Bible (Early Wycliffe)/Geneſis

Here bigynneþ Geneſis.

Capitulum I.

In þe firſte made God of nouȝt heuene and erþe. Þe erþe forſoþe was veyn wiþ ynne and void, and derkneſſis weren vpon þe face of þe ſee; and þe ſpiryt of God was born vpon þe watrys. And God ſeide, Be maad liȝt; and maad is liȝt. And God ſawȝ liȝt þat it was good, and deuydid liȝt fro derkneſſis; and clepide liȝt, day, and derkneſſis, nyȝt. And maad is euen and moru, o day. ſeide forſoþe God, Be maad a firmament in þe myddel of watres, and dyuyde it watres fro watrys. And God made þe firmament, and dyuydid watris þat weren vndre þe firmament fro þes þat weren aboue þe fermament; and it is maad ſo. And God clepide þe firmament, heuene. And maad is euen and moru, þe ſecounde day. God forſoþe ſeide, Gadrid be watris, þe whiche ben vndre heuene, in to o place, and apere þe drie; and maad it is ſo. And God clepiþ þe drie, erþe; and gaderyngis of watris he clepide, ſees. And God ſaiȝ þat it was good; and ſaiþ, Burion þe erþe grene erbe and makynge ſeed, and appletre makynge fruyt after his kynd, whos ſeed ben in hym ſilf, vpon þe erþe; and maad it is ſo. And þe erþe brouȝte forþe grene erbe and makynge ſeed aftre his kynde, and tree makynge fruyt, and echon hauynge ſeed after his ſpecial kynde. And God ſaiȝ þat it were good. And maad is euen and moru, þe þrid day. God forſoþe ſeide, Be þer maad liȝt ȝyuers in þe firmament of heuene, and deuyde þei dai and nyȝt; and be þei into ſignes, and tymes, and daies, and ȝeers; and liȝtne þei in þe firmament of heuene, and liȝtne þei þe erþe; and maad it is ſo. And God made two greet liȝt ȝyuerys, þe more liȝt ȝyuer þat it were bifore to þe day, and þe leſſe liȝt ȝyuer þat it were bifore to þe nyȝt, and ſterres. And he putte hem in þe firmament of heuene, þat þei ſhulden ȝyue liȝt vpon þe erþe, and þat þei were bifore to þe day and to þe nyȝt, and ſhulde deuyde liȝt and derkneſſis. And God ſaiȝ þat it wer good. And maad is euen and moru, þe ferþe day. God alſo ſeide, Watres bryng þei forþe þe crepynge kynd of þe lyuynge ſoule, and þe fleeinge kynde vpon þe erþ, vndre þe firmament of heuene. And God made of nouȝt greet whallis, and al ſoule lyuyng and mouable, whom watres brouȝten forþ into þer ſpecial kyndes, and al fleynge þing after his kynd. And God ſaiȝ þat it was good; and bliſſide to hem, ſeiynge, Growiþ, and beþ ȝe multiplyed, and fulfilliþ þe watres of þe ſee, and þe briddis be multiplied vpon þe erþe. And maad is euen and moru, þe fyueþ day. God forſoþe ſeide, Bryng forþe þe erþe ſoule lyuynge in his kynde, iumentis, and crepynge þingis, and beeſtis of þe erþe, after þer ſpecial kyndis; and ſo it is maad. And God made beeſtis of þe erþe aftir þer ſpecial kyndes, iumentis, and al þe crepynge þing of þe erþe in his kynde. And God ſaiȝ þat it was good; and ſeiþ, Make we man to þe ymage and oure lickeneſſe, and bifore be he to þe fiſhis of þe ſee, and to þe volatils of heuene, and to þe beeſtis of þe erþe, and to al creature, and to al þe crepynge þing þat moueþ in þe erþe. And God made of nouȝt man to þe ymage and his lickenes; to þe ymage of God he made hym; maal and femaal he made hem of nouȝt. And God bliſſid to hem, and ſeiþ, Growe ȝe, and be ȝe multiplied, and fulfille ȝe þe erþe, and ſogette ȝe it, and haue ȝe lordſhip to þe fiſhis of þe ſee, and to þe volatilis of heuene, and to alle þingis hauynge ſoule þat mouen vpon þe erþe. And God ſeyde, ſe! Y haue ȝouun to ȝow al erbe brynginge forþe ſeed vpon þe erþe, and alle trees þat han in hym ſilf ſeed of þer kynde, þat þei ben to ȝow vnto mete; and to alle þingis hauynge ſoule of þe erþe, and to al foule of heuene, and to alle þingis þat mouen in þe erþe, and in þe which is ſoule ȝyuynge lijf, þat þei haue for to eet; and maad it is ſo. And God ſaiȝ alle þingis þat he made, and þei weren ful good. And made it is euen and moru, þe ſixte day.

Capitulum II.

Therfor parfite ben heuene and erþe, and al þe anowrnyng of hem. And God fulfillide in þe ſeuenþe day his werk þat he made; and he reſtide þe ſeueneþ day fro al werk þat he hadde fulfillid; and he bliſſide to þe ſeuenþe day, and he halwide it; for in it he had ſeſyd fro al his werk þat God ſhapide þat he ſhulde make. Þes ben þe generaciouns of heuene and erþe, whan þei ben fourmed, in þe day þat þe Lord God made heuene and erþe, and ech buſhe of þe feeld or it were growun in þe erþe, and al erbe of regioun bifore þat it buriownde. Þe Lord God forſoþe had not reyned vpon þe erþe, and was noo man þat myȝte worche þe erþe; but a welle aſcendide fro þe erþe, watering al þe ouermoſt of þe erþe. Þe Lord God þanne fourmede man of þe ſlyme of þe erþe, and ſpiride in to þe face of hym an entre of breþ of lijf; and maad is man into a ſoule ȝyuynge lijf. Forſoþe þe Lord God had plawntid paradiſe of delice fro bigynnyng, in þe which he ſette man whom he had fourmed. And þe Lord God brouȝte forþe of þe erþe eche tree fayre in ſiȝt, and ſwete to ete; alſo þe tree of lijf in þe mydle of paradys, and a tree of kunnyng of good and of yuel. And a flood ȝede out of þe place of delice to watre paradis, þe which fro þens is deuydid in foure hedis; name of þe toon Phiſon, he is þat goþ abowt al þe erþe of Euilaþ, where growiþ gold, and þe gold of þat erþe is beſt; and þer is foundun bdelyum, and þe ſtoon onychynus; and name to þe ſecounde flood Gyon, he is þat goþe abowt al þe erþe of Eþiope; and name forſoþe of þe þrid flood Tigrys, he goþe aȝens Aſſyrios; þe ferþe forſoþe flood, he is Eufrates. Þanne þe Lord God toke man, and putte hym in paradis of delice, þat he ſhulde worche and kepe it. And he commaundide to hym, ſeiynge, Of ech tree of paradis ete; of þe tree forſoþe of kunnyng of good and of yuel ete þow not; in what euer day ſoþeli þow etiſt þere of, wiþ deþ þow ſhalt die. Þe Lord God forſoþe ſeide, It is not good man to be alone; make we to hym help like hym. Fourmed þanne of þe moiſt erþe alle þingis of þe erþe hauynge ſoule, and al volatile of heuene, þe Lord God brouȝte hem to Adam, þat he ſhulde ſe what he ſhulde clepe hem; al þing forſoþe of ſoule lyuynge þat Adam clepid, þat is þe name of it. And Adam clepide alle þingis hauynge ſoule, and al volatile of heuene, and alle beeſtis of þe erþe, bi her names. To Adam forſoþe was not foundun an helper like hym. Þanne ſend ynne þe Lord God ſlep into Adam, and whanne he was aſleep, he toke oon of his ribbis, and fulfillide flehs for it. And þe Lord God edifiede þe rib, þe which he toke of Adam, into a woman, and brouȝte hir to Adam. And Adam ſeide, Þis now boon of my bonys, and flehs of my flehs; þis ſhal be clepid mannus dede, for ſhe is takun of a man. Wherfor a man ſhal forſake his fadre and modre, and ſhal draw to hys wijf, and two ſhal be in o flehs. Eiþer forſoþe was nakid, Adam, þat is, and his wijf, and þei ſhameden noȝt.

Capitulum III.

But and þe edder was feller þan ony lifers of þe erþe, þe which made þe Lord God. Þe which ſeide to þe woman, Whi comaundide God to ȝow, þat ȝe ſhulden not ete of ech tree of paradis? To whom anſweryde þe woman, Of þe fruyt of trees þat ben in paradis we eten; of þe fruyt forſoþe of þe tree þat is in þe mydil of paradis, commaundide us God, þat we ſhulden not eten, and þat we ſhulden not towche it, leſt perauenture we dien. Forſoþe þe eddre ſeide to þe woman, Þurȝ deþ ȝe ſhal not die; God forſoþe wote, þat in what euer day ȝe eten þerof, ȝoure eiȝen ſhul be openyd, and ȝe ſhal ben as Goddis, knowynge good and yuel. Þanne þe woman ſaiȝ þat þe tree were good, and ſwete for to ete, and fayre to þe eiȝen and delitable in þe ſiȝt; and ſhe toke of þe fruyt of it, and ete, and ȝaue to hire man, þe which ete. And þe eiȝen of boþ ben openyd; and whanne þei knewen hem ſilf to be nakid, þei ſoweden to gidre leeues of a fige tree, and maden hem brechis. And whanne þei herden þe voys of þe Lord God goynge in paradis at þe ſhynyng after myd dai, Adam hid hym and his wijf fro þe face of þe Lord God in þe myddel of þe tree of paradis. And þe Lord God clepide Adam, and ſeide to hym, Where art þow? Þe which ſeide, Þi voys I herde in paradis, and I dredde, þere þurȝ þat I was nakid, and hidde me. To whom ſeide þe Lord, Who forſoþe ſhewide þee þat þow was nakid, but þat þow ete of þe tree of þe which Y had comaundid þee þat þow ſhuldiſt not ete? And Adam ſeide, Þe woman whom þow ȝaue me felow, ȝaue to me of þe tree, and I ete. And þe Lord ſeide to þe woman, Whi didſt þow þat? Þe which anſweryde, Þe eddre bigilide me, and Y ete. And þe Lord God ſeide vnto þe ſerpent, For þow haſt do þis, þow ſhalt be curſid among alle þe ſoule hauers and beeſtis of þe erþe; vpon þi breeſt þow ſhalt gon, and erþe þow ſhalt ete alle daies of þi lijf; enemyte I ſhal put bitwix þee and þe woman, and þi ſeed and þe ſeed of hire; ſhe ſhal treed þin hede and þow ſhalt aſpie to hyre heel. To þe woman forſoþe God ſeide, I ſhal multiply þi myſeſes and þi conceyuyngis; in ſorwe þow ſhalt bere, children; and þow ſhalt be vndre power of þi man, and he ſhal haue lordſhip of þee. To Adam forſoþe he ſeide, For þow haſt herd þe vois of þi wijf, and þow haſt etun of þe tree, of þe which I comaundide þee þat þow ſhuldiſt not etun, curſid is þe erþe in þi werk; in traueyls þow ſhalt ete of it alle þe daies of þi lijf; it ſhal buriown to þee þornes and brembles, and þow ſhalt ete erbis of þe erþe; in þe ſwoot of þi chere, or face, þou ſhalt ete þi brede, to þe tyme þow turne aȝen into þe erþe of þe which þow art take; for powdre þow art, and into powdre þow ſhalt turne. And Adam clepide þe name of his wijf Eue, þurȝ þat þat ſhe was moder of alle þingis lyuynge. Þe Lord God forſoþe made to Adam and his wijf leþer cootis, and cloþide hem; and ſeide, ſe! Adam is maad as oon of vs, knowynge good and yuel; now þan, leſt perauenture he putte out his hond, and take alſo of þe tree of lijf, and ete, and lyue euermore. And þe Lord God ſente hym out of paradis of delyte, þat he myȝte wyrk þe erþe, of þe which he was takun. And he þrewe out Adam, and he ſette cherubyn bifore paradis of delite, and a flawmynge ſwerd and pleaunt to þe weye of þe tree of lijf to be kept.

Capitulum IIII.

