THE STORY OF GENESIS AND EXODUS, ETC.

MAn og to luuen ðat rimes ren, ðe Wiſſeð wel ðe logede men, hu man may him wel loken Man ought to love those who instruct the lewd,

4 ðog he ne be lered on no boken, Luuen god and ſeruen him ay, For he it hem wel gelden may, And to alle criſtenei men so that he who is not book-learned may love and serve God.

8 beren paiſ and luue bi-twen; ðan ſal him almightin luuen, Her bi-neðen and ðund^[71] abuuen, And giuen him bliſſe and ſoules reſte[n] God shall love all Christian men, and give them soul-rest

12 ðat him ſal earuermor^[72] leſten. that shall last evermore.

Ut of latin ðis ſong is dragen on engleis ſpeche, on ſoðe ſagen; Out of Latin is this song turned into English speech.

Cristene men ogen ben ſo fagen 16 ſo fueles arn quan he it ſen dagen, ðan man hem telled soðe tale Wid^[73] londes ſpeche and wordes ſmale, Christian men ought to be as glad as birds are of dawn to hear the story

Of bliſſes dune, of ſorwes dale; 20 Quhu lucifer, ðat deuel dwale, [Brogte mankinde in sinne and bale] of man's bliss and sorrow,

And held hem ſperd in helles male til god ſrid him in manliched, 24 dede mankinde bote and red, and how salvation came through Christ,

And unſpered al ðe fendes ſped, And halp ðor he ſag mikel ned. and destroyed the power of Satan.

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GOD MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH BY HIS WORD.

Biddi^[74] hic ſingen non oðer led, 28 ðog^[75] hic folgen idel-hed.

FAder god of alle ðhinge, Almigtin louerd, hegeſt kinge, [Fol. 1b.] Father, God of all things,

ðu giue me ſeli timinge 32 To thaunen ðis werdes biginninge, ðe, leuerd god, to wurðinge, Queðer ſo hic rede or ſinge! enable thou me to sing this world's creation,

Wit, and wisdam, and luue godd, 36 And fer ear biðohte al in his modd, wrought with wit, wisdom, and good love.

In his wiſdom was al biðogt Ear ðanne it was on werlde brogt. In firme bigini[n]g, of nogt In the Creator's wisdom was all devised ere it came into being.

40 Was heuene and erðe ſamen wrogt; ðo bad god wurðen ſtund and ſtede, ðis middes werld ðor-inne^[76] he dede, Heaven and earth were wrought when God bad exist time and place.

Al was ðat firme ðroſing in nigt, 44 Til he wit hiſe word made ligt; First all was night.

Of hiſe word, ðu wiſſike mune, Hiſe word, ðat is, hiſe wiſe ſune, ðe was of hin fer ear bi-foren Light came by God's word, that is, His Son.

48 Or ani werldes time boren; And of hem two ðat leue luuen, He existed long before time.

ðe welden al her and abuuen, ðat heli luue, ða[t] wiſe wil, 52 ðat weldet alle ðinge wit rigt and [ſ]kil; These two rule all things with wisdom.

Migt bat wit word wurðen ligt, (Hali froure welt oc ðat migt; In the Godhead there are three persons of one counsel and might.

for ðhre perſones and on reed, 56 On migt and on godfulhed.) [Fol. 2.]

ðo ſo wurð ligt ſo god it bad, fro ðiſterneſſe o ſunde[r] ſad; Light came at the divine command.

ðat waſ ðe firme morgen tid, 60 ðat euere ſprong in werld[e] wid. Then was the first morning time that ever sprang in the world.

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THE DEVIL'S FALL FROM HEAVEN. THE FIRST LIGHT DAWNS.

wid ðat ligt worn angles wrogt, And in-to newe heuene brogt, With that light were angels made,

ðat iſ ouer dis^[77] walkenes turn, 64 God hem quuad ðor ſeli ſuriurn; and brought into a new heaven.

Summe for pride fellen ðeðen, In-to ðis ðhiſterneſſe her bi-neðen; Some for pride fell thence into nether darkness.

Pride made angel deuel dwale, 68 ðat made ilc ſorge, and euerilc bale, And euerilc wunder, and euerilc wo, ðat iſ, or ſal ben euere mo. Pride turned angels into devils, who became the source of every sorrow, bale, and woe.

He was mad on ðe ſunedai, 72 He fel out on ðe munendai; (ðis ik wort in ebriſſe wen, He witen ðe ſoðe ðat iſ ſen.) The devil was made on the Sunday and fell out on the Monday.

forð glod ðat firme [dais] ligt, 76 And after glod ðat firme nigt; Forth glided the first light, and afterwards the first night.

ðe daigening cam eſt^[78] a-gon, The dawning came again.

His firme kinde dei was a-gon, On walkenes turn wid dai and nigt 80 Of foure and twenti time rigt; Thus in the welkin's course comes day and night "of twenty-four hours right."

ðes frenkis men o france moal, it nemnen "un iur natural;" [Fol. 2b.]

And euere gede ðe dai biforn, 84 ſiðen ðat newe werld was boren, So ever came the day first,

Til ihesus criſt fro helle nam, Hiſ quemed wid^[79] eue and adam; till Christ brought his saints from hell.

fro ðat time we tellen ay, 88 Or ðe nigt and after ðe day, From that time we ever reckon first the night and then the day.

for god ledde hem fro helle nigt to paradises leue ligt; ðo gan hem dagen wel iwiſſe, 92 Quan god hem ledde in-to bliſſe. For God led them from Hell's might into Paradise's bright light.

On an oðer dai ðiſ middel-erd, waſ al luken and a-buten ſperd; ðo god bad ben ðe firmament, 96 Al abuten ðis walkne ſent, On the second day the earth was enclosed by the firmament,

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THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH ARE PARTED.

Of watres froren, of yſeſ wal, ðis middel werld it luket al;— by frozen waters and wall of ice.

May no fir get melten ðat yſ; 100 He ðe it made iſ migtful and wis,— No fire has ever yet melted this ice.

It mai ben hoten heuene-Rof; It hiled^[80] al ðis werldes drof, And fier, and walkne, and water, and lond, 104 Al iſ bi-luken in godes hond, This enclosure may be called Heaven-roof.

Til domeſ-dai ne ſal it troken. Al middel-erd ðer-inne is loken, It shall last until Doomsday.

watres ben her ðer-under ſuuen, 108 And watres ðor a-buuen; [Fol. 3.]

And ouer ðat ſo ful i-wis, An oðer heuene ful o blis, And ful o lif ðe leſted oo, 112 wo may him ben ðe fel ðor-fro. Above this is another heaven full of bliss and life.

Forð glod ðis oðer daiſ nigt, ðo cam ðe ðridde dais ligt: Thus passed this second day's night.

ðe ðridde dai, ſo god it bad, Then came the third day's light.

116 was water and erðe o ſunder ſad; God bi-quuad watres here ſtede, Water and earth became separated.

And erðe brimen and beren dede; Ilk gres, ilc wurt, ilc birðheltre, 120 Hiſ owen ſed beren bad he; The earth did bring forth grass, herb, and fruit tree.

Of euerilc ougt, of euerilc ſed, Waſ erðe mad moder of ſped. ðe ðridde dai was al ðis wrogt, 124 And erðes fodme on werldes brogt; An euerilc fodme his kinde quuemeðen. Thus was earth made mother of wealth.

ðo was it her fair bi-neðen, Then was all fair here below.

God ſag his ſafte fair and good, 128 And bliſcede it wid^[81] milde mood. God saw that it was so, and blessed it.

Forð glod ðis ðridde daiſ nigt, ðo cam ðe ferðe daiſ ligt. ðe ferðe dai made migt 132 Sunne, and mone, and ilc ſterre brigt, Then came the fourth day's light, and Might made the sun and moon and each bright star.

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THE STARS ARE SET, AND FOWL AND FISH ARE MADE.

walknes wurðinge, and erdes frame, He knowned^[82] one ilc ſterre name, [Fol. 3b.]

He ſettes in ðe firmament, God set them in the firmament.

136 Al abuten ðis walkne went; ðe ſeuene he bad on fligte faren, He let them be

And toknes ben, and times garen. for signs and for seasons.

Sunne and mone ðe moſte ben 140 Of alle ðe toknes ðat men her ſen; Sun and moon are the greatest of all these tokens.

ðe mone iſ more bi mannes tale, ðan al ðis erðe in werldes dale; The moon is greater than the earth.

And egeſt ſwilc ðe ſunnes brigt, 144 Iſ more ðanne ðe mones ligt. The sun's brightness is greater than the moon's light.

ðe mones ligt is moneð met, ðor-after iſ ðe ſunne ſet; The moon's light is the measure of a month.

In geuelengðhe worn it mad, 148 In Reke-fille, on ſunder ſhad; In the equinox was it made.

Two geuelengðhes timen her, And two ſolſtices in ðe ger. Two equinoxes and two solstices are in the year.

On four doles delen he 152 ðe ger, ilc dole of moneð ðhre; Euere ſchinen ðo toknes brigt, And often giuen iſ on erðe ligt; wel wurðe his migt lefful ay, 156 ðe wroutis on ðe ferðe day! Forð glod ðis ferðe daiſ nigt, ðo cam ðe fifte dais ligt; In four parts the year is divided, each part being of three months.

ðe fifte day god made ywis 160 of water, ilc fuel and eruerilc^[83] fiſ, And tagte fuel on walkene his fligt, Ilc fiſ on water his flotes migt, On the fifth day, God made of water each fowl and fish, [Fol. 4.]

And bliſced hem, and bad hem ðen 164 And tuderande on werld[e] ben. and bad them multiply.

Ðiſ fifte dai held forð his fligt, And forð endede ðat fifte nigt; This fifth day took its flight,

And [cam] ðe ſexte dais ligt, 168 So made god wid^[84] witter migt, and on the sixth day God made all cattle, reptiles, and wild deer (beasts).

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CATTLE ARE MADE FOR MAN'S SERVICE. ADAM IS CREATED.

Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der, Qwel^[85] man mai ſen on werlde her.

God ſag bi-fore quat after cam, 172 ðat ſingen ſulde firme adam, And him to fremen and do^[86] frame, God knew that Adam would sin,

He made on werlde al erue tame, ðe ſulde him her, in ſwinkes ſtrif, 176 to fode, and ſrud, to helpen ðe lif; And him to pine, and loar her, so He made tame cattle to help him in his labour and to give him food and clothing.

God made wirme and wilde der. He pine man wid^[87] ſorwe and dred, 180 And don hem^[88] monen hiſ ſinfulhed, ðat iſ him loar quan he ſeð, ðan he for ſinne in ſorwe beð. God made the wild deer to trouble man with sorrow and dread and cause him to moan his sinfulness.

Ilk kinnes erf, and wrim, and der 184 Was mad of erðe on werlde her, Each kind of cattle, reptile, and beast was made of earth.

And euerilc on in kinde good, ðor quiles adam fro ſinne ſtod; [Fol. 4b.] All were good while Adam was pure.

Oc der and wrim it deren man 188 fro ðan ðat he ſingen bi-gan; In ðe moſte and in ðe leſte he forleſ Hiſ louerd-hed^[89] quuanne he miſ-cheſ; But reptiles and wild beasts hurt man as soon as he became sinful.

