Chapter VI: Prepositions (3)

And toc ðin bliſcing liðer-like,
And he wurð bliſced witterlike." 1564
Quad eſau, "rigt iſ hiſ name
hoten iacob, to min un-frame;

Esau intreats for
one blessing.

Or he min firme birðe toc,
Nu haued[172] he ſtolen min bliſcing oc; 1568
ðog, fader dere, bidde ic ðe,
ðat ſum bliſcing gif ðu me."

Isaac promises
him that his
dwelling shall be
of the fatness of
the earth and of
the dew of
heaven.

ðo gan eſau ðengen[173] and ſen
Quilc iſ bliſcing migte ben; 1572
In heuene deu, and erðes ſmere,
Gatte him bliſcing ðat him waſ gere;

Idumea became
Esau's inheritance.

for ydumea, ðat fulſum lond,
Of lewſe god, was in hiſe hond. 1576

Esau threatens
Jacob.

Q_u_ad eſau, "grot ſal bi-cumen,
And wreche of iacob ſal binumen."
Oc rebecca wiſte ðat ðhogt,
ðat hate waſ in hiſe herte brogt, 1580

Rebekah warns
Jacob of his brother's
intentions.

for-ði ghe iacob warnen gan,
And ſente him to hiſ broðer laban;

[172] _read_ haueð

[173] _read_ ðenken

JACOB IS SENT TO PADAN-ARAM.

"be ðu ðer," q_u_at ghe, "til eſau
Eðe moðed [be], ðe wreðed nu, 1584
And ðu ſalt ðe betre ſped,

Rebekah complains
to Isaac of
Esau's marriage
and connection
with the Canaanites.

If it beð bi ðin faderes red."
Q_u_ad rebecca to hire were,
"Eſau wifuede uſ to dere 1588

[Fol. 31b.]

Quan he iuſted & beð ſo mat,
Toc of kin ðe canaan bi-gat,
For-ði he maked him ſtið & ſtrong,
For he beð mengt ðat kin among; 1592
If iacob toke her alſo a wif,
Ne bode ic no lengere werldeſ lif.

Isaac blesses
Jacob,

Yſaac bad iacob hi_m_ garen,

and sends him to
Padan-aram.

And forð ſwiðe to laban faren; 1596
Iacob liſtenede ðo frendes red,
Fro berſabe he ferde wið ſped;

Jacob went a
long way about,

Long weie he gan to-ward aram,
bi cananeam forð he nam, 1600

in order to avoid
the houses of the
Canaanites.

And wulde nogt ðat folc bi-twen
Herberged in here huſes ben.

At Luz he tarried
all night.

He lay bi luzan ut on nigt,
A ſton under hiſe heued rigt, 1604

In a dream he
saw a ladder
reaching from
earth to heaven,

And ſlep and ſag, an ſoðe drem,
fro ðe erðe up til heuene bem,
A leddre ſtonden, and ðor-on

angels ascending
and descending,
and the Lord
stood above it.

Angeles dun-cumen and up-gon, 1608
And ðe lou_er_d ðor uppe a-buuen
Lened[174] ðor-on; and [Jacob] wurð ut-ſuuen,

"I am," He said,
"the God of
Abraham and of
Isaac;

Herde ðat he q_u_ad, "god ic am
ðe luued yſaac and abraham; 1612

this land will I
give thee, and in
thy seed shall
all mankind be
blessed."

And ðis lond ic ſal giuen ðin ſed,
And in ðis weige don ðe red;

[Fol. 32.]

And i ſal bringen ðe a-gen,
And of ðin kinde bliſced ðu ſalt ben." 1616

[174] _read_ leued = remained?

FROM LUZ HE JOURNEYS TO HARAN.

Jacob awoke.
"Surely," he
said, "here is
God's house.

Iacob abraid, & ſeide frigtilike:—
"God in ðis ſtede iſ wittirlike,
Her, dredful ſtede, her, godeſ hus,
Her, heuenegate amonguſ[175] us; 1620

If I may come
again to my father's
house,

Lou_er_d, if ic mote a-gen cumen,
Of ðis ſtede ic ſal i_n_ herte munen;"
(Sette he up ðat ſton for muniging,
And get on olige for tok-ning) 1624

the lord shall be
my God,

"He ſal eu_er_e min lou_er_d ben,
ðat dede me her ðis ſigt[e] ſen,

here I shall brake
offerings, and
yield tithes."

Her ic ſal offrendes here don
And tigðes wel gelden her-up-on; 1628
And wel ſal luz wurðed ben,
for ic gan her ðis ſigðhe ſen."

Jacob called the
place Bethel.

Iacob calde ðat ſtede betel;
Q_u_or-fore he it dede, he wiſte wel. 1632
Longe weie he ſiðen ou_er_-cam,

Jacob pursues his
journey.

And longe time or he ſag tharam.
Q_u_ane he cam ner, fond he ðor-on

He finds a well
at Haran; three
flocks of sheep
were lying by it.

A welle wel helid under a ſton, 1636
And ðre flockes of ſep dor-bi,[176]

The cattle did
not go to water
one by one, but
were all collected
together at
one time.

ðat ðor abiden al for-ði;
ðor waſ nogt wune on & on,
ðat orf ðor to water gon, 1640

[Fol. 32b.]

Oc at ſet time he ſulden ſamen,
ðor hem-ſelf & here orf framen.

Jacob asks the
herdsmen the
way to Laban's
house.

Iacob ðes hirdes freinen gan,
Hu fer iſt heðen to laban; 1644
Wel he ſeiden and ſwiðe wel,

They answered,
"Here is Rachel
his daughter."
She came to bring
the sheep to the
well.

"loc! her hiſ dogter rachel."
Sep he driuen ðiſ welle ner,
for ghe hem wulde wattre ðer. 1648

Jacob rolled the
stone from the
well's mouth.

Iacob wið hire wente ðat ſton,
And let hire ſep to wat_er_ gon;

He made known
his relationship
to Rachel.

And kidde he was hire mouies ſune,
And kiſte hire aftre kindes wune; 1652

[175] So in MS.

[176] _read_ ðor-bi

JACOB COVENANTS FOR RACHEL.

Rachel was bliðe and forð ghe nam,
And kiddit to hire fader laban.

Laban welcomes
his nephew and
brings him to his
house.

Laban fagnede hi_m_ in frendes wune,
feren ſwunken yſaaces ſunen. 1656
Iacob tolde him for q_u_at he ſwanc
So fer, and laban herte ranc;
He cuðe him ðer-of wel gret ðhanc,

He entertains
him well.

And dede him eten and to him dranc, 1660
And ſeide to him, "bi min blod,
ðin come iſ me leflike and good."

Jacob abode with
Laban for one
month,

Laban bi-tagte him, ſiðen to ſen,
Hiſ hirdeneſſe ðat it wel ben. 1664

after which time
Laban said to
him,

And q_u_anne a moneð was ou_er_-meten,
"Iacob," wað he, "q_u_at wiltu bi-geten?

[Fol. 33.]
"Tell me what
shall thy wages
be."

Quat-ſo [177][ðu] wilt for hire crauen,
Aſke it wið ſkil and ðu ſalt hauen." 1668

Jacob covenanted
for Rachel.

Q_u_at iacob, "ic ſal, for rachel,
Seruen ðe ſeuene winter wel."
Luue wel michil it agte a wold,
Swilc ſeruiſe and ſo longe told. 1672

Seven years passed
away and
Laban made a
feast.

forð geden ſeuene ger bi tale,
And laban made him hiſ bridale;

When even came
Jacob was deceived
with Leah.

Iacob wurð drunken, and euen cam,
Laban bi nigt tog him liam; 1676
And a maiden waſ hire bi-tagt,
Zelfa bi name, ðat ilke nagt.
Iacob gan hire under-fon,

Laban says that
it was not the
custom to marry
the younger before
the first-born.

O morgen ðugte it hi_m_ miſ-don. 1680
Q_u_at laban, "long wune iſ her driuen,
firmeſt on elde, firſt ben giuen:
And loð me waſ ſenden rachel
So fer, for ic luuede her wel; 1684

Jacob agrees to
serve other seven
years for Rachel.

