ſag erðe drie & te wat_er_ awai; 616
get he waſ wiſ and nogt to rad,

Yet went he not
out till he was
bidden by God.

Gede he nogt ut, til god hi_m_ bad.
Ðe toðer moneð was in cumen,
And ſeuene and twenti dais numen, 620
ðo herde Noe wol bliðe bode

At God's command
he and his
family left the
ark.

Of a ſteuene, ðe cam fro gode;
He and hiſe wif wenten ut fre,
Hiſe ſunes and here wifes ðre; 624

Noah made an
altar and sacrificed
thereon.

He made an aucter on godeſ name,
And ſacrede he ðor-on, for ſowleſ frame,

[Fol. 13.]
The seventh deer
was offered up,

Ilc ſeuende der of clene kin,
ðe waſ holden in arche wið-hin, 628

[112] _read_ moneð

[113] _read_ ðan

THE RAINBOW APPEARS IN THE WELKIN.

the others were
allowed to escape
alive.

And leten ðe oðre to liue gon,
of hem ben tudered manigon.

Noah besought
God that he
would no more
send such destruction
upon
mankind.

Often he [bad] wid[114] frigti bede,
ðat ſwiulc wreche ſo god ðo dede 632
Ne ſulde more on werlde cumen,
Q_u_at wreche ſo ðor wurðe numen.

God granted his
request, and
shewed him the
rain-bow as a
token of His love.

God gat it a token of luuen,
Taunede him in ðe wa[l]kene a-buuen 636

The rain-bow is
called red and
blue.

Rein-bowe, men cleped[115] reed and blo;

The blue denotes
the water that
drowned all flesh.

ðe blo tokeneð de[116] wat_er_es wo,
ðat iſ wið-uten and is gon;

The red betokeneth
the destruction
of the world
by fire.

ðe rede wid-innen[117] toknet on 640
wreche ðat ſal get wurðen ſent,
wan al ðis werld wurðe brent;
And al-ſo hege ðe lowe ſal gon,
So ðe flod flet de dunes on; 644
fowerti ger or domeſ-dai,
ðiſ token no man ne ſen mai.

From Noah and
his three sons all
mankind have
come.

Of[118] noe ſiðen an iſ ðre ſunen,
ben boren alle ðe in werlde wunen, 648

Before his death
his family were
widely spread.

And or he waſ on werlde led,
His kinde waſ wel wide ſpred;
Al it iſ writen ic tellen mai
Of his kin bi hiſ liue dai; 652

[Fol. 13b.]
They numbered,
excluding women
and children,
24,000 stalworth
men.

vten childre and vten wi_m_men,
wel fowre and .xx. ðhuſent men
woren ſtalwurði boren bi tale,
wið-uten wif-kin and childre ſmale; 656
.ix. hundred ger and fifti told,
or or he ſtarf, noe waſ old.

Nimrod had
dread of water,
so he advised his
followers to make
a tower high and
strong.

Nembrot gat hiſe feres red,
for ðat he hadde of water dred, 660
To maken a tur, wel heg & ſtrong,
Of tigel and ter, for water-gong;

Seventy-two men
were employed
about it.

Twelwe and ſexti men woren ðor-to,

[114] _read_ wið

[115] _read_ clepeð

[116] _read_ ðe

[117] _read_ wið-innen.

[118] Oſ MS.

CONFUSION OF TONGUES. ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY.

Meiſt_er_ men for to maken it ſo. 664

All spoke one
speech before.

Al waſ on ſpeche ðor bi-foren,

Now sundry
tongues arose
and sorely terrified
the workmen.

ðor woren ſundri ſpeches boren;
ðo wurðen he frigti and a-griſen,
for dor[119] waſ ſundri ſpecheſ riſen, 668

Seventy-two land-speeches
were
then spoken.

Sexti lond-ſpeches and .xii. mo,
weren delt ðane i_n_ werlde ðo.

That tower was
called Babel.

Babel, ðat tur, bi-lef un-mad,

The folk became
scattered afar
upon the earth.

ðat folc iſ wide on lon[de] ſad; 672
Nembrot nam wið ſtrengðhe ðat lond,
And helde ðe tur o babel in hiſ hond.

Belus was Nimrod's
son, and
after him reigned
Nilus, who set up
an image in remembrance
of his
father.

Beluſ king waſ nembrot ſune,
Nilus hiſ ſune gan ille wune; 676
Belus wurð dead, and nilus king
Made likeneſſe, for muni[gin]g[120]

[Fol. 14.]

After hiſ fader, and he ſo dede,
He it ſetten on an mirie ſtede; 680

Nilus rewarded
all that honoured
this likeness.

Eu_er_ilc man he gaf lif and frið
ðat to ðat likeneſſe ſogte grið;
for ðat frið ðat hem [gaf] ðe king,
He boren ðat likneſſe wurðing, 684

They called it
Bel, after Belum.

Calden it bel, after belum;
After ðis cam ſwilc oðer ſum,

Many made likenesses
of their
friends.

Manie man, iſ frend for to munen,
Made likneſſe after ðe wunen, 688

Bel was the first,
and hence the
names Bal or
Balim.

Bel was ðe firſte, and after him
Sum higte beland, ſu_m_ balim,
And ſu_m_ bel, and ſu_m_ bal;
fendes fleiðing wex wið-al, 692
To wenden men fro godes reed,
To newe luue and to newe dred;

Thus was idolatry
introduced, by
which many are
destroyed.

Ydolatrie ðuſ waſ boren,
for q_u_uam mani man iſ for-loren. 696
Of ſem, and of ðe folc ðe of hi_m_ cam,
luue and dred under gode nam;
Of ðis kinge wil we leden ſong,

[119] _read_ ðor

[120] see l. 1623

ABRAM LEAVES MESOPOTAMIA.

Cristes helpe be us amonge! 700

The family of
Shem.

Noe, ſem, arfaxath, ſale,
Heber, phaleth, ðe ſexte iſ he,
Reu, ſaruch, nacor, thare,
ðiſ iſ ðe tende fro noe. 704

[Fol. 14b.]

Ðis oðer werldes elde iſ ſo,
A ðhuſent ger ſeuenti and two.

The third age of
the world began
when Terah begat
Abram.

ðe ðridde werldeſ elde cam,
Quanne thare bi-gat abram; 708
for he bi-gat a ſune aram,
Nachor midleſt, laſt ab_ra_m;

Haran begat Lot
and Sarai and
Milcah.

Aram bi-gat loth, and ſarray,
And melcham, and waſ ſort leui 712

They dwelt in Ur
of the Chaldees.

In lond caldea, hur hicte ðe tun,
Q_u_or deades ſtrenge warp him dun;

Much strife was
there between
father and brother,
children
and wife.

ðor fader, and breðere, and childre, and wif,
Him bi-ſtoden wið ſorwes ſtrif; 716
ðo ðogte thare on hiſ mod,

Terah did not
care to remain
long in this town.

long bigging iſ here nogt god.
Nachor he gaf wif melcam,
And trewe ſarray abram. 720

Abram having no
children adopted
Lot as his son.

Q_ua_nne abram wurð wiſ and war
ðat ſarray non childre ne bar,
He toc him loth on ſunes ſtede;
He waſ hiſe neve, wol wel he dede. 724

Terah left Ur and
came to Haran in
Mesopotamia.

Thare let hur, and ðeðen he nam,
And wulde to lond canahan,
Cam i_n_to a burgt[121] ðat het aram,
In londe meſopothaniam. 728

With him he took
his sons and
daughters.

Wið him ledde he nachor, melcam,
Sarray, loth, and abram.

[Fol. 15.]

Tho[122] hundred ger and fifue mo,

Terah died when
he was two hundred
and five
years old.

Thare waſ old, ſtarf he ðo. 732
Tereſ gliden for herteſ ſor
fro loth, and abram, and nachor;

He lies buried in
Haran.