Leunes and beres him wile to-dragen, Lions and bears tear him in pieces.

192 And fleges ſen on him non agen; Hadde he wel loked him wið ſkil, Ilc beſte ſulde don hiſ wil; Flies have no awe of him.

Erf helpeð him ðurg godes með, 196 Hiſ lordehed^[90] ðor-onne he ſeð. And for hiſe ſinne oc he to munen, ðat moſte and leiſte him ben binumen. Cattle help him through God's mercy.

Ðiſ ſexte dai god made Adam, 200 And his licham of erðe he nam, On this sixth day God made Adam of earth,

And blew ðor-in a liues blaſt, and blew into his body a "life's blast,"

A likneſſe of his hali gaſt, "a likeness of His Holy Ghost,

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OF PARADISE AND THE CREATION OF EVE.

A ſpirit ful of wit and ſckil; 204 ðor quiles it folgede heli wil, God ſelf ðor quile liket iſ, An un-liſ quuanne it wile miſ. a spirit full of wit and skill."

[I]N feld damaske adam was mad, 208 And ðeðen fer on londe ſad; In Damascus field Adam was made.

God bar him in-to paradiſ, An erd al ful of ſwete bliſ; God bore him into Paradise, an abode full of sweet bliss.

fol wel he wid^[91] him ðor dede, [Fol. 5.]

212 bi-tagte him al ðat mirie ſtede; Oc an bodeword ðer he him forbed, if he wulde him ſilden fro ðe ded, He intrusted to him all that pleasant place.

ðat he ſulde him ðer loken fro 216 A fruit, ðe kenned wel and wo, But forbad him to touch the fruit which taught "weal and woe."

And hiegt him ded he ſulde ben If he ðat bode-word ne gunne flen. Dead should he be if he broke this command.

God brogt adam ðor bi-forn 220 Ilc kinnes beſte of erðe boren, and fugel, an fiſ, wilde and tame, God brought all beasts of the earth, fowl, and fish unto Adam,

ðor gaf adam ilc here iſ name; Ne was ðor non lik adam. who gave to each a name.

224 God dede dat^[92] he on ſweuene cam, And in ðat ſweuene he let him ſen Mikel ðat after ſulde ben. God caused a sleep to come upon Adam, and in that sleep he saw much that should hereafter be.

Ut of his ſide he toc a rib, 228 And made a wimman him ful ſib, And heled him ðat ſide wel ðat it ne wrocte him neuere a del. Out of his side God took a rib, and out of it made a woman.

Adam abraid, and ſag ðat wif, 232 Name he gaf hire dat^[93] iſ ful Rif; Adam awoke and saw his wife.

Iſſa waſ hire firſte name, ðor-of ðurte hire ðinken no ſame; Issa was her first name,

Mayden, for ſche was mad of man, 236 Hire firſt name ðor bi-gan; because she was made of man.

Siðen ghe brocte us to woa, Adam gaf hire name eua. After she brought us to woe Adam called her Eva. [Fol. 5b.]

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THE SEVENTH DAY IS MADE A DAY OF REST.

Adden he folged godes red, 240 Al man-kin adde ſeli ſped;

for ſinne he ðat bliſſe for-loren, ðat derede al ðat of hem was boren; It is her-after in ðe ſong, 244 Hu adam fel in pine ſtrong. For sin they lost the bliss of Paradise.

Forð glod ðiſ ſexte dais lig[t], After glod ðe ſexte nig[t]; The sixth day passed and

ðe ſeuendai morgen ſpro[n]g, 248 ðat dai tokenede reſte long; ðis dai waſ forð in reſte wrogt, Ilc kinde newes ear waſ brog[t]; the seventh morning sprung. That day betokened long rest.

God ſette ðis dai folk bitwen, 252 Dai of bliſſe and off reſte ben, for ðat time ear fear bi-forn, God ordained this day a day of bliss and rest.

Til ihesus was on werlde boren, And til he was on ðe rode-wold, 256 And biried in ðe roche cold. And reſtede him after ðe ded, ðat ilke dai god aligen bed. So it remained until Christ rose from the cold rock.

Siðen for-leſ ðat dai iſ priſ, 260 for ihesus,^[94] god and man ſo wis, Roſ fro ded on ðe ſunenday, Then the Sunday from that time forth became hallowed for ever.

ðat is forð ſiðen worðed ay; [Fol. 6.]

And it ſal ben ðe laſte tid, 264 Quan al man-kinde, on werlde wid, Sal ben fro dede to liue brogt, And ſeli ſad fro ðe forwrogt, An ben don in bliſſe and in lif, 268 fro ſwinc, and ſorwe, and deades ſtrif. So shall it remain until Doomsday.

Wiſdom ðe made ilc ðing of nogt, quuat-ſo-euere on heuone or her iſ wrogt. Wisdom made each thing of nought.

Ligber he ſridde a dere ſrud, 272 An he wurðe in him-ſeluen prud, Lucifer waxed proud,

An wid ðat pride him wex a nyð, ðat iwel weldeð al his ſið; and with that pride came envy.

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LUCIFER IS CAST INTO HELL, AND THERE PLOTS MAN'S FALL.

ðo ne migte he non louerd ðhauen, 276 ðat him ſulde ðhinge grauen:^[95]

"Min fligt," he ſeide, "ic wile up-taken, "My flight," he says, "I will up take,

Min ſete norð on heuene maken, And ðor ic wile ſitten and ſen 280 Al ðe ðhinges ðe in wer[l]de ben, Twen heuone hil and helle dik, And ben min louerd geuelic." and make my seat north of heaven, and therein will I sit and see all things.

ðo wurð he drake ðat ear was knigt, 284 ðo wurð he mirc ðat ear was ligt, Then became he dragon that ere was knight;

And euerilc on ðat helden wid^[96] him, ðo wurðen mirc, and ſwart, and dim, all that held with him became dark, dim, and black,

And fellen ut of heuones ligt 288 In-to ðis middil walknes nigt; and fell out of heaven's light.

And get ne kuðe he nogt blinne for to don an oðer ſinne. [Fol. 6b.] Yet would Satan not cease to commit sin.

Eſten^[97] he ſag in paradiſ 292 Adam and eue in mike[l] priſ, Newelike he was of erðe wrogt, And to ðat mirie bliſſe brogt; He saw Adam and Eve in Paradise in great bliss and honour.

ðowgte ðis quead, "hu ma it ben, 296 Adam ben king and eue quuen Of alle ðe ðinge in werlde ben. Hu mai it hauen, hu mai it ſen, Of fiſ, of fugel, of wrim, of der, 300 Of alle ðhinge ðe wunen her, Euerilc ðhing haued he geue name, How may it be, thought he, that Adam is king and Eve queen of all things in the world,

Me to ſorge, ſcaðe, and ſame; for adam ſul ðus and his wif 304 In bliſſe ðus leden leſteful lif; for alle ðo, ðe of hem ſule cumen, while I am in sorrow, scathe, and shame.

ſulen ermor in bliſſe wunen, And we ðe ben fro heuene driuen, Evermore shall they remain in bliss,

308 ſulen ðuſſe one in ſorwe liuen; Get ic wene I can a red, ðat hem ſal bringen iwel ſped; while we must live in sorrow. Yet I think I know of a plan to bring them into sin.

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EVE AND ADAM EAT THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

for gef he don ðad^[98] god for-bead, 312 ðat ſal hem bringen to ðo dead, For if they do what God forbiddeth they shall die.

And ſal get ðis ilke dai, ðor buten hunte if ic mai This I will without delay bring about to-day.

Ic wene ðat ic and eue hiſe wif 316 ſulen adam bilirten of hiſe lif. Ic wene ðat ic and eue ſulen alle is bliſſe dreue." [Fol. 7.] I think that Eve and I shall deprive Adam of his life."

Ðus he ðhogte, and up he ſteg, 320 And eſten^[99] til dat^[100] erð he teg, Thus he thought, and up he went, and to the earth he came.

Wente in to a wirme, and tolde eue a tale; And ſenkede hire hure aldre bale. He went into a "worm" and told Eve a tale.

"Eue," ſeide he, ðat neddre bold, 324 "Quat oget nu ðat for-bode o-wold, ðat a tre gu forboden is, "Eve," he said, "what meaneth it that a tree is forbidden you,

ðat ouer alle oðre bered pris? for iſ fruit ſired mannes mood, a tree that surpasses all others,

328 To witen boðen iwel and good, Sone ge it ðor-of hauen eten, Al ge it ſulen witent^[101] and nogt forgeten, which shall teach you evil and good,

And ben ſo wiſe alle euene 332 So ðo ðe wunen a-buuen in heuone." and make you as wise as those who dwell above in heaven?"

Ðanne ðogte eue on hire mod, ðanne iſ tiſ fruit wel ſwiðe good, fair on ſigðhe and ſofte on hond, 336 Of ðiſ fruit wile ic hauen fond. When Eve saw that it was fair to the sight and soft to the hand,

Sum ghe ðer at, and ſum ghe nam, And bar it to her fere adam; So manie times ghe him ſcroðt, she ate thereof, and took some and brought it to Adam.

340 Queðer so him was lef or loðt, for to forðen iſ fendes wil, [Fol. 7b.]

At he dat^[100] fruit, and dede unskil; Sone it was under breſt numen; He ate that fruit and did foolishly.

344 Dedes two bondes on hem ben comen; Then death's two bonds came upon them.

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GOD'S CURSE ON ADAM AND EVE, AND THE ADDER.

Vn-buxumhed he hauen hem don, Vn-buxumhed iſ hem cumen on;

Vn-welde woren and in win, 348 Here owen limes hem wið-in. Weakness and sorrow troubled their limbs.

fleſſes fremeðe and ſafte ſame boðen he felten on here lichame; ðo gunen he ſame ſriden, They were ashamed of their nakedness,

352 And limes in leues hiden. Nu wot adam ſum-del o wo, Her-after ſal he leren mo. and shrouded themselves in leaves.

After ðiſ dede a ſteuone cam, 356 "ðu, nu, quor art, adam, adam?" "Louerd, quat ſame iſ me bi-tid, for ic am naked and haue me hid?" "Quo ſeide ðe dat gu^[102] wer[e] naked; 360 ðu haues ðe ſorges ſigðhe waked, After this deed a voice came, saying, "Where art thou, Adam?" Quoth Adam, "I am naked, and hid myself."

for ðhu min bode-word haues broken, ðhu ſalt ben ut in ſorge luken, Then said God, "Because thou hast broken my command,

In ſwinc ðu ſalt tilen ði mete[n], 364 ðin bred wid ſwotes teres eten, thou shalt till thy meat with toil, and eat thy bread with sweat and tears,

Til gu^[102] beas eft in to erðe cumen, Quer-of gu^[102] beaſ to manne numen; until thou come again to the earth.

And wif ſal under were wunen, 368 In heuerilc birðhe ſorge numen; [Fol. 8] Woman shall be under man, and have sorrow in every birth.

And niðful neddre, loð an liðer, ſal gliden on hiſe breſt neðer And erðe freten wile he mai liuen, The adder shall glide on his breast and eat earth.

372 And atter on is tunge cliuen; Poison shall cleave to his tongue.

And nið, and ſtrif, and ate, and ſan, Sal ben bi-twen neddre and wimman; And get ſal wimman ouercumen, 376 His heued under fote bi-numen." Envy, strife, hate, and shame shall be between the adder and the woman."