Oc ſerf me ſeuene oðer ger,
If ðu ſalt rachel ſeruen her;

[177] At bottom of Fol. 32b is the catchword—"q_u_at ſo ðu wilt."

JACOB MARRIES RACHEL.

Seue nigt ſiðen forð ben numen
Or rachel beð to iacob cumen, 1688
And laban made a feſte oc

Jacob marries
Rachel.

Qua_n_ne iacob wid[178] rachel toc;
And for ghe ðanne cam hi_m_ ner,
ſeruede he hi_m_ ſiðen ſeuene ger. 1692

[Fol. 33b.]

Rachel adde, after londes kire,[179]
maiden balaam to ſeruen hire.

Leah was the
mother of four
sons.

LIa moder of fowre was,
Ruben, ſymeon, leui, iudas; 1696

Rachel was
barren.

for rachel non birðe ne nam,
Sge[180] bi-tagte iacob balaam;

Bilhah, her handmaid,
bare Dan
and Naphtali.

bala two childre bar bi him,
Rachel cald es[181] dan(.) neptalim; 1700

Zilpah bare Gad
and Asher.

And zelfa two ſunes him ber,
Lia calde iſ(.) Gad(.) and aſſer;

Leah afterwards
bare Zebulun,
Issachar, and
Dinah.

Lia ſiðen two ſunes bar,
Zabulon(.) laſt(.) or yſakar; 1704
Lia bar laſt dowter dinam,
Sichem, ſiðen, hire ille bi-nam.

At last Joseph
was born of
Rachel.

Last of rachel iosep was boren,
Beſt of alle ðe oðere bi-foren. 1708
Longe haued[182] nu iacob ben her,
wið laban fulle .xiii. ger;

Jacob desires
leave of Laban to
depart.

Leue aſkede hem hom to faren,
Wið wiues and childre ðeðen charen, 1712

Laban would not
let him depart.

But-if laban him ðelde bet
Hiſe ſeruiſe, and wið-holde hi_m_ get;
ſerue he ſcriðed ðat .vij. ger,
ðat he bi-leue and ſerue hi_m_ her; 1716

He promises him
to give him for
hire whatever he
shall ask.

Wel he ſeið him ðat he ſal hauen
for hire, quat-ſo he wile crauen.

[Fol. 34.]

forward iſ mad of alle ſep,
Of oneſ bles[183] iacob nim kep, 1720

Jacob is to have
all the speckled

And if of ðo ſpotted cumen,

[178] wið?

[179] Glossed _wune_ in a later hand.

[180] she?

[181] caldes MS.

[182] haueð?

[183] fles MS.

JACOB LEAVES LABAN SECRETLY.

and spotted cattle
for his hire.

ðo ſulen him ben for hire numen;
Sep or got, haſwed, arled, or grei,
Ben don fro iacob fer a-wei; 1724

The flocks produced
many
speckled and
spotted.

ðog him boren ðes oneſ bles
Vn-like manige and likeles.

Laban was
greatly displeased.

ðo ſag laban ðat iacob bi-gat
Michil, and him miſlikede ðat; 1728

He changed
Jacob's hire.

bi-tagte him ðo ðe ſunder bles,
And it him boren ones bles.

Ten times within
six years he
shifted the cattle.

Ten ſiðes ðus binnen .vi. ger,
Shiftede iacob hirdeneſſe her, 1732
And ai was labaneſ herte ſor,
for hiſ agte wex mor & mor.

Jacob saw that
Laban was unfriendly
towards
him,

Ðo ſag iacob laban wurð wroð,
Vnder him ben leng iſ hi_m_ loð, 1736

so he determined
to leave Padanaram.

And wið iſ wiues he takeð red,
And greiðet him deðenward[184] wið ſped.

Laban had left
Haran to shear
his sheep.

Laban ferde to nimen kep,
In clipping time to hiſe ſep, 1740
fro caram in-to vten ſtede,
ðor q_u_iles iacob ðiſ dede dede;
Wið wiues, and childre, & orf he nam,

Jacob came to
mount Gilead,

And to ðe munt galaad he bi-cam; 1744

[Fol. 34b.]

ðanne fleg he to meſopotaniam,

and drew towards
Canaan.

And drog to-ward cananeam.
And Rachel adde hid and for-olen

Rachel had stolen
her father's gods.

Hire faderes godes of gold, & ſtolen. 1748
Laban it wiſte on ðe ðridde dai

Laban, hearing
of Jacob's flight,
pursues him.

ðat iacob waſ ðus flogen a-wei;
He toc, and wente, and folwede on,
And ðhogt in mod iacob to ſlon, 1752

God, in a dream,
forbids Laban to
harm Jacob.

Oc god in ſweuene ſpac him to,
ðat he ſulde iacob non yuel do.

Laban overtakes
Jacob on the
seventh day.

vij. nigt forð-geden and dais oc,
Or laban iacob ouer-toc; 1756

[184] ðeðenward?

THE COVENANT BETWEEN JACOB AND LABAN.

So waſ he frig[t]ed ear in drem,
ðus meðelike ſpac ðiſ em:

He complains of
the wrong done
to him.

"Q_u_i wore ðu fro me for-holen,
And q_u_i aſ ðu min godes ſtolen? 1760
Min mog, min neue, and felage,
Me ne agtes ðu don ſwilc [vn-]lage."
"[I]c was for-dred ðe migte timen,
fro me ðine doutres bi-nimen, 1764

Jacob denies that
he has been
guilty of theft.

fro here childre ðhogt hem ſor,
mor for me bi-leuen ðor;
ſtalðe ic for-ſake, ðat iſ min red,
wið q_u_am ðu iſ findes, ðat he be dead." 1768

Laban searched
for his idols, but
found them not.

Of al ðat laban haued[185] iſ ſogt,
So woren it hid, ne fond he is nogt.

[Fol. 35.]
Then said Jacob,
"What is my sin
that thou ransackest
me as a
thief?"

Ðo [q]wað iacob, "yuel iſt bi-togen,
Min ſwinc a-buten ðin holðe drogen; 1772
ðu me ranſakes alſ an ðef,
And me was ðin wurðing lef."

Quoth Laban,
"Friends will we
be and plight
troth between
us."

ðo q_u_at laban, "frend ſule wit ben,
And trewðe pligt[186] nu unc bi-twen, 1776
And make we it her an hil of ſton,
Name of witneſſe be ðer-on;"
ðor-on he eten bliðe and glað,[187]

This covenant
was made at
Gilead.

ðat hil iſ hoten galaað; 1780
Laban hem bliſcede, & on nigt

Laban departed
before daylight.

wente a-gen-ward, or it waſ ligt;
And iacob waſ of weie rad,
Raðe he was fer fro laban ſad. 1784

As Jacob drew
near to Canaan,
he was met by
the angels of
God.

Alſ he cam ner cananeam,
Engel wirð a-gen him cam,
Als it were wopnede here,
Redi to ſilden him fro were; 1788

That place he
called Mahanaim.

ðat ſtede he calde manaim,
ðor ðis wird of engeles metten hi_m_.
ðor he bi-lef, and ſente ðeden[188]

Jacob sends messengers
to Esau.

Sondere men to freinen and q_ue_ðen 1792

[185] haueð?

[186] wligt MS.

[187] glad?

[188] ðeðen?

THE MEETING OF ESAU AND JACOB.

If eſau wulde him ogt deren,

Word came to
him that Esau
was on his way
to meet him.

ðog wiſte wel god ſulde hi_m_ weren;
ðor him cam bode him for to ſen,
ðat eſau him cam a-gen; 1796

[Fol. 35b.]
Jacob sends a
rich present to
Esau.

And iacob ſente fer bi-foren
hi_m_ riche loac, and ſundri boren,
And iordan he dede ouer waden,
Orf & men, wið welðe laden; 1800
And he bi-lef ðor on ðe nigt
to bidden helpe of godeſ migt.

He wrestled with
an angel,

And ðor wreſtelede an engel wið,
Senwe ſpru_n_gen fro ðe lið; 1804

and the sinew
shrank from the
thigh.

(wulde he non ſenwe ſiðen eten,
Self his kinde nile ðat wune forgeten.)