Thare lið biried in aram.

[121] _read_ burg

[122] _read_ two

ABRAM REACHES CANAAN. HE GOES TO EGYPT.

God ſeide wurd to abram:— 736

God then commanded
Abram
to leave Haran.

"Abram, ðu fare ut of lond and kin
To a lond ic ðe ſal bringen hin."
Sex ger and fiftene mo,
Adde Abram on iſ elde ðo. 740

He departed,
taking with him
Lot and Sarai.

Abram tok loth wið ſarray,
Hiſe agte, and erue he ledde hi_m_ bi,
For in to lond cananeam,

First he came to
Sichem,

And i_n_-to ſichem, a burgt, he nam, 744
And ðeðen he nam to mirie dale;
fif burgeſ were ðor-inne bi tale,

and afterwards
to Pentapolis (the
five cities of the
plain),

ðer-fore it higte pentapolis,
Of weledeſ[123] fulſum and of bliſ, 748
Nov iſt a water of loðlic ble,

where now stands
the Dead Sea.

Men callið it ðe dede ſe;
Ilc ðing deieð ðor-inne iſ driuen;
Ne may no fiſ ðor-inne liuen; 752

The cities were
destroyed for
man's sin.

for mannes ſinne ðus it iſ went,
brent wið brimfir, ſunken and ſhent.
God q_u_ad to abra_m_, "al ðiſ lond
ſal cumen i_n_ to iſ kinneſ hond." 756

[Fol. 15b.]

ðor god him taunede, made hab_ra_m
An alter, and fro ðeðen he nam.

Abram raised an
altar between
Bethel and Ai.

An oðer alter abram ſeli
Made bi-twen betel and ai. 760

Damascus was
the third place
where Abram
dwelt.

At damaſke iſ ðe ðridde ſtede,
Quer abram iſ bigging dede,
And ðeden for he, for hunger bond,

Famine drove
him to Egypt.

feger ut in to egipte lond; 764
ðor he ſeide ðat ſarrai

To save his life
he said that Sarai
was his sister.

waſ hiſ ſiſter, al for-ði
for he dredde him to leten iſ lif
If he wiſten ghe wore iſ wif; 768

Sarai was fair
and Egypt's folk
were lecherous.

for ghe waſ fai[ge]r witter-like,
And ðat folc luuede lecherlike.
Quan ab_ra_m was to egipte cumen,

[123] werldes?

PHARAOH TAKES AWAY SARAI, AND IS PUNISHED BY A PLAGUE.

Soon was Sarai
taken from
Abram, and
brought to king
Pharaoh.

Sone him waſ ſarrai binumen; 772
Sone him waſ ſarray bi-lagt,
And [124]pharaon ðe kinge bi-tagt;

God plagued the
king with sickness.

God ſente on him ſekeneſſe & care,
And lettede al his lecher-fare. 776
Sarray liuede in clene lif,

Pharaoh at last
became aware
that all this strife
was on account
of Sarai,

And ðe king ðholede ſorges ſtrif
Til he wiſte al ðat ſtrif
Cam him on for ab_ra_m wif; 780

so he restored her
to her husband,

ðo ſente he after abram,
And bi-tagte he him iſ leman,

[Fol. 16.]
and gave Abram
land and cattle.

And gaf him lond, and agte, and fe,
And leue, ðor q_u_iles his wille be, 784
To wune egipte folc among,
And friðen him wel fro eu_er_ilc wro_n_g,
Bad him to god hiſ erdne beren,

In Egypt the patriarch
abode in
security.

ðat ywel him ſulde nu_n_mor deren. 788
ðor wunede abra_m_ in welðe and i_n_ frið,

Egypt's clerks
held him in high
honour.

Egipte clerkes woren him wið,
And hem lerede, witt_er_like,
Aſtronomige and arſmetike; 792
He was hem lef, he woren him hold.

God greatly increased
his riches.

God gaf him ðor ſiluer and gold,
And hird, and orf, and ſrud, and ſat,
Vn-achteled welðe he ðor bi-gat. 796

Out of Egypt
Abram went to
Canaan, and
abode between
Bethel and Ai.

Vt of egipte, riche man,
Wente abram i_n_ to lond canaan;
And loth hiſe neue and ſarray
bileften bi-twen betel and ay, 800
ðor he q_u_ilum her wiſten wunen,
Or he weren to egipte cumen.

Strife arose between
Abram and Lot's herdsmen.

So wex here erue, and ſo gan ðen
An twen here hirdeſ ſtriui_n_g gan ben; 804

Lot, by leave of
his uncle, chose
the plains of the

Loth him cheſ, bi leue of abram,
ðat herðe hende ðe flu_m_ iurdan;

[124] _w_ in MS. But the _w_ is much like _p_.

ABRAM DWELLS AT MAMRE. LOT IN SODOM.

Jordan for his
dwelling-place.

In mirie dale hiſe bigginge he ches,
ðat he ſiðen twie for-les. 808

[Fol. 16b.]

Abram let loth in welðe and wale,

Abram dwelt
in Mamre-dale,
towards Ebron.

And ferde a-wei to mambre dale;
ðor wunede abram henden ebron,
ðat burge an oðer man lið on, 812

This city is called
Kirjatharba, _i. e._
four cities.

It atteð cariatharbe,
On engle ſpeche fowre cite;
fowre arbe cariatht arn in,

Four lie buried
there.

for ðat fowre biried ðor ben; 816

There was laid
Adam and Eve,
Abram and
Sarai, Jacob and
Leah.

ðor waſ leid adam and eua,
Abram ſiðen and ſarra;
ðor yſaac and rebecca,
And iacob and hiſe wif lia. 820

Mamre, Eschol,
and Aner were
sworn brothers
with Abram.

MAmbre, wið excol and anel,
ðor luueden Abram ful wel;
He woren breðere of kinde boren,
And abram woren he breðre ſworen. 824
Q_u_or abram wunede, ðor wex bi
An ok' ðat waſ of gibi,

God promised
that Abram's
seed should possess
the land
wherein he was
a stranger.

ðer het god abre ðat tagte lond
Sal cumen al in hiſ kinneſ hond, 828
And eſt and weſt, and ſuð and norð;
Al ðat god wile ſal wel gon forð.

Then was pride
widely spread,
and desire of
sovereignty.

Ðo wurðen waxen ſo wide and ſpred,
pride and giſcinge of lou_er_d-hed; 832

Nearly every city
had its ruler.

Neg ilc burge hadde iſe lou_er_eding,
Sum waſ king, and ſum kumeling;

[Fol. 17.]

Sum waſ wið migte[125] ſo forð gon,
ðat hadden he under hem mani on. 836

The five cities of
Pentapolis, ruled
over by their own
kings,

Fif burges of pentapoliſ,
Adama, bala, Seboyſ,
And ſodoma wið gomorra,
ðe kinges welten burges ðoa, 840

[125] The MS. has migt; but migte is at the bottom of p. 16 b in the
catchwords—"Sū waſ wið migte."

THE BATTLE OF FOUR KINGS AGAINST FIVE.

were conquered
by Chedorlaomer,
and paid
him tribute.

On-kumen was cadalamor,
king of elam, wið ferding ſtor;

Twelve years
they were under
his hand.

.xij. ger he weren under iſ hond,
And gouen him gouel of here lond; 844

In the thirteenth
they rebelled,

.xiij. ger gan ſo forð gon
wulde he giuen him gouel non;

Chedorlaomer
and other three
kings made war
upon the cities.

ðre kinges haued he wið him brogt,
wið here-gonge hiſe gouel ſogt; 848
He ben cumen to mirie dale,
An ðere he werken ſckaðe and bale;

Much sorrow
they wrought.
The four kings
conquered the
five.

fowre on-ſeken and fifue weren,
Oc ðe fowre ðe fiue deren; 852
wunded ðor waſ gret folc and ſlagen,
ðe fifwe flen, ðe fowre ben fagen;

The five flee to
the hills, and the
four to the cities
of the plain.