Two pilches weren ðurg engeles wrogt, And to adam and to eue brogt, Two pilches the angels wrought for Adam and Eve,

ðor-wið he ben nu boðen ſrid, 380 And here ſame ſumdel is hid. so that their shame might be hid.

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EVE BEGETS CAIN AND ABEL, AND OTHER CHILDREN.

He ben don ut of paradiſ, ðat erd al ful of ſwete bliſ; He ben don ut of bliſſes erd, They were turned out of Paradise.

384 Cherubin hauet ðe gateſ ſperd; Cherubim closed the gates.

Ne ſulen it neuere ben un-don, Til ihesus beð on Rode don; Ne ſulen it neuermore ben opened, 388 Til ihesus beð on rode dead. Never shall they be undone till Christ is crucified.

Iff mikel is ſorge, and more care, Adam and eue it wite ful gare; Of paradiſ hem ðinkeð ſwem, Thus Adam and Eve became acquainted with sorrow and care.

392 Of iwel and dead hem ſtondeð greim. On ſundri ðhenken he to ben, And neiðere on oðer ſen, Til angel brogte adam bode, [Fol. 8b.] Evil and death troubled them. They thought that they must never look upon one another.

396 bodeword and tiding fro gode:— Message came from God,

"Adam, ðhu knowe eue ðin wif, And leded ſamen gunker lif; "Adam, know Eve, thy wife, and live together.

Summe ſulen of gu to kumen, 400 Sulen ben in to reſte numen; Summe ſulen folwen fendes red, And ben in ſorwe after ðe dead; And get ſal godeſ dere ſune Some that shall be born of you shall come to bliss, others shall be in sorrow after their death.

404 In gure kin in werlde wunen, And he ſal bringen man a-gen In paradiſ to wunen and ben." God's dear Son shall bring man again into Paradise."

Swilc tiding ðhugte adam god, 408 And ſumdel quemeð it his ſeri mood. Ðiſ angel is to heuone numen, These tidings partly softened Adam's sorry mood.

And adam iſ to eue cumen, More for erneſte dan^[103] for gamen; 412 Adam and eue wunen ſamen, Adam and Eve lived together.

And hadden childre manige i-wiſ, Mo ðan of telleð de geneſis; Children had they, many more than Genesis tells of.

for fiftene ger hadde adam, 416 ðan caim of eue cam, After fifteen years Cain was born,

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CAIN BUILDS ENO. LAMECH BEGINS BIGAMY.

And oðer fiftene al-ſwilc ſel, Quane eue bar rigt-wiſe abel.^[104] and afterwards Eve bore righteous Abel.

Abel an hundred ger waſ hold, 420 ðan he was of iſ broðer wold; An hundred ger after iſ dead, [Fol. 9.] Abel was a hundred years old when he was slain by his brother.

Adam fro eue in ſrifte abead. To hundred ger and .xxx.^ti mo 424 was adam hold and eue ðo, After this Adam from Eve in shrift abode one hundred years.

ðan bor ghe ſeht in ðe ſtede Of caym ðat abel for-dede; Or or midleſt, or after ðo 428 Bar eue of adam manige moo. Seth was born when Adam was 230 years old.

Ðor quiles ðat adam ſorge dreg for abel, caym fro him fleg, wið wif and hagte, and wurð ut-lage, 432 wið dead him ſtood hinke and age. Cain fled from his home and became an outlaw.

He ches a ſtede toward eden, And to him^[105] ſameden oðer men, He chose an abode near Eden.

wallede a burg, e-no bi name; He built a city, Enoch by name.

436 ðeft and reflac ðhugte him no ſame, for ðat he made him manige fon, ðor he ðhogte he ſtonden agon. Theft and robbery was no sin to him; many foes he made.

Met of corn, and wigte of fe, 440 And merke of felde, first fond he. Tellen ic wile ſo birðe bad, Adam, caym, enos, iraab, Malaleel, matusale; 444 Lamech is at ðe sexte kne, Measure of corn, weight of goods, division of land, taught he first.

ðe ſeuende man after adam, ðat of caymes kinde cam. ðiſ lamech waſ ðe firme man, [Fol. 9b.] The seventh man after Adam, of Cain's kind, was Lamech.

448 ðe bigamie firſt bi-gan. Bigamie is unkinde ðing, On engleis tale, twie-wifing; He first began bigamy.

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[105]

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LAMECH KILLS CAIN AND HIS OWN SERVANT.

for ai was rigt and kire bi-forn, 452 On man, on wiſ, til he was boren.

Lamech him two wifes nam, On adda, an noðer wif ſellam. Two wives he took—Adah and Zillah.

Adda bar him ſune Iobal, Adah bare Jabal.

456 He was hirde wittere and wal; Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble, He was a cunning shepherd.

ſundring and ſameni[n]g tagte he; He taught separation and assembling.

Iobal iſ broðer ſong and glew, 460 Wit of muſike, wel he knew; Jubal, his brother, wise in song and glee,

On two tableſ of tigel and braſ wrot he ðat wiſtom, wiſ he was, ðat it ne ſulde ben undon 464 If fier or water come ðor-on. wrote on tile and brass.

Sella wuneð oc lamech wið, ghe bar tubal, a ſellic ſmið; Zillah bare Tubal, a mighty smith.

Of irin, of golde, ſiluer, and bras 468 To ſundren and mengen wiſ he was; Iron, gold, silver, and brass he well knew how to separate and to mix.

Wopen of wigte and tol of grið, wel cuðe ^[106]egte and ſafgte^[106] wið. He was skilled in making weapons of war and household tools.

Lamech ledde long lif til ðan [Fol. 10.]

472 ðat he wurð biſne, and haued a man ðat ledde him ofte wudes ner, To ſcheten after ðe wilde der; Al-so he miſtagte, alſo he ſchet, 476 And caim in ðe wude iſ let; Lamech at last became blind. He had a man to lead him to the woods in search of wild deer.

His knape wende it were a der, An lamech droge iſ arwe ner, The knave mistook Cain for a deer.

And letet flegen of ðe ſtreng, 480 Caim unwarde it under-feng, Lamech let fly an arrow,

Gruſnede, and ſtrekede, and ſtarf wið-ðan. Lamech wið wreðe iſ knape nam, which struck Cain and killed him.

Vn-bente iſ boge, and bet, and slog, 484 Til he fel dun on dedeſ ſwog. Lamech beat and slew his servant.

Twin-wifing ant twin-manſlagt Of his ſoule beð mikel hagt. Thus was he guilty of twi-wiving and twin-slaughter.

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OF SETH, ENOCH, METHUSELAH, AND NOAH.

Of hiſe endinge ne wot ic nogt, 488 oc of iſ kinde woren brogt Of his death we know nothing.

On werlde ſeue and ſeuenti ðhuſant men, Or or flum noe ſpredde hiſ fen; Queðer ſo it ðhogte hem iuel or good, 492 Alle he drinkilden in ðat flood. His descendants were all destroyed by Noah's flood.

Of ſeth, ðe waſ adam-iſ ſune, cam enos; he gan ali wune Of bedes, and of godefrigtihed, 496 for liues helpe and ſoules red. Of Seth came Enos, who was prayerful and God-fearing.

Ic wile rigt tellen, if ic can, [Fol. 10b.]

Adam, ſeth, enos, caynan, Malaleel, iareth, enoch, 500 for alied^[107] god ſelf him toch fro mannes mene in to ðat ſtede ðat adam forles for iuel dede; God took Enoch to Himself,

get liueð enoch wið-vten ſtrif, 504 In paradiſ in ſwete lif; to dwell with Him in Paradise.

Get he ſal cumen or domeſ-day, And wenden iewes, if he may, To ðe witteneſſe of ieſus criſt, 508 And tholen dead vnder antecrist; Siðen ſal antecriſt ben ſlagen, And man and angeles wurðen fagen. chirches ben wurſiped mor and mor, 512 And fendes dregen ſorge and ſor. Enoch shall come before Doomsday to turn the Jews to Christ.

Or enoch wente [fro] werldes wune, Matuſale waſ boren iſ ſune, Before Enoch went from the world Methuselah was born.

And lamech of matuſale, Lamech came of Methuselah.

516 And of lamech rigt-wiſe noe. Lamech begat Noah.

Metodius, ali martyr, Adde in his herte ſighe^[108] ſir; Alſo he god adde ofte bi-ſogte, 520 Wiſlike was him in herte brogt ðis midelerdes biginning, And middel-hed, and iſ ending; Methodius, holy martyr, knew much of this world's beginning, middle, and ending.

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OF THE WORLD'S CORRUPTION AND NOAH'S FLOOD.

He wrot a boc dat manige witen, 524 Manige tiding ðor-on iſ writen; ðor iſ writen quat agte awold, dat^[109] ðiſ werld waſ water wold. Fif hundred ger of ðat ðuſent 528 ðat mankin was on werlde ſent, [Fol. 11.] He wrote a book, well known to many.

Caymes ſunes wrogten vn-lage, Wið breðere wifes hore-plage; And on ðe ſexte hundred ger Cain's kind wrought against law.

532 Wimmen welten wereſ meſter, And ſwilc woded wenten^[110] on, Golhed hunkinde he gunnen don; And ðe fifte hundred ger, Women waxed evil, unchaste, and unnatural.

536 wapmen bi-gunnen quad meſter, bi-twen hem-ſeluen hun-wreſte plage, A ðefis kinde, a-genes lage. Two hundred ger after ðo wunes, Men began to addict themselves to wretched practices.

540 Mis-wiuen hem gunnen ſeðes ſunes, Agenes ðat adam for-bead, And leten godeſ frigti-hed; Seth's sons made marriages contrary to Adam's commands.

He choſen hem wiwes of caym, 544 And mengten wið waried kin; Of hem woren ðe getenes boren, They chose wives of Cain's seed, and mixed with the accursed kind.

Migti men, and figti, [and] for-loren; He wrogten manige [sinne] and bale, 548 Of ðat migt [nu] is litel tale; Of them were giants born who wrought many evils.

for ðat he god ne luueden nogt, ðat migt iſ al to ſorge brogt; [Fol. 11b.]

for ſwilc ſinful dedes ſake, 552 ſo cam on werlde wreche and wrake for to bliſſen ſwilc ſinnes ſame, ðat it ne wexe at more hun-frame. For their great sin there came wrath and vengeance upon the world.

Ðo wex a flod ðis werlde wid-hin, 556 and [o]uer-flowged men & deres kin, A flood drowned man and beast.

wið-vten noe and hise ðre ſunen, Sem, Cam, Iaphet, if we rigt munen, Noah and his family were saved in an ark.

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THE BUILDING OF THE ARK. THE FLOOD.

And here foure wifes woren hem wið; 560 ðise .viij. hadden in ðe arche grið.^[111]

Ðat arche was a feteles good, ſet and limed a-gen ðe flood; The ark was a good vessel.

ðhre hundred elne waſ it long, 564 Naild and ſperd, ðig and ſtrong, Three hundred ells was it long,

And .l.^ti elne wid, and .xxx.^ti heg; ðor buten noe (.) long ſwing he dreg, fifty wide, and thirty high.