Jacob would not
let the angel go,

Get held he wið ðis angel faſt,
Til ðe daning up eſten it braſt; 1808
ðo ſeide ðe engel, "let me get ben,
ðe daining her nu men mai sen."

until he had
blessed him.

Q_u_ad iacob, "ðe ne leate ic nogt,
Til ðin bliſcing on me beð wrogt." 1812

Jacob prevailed,
and his name was
called Israel.

Ðo q_u_ad ðe angel, "ſal tu nu_m_mor
ben cald iacob, ſo ðu wore or,
Oc ðu ſal ben hoten iſr_ae_l,
for ðu ðe weries ſwiðe wel; 1816
Q_u_an ðe ðe migt wið angel weren,
Hu ſal ani man ðe mugen deren?
Ear iacob and nu iſrael."

This place was
called Penuel.

ðat ſte[de] was cald phanuel, 1820
for he nam ou_er_ phanuel;
And it wurð ligt and he ſag wel

[Fol. 36.]
The meeting of
Jacob and Esau.

Q_u_or eſau a-gen him cam,
And bi-foren a-gen him na_m_; 1824
And ſeue ſiðes he fell hi_m_ bi-foren,
And wurðe him ſo firmeſt boren;

The brothers become
reconciled
to each other.

And eſau ðo ran him to,
And kiſſede, and wept, ðo rew hi_m_ ſo. 1828

JACOB DWELLS AT SUCCOTH. DINAH'S FOLLY.

Esau welcomes
Jacob,

"Broðer," q_u_ad he, "ðu and ðin trume
ben here i_n_ ðiſ place to me welcume;
Haue and bruc wel al ðin p_re_ſent,
ðat ðu to me bringeſt and haueſt ſent." 1832
Iacob was wo ðat he iſ for-ſoc,

accepts his present,

And ſcroð hi_m_ ſo(.) ðat ſu_m_ he ðor tok.
Here luue ðo wurð hol and ſchir,

and departs unto
Seir.

And eſau ferde forð ðeden[189] to ſeyr; 1836
ðat newe burg waſ him to frame,
Mad and cald of iſ owen name.

From thence
Jacob went to
Succoth,

Iacob fro ðeðen wente, ic wot,
tgelt on a ſtede, and cald it[190] ſochot; 1840
fro ſochot ſiðen to ſichem,

and afterwards to
Shalem,

And wune ðor-inne ſalem,

where he bought
a piece of land
from Hamor.

ðor him ſolde an lond kinge emor,
And he drog ðider and wunede ðor; 1844
wið newe alter wurðed he wel
ðe ſtrong god of yſrael.

Here his daughter
Dinah "mis-did."

Hiſ dowter dina ðor miſ-dede,
ghe nam leueles fro ðat ſtede, 1848

[Fol. 36b.]
She went out to
see the world.

To ſen de werld ðhugte hire god,
ðat made hire ſiðen ſeri-mod,
for-liſtede hire owen red;

Shechem took
her maidenhead.

Sichem tok hire maiden-hed; 1852
Emor his fader, ſiðen for-ði,
And hiſ burge-folc fellen in wi;

Simeon and Levi
slew the Shechemites
and
spoiled the city.

Symeon and leui it bi-ſpeken,
And hauen here ſiſter ðor i-wreken; 1856
folc of ſalem ðor-fore waſ ſlagen,
wiwes, and childre, and agte up-dragen;
Oc iacob ne wiſte it nogt,

Jacob reproved
Simeon and Levi
for their cruelty.

Til ðat wreche to bale was wrogt, 1860
Oc michil he frigtede for-ði,
boðen ſymeon and leui.

They durst not
dwell longer at
Shechem, but
went to Bethel.

Henden ſichem ne durſten he wunen,
ðat folkes kin god bad hi_m_ ſunen, 1864

[189] ðeðen?

[190] caldit MS.

BENJAMIN IS BORN. RACHEL DIES.

And ðeden[191] faren to betel,
And he folgede iſ red on ſel;

Their unclean
goods they bore
not with them.

Agte unclene ne wulde he beren,
for he dredde hi_m_ it ſulde hi_m_ deren; 1868
Godes ðat rachel hadde ſtolen,
And ay til ðan wið hi_m_ for-holen,

Their idols and
gold rings they
buried under an
oak.

And oðre ydeles brogt fro ſichem,
Gol prenes and ringeſ wið hem, 1872
Diep he iſ dalf under an ooc,
Made him no_n_ giſcing i_n_ herte wooc.

[Fol. 37.]
Long they remained
buried,
until Solomon
found them and
decked his temple
with them.

Longe it weren ðor for-hid;
Men ſeið for-ði waſ ſo bi-tid, 1876
for ſalamon findin iſ ſal,
And hiſ temple ſriðen wið-al.
Iacob wente fro ðeden[192] i_n_ ſped,

God sent a fear
upon the folk
round about, so
they did no hurt
to the sons of
Jacob.

God ſente on ðat erdfolc ſwilc dred, 1880
ðan[193] here non iacob ſcaðe ne dede;
Q_u_ane he wente a-wei fro ðat ſtede,

Jacob makes an
altar at Bethel.

He made an alter at betel,
Alſ he god bi-het, ðor he geld wel. 1884

Benjamin is born.

Siðen ðo beniamin was boren,

Rachel dies.

Rachel adde ðe life for-loren;
Iacob dalf hire and merke dede,
ðat iſ get ſene on ðat ſtede. 1888

At Edar Reuben
"misdid" and
lay with his
father's concubine.

Ðor q_u_iles he wunede at tur ader,
Ruben miſdede wid[194] bala ðer.

Jacob arrives at
Hebron, and
finds his mother
gone from this
world.

Siðen cam iacob to ebron,
And fond his moder of werlde gon; 1892
Starf yſaac q_u_an he waſ hold

Isaac dies at the
age of nine score
years.

.ix. ſcore ger and fiue told,
And was doluen on ðat ſtede,
ðor man adam and eue dede. 1896
So riche were growen hiſe ſunen,
ðat he ne migte to-gider wunen;

Esau dwells in
Edom,

Oc eſau, ſeyr [and] edon
Lond ydumeam wunede on; 1900

[191] ðeðen?

[192] ðeðen?

[193] ðat?

[194] wið?

JOSEPH IS HATED BY HIS BRETHREN.

[Fol. 37b.]

Of edon ſo it higte ða,

which was before
called Bozra.

for it was hoten ear bozra.
Hear haued[195] moyſes ou_er_-gon,
ðor-fore he wended eft a-gon. 1904
xii. ger or yſaac waſ dead

Jacob's sons did
wickedly.

Iacobes ſunes deden un-red;

Joseph was sixteen
when sold
into Egypt.

FOr ſextene ger ioſeph was old,
Q_u_ane he was in-to egipte ſold; 1908
He was iacobes gunkeſte ſune,

Joseph informed
his father of his
brethren's misdeeds.

Bricteſt of waſpene,[196] and of witt_er_ wune,
If he ſag hiſe breðere miſ-faren,
Hiſ fader he it gan vn-hillen & baren; 1912
He wulde ðat he ſulde hem ten
ðat he wel-ðewed ſulde ben;

His brethren envied
him on account
of his
dreams.

for-ði wexem[197] wið gret nið
And hate, for it in ille [herte] lið. 1916
ðo wex her hertes niðful & bold
Q_u_anne he hem adde iſ dremeſ told,
ðat hiſ handful ſtod rigt up ſoren,

The vision of the
sun, moon, and
eleven stars.

And here it leigen alle he_m_ bi-foren; 1920
And ſunne, & mone, & ſterres .xi^e.[198]
wurðeden hi_m_ wið frigti luue;
ðo ſeide hiſ fader, "hu mai ðis ſen
ðat ðu ſalt ðuſ wurðed ben, 1924

Jacob reproached
his son, yet he
believed it should
be so.

ðat ðine breðere, and ic, and ſhe
ðat ðe bar, ſulen luten ðe?"

[Fol. 38.]

ðuſ he chidden hem bi-twen,
ðoge ðhogte iacob ſiðe it ſulde ben. 1928

The sons of
Jacob kept flocks
at Shechem.