ðe fifwe up to ðe dunes flen,
ðe fowre in to ðe tuneſ ten; 856
wifwes, and childre, and agte, and ſrud,

They led away
with them Lot,
his goods, children,
and wife.

He ledden a-wei wið herte prud.
Loth and iſ agte, childre and wif,
ben led a-wei bunden wið ſtrif; 860

[Fol. 17b.]

oc on of hem, ðe flogen a-wei

But one escaped
and told Abram,
who armed 313
servants and pursued
the enemy.

Told it abram ðat ilke deai.
ðre hundred men and .xiij. wigt,
Alle ſtalwurði and witt_er_ of figt, 864
wið mambre, and excol, and anel,
Abram let him tunde wel;
ðat hird he folged[126] alſ to ðan,
On heued-welle of flum iordan, 868
ðor he wenden ben ſiker on nigt;
Abram he brogte wel newe figt.

Abram found
them drunk and
sleepy.

He woren drunken and ſlepi,
Abram[127] folc made hem dredi; 872
ſo heg, ſo long, ne ſpared he_m_ nogt,

He brought them
all to ground.

Alle he ben ðor to gronde brogt,
wið-ðuten ðo ðe cuden flen;

[126] folgel in MS.

[127] An _is_ is inserted by a later hand.

ABRAM RESCUES LOT. MELCHIZEDEK BLESSES HIM.

get ne migten he ſiker ben, 876

He pursued them
unto Hoba, near
Damascus.

for magnie[128] of ðo woren ou_er_-taken,
Abram cude hem to ſorwe maken.
Henden damaſk, til burgt oba,
Abram hem folwede and wrogte woa; 880

Much spoil he
took.

wifes, and childre, and ſrud, and ſat,
He brogte agen and mikel he bat;
And tol, and takel, and orf, he dede
wenden hom to here ogen ſtede, 884

All this he did for
love of Lot.

for loteſ luue fel him ðuſ rigt,
Borwen he ben wel of dat[129] figt.

[Fol. 18.]
The king of
Sodom went out
to meet Abram.

Sodomes king in kinge dale,
Mette abram wið feres wale, 888
In ðe weie ðe ligið to ſalem,
ðe ſiðen iſ cald ieruſalem.

Melchizedek
brought him
bread and wine.

Melchiſedech, ſalameſ king,
dede ab_ra_m ðor mikel wurðing; 892
He froðer[ed]e him, after iſ ſwinc,
wið bredeſ fode and wines drinc;

Abram gave him
a tenth of the
spoil.

Habra_m_ gaf him ðe tigðe del
Of alle iſ bigete, and dede ðor wel, 896
And bliſcede dor[130] godeſ migt,
ðat bargt abram wel of ðat figt;

Melchizedek was
both priest and
king.

for he waſ boðen king and preſt,
of elde moſt, of wit hegest; 900

None knew from
what family he
sprung.

wiſte no man of werlðe ðo,
Quat kinde he waſ kumen fro;

Some said that
this king of Salem
was Shem,

Oc ſu_m_me ſeiden ðat it waſ ſem,
ðiſ p_re_ſt and [oc] king of ſalem, 904
or or ðe flod waſ long bi-forn
of noe bi-geten, of[131] iſ wif born,

who lived until
the birth of Isaac.

And fro ſo longe ðor bi-foren
Liuede til yſaac waſ boren. 908

The king of
Sodom offered
Abram the
goods and cattle
taken from the
enemy.

Sodomes king bed dor[132] ab_ra_m
Al agte and erf, wið-uten man,[133]
Alle heſ hadde wið migte bi-geten,

[128] _read_ manige

[129] _read_ ðat

[130] _read_ ðor

[131] MS. oſ.

[132] _read_ ðor

[133] ? nam

ABRAM COMPLAINS FOR WANT OF AN HEIR.

wolde he nogt hi_m_ hiſ ſwinc for-geten, 912

[Fol. 18b.]
The patriarch
would accept of
nothing.

oc ab_ra_m dede ðor meðelike wel,
wid-held he ðor-of neu[_er_]e on del,
oc al ðat eu_er_e fel him to,

Then first began
the custom of
keeping the 15th
year holy.

Sac-les he let hin welden it ſo. 916
Ebruiſ ſeigen, wune hem wex her
To algen ilk fiftene ger,
for loth waſ fifti winter hold,
Quan ab_ra_m him bi-told. 920

Abel first began
first-fruit.

Abel primiceſ firſt bi-gan,

Abram tithes.

And decimas first ab_ra_m;
Nu iſt ſo boden and ſo bitagt,
Quo-ſo hiſ alt him bi agt. 924

After this God
spake to Abram,
saying,
"I am thy safety
and thy defence,
thy toil shall be
requited."

After ðiſ ſpac god to abram:—
"ðin berg and tin werger ic ham.
ðin ſwinc ðe ſal ben gulden wel,
wid[134] michel welðe in good[e] ſel." 928

Quoth Abram,
"What avails
wealth, seeing
that I am childless,
and that Eliezer's
son shall inherit
my wealth?"

Quad he, "q_u_at ſal me welðes ware,
Q_u_ane ic child-leſ of werlde fare;
Damak eliezereſ ſune,
In al min welðe ſal he wunen?" 932

God said, "Of
thyself shall
thine heir come."

Q_u_at god, "ſo ſal it nogt ben,
Of ðe ſelf ſal ðin erward ten."
Abram leuede ðiſ hot i_n_ ſped,
dat[135] waſ him [told] to rigt-wiſhed. 936

Abram took
three deer each
three years old
and offered them
as a sacrifice.

ðre der he toc, ilc ðre ger hold,
And ſacrede god on an wold;

[Fol. 19.]

of godeſ bode he nam god kep,

An heifer, a goat,
and a sheep he
took, and divided
them in two and
set them apart.

A net, and a got, and a ſep; 940
Eu_er_ilc of ðeſe he delte on two,
And let hem lin on ſunder ſo,
Vndelt heſ leide q_u_or-ſo heſ tok;

The dove and the
turtle he divided
not.

And ðor a duue and a turtul ok 944
Sat up on-rum til heuene he tok,
And of ðo doles kep he nam

Greedy fowls fell
upon the carcases.

Gredi foueles fellen ðor-on,

[134] _read_ wið

[135] _read_ ðat

SARAI BEING BARREN GIVES HAGAR TO ABRAM.

ðat ðogte abram wel iwel don, 948

Abram drove
them away.
Then came on
him fear and
fright.

kagte iſ wei, quan it waſ nigt,
ðo cam on him vgging and frigt;

A great and
bright fire he saw
glide down between
the pieces.

A michel fier he ſag, and an brigt,
gliden ðor twen ðo doles rigt. 952

In a dream God
showed Abram
the future condition
of his descendants.

God ſeide him ðor a ſoðe drem
ðe timinge of iſ beren-tem,
And hu he ſulde in pine ben,
And uten erdes ſorge ſen; 956
fowre hundred ger ſulden ben gon,

Canaan is promised
as his inheritance.

Hor he ſulden wel cumen a-gon,
oc ſiðen ſulde in here hond,
bi-cumen ðat hotene lond. 960

Then knew
Abram much
more of what was
to come than he
ever knew before.

ðo wiſte abram wel michel mor
Quat waſ to cumen ðan he wiſte or.

Sarai, being barren,
gives Hagar
to Abram.

Siðen bi-fel ðat ſarrai,
for ghe waſ longe untuderi, 964

[Fol. 19b.]

Ghe bitagte abre maiden agar;
Ghe wurð wið childe and hem two bar;
forð ſiðen ghe bi ab_ra_m ſlep,

Hagar having
conceived,
despised her
mistress.