An hundred winter, euerilc del, 568 welken or it was ended wel; Of alle der ðe on werlde wunen, And foueles weren ðer-inne cumen A hundred winters was Noah in building it.

Bi ſeuene and ſeuene, or bi two & two, 572 Al-migtin god him bad it ſo, And mete quorbi ðei migten liuen, ðor quiles he woren on water driuen. Clean animals entered the ark by seven and seven, unclean by two and two.

Sexe hundred ger noe was hold 576 Quan he dede him in ðe arche-wold; Two ðhuſant ger, ſex hundred mo, And ſex and fifti forð to ðo, weren of werldes elde numen 580 ðan noe waſ in to ðe arche cumen. [Fol. 12.] Six hundred years old was Noah when he entered the ark.

Ilc watereſ ſpringe here ſtrengðe undede, And Reyn gette dun on euerilk ſtede fowerti daiſ and fowerti nigt, 584 So wex water wið magti migt; So wunderlike it wex & get The water springs undid their strength. Rain poured down on every place.

ðat fiftene elne it ouer-flet, Ouer ilk dune, and ouer ilc hil, 588 ðhurge godes migt and godes wil; And oðer fowerti ðore-to, Daiſ and nigtes ſtodet ſo; Fifteen ells it overflowed, over every hill and vale.

ðo waſ ilc fleiſ on wer[l]de ſlagen, 592 ðo gunnen ðe wateres hem wið-dragen. Then was all flesh destroyed.

[111]

At the end of the line in the margin 'Se archa Nœe.'

THE ARK STOOD IN ARMENIA.

Ðe ſeuend moned^[112] waſ in cumen, And ſeuene and .xx.^ti dais numen, IN armenie ðat arche ſtod, 596 ðo waſ wið-dragen ðat ilc flod. In the seventh month and the twenty-seventh day the ark stood in Armenia.

Ðo ðe tende moned^[112] cam in, So wurð dragen ðe watreſ win; Dunes wexen, ðe flod wið-drog, 600 It adde leſted longe a-nog When the tenth month came the waters withdrew.

Fowerti daiſ after ðiſ, Arches windoge undon it iſ, ðe Rauen ut-fleg, hu ſo it gan ben, 604 Ne cam he nogt to ðe arche a-gen; [Fol. 12b.] Forty days after this the ark's window is undone, the raven out flew, and came not again to the ark.

ðe duue fond no clene ſtede, And wente a-gen and wel it dede; The dove found no clean place, and came again to the ark.

ðe ſeuendai eſt ut it tog, 608 And brogt a grene oliues bog; Seue nigt ſiðen euerilc on After seven days the dove left the ark and returned with an olive bough.

He is let ut flegen, crepen, and gon, wið-uten ilc ſeuend clene der 612 ðe he ſacrede on an aucter. Sex hundred ger and on dan^[113] olde Seven nights after all are let out of the ark.

Noe ſag ut of ðe arche-wolde; ðe firſt moned^[112] and te firſt dai, 616 He ſag erðe drie & te water awai; get he waſ wiſ and nogt to rad, Noah looked out of the ark and saw that the earth was dry.

Gede he nogt ut, til god him bad. Ðe toðer moneð was in cumen, 620 And ſeuene and twenti dais numen, ðo herde Noe wol bliðe bode Yet went he not out till he was bidden by God.

Of a ſteuene, ðe cam fro gode; He and hiſe wif wenten ut fre, 624 Hiſe ſunes and here wifes ðre; At God's command he and his family left the ark.

He made an aucter on godeſ name, And ſacrede he ðor-on, for ſowleſ frame, Noah made an altar and sacrificed thereon.

Ilc ſeuende der of clene kin, 628 ðe waſ holden in arche wið-hin, [Fol. 13.] The seventh deer was offered up,

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THE RAINBOW APPEARS IN THE WELKIN.

And leten ðe oðre to liue gon, of hem ben tudered manigon. the others were allowed to escape alive.

Often he [bad] wid^[114] frigti bede, 632 ðat ſwiulc wreche ſo god ðo dede Ne ſulde more on werlde cumen, Quat wreche ſo ðor wurðe numen. Noah besought God that he would no more send such destruction upon mankind.

God gat it a token of luuen, 636 Taunede him in ðe wa[l]kene a-buuen God granted his request, and shewed him the rain-bow as a token of His love.

Rein-bowe, men cleped^[115] reed and blo; The rain-bow is called red and blue.

ðe blo tokeneð de^[116] wateres wo, ðat iſ wið-uten and is gon; The blue denotes the water that drowned all flesh.

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

Of^[118] noe ſiðen an iſ ðre ſunen, 648 ben boren alle ðe in werlde wunen, From Noah and his three sons all mankind have come.

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

vten childre and vten wimmen, wel fowre and .xx. ðhuſent men woren ſtalwurði boren bi tale, 656 wið-uten wif-kin and childre ſmale; .ix. hundred ger and fifti told, or or he ſtarf, noe waſ old. [Fol. 13b.] They numbered, excluding women and children, 24,000 stalworth men.

Nembrot gat hiſe feres red, 660 for ðat he hadde of water dred, To maken a tur, wel heg & ſtrong, Of tigel and ter, for water-gong; Nimrod had dread of water, so he advised his followers to make a tower high and strong.

Twelwe and ſexti men woren ðor-to, Seventy-two men were employed about it.

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Oſ MS.

CONFUSION OF TONGUES. ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY.

664 Meiſter men for to maken it ſo.

Al waſ on ſpeche ðor bi-foren, All spoke one speech before.

ðor woren ſundri ſpeches boren; ðo wurðen he frigti and a-griſen, 668 for dor^[119] waſ ſundri ſpecheſ riſen, Now sundry tongues arose and sorely terrified the workmen.

Sexti lond-ſpeches and .xii. mo, weren delt ðane in werlde ðo. Seventy-two land-speeches were then spoken.

Babel, ðat tur, bi-lef un-mad, That tower was called Babel.

672 ðat folc iſ wide on lon[de] ſad; Nembrot nam wið ſtrengðhe ðat lond, And helde ðe tur o babel in hiſ hond. The folk became scattered afar upon the earth.

Beluſ king waſ nembrot ſune, 676 Nilus hiſ ſune gan ille wune; Belus wurð dead, and nilus king Made likeneſſe, for muni[gin]g^[120] Belus was Nimrod's son, and after him reigned Nilus, who set up an image in remembrance of his father.

After hiſ fader, and he ſo dede, 680 He it ſetten on an mirie ſtede; [Fol. 14.]

Euerilc man he gaf lif and frið ðat to ðat likeneſſe ſogte grið; for ðat frið ðat hem [gaf] ðe king, 684 He boren ðat likneſſe wurðing, Nilus rewarded all that honoured this likeness.

Calden it bel, after belum; After ðis cam ſwilc oðer ſum, They called it Bel, after Belum.

Manie man, iſ frend for to munen, 688 Made likneſſe after ðe wunen, Many made likenesses of their friends.

Bel was ðe firſte, and after him Sum higte beland, ſum balim, And ſum bel, and ſum bal; 692 fendes fleiðing wex wið-al, To wenden men fro godes reed, To newe luue and to newe dred; Bel was the first, and hence the names Bal or Balim.

Ydolatrie ðuſ waſ boren, 696 for quuam mani man iſ for-loren. Of ſem, and of ðe folc ðe of him cam, luue and dred under gode nam; Of ðis kinge wil we leden ſong, Thus was idolatry introduced, by which many are destroyed.

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ABRAM LEAVES MESOPOTAMIA.

700 Cristes helpe be us amonge!

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

Ðis oðer werldes elde iſ ſo, A ðhuſent ger ſeuenti and two. [Fol. 14b.]

ðe ðridde werldeſ elde cam, 708 Quanne thare bi-gat abram; for he bi-gat a ſune aram, Nachor midleſt, laſt abram; The third age of the world began when Terah begat Abram.

Aram bi-gat loth, and ſarray, 712 And melcham, and waſ ſort leui Haran begat Lot and Sarai and Milcah.

In lond caldea, hur hicte ðe tun, Quor deades ſtrenge warp him dun; They dwelt in Ur of the Chaldees.

ðor fader, and breðere, and childre, and wif, 716 Him bi-ſtoden wið ſorwes ſtrif; ðo ðogte thare on hiſ mod, Much strife was there between father and brother, children and wife.

long bigging iſ here nogt god. Nachor he gaf wif melcam, 720 And trewe ſarray abram. Terah did not care to remain long in this town.

Quanne abram wurð wiſ and war ðat ſarray non childre ne bar, He toc him loth on ſunes ſtede; 724 He waſ hiſe neve, wol wel he dede. Abram having no children adopted Lot as his son.

Thare let hur, and ðeðen he nam, And wulde to lond canahan, Cam into a burgt^[121] ðat het aram, 728 In londe meſopothaniam. Terah left Ur and came to Haran in Mesopotamia.

Wið him ledde he nachor, melcam, Sarray, loth, and abram. With him he took his sons and daughters.

Tho^[122] hundred ger and fifue mo, [Fol. 15.]

732 Thare waſ old, ſtarf he ðo. Tereſ gliden for herteſ ſor fro loth, and abram, and nachor; Terah died when he was two hundred and five years old.

Thare lið biried in aram. He lies buried in Haran.

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ABRAM REACHES CANAAN. HE GOES TO EGYPT.

736 God ſeide wurd to abram:—

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

Abram tok loth wið ſarray, Hiſe agte, and erue he ledde him bi, For in to lond cananeam, He departed, taking with him Lot and Sarai.

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

ðer-fore it higte pentapolis, 748 Of weledeſ^[123] fulſum and of bliſ, Nov iſt a water of loðlic ble, and afterwards to Pentapolis (the five cities of the plain),

Men callið it ðe dede ſe; Ilc ðing deieð ðor-inne iſ driuen; 752 Ne may no fiſ ðor-inne liuen; where now stands the Dead Sea.

for mannes ſinne ðus it iſ went, brent wið brimfir, ſunken and ſhent. God quad to abram, "al ðiſ lond 756 ſal cumen in to iſ kinneſ hond." The cities were destroyed for man's sin.

ðor god him taunede, made habram An alter, and fro ðeðen he nam. [Fol. 15b.]

An oðer alter abram ſeli 760 Made bi-twen betel and ai. Abram raised an altar between Bethel and Ai.

At damaſke iſ ðe ðridde ſtede, Quer abram iſ bigging dede, And ðeden for he, for hunger bond, Damascus was the third place where Abram dwelt.

764 feger ut in to egipte lond; ðor he ſeide ðat ſarrai Famine drove him to Egypt.

waſ hiſ ſiſter, al for-ði for he dredde him to leten iſ lif 768 If he wiſten ghe wore iſ wif; To save his life he said that Sarai was his sister.

for ghe waſ fai[ge]r witter-like, And ðat folc luuede lecherlike. Quan abram was to egipte cumen, Sarai was fair and Egypt's folk were lecherous.

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

772 Sone him waſ ſarrai binumen; Sone him waſ ſarray bi-lagt, And ^[124]pharaon ðe kinge bi-tagt; Soon was Sarai taken from Abram, and brought to king Pharaoh.