Hiſe breðere kepten at ſichem
Hirdneſſe, & iacob to ſen hem

Joseph was sent
to see how they
fared.

ſente ioſeph to dalen ebron;
And he was redi his wil to don. 1932
In ſichem feld ne fonde he_m_ nogt,

His brethren
knew him from
afar,

In dotayin he fond he_m_ ſogt;
He knewen hi_m_ fro feren kumen,

[195] haueð?

[196] wasteme?

[197] So in MS.

[198] For endluue?

JOSEPH IS SOLD TO CHAPMEN,

Hate hem on ros, i_n_ herte numen; 1936
Swilc nið & hate roſ hem on,

and took counsel
to slay him.

He redden alle him for to ſlon.
"Nai," q_u_ad ruben, "ſlo we hi_m_ nogt,

Reuben advised
them to throw
Joseph into an
old and deep pit.

Oðer ſinne may ben wrogt, 1940
Q_u_at-ſo him drempte ðor q_u_iles he ſlep,
In ðiſ ðiſterneſſe,[199] old and dep,
Get wurðe[200] worpen naked and cold,
Q_u_at-ſo hiſ dremeſ owen a-wold." 1944
ðiſ dede waſ don wid[201] herte ſor,

Reuben left his
brethren to seek
better pasture for
his cattle.

Ne wulde ruben nogt drechen ðor;
He gede and ſogte an oðer ſtede,
Hiſ erue i_n_ bettre lewſe he dede; 1948

Judah gave them
bad advice,

Vdas dor[202] q_u_iles gaf hem red,
ðat was fulfilt of derne ſped;
fro galaad men wið chafare
Sag he ðor kumen wid ſpices ware; 1952

[Fol. 38b.]

To-warde egipte he gunne ten.
Iudas tagte hu it ſulde ben,

and Joseph was
sold for thirty
pieces of silver.

Ioseph ſolde ðe breðere ten,
for .xxx. plates to ðe chapmen; 1956
Get waſt bettre he ðuſ waſ ſold,
dan[203] he ðor ſtorue i_n_ here wold.

Reuben came
thither again and
found Joseph
gone.

Ðan r_u_ben cam ðider a-gen,
to ðat ciſt_er_neſſe[204] he ran to ſen; 1960
He miſſed Ioseph and ðhogte ſwem,

Great was his
outcry, which
did not cease
until he was
assured that
Joseph lived.

wende him ſlagen, ſet up an rem;
Nile he blinnen, ſwilc ſorwe he cliued,
Til him he ſweren ðat he liued. 1964
ðo nomen he ðe childes ſrud,
ðe iacob hadde mad im[205] i_n_ prud;

Joseph's coat was
dipt in kid's
blood,

In kides blod he wenten it,
ðo waſ ðor-on an rewli lit. 1968
Sondere men he it leiden on,

[199] cisterneſſe?

[200] _he_ is inserted in the later hand.

[201] wið?

[202] ðor?

[203] ðan?

[204] MS. cift_er_neſſe.

[205] madim in MS.

WHO SELL HIM TO POTIPHAR, AN EGYPTIAN.

and sent to Jacob
at Hebron.

And ſenten it iacob i_n_-to ebron,
And ſhewed it hi_m_, and boden hi_m_ ſen
If hiſ childes wede it migte ben; 1972
Senten him bode he funden it.
ðo iacob ſag dat[206] ſori writ,

"Evil beasts,"
said Jacob, "have
swallowed my
son."

He gret, and ſeide ðat "wilde der
Hauen min ſune ſwolgen her." 1976

Long was his
lamentation and
sorrow.

Hiſ cloðes rent, in haigre ſrid,
Long grot and ſorge is hi_m_ bi-tid.

[Fol. 39.]

His ſunes comen him to ſen,
And hertedin him if it migte ben; 1980

Jacob would not
be comforted for
the loss of
Joseph.

"Nai! nai!" q_u_at he, "helped it nogt,
Mai non herti_n_g on me ben wrogt;
ic ſal ligten til helle dale,
And groten ðor min ſunes bale." 1984

In hell was a
separate abode
where the righteous
rested,

(ðor was in helle a ſundri ſtede,
wor ðe ſeli folc reſte dede;
ðor he ſtunden til helpe cam,

till Christ took
them from
thence.

Til ih_es_u crist fro ðeden[207] he nam.) 1988
ðe chapmen ſkiuden here fare,

The merchants
took their ware
to Egypt.

In-to egipte ledden ðat ware;
wið putifar ðe kinges ſtiward,
He maden ſwiðe bigetel forward, 1992
So michel fe ðor iſ hem told,
He hauen him bogt, he hauen ſold.

Potiphar bought
Joseph.

Putifar waſ wol riche man,
And he bogte ioſeph al forðan 1996

He entertained
impure desires
towards him,

He wulde don iſ lechur-hed
wið ioseph, for hiſe faire-hed,
Oc he wurð ðo ſo kinde cold,
To don ſwilc dede adde he no wold; 2000

but Joseph was
strengthened
from above.

ſwilc ſelðe cam him fro a-buuen,
God dede it al for ioſeph luue[n].
Biſſop in eliopoli[208]
Men ſeið he was ſiðen for-ði, 2004

[206] ðat?

[207] ðeðen?

[208] In [H]Eliopolis; the words are run together.

JOSEPH IS CAST INTO PRISON.

[Fol. 39b.]

ðog had he ðo wif(.) and bi-foren
Childre of him bi-geten and of hire boren,
Oc after ðis it ſo bi-cam,
Ioseph iſ dowter to wiue nam. 2008

Potiphar loved
Joseph well.

Putifar luuede ioſeph wel,
bi-tagte him hiſ huſ eu_er_ilc del,
And he wurðede riche man an heg,

His wealth prospered
under
Joseph's care.

vnder ioſeph hiſ welðe ðeg. 2012
Hiſ wif wurð wilde, and nam i_n_ ðogt

His wife sought
to lead Joseph
astray.

vn-rigt-wiſ luue, and ſwanc for nogt,
One and ſtille ðogt hire gamen
wið ioſeph ſpeken and plaigen ſamen; 2016

For gold nor for
wealth of any
kind would he
"forget his chastity."

Ghe bed him gold, and agte, and fe,
To maken him riche man and fre,
wið-ðhan ðat he wið here wile;
Oc hi_m_ mislikede ðat ghe wile; 2020
for ſcrið, ne ðret, ne mai ghe bi-geten
for to don hi_m_ chaſthed for-geten;

Neither threats
nor intreaties
prevailed.

Often ghe ðrette, often ghe ſcroð,
Oc al it was him o-like loð. 2024
An time he was at hire tgeld,
ðo ghe him his mentel for-held;

Wherefore she
sought to be
revenged upon
Joseph.

for he wið hire ne wulde ſpeken,
Ghe ðhenkeð on hi_m_ for to ben wreken; 2028
Sone ghe mai hire lou_er_d[209] ſen,
Ghe god him bitt_er_like a-gen,

[Fol. 40.]
She accused him
falsely to
Potiphar,

And ſeið ioſeph hire wulde don,
ðat ghe ne migte hi_m_ bringen on; 2032
"ðiſ mentel ic wið-held for-ði,
To tawnen [ðe] ðe ſoðe her-bi."
ðe wite iſ hiſe(.) ðe right iſ hire,
God al-migtin ðe ſoðe ſhire. 2036

who, believing
his wife's tale,

Pvtifar trewið hiſe wiwes tale,
And haued[210] dempt ioſep to bale;
He bad [him] ben ſperd faſt dun,

threw Joseph
into prison.

And holden harde i_n_ priſun. 2040

[209] MS. loru_er_d.

[210] ? haueð.

HE INTERPRETS THE PRISONERS' DREAMS.

An litel ſtund, q_u_ile he waſ ðer,

The gaoler loved
Joseph.

So gan him luuen ðe p_ri_ſuner,
And hi_m_ de[211] chartre haueð bi-tagt,

In this prison,
either for misdeed
or bad words,

wið ðo p_ri_ſunes to liuen i_n_ hagt. 2044
Or for miſdede, or for on-ſagen,
ðor woren to ðat p_ri_ſun dragen,

were placed the
chief butler and
baker.