Of hire leuedi nam ghe no kep; 968
And ſarrai wuldet nogt ðolen
ðat agar wore ðuſ to-bolen;

Sarai afflicts her
thrall.

Ghe held hire hard in ðralleſ wune,
And dede hire ſorge and anger mune; 972

Hagar flees from
Sarai into the
desert homeless
and weary.

ðo fleg agar fro ſarray,
wimman wið childe, one and ſori,
In ðe diſerd, wil and weri,
And an angel cam ðor hire bi, 976
wiſte hire drogen ſori for ðriſt,

An angel commands
her to
return and be
buxom to her
lady.

At a welle q_ue_mede hire liſt,
And bad hire ſone wenden agen,
And to hire leuedi buxum ben; 980

He tells her of
her child.

And ſeide ghe ſulde ſunen wel
And timen, and clepen it ſmael,[136]

[136] A metrical licence for "iſmael."

ISHMAEL IS BORN. CIRCUMCISION IS INSTITUTED.

And he ſulde ben man migti,
And of him kumen folc frigti; 984

Hagar returns,
and Ishmael is
born.

Ghe wente agen, and bar ðat child,
And abra_m_ wurð wið hire milde.

Abram was then
fourscore and six
years old.

lxxx. gere and ſexe mo
Hadde ab_ra_m on hiſ elde ðo, 988
And .xiii. ger ðor after told,

When Abram
was ninety-nine
years old God
changed his name
to Abraham.

ix. and nigneti[137] ger he waſ old,

[Fol. 20.]

Q_u_uanne him cam bode in ſunder run,
fro gode of circumcicioun. 992
His name ðo wurð a lettre mor,
Hiſ wiueſ leſſe ðan it waſ or,
for ðo wurd abram abraham,

Sarai's name is
also changed to
Sarah.

And ſarray ſarra bi-cam; 996
And al ðat eu_er_e ðe lou_er_ed bad,
dede abraham redi and rad.

Circumcision is
instituted.

He him ſelf wurð ðanne circu_m_ciſ,
And yſmael hiſ ſune iwiſ; 1000
And of iſ hird eu_er_ilc wapman
wurð circu_m_ciſ, al-so he it bi-gan,

Whoso bore not
this mark upon
him was to be cut
off from God's
folk.

Q_u_uo ne bar ðanne iſ merk him on
fro godes folc ſulde he be don. 1004

Afterwards in the
dale of Mamre
Abraham saw
figures three,
seemly messengers
from God.

Siðen, in ðe dale of mambre,
ſag abraha_m_ figures ðre,
Sondes ſemlike kumen fro gode;
Abraha_m_ he broghten wel bliðe bode. 1008
Abraha_m_ he[m] ran wel ſwiðe agon,

Abraham entertains
the angels.

And of ðe ðre he wurðede ðe ton,
ðe god him dede in herte ſen,
ðe waſ wurði wurðed to ben; 1012

He set before
them calves flesh,
bread and flour
and butter.

bred, kalueſ fleiſ, and flures bred,
And buttere, hem ðo sondes bed;

What he offered
with a free heart
his guests took
in charity,

for ðat he bad wið herte fre,
He it nomen in charite; 1016

[Fol. 20b.]
though it was but
as a drop of water
in a fire.

So malt ðat mete in hem to nogt,
So a watreſ drope in a fier brogt.

[137] _read_ nigenti

ABRAHAM IS PROMISED A SON.

Abraham ſtod and q_u_amede hem wel,
Hiſ good[e] wil was hem good mel. 1020

Abraham is promised
a son.

Q_u_uad ðiſ on, "ðiſ time oðer ger,
Sal ic me to ðe taunen her;
Bi ðan ſal ſarra ſelðe timen,
ðat ge ſal of a ſune trimen." 1024

Sarah heard the
words of the
Lord.

ðanne herde ſarra ſwilc tiding,
And it hire ðogte a ſelli ðhing,
for ghe waſ nigenti winter hold,
Abraham on wane of an hundred told; 1028

She did not believe
them.

Ghe glente and ðhogte, migte it nogt ben,
And ghe ðat ſulde her wið childe be ſen;

Abraham, however,
trowed it
full well.

And Abraham trewid it ful wel,
And it wurð ſoð binnen ſwilc ſel. 1032

Then the three
went towards
Sodom.

Fro mambre dale wente ðo ðre,
to-ward ſodome geden he;
Q_u_ad ðe lou_er_ed, "wile ic nogt ſtelen,

The destruction
of Sodom is revealed
to Abraham.

Ne min dede abraham helen; 1036
Ic cume to ſen ðat ſinne dwale
ðat iſ me told of mirieſ dale."

He is in great
grief on account
of Lot.

ðo adde abram iſ herte ſor,
for loth hiſ newe wunede ðor. 1040

He intercedes for
the wicked cities.

"Lou_er_d," q_u_ad he, "hu ſaltu don,
If ðu ſalt nimen wreche ðor on;

[Fol. 21.]

Salt ðu nogt ðe rigt-wiſe weren,
Or for hem ðe toðere með beren?" 1044

God promises to
spare the cities
for the sake of
five righteous.

Q_u_ad god, "find ic ðor ten or mo,
Ic ſal meðen ðe ſtede for ðo."
Durſte Abraham freinen nu_n_mor,

Abraham departs
sore at heart.

Oc wente agen wið herte ſor; 1048
And god at-wot in-to hiſe ligt,
ðo to gon to ſodome rigt.

At even two angels
came to
Sodom.

Sunne iſ weſt under erðe numen,
Q_u_ua_n_ne he ben to ſodome cumen; 1052

Lot sat at the
city's gate, and
seeing them,

Get ſat loth at ðe burges gate,
After ſum geſte ſtod him quake;[138]

[138] _read_ quate

LOT ENTERTAINS TWO ANGELS.

He roſ, and lutte, and ſcroð hi_m_ wel,

he invited them to
his home to stay
with him that
night.

And bead hem hom to iſ oſtel 1056
To herbergen wið him ðat nigt,
ðo ſwete angeles, faier and brigt;
And he ſo deden alſ he hem bead,
He wiſten him bergen fro ðe dead; 1060

Lot served his
guests fair and
well.

And loth hem ſerued faire and wel,
And he him gulden it eu_er_ilc del.
Oc al ðat burgt folc ðat helde waſ on,
ðe migte lecher crafte don, 1064

The wicked Sodomites
beset
Lot's house.

To lothes huſ he cumen ðat nigt
And bi-ſetten it redi to figt;

They bade him
bring out the
strangers.

He boden him bringen ut o-non,
ðo men ðat woren ðidir in-gon. 1068

[Fol. 21b.]
Lot offered them
his daughters.

Loth hem bead iſ dogtres two,
for to friðen hiſe geſte ſwo;
Oc he ne wulden hiſ dogtres nogt,

The wicked folk
sought to harm
Lot.

for wicke and feble waſ here ðogt. 1072
ðat folc vn-ſeli, ſinne wod,
ðo ſori wrecches of yuel blod
wulden him ðor gret ſtrengðe don,
Til wreche and letting cam hem on. 1076

The angels drew
Lot in.

ðis angels two drogen loth in,
And ſhetten to ðe dure-pin.

Blindness came
upon the Sodomites,

Wil ſiðen cam on eu_er_ilc on,
ðo wrecches ðe wið-vten gon, 1080
for al ðat nigt he ſogten ðor

and they sought
the door in vain.

ðe dure, and fundend[139] neu_er_e mor.
ðo ſeiden ðiſ angeles to loth wið ſped,

Lot is commanded
to leave the
city with his
friends before
daybreak.