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

And ðe king ðholede ſorges ſtrif Til he wiſte al ðat ſtrif 780 Cam him on for abram wif; Pharaoh at last became aware that all this strife was on account of Sarai,

ðo ſente he after abram, And bi-tagte he him iſ leman, so he restored her to her husband,

And gaf him lond, and agte, and fe, 784 And leue, ðor quiles his wille be, To wune egipte folc among, And friðen him wel fro euerilc wrong, Bad him to god hiſ erdne beren, [Fol. 16.] and gave Abram land and cattle.

788 ðat ywel him ſulde nunmor deren. ðor wunede abram in welðe and in frið, In Egypt the patriarch abode in security.

Egipte clerkes woren him wið, And hem lerede, witterlike, 792 Aſtronomige and arſmetike; He was hem lef, he woren him hold. Egypt's clerks held him in high honour.

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

Vt of egipte, riche man, Wente abram in to lond canaan; And loth hiſe neue and ſarray 800 bileften bi-twen betel and ay, ðor he quilum her wiſten wunen, Or he weren to egipte cumen. Out of Egypt Abram went to Canaan, and abode between Bethel and Ai.

So wex here erue, and ſo gan ðen 804 An twen here hirdeſ ſtriuing gan ben; Strife arose between Abram and Lot's herdsmen.

Loth him cheſ, bi leue of abram, ðat herðe hende ðe flum iurdan; Lot, by leave of his uncle, chose the plains of the

[124]

w in MS. But the w is much like p.

ABRAM DWELLS AT MAMRE. LOT IN SODOM.

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

Abram let loth in welðe and wale, [Fol. 16b.]

And ferde a-wei to mambre dale; ðor wunede abram henden ebron, 812 ðat burge an oðer man lið on, Abram dwelt in Mamre-dale, towards Ebron.

It atteð cariatharbe, On engle ſpeche fowre cite; fowre arbe cariatht arn in, This city is called Kirjatharba, i. e. four cities.

816 for ðat fowre biried ðor ben; Four lie buried there.

ðor waſ leid adam and eua, Abram ſiðen and ſarra; ðor yſaac and rebecca, 820 And iacob and hiſe wif lia. There was laid Adam and Eve, Abram and Sarai, Jacob and Leah.

MAmbre, wið excol and anel, ðor luueden Abram ful wel; He woren breðere of kinde boren, 824 And abram woren he breðre ſworen. Quor abram wunede, ðor wex bi An ok' ðat waſ of gibi, Mamre, Eschol, and Aner were sworn brothers with Abram.

ðer het god abre ðat tagte lond 828 Sal cumen al in hiſ kinneſ hond, And eſt and weſt, and ſuð and norð; Al ðat god wile ſal wel gon forð. God promised that Abram's seed should possess the land wherein he was a stranger.

Ðo wurðen waxen ſo wide and ſpred, 832 pride and giſcinge of louerd-hed; Then was pride widely spread, and desire of sovereignty.

Neg ilc burge hadde iſe louereding, Sum waſ king, and ſum kumeling; Nearly every city had its ruler.

Sum waſ wið migte^[125] ſo forð gon, 836 ðat hadden he under hem mani on. [Fol. 17.]

Fif burges of pentapoliſ, Adama, bala, Seboyſ, And ſodoma wið gomorra, 840 ðe kinges welten burges ðoa, The five cities of Pentapolis, ruled over by their own kings,

[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.

On-kumen was cadalamor, king of elam, wið ferding ſtor; were conquered by Chedorlaomer, and paid him tribute.

.xij. ger he weren under iſ hond, 844 And gouen him gouel of here lond; Twelve years they were under his hand.

.xiij. ger gan ſo forð gon wulde he giuen him gouel non; In the thirteenth they rebelled,

ðre kinges haued he wið him brogt, 848 wið here-gonge hiſe gouel ſogt; He ben cumen to mirie dale, An ðere he werken ſckaðe and bale; Chedorlaomer and other three kings made war upon the cities.

fowre on-ſeken and fifue weren, 852 Oc ðe fowre ðe fiue deren; wunded ðor waſ gret folc and ſlagen, ðe fifwe flen, ðe fowre ben fagen; Much sorrow they wrought. The four kings conquered the five.

ðe fifwe up to ðe dunes flen, 856 ðe fowre in to ðe tuneſ ten; wifwes, and childre, and agte, and ſrud, The five flee to the hills, and the four to the cities of the plain.

He ledden a-wei wið herte prud. Loth and iſ agte, childre and wif, 860 ben led a-wei bunden wið ſtrif; They led away with them Lot, his goods, children, and wife.

oc on of hem, ðe flogen a-wei [Fol. 17b.]

Told it abram ðat ilke deai. ðre hundred men and .xiij. wigt, 864 Alle ſtalwurði and witter of figt, wið mambre, and excol, and anel, Abram let him tunde wel; ðat hird he folged^[126] alſ to ðan, 868 On heued-welle of flum iordan, ðor he wenden ben ſiker on nigt; Abram he brogte wel newe figt. But one escaped and told Abram, who armed 313 servants and pursued the enemy.

He woren drunken and ſlepi, 872 Abram^[127] folc made hem dredi; ſo heg, ſo long, ne ſpared hem nogt, Abram found them drunk and sleepy.

Alle he ben ðor to gronde brogt, wið-ðuten ðo ðe cuden flen; He brought them all to ground.

[126]

folgel in MS.

[127]

An is is inserted by a later hand.

ABRAM RESCUES LOT. MELCHIZEDEK BLESSES HIM.

876 get ne migten he ſiker ben,

for magnie^[128] of ðo woren ouer-taken, Abram cude hem to ſorwe maken. Henden damaſk, til burgt oba, 880 Abram hem folwede and wrogte woa; He pursued them unto Hoba, near Damascus.

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

for loteſ luue fel him ðuſ rigt, Borwen he ben wel of dat^[129] figt. All this he did for love of Lot.

Sodomes king in kinge dale, 888 Mette abram wið feres wale, In ðe weie ðe ligið to ſalem, ðe ſiðen iſ cald ieruſalem. [Fol. 18.] The king of Sodom went out to meet Abram.

Melchiſedech, ſalameſ king, 892 dede abram ðor mikel wurðing; He froðer[ed]e him, after iſ ſwinc, wið bredeſ fode and wines drinc; Melchizedek brought him bread and wine.

Habram gaf him ðe tigðe del 896 Of alle iſ bigete, and dede ðor wel, And bliſcede dor^[130] godeſ migt, ðat bargt abram wel of ðat figt; Abram gave him a tenth of the spoil.

for he waſ boðen king and preſt, 900 of elde moſt, of wit hegest; Melchizedek was both priest and king.

wiſte no man of werlðe ðo, Quat kinde he waſ kumen fro; None knew from what family he sprung.

Oc ſumme ſeiden ðat it waſ ſem, 904 ðiſ preſt and [oc] king of ſalem, or or ðe flod waſ long bi-forn of noe bi-geten, of^[131] iſ wif born, Some said that this king of Salem was Shem,

And fro ſo longe ðor bi-foren 908 Liuede til yſaac waſ boren. who lived until the birth of Isaac.

Sodomes king bed dor^[132] abram Al agte and erf, wið-uten man,^[133] Alle heſ hadde wið migte bi-geten, The king of Sodom offered Abram the goods and cattle taken from the enemy.

[128]

read manige

[129]

read ðat

[130]

read ðor

[131]

MS. oſ.

[132]

read ðor

[133]

? nam

ABRAM COMPLAINS FOR WANT OF AN HEIR.

912 wolde he nogt him hiſ ſwinc for-geten,

oc abram dede ðor meðelike wel, wid-held he ðor-of neu[er]e on del, oc al ðat euere fel him to, [Fol. 18b.] The patriarch would accept of nothing.

916 Sac-les he let hin welden it ſo. Ebruiſ ſeigen, wune hem wex her To algen ilk fiftene ger, for loth waſ fifti winter hold, 920 Quan abram him bi-told. Then first began the custom of keeping the 15th year holy.

Abel primiceſ firſt bi-gan, Abel first began first-fruit.

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

After ðiſ ſpac god to abram:— "ðin berg and tin werger ic ham. ðin ſwinc ðe ſal ben gulden wel, 928 wid^[134] michel welðe in good[e] ſel." After this God spake to Abram, saying, "I am thy safety and thy defence, thy toil shall be requited."

Quad he, "quat ſal me welðes ware, Quane ic child-leſ of werlde fare; Damak eliezereſ ſune, 932 In al min welðe ſal he wunen?" Quoth Abram, "What avails wealth, seeing that I am childless, and that Eliezer's son shall inherit my wealth?"

Quat god, "ſo ſal it nogt ben, Of ðe ſelf ſal ðin erward ten." Abram leuede ðiſ hot in ſped, 936 dat^[135] waſ him [told] to rigt-wiſhed. God said, "Of thyself shall thine heir come."

ðre der he toc, ilc ðre ger hold, And ſacrede god on an wold; Abram took three deer each three years old and offered them as a sacrifice.

of godeſ bode he nam god kep, [Fol. 19.]

940 A net, and a got, and a ſep; Euerilc of ðeſe he delte on two, And let hem lin on ſunder ſo, Vndelt heſ leide quor-ſo heſ tok; An heifer, a goat, and a sheep he took, and divided them in two and set them apart.

944 And ðor a duue and a turtul ok Sat up on-rum til heuene he tok, And of ðo doles kep he nam The dove and the turtle he divided not.

Gredi foueles fellen ðor-on, Greedy fowls fell upon the carcases.

[134]

read wið

[135]

read ðat

SARAI BEING BARREN GIVES HAGAR TO ABRAM.

948 ðat ðogte abram wel iwel don,

kagte iſ wei, quan it waſ nigt, ðo cam on him vgging and frigt; Abram drove them away. Then came on him fear and fright.

A michel fier he ſag, and an brigt, 952 gliden ðor twen ðo doles rigt. A great and bright fire he saw glide down between the pieces.

God ſeide him ðor a ſoðe drem ðe timinge of iſ beren-tem, And hu he ſulde in pine ben, 956 And uten erdes ſorge ſen; fowre hundred ger ſulden ben gon, In a dream God showed Abram the future condition of his descendants.

Hor he ſulden wel cumen a-gon, oc ſiðen ſulde in here hond, 960 bi-cumen ðat hotene lond. Canaan is promised as his inheritance.

ðo wiſte abram wel michel mor Quat waſ to cumen ðan he wiſte or. Then knew Abram much more of what was to come than he ever knew before.

Siðen bi-fel ðat ſarrai, 964 for ghe waſ longe untuderi, Sarai, being barren, gives Hagar to Abram.

Ghe bitagte abre maiden agar; Ghe wurð wið childe and hem two bar; forð ſiðen ghe bi abram ſlep, [Fol. 19b.]

968 Of hire leuedi nam ghe no kep; And ſarrai wuldet nogt ðolen ðat agar wore ðuſ to-bolen; Hagar having conceived, despised her mistress.

Ghe held hire hard in ðralleſ wune, 972 And dede hire ſorge and anger mune; Sarai afflicts her thrall.

ðo fleg agar fro ſarray, wimman wið childe, one and ſori, In ðe diſerd, wil and weri, 976 And an angel cam ðor hire bi, wiſte hire drogen ſori for ðriſt, Hagar flees from Sarai into the desert homeless and weary.