On ðat ðe kingeſ kuppe bed,
And on ðe made ðe kingeſ bred; 2048

Both dreamt
dreams in one
night,

Hem drempte dremes boðen onigt,
And he wurðen ſwiðe ſore o-frigt;
Ioſeph hem ſeruede ðor on ſel,
At here drink and at here mel, 2052

which caused
them to become
very sorrowful.

He herde hem m_ur_nen(.) he hem freinde for-q_u_at;
Harde dremes ogen awold ðat.

Joseph inquired
the reason of
their grief.

ðo ſeide he to ðe butuler,
"Tel me ðin drem, mi broðer her. 2056

[Fol. 40b.]

Q_u_eðer-ſo it wurðe ſofte or ſtrong,
ðe reching wurð on god bi-long."

The butler's
dream.

"Me drempte, ic ſtod at a win-tre,

A vine with three
branches

ðat adde waxen buges ðre, 2060
Oreſt it blomede, and ſiðen bar

bore grapes;

ðe beries ripe wurð ic war;
ðe kinges [kuppe] ic hadde on hond,

the juice the butler
squeezed into
Pharaoh's cup,
and gave him to
drink as he was
wont.

ðe beries ðor-inne me ðhugte ic wrong, 2064
And bar it drinken to pharaon,
Me drempte, alſ ic waſ wune to don."

"Good it is,"
said Joseph, "to
dream of wine.

"Good is," q_u_að Ioſeph, "to dremen of win,
heilneſſe an bliſſe iſ ðer-in; 2068

In three days
thou shalt be restored
to thy
office,

ðre daies ben get for to cumen,
ðu ſalt ben ut of p_ri_ſun numen,
And on ðin offiz ſet agen;

then think of me
and bear my
errand to Pharaoh,

Of me ðu ðhenke ðan it ſal ben, 2072
Bed min herdne to pharaon,
ða[t] ic ut of p_ri_sun wurðe don,

for I am here
wrongfully held
in prison."

for ic am ſtolen of kinde lond,
and her wrigteleſlike holden i_n_ bond." 2076

[211] ðe?

KING PHARAOH DREAMS A DREAM,

The "breadwright's"
dream.

Quað ðis bred-wrigte, "liðeð nu me,
me drempte ic bar bread-lepes ðre,
And ðor-in bread and oðer meten,
Q_u_ilke ben wune ðe kinges to eten; 2080

Fowls seized on
the baskets of
bread intended
for the king,

And fugeles hauen ðor-on lagt,
ðor-fore ic am i_n_ ſorge and hagt,

[Fol. 41.]

for ic ne migte me nogt weren,

and he could not
keep the meat
from them.

Ne ðat mete fro hem beren." 2084
"Me wore leuere," q_u_ad Ioſeph,
"Of eddi dremes rechen ſwep;

"In three days,"
said Joseph,
"thou shalt be
hanged, and
fowls shall tear
thy flesh in
pieces."

ðu ſalt, after ðe ðridde dei,
ben do on rode, weila-wei! 2088
And fugeles ſulen ði fleis to-teren,
ðat ſal non agte mugen ðe weren."
Soð wurð ſo ioſeph ſeide ðat,

The butler soon
forgat Joseph.

ðis buteler Ioſeph ſone for-gat. 2092

After two years,

Two ger ſiðen was Ioſeph ſperd
ðor in p_ri_ſun wið-uten erd;

Pharaoh dreamt
a dream.

Ðo drempte pharaon king a drem,

He stood by the
river, and there
came seven
"neat" fat and
great, and seven
lean after,

ðat he ſtod bi ðe flodes ſtrem, 2096
And ðeden[212] ut-comen .vii. neet,
Eu_er_ilc wel ſwiðe fet and gret,
And .vii. lene after ðo,
ðe deden ðe .vii. fette wo, 2100

which ate up the
fat ones.

ðe lene hauen ðe fette freten;
ðiſ drem ne mai ðe king for-geten.
An oðer drem cam hi_m_ bi-foren,

Seven full ears of
corn sprang up
"on a rank
bush," and then
came seven
withered ears,

.vii. eares wexen fette of coren, 2104
On an busk ranc and wel tidi,
And .vii. lene rigt ðor-bi,
welkede, and ſmale, and drugte numen,
ðe ranc he hauen ðo ou_er_-cumen, 2108

[Fol. 41b.]
which smote the
others to the
ground.

To-ſamen it ſmiten and, on a ſtund,
ðe fette ðriſt hem to ðo grund.
ðe king abraid and woc in ðhogt,
ðeſ dremes ſwep ne wot he nogt, 2112

[212] ðeðen?

WHICH IS INTERPRETED BY JOSEPH.

None were found
able to interpret
the dreams.

Ne was non ſo wis man i_n_ al hiſ lond,
ðe kude vn-don ðis dremes bond;

The butler bethought
him of
Joseph.

ðo him bi-ðhogte ðat buteler
Of ðat him drempte in p_ri_ſun ðer, 2116
And of ioſeph in ðe priſun,
And he it tolde ðe king pharaun.

Joseph is taken
from prison,

Ioſeph waſ ſone i_n_ priſun ðo hogt,
And ſhauen, & clad, & to hi_m_ brogt; 2120

and brought before
Pharaoh,

ðe king hi_m_ bad ben hardi & bold,
If he can rechen ðis dremeſ wold;

who related to
him his dreams.

He told him q_u_at him drempte o nigt,
And ioſep rechede his drem wel rigt. 2124

"The two
dreams," answered
Joseph,
"are one."

"ðis two dremes boðen ben on,
God wile ðe tawnen, king pharaon;
ðo .vij. ger ben get to cumen,

"Seven years of
plenty

In al fulſum-hed ſulen it ben numen, 2128
And .vij. oðere ſulen after ben,

shall be followed
by seven years
of famine.

Sori and nedful men ſulen iſ ſen;
Al ðat ðiſe firſt .vii. maken,
Sulen ðiſ oðere .vii. roſpen & raken; 2132

I advise thee
to make barns
and store up
corn, that thy
folk perish not."

Ic rede ðe king, nu her bi-foren,
To maken laðes and gadere_n_ coren,

[Fol. 42.]

ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder-numen,
Q_u_an ðo hungri gere ben forð-cumen." 2136
King pharaon liſtnede hiſe red,
ðat wurð him ſiðen ſeli ſped.

Pharaoh gave
Joseph his ring,

He bi-tagte ioſep hiſ ring,
And his bege of gold for wurðing, 2140

and bad him rule
the whole land.

And bad him al hiſ lond bi-ſen,
And under him hegeſt for to ben,
And bad him welden in hiſ hond
His folc, and agte, & al his lond; 2144

Then were Potiphar
and his wife
under him.

ðo waſ vnder him ðanne putifar,
And hiſ wif ðat hem ſo to-bar.
Ioſep to wiue his dowter nam,
Oðer is nu q_u_an ear bi-cam; 2148

THE FAMINE IN EGYPT AND CANAAN.

Before the famine
came two sons
were born to
Joseph.

And ghe ðer him two childer bar,
Or men wurð of ðat hunger war,
first manaſſen and effraym;
He luueden god, he geld it hem. 2152

The years of
plenty pass
away.

ðe .vii. fulſu_m_ geres faren,
Ioſep cuðe him bi-foren waren;
ðan coren wantede in oðer lond,
ðo ynug [was] vnder his hond. 2156

The famine was
felt in Canaan.

Hvnger wex in lond chanaan,
And his .x. ſunes iacob for-ðan

Jacob sent his
ten sons to Egypt
to buy corn.

Sente in-to egipt to bringen coren;
He bilef at hom ðe was gungeſt boren. 2160

[Fol. 42b.]

ðe .x. comen, for nede ſogt,
To Ioſep, and he ne knewen hi_m_ nogt,

Though they
honoured Joseph,

And ðog he lutten him frigtilike,
Anð ſeiden to him mildelike, 2164
"We ben ſondes for nede driuen
To bigen coren ðor-bi to liuen."

yet he pretended
not to know
them.

(Ioſep hem knew al in his ðhogt,
Alſ he let he knew hem nogt.) 2168
"It ſemet wel ðat ge ſpies ben,

He accused them
of being spies.