If ðu frend haueſt and wi[l]t don red, 1084
Bid him, or day, redi ben,
And ſwiðe ut ðiſ burgeſ flen,
elles ſulen he brennen and for-faren,
If he ne bi time heðe[n] waren. 1088
Two ðor werren q_u_am hi_m_ ðogte ear
To wedden hiſ two dogtres ðear;[140]

[139] So in MS.

[140] _read_ dear

THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.

Lot warned his
sons-in-law in
vain.

Loth hem warnede, wiſlike and wel,
Oc he ne troweden hi_m_ neu_er_e a del. 1092

The angels led
Lot and his
family out of
Sodom,

On morgen quan day ca_m_ he_m_ to,
Loth and hiſ dogtres two

[Fol. 22.]

Ledden ðiſ angeles ut in ſel,

and bade them
turn not back.

And boden hem and tagten wel, 1096
ðat here non wente agen,
for non ðhing he migte ſen.

Lot thought the
way to the hills
hard and strong.

Loth waſ wanſum, and ðugte long
vp to ðo dunes ðe weie hard and ſtrong; 1100

He intreated that
he might dwell
in Segor.

"Lou_er_d," q_u_at he, "gunde under dun,
mot hic ben borgen in ðat tun!"
ðo angeles ſeiden, "we ſulen it ſren,[141]
ðor quile ðu wilt ðor-inne ben; 1104

This city was safe
while Lot abode
there;

Ai waſ borgen bala-ſegor
ðor q_u_ile ðat loth dwelledde ðor;

when he left it,
it was destroyed.

Oc ſiðen loth wente ut of hine,
brende it ðhunder, ſanc it erðe-dine. 1108
Sone ſo loth ut of ſodome cam,

Sodom was destroyed
by fire,

brend-fier-rein ðe burge bi-nam;
Hardere wreche ðor waſ cumen
ðan ear was vnder flode numen; 1112

for sin and "unkind
deeds."

for men ðor ſinne un-kinde deden,
ſo for-ſanc and brente ðat ſteden;
So bitter-like iſ it for-don,
Ne mai non dain waſſen ðor-on; 1116
So for-ſanc ðat folc ſinful ðor,
ſwilc ſinful ſinne wex ðer nu_n_mor.

Lot's wife turned
back, and "went
into a stone."

Ðo lotes wif wente hire a-gon,
Sone ghe ſtod, wente i_n_ to a ſton; 1120

[Fol. 22b.]
Thus is this
merry dale
turned into a
swarthy lake.

So iſt nu forwent mirie dale
In to dririhed and in to bale,
ðe ſwarte flum, ðe dede ſe,
Non fiſ, non fuel ðor-inne mai be. 1124
ðat water iſ ſo deades driuen,

Nothing may live
therein.

Non ðing ne mai ðor-inne liuen;

[141] ? fren

THE BIRTHS OF AMMON AND MOAB.

Men ſeið ðe treen ðat ðor henden ben

Trees on its banks
produce apples,

Waxen i_n_ time, and brimen, and ðen, 1128
Oc q_u_ane here apples ripe ben,

which contain
ashes only.

fier-iſles man mai ðor-i_n_ne ſen;
ðat erd iſ oten ſaltes dale,
Maniman ðor-of holdet litel tale. 1132

Lot soon left
Segor.

Loth wuned litel in ſegor,
for he dredde him for to forfare ðor;
Wið hiſe two dowtres ut he teg,

For fear he fled
to the hills, and
dwelt in a cave.

And for dred to ðo dunes he fleg; 1136
And ðor he biggede i_n_ a caue[n],
ðe waſ ðor i_n_ roche grauen.

Lot's daughters
thought _all mankind_
had perished,
and that, unless
they had
children, the
world would
come to an end.

ðo meidenes herden q_u_ilu_m_ ſeien,
ðat fier ſulde al ðis werld forſweðen, 1140
And wenden wel ðat it were cumen,
And fiereſ wreche on werld numen,
And ðat man-kinde wore al for-loren
but of hem ðre wore man boren. 1144

They consulted
as to what was
best to be done.

ðis maidenes redden ſone[142] on-on
Q_u_at hem two wore beſt to don,

[Fol. 23.]

Hu he migten vnder-gon

They made their
father drunk so
that he wrought
the deed, and
each begot a
child.

Here fader, ðat he ne[143] wore ðor gon; 1148
Wið wineſ drinc he wenten iſ ðhogt,
So ðat he haueð ðe dede wrogt,
And on eiðer here a knaue bi-geten,
ðiſ ne mai nogt ben for-geten. 1152
ðiſ maidenes deden it in god dhogt,[144]
ðe fader oc drunken ne wiſte he it nogt.

The first bore
Moab, the other
Ammon.

ðe firſte him bar moab ðat ſune,
Of him beð folc, [in] moab it wune; 1156
ðe leſſe him bar a ſune amon,
Amonit folces fader on.

Now turn we to
Abraham.

NV bi-oueð uſ to wenden a-gen,
And of abrah_a_m ſong under-gon. 1160

On the morrow
he looked toward
Sodom,

Abraha_m_ up on morgen ſtod,
Wið reuli lote and frigti mod;

[142] MS. ſono.

[143] MS. hene.

[144] _read_ ðogt.

ABRAHAM DWELLS IN GERAR.

and saw that the
city had been
destroyed.

To-ward ſodome he ſag ðe roke
And ðe brinfires ſtinken[145] ſmoke, 1164

For sorrow he left
Mamre's dale

And wente a-wei fro mambre dale,
So ſore him reu of ðat bale.

and went and
abode in Gerar.

Suðen he wente & wunede i_n_ geraris,
bi-twen cade and vr, y-wis; 1168

There he said
Sarah was his
sister.

ðor he ſeide eft, for luue of lif,
ðat ſiſter wore ſarra his wif.
Q_u_ilu_m_ of[146] er [147]pharraon hire toc,
Nu takeð abimalech hire oc; 1172

[Fol. 23b.]
Abimelech took
her to wife.

Sene it was ðat ghe waſ fair wif,
Quan ghe waſ luued in ſo long lif.
Abimalech wurð ſek on-on,

Sickness fell on
him and on his
folk.

And oðer wreche iſ folc cam on; 1176
Nogt wif-kinnes non birðe ne nam,
ðor q_u_iles he ðor wið-helð ſaram.
On dreme him cam tidi_n_g for-q_u_at

The cause of this
evil was made
known to him in
a dream.

He ðrowede and ðolede un-timing ðat; 1180
Al it waſ for abraham-iſ wif,
ðat he hire held ðor wið ſtrif;
ðo bi-ðhogte him ful wel,
And ſente after abraha_m_ ðat ilc ſel, 1184

He sent back
Sarah,

And bi-tagte him hiſ wif a-non,
And hiſ yuel ſort[148] waſ ouer-gon.

his wife and
others bore children,
and the quinsy
no more troubled
him.

His wif and oðere birðe beren,
ða ðe ſwinacie gan him nu_n_mor deren. 1188
Abimalech gaf abraham
Gold, and ſiluer, and lond for-ðan;

Plates of silver he
gave to Sarah.

A ðhuſant plates of ſilu_er_ god
Gaf he ſarra ðat faire blod, 1192
Bad hire ðor hir wið[149] heuod ben hid,
for ſwilc timing was hire bi-tid.
Ðo wulde god bi-ſewen ſo
of olde abraha_m_ and o ſarra ſo. 1196
Ghe wurd wið child, on elde wac,

The birth of
Isaac.

And trimede and cleped it yſaac.

[145] _for_ ſtinkende

[146] _read_ aſ?

[147] MS. w

[148] fort in MS.

[149] _read_ ðor wið hir

THE BANISHMENT OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL.

[Fol. 24.]

ðe egtende dai ðat he waſ boren,

He was circumcised
on the
eighth day,

Circu_m_ciſed he waſ, a-buten ſchoren; 1200
ðor-of holden ðe ieuwes lay,
Circu_m_ciſed on ðe egtende day.
Arabit folc of yſmael,

which custom the
Jews follow.