At a welle quemede hire liſt, And bad hire ſone wenden agen, 980 And to hire leuedi buxum ben; An angel commands her to return and be buxom to her lady.

And ſeide ghe ſulde ſunen wel And timen, and clepen it ſmael,^[136] He tells her of her child.

[136]

A metrical licence for "iſmael."

ISHMAEL IS BORN. CIRCUMCISION IS INSTITUTED.

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

Ghe wente agen, and bar ðat child, And abram wurð wið hire milde. Hagar returns, and Ishmael is born.

lxxx. gere and ſexe mo 988 Hadde abram on hiſ elde ðo, And .xiii. ger ðor after told, Abram was then fourscore and six years old.

ix. and nigneti^[137] ger he waſ old, When Abram was ninety-nine years old God changed his name to Abraham.

Quuanne him cam bode in ſunder run, 992 fro gode of circumcicioun. His name ðo wurð a lettre mor, Hiſ wiueſ leſſe ðan it waſ or, for ðo wurd abram abraham, [Fol. 20.]

996 And ſarray ſarra bi-cam; And al ðat euere ðe louered bad, dede abraham redi and rad. Sarai's name is also changed to Sarah.

He him ſelf wurð ðanne circumciſ, 1000 And yſmael hiſ ſune iwiſ; And of iſ hird euerilc wapman wurð circumciſ, al-so he it bi-gan, Circumcision is instituted.

Quuo ne bar ðanne iſ merk him on 1004 fro godes folc ſulde he be don. Whoso bore not this mark upon him was to be cut off from God's folk.

Siðen, in ðe dale of mambre, ſag abraham figures ðre, Sondes ſemlike kumen fro gode; 1008 Abraham he broghten wel bliðe bode. Abraham he[m] ran wel ſwiðe agon, Afterwards in the dale of Mamre Abraham saw figures three, seemly messengers from God.

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

bred, kalueſ fleiſ, and flures bred, And buttere, hem ðo sondes bed; He set before them calves flesh, bread and flour and butter.

for ðat he bad wið herte fre, 1016 He it nomen in charite; What he offered with a free heart his guests took in charity,

So malt ðat mete in hem to nogt, So a watreſ drope in a fier brogt. [Fol. 20b.] though it was but as a drop of water in a fire.

[137]

read nigenti

ABRAHAM IS PROMISED A SON.

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

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

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

Ghe glente and ðhogte, migte it nogt ben, And ghe ðat ſulde her wið childe be ſen; She did not believe them.

And Abraham trewid it ful wel, 1032 And it wurð ſoð binnen ſwilc ſel. Abraham, however, trowed it full well.

Fro mambre dale wente ðo ðre, to-ward ſodome geden he; Quad ðe louered, "wile ic nogt ſtelen, Then the three went towards Sodom.

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

ðo adde abram iſ herte ſor, 1040 for loth hiſ newe wunede ðor. He is in great grief on account of Lot.

"Louerd," quad he, "hu ſaltu don, If ðu ſalt nimen wreche ðor on; He intercedes for the wicked cities.

Salt ðu nogt ðe rigt-wiſe weren, 1044 Or for hem ðe toðere með beren?" [Fol. 21.]

Quad god, "find ic ðor ten or mo, Ic ſal meðen ðe ſtede for ðo." Durſte Abraham freinen nunmor, God promises to spare the cities for the sake of five righteous.

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

Sunne iſ weſt under erðe numen, 1052 Quuanne he ben to ſodome cumen; At even two angels came to Sodom.

Get ſat loth at ðe burges gate, After ſum geſte ſtod him quake;^[138] Lot sat at the city's gate, and seeing them,

[138]

read quate

LOT ENTERTAINS TWO ANGELS.

He roſ, and lutte, and ſcroð him wel,

1056 And bead hem hom to iſ oſtel To herbergen wið him ðat nigt, ðo ſwete angeles, faier and brigt; And he ſo deden alſ he hem bead, 1060 He wiſten him bergen fro ðe dead; he invited them to his home to stay with him that night.

And loth hem ſerued faire and wel, And he him gulden it euerilc del. Oc al ðat burgt folc ðat helde waſ on, 1064 ðe migte lecher crafte don, Lot served his guests fair and well.

To lothes huſ he cumen ðat nigt And bi-ſetten it redi to figt; The wicked Sodomites beset Lot's house.

He boden him bringen ut o-non, 1068 ðo men ðat woren ðidir in-gon. They bade him bring out the strangers.

Loth hem bead iſ dogtres two, for to friðen hiſe geſte ſwo; Oc he ne wulden hiſ dogtres nogt, [Fol. 21b.] Lot offered them his daughters.

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

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

Wil ſiðen cam on euerilc on, 1080 ðo wrecches ðe wið-vten gon, for al ðat nigt he ſogten ðor Blindness came upon the Sodomites,

ðe dure, and fundend^[139] neuere mor. ðo ſeiden ðiſ angeles to loth wið ſped, and they sought the door in vain.

1084 If ðu frend haueſt and wi[l]t don red, Bid him, or day, redi ben, And ſwiðe ut ðiſ burgeſ flen, elles ſulen he brennen and for-faren, 1088 If he ne bi time heðe[n] waren. Two ðor werren quam him ðogte ear To wedden hiſ two dogtres ðear;^[140] Lot is commanded to leave the city with his friends before daybreak.

[139]

So in MS.

[140]

read dear

THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.

Loth hem warnede, wiſlike and wel, 1092 Oc he ne troweden him neuere a del. Lot warned his sons-in-law in vain.

On morgen quan day cam hem to, Loth and hiſ dogtres two The angels led Lot and his family out of Sodom,

Ledden ðiſ angeles ut in ſel, [Fol. 22.]

1096 And boden hem and tagten wel, ðat here non wente agen, for non ðhing he migte ſen. and bade them turn not back.

Loth waſ wanſum, and ðugte long 1100 vp to ðo dunes ðe weie hard and ſtrong; Lot thought the way to the hills hard and strong.

"Louerd," quat he, "gunde under dun, mot hic ben borgen in ðat tun!" ðo angeles ſeiden, "we ſulen it ſren,^[141] 1104 ðor quile ðu wilt ðor-inne ben; He intreated that he might dwell in Segor.

Ai waſ borgen bala-ſegor ðor quile ðat loth dwelledde ðor; This city was safe while Lot abode there;

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

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

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

Ðo lotes wif wente hire a-gon, 1120 Sone ghe ſtod, wente in to a ſton; Lot's wife turned back, and "went into a stone."

So iſt nu forwent mirie dale In to dririhed and in to bale, ðe ſwarte flum, ðe dede ſe, 1124 Non fiſ, non fuel ðor-inne mai be. ðat water iſ ſo deades driuen, [Fol. 22b.] Thus is this merry dale turned into a swarthy lake.

Non ðing ne mai ðor-inne liuen; Nothing may live therein.

[141]

? fren

THE BIRTHS OF AMMON AND MOAB.

Men ſeið ðe treen ðat ðor henden ben

1128 Waxen in time, and brimen, and ðen, Oc quane here apples ripe ben, Trees on its banks produce apples,

fier-iſles man mai ðor-inne ſen; ðat erd iſ oten ſaltes dale, 1132 Maniman ðor-of holdet litel tale. which contain ashes only.

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

1136 And for dred to ðo dunes he fleg; And ðor he biggede in a caue[n], ðe waſ ðor in roche grauen. For fear he fled to the hills, and dwelt in a cave.

ðo meidenes herden quilum ſeien, 1140 ðat fier ſulde al ðis werld forſweðen, And wenden wel ðat it were cumen, And fiereſ wreche on werld numen, And ðat man-kinde wore al for-loren 1144 but of hem ðre wore man boren. Lot's daughters thought all mankind had perished, and that, unless they had children, the world would come to an end.

ðis maidenes redden ſone^[142] on-on Quat hem two wore beſt to don, They consulted as to what was best to be done.

Hu he migten vnder-gon [Fol. 23.]

1148 Here fader, ðat he ne^[143] wore ðor gon; Wið wineſ drinc he wenten iſ ðhogt, So ðat he haueð ðe dede wrogt, And on eiðer here a knaue bi-geten, 1152 ðiſ ne mai nogt ben for-geten. ðiſ maidenes deden it in god dhogt,^[144] ðe fader oc drunken ne wiſte he it nogt. They made their father drunk so that he wrought the deed, and each begot a child.

ðe firſte him bar moab ðat ſune, 1156 Of him beð folc, [in] moab it wune; ðe leſſe him bar a ſune amon, Amonit folces fader on. The first bore Moab, the other Ammon.

NV bi-oueð uſ to wenden a-gen, 1160 And of abraham ſong under-gon. Now turn we to Abraham.

Abraham up on morgen ſtod, Wið reuli lote and frigti mod; On the morrow he looked toward Sodom,

[142]

MS. ſono.

[143]

MS. hene.

[144]

read ðogt.

ABRAHAM DWELLS IN GERAR.

To-ward ſodome he ſag ðe roke 1164 And ðe brinfires ſtinken^[145] ſmoke, and saw that the city had been destroyed.

And wente a-wei fro mambre dale, So ſore him reu of ðat bale. For sorrow he left Mamre's dale

Suðen he wente & wunede in geraris, 1168 bi-twen cade and vr, y-wis; and went and abode in Gerar.

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

Sene it was ðat ghe waſ fair wif, Quan ghe waſ luued in ſo long lif. Abimalech wurð ſek on-on, [Fol. 23b.] Abimelech took her to wife.

1176 And oðer wreche iſ folc cam on; Nogt wif-kinnes non birðe ne nam, ðor quiles he ðor wið-helð ſaram. On dreme him cam tiding for-quat Sickness fell on him and on his folk.

1180 He ðrowede and ðolede un-timing ðat; Al it waſ for abraham-iſ wif, ðat he hire held ðor wið ſtrif; ðo bi-ðhogte him ful wel, 1184 And ſente after abraham ðat ilc ſel, The cause of this evil was made known to him in a dream.

And bi-tagte him hiſ wif a-non, And hiſ yuel ſort^[148] waſ ouer-gon. He sent back Sarah,

His wif and oðere birðe beren, 1188 ða ðe ſwinacie gan him nunmor deren. Abimalech gaf abraham Gold, and ſiluer, and lond for-ðan; his wife and others bore children, and the quinsy no more troubled him.

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

And trimede and cleped it yſaac. The birth of Isaac.

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for ſtinkende

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read aſ?

[147]

MS. w

[148]

fort in MS.

[149]

read ðor wið hir

THE BANISHMENT OF HAGAR AND ISHMAEL.

ðe egtende dai ðat he waſ boren, [Fol. 24.]

1200 Circumciſed he waſ, a-buten ſchoren; ðor-of holden ðe ieuwes lay, Circumciſed on ðe egtende day. Arabit folc of yſmael, He was circumcised on the eighth day,

1204 After him don he it al ſwilk ſel, Quane he .xiii. ger ben old; Of yſmael here time iſ told. which custom the Jews follow.

Ðre ger woren yſaac on, 1208 Quane he waſ fro teding don; Michel geſtninge made abraham Quane he ðat ſune to borde nam. Wintres forð-wexen on yſaac, When Isaac was three years old Abraham made a great feast.