Adam forſoþe knewe Eue his wijf, þe which conceyuede, and bare Caym, ſeiynge, I haue had a man bi God. And eft ſoons ſhe bare his broþer Abel. Forſoþe Abel was a ſheepherd of ſheep, and Caym an erþe tilyer. And don it is after many dayes, þat Caym ſhulde offre of þe fruytis of þe erþe ȝiftis to þe Lord; Abel forſoþe offride of þe firſt gotun of his flok, and of þe fatnes of hem. And þe Lord bihelde to Abel and to his ȝiftis; to Caym forſoþe and to þe ȝiftis of hym he bihelde not. And Caym was greetli wroþ, and þerwiþ felle his chere. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, Whi art þow wroþ, and whi þerwiþ falliþ þi face? ſhalt þow not reſeyue wel, if þou wel doſt; ellis forſoþe euel, anoon in þe ȝatis þi ſynnes ſhal ben at þee? but vndre þee ſhal be þe appetite of hym, and þow ſhalt haue lordſhip of hym. And Caym ſeide to Abel his broþer, Go we out. Whanne þei weren in þe feeld, aroos þere wiþ Caym aȝens his broþer Abel, and ſlowe him. And þe Lord ſeide to Caym, Where is Abel þi broþer? Þe which anſweryde, I wote neuere; wheþer am I þe keper of my broþer? And he ſeide to hym, What haſt þow don? þe vois of þe blood of þi broþer crieþ to me fro þe erþe. Now þan þow ſhalt be curſid vpon þe erþe, þe which openyde his mowþe, and toke þe blood of þi broþer of þin honde. Whanne þow worchiſt þe erþe, it ſhal not ȝiue þee his fruytis; vagaunt and fer fugitif þow ſhalt be vpon þe erþe alle þe daies of þi lijf. And Caym ſeide to þe Lord, More is my wickidnes þan þat I deſerue forȝeuenes; ſe! þow caſtiſt me out to day fro þe face of þe erþe; and fro þi face I ſhal be hid, and I ſhal be vagaunt and fer fugitif in þe erþe; al þanne þat ſhal fynd me ſhal ſle me. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, It ſhal not be do ſo, but al þat ſhal ſle Caym ſhal ſeuene fold be punyſſhid. And þe Lord ſette a ſigne in Caym, þat ech þat fonde hym ſhulde not ſle hym. And Caym, paſſid out fro þe face of þe Lord, dwellide fer fugitif in þe erþe, at þe eeſt plage of Eden. Caym forſoþe knewe his wijf, þe which forſoþe conſeyuede, and bare Enok; and he bildide a citee, and callide þe name of it after þe name of his ſone Enok. Forſoþe Enok gate Yrad, and Yrad gate Manyael, and Manyael gate Maþuſael, and Maþuſael gate Lameþ; þe which toke two wyues, þe name of þe toon Ada, and name of þe toþer Sella. And Ada gate Jabel, þat was fadre of dwellers in tentis and of ſheepherdis; and þe name of his broþer Tubal, he was þe fadre of ſyngerys in harp and orgon. Sella forſoþe gate Tubalcaym, þat was an hamer ſmyþ, and a ſmyþ into alle werkis of bras and of yrun; þe ſiſter forſoþe of Tubalcaym, Noema. And Lameþ ſeide to his wijfes Ade and Selle, Here ȝe my vois, wifes of Lameþ, herken ȝe my word; for I ſlowe a man into my wound, and a litle waxen man into my wanneſſe; veniaunce ſhal be ȝouun of Caym ſeuene fold, of Lameþ forſoþe ſeuenti ſiþes ſeuenfold. Forſoþe ȝit Adam knewe his wijf, and ſhe bare a child, and callide þe name of hym Seþ, ſeiynge, God ſette to me anoþer ſeed for Abel, whom Caym ſlowe. But and to Seþ is borne a ſone, whom he callide Enos; þis bigan inwardli to clepe þe name of þe Lord.

Capitulum V.

This is þe boke of þe generacioun of Adam, in þe day in which God made of nouȝt man. To þe ymage and lyknes of God he made hym; male and female he made hem of nouȝt, and he bliſſide to hem, and he callide þe name of hem Adam, in þe dai in þe which þei weren maad of nouȝt. Adam forſoþe lyuede an hundrid and þretti wynter, and he gat a ſone to þe liknes and hys ymage, and callide þe name of hym Seþ. And þe daies of Adam ben maad after þat he gat Seþ eiȝte hundrid ȝeer, and he gat ſones and dowȝtres. And al þe tyme is maad in þe which Adam lyuede nyne hundrid and þritti ȝeer, and deed he is. Seþ forſoþe lyuede an hundryd and fyue ȝeer, and he gat Enos. And Seþ lyuede aftir þat he gat Enos eiȝt hundrid wyntir and ſeuene, and he gat ſones and dowȝtres. And alle þe daies of Seþ ben maad nyne hundrid and twelue ȝeer, and deed he is. Enos forſoþe lyuede nynti ȝeer, and he gat Caynan; after whos birþe he lyuede eiȝt hundrid and fiftene ȝeer, and he gat ſones and dowȝtris. And alle þe dayes of Enos ben maad of nyne hundrid and fyue ȝeer, and deed he is. Caynan forſoþe lyuede ſeuenti ȝeer, and he gat Malalehel. And Caynan lyuede after þat he had gotun Malalehel eiȝt hundrid and fourty ȝeer, and he gat ſones and dowȝtris. And alle þe dais of Caynan ben maad nyne hundrid and ten ȝeer, and deed he is. Malalehel forſoþe lyuede fyue and ſixti ȝeer, and he gat Jared. And Malalehel lyuede after þat he gat Jared eiȝt hundryd and þritti ȝeer, and he gat ſones and dowȝtrys. And alle þe daies of Malalehel ben maad eiȝt hundrid and nynti and fyue ȝeer, and deed he is. And Jared lyuede an hundryd and two and ſixti ȝeer, and he gat Enok. And Jared lyuede after þat he gat Enok eiȝt hundrid ȝeer, and he gat ſones and dowȝtris. And al þe daies of Jared ben maad nyne hundrid ȝeer and two and ſixti, and deed he is. Forſoþe Enok lyuede fyue and ſixti ȝeer, and he gat Matuſale. And Enok ȝede wiþ God; and Enok lyuede after þat he gat Matuſale þre hundrid ȝeer, and he gat ſonys and dowȝtris. And alle þe daies of Enok ben maad þre hundrid and fyue and ſexti ȝeer. And he ȝede wiþ God, and he aperyde not, for God toke hym. Forſoþe Matuſale lyuede an hundrid and ſeuen and eiȝti ȝeer, and he gat Lameþ. And Matuſale lyuede after þat he had getun Lameþ ſeuene hundrid and two and eiȝti wynter, and he gat ſones and dowȝtris. And alle þe daies of Matuſale ben maad nyne hundrid and ſixti and nyne ȝeer, and deed he is. Lameþ forſoþe lyuede an hundryd and two and eiȝti ȝeer, and he gat a ſone; and he callide þe name of hym Noe, ſeiynge, Þis ſhal coumforte vs fro þe werkis and þe traueils of oure hondis in þe erþe, þe whiche werkis þe Lord curſide. And Lameþ lyuede after þat he gat Noe fyue hundrid and fyue and nynti ȝeer, and he gat ſonys and dowȝtris. And alle þe daies of Lameþ ben maad ſeuene hundryd and ſeuenti and ſeuene ȝeer, and deed he is. Noe forſoþe whan he was of fyue hundrid ȝeers, he gat Sem, Cam, and Japheþ.

Capitulum VI.

Whan men bigunnen to be multiplied vpon þe erþe, and hadden brouȝt forþ dowȝtris, and þe ſones of God, ſeynge þe dowȝtris of men þat þei weren faire, token wyues to hem of alle þe whiche þei choſen. And God ſeide, My ſpiryt ſhal not dwel in man wiþ outen ende, for flehs he is; and þe daies of hym ſhal ben an hundrid and twenti ȝeers. Giauntis forſoþe weren vpon þe erþe in þo daies, aftir forſoþe þat þe ſonys of God weren gon ynne to þe dowȝtrys of men, and þei goten; þes ben myȝti of þe world and famows men. God forſoþe ſeynge þat myche malice of men was in þe erþe, and al þouȝt of þe herte was ȝouun to yuel al tyme, it forþouȝt him þat he had made man in erþe; and bifore war in tyme to come, and towchid wiþ ſorwe of herte wiþ ynforþ, I ſhal do awey, he ſeiþ, man, whom I made of nouȝt, fro þe face of þe erþe, fro man vnto þingis hauynge ſoule, fro crepynge beeſt vnto fowles of heuen; forſoþe it o þenkiþ me to haue maad hem. Noe forſoþe founde grace bifore þe Lord. Þes ben þe generaciouns of Noe. Noe a riȝtwis man and a perfit was in his generaciouns; wiþ God he ȝede, and he gat þre ſones, Sem, Cham and Japheþ. Forſoþe þe erþe is corupt before God, and is fulfillid wiþ ſchrewidnes. And whanne God had ſeen þe erþe to be corupt, al forſoþe flehs had coruptid his weie vpon þe erþe, he ſeide to Noe, Þe ende of al flehs comeþ bifore me; þe erþe is fulfullid wiþ wickidnes fro þe face of hem, and I ſhal ſcater hem wiþ þe erþe. Make to þee an ark of planed trees; litel dwellyng places in þe ark þow ſhalt make, and wiþ ynne and wiþ oute þow ſhalt diȝten it wiþ glew. And ſo þow ſhalt make it. Þe lengþe of þe ark ſhal be of þre hundrid cubytis, þe brede of fifti cubitis, and þe hiȝt of it of þretti cubitis. A wyndow in þe ark þou ſhalt make, and in o cubite þow ſhalt ende þe hiȝt of it; þe dore forſoþe of þe ark þow ſhalt ſett aſide byneþen; ſowpyng placis, and þre chaumbred þow ſhalt make in it. Se! I ſhal lede to watres of a flood vpon þe erþe, and I ſhal ſlee al flehs in þe which ſpiryt of lijf is vndre heuene, and alle þingis þat ben in þe erþe, ſhal be waſtid. And I ſhal ſett my couenaunt of pees wiþ þee, and þow ſhalt gon into þe ark, þow and þi ſones, þi wijf, and þe wyfes of þi children wiþ þee. And of alle þingis hauynge ſowle of ony flehs, two þow ſhalt brynge into þe ark, þat maal ſex and femaal lyuen wiþ þee; of fowles after þer kynde, and of iumentis in þer kynde, and of alle crepynge beeſt of þe erþe after his kynde; two of alle ſhulen go ynne wiþ þee, þat þei mown lyue. Þou ſhalt take þanne wiþ þee of al maner metis þat mown be eten, and þow ſhalt bere wiþ þee, and þei ſhulen be boþe to þee and to hem into meet. Þanne Noe dide alle þingis þat God comaundide hym.

Capitulum VII.

Forſoþe þe Lord ſeide to hym, Go þow yn and al þin hows into þe arke, þee forſoþe I haue ſeen ryȝtwis bifore me in þis generacioun. Of alle hauynge ſowles clene, þow ſhalt take ſeuene and ſeuene, maal and femaal; and forſoþe of vnclene hauynge ſowle, two and two, maal and femaal; but of þe fowlis of heuene, ſeuene and ſeuene, maal and femaal, þat þe ſeed be ſauyd vpon þe face of al erþe. Ȝit forſoþe and aftir ſeuen daies I ſhal reyn vpon þe erþe fourti daies and fourti nyȝtis, and I ſhal do awey al ſubſtaunce þe which Y made, fro þe ouermoſt of þe erþe. Þanne Noe dide all þingis þat þe Lord comaundide him. And he was of ſixe hundryd ȝeeris, whanne þe watris of þe flood floweden vpon þe erþe. And Noe is gon ynne, and his children, hys wijf, and þe wyues of his children wiþ hym into þe arke for þe watres of þe flood. Of þe clene forſoþe hauynge ſowlis, and vnclene, and of þe fowlis of heuene, and of alle þat mouen vpon þe erþe, two and two ben gon ynne to Noe into þe arke, maal and femaal, as þe Lord comaundide Noe. And whan þe ſeuene daies weren paſſid, þe watris of þe flood floweden vpon þe erþe. Þe ſixt hundrid ȝeer of þe lijf of Noe, þe ſecounde moneþ, þe ſeuentenþe day of þe moneþ, ben broſten alle þe wellis of þe greet ſee, and þe goteris of heuene ben openyd, and reyn is maad vpon þe erþe fourti daies and fourti nyȝtis. In þe poynt of þat day Noe is gon ynne, Sem, and Cham, and Japheþ, his ſones, his wijf, and þre wyues of his ſonys wiþ hem, into þe arke. Þei, and al beeſt after her kynde, and alle iumentis in her kynde, and al þat moueþ vpon þe erþe in his kynde, and al volatile after his kynde, alle bryddis and alle fowlis, ben gon into Noe into þe arke, two and two of al flehs, in þe whiche was ſpirit of lijf. And þe whiche ben gon ynne, maal and femaal of all flehs ȝeden ynne, as God had comaundide to hym. And þe Lord encloſide hym fro wiþout. And þe flood is maad fourti daies and fourti nyȝtis vpon þe erþe, and þe watres ben multiplied, and arereden þe arke in hiȝt fro þe erþe. Greetli þei floweden, and alle þingis þei fulfilliden, in þe ouermoſt of þe erþe. Forſoþe þe arke was born upon þe watris. And þe watris hadden ful myche mayſtry vpon þe erþe, and alle þe heiȝe hillis vndre alle heuenes ben coueryd; fiftene cubitis heiȝer was þe watre vpon hillis whiche it couered. And al flehs is waſtid þat was moued vpon þe erþe, of fowlis, of hauynge ſowles, of beeſtis, and of alle crepynge þingis þat crepen vpon þe erþe. Alle men, and alle þingis in þe whiche is weie of breeþ of lijf in þe erþe, ben deed. And God dide awey al þe ſubſtaunce þat was vpon þe erþe, fro man vnto beeſt, as wel crepynge as fowlis of heuene; and þei ben don a wey fro þe erþe. Noe forſoþe dwellyd aloone, and þo þat weren wiþ hym in þe arke. And þe watris of þe flood al abowt wiþ hilden þe erþe an hundryd and fifti dayes.