After him don he it al ſwilk ſel, 1204
Q_u_ane he .xiii. ger ben old;
Of yſmael here time iſ told.

When Isaac was
three years old
Abraham made a
great feast.

Ðre ger woren yſaac on,
Q_u_ane he waſ fro teding don; 1208
Michel geſtni_n_ge made abraham
Q_u_ane he ðat ſune to borde nam.
Wintres forð-wexen on yſaac,

Ishmael often
mocked Isaac,

And yſmael waſ him vn-ſwac; 1212
Of-ten it gan yſaac un-framen,
And yſmael pleide hard gamen;

which caused
Sarah to be very
wroth.

Sarra waſ ðor-fore often wroð,
Hir waſ yſmaeles anger loð; 1216

She complains to
Abraham.

Ghe bi-mente hire to abraham,
And ſumdel ligtlike he it nam
Til god him bad iſ wiues tale
Liſten, and don a-wei ðat dwale. 1220
Abraham rapede hi_m_ ſone i_n_ ſped
for to fulfillen godeſ reed;

Abraham banishes
Hagar and
her son.

He flemede agar and yſmael
In ſumertid, In egeſt ſel; 1224

[Fol. 24b.]

Bred, and a fetles wið water fild,
Bar agar wið hire and wið ðe child;

By the desert
they took their
way.

Bi ðe deſert a-wei che nam,
In ard weie and hete gram; 1228
Wið ſwinc and hete hem wexon ðriſt,

They became
very thirsty.

ðe water ſleckede ðe childeſ liſt;
Tid-like hem gan ðat wat_er_ laken,

The water in the
bottle became
spent.

ðo gan agareſ ſorwe waken; 1232
Wantede ðit child faierneſſe and migt,
Hiſ moder wurð neg dead for frigt.

ABIMELECH COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM,

Hagar placed her
child under a
tree,

Ghe leide ðe child under a tre,
fer ðeðen ghe gede, ſo it gan be, 1236
ðe child ne mai ghe for ſorge ſen;
Bi al-ſo fer ſo a boge mai ten,

and sat as far as
a bow-shot off.

ðor ſat hiſ moder in ſik and ſor,

She thought it
could not recover.

wende ghe it cou_er_en neu_er_e mor. 1240
Goddeſ merci dede hire reed,

An angel showed
her a well-spring,

An angel meðede hire ðat ned,
Tagte hire ðor a welle ſpring,
ðat waſ hire ðor ſeli timing; 1244

and she gave the
lad drink and
bread.

ðor ghe gan fremen yſmael
Wið watreſ drinc and bredeſ mel,

Forth they went
and dwelt in
Paran.

filt hire feteleſ, and na_m_ fro ðan
forð to ðe deſert of [150]pharan; 1248

Ishmael married
an Egyptian
woman.

ðor wunede yſmael and agar.
Ghe cheſ him a wif ðe childre bar;

[Fol. 25.]
Twelve sons he
had, of whom
sprang great nations.

.xii. ſuneſ he auede bi hiſ wif,
Of him cam kinde mikil and rif. 1252
Nabachot waſ hiſ firſt ſune,

In Arabia they
dwelt.

In arabie hiſ kinde wune
fro ðe riche flod eufrate,
Wid and fer to ðe rede ſe; 1256

Kedar gave name
to a kingdom.

Of hiſ oðer ſune cedar,
A ku[n]griche hiſ name bar;

From Dumah
came the kingdom
of Dirima.

And of duma hiſ ſexte ſune,
A ku[n]gdom dirima ðu mune; 1260
Hiſ .ix. waſ tema for-ðan,

Teman gets its
name from Tema.

Iſ ðor a ku[n]glond teman;
And .xii. of ðe cedima,
Het a guglond[151] eſten fro ða. 1264
Flemd waſ agar and yſmael,
and yſaac wex and ðehg wol wel.

Abimelech makes
a covenant with
Abraham,

Abimalech ſag abraham,
Hu welðe him wex and migte cam, 1268
He bad him maken ſiker pligt
Of luue and trewðe, in frendeſ rigt,

[150] _w_ MS.

[151] _read_ kunglond

AND GIVES HIM THE WELL OF BEERSHEBA.

ðat ne ſulde him nogwer deren,
Oc him and hiſe helpen and weren; 1272

and gives him
the well of Beersheba.

He gaf hi_m_ a welle and a lond fre,
Abraham it clepede berſabe;
ðor ben he boðen feren pligt
ðat here neiðer ſal don oðer un-rigt. 1276

[Fol. 25b.]

Abraham gan ðor longe ben,
And tillede corn and ſette treen,

Abraham left the
land much richer
than he found it.

ðog [it] waſ nogt iſ kinde lond;
Richere he it leet ðan he it fond. 1280
Iff ioſephus ne legeð me,
ðor q_u_iles he wunede in berſabe,

When Isaac was
twenty-five years
old,

ſo waſ yſaaceſ eld told
xx. and fiwe winter old; 1284

God's word came
to Abraham,—

ðo herde abraha_m_ ſteuene fro gode,
Newe tiding, and ſelkuð bode:—

"Take Isaac thy
son,

"Tac ðin ſune yſaac in hond,
And far wið him to ſiðhingeſ lond, 1288

and offer him on
a hill that I shall
show thee."

And ðor ðu ſalt him offren me
On an hil ðor ic ſal taunen ðe."
fro berſabe iurneſ two
Waſ ðat lond ðat he bed him two;[152] 1292

Moriah that hill
was called.

And morie, men ſeið, waſ ðat hil,
ðat god him tawne[de] i_n_ his wil;

Upon this hill
was afterwards
built Solomon's
temple.

Men ſeið ðat dune-iſ ſiðen on
Was mad temple ſalamon, 1296
And ðe auter mad on ðat ſtede
ðor abraha_m_ he[153] offrande dede.

Abraham was
obedient to God's
commands.

Abraham waſ buxu_m_ o rigt,
Hiſe weie he tok ſone bi nigt; 1300
ðe ðrid[d]e day he ſagt ðe ſtede
ðe god him witen in herte dede;

[Fol. 26.]
He came to the
hill and sent his
servants away.

ðan he cam dun to ðo duneſ fot,
Non of hiſ men forðere ne mot, 1304
But yſaac iſ dere childe,

Isaac bare the
wood,

He bar ðe wude wið herte mild,

[152] _read_ to

[153] _read_ ðe

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC.

and Abraham the
fire and the
sword.

And abraham ðe fier and ðe ſwerd bar;
ðo wurð ðe child witt_er_ and war 1308
ðat ðor ſal offrende ben don,
Oc ne wiſte he q_u_uat, ne q_u_or-on;

"Where," quoth
Isaac, "is the offering
that thou
wilt make?"

"fader," q_u_að he, "q_u_ar ſal ben taken
ðe offrende ðat ðu wilt maken?" 1312

Quoth Abraham,
"God will provide
the offering.

Q_u_at abraha_m_, "god ſal bi-ſen
Q_u_or-of ðe ofrende ſal ben;

In a wonderful
manner thou
camest into the
world, and so
shalt thou depart
hence.

Sellik ðu art on wer[l]de cumen,
Sellic ðu ſalt ben heðen numen; 1316
Wið-uten long ðhrowing and figt,
God wile ðe taken of werlde nigt,

God requires thee
as an offering."

And of ðe seluen holocaustu_m_ hauen,
ðanc it him ðat he it wulde crauen." 1320

Isaac was ready
to be sacrificed.

Yſaac waſ redi mildelike,
Quan ðat he it wiſte witt_er_like.
Oc abraham it wulde wel
q_u_at-ſo god bad, ðwerted he it neu_er_ a del; 1324

Isaac was placed
upon the altar.