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

Sarra waſ ðor-fore often wroð, 1216 Hir waſ yſmaeles anger loð; which caused Sarah to be very wroth.

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

He flemede agar and yſmael 1224 In ſumertid, In egeſt ſel; Abraham banishes Hagar and her son.

Bred, and a fetles wið water fild, Bar agar wið hire and wið ðe child; [Fol. 24b.]

Bi ðe deſert a-wei che nam, 1228 In ard weie and hete gram; Wið ſwinc and hete hem wexon ðriſt, By the desert they took their way.

ðe water ſleckede ðe childeſ liſt; Tid-like hem gan ðat water laken, They became very thirsty.

1232 ðo gan agareſ ſorwe waken; Wantede ðit child faierneſſe and migt, Hiſ moder wurð neg dead for frigt. The water in the bottle became spent.

ABIMELECH COVENANTS WITH ABRAHAM,

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

ðor ſat hiſ moder in ſik and ſor, and sat as far as a bow-shot off.

1240 wende ghe it coueren neuere mor. Goddeſ merci dede hire reed, She thought it could not recover.

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

ðor ghe gan fremen yſmael Wið watreſ drinc and bredeſ mel, and she gave the lad drink and bread.

filt hire feteleſ, and nam fro ðan 1248 forð to ðe deſert of ^[150]pharan; Forth they went and dwelt in Paran.

ðor wunede yſmael and agar. Ghe cheſ him a wif ðe childre bar; Ishmael married an Egyptian woman.

.xii. ſuneſ he auede bi hiſ wif, 1252 Of him cam kinde mikil and rif. Nabachot waſ hiſ firſt ſune, [Fol. 25.] Twelve sons he had, of whom sprang great nations.

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

Of hiſ oðer ſune cedar, A ku[n]griche hiſ name bar; Kedar gave name to a kingdom.

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

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

Abimalech ſag abraham, 1268 Hu welðe him wex and migte cam, He bad him maken ſiker pligt Of luue and trewðe, in frendeſ rigt, Abimelech makes a covenant with Abraham,

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w MS.

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read kunglond

AND GIVES HIM THE WELL OF BEERSHEBA.

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

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

Abraham gan ðor longe ben, And tillede corn and ſette treen, [Fol. 25b.]

ðog [it] waſ nogt iſ kinde lond; 1280 Richere he it leet ðan he it fond. Iff ioſephus ne legeð me, ðor quiles he wunede in berſabe, Abraham left the land much richer than he found it.

ſo waſ yſaaceſ eld told 1284 xx. and fiwe winter old; When Isaac was twenty-five years old,

ðo herde abraham ſteuene fro gode, Newe tiding, and ſelkuð bode:— God's word came to Abraham,—

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

And ðor ðu ſalt him offren me On an hil ðor ic ſal taunen ðe." fro berſabe iurneſ two 1292 Waſ ðat lond ðat he bed him two;^[152] and offer him on a hill that I shall show thee."

And morie, men ſeið, waſ ðat hil, ðat god him tawne[de] in his wil; Moriah that hill was called.

Men ſeið ðat dune-iſ ſiðen on 1296 Was mad temple ſalamon, And ðe auter mad on ðat ſtede ðor abraham he^[153] offrande dede. Upon this hill was afterwards built Solomon's temple.

Abraham waſ buxum o rigt, 1300 Hiſe weie he tok ſone bi nigt; ðe ðrid[d]e day he ſagt ðe ſtede ðe god him witen in herte dede; Abraham was obedient to God's commands.

ðan he cam dun to ðo duneſ fot, 1304 Non of hiſ men forðere ne mot, But yſaac iſ dere childe, [Fol. 26.] He came to the hill and sent his servants away.

He bar ðe wude wið herte mild, Isaac bare the wood,

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read to

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read ðe

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC.

And abraham ðe fier and ðe ſwerd bar; 1308 ðo wurð ðe child witter and war ðat ðor ſal offrende ben don, Oc ne wiſte he quuat, ne quor-on; and Abraham the fire and the sword.

"fader," quað he, "quar ſal ben taken 1312 ðe offrende ðat ðu wilt maken?" "Where," quoth Isaac, "is the offering that thou wilt make?"

Quat abraham, "god ſal bi-ſen Quor-of ðe ofrende ſal ben; Quoth Abraham, "God will provide the offering.

Sellik ðu art on wer[l]de cumen, 1316 Sellic ðu ſalt ben heðen numen; Wið-uten long ðhrowing and figt, God wile ðe taken of werlde nigt, In a wonderful manner thou camest into the world, and so shalt thou depart hence.

And of ðe seluen holocaustum hauen, 1320 ðanc it him ðat he it wulde crauen." God requires thee as an offering."

Yſaac waſ redi mildelike, Quan ðat he it wiſte witterlike. Oc abraham it wulde wel 1324 quat-ſo god bad, ðwerted he it neuer a del; Isaac was ready to be sacrificed.

Yſaac waſ leid ðat auter on, So men ſulden holocauſt don; Isaac was placed upon the altar.

And abraham ðat ſwerd ut-drog, 1328 And waſ redi to ſlon him nuge,^[154] Abraham drew out his sword to slay his son, but an angel forbad him to harm the child.

Oc angel it him for-bed, And barg ðe child fro ðe dead; ðo wurð abraham frigti fagen, 1332 for yſaac bi-leaf un-ſlagen; Bi-aften bak, aſ he nam kep, [Fol. 26b.]

faſte in ðornes he ſag a ſep, ðat an angel ðor-inne dede; 1336 It waſ brent on yſaac ſtede. A ram is offered instead of Isaac.

And, or abraham ðeðen for, God him ðor bi him-ſeluen ſwor ðat he ſal michil hiſ kinde maken, 1340 And ðat lond hem to honde taken; Good ſelðhe ſal him cumen on, for he ðiſ dede wulde don. Ere Abraham departed God swore to him that his seed should inherit the land.

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read nog?

ELIEZER IS SENT TO MESOPOTAMIA.

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

Ðor quiles abraham wunede ðor, 1348 Him cam good tiding of nachor, ðat melca bar him egte ſunen; While at Beersheba he heard good tidings of Nahor.

Huſ waſ eldeſt, if we rigt munen. Huz was Nahor's first-born.

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

Of^[157] buz, hiſ broðeres kin, cam Buzites, Eliv, Balaam. Of Buz came the Buzites, Eliv and Balaam.

Abraham, riche of welðe and wale, 1356 wente a-gen in to manbre dale; [Fol. 27.] Abraham went again to Mamre.

Sarra ðo ſtarf, an hundred ger old And ſeuene and .xx. winter told. Sarah died being 127 years old.

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

To fechen yſaac hom a wif, 1364 Of hiſ kinde ðe ðor waſ in lif. to fetch a wife for Isaac.

Ten kameles ſemeð^[158] forð he nam, Ten camels he took with him.

Wið michel ſwinc he ðider cam At a welle wið-uten ðe tun; 1368 ðor he leide hiſe ſemes dun, Eliezer came to a well without the city.

ðor he wulde him reſten and ben, Sum good tiding heren or ſen. "Louerd god," quað he mildelike, 1372 "min erdne ðu forðe ſelðhelike, ðiſ dai me lene hire to ſen, ðat ſal yſaaces leman ben." He there prayed to God to send him good speed.

He bad hiſe bede on good ſel. 1376 Rebecca, bi-geten of batuel, He offered his prayer in a good time.

[155]

MS. hire is written over in the later hand.

[156]

read wið-hin

[157]

MS. "Ob."

[158]

read ſemede?

ELIEZER MEETS WITH REBEKAH.

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

And him and ilc-on his kamel 1380 Wið watres drinc ghe quemede wel. and she gave him and his camel water to drink.

Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen, Ne wor nogt ſo forð ðeuwe numen. [Fol. 27b.]

Eliezer lerede ðor 1384 ðat batuel cam of nachor; Of batuel ðis maiden cam ghe waſ forð nifte of abraham; Eliezer learned that she was of the family of Nahor.

ðogte he, ðiſ maiden wile ic hauen 1388 And to min louerdes bofte bi-crauen;^[159] for kindes luue he waſ hire hold, Thought he, this maiden will I have as a wife for Isaac.

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

And laban cam to ðat welle ner, 1396 faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer, And^[160] fond good grið and good hostel, Him, and hiſe men, and hiſe kamel. Laban came to the well, invited him home, and entertained him well.

Eliezer, or he wulde eten, 1400 Wulde he nogt hiſe erdene for-geten; Al he tolde hem fro queðen he cam, And for quat erdene he ðider nam; Tolde hem tiding of abraham, 1404 Quilc ſelðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam, Eliezer would not eat till he had told his errand;

Sent he waſ ðider, for kinde wune, After a wif to yſaac hiſ ſune. how he had been sent by Abraham to seek a wife for Isaac.

ſeide he, "rebecca wile ic hauen, 1408 To yſac-iſ bi-ofte wile ic crauen. [Fol. 28.]

Laban and hiſ moder wið-ðan fagneden wel ðiſ ſondere man; Laban and the mother were well pleased with the messenger.

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read bi-ofte crauen? v. l. 1408.

[160]

Anð MS.

ISAAC TAKES REBEKAH TO WIFE.

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

Wið gold, and ſiluer, and wið ſrud, ðiſ ſonde made ðe mayden prud; With gold and silver and raiment Eliezer made the maiden proud.

ðe broðer and de^[161] moder oc 1416 Riche gifteſ eliezer ðe^[162] toc. Sone o-morwen he gan him garen, Gifts also he gave to the brother and mother.

And crauede hiſ erdene, and wolde hom faren, for ſcrið, ne mede, ne wold he ðor 1420 Ouer on nigt drechen nunmor; And ðo gan ðat moder and laban No longer than one night would he delay his errand.

Rebecca freinen ðor for-ðan, And ghe it grantede mildelike, 1424 And he hire bi-tagten bliðelike. Rebekah's consent was first asked and obtained.

Siðen men hauen holden ſkil, firſt to freinen ðe wimmaneſ wil, Or or men hire to louerd giue, 1428 for wedding or for morgen-giwe. For this reason men ask the woman's will before she is given in marriage.

Eliezer iſ went hiſ wei And haueð hem boden godun dai. Or he wel homward cumen was, 1432 Yſaac waſ cume to geraſis, Eliezer takes his departure, wishing all a good day.

And wunede ðor in ðogt and care, for moderes dead and ſondes fare. In a weie an time he cam, 1436 And to a welle, ſigande, he nam, ðohgteful he waſ on felde gon; Eliezer him cam a-gon, [Fol. 28b.] Isaac mourned for the death of his mother.

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

He luuede hire on-like and wel, 1444 And ſge ne bi-ſpac him neuere a del. Isaac loved Rebekah well, and she never contradicted him.

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read ðe

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read ðo?

[163]

An error for wasteme.

THE BIRTH OF ESAU AND JACOB.

Get men seyn^[164] ðat abraham, ſiðen calde agar ceturam, Men say that Abraham called Hagar Keturah.

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

An hundred ger hold and ſeuenti And .v. he waſ leid ſarram bi. boðen yſaac and yſmael 1456 Him bi-ſtoden wurlike and wel. Abraham died at the age of 175.

On hundred ger and .xxxvij. Liuede yſmael and waſ ðor bi. Ishmael was 137 years old when he died.