Capitulum VIII.

The Lord forſoþe recordide of Noe, and of alle hauynge ſoulis, and of alle iumentis, þat weren wiþ hym in þe arke; and he brouȝte to a ſpirit vpon þe erþe. And þe watris ben leſſid, and þe wellys of þe ſee and þe goterys of heuene ben cloſid, and reynes fro heuene ben forfendid. And þe wateres fro þe erþe ben turned aȝen, goynge and aȝen goynge; and þei bigunnen to be maad leſſe after an hundrid and fifty daies. And þe arke reſtide þe ſeuenþe moneþ, þe ſeuene and twentiþ day of þe moneþ, vpon þe mowntis of Armonye. And forſoþe þe watres ȝeden and decreeſſeden vnto þe tenþe moneþ, þe tenþe forſoþe moneþ, þe firſte day of þe moneþ, aperyden þe coppis of þe hillis. And whan fourti dayes weren paſſid, Noe, openynge þe wyndow of his arke þe which he made, ſente out a crow, þe which ȝede out, and turnede not aȝen to þe tyme þat watris vpon þe erþe weren dried. Forſoþe he ſente out a culuer after hym, þat he myȝte ſe, if now hadden ſeſyd waterys vpon þe face of þe erþe; þe which whan he had not foundun where his foot myȝte reſt, is turned aȝen to him into þe arke, watres forſoþe weren vpon al þe erþe; and he ſtrawȝte out his honde, and it takun putte into þe erke. Forſoþe forþermore oþer ſeuene daies abiden, eftſones he lete out of þe arke a culuer; and ſhe come to hym at euen, berynge a brawnche of olyue wiþ grene leeues in hir mouþe. Þan Noe vndirſtode þat wateres hadden ceſyd vpon erþe; and he abode neuer þe later oþer ſeuene daies, and he ſente out a culuer, þe which is no more turned aȝen to hym. Þanne in þe ſixte hundryd ȝeer and oon of þe lijf of Noe, þe firſt moneþ, þe firſt day of þe moneþ, ben leſſid þe waterys vpon erþe; and Noe, openynge þe roof of his arke, bihelde and ſawȝ þat al out dried was þe ouermoſt of þe erþe. Þe ſecounde moneþ, þe ſeuene and twentiþ day of þe moneþ, þe erþe is maad drye. Þe Lord forſoþe ſpake to Noe, ſeiynge, Go out of þe arke, þow, and þi wijf, þi children, and þe wyues of þi children wiþ þee; and alle hauynge ſoules þat ben wiþ þee of al flehs, boþe in volatylis, and in beeſtis, and in alle crepynge þat crepen vpon þe erþe, lede out wiþ þee; and go ȝe ynne vpon þe erþe, grow ȝe, and be ȝe multiplied vpon it. Þanne Noe ȝede out, and his children, and his wijf, and þe wyues of his children wiþ hym; but and alle hauynge ſoules, iumentis, and crepynge þat crepen vpon þe erþe, aftir her propre kynde, ben gon out of þe arke. Noe forſoþe bildide an auter to þe Lord, and takinge of alle clene beeſtis and fowlis, offryde brent ſacrifices vpon þe auter. And þe Lord ſmellid a ſmel of ſwetnes, and ſeide to hym, I ſhal no more curſe to þe erþe for men, þe witt forſoþe and þe þouȝt of mannus herte ben redi in to yuel fro his tyme of waxyng; þerfore I ſhal ſmyte no more ech ſoule lyuynge as Y haue don; alle þe daies of þe erþe, ſeed and ripe, coold and hete, ſomer and wynter, nyȝt and day, ſhulen not reſt.

Capitulum IX.

And God bliſſide to Noe, and to þe ſonys of hym, and ſeide to hem, Growe ȝe, and be ȝe multiplied, and fulfilliþ þe erþe; and ȝoure feer and ȝoure tremblyng be vpon alle þe beeſtis of erþe, and vpon alle fowlis of heuene, wiþ alle þat ben moued in erþe; alle fiſhes of þe ſee ben takun to ȝoure honde. And al þat is meued and lyueþ ſhal be to ȝow into meet; as green wortis I haue takun to ȝow alle þingis, out takun þat flehs wiþ blood ȝe ſhulen not ete, blood forſoþe of ȝowre ſowles I ſhal requyre of þe honde of alle beeſtis and of þe honde of man, of þe honde of man and of þe broþir of hym I ſhal requyre þe ſoule of man. Who ſo euer ſhal ſheed mannus blood, þe blood of hym ſhal be ſhed; to þe ymage forſoþe of God man is maad. Ȝe forſoþe growiþ, and be ȝe multiplied, and go ȝe in vpon þe erþe, and fulfille ȝe it. Þes þingis forſoþe þe Lord ſeide to Noe, and to his ſonys wiþ hym, ſe! I ſhal make ſtable my couenaunt wiþ ȝou, and wiþ ȝour ſeed after ȝou, and to alle ſoule lyuynge þat is wiþ ȝou, as wel in foulis as in iumentis and in beeſtis of þe erþe, and in alle þat ben gon out of þe arke, and in alle beeſtis of þe erþe. I ſhal make ſtable my couenaunt wiþ ȝou, and no more al fleſh ſhal be ſlayn of þe watris of þe flood, ne ſhal herafter be a flood ſcaterynge al erþe. And God ſeide, Þis ſigne of couenaunt of pees Y ȝeue bitwix me and ȝou, and to al ſoule lyuynge þat is wiþ ȝou, in to euerlaſtinge generaciouns. Y ſhal ſette my bow in þe clowdis, and þe ſigne of couenant of pees ſhal be bitwix me and þe erþe; and whan Y ſhal ouerhelde þe heuen wiþ clowdis, my bow ſhal apere in þe clowdis, and I ſhal recorde of my couenaunt of pees þat Y couenantide wiþ ȝou, and wiþ alle ſoulis lyuynge þat quikeneþ fleſh; and þere ſhal be no more watris of flood to al fleſh to be don a wei. And my bow ſhal be in þe clowdes, and I ſhal ſe it, and Y ſhal recorde of þe euerlaſtynge boond of pees, þat is couenauntid bitwix God and alle ſoule lyuynge of al flehs þat is vpon þe erþe. And God ſeide to Noe, Þis ſhal be tokne of þe bonde of pees, þat I haue ordeyned bitwix me and al flehs vpon erþe. Weren þanne þe ſonys of Noe þat ben gon out of þe arke, Sem, Cam, and Japheþ; Cam forſoþe, he is þe fader of Chanaan. Þes þre ben þe ſones of Noe, and of þes it is out ſedid al þe kynde of men vpon al erþe. And Noe, a man erþe tylyer, bigan to excerſiſe þe erþe, and he plauntid a vyne, and drynkynge wyn was drunkun, and nakid he lay in his tabernacle. Þe which whan Cham, þe fader of Chanaan, had ſeen, þat is, þe priuey herneis of his fader to be nakid, he tolde it to his two briþeren wiþ out. And forſoþe Sem and Japheþ putten a mantel vpon her ſhulderis, and goynge in bacward couereden þe priuy harneis of her fader, and þe faces of hem weren turned a wey, and þe mannus harneys of þe fader þei ſawen not. Noe forſoþe wakynge of þe wyn, whan he had lerned þe þingis þat his ȝonger ſone dide to hym, ſeiþ, Curſide child Chanaan, þral of alle þrallis he ſhal be to his briþeren. And he ſeide, Bliſſid be þe Lord God of Sem, be Chanaan his ſeruaunt; God ſprede abrood Japheþ, and dwel he in þe tabernaclis of Sem, and Chanaan be þe þral of hym. Noe forſoþe lyuede after þe flood þre hundrid and fifti wynter; and alle þe daies of hym ben fulfilled of nyne hundrid and fifti ȝeer, and deed he is.

Capitulum X.

Thes ben þe generaciouns of þe ſonys of Noe, Sem, Cham, and Japheþ. And ſonys ben born to hem after þe flood. Þe ſones of Japheþ, Gomer, and Magog, and Maday, and Jauan, and Tubal, and Moſoþ, and Thiras. Þe ſonys forſoþe of Gomer, Aſſenes, and Riphaþ, and Thogorma. Þe ſones forſoþe of Jauan, Heliſa, and Taſſis, Ceþym, and Dodanym; of þes ben diuydid yles of Gentils in her generaciouns, echone aftir þe tung and her meynes, in her naciouns. Þe ſones forſoþe of Cham, Chus, and Meſraym, Fuþ, and Chanaan. Þe ſones forſoþe of Chus, Saba, and Euila, and Sabaþa, and Regma, and Sabataþa. Þe ſonys of Regma, Saba and Dadan. Chus forſoþe gat Nemeroþ; he bigan to be myȝti in þe erþe, and he was a ſtrong hunter bifore þe Lord; of þat ȝede out a prouerbe, as Nemoroþ, a ſtrong hunter bifore þe Lord. Þe bigynyng forſoþe of his rewme was Babiloyn, and Arach, and Archad, and Thalamne, in þe erþe of Sennaar. Of þat londe was gon out Aſſur, and he bildide Nynyuen, and þe ſtretis of þe cytee, and Chale, Reſen alſo bitwix Nynyuen and Chale; þis is þe greet citee. And forſoþe Meſraym gat Ludym, and Anamym, and Laabym, Neptym, and Phetuſym, and Cheſluym; of þe which ben gon out Philiſtiym and Capturym. Chanaan forſoþe gat Sydonem, his firſt gotun, Eþeum, and Jebuſeum, and Amoreum, Gergeſeum, Eueum, and Araþeum, Cyneum, and Aradium, Samaryten, and Amaþeum; and bi þes ben ſowed out þe puplis of Chananes. And þe termes of Chanaan ben maad to þilk þat comen fro Sidon Geraran, vnto Gazan, to þe tyme þat þou come into Sodomam, and Gomorram, and Adamam, and Seboin, vnto Leſa. Þes ben þe ſonys of Cham, in kynredis, and tungis, and generaciouns, and erþis, and her folkis. Of Sem forſoþe ben born þe faderes of alle þe ſonys of Heber, þe more broþer of Japheþ. Þe ſonys of Sem; Elam, and Aſſur, and Arfaxad, and Lud, and Aram. Þe ſonys of Aram; Vs, and Hul, and Geþer, and Mes. And forſoþe Arfaxad gat Sale, of whom is born Heber. And þere ben born to Heber two ſonys, name to þe toon Phalig, þere þurȝ þat in þe daies of him þe erþe is dyuydid; and þe name of his broþer Jactan. Þe which Jactan gat Elmodad, and Saleþ, and Sarmoþ, Jare, and Adhuram, and Vzal, and Deda, and Ebel, and Abumael, Saba and Ophir, and Euila, and Jobab; alle þes þe ſonys of Jactan. And þe abitacioun of hem is maad o Meſſa, as men goon vnto Sephar, þe eſt hille. Þes þe ſones of Sem, after cognaciouns, and tungis, and regiouns, in her folkis. Þes þe meynes of Noe, aftir puplis and her naciouns; of þes ben dyuydid þe gentilis aftir þe flood in þe erþe.

Capitulum XI.