Yſaac waſ leid ðat auter on,
So men ſulden holocauſt don;

Abraham drew
out his sword to
slay his son, but
an angel forbad
him to harm the
child.

And abraha_m_ ðat ſwerd ut-drog,
And waſ redi to ſlon hi_m_ nuge,[154] 1328

[Fol. 26b.]

Oc angel it him for-bed,
And barg ðe child fro ðe dead;
ðo wurð abraha_m_ frigti fagen,
for yſaac bi-leaf un-ſlagen; 1332
Bi-aften bak, aſ he nam kep,

A ram is offered
instead of Isaac.

faſte in ðornes he ſag a ſep,
ðat an angel ðor-inne dede;
It waſ brent on yſaac ſtede. 1336

Ere Abraham departed
God swore
to him that his
seed should inherit
the land.

And, or abraham ðeðen for,
God hi_m_ ðor bi hi_m_-ſeluen ſwor
ðat he ſal michil hiſ kinde maken,
And ðat lond he_m_ to honde taken; 1340
Good ſelðhe ſal him cumen on,
for he ðiſ dede wulde don.

[154] _read_ nog?

ELIEZER IS SENT TO MESOPOTAMIA.

Abraham went
home joyful and
glad.

He wente bliðe and fagen agen,
To berſabe he gunne teen, 1344
Sarra waſ fagen in kindes wune,
ðat [hire][155] bilef ðat dere ſune.

While at Beersheba
he heard
good tidings of
Nahor.

Ðor q_u_iles abraham wunede ðor,
Him cam good tiding of nachor, 1348
ðat melca bar him egte ſunen;

Huz was Nahor's
first-born.

Huſ waſ eldeſt, if we rigt munen.

Job came of his
kin.

Rigt-wiſ iob cam of hiſ kin,
Hus lond he waſ riche wid-hin;[156] 1352

Of Buz came the
Buzites, Eliv and
Balaam.

Of[157] buz, hiſ broðeres kin, cam
Buzites, Eliv, Balaam.

[Fol. 27.]
Abraham went
again to Mamre.

Abraham, riche of welðe and wale,
wente a-gen in to manbre dale; 1356

Sarah died being
127 years old.

Sarra ðo ſtarf, an hundred ger old
And ſeuene and .xx. winter told.

Abraham sent
Eliezer to Mesopotamia,

Abraham ſente eliezer
to lond meſopotanie fer, 1360
To caram ðor iſ fader lay,
(Or he cam ðor waſ manie day)

to fetch a wife
for Isaac.

To fechen yſaac hom a wif,
Of hiſ kinde ðe ðor waſ in lif. 1364

Ten camels he
took with him.

Ten kameles ſemeð[158] forð he nam,

Eliezer came to
a well without
the city.

Wið michel ſwinc he ðider cam
At a welle wið-uten ðe tun;
ðor he leide hiſe ſemes dun, 1368

He there prayed
to God to send
him good speed.

ðor he wulde him reſten and ben,
Sum good tiding heren or ſen.
"Lou_er_d god," q_u_að he mildelike,
"min erdne ðu forðe ſelðhelike, 1372
ðiſ dai me lene hire to ſen,
ðat ſal yſaaces leman ben."

He offered his
prayer in a good
time.

He bad hiſe bede on good ſel.
Rebecca, bi-geten of batuel, 1376

[155] MS. hire is written over in the later hand.

[156] _read_ wið-hin

[157] MS. "Ob."

[158] _read_ ſemede?

ELIEZER MEETS WITH REBEKAH.

Rebekah came to
that well,

Of nachor bi-geten, of melca boren,
Cam to ðat welle ðor him bi-foren,

and she gave him
and his camel
water to drink.

And hi_m_ and ilc-on his kamel
Wið watres drinc ghe q_ue_mede wel. 1380

[Fol. 27b.]

Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen,
Ne wor nogt ſo forð ðeuwe numen.

Eliezer learned
that she was of
the family of
Nahor.

Eliezer lerede ðor
ðat batuel cam of nachor; 1384
Of batuel ðis maiden cam
ghe waſ forð nifte of abraha_m_;

Thought he, this
maiden will I
have as a wife
for Isaac.

ðogte he, ðiſ maiden wile ic hauen
And to min lou_er_des bofte bi-crauen;[159] 1388
for kindes luue he waſ hire hold,

He gave her ear-rings
and bracelets
of gold.

Wið beges and ringes boðen of gold,
Aſkede here if ghe migte taken
Herberge for hire frendes ſake[n]. 1392
Maiden rebecca ðanne ran,
And kiddit to hire broðer laban,

Laban came to
the well, invited
him home, and
entertained him
well.

And laban cam to ðat welle ner,
faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer, 1396
And[160] fond good grið and good hostel,
Him, and hiſe men, and hiſe kamel.

Eliezer would not
eat till he had
told his errand;

Eliezer, or he wulde eten,
Wulde he nogt hiſe erdene for-geten; 1400
Al he tolde hem fro q_ue_ðen he cam,
And for q_u_at erdene he ðider nam;
Tolde hem tiding of abraham,
Quilc ſelðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam, 1404

how he had been
sent by Abraham
to seek a wife for
Isaac.

Sent he waſ ðider, for kinde wune,
After a wif to yſaac hiſ ſune.

[Fol. 28.]

ſeide he, "rebecca wile ic hauen,
To yſac-iſ bi-ofte wile ic crauen. 1408

Laban and the
mother were well
pleased with the
messenger.

Laban and hiſ moder wið-ðan
fagneden wel ðiſ ſondere man;

[159] _read_ bi-ofte crauen? _v._ l. 1408.

[160] Anð MS.

ISAAC TAKES REBEKAH TO WIFE.

(Quan god haueð it ſo bi-ſen,
Alſe he ſendet, alſ it ſal ben.) 1412

With gold and
silver and raiment
Eliezer
made the maiden
proud.

Wið gold, and ſilu_er_, and wið ſrud,
ðiſ ſonde made ðe mayden prud;

Gifts also he gave
to the brother
and mother.

ðe broðer and de[161] moder oc
Riche gifteſ eliezer ðe[162] toc. 1416
Sone o-morwen he gan hi_m_ garen,

No longer than
one night would
he delay his errand.

And crauede hiſ erdene, and wolde ho_m_ faren,
for ſcrið, ne mede, ne wold he ðor
Ou_er_ on nigt drechen nu_n_mor; 1420
And ðo gan ðat moder and laban

Rebekah's consent
was first
asked and obtained.

Rebecca freinen ðor for-ðan,
And ghe it grantede mildelike,
And he hire bi-tagten bliðelike. 1424

For this reason
men ask the woman's
will before
she is given in
marriage.

Siðen men hauen holden ſkil,
firſt to freinen ðe wi_m_maneſ wil,
Or or men hire to lou_er_d giue,
for wedding or for morgen-giwe. 1428

Eliezer takes his
departure, wishing
all a good
day.

Eliezer iſ went hiſ wei
And haueð hem boden godun dai.
Or he wel homward cumen was,
Yſaac waſ cume to geraſis, 1432

[Fol. 28b.]
Isaac mourned
for the death of
his mother.

And wunede ðor in ðogt and care,
for moderes dead and ſondes fare.
In a weie an time he cam,
And to a welle, ſigande, he nam, 1436
ðohgteful he waſ on felde gon;
Eliezer him cam a-gon,

Eliezer brought
him a wife by
whom he was
comforted.

Eððede hiſ ſorge, brogt him a wif
Of faiger waspene,[163] of clene lif. 1440
He fagnede hire wið milde mod,
Here ſameni[n]g was clene and god;

Isaac loved Rebekah
well, and
she never contradicted
him.

He luuede hire on-like and wel,
And ſge ne bi-ſpac him neu_er_e a del. 1444

[161] _read_ ðe

[162] _read_ ðo?