And in-to ðiſ lond cumen to ſen,
And cume ge for non oðer ðing,
but for to ſpien ur lord ðe king." 2172
"Nai," he ſeiden eu_er_ilc on,

They declared
that they were
true men, the
sons of one
father.

"Spies were we neu_er_ non,
Oc alle we ben on faderes ſunen,
For hunger doð es[213] hider cumen." 2176
"Oc nu ic wot ge ſpieſ ben,
for bi gure bering men mai it ſen;

"Only kings,"
said Joseph, "had
so many sons."

Hu ſulde oni man[214] poure for-geten,
ſwilke and ſo manige ſunes bigeten? 2180
for ſeldu_m_ bi-tid ſelf ani king
ſwilc men to ſen of hiſe ofſpring."

[213] doðes MS.

[214] MS. Hu suld sulde oninan.

JOSEPH'S HARSHNESS TO HIS BRETHREN.

"One," the
brethren said,
"is at home
with his father."

"A lou_er_d, merci! get iſ ðor on
migt he nogt fro his fader gon; 2184
He iſ gungeſt, hoten beniamin,
for we ben alle of ebriſſe kin."

[Fol. 43.]
Quoth Joseph,
"Ye shall not all
go hence, until
ye bring me
Benjamin."

"Nu, bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon,
ſule ge nogt alle eðen gon, 2188
Til ge me bringen beniamin,
ða gungeſte broðer of pore[215] kin."
For ðo waſ Ioſep ſore for-dred
ðat he wore oc ðhurg hem for-red; 2192
He dede hem binden, and leden dun,

He kept them in
prison, and on
the third day let
them all go
except Simeon.

And ſperen faſte in his priſun;
ðe ðridde dai he let hem gon,
Al but ðe ton broðer ſymeon; 2196
ðiſ ſymeon bi-lef ðor in bond,
To wedde under Ioſepes hond.
ðes oðere breðere, ſone on-on,
Token leue and wenten hom; 2200

The others bemoaned
their ill-luck.

And ſone he weren ðeden[216] went,
Wel ſore he hauen hem bi-ment,
And ſeiden hem ðan ðor bi-twen,

They thought of
their sin towards
Joseph.

"Wrigtful we in ſorwe ben, 2204
for we ſinigeden q_u_ilu_m_ or
On hure broðer michil mor,
for we werneden him merci,
Nu drege we ſorge al for-ði." 2208
Wende here non it on hiſ mod,
Oc Ioſep al it under-ſtod.

Joseph's men did,
meanwhile, as
they were commanded,

Ioſepes men ðor q_u_iles deden
Al-ſo Ioſep hem adde beden; 2212

[Fol. 43b.]
and filled the
brothers' sacks,
and placed in
them the money
paid for the corn.

ðo breðere ſeckes hauen he filt,
And in eu_er_ilc ðe ſilu_er_ pilt
ðat ðor was paid for ðe coren,
And bunden ðe muðes ðor bi-foren; 2216
Oc ðe breðere ne wiſte_n_ it nogt
Hu ðis dede wurðe wrogt;

[215] gure?

[216] ðeðen?

BENJAMIN IS TAKEN TO EGYPT.

Unopened they
brought them to
Jacob and told
him how they
had sped.

Oc alle he weren ou_er_-ðogt,
And hauen it ſo to iacob brogt, 2220
And tolden him ſo of here ſped,
And al he it liſtnede i_n_ frigtihed;

Great was their
fear when they
saw the money
in the sack's
mouth.

And q_u_an men ðo ſeckes ðor un-bond,
And in ðe coren ðo agtes fond, 2224
Alle he woren ðanne[217] ſori ofrigt.
Iacob ðus him bi-meneð o-rigt,

"Much sorrow,"
says Jacob, "is
come upon me,

"Wel michel ſorge is me bi-cumen,
ðat min two childre aren me for-nume_n_; 2228

since my two
children are
taken from me.

Of Ioſep wot ic ending non,
And bondes ben leid on ſymeon;
If ge beniamin fro me don,
Dead and ſorge me ſegeð on; 2232

Benjamin shall
remain with me."

Ai ſal beniamin wið me bi-lewen
ðor q_u_iles ic ſal on werlde liuen."
ðo q_u_að iudas, "us ſal ben hard,
If we no[218] holden him non forward." 2236

The corn is soon
consumed, and
Jacob bids them
go to Egypt for
more.

Wex derke,[219] ðis coren iſ gon,
Iacob eſt[220] bit hem faren agon,

[Fol. 44.]

Oc he ne duren ðe weie cumen in,
"but ge wið uſ ſenden beniamin;" 2240

Jacob is persuaded
to send
Benjamin.

ðo q_u_að he, "q_u_an it iſ ned,
And ne can no bettre red,

He sends back
the silver,

Bereð dat[221] ſilu_er_ hol agon,
ðat hem ðor-of ne wante non, 2244

and other corn-money,

And oðer ſiluer ðor bi-foren,
for to bigen wið oðer coren;

together with a
present of fruit
and spices for
Joseph.

fruit and ſpices of dere priſ,
Bereð ðat man ðat iſ ſo wiſ; 2248
God hunne him eði-modes ben,
And ſende me min childre agen."

The brethren
come again to
Egypt.

ðo nomen he forð weie rigt,
Til he ben cumen i_n_-to egypte ligt; 2252

Joseph treats
them kindly,

And q_u_anne Ioſep hem alle ſag,
Kinde ðogt i_n_ his herte was [ðag].

[217] MS. ðanno

[218] ne?

[219] derðe?

[220] eft?

[221] ðat?

JOSEPH'S INTERVIEW WITH HIS BRETHREN.

and bids his
steward prepare
a feast for them.

He bad hiſ ſtiward gerken iſ meten,
He ſeide he ſulden wið him alle eten; 2256
He ledde hem alle to Ioſepes biri,
Her non hadden ðo loten miri.
"Lou_er_d," he ſeiden ðo eu_er_ilc on,

They tell Joseph
that they have
brought back the
silver which they
found in their
sacks.

"Gur ſilu_er_ iſ gu brogt a-gon, 2260
It was in ure ſeckes don,
Ne wiſte ur non gilt ðor-on."
"Beð nu ſtille," q_u_ad ſtiward,
"for ic nu haue min forward." 2264

[Fol. 44b.]
Simeon was
brought out unto
them.

ðor cam ðat broðer ſymeon
And kiſte iſ breðere on and on;
Wel fagen he was of here come,
for he was numen ðor to nome. 2268

Joseph came
home about
noon,

It was vndren time or more,
Om cam ðat riche lou_er_d ðore;
And al ðo briðere, of frigti mod,

and the brethren
offered him their
present.

fellen bi-forn ðat lou_er_d-iſ fot, 2272
And bedden him riche p_re_ſent
ðat here fader hi[m] adde ſent;
And he leuelike it under-ſtod,
for alle he weren of kinde blod. 2276

He inquires after
his father.

"LIueð," q_u_ad he, "ðat fader get,
ðat ðus manige ſunes bi-gat?"

They answer that
Jacob is well,

"lou_er_d," he ſeiden, "get he liueð,
Wot ic ðor non ðat he ne biueð; 2280

and that Benjamin
stands before
him.

And ðiſ iſ gunge beniamin,
Hider brogt after bode-word ðin."
ðo Iosep ſag him ðor bi-foren,
Bi fader & moder broðer boren, 2284

Joseph was overcome.

Him ou_er_-wente his herte on-on,
Kinde luue gan hi_m_ ou_er_-gon;

He went out and
wept secretly.

Sone he gede ut and ſtille he gret,
ðat al his wlite wurð teres wet. 2288

After a while he
returned to them
and bade them
eat.

After ðat grot, he weiſ iſ wliten,
And cam ðan in and bad he_m_ eten

THE BRETHREN ARE ACCUSED OF THEFT.

[Fol. 45.]
He made his
brethren sit before
him according
to their age.

He dede hem waſſen and him bi-foren,
And ſette hem aſ he weren boren; 2292
Get he ðhogte of hiſ faderes wunes
Hu he ſette at ðe mete hiſe ſunes;

Of meat and
wine, the best he
gave to Benjamin.