Yſaac waſ hold .xl. ger 1460 Quanne rebecca cam him ner; Longe it waſ or ghe him child bar, [Fol. 29.] Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife.

And he bad god, quanne he it wurð war, ðat he ſulde fillen ðat quede 1464 ðat he^[165] abraham quilum dede. ðo wurð rebecca childre bere, Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, who was barren.

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

Alſe he wrogten and^[166] figt, Queðer here ſulde birðen bi-foren. The children struggled together within her.

1472 Oc eſau waſ firmeſt boren, And iacob ſone after, ic wot, for ðat he heldim bi ðe fot. Esau was the first born, and Jacob was born soon after.

Sexti ger yſaac waſ old, 1476 Quan ðiſ tidi[n]g him waſ told; Ghe^[167] was abraham liues her, After ðiſ, fiftene ger. Sixty years was Isaac at this time.

[164]

seyn is at the side in a later hand.

[165]

In a later hand at the side.

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read an?

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read get

THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FIRST BORN.

Wexen boden yſaac ſunes, 1480 And ðhogen, and adden ſundri wunes; Isaac's sons grew up and had different occupations.

Eſau wilde man huntere, And Iacob tame man tiliere. Esau was a hunter, and Jacob a husbandman.

ðe fader luuede eſau wel, 1484 for firme birðe & ſwete mel; Isaac loved Esau for that he was the eldest.

ðe moder, iacob for tamehed, And for ðe ali gaſteſ red. Iacob An time him ſeð a mete [Fol. 29b.] Rebekah loved Jacob because of his peaceful disposition.

1488 ðat man callen lentil gete, Jacob sod pottage.

And eſau fro felde cam, Sag ðis pulment, hunger him nam. Esau came from the field hungry.

"Broðer iacob," quat eſau, 1492 "Of ðiſ warme mete ðu gif me nu, for ic ham mattilike weri." Iacob wurð war he waſ gredi; "Brother," said he, "give me of this warm meat, for I am weary."

"Broðer," quad he, "ſel me ðo wunes, 1496 ðe queðen ben ðe firme ſunes, ðat ic ðin firme birðehe gete, If ic ðe fille wið ðiſ mete." Jacob said, "Sell me thy birthright, and I will fill thee with meat."

Quad eſau, "ful bliðelike," 1500 And gafe it him wel ſikerlike. Esau consented full blithely.

firme birðe waſ wurði wune ðe fader dede ðe firme ſune; ðe firme ſune at offrende ſel 1504 Waſ wune ben ſcrid ſemelike and wel, The eldest son was highly honoured.

And ſulde auen ðe bliſcing Or or ðe fader dede hiſ ending; And at heg tide and at geſtning, 1508 ðe gungere^[168] ſune geuen ðe bliſcing, At his father's death he had the blessing.

And hauen mete ðan at iſ mel, More or ðe gungere twinne del; At meat he had a double portion.

And quanne ðe fader were grauen, 1512 two doles of ereward riche auen. [Fol. 30.] His inheritance was twice as much as the younger's share.

[168]

An error for eldere.

JACOB DEFRAUDS ESAU OF THE BLESSING.

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

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

Niðede ðat folk him fel wel And deden him flitten hiſe oſtel. At berſabe he wunede beſt, 1524 And ðor wurð wið him trewðe feſt The folk of Gerar envied Isaac, so he left them and went to Beersheba.

Abimalech, and luue ſworen, So he waſ or iſ fader bi-foren. And helde gede on yſaac, Abimelech made a covenant with Isaac.

1528 Wurðede ſighteleſ and elde ſwac;^[170] He bad eſau, hiſ firme ſune, Isaac became old and sightless.

fechin him fode, aſ he waſ wune; If he toke him ðat he wulde eten, He sends Esau for venison,

1532 Hiſ ſeli bliſcing ſulde he bi-geten. Ðor quiles eſau ſogte and ran, and promises him his blessing.

Rebecca iacob reden gan; Two kides he fette and brogtes hire, 1536 And ghe knew wel ðe faderes kire,^[171] Rebekah instructs Jacob how to obtain the blessing.

And made ſwiðe on ſele ðat mete, ſwilc ghe wiſte he wulde eten; [Fol. 30b.]

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

Wið wines drinc and ſeles mel. Yſaac wende it were eſau, 1544 for he grapte him and fond him ru; ðanne he wiſte him on gode ſel, He him bliſcede holdelike and wel; Jacob obtained the blessing from his father.

[169]

read ten?

[170]

read eldes wac

[171]

Glossed wune in later hand.

ESAU THREATENS TO KILL JACOB.

"Heuene dew, and erðeſ fetthed, 1548 Of win and olie fulſum-hed," And bad him of hiſ kindes louerd ben, In welðe and migt wurðinge ðen. Wel bliðe and fagen was iacob ðo, 1552 for bliſced he wente hiſ fader fro. The dew of heaven, the fatness of the earth, plenty of corn and wine, and the lordship over his brethren.

Quan yſaac it under-nam ðat eſau to late cam, And ðat iſ broðer, af-ter boren, 1556 Waſ kumen and hadde iſ bliſcing bi-foren, Wel ſelkuðlike he wurð for-dred; When Isaac understood that Esau came too late he was seized with great fear.

And in ðat dred hiſ ðogt waſ led In to ligtneſſe for to ſen 1560 Quow god wulde it ſulde ben. In his dread he saw how God would that it should so be.

ðo ſeide yſaac to eſau, To Esau thus he spoke:

"ðin broðer iacob waſ her nu, "Thy brother was here just now, and has taken thy blessing, and he shall be blessed."

And toc ðin bliſcing liðer-like, 1564 And he wurð bliſced witterlike." Quad eſau, "rigt iſ hiſ name hoten iacob, to min un-frame; [Fol. 31.]

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

ðo gan eſau ðengen^[173] and ſen 1572 Quilc iſ bliſcing migte ben; In heuene deu, and erðes ſmere, Gatte him bliſcing ðat him waſ gere; Isaac promises him that his dwelling shall be of the fatness of the earth and of the dew of heaven.

for ydumea, ðat fulſum lond, 1576 Of lewſe god, was in hiſe hond. Idumea became Esau's inheritance.

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

for-ði ghe iacob warnen gan, And ſente him to hiſ broðer laban; Rebekah warns Jacob of his brother's intentions.

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read haueð

[173]

read ðenken

JACOB IS SENT TO PADAN-ARAM.

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

If it beð bi ðin faderes red." Quad rebecca to hire were, 1588 "Eſau wifuede uſ to dere Rebekah complains to Isaac of Esau's marriage and connection with the Canaanites.

Quan he iuſted & beð ſo mat, Toc of kin ðe canaan bi-gat, For-ði he maked him ſtið & ſtrong, 1592 For he beð mengt ðat kin among; If iacob toke her alſo a wif, Ne bode ic no lengere werldeſ lif. [Fol. 31b.]

Yſaac bad iacob him garen, Isaac blesses Jacob,

1596 And forð ſwiðe to laban faren; Iacob liſtenede ðo frendes red, Fro berſabe he ferde wið ſped; and sends him to Padan-aram.

Long weie he gan to-ward aram, 1600 bi cananeam forð he nam, Jacob went a long way about,

And wulde nogt ðat folc bi-twen Herberged in here huſes ben. in order to avoid the houses of the Canaanites.

He lay bi luzan ut on nigt, 1604 A ſton under hiſe heued rigt, At Luz he tarried all night.

And ſlep and ſag, an ſoðe drem, fro ðe erðe up til heuene bem, A leddre ſtonden, and ðor-on In a dream he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven,

1608 Angeles dun-cumen and up-gon, And ðe louerd ðor uppe a-buuen Lened^[174] ðor-on; and [Jacob] wurð ut-ſuuen, angels ascending and descending, and the Lord stood above it.

Herde ðat he quad, "god ic am 1612 ðe luued yſaac and abraham; "I am," He said, "the God of Abraham and of Isaac;

And ðis lond ic ſal giuen ðin ſed, And in ðis weige don ðe red; this land will I give thee, and in thy seed shall all mankind be blessed."

And i ſal bringen ðe a-gen, 1616 And of ðin kinde bliſced ðu ſalt ben." [Fol. 32.]

[174]

read leued = remained?

FROM LUZ HE JOURNEYS TO HARAN.

Iacob abraid, & ſeide frigtilike:— "God in ðis ſtede iſ wittirlike, Her, dredful ſtede, her, godeſ hus, 1620 Her, heuenegate amonguſ^[175] us; Jacob awoke. "Surely," he said, "here is God's house.

Louerd, if ic mote a-gen cumen, Of ðis ſtede ic ſal in herte munen;" (Sette he up ðat ſton for muniging, 1624 And get on olige for tok-ning) If I may come again to my father's house,

"He ſal euere min louerd ben, ðat dede me her ðis ſigt[e] ſen, the lord shall be my God,

Her ic ſal offrendes here don 1628 And tigðes wel gelden her-up-on; And wel ſal luz wurðed ben, for ic gan her ðis ſigðhe ſen." here I shall brake offerings, and yield tithes."

Iacob calde ðat ſtede betel; 1632 Quor-fore he it dede, he wiſte wel. Longe weie he ſiðen ouer-cam, Jacob called the place Bethel.

And longe time or he ſag tharam. Quane he cam ner, fond he ðor-on Jacob pursues his journey.

1636 A welle wel helid under a ſton, And ðre flockes of ſep dor-bi,^[176] He finds a well at Haran; three flocks of sheep were lying by it.

ðat ðor abiden al for-ði; ðor waſ nogt wune on & on, 1640 ðat orf ðor to water gon, The cattle did not go to water one by one, but were all collected together at one time.

Oc at ſet time he ſulden ſamen, ðor hem-ſelf & here orf framen. [Fol. 32b.]

Iacob ðes hirdes freinen gan, 1644 Hu fer iſt heðen to laban; Wel he ſeiden and ſwiðe wel, Jacob asks the herdsmen the way to Laban's house.

"loc! her hiſ dogter rachel." Sep he driuen ðiſ welle ner, 1648 for ghe hem wulde wattre ðer. They answered, "Here is Rachel his daughter." She came to bring the sheep to the well.

Iacob wið hire wente ðat ſton, And let hire ſep to water gon; Jacob rolled the stone from the well's mouth.

And kidde he was hire mouies ſune, 1652 And kiſte hire aftre kindes wune; He made known his relationship to Rachel.

[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 fagnede him in frendes wune, 1656 feren ſwunken yſaaces ſunen. Iacob tolde him for quat he ſwanc So fer, and laban herte ranc; He cuðe him ðer-of wel gret ðhanc, Laban welcomes his nephew and brings him to his house.

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

Laban bi-tagte him, ſiðen to ſen, 1664 Hiſ hirdeneſſe ðat it wel ben. Jacob abode with Laban for one month,

And quanne a moneð was ouer-meten, "Iacob," wað he, "quat wiltu bi-geten? after which time Laban said to him,

Quat-ſo ^[177][ðu] wilt for hire crauen, 1668 Aſke it wið ſkil and ðu ſalt hauen." [Fol. 33.] "Tell me what shall thy wages be."

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

forð geden ſeuene ger bi tale, And laban made him hiſ bridale; Seven years passed away and Laban made a feast.