Forſoþe þe erþe was of oo lip, and of þe ſame wordis. And whan men ſhulden go fro þe eſt, þei founden a feeld in þe lond of Sennaer, and þei dwelleden in it. And þe toþer ſeide to his neiȝbore, Comeþ, and make we tile ſtoons, and ſeþe we hem wiþ fier; and þei hadden tiles for ſtoons, and towȝ cley for ſyment. And þei ſeiden, Comeþ, and make we to vs a citee and a towr, whos heiȝt fulli ateyne vnto heuene; and halow we oure name, or we ben dyuydid into alle londis. Þe Lord forſoþe deſcendide, þat he myȝte ſe þe citee and þe towre, þe which þe children of Adam bildeden; and ſeide, Se! þe puple is oon, and oo lippe is to alle, and þis þei han bigunnen to make, ne þei wolen leeue of fro her þenkyngis, to þe tyme þat þei han fulfillid hem in dede; þanne come ȝe, deſcende we, and confounde we þere þe tung of hem, þat noon here þe vois of his neiȝbore. And ſo þe Lord deuydide hem fro þat place into alle londis; and þei ſeſyden to bilde þe citee. And þerfor was callid þe name of it Babel, for þere was confoundid þe lippe of al þe erþe; and fro þens þe Lord diſparpoilide hem vpon þe face of alle regiouns. Þes ben þe generaciouns of Sem. Sem was of an hundrid ȝeeris whanne he gat Arfaxad, two ȝeer aftre þe flood. And Sem lyuede aftir þat he gat Arfaxad fyue hundrid wynter, and gat ſonys and dowȝtres. Forſoþe Arfaxad lyuede fyue and þretty wynter, and gat Sale; and Arfaxad lyuede aftir þat he gat Sale, þre hundrid and þre ȝeer, and gat ſonys and dowȝtres. And Sale lyuede þretti ȝeer, and gat Heber; and Sale lyuede after þat he gat Heber, fowre hundrid wynter and þre, and gat ſonys and dowȝtris. Heber forſoþe lyuede fowre and þretti wynter, and gat Phaleþ; and Heber lyuede after þat he gat Phaleþ fowre hundrid and þritti wynter, and gat ſonys and dowȝtres. Phaleþ forſoþe lyuede þritti wynter, and gat Reu; and Phaleþ lyuede aftir þat he had getun Reu two hundrid and nyne ȝeer, and gat ſonys and dowȝtris. Reu forſoþe lyuede two and þretti ȝeer, and gat Saruch; Reu forſoþe lyuede aftir þat he gat Saruch, two hundrid and ſeuene ȝeer, and gat ſonys and dowȝtres. Saruch forſoþe lyued þretti ȝeer, and gat Nachor; and Saruch lyuede aftir þat he gat Nachor, two hundrid ȝeer, and gat ſonys and dowȝtres. Nochor forſoþe lyuede nyne and twenti ȝeer, and gat Thare; and Nachor lyued after þat he gat Thare an hundrid and nyne ten ȝeer, and gat ſonys and dowȝtres. And Thare lyued ſeuenti ȝeer, and gat Abram, and Nachor, and Aran. Þes ben forſoþe þe generaciouns of Thare. Thare gat Abram, Nachor, and Aran. Aran forſoþe gat Loþ; and Aran was deed bifore Thare, his fadre, in þe lond of his birþe, in Vr of Caldeis. Abram forſoþe and Nachor token hem wyues; þe name of þe wijf of Abram, Sarai, and þe name of þe wijf of Nachor, Melcha, þe douȝter of Aron, fadir of Melche and fadir of Jeſſe. Saray forſoþe was bareyn, and had no fre children. And alſo Thare toke Abram, his ſone, and Loþ, þe ſone of Aran, þe ſone of hys ſone, and Saray, his ſonys wijf, þe wijf of Abraam, his ſone, and he ledde hem out fro Vr of Caldeis, þat þei myȝten go into þe lond of Chanaan; and þei comen vnto Aran, and dwelliden þere. And þe daies of Thare ben maad of two hundrid and fyue ȝeer, and deed he is in Aran.

Capitulum XII.

The Lord forſoþe ſeide to Abram, Go out fro þi lond, and fro þi kynreden, and fro þe hows of þi fadir, and com in to þe lond þat I ſhal ſhew to þee; and I ſhal make þee in to a greet folk of kynde, and I ſhal blis to þee, and I ſhal magnyfie þi name, and þow ſhalt be bliſſid; and I ſhal blis to þoo þat bliſſen þee, and I ſhal curſe to þoo þat curſen þee; and in þee ſhal be bliſſyd alle coſynages of þe erþe. And ſo Abraam ȝede out, as þe Lord comaundide to hym, and Loþ ȝede wiþ hym. Of ſeuenti and fyue ȝeers was Abram whan he ſhulde go fro Aran. And he toke Saray, his wijf, and Loþ, þe ſone of his broþer, and al þe ſubſtaunce þat þei hadden, and þe lyues þat þei maden in Aran; and þei ȝeden out þat þei myȝten gon in to þe lond of Chanaan. And whan þei weren comen into it, Abram paſſide þurȝ þe lond vnto þe place of Sichim, and vnto þe noble valeye. Chananeus forſoþe was þanne in þe lond. Þe Lord forſoþe apperyde to Abram, and ſeide to hym, I ſhal ȝyue to þi ſeed þis lond. Þe which bildide þere an auter to þe Lord, þe which had apperyd to hym, and he inwardly callide þere þe name of him. And fro þens ouerpaſſynge to þe mownt þat was aȝens þe eſt of Betel, and ſtrauȝte þere his tabernacle, hauynge Betel fro þe weſt, and fro þe eſt Hay. And he edefiede þere an auter to þe Lord, and inwardli clepide þe name of hym. And Abram ȝede goynge, and ferþermore paſſynge to þe weſt. Forſoþe hungur was maad in þe lond; and Abram deſcendide into Egipt, þat he myȝte pilgrimage þere; forſoþe hungir wex greet in þe lond. And whan he was nyȝe þat he ſhulde go into Egipt, he ſeide to Saray, his wijf, I knew þat a fayr woman þow art, and þat whan Egipciens ſhulen ſe þee, þei ben to ſeyn, þe wijf of hym ſhe is, and þei ſhal ſlee me, and þee þei ſhal reſerue. Seie þanne, I preye þee, þat þow art my ſiſtre, þat it be to me wel for þee, and my ſowle lyue for þe grace of þee. And ſo whan Abram was gon into Egipt, Egipciens ſawen þe woman þat ſhe was ful fayre; and þe princis tolden to Pharao, and preyſeden hir anentys hym; and þe woman was takun into þe hows of Pharao. Abram forſoþe þei wel vſeden for hir; and þere weren to hym ſheep, and oxen, and he aſſis, and ſeruauntis, and meynes, and ſhe aſſis, and camelis. Þe Lord forſoþe ſcourgide Pharao wiþ mooſt plagis and þe hows of hym, for Saray, Abrams wijf. And Pharao clepide Abram, and ſeide to hym, What forſoþe is þis þat to me þow haſt don? why ſhewide þow not to me þat ſhe was þi wijf? for what cauſe ſeidiſt þow hir to be þi ſiſter, þat to me I ſhulde take hir into a wijf? Now þanne ſe! þi wijf, and take hir and go. And Pharao comaundide vpon Abram two men, and þei conueyden hym, and þe wijf of him, and al þat he had.

Capitulum XIII.

Abram þanne aſcendide fro Egipt, he, and his wijf and al þat he had, and Loþ wiþ hym, to þe ſowþ plaag. He was forſoþe ful riche in poſſeſſioun of ſiluer and of gold. And he was turnyd aȝen bi þe weye þat he come fro þe ſowþ in Betel, vnto þe place in þe which biforhond he had ficchid a tabernacle, bytwix Betel and Hay, in þe place of þe auter þat he made bifore, and he inwardli clepide þere þe name of þe Lord. But and of Loþ, þe which was wiþ Abram, weren flockis of ſheep, and droues, and tabernaclis; and þe lond myȝte not reſeyue hem, þat þei dwelliden to giderys; forſoþe þe ſubſtaunce of hem was myche, and þei myȝten not dwel comounli. Wherfor and þere was ſtrijf maad bitwix þe ſhepherdis of þe flockis of Abram and of Loþ. Þat forſoþe tyme Chananeus and Fereſeus dwelliden in þat lond. Seide þanne Abram to Loþ, I biſeche, be þere not ſtrijf bitwix þee and me, and bitwix my ſheepherdis and þi ſheepherdis; briþeren forſoþe we ben. Se! al þe lond is bifore þee, I preye, go awey fro me; if þow to þe left ſide goſt, Y ſhal hold þe riȝt ſide; if þow þe riȝt ſide cheſiſt, Y ſhal go to þe left. And ſo Loþ, his eyen heued vp, ſawe al þe regioun abowt of Jordan, þe which al was watered, bifore þe Lord ſhulde ouerturne Sodom and Gomor, as paradis of þe Lord, and as Egipt to comers into Segor. And Loþ ches to hym þe regioun abowt Jordan, and ȝede fro þe eſt; and þei ben eiþer diuydid fro his broþer. Abram dwelte in þe londe of Chanaan; and Loþ forſoþe abode in þe borow townes þat weren abowte Jordan, and dwellid in Sodomys. Men forſoþe of Sodom weren þe werſt men, and ſynners before þe Lord mych. And þe Lord ſeide to Abram, aftir þat Loþ was dyuydyd fro hym, Heue vp þin eyen euen ryȝt, and ſe fro þe place in þe which þow art now, to þe norþ and ſowþ, to þe eſt and weſt; al þe lond þat þow biholdiſt, I ſhal ȝyue to þee and to þi ſeed, for to euermore. And I ſhal make þi ſeed as powdir of þe erþe; if eny men myȝten nowmbre þe powdre of þe erþe, and þi ſeed he ſhal mow nowmbre. Aryſe þanne and ouergo þe lond in lengþe and in brede, for I am to ȝyue it to þee. Abram þanne, mouynge his tabernacle, com and dwellide biſide þe valey of Mambre, þe which is in Ebron, and bildide þere an auter to þe Lord.

Capitulum XIIII.

And it was don in þat tyme, þat Amraphel, þe kyng of Sennaer, and Aryoþ, þe kyng of Ponty, and Chodorlaomor, þe kyng of Elemytarum, and Thadal, kyng of folc of kynd, ȝeden into a batail aȝens Bara, þe kyng of Sodom, and aȝens Berſa, þe kyng of Gomor, and aȝens Sennaar, þe kyng of Adame, and aȝens Sebamar, þe kyng of Soboym, and aȝens þe kyng of Bale, þat is, of Segor. Alle þes comen to gidre into þe wodi valey, þe which now is þe ſee of ſalt. Forſoþe twelue ȝeer þei ſerueden to Chodorlaomor, and þe þrettenþe ȝeer þei ȝede awey fro hym. Þerfor þe fourtenþe ȝeer com Chodorlaomor, and þe kyngis þat weren wiþ hym, and ſmytyn Raphaym in Aſtaroþ, Carnaym, and Zuzym wiþ hem, and Emim in Sabe Chariaþaim, and Chorreos in þe hillis Seher, vnto þe feeldy placis of Pharam, þat is in wildernes. And þei weren turned aȝen, and comen vnto þe welle of Meſphat; it is of Cades. And þei ſmyten al þe regioun of Amalechitis, and Amorre, þe whiche dwellid in Aſaſon of Thamar. And þe kyng of Sodom, and þe kyng of Gomorre, and þe kyng of Adame, and þe kyng of Soboym, alſo and þe kyng of Bale, þat is of Segor, ȝeden out, and þei dreſſiden aȝens hem ſheltrun in þe wodi valey, þat is, aȝens Chodorlaomor, kyng of Elamytarum, and Thadal, kyng of folk of kynde, and Amraphel, þe kyng of Sennaar, and Arioþ, þe kyng of Ponty; foure kynges aȝens fyue. Þe wodi valei forſoþe had manye pyttis of gluwy cley; and ſo þe kyng of Sodom and of Gomor turneden backis and fellen þere; and þo þat laften flowen to þe hil. Forſoþe þei token al þe ſubſtaunce of Sodom and of Gomor, and alle þingis þat parteyneden to mete, and ȝeden awey; alſo and Loþ, þe ſone of þe broþer of Abram, þe which dwellid in Sodom, and þe ſubſtaunce of hym. And lo! oon þat aſcapide, toolde to Abram Ebrew, þe which dwellid in valey of Mambre of Amorey, broþer of Eſcol, and broþer of Aner; þes forſoþe hadden couenauntid bond of pees wiþ Abram. Þe which whanne Abram had herd, þat is, Loþ his broþer takun, he noumbride þre hundrid ten and eiȝt men of his own howſhold redi, and he purſuede hem vnto Dan. And, his felows dyuydid, he felle vpon hem in þe nyȝt, and he ſmoot hem, and he purſuede hem vnto Saba, and Phenyſem, þe which is at þe left ſide of Damaſk. And he brouȝte aȝen al þe ſubſtaunce, and Loþ his broþer wiþ þe ſubſtaunce of hym, and wymmen and puple. Forſoþe þe kyng of Sodom ȝede out into þe aȝen-goyng of hym, after þat he was aȝen turned fro þe ſlawȝtir of Chodorlaomor, and of þe kyngis þat weren wiþ hym, in þe valey of Sabe, þe which is þe valey of þe kyng. And forſoþe Melchiſadech, þe kyng of Salem, bryngynge forþ breed and wyne, forſoþe he was þe preſt of þe heiȝeſt God, bliſſide to hym, and ſeide, Bliſſid be Abram to þe heye God, þe which maad of nouȝt heuene and erþe, and þe heye God be bliſſid, whom defendynge, þe enemyes ben takun in þin hondis. And he ȝaue hym dymes of alle þingis. Forſoþe þe kyng of Sodom ſeide to Abram, Ȝyue me þe ſowlis; oþre þingis take to þee. Þe which anſweride hym, I heeue vp myn hond to þe Lord, þe heye God, welder of heuene and erþe, þat fro a þreed of þe weeft vnto a garter of an hoos I ſhal not take of alle þingis þat ben þin, leſt þow ſeye, I haue maad Abram ryche; out take þes þingis þat ȝong men han etun, and þe partyſe of men þat camen wiþ me, Aner, Eſchol, and Mambre; þes ſhulen take þere partyes.

Capitulum XV.