Of eu_er_ilc ſonde, of eu_er_ilc win,
moſt and beſt he gaf beniamin. 2296
In fulſu_m_-hed he wurðen glaðe,[222]
Ioſep ne ðoht ðor-of no ſcaðe,
Oc it him likede ſwiðe wel,

Joseph gave
them good
counsel,

And hem lerede and tagte wel, 2300
And hu he ſulden hem beſt leden,
Q_u_ene he comen in vnkinde ðeden;

and advised them
to act truthfully.

"And al ðe bettre ſule ge ſpeden,
If ge wilen gu wið treweiðe leden." 2304

On the morrow
they depart.

Eft on morwen q_u_an it waſ dai,
Or or ðe breðere ferden a-wei,
Here ſeckes woren alle filt wið coren,
And ðe ſilu_er_ ðor-in bi-foren; 2308

Joseph's cup is
hid in Benjamin's
sack.

And ðe ſeck ðat agte beniamin
Ioſepes cuppe hid was ðor-in;
And q_u_uan he weren ut tune went,
Ioſep haueð hem after ſent. 2312

Joseph's messenger
overtakes
them,

ðis ſonde hem ou_er_takeð raðe,
And bi-calleð of harme and ſcaðe;

and accuses them
of theft.

"Vn-ſeli men, q_u_at haue ge don?
Gret vn-ſelðehe iſ gu cumen on, 2316

[Fol. 45b.]

for iſ it nogt min lord for-holen,
ða[t] gure on haueð iſ cuppe ſtolen."
ð[o] ſeiden ðe breðere ſikerlike,

The brethren assert
their innocence.

"Vp q_u_am ðu it findes witterlike, 2320
He ſlagen and we agen driuen
In-to ðraldom, eu_er_mor to liuen."

They are ransacked
one by
one,

He gan hem ranſaken on and on,
And fond it ðor ſone a-non, 2324
And nam ðo breðere eu_er_ilk on,
And ledde hem ſorful a-gon,

[222] = glade.

JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.

and brought before
Joseph,

And brogte hem bi-for ioſep
Wid reweli lote, and ſorwe, and wep. 2328
ðo q_u_at ioſep, "ne wiſte ge nogt

who reproaches
them for their
crime.

ðat ic am o wol witter ðogt?
Mai nogt longe me ben for-holen
Q_u_at-ſo-eu_er_e on londe wurð ſtolen." 2332

Judah tells Joseph
of his promise
to his father.

"Lou_er_d!" q_u_ad Iudas, "do wið me
Q_u_at-ſo ði wille on werlde be,
Wið-ðan-ðat ðu friðe beniamin;
ic ledde [him] ut on trewthe min, 2336
ðat he ſulde ef[223] cumen a-gen
to hiſe fader, and wið him ben."

Joseph commands
all, except
his brethren, to
leave him, and
makes himself
known to them.

ðo cam ioſep ſwilc rewðe up-on,
he dede halle ut ðe toðere gon, 2340
And ſpac un-eðes, ſo e gret,
ðat alle hiſe wlite wurð tereſ wet.

[Fol. 46.]

"Ic am ioſep, dredeð gu nogt,
for gure helðe or hider brogt; 2344
Two ger ben nu ðat derke[224] iſ cumen,
Get ſulen .v. fulle ben numen,
ðat men ne ſulen ſowen ne ſheren,
So ſal drugte ðe feldes deren. 2348

Tells them to
hasten to his
father,

Rapeð gu to min fader a-gen,
And ſeið him q_u_ilke min bliſſes ben,
And doð him to me cumen hider,

and return with
their cattle to
Egypt.

And ge and gure orf al to-gider; 2352
Of lewſe god in lond gerſen
ſulen ge ſundri riche ben."
Eu_er_ilc he kiſte, on ilc he gret,
Ilc here was of iſ teres wet. 2356

Soon did Pharaoh
learn the new
tidings.

Sone it was king pharaon kid
Hu ðis newe tiding wurð bi-tid;
And he was bliðe, in herte fagen,
ðat Ioſep wulde him ðider dragen, 2360
for luue of Ioſep migte he timen.

He bad them
take carts and

He bad cartes and waines nimen,

[223] eft?

[224] derðe?

JACOB AND HIS FAMILY GO INTO EGYPT.

wains and fetch
their wives and
children.

And fechen wiues, and childre, and men,
And gaf hem ðor al lond gerſen, 2364
And het hem ðat he ſulden hauen
More and bet ðan he kude crauen.

Joseph gave them
changes of raiment.

Ioſep gaf ilc here twinne ſrud,
Beniamin moſt he[225] made prud; 2368

[Fol. 46b.]

fif weden beſt bar beniamin,
ðre hundred plates of ſilu_er_ fin,
Al-ſo fele oðre ðor-til,

He bad them
take presents for
Jacob,

He bad ben in is faderes wil, 2372
And .x. aſſes wið ſemes feſt;
Of alle egiptes welðhe beſt
Gaf he iſ breðere, wið herte bliðe,

and hasten homeward.

And bad hem rapen hem homward ſwiðe; 2376
And he ſo deden wið herte fagen.
Toward here fader he gunen dragen,

When they came
home, Jacob
scarcely recognized
them.

And q_u_ane he comen him bi-foren,
Ne wiſte he nogt q_u_at he woren. 2380

"Lord Israel,"
they said,
"Joseph liveth
and greeteth thee
well."

"Lou_er_d," he ſeiden, "iſrael,
Ioſep ðin ſune greteð ðe wel,
And ſendeð ðe bode ðat he liueð,
Al egipte in hiſ wil cliueð." 2384

Jacob believed
not till he saw the
presents.

Iacob a-braid, and trewed it nogt,
Til he ſag al ðat welðe brogt.
"Wel me," quað he, "wel iſ me wel,
ðat ic aue abiden ðuſ ſwil[c] ſel! 2388

Then he said, "I
shall go to my son
ere I turn from
the world."

And ic ſal to min ſune fare
And ſen, or ic of werlde chare."

Jacob and his family
left Canaan.

[I]Acob wente ut of lond chanaan,
And of iſ kinde wel manie a man; 2392
Ioſep wel faire him vnder-ſtod,
And pharaon ðogte it ful good;

[Fol. 47.]

for ðat he weren hirde-men,

Pharaoh gives
them the land of
Goshen to live in.
Jacob is brought
before Pharaoh,

He bad hem ben in lond gerſen. 2396
Iacob waſ brogt bi-foren ðe king
for to geuen him hiſ bliſcing.

[225] MS. be.

THEY DWELL IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN.

"fader derer," q_u_að pharaon,
"hu fele ger be ðe on?" 2400

and tells him of
his age,

"An hundred ger and .xxx. mo
Haue ic her drogen i_n_ werlde wo,
ðog ðinkeð me ðor-offen fo,

of his many sorrows,

ðog ic iſ haue drogen i_n_ wo, 2404
ſiðen ic gan on werlde ben,
Her vten erd, man-kin bi-twen;
So ðinked[226] eu_er_ilc wiſ man,

and how all suffer
for the sin of
Adam.

ðe wot q_u_or-of man-kin bi-gan, 2408
And ðe of adames gilte muneð,
ðat he her uten herdes wuneð."

Pharaoh bad him
rest in peace.

Pharaon bad him wurðen wel
in ſofte reſte and ſeli mel; 2412
He and hiſe ſunes in reſte dede
In lond gerſen, on ſundri ſtede;
Siðen ðor waſ mad on ſcité,
ðe waſ y-oten Rameſé. 2416

Jacob lived one
hundred and
forty-four years.

Iacob on liue wunede ðor
In reſte fulle .xiiij. ger;

God showed him
the time of his
death.

And god him let bi-foren ſen
Q_u_ilc time hiſe ending ſulde ben; 2420

[Fol. 47b.]
Jacob bad Joseph
promise

He bad ioſep hiſe leue ſune,
On ðhing ðat[227] offe wel mune,
ðat q_u_an it wurð mid him don,

to bury him in
Hebron,

He ſulde him birien in ebron; 2424
And witterlike he it aueð hi_m_ ſeid,

where Abraham
was laid,

ðe ſtede ðor abraham was leid;
So was him lif[228] to wurðen leid,
Q_u_uor ali gast ſtille hadde ſeid 2428

and his elders before
him.