[163] An error for wasteme.

THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB.

Men say that
Abraham called
Hagar Keturah.

Get men seyn[164] ðat abraham,
ſiðen calde agar ceturam,

She bore him
seven sons.

And ſge bar him ſiðen ſex ſunen;
Abraham dede hem ſiðen ſundri wunen; 1448
fer eſt fro cratonidé,
Weren he ſpred to ðe rede se.
Yſaac he let al hiſ god,
for he waſ bi-geten of kinde blod. 1452

Abraham died at
the age of 175.

An hundred ger hold and ſeuenti
And .v. he waſ leid ſarram bi.
boðen yſaac and yſmael
Him bi-ſtoden wurlike and wel. 1456

Ishmael was 137
years old when
he died.

On hundred ger and .xxxvij.
Liuede yſmael and waſ ðor bi.

[Fol. 29.]
Isaac was forty
years old when
he took Rebekah
to wife.

Yſaac waſ hold .xl. ger
Quanne rebecca cam him ner; 1460
Longe it waſ or ghe him child bar,

Isaac intreated
the Lord for his
wife, who was
barren.

And he bad god, qua_n_ne he it wurð war,
ðat he ſulde fillen ðat quede
ðat he[165] abraham q_u_ilum dede. 1464
ðo wurð rebecca childre bere,

Rebekah conceived.

ðat ghe felte ful time i_n_ gere;
At on burdene ghe under-stod
two ðe weren hire ſibbe blod; 1468
Alſe ðhute hire day and nigt,

The children
struggled together
within
her.

Alſe he wrogten and[166] figt,
Queðer here ſulde birðen bi-foren.

Esau was the
first born, and
Jacob was born
soon after.

Oc eſau waſ firmeſt boren, 1472
And iacob ſone after, ic wot,
for ðat he heldim bi ðe fot.

Sixty years was
Isaac at this
time.

Sexti ger yſaac waſ old,
Quan ðiſ tidi[n]g him waſ told; 1476
Ghe[167] was abraham liues her,
After ðiſ, fiftene ger.

[164] _seyn_ is at the side in a later hand.

[165] In a later hand at the side.

[166] _read_ an?

[167] _read_ get

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FIRST BORN.

Isaac's sons grew
up and had different
occupations.

Wexen boden yſaac ſunes,
And ðhogen, and adden ſundri wunes; 1480

Esau was a
hunter, and
Jacob a husbandman.

Eſau wilde man huntere,
And Iacob tame man tiliere.

Isaac loved Esau
for that he was
the eldest.

ðe fader luuede eſau wel,
for firme birðe & ſwete mel; 1484

[Fol. 29b.]
Rebekah loved
Jacob because of
his peaceful disposition.

ðe moder, iacob for tamehed,
And for ðe ali gaſteſ red.
Iacob An time him ſeð a mete

Jacob sod pottage.

ðat man callen lentil gete, 1488

Esau came from
the field hungry.

And eſau fro felde cam,
Sag ðis pulment, hunger hi_m_ nam.

"Brother," said
he, "give me of
this warm meat,
for I am weary."

"Broðer iacob," q_u_at eſau,
"Of ðiſ warme mete ðu gif me nu, 1492
for ic ham mattilike weri."
Iacob wurð war he waſ gredi;

Jacob said, "Sell
me thy birthright,
and I will
fill thee with
meat."

"Broðer," q_u_ad he, "ſel me ðo wunes,
ðe q_ue_ðen ben ðe firme ſunes, 1496
ðat ic ðin firme birðehe gete,
If ic ðe fille wið ðiſ mete."

Esau consented
full blithely.

Q_u_ad eſau, "ful bliðelike,"
And gafe it him wel ſikerlike. 1500

The eldest son
was highly honoured.

firme birðe waſ wurði wune
ðe fader dede ðe firme ſune;
ðe firme ſune at offrende ſel
Waſ wune ben ſcrid ſemelike and wel, 1504

At his father's
death he had the
blessing.

And ſulde auen ðe bliſcing
Or or ðe fader dede hiſ endi_n_g;
And at heg tide and at geſtni_n_g,
ðe gungere[168] ſune geuen ðe bliſcing, 1508

At meat he had
a double portion.

And hauen mete ðan at iſ mel,
More or ðe gungere twinne del;

[Fol. 30.]
His inheritance
was twice as
much as the
younger's share.

And q_u_anne ðe fader were grauen,
two doles of ereward riche auen. 1512

[168] An error for eldere.

JACOB DEFRAUDS ESAU OF THE BLESSING.

A famine banished
Isaac to Gerar.

An time dede hunger yſaac flen,
And he wulde to egipte then,[169]
Oc god him ſente reed in wis
ðat he bi-lef in geraſis; 1516

For his father's
sake he was
highly esteemed.

ðor he was for hiſ fadreſ luue[n]
Holden wurðelike a wel a-buuen.
An hundred ſo mikel wex hiſ tile,
So may god friðe ðor he wile. 1520

The folk of Gerar
envied Isaac, so
he left them and
went to Beersheba.

Niðede ðat folk him fel wel
And deden him flitten hiſe oſtel.
At berſabe he wunede beſt,
And ðor wurð wið him trewðe feſt 1524

Abimelech made
a covenant with
Isaac.

Abimalech, and luue ſworen,
So he waſ or iſ fader bi-foren.
And helde gede on yſaac,

Isaac became old
and sightless.

Wurðede ſighteleſ and elde ſwac;[170] 1528
He bad eſau, hiſ firme ſune,

He sends Esau
for venison,

fechin him fode, aſ he waſ wune;
If he toke him ðat he wulde eten,

and promises him
his blessing.

Hiſ ſeli bliſcing ſulde he bi-geten. 1532
Ðor q_u_iles eſau ſogte and ran,

Rebekah instructs
Jacob
how to obtain
the blessing.

Rebecca iacob reden gan;
Two kides he fette and brogtes hire,
And ghe knew wel ðe faderes kire,[171] 1536

[Fol. 30b.]

And made ſwiðe on ſele ðat mete,
ſwilc ghe wiſte he wulde eten;

She made him
rough like Esau.

Sridde ghe iacob and made him ru
ðor he was bare(.) nu lik eſau; 1540
And he ſeruede hiſ fader wel

Jacob obtained
the blessing from
his father.

Wið wines drinc and ſeles mel.
Yſaac wende it were eſau,
for he grapte him and fond hi_m_ ru; 1544
ðanne he wiſte him on gode ſel,
He him bliſcede holdelike and wel;

[169] _read_ ten?

[170] _read_ eldes wac

[171] Glossed _wune_ in later hand.

ESAU THREATENS TO KILL JACOB.

The dew of
heaven, the fatness
of the earth,
plenty of corn
and wine, and the
lordship over his
brethren.

"Heuene dew, and erðeſ fetthed,
Of win and olie fulſum-hed," 1548
And bad him of hiſ kindes lou_er_d ben,
In welðe and migt wurðinge ðen.
Wel bliðe and fagen was iacob ðo,
for bliſced he wente hiſ fader fro. 1552

When Isaac understood
that
Esau came too
late he was seized
with great fear.

Quan yſaac it under-nam
ðat eſau to late cam,
And ðat iſ broðer, af-ter boren,
Waſ kumen and hadde iſ bliſcing bi-foren, 1556
Wel ſelkuðlike he wurð for-dred;

In his dread he
saw how God
would that it
should so be.

And in ðat dred hiſ ðogt waſ led
In to ligtneſſe for to ſen
Quow god wulde it ſulde ben. 1560

To Esau thus he
spoke:

ðo ſeide yſaac to eſau,

"Thy brother
was here just
now, and has
taken thy blessing,
and he shall
be blessed."

"ðin broðer iacob waſ her nu,

[Fol. 31.]