So þes þingis paſt ouer, þe word of þe Lord was maad to Abram bi a viſioun, ſeiynge, Abram, wolt þow not dreed, I am þi defendour, and þi meed is ful greet. And Abram ſeide, Lord God, what ſhal þow ȝyue me? I ſhal go wiþouten fre children, and þe ſone of þe proctour of myn hows, þis Damaſk of Elyzar, ſhal be myn eyre. And Abram addide, To me forſoþe þow haſt not ȝouun ſeed, and, lo! þe ſeruaunt of myn howſhold ſhal be myn eyre. And anoon þe word of God was maad to hym, ſeiynge, Þis ſhal not be þin eire, but he þat ſhal gon out of þi womb, hym þow ſhalt make þin eire. And he ledde hym out, and ſeide to hym, Biholde heuene, and noumbre þe ſterrys, if þow mayſt. And he ſeide to hym, So ſhal be þi ſeed. Abram leuede to God, and it was alowid to hym to ryȝtwiſnes. And he ſeide to hym, I þe Lord, þat out lad þee fro Vr of Caldeis, þat I ſhulde ȝyue to þee þis lond, and þow ſhuldiſt haue it. And he ſeide, Lord God, wherof may I knowe þat I am to haue it? And þe Lord anſweride, Take, he ſeiþ, to þee a kow of þre ȝeer, and a ſhe gehet of þre ȝeer, and a weþir of þre ȝeer, and a turtur, and a culuer. Þe which, takynge alle þes þingis, dyuydide hem by þe mydil, and putte eiþir partis aȝens hemſilf, eiþer to oþre; þe briddis forſoþe he dyuydide not. And fowlis deſcendiden vpon þe careyns, and Abram droue hem awey. And whanne þe ſunne was goon down, feer felle vpon Abram, and greet griſynes and derk aſſaileden hym. And it was ſeid to him, Bifore knowynge know þow, þat þi ſeed is to be a pilgrym in þe lond not his, and men ſhulen ſuget hem to þraldom, and men ſhulen ouer traueile hem fowre hundrid wynter; neþeles I ſhal deme þe folk of kynde to whom þei ben to ſerue; and after þes þingis þei ſhulen gon out wiþ a greet ſubſtaunce. Þow forſoþe ſhalt go to þi fadres in pees, biried alſo in god eld. Þe ferþe forſoþe generacioun þei ſhulen turne aȝen hidir, ne ȝit forſoþe ben not fulfillid þe ſhrewidnes of þe Amoreis, vnto þe tyme þat is now. Þanne whan þe ſunne is gon down, þere was maad a derk clowd, and a furneys ſmekynge aperyde, and a lawmpe of fijr, paſſynge bitwix þo dyuyſiouns. In þat day þe Lord couenauntide wiþ Abram a bond of pees, ſeiynge, To þi ſeed I ſhal ȝyue þis lond, fro þe flood of Egipt vnto þe greet flood of Eufraten; Cyneos, and Cynyſeos, and Sephmonios, and Eþeos, and Phariſeos, Raphaim forſoþe, and Amorreos, and Chananeos, and Gergeſeos, and Gebeſeos.

Capitulum XVI.

For Saray, þe wijf of Abram, had not geet to hym fre children; but hauynge an hand mayden Egipcian, Agar bi name, ſeyde to hir howſbond, Loo! þe Lord haþ cloſid me, þat Y may not bere; go into myn hand maydyn, if perauenture at þe leſte of hir I take children. And whanne he aſſentide to hir preiyng, he toke Agar þe Egipcian, hir hand mayden, aftir ten ȝeer þat þei bigunnen to dwelle in þe londe of Chanaan, and ſhe ȝaue hir a wijf to hir huſbond. Þe which ȝede into hir; and ſhe ſeynge hir ſilf þat ſhe had conſeyued, diſpiſide hir ladi. And Saray ſeide to Abram, Vneuenli þow doſt aȝens me; I haue ȝyuun myn hand mayden into þi boſum, þe which ſeynge þat ſhe haþ conſeyued, haþ me to deſpit; þe Lord deme bitwix me and þee. To whom anſwerynge Abram, Lo! he ſeiþ, þin hand maydyn is in þin hond; vſe hir as it is leueful. Þanne Saray ouertraueilynge hir, ſhe ȝede into flyȝt. And whanne þe aungel of þe Lord hadde foundun hir biſide þe welle of water in wildirnes, þe which is in þe weye of Sur in deſert, he ſeide to hir, Agar, þe hand mayden of Saray, whens comyſt þow, and whiþir goſt þow? Þe which anſweride, Fro þe face of Saray my ladi I flee. And þe aungel of þe Lord ſeide to hir, Turne aȝen to þi ladi, and be meke vndir þe hondis of hir. And eft, Multipliynge, he ſeiþ, I ſhal multiplie þi ſeed, and it ſhal not be nowmbrid for þe multitude. And herafterward, Loo! he ſeiþ, þow haſt conſeyued, and þow ſhalt bere a ſone, and þow ſhalt cleep þe name of hym Yſmael, þerþurȝ þat þe Lord haþ herd þin affliccioun; þis ſhal be a feers man; þe hoond of hym aȝens alle, and þe hoond of alle aȝens hym; and forn aȝens alle his briþeren he ſhal ficche tabernaclis. Agar forſoþe clepide þe name of þe Lord þat ſpak to hir, Þow God þat ſaw me; and ſhe ſeide, Forſoþe here I haue ſeen þe hyndirmore of þilk þat ſaw me. Þerfor ſhe nemnyde þat pytte, þe pytte of hym lyuynge and ſeynge me; þilk is bytwix Cades and Barad. And Agar bare to Abram a ſone, þe which clepide þe name of hym Iſmael. Of eiȝti and ſixe wynter was Abram, whanne Agar bare to hym Iſmael.

Capitulum XVII.

After forſoþe þat he bigan to be of nynti and nyne ȝeer, þe Lord aperide to hym, and ſeide to hym, I God Almyȝti; goo bifore me, and be þow perfite; I ſhal ſett my couenaunt of pees bitwix me and þee; and I ſhal multiplye þee ful hugeli. And Abram felle down al redi in to þe face. And God ſeide to hym, I am, and I ſhal ſett my couenaunt wiþ þee, and þow ſhalt be fader of many folk of kynde; and þi name ſhal no more be clepid Abram, but þow ſhalt be clepid Abraham, for I haue ordeyned þee fadir of many folk of kynde; and I ſhal make þee grow mooſt hugeli, and I ſhall ſett þee in folk of kynde, and kyngis ſhal gon out of þee; and I ſhal ſtable my couenaunt bitwixe me and þee, and bitwix þi ſeed after þee, in þi kynredis, wiþ euerlaſtynge boond of pees, þat I be þi God, and of þi ſeed after þee; and I ſhal ȝyue to þee and to þi ſeed aftyr þee þe loond of þi pilgrimage, al þe loond of Chanaan, into euerlaſtyng poſſeſſioun, and I ſhal be þe God of hem. Eftſones God ſeide to Abraham, And þow þanne ſhalt kepe my couenaunt, and þi ſeed aftir þee, in her kinredis. Þis is my couenaunt, þat ȝe ſhulen kepe bitwix me and ȝow, and þi ſeed after þee; ech maal of ȝow ſhal be circumcidid, and ȝe ſhulen circumſide þe flehs of þe ferþermore parti of ȝoure ȝeerde, þat it be in tokne of bond of pees bitwix me and ȝow. A child of eiȝt dayes ſhal be circumſidid in ȝow, ech maal in ȝoure kinredis, as wel þe freman of ȝoure howſhold as þe bowȝt man ſhal be circumſidid, and who ſo euer were of ȝoure lynage; and my couenaunt ſhal be in ȝoure flehs into euerlaſtynge boond of pees. Þe maal whos flehs of þe vttermore parti of his ȝerde were not circumſidid, þat ſoule ſhal be don a wey fro his puple; for he haþ maad my couenaunt waſt. And God ſeide to Abraham, Saray, þi wijf, þou ſhalt not clepe Saray, but Sara; and I ſhal blis to hir, and of hir I ſhal ȝyue to þee a ſone, to whom I am to blis, and he ſhal be into naciouns, and kyngis of puplis ſhal grow of hym. And Abraham fel into his face, and lowȝ in his herte, ſeiynge, Wenyſt þow, wheþir a ſone ſhal be born to a man of an hundrid wynter, and Sara nynti winter ſhal bere? And he ſeide to þe Lord, Wolde God Yſmael lyue bifore þee. And þe Lord ſeide to Abraham, Sara, þi wijf, ſhal bere to þee a ſone, and þow ſhalt cleep þe name of hym Yſaac, and I ſhal ordeyne my couenaunt to hym into euerlaſtynge boond of pees, and to his ſeed after hym; and vpon Iſmael I haue herd þee, loo! I ſhal blis to hym, and I ſhal encrees, and I ſhal multiplie hym greetli; twelue dukis he ſhal gendre, and I ſhal make hym into a greet folk of kynde. But my couenaunt I ſhal maak ſtonde to Yſaac, whom Sara ſhal bere to þee þis tyme in þe toþer ȝeer. And whan þe ſermoun of þe ſpeker wiþ hym was endid, God ſtiede vp fro Abraham. Abraham forſoþe toke Yſmael, his ſone, and alle þe fre men of his hows, and alle whom he had bowȝt, alle þe malis of alle men of his hows, and he circumſidide þe flehs of þe vttermor parti of þer ȝerde, anoon in þat day, as God had comaundid hym. Abraham was of nynti and nyne ȝeer whan he circumſidide þe flehs of þe vttermore parti of his ȝerde, and Iſmael, his ſone, had fulfillid þrittene ȝeer in tyme of his circumſicioun. And þe ſame day was Abraham circumſidid, and Yſmael his ſone, and alle men of hys hows, as wel fre men as bowȝt and aliens, togideris weren circumſidid.

Capitulum XVIII.

The Lord forſoþe aperyde to hym in þe valey of Mambre, ſittynge in þe dore of his tabernacle, in þat heet of þe day. And whan he had areride vp þe eyen, þre men ſtondynge nyȝ hym aperiden to hym. Whom whan he had ſeen, he ranne into þe aȝen comyng of hem fro þe dore of his tabernacle, and he lowtide into þe erþe, and ſeide, Lord, if I haue foundun grace in þin eyen, ouerpaſſe þow not þi ſeruaunt, but I ſhal bringe to a litil meſure of water, and ȝoure fete be wayſhid, and reſte þow vnder a tree; and I ſhal ſett a morſel of breed, and ȝoure herte be coumfortid; aftyrward ȝe ſhulen paſſe forþe; and þerfor forſoþe ȝe boweden down to ȝoure ſeruant. Þe whiche ſeiden, Do as þow haſt ſpokun. Abraham hyede into þe tabernacle, to Sara, and ſeide to hir, Hye, and mynge togidre þre half buyſſhelis of clene flowre; and make looues bakun vndur ayſhen. He forſoþe ranne to þe droue, and toke þens a calf mooſt tendre and beſt, and ȝaue a child, þe which hyede, and ſeþede it; and toke butter, and mylk, and þe calf þe which he had ſoþun, and ſette bifore hem; he forſoþe ſtode biſide hem vndir þe tre. And whanne þei hadden etun, þei ſeiden to hym, Where is Sara þi wijf? He anſweride, Loo! in hir tabernacle ſhe is. To whom he ſeide, Turnynge aȝen I ſhal com to þee þis tyme, þe lijf ledere; and Sara, þi wijf, ſhal haue a ſone. Þe which þing herd, Sara lowȝ bihynde þe dore of þe tabernacle. Forſoþe þei weren boþe oold, and of greet age, and to Sara fluxis of blood hadden laft to be maad. Þe which lowȝ priueli, ſeiynge, After þat I am bicom oold, and my lord is an olde man, ſhal I ȝyue byſynes to luſt? Þe Lord forſoþe ſeide to Abraham, Whi lowȝ Sara, þi wijf, ſeiynge, wheþer I an oold woman am verreily to bere child? wheþer eny þing is to God hard? Aftir þe ſawe bitwix vs I ſhal turne aȝen to þee þis ſame tyme, þe lijf leder; and Sara ſhal haue a ſone. Sara denyede, ſeiynge, I lowȝ not, þurȝ drede afeerd. Þe Lord forſoþe, It is not, he ſeide, ſo, but þow lowȝ. Þanne whanne þe men were ryſun þens, þei dreſſiden her eyen aȝens Sodom; and Abraham ȝede wiþ, ledynge forþ hem. And þe Lord ſeide, Wheþer I mow hide fro Abraham þingis þat Y am to do, ſiþ he is to be into a greet folk of kynde and mooſt ſtrong, and alle naciouns of þe erþe ben to be bliſſid in hym? I woot forſoþe þat he is to comaunde his ſones, and to his hows aftir hym, þat þei kepen þe wey of þe Lord, and þat þei do ryȝtwiſnes, and dom, þat þe Lord brynge to for Abraham alle þingis þat he haþ ſpokun to hym. And ſo þe Lord ſeide, Þe cry of Sodom and Gomor is multiplied, and þe ſynne of hem is myche agredgyd; I ſhal go down, and ſe wheþer þe cry þat is comen to me þei han fulfillid in dede, or it is not ſo þat I wyte. And þei turneden hem ſilf þens, and ȝeden awey to Sodom. Abraham forſoþe ȝit ſtode bifore þe Lord, and neiȝynge ſeiþ, Wheþer þow ſhalt leſe þe riȝtwis wiþ þe wickyd? if þere ben fifti riȝtwis in þe citee, ſhulen þei peryſhe to gidere, and ſhalt þow not ſpare to þat place for fifti riȝtwis, if þei ſhulen be in it? Be it fer fro þee þat þow do þis þing, and ſle þe ryȝtwis wiþ þe wickid, and þe riȝtwis be maad as þe wickid; þis is not þin þat demyſt al þe erþe; þow ſhalt not do þat dom. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, If Y ſhal fynde in Sodom fifti riȝtwis in þe myddil of þe cytee, I ſhal forȝyue to al þe place for hem. Abraham anſweride and ſeiþ, For oons I bigan, I ſhal ſpeke to þe Lord my God, whan Y am powder and aſke; what if þere weren bi fyue leſſe þan fifti ryȝtwis, ſhalt þow do awey al þe cite for fyue and fourty? And he ſeiþ, I ſhal not do awey, if I ſhal fynde þere fyue and fourti. And eftſonys he ſpake to hym, If forſoþe fourti weren foundun þere, what ſhalt þow do? He ſeiþ, I ſhal not ſmyte for fourti. Y biſeche þee, he ſeiþ, ne indeyne þow, Lord, if I ſpeke; what if þere weren foundun þretti? He anſweryde, I ſhal not do, if I ſhal fynde þretti. For onus, he ſeiþ, I bigan, I ſhal ſpeke to my Lord; what if þere weren foundun twenti? He ſeyde, I ſhal not ſle for twenti. I biſeche, he ſeiþ, Lord, be þow not wrooþ, if ȝit oons I ſpeke; what if þere be foundun ten? He ſeide, I ſhal not do awey for ten. Þe Lord ȝede aweie, after þat he had ceeſid to ſpeke to Abraham, and he was turnyd aȝen into his place.