Him and hiſe eldere(.) fer ear bi-foren,
Q_u_uor ieſu criſt wulde ben boren,
And q_u_uor ben dead, and q_u_uor ben grauen;
He ðogt wið hem reſte to hauen. 2432

Joseph swore to
do as his father
wished.

Ioſep ſwor him al-ſo he bad,
And he ðor-of wurð bliðe & glad.

[226] ðinkeð?

[227] ðar?

[228] lef?

THE DEATH OF JACOB.

Before he died
Jacob called his
sons before him,
and "said what
of them should
be."

Or ðan he wiſte off werlde faren,
He bade hiſe kinde to him charen, 2436
And ſeide q_u_at of hem ſulde ben,
Hali gaſt dede it him ſeen;
In clene ending and ali lif,
So he for-let ðis werldes ſtrif. 2440

Joseph caused his
father's body to
be embalmed.

[I]Oſep dede hiſe lich faire geren,
Waſſen, and riche-like ſmeren,
And ſpice-like ſwete ſmaken;

Egypt's folk "bewaked"
Jacob
for forty nights
and forty days.

And egipte folc him bi-waken 2444
xl. nigtes and .xl. daiges,
ſwilc woren egipte lages.

[Fol. 48.]
The first nine
nights they
bathe, anoint,
etc., the body.

first .ix. nigt ðe liches beðen,
And ſmeren, and winden, and bi-q_ue_ðen, 2448
And waken iſ ſiðen .xl. nigt;
ðo men ſo deden ðe adden migt.

The Hebrews had
a different custom;

And ebriſſe folc adden an kire,
Nogt ſone deluen it wið yre, 2452

they wash the
body,

Oc waſſen it and kepen it rigt,

and keep it unanointed
for
seven nights.

Wið-vten ſmerles, ſeuene nigt,
And ſiden[229] ſmered .xxx. daiges.
Criſtene folc haueð oðer laiges, 2456
He ben ſmered ðor q_u_iles he liuen,

Christian folks
are anointed with
chrism and oil in
their life-time.

Wið criſme and olie, in trewðe geuen;
for trewðe and gode dedes mide,
ðon[230] ben ðan al ðat wech-dede; 2460
Su_m_ .on. ſum .ðre. su_m_ .vii. nigt,
Su_m_ .xxx., ſum .xii. moneð rigt;
And ſum eu_er_ilc wurðen ger,
ðor q_u_iles ðat he wunen her, 2464

For the dead they
perform alms-gift
and mass-song.

don for ðe dede chirche-gong,
elmeſſe-gifte, and meſſe-ſong,
And ðat iſ on ðe weches ſtede;
Wel him mai ben dat[231] wel it dede! 2468

Jacob's sons kept
a "wake" of
thirty days.

Egipte folc aueð him waked
xl. nigt, and feſte maked,

[229] ſiðen?

[230] don?

[231] ðat?

HE IS BURIED IN HEBRON.

And hiſe ſunes .xxx. daiges,
In clene lif and ali daiges;[232] 2472

[Fol. 48b.]
So ten weeks
passed away and
Jacob had no
burial.

So woren forð .x. wukes gon,
get adde Iacob birigeles non.
And pharaon king cam bode bi-foren,

Pharaoh heard of
Joseph's oath to
his father,

ðat Ioſep haueð his fader ſworen; 2476
And he it hi_m_ gatte ðor he wel dede,

and gave him
leave to bury his
father, and to
take with him
"weaponed"
men.

And bad hi_m_ nimen hi_m_ feres mide,
Wel wopnede men and wiſ of here[n],
dat[233] noman hem bi weie deren; 2480
ðat bere iſ led, ðiſ folc iſ rad,
he foren a-buten bi adad;
ful ſeuene nigt he ðer abiden,
And bi-meni_n_g for iacob deden; 2484
So longe he hauen ðeðen numen,

They crossed the
Jordan, and laid
the body in a
tomb, and Joseph
returned to
Egypt.

To flu_m_ iurdon ðat he ben cumen,
And ou_er_ pharan til ebron;
ðor iſ ðat liche in biriele don, 2488
And Ioſep in-to egipte went,
Wid[234] al iſ folc ut wið him ſent.

His brethren
came to him to
seek forgiveness,

Hiſe breðere comen hi_m_ ðanne to,
And gunnen him bi-ſeken alle ſo; 2492
"Vre fader," he ſeiden, "or he was dead,
Vs he ðiſ bodewurd ſeigen bead,
Hure ſinne ðu hi_m_ for-giue,
Wið-ðanne-ðat we vnder ðe liuen." 2496

and fell down
there before his
feet, and he forgave
and loved
them kindly.

Alle he fellen him ðor to fot,
To beðen meðe and bedden oc;

[Fol. 49.]

And he it for-gaf[235] hem mildelike,
And luuede hem alle kinde-like. 2500

Joseph waxed
old;

[I]Oſep an hundred ger waſ hold,
And hiſ kin wexen manige-fold;

he bad his relations
come before
him ere he died,

He bad ſibbe cumen him bi-foren,
Or he waſ ut of werlde boren; 2504

[232] laiges?

[233] ðat?

[234] wið?

[235] At the bottom of fol. 48b is the catchword—"And he it for-gaff."

THE DEATH OF JOSEPH.

"It ſal," q_u_að he, "ben ſoð, bi-foren

and told them of
God's promise to
their elders.

ðat god hað ure eldere ſworen;
He ſal gu leden i_n_ hiſ hond
Heðen to ðat hotene lond; 2508
for godeſ luue get bid ic gu,
Leſted it ðanne, hoteð it nu,

He asks them to
bear his bones
with them, when
they leave Egypt.

ðat mine bene ne be for-loren,
wið gu ben mine bones boren." 2512
He it him gatten and wurð he dead,
God do ðe ſoule ſeli red!

The death of Joseph.

Hiſe liche waſ ſpice-like maked,
And longe egipte-like waked, 2516
And ðo biried hem bi-foren,
And ſiðen late of londe boren.
Hiſe oðre breðere, on and on,
Woren ybiried at ebron. 2520

Here endeth the
book called Genesis,
written by
Moses, through
God's counsel.

An her endede to ful, in wiſ,
ðe boc ðe iſ hoten geneſis,
ðe moyſes, ðurg godes red,
Wrot for lefful ſoules ned. 2524

[Fol. 49b.]
God shield his
soul from hell-bale,
who translated
it into
English!

God ſchilde hiſe ſowle fro helle bale,
ðe made it ðus on engel tale!
And he ðat ðiſe lettres wrot,

May God help
and protect him
from hell-pain,
cold and hot!

God him helpe weli mot, 2528
And berge iſ ſowle fro ſorge & grot
Of helle pine, cold & hot!
And alle men, ðe it heren wilen,[236]

And all men who
will hear it, God
grant that they
may dwell in bliss
among angels for
ever!

God leue hem i_n_ hiſ bliſſe ſpilen 2532
Among engeles & ſeli men,
Wiðuten ende in reſte ben,
And luue & pais uſ bi-twen,
And god ſo graunte, amen, ameN! 2536

[236] MS. welin.

THE OPPRESSION OF THE ISRAELITES.

GOdes bliſcing be wið vs,

Here beginneth
Exodus.

Her nu bi-ginned[237] exodus.

Under Pharaoh,
and the seven
kings who succeeded
him,

Pharao kinges rigte name
Vephres, be dede ðe ebriſ frame; 2540
And bi oðere ſeuene kinges ſel,

the Israelites increased
and prospered.

Wexen he ðore & ðogen wel.

The eighth king
treated them
harshly,

ðe egtenede king amonaphis,
Agenes ðis folc hatel is; 2544

and the Egyptians
became jealous
of them.

And egipte folc adden nið,
for ebriſ adden ſeli ſið.
Q_u_uað ðis ging[238] wið hem ſtille i_n_ red,
"ðis ebris waxen michil ſped, 2548

[Fol. 50.]

Bute if we eraflike[239] hem for-don,
Ne ſulen he non eige ſen uſ on."