Capitulum XIX.

And two aungels comen to Sodom at euen, ſittynge Loþ in þe ȝatis of þe cyte. Þe whiche, whanne he had ſeen hem, roos, and ȝede to mete wiþ hem, and honowride bowide into þe erþe, and ſeide, I prey ȝow, ſyres, bowiþ down into þe hows of ȝoure child, and dwelliþ þere; wayſhiþ ȝoure fete, and erly ȝe ſhal go forþ into ȝoure weye. Þe whiche ſeiden, Nay, but in þe ſtreet we ſhulen dwel. He myche conſtreynede hem, þat þei ſhulden turne to hym. And hem goon into his hows, he made a feeſt, ſeþede þerf breed, and þei eten. Forſoþe bifore þat þei ſhulden go to leggen, men of þe cytee ſetten abowt his hows, fro child to oold man, al þe puple to gider; and þei clepeden Loþ, and ſeiden to hym, Where ben þe men þat comen in to þee at nyȝt? lede hem out hidir, þat we knowen hem. Loþ gon oute to hem bihynde þe rigge, and tyndynge to þe dore, ſeiþ, Wole ȝe not, I preye, my briþeren, wole ȝe not þis yuel don. I haue two douȝtren, þe whiche ȝit knewen not man; I ſhal lete hem out to ȝow, and mys vſiþ hem as it ſhal like to ȝow, ſo þat ȝe don no þing of yuel to þes men, for þei ben comun ynne vndur þe ſhadew of my roof. And þei ſeiden, Go aȝen þider. And eftſonys, Þow art comen in, þei ſeiden, as a comelyng; wheþer þat þow deme? þee þi ſilf þanne more þan þes we ſhulen ouertraueyl. And foors þei maden to Loþ mooſt hidowſly. Now nyȝ it was þat þei ſhulden vp breke þe ȝatis; and lo! þe men putten to hoonde, and brouȝten into hem Loþ, and cloſeden þe dore. And hem þat weren wiþ out þei ſmyten wiþ blyndnes, fro þe leeſt vnto þe mooſt; ſo þat þe dore þei myȝten not fynde. And þei ſeiden to Loþ, Haſt þow here eny man of þin, ſone in lawe, or ſones, or douȝtres; alle þat ben þin lede out of þis citee, we ſhulen do awey þis place, þerþurȝ þat þe cry of hem is ful encreſid bifore þe Lord, þe which ſende vs þat we leſen hem. And ſo Loþ gon out, ſpake to his ſonys in lawe, þe whiche weren to take his douȝteres, and he ſeide, Riſiþ, and goþ out fro þis place, for þe Lord ſhal do aweie þis cite. And he was ſeen to hem as pleiynge to ſpeke. And whanne was morutyde, þe aungels conſtreyneden hym, ſeiynge, Aryſe, and take þi wijf, and þi two dowȝtrys, þat þow haſt, leſt and þow wiþ periſhe in þe wickidnes of þe citee. And hym denyinge, þei token þe honde of hym, and þe honde of þe wijf, and of þe two dowȝtren of hym; þer þurȝ þat þe Lord wolde ſpare to hym. And þei ledden hym out, and puttiden hym out of þe cyte. Þere þei ſpeken to hym, ſeiynge, Saue þi ſoule; wole þow not bihold bihynde þi bak, and ſtonde þow not in al þe regioun about, but in þe hille make þee ſaf, leſt and þow wiþ periſhe. And Loþ to hem ſeide, My lord, I biſeche, for þi ſeruaunt haþ foundun grace bifore þee, and þow haſt magnyfied grace and þi mercy, þat þow haſt don wiþ me, þat þow ſauediſt my ſoule; I may not in þe hil be ſauyd, leſt perauenture yuel take me, and die; þere is a cite here nyȝ a litle, to which Y may fle, and I ſhal be ſaf in it; wheþer it is not litel? and my ſoule ſhal lyue in it. And he ſeide to hym, Lo! in þat I haue take þi preieris, þat I ſubuerte not þe citee for þe which þow haſt ſpokun; hye, and be þow maad ſaf þere, for I ſhal not mow do eny þing to þe tyme þat þow be gon yn þidir. Þerfore þe name of þat citee is clepid Segor. Þe ſunne is gon out vpon þe erþe, and Loþ is gon in to Segor. Þanne þe Lord reynede vpon Sodom and Gomor brenſtoon and fier, fro þe Lord fro heuene, and he ſubuertide þes citees, and al þe regioun about, alle dwellerys of citees, and alle growynge þingis of þe erþe. And þe wijf of hym, biholdynge bihynde her, was turned into an ymage of ſalt. Abraham forſoþe aryſynge eerly, where he ſtode biforehond wiþ þe Lord, bihelde Sodom and Gomor, and al þe erþe of þat regioun; and ſaw a multitude of ſparkis ſteiynge vp fro þe erþe, as ſmook of a furneys. Whan forſoþe God had ſubuertid þe citees of þat regioun, he recordide of Abraham, and dylyueride Loþ fro þe ſubuerſioun of citees in whiche he had dwellid. And Loþ ſtiede vp fro Segor, and dwellid in þe hil, and hys two dowȝtris wiþ hym, forſoþe he dredde to dwel in Segor; and he dwellide in a ſpelunc, or a den, he and his two dowȝterys wiþ hym. And þe more ſeide vnto þe leſſe, Our fadir is old, and noon of þe men is left in þe lond, þat myȝten gon into vs, after þe maner of al londe; come, and make we hym drunkun wiþ wyne, and ſlepe we wiþ hym, þat we mown kepe þe ſeed of oure fadir. And ſo þei ȝauen to her fadir to drynk wyne þat nyȝt, and þe more was gon yn, and ſlept wiþ þe fadir; and he felide noþer whan þe dowȝter ley down, ne whan ſhe aroos. And þe toþer day þe more ſeide to þe laſſe, Lo! ȝiſtirday I ſlept wiþ my fadir, ȝyue we hym to drynk wyne alſo þis nyȝt, and þow ſhalt ſlepe wiþ hym, þat we ſauen þe ſeed of oure fadir. And þei ȝauen alſo þat nyȝt to her fadir wyne for to drynk, and þe leſſe gon ynne ſlept wiþ hym; and noþer þan forſoþe he felide whan he lay bi hir, or whan ſhe aroos. Þanne conſeyueden þe two dowȝtris of Loþ of her fader. And þe more bare a ſone, and clepide þe name of hym Moab; he is þe fadir of Moabytes vnto þe day þat is now. And þe leſſe bare a ſone, and clepid þe name of hym Amon, þat is, þe ſone of my puple; he is þe fadir of Amonytes ȝit to þis day.

Capitulum XX.

Abraham þens gon into þe ſowþ londe, dwellide bitwix Cades and Sur, and he was pilgrym in Gererys; and he ſeide of Sara, his wijf, My ſiſtyr ſhe is. Þanne ſende Abymalech, þe kyng of Gerere, and toke hyr. God forſoþe com to Abymalech bi ſweuyn in þe niȝt, and ſeide to hym, Lo! þow ſhalt die, for þe wijf þat þow haſt takun, for ſhe haþ a man. Abimalech forſoþe had not towchid hir, and ſeiþ, Lord, wheþer an vnkunnynge folk of kynde and a ryȝtwys þow ſhalt ſlee? Seide he not to me, my ſiſtir ſhe is, and ſhe ſeiþ, my broþer he is? In ſymplenes of myn herte, and clennes of myn hondis I dide þis. And þe Lord ſeide to hym, I knowe þat þurȝ ſymplenes of herte þow didiſt, and þerfor Y kepte þee, þat þow ſhuldiſt not ſynne in me, and I ſuffryde not þat þow ſhuldiſt towche hyr; now þanne ȝelde þe wijf to hir man, for a prophet he is; and he ſhal preie for þee, and þow ſhalt lyue; if ſoþeli þow wolt not ȝeldyn, wite þow þat þurȝ deeþ þow ſhalt die, þow and alle þat ben þin. And anoon of þe nyȝt ryſynge, Abimalech clepide alle his ſeruauntis, and ſpake alle þes wordis in þe eeris of hem; and alle men dredden hem greetli. Abymalech forſoþe clepide alſo Abraham, and ſeide to hym, What haſt þow don to vs? what han we ſynned in þee, for þow haſt brouȝt ynne vpon me and vpon my rewme a greet ſynne? þingis þat þow ſhuldiſt not do þow haſt don to vs. And eftſonys aſkynge ſeiþ, What haſt þow ſeen þat þat þow ſhuldiſt don? Abraham anſweryde, I þouȝte wiþ my ſilf, ſeiynge, perauenture þe drede of God is not in þis place, and þei ſhal ſle me for my wijf; ellis forſoþe and verreili my ſiſter ſhe is, þe dowȝter of my fadir, and not þe dowȝter of my modir; and I toke her into a wyif; and ſiþ God led me out fro þe hows of my fadir, I ſeide to hir, Þis mercy þow ſhalt do wiþ me in al place to which we ſhulen go to; þow ſhalt ſey, þat þi broþer Y am. Þanne Abymalech toke ſheep, and oxen, and ſeruauntis, and handmaydens, and ȝaue to Abraham; and ȝildide to hym Sara, his wijf, and ſeiþ, Þe lond is bifore ȝow; where euer it ſhal pleſe to þee, dwel. And to Sara he ſeide, Lo! a þowſynd pens of ſiluer I haue ȝouun to þi broþer; þis ſhal be to þee into veyl of eyen to alle þat ben wiþ þee; and whidir euer þow ſhalt gon, haue mynde þee otaken. Abraham forſoþe preiynge, God helide Abymalech, and wijf, and hand maydenes of hym, and beren child; God forſoþe had cloſid al þe womb of þe hows of Abymalech, for Sara, Abrahams wijf.

Capitulum XXI.

God forſoþe viſitide Sara, as he had bihiȝt, and fulfillide þat þat he ſpak. And ſhe conſeyuede, and bare a ſone in hir elde, in þe tyme þat God bifore ſeide to hir. And Abraham clepide þe name of his ſone, whom gat to hym Sara, Yſaac. And he circumſidide hym þe eiȝte day, as God had comaundid hym, whan he was of an hundrid wynter; þis forſoþe age of þe fadir Yſaac was born. And Sara ſeide, Þe Lord haþ lawyng maad to me, and who ſo euer ſhal here ſhal wiþ lawe to me. And eft ſhe ſeiþ, Who to heren ſhulde leue Abraham, þat Sara ſhulde ȝyue a child to ſowk, whom ſhe bare to hym now oold? Þanne þe child growide and was don awey fro ſowkyng; and Abraham made a greet feeſt, in þe day of þe wanyng of hym. And whan Sara had ſeen þe ſone of Agar Egipcian pleiynge wiþ Yſaac, hir ſone, ſhe ſeide to Abraham, Þrow out þis hand mayden, and þe ſone of hir; þe ſone of þe hand mayden ſhal not be eyre wiþ my ſone Yſaac. Hard toke þat Abraham for his ſone; to whom God ſeide, Sharp be it not ſeen to þee vpon þe child, and vpon þi hand mayden; alle þingis þat Sara ſhal ſeye to þee, here þe voys of hir, for in Yſaac ſhal be clepid ſeed to þee; but and þe ſone of þe handmaydyn I ſhal make into a greet folk of kynde, for þi ſeed he is. And ſo Abraham aroos erly, and takynge breed, and a botel of water, leide to þe ſhuldur of hym, and bitoke þe childe, and lefte hir; þe which, whanne he was gon awey, erride in þe wildirnes of Berſabee. And whan þe water in þe botel was doon, ſhe þrewe awey þe child vndir a tree, þat þere was, and ȝede a wey, and ſhe ſet forn aȝens a fer, as myche as a bow may caſt; ſhe ſeide forſoþe, I ſhal not ſe dyinge þe child, and ſittynge aȝens, heuede vp hir voys, and wepte. And þe Lord herde þe vois of þe child, and þe aungel of þe Lord clepide Agar fro heuene, ſeiynge, Agar, what doſt þow? wole þow not drede; God forſoþe haþ herd þe vois of þe child, fro þe place in which he is. Aryſe, and take þe child, and holde þe honde of hym; for into a greet folk I ſhal make hym. And God openede þe eyen of hir, þe whiche ſeynge þe pit of water, ȝede, and fillide þe botel, and ȝaue þe child to drynk; and was wiþ hym, þe whiche wex, and dwellid in wildyrnes, and he was maad a ȝong ſheter, and dwellid in þe deſert of Pharan; and his modir toke to hym a wijf of þe lond of Egipt. Þe ſame tyme ſeide Abymalech, and Phicol, þe prince of his ooſt, to Abraham, God is wiþ þee in alle þingis þat þow doſt; þanne ſwere by God þat þow noye not to me, ne to myn aftir comers, and to my lynage; but after þe mercy þat I haue do to þee, do þow to me, and to þe loond in which þow haſt dwellid comelyng. And Abraham ſeide, I ſhal ſwere. And he blamyde Abymalech for þe pit of water, þe which þurȝ force token a wey þe ſeruauntis of hym. And Abymalec anſwerid, I wiſte not who dide þis þing, but and þow ſhewediſt not to me, and I herde not forto to day. And ſo Abraham toke ſheep, and oxen, and ȝaue to Abymalech, and boþe þei ſmyten a boond of pees. And Abrahame ordeynede ſeuene ſhe lambis of þe flok aſyde. To whom ſayde Abymalech, What to hem wilne þes ſeuen ſhe lambis, þe which þow haſt maad ſtoond aſyde? And he, Seuen, he ſeiþ, ſhe lambis þow ſhalt take of myn honde, þat þei be into witnes to me, for I deluyde þis pit. Þerfore þis place was clepid Berſabee, for þere eiþir ſwore, and ȝeden in couenaunt of pees for þe pitt of oþe. Abymalech forſoþe aroos, and Phicol, þe prince of his chyualrye, and turneden aȝen into þe loond of Paleſtynes. Abraham forſoþe plauntide a wode in Berſabee, and inwardli clepide þere þe name of euerlaſtynge God; and was a tilier of þe erþe of Paleſtynes many dayes.

Capitulum XXII.

Aftyr þat þes þingis weren doon, God temptide Abraham, and ſeide to hym, Abraham! Abraham! He anſweride, I am nyȝ. He ſeide to hym, Tak þin oonli gotun ſone, whom þow loueſt, Yſaac, and go into þe loond of viſioun, and þere offre hym into ſacrifice al brent, vpon oon of þe hillis whiche I ſhal ſhewe to þee. Þanne Abraham on þe nyȝt wiþ ryſynge, diȝte his aſſe, ledynge wiþ hym two ȝong men, and Yſaac his ſone; and whanne he had hewid his wode into brent ſacrifice, he ȝede to þe place which comaundide hym God. And þe þrid day, þe eyen heued vp, he ſawe a place a feer; and ſeide to his children, Abydiþ here wiþ þe aſſe, I and þe child vnto þidir goynge, aftir þat we han onowryd, we ſhulen com aȝen to ȝow. And he toke þe wode of þe ſacrifice, and putte vpon Yſaac, his ſone; he forſoþe bare in his hondis fier, and a ſwerd. And whanne þei two ȝeden to gideris, ſeide Yſaac to his fadir, My fadir! And he anſweride, What wilt þow, ſone? Lo! he ſeiþ, fier and wode, where is þe ſacrifice of þat þat ſhal be brent? Abraham ſeide, God ſhal puruey to hym, my ſone, þe ſacrifice of þat þat ſhal be brent. Þanne þei ȝeden togider, and comen to þe place whom God ſhewide to hym, in þe which he bildide an auter, and aboue made þe wode; and whan he had boundun Yſaac, his ſone, he putte hym in þe auter, vpon þe heep of wode. And he ſtrawȝte his honde, and toke þe ſwerd, þat he myȝt offre his ſone. And loo! þe aungel of þe Lord fro heuene cryede, ſeiynge, Abraham! Abraham! Þe whiche anſweride, I am nyȝ. And he ſeide to hym, Strecche þow not þin hond out vpon þe child, and do not eny þing to hym; now I haue knowun þat þow drediſt God, and þow haſt not ſparid to þin one goten ſone for me. Abraham heuede vp his eyen, and ſawe bihynd his bak a weþer amonge þornes, tyed bi þe hornes, whom takynge to offryd brent ſacrifice for þe ſone. And he clepide þe name of þe place, Þe Lord ſeeþ; wherfor ȝit þis day it is ſeid, In þe hil þe Lord ſhal ſe. And þe aungel of þe Lord clepide Abraham eftſonys fro heuene, ſeiynge, Bi my ſylf I ſwore, ſeiþ þe Lord, for þow haſt do þis þing, and þow haſt not ſparid to þin oon gotun ſone for me, I ſhal blis to þee, and I ſhal multiply þi ſeed as ſterris of heuene, and as grauel þat is in þe brenk of þe ſee; þi ſeed ſhal weeld þe ȝatis of his enemyes; and al folk of þe erþe ſhal be bleſſid in þi ſeed, for þow haſt obeiſhid to my vois. And Abraham turnyde aȝen to his children, and ȝede to Berſabee togider, and he dwellide þere. And ſo þes þingis don, it was told to Abraham, þat Melcha forſoþe had getun ſones to Nachor, his broþer; Hus, þe fyrſt getun, and Buz, þe broþir of hym, and Chamuel, þe fadir of Sirus, and Caſed, and Azan, and Pheldas, and Jedlaphat, and Batuel, of whom Rabecca was born; þes eiȝt gat Melcha to Nachor, þe broþer of Abraham. Þe ſecundarie wijf forſoþe of hym, Roma bi name, bare Thabee, and Gaon, and Thaas, and Maacha.

Capitulum XXIII.

And Sara lyuyde an hundrid and ſeuen and twenti ȝeer, and ſhe was deed in þe citee of Arbee, þat is Ebron, in þe loond of Chanaan; and Abraham cam, þat he myȝte weyl and wepe hir. And whanne he was ryſun fro þe office of þe deed cors, he ſpake to þe ſonys of Heþ, ſeiynge, A comelyng and a pilgrime I am anentis ȝow; ȝyue ȝe to me ryȝt of a biryyng place wiþ ȝow, þat I mow biry ynne my deed. And þe ſones of Heþ anſweriden, ſeiynge, Lord, here vs; þe prince of God þow art anentis vs; in oure choſun berielis birye þi deed, and no man ſhal mow wern þee, but in þe monument of hym þow byrye þi deed. And Abraham aroos, and lowtide þe puple of þe erþe, þe ſones, þat is, of Heþ. And he ſeide to hem, If it pleſe to ȝoure ſoule þat I byrye my deed, here ȝe me, and preye ȝe for me anentis Ephron, þe ſone of Seor, þat he ȝyue to me þe dowble ſpelunk, or caue, þat he haþ in þe vttermore party of his feeld; for þe worþ of money take he it to me bifore ȝow into poſſeſſioun of a ſepulcre. Ephron forſoþe dwellid in þe myddil of þe ſones of Heþ. And Ephron anſweryde to Abraham, alle men herynge þe which ȝede into þe ȝaat of þe cite of hym, ſeiynge, My lord, ſo ſhal it not be, but þow more herkyn þat I ſpeke; þe feeld I take to þee, and þe ſpelunk þat is in yt, preſent þe ſonys of my puple; birye þi deed. Abraham lowtide bifore þe Lord, and þe puple of þe loond, and ſpake to Ephron, ſtondynge aboute þe folk of hym, I biſeche, þat þow here me; I ſhal ȝyue money for þe feeld, take it, and ſo Y ſhal birye my deed in þe feeld. And Ephron anſweryde, My lord, here me, þe erþe þat þow aſkiſt is worþ foure hundryd ſicles of ſiluer, þis is þe pryis bitwix me and þee, but what is þat? birye þi deed. Þe which whanne Abraham had herd, he peyſide þe money þat Ephron had aſkyd, herynge þe ſonys of Heþ, foure hundrid ſiclys of ſiluer, and of preued comune money. And þe feeld ſumtyme of Ephron, in þe which was þe dowble ſpelunk, biholdynge to Mambre, as wel it as þe ſpelunk and alle þe trees of it, in alle þe termes of it bi enuyroun, is confermyd to Abraham into poſſeſſioun, ſeynge þe ſones of Heþ and alle þat entreden þe ȝate of þe cite of hym. And ſo Abraham byriede his wijf Sara in þe dowble ſpelunk of þe feeld, þe which bihelde Mambre; þat is Ebron in þe londe of Chanaan. And þe feeld is confermed, and þe pit þat was in it, to Abraham, into poſſeſſyoun of a monument, of þe ſones of Heþ.

Capitulum XXIIII.

Forſoþe Abraham was oold, and of manye daies, and þe Lord in alle þingis had bliſſid to hym. And he ſeide to þe elder ſeruaunt of his hows, þat was bifore in rulyng to alle þingis þat he had, Put þin hoond vndir myn hip, þat I adiure þee bi þe Lord God of heuene and of erþe, þat þow take not wijf to my ſone of þe dowȝtris of Chananeys, among þe whiche I duelle; but go to þe loond and to my cognacioun, and fro þens take a wijf to my ſone Yſaac. Þe ſeruaunt anſweride, If þe womman wole not com wiþ me into þis loond, wheþer I ſhal lede aȝen þi ſone to þe place, of þe which þow were goon out? Abraham ſeide, Be war, leſt ony tyme þow lede aȝen þider my ſone; þe Lord God of heuene þat toke me fro þe hows of my fadir, and fro þe loond of my birþ, þe which haþ ſpokun to me, and ſwore, ſeiynge, To þi ſeed I ſhal ȝyue þis loond, he ſhal ſend his aungel bifore þee, and fro þens þow ſhalt taak a wijf to my ſone; and if þe woman wole not folow þee, þow ſhalt not be holden to þe oþ; neuerþelater my ſone ne lede þow aȝen þidir. Þanne þe ſeruaunt putte his hoond vndir þe hip of Abraham, his lord, and ſwore to hym vpon þis word. And he tok ten camelis of þe flok of his lord, and ȝede, berynge wiþ hym of alle þe goodis of hym; and goon he ȝede to Meſopotany, to þe citee of Nachor. And whan he had maad þe camelis reſten out of þe wallid town, biſydis a pit of watre, at euen, þat tyme þat womman ben wont to goon out to draw water, ſeide, Lord God of my lord Abraham, Y preye, to day aȝen-com to me, and do mercy wiþ my lord Abraham. Loo! I ſtoond nyȝ þe welle of water, and þe dowȝtres of þe dwellers of þis citee ſhal goon out to draw watyr; þanne þe mayden child, to whom I ſhal ſeye, Bouwe down þi water pot þat I drynke, and ſhe ſhal anſwere, Drynke, but and to þi camels I ſhal ȝyue drynk, ſhe is whom þow haſt bifore ordeyned to þi ſeruaunt Yſaac; and bi þis I ſhal vndurſtond þat þow ſhalt do mercy wiþ my lord Abraham. Ne ȝit fully wiþ ynne hym ſilf he had fulfillid þe wordis, and loo! Rabecca ȝede out, þe dowȝter of Batuel, ſone of Melche, wijf of Nachor, broþer of Abraham, hauynge a water pot in hir ſhulder; a ful ſembly damyſel, and mooſt fayr mayden, and vnknowun to man. She deſcendide forſoþe to þe welle, and had fulfild hir water pot, and was turned aȝen. And þe ſeruaunt ȝede aȝens hir, and ſeide, Ȝyue to me a litle of water to drynk of þi water pot. Þe which anſweride, Drynk, my lord. And anoon ſhe putte down þe water pot vpon hir arm, and ȝaue drynk to hym. And whanne he had drunkun, ſhe addide to, But and to þi camelis I ſhal draw water, to þe tyme þei han drunkun. And ſhe, heldynge out þe water pot into þe water trowis, and rennede aȝen to þe pit, for to draw water, and drawun ſhe ȝaue to alle þe camelis. He forſoþe biheelde her ſtilli, wilnyng to wite wheþer þe Lord had maad his weye welſom, or noon. Þanne after þat þe camelis hadden drunkun, þe man brouȝte forþ goldun eer ryngis, peiſynge two ſicles, and as feel arm ſerclis, peiys of ten ſiclys. And he ſeide to hir, Whos dowȝter art þow? ſhewe þow to me, is þere in þe hows of þi fadir place to dwelle? Þe which anſweryde, Þe dowȝter of Batuel Y am, ſone of Nachor, whom Melcha bar to hym. And ſhe addide, ſeiynge, Of chaf forſoþe and of hey myche þere is at vs, and a large place to dwelle. Þe man bowide hym ſilf, and onouryde þe Lord, ſeiynge, Bliſſid be þe Lord God of my lord Abraham, þe which haþ not takun awey mercy and his ſoþefaſtnes fro my lord, and in riȝt wei haþ fulli lad me into þe hows of þe broþir of my lord. And ſo þe damyſel rennede, and tolde in þe hows of hir modir alle þingis þat ſhe hadde herd. Rabecca forſoþe hadde a broþir, Laban bi name, þe which hiynge ȝede out to þe man, where he was wiþ outen. And whan he had ſeen þe eer ryngis and þe arm ſerclis in þe hondis of his ſiſter, and he hadde herd alle þe wordis of hir tellynge, þes þingis þe man ſpak to me, he com to þe man, þat ſtode biſidis þe camelis, and nyȝ þe welle of water, and ſeide to hym, Go ynne, þow bliſſid of þe Lord; whi ſtondiſt þow wiþ oute? Y haue greiþid þe hows, and þe place to þi camelis. And he ladde hym into þe hows of herbergrye, and unſadelynge diſchargide þe camelis, and ȝaue to hem chaf, and hey, and water for þe camelis fete to be wayſhun, and mennys whiche comen wiþ hym. And þere was ſett brede in his ſiȝt, þe which ſeiþ, Y ſhal not eet, to þe tyme Y ſpeke my wordis. He anſweride to hym, Spek. And he, Þe ſeruaunt, he ſeiþ, Y am of Abraham, and þe Lord haþ bliſſid to my lord ful myche, and he is magnyfied; and he haþ ȝouun to hym ſheep, and oxen, ſiluer, and gold, ſeruauntis, and hand maydens, camelis, and aſſis. And Sara, þe wijf of my lord, haþ born a ſone to my lord in his eeld, and he haþ ȝyuun to hym al þat he had. And my lord haþ adiurid me, ſeiynge, Þow ſhalt not take to my ſone a wijf of þe dowȝtres of Chananeis, in whos loond Y dwel, but þow ſhalt go to þe hows of my fadir, and of my cognacyoun þow ſhalt take a wijf to my ſone. I forſoþe anſweride to my lord, What if þe womman wole not go wiþ me? Þe Lord, he ſeiþ, in whos ſiȝt Y goo, ſhal ſende his aungel wiþ þee, and ſhal make redi þi weye; and þow ſhalt take a wijf to my ſone of my kynredun, and of þe hows of my fadir. Þow ſhalt be ynnocent fro my curſe, whan þow ſhalt com to my nyȝ kyn, and þei ȝyue not to þee. I com þanne to day to þe welle of water, and ſeyde, Þe Lord God of my lord Abraham, if þow haſt maad redy my weye, in þe which now Y go, loo! I ſtonde byſides þe welle of þe water, and þe maydyn þat ſhal goon out to draw watre here of me, ȝyue to me a lytil of water to drynke of þi watre pot, and ſhe ſeye to me, And þow drynke, and Y ſhal draw water to þi camelis, ſhe is þe womman þat þe Lord haþ maad redi to þe ſone of my lord. While þes þingis Y turnede ſtilly wiþ my ſilf, Rebecca aperide, comynge wiþ þe water pot þat ſhe bare in hir ſhuldir; and ſhe deſcendide to þe welle, and drowe water. And Y ſeide to hir, Ȝyf to me a litil to drynk; þe which hiynge dide down hir water pot fro hir ſhulder, and ſeide to me, And þow drynk, and to þi camelis Y ſhal ȝyue drink; and I drank, and ſhe wateryde þe camelis. And I aſkide hir, and ſeide, Whos dowȝter art þow? Þe which anſweryde, Þe dowȝter of Batuel Y am, ſone of Nachor, whom bare to hym Melcha. And ſo I hengide eer ryngis to honoure þe face of hir, and arm ſerclis I putte in þe hondis of hir, and bowid I honowride þe Lord, bliſſynge to þe Lord God of my lord Abraham, þe which haþ ful lad me þe ryȝt weye, þat I ſhulde take þe dowȝter of þe broþer of my lord to þe ſone of hym. Wherfor if ȝe doon mercy and ſoþenes wiþ my lord, ſhewiþ to me; if forſoþe oþer þing pleſiþ, and þat ſeie ȝee, þat Y go to þe ryȝt or to þe left. Laban and Batuel anſweryden, Fro þe Lord þe word is goon out; we mown not out of þe pleſyng of hym ony þing oþir ſpeke wiþ þee. Loo! Rebecca is bifore þee; taak hir, and go, and be ſhe þe wijf of þe ſone of þi lord, as þe Lord haþ ſpokun. Þe which whan þe child of Abraham hadde herd, fallynge down in þe erþe honowrede þe Lord. And veſſelys of ſiluer, and of gold, and cloþis brouȝt forþ, ȝaue hem to Rebecca for ȝifte, and to þe briþeren of hir and to þe modir he offride ȝiftis. And þe feeſt bigun, þei etynge to gideris and drynkynge dwelliden þere. Þe child forſoþe ryſynge eerly, ſpak, Lat me, þat Y go to my lord. Þe briþeren of hir and þe modir anſweryden, Þe mayde child at þe leeſt dwelle ten dayes anentis vs, and aftirward ſche ſhal go. Wiln ȝe not, he ſeiþ, me aȝen-holde, for þe Lord haþ maad redi my weie; late ȝe me, þat Y go to my lord. And þei ſeiden, Clepe we þe maydyn child, and aſke we þe wil of hir. And whan ſhe clepid was comun, þei aſkiden, Wolt þow wiþ þis man go? She ſeide, I ſhal go. Þanne þei leten hir, and Delbora, hir noryſhe, and þe ſeruaunt of Abraham, and þe wiþfolweris of hyr, inwardli preyinge weelſom þingis of her ſiſtyr, and ſeiynge, Oure ſiſtir þou art, growe þow into þowſand þowſandis, and welden þi ſeed þe ȝatis of þin enemyes. Þanne Rebecca and þe damyſels of hir, þe camelis ſteied vp, foleweden þe man, þe which hyinge turnede aȝen to his lord. Þat tyme Yſaac ȝede bi þe weye þat lediþ to þe pit, whos name is of hym lyuynge and ſeiynge; forſoþe he dwellide in þe ſowþ loond. And he was goon out to biþenk in þe feeld, þe day now goon doun; and whan he had houun vp þe eyen, he ſawȝ camelis comynge afer. And Rebecca, Yſaac biholdyd, deſcendide of þe camel, and ſeiþ to þe child, Who is þis man þat comeþ bi þe feeld in aȝen comyng to vs? And he ſeide to hir, He is my lord. And ſhe anoon, takynge a mantel, coueride hir. And þe ſeruaunt alle þingis þat he had doon tolde to his lord Yſaac; þe which led hir wiþ ynne into þe tabernacle of Sara, his modir, and toke hir to wijf; and in ſo mych he louede hir, þat þe ſorowe þat of þe deþ of þe moder felle it ſwagid.

Capitulum XXV.

Abraham forſoþe toke anoþer wijf, Ceþura by name, þe which bare to hym Zamram, and Jexam, and Madan, and Madian, and Jeſboþ, and Sue. And Jexam gat Saba, and Dadan. Þe ſones of Dadan weren Aſſurym, and Latuſim, Laomym. And forſoþe of Madian was ſprongun Epha, and Epher, and Enoch, and Abida, and Eldaa; alle þes þe ſonys of Ceþure. And Abraham ȝaue alle þat he had to Yſaac; to þe ſonys forſoþe of þe ſecoundarye wyues he ȝaue ȝiftis; and he ſeueryde hem fro Yſaac, his ſone, ȝit while he lyuede, to þe eſt plage. And þe dayes of þe lijf of Abraham weren an hundryd and ſeuenti and fyue ȝeir; and failynge he was deed in a good elde, and of greet age, and ful of dayes, and he was gaderyd to his puple. And Yſaac and Yſmael, his ſonys, biryeden hym in þe dowble ſpelunk, þe which is ſet in þe feeld of Ephron, ſone of Seor Eþei, forn aȝens Mambre, þat he bouȝte of þe ſones of Heþ; þere he was byried and Sara his wijf. And after þe obite of hym God bliſſide to Yſaac, his ſone, which dwellid biſidis þe pit of hym liuynge and ſeiynge bi name. Þes ben þe generaciouns of Yſmael, þe ſone of Abrahe, whom bare to hym Agar þe Egipcian, þe ſeruaunt of Sare; and þes þe names of þe ſones of hym, in names and in his generaciouns. Þe firſt gotun of Yſmael, Nabaioþ, þanne after Sedar, and Abdaeel, and Mabſan, and Maſma, and Duma, and Maſſa, and Adad, and Thema, and Ychur, and Naphir, and Cedma. Þes ben þe ſones of Yſmael, and þes þe names, bi caſtelis and towns of hem, þe twelue princis of his lynages. And þe ȝeers of þe lijf of Yſmael ben maad an hundrid and ſeuene and þritti, and faylynge died, and was put to his puple. He dwellid forſoþe fro Euila to Sur, which biholdiþ Egipt hem comyng ynne to þe Aſſyryes; bifore alle his briþeren he died. And þes ben þe generaciouns of Yſaac, þe ſone of Abraham. Abraham gat Yſaac, þe which, whan he was of fourti ȝeer, took a wijf, Rebecca, þe dowȝter of Batuel, of Syre of Meſopotany, þe ſiſter of Laban. And Yſaac preyede þe Lord for his wijf, þer þurȝ þat ſhe was bareyn; þe which herde hym, and ȝaue conceyuyng to Rebecca. But þe litil children in þe womb of hir weren hurtlid to gidere; þe which ſeide, If þus it was to com to me, what nede was to conſeyue? And ſhe ȝede to counſeil þe Lord, þe which anſwerynge, ſeiþ, Two folk ben in þi wombe, and two puplis of þi wombe ſhulen be dyuydid, and a puple a puple ſhal ouercom, and þe moor ſhal ſerue to þe leſſe. Now tyme of beryng was comen, and loo! twynlingis in þe wombe of hir weren foundun. He þat firſt was goon out was brown, and al in maner of a ſkyn rowȝ; and þe name of hym was clepid Eſau. Anoon aftir þe toþer goynge out, helde wiþ his hoond þe forþer parti of his broþer foot; and þerfor ſhe clepide him Jacob. Sixti ȝere was Yſaac whanne þe children weren born. Þe whiche wexen, Eſau was maad a ſleiȝ man of huntyng, and a man erþe tilier; Jacob forſoþe a ſymple man dwelte in tabernaclis. Iſaac louede Eſau, þere þurȝ þat he ete of þe huntingis of him; and Rebecca louede Jacob. Jacob forſoþe hadde ſoþun potage; to whom whan Eſau was comen wery fro þe felde, ſeiþ, Ȝif to me of þis brown ſeþing, for Y am ful wery; for þe which cauſe þe name of hym was clepyd Edom. To whom ſeide Jacob, Sel me þe ryȝtis of þi fyrſt getyng. He anſweride, Loo! I dye, what ſhal profyt to me þe riȝtis of my firſt getyng? Jacob ſeide, Þanne ſweer to me. Þanne Eſau ſwoor, and ſoold þe riȝtis of his firſt getyng. And ſo breed takun and þe ſowil of potage, ete, and dronk, and ȝede forþ, ſettynge at nouȝt þat he hadde ſoold þe riȝtis of his firſte getyng.

Capitulum XXVI.

Hungur forſoþe ſproong vpon þe erþe, after þilk bareynte þat felle in þe daies of Abraham, ȝede Yſaac to Abymalech, þe king of Paleſtynes, in Gerera. And þe Lord apperide to hym, and ſeiþ, Deſend þow not down into Egipt, but reſt þow in þe loond þat I ſhal ſeye to þee, and be pilgrym in it; and I ſhal be wiþ þee, and I ſhal blis to þee; to þee forſoþe and to þi ſeed Y ſhal ȝyue alle þes regyouns, fulfillynge þe oþ þat Y bihiȝt to Abraham, þi fader. And Y ſhal multiplie þi ſeed as ſterrys of heuen, and Y ſhal ȝyue to þin aftir comers alle þes regiouns, and alle folkis of þe erþe ſhulen be bliſſid in þi ſeed, þerþurȝ þat Abraham obeiſhid to my voys, and wolde kepe myn heeſtis and maundementis, and wolde holde my ſeremonyes and lawis. And ſo Yſaac dwelte in Gerarys. Which, whan he was aſkid of þe men of þilk place vpon his wijf, anſweride, My ſiſter ſhe is; forſoþe he dredde to knowlechen þat ſhe was to hym felowſhipte þurȝ mariage, letyng leſt perauenture þei ſhulden ſlee hym for þe fairnes of hir. And whan many dayes weren paſſid, and þere dwellyd, þe kyng Abymalech of Paleſtynes biholdynge þurȝ a wyndow, ſawȝ hym pleiynge wiþ Rebecca, his wiyf. And hym clepid ſeiþ, It is clere þat ſhe is þi wijf; whi haſt þow lyed hir to be þi ſiſtir? He anſweryd, I dredde, leſt Y ſhulde dye for hir. And Abymalech ſeide, Whi haſt þow put blame to vs? Sum man of þe puple myȝte haue ley wiþ þi wijf, and þow haddiſt ynbrouȝt vpon vs a greet ſynne. And he comaundide to alle þe puple, ſeiynge, Who towchiþ þe wijf of þis man, wiþ deþ he ſhal die. Iſaac forſoþe ſowide in þat loond, and he fonde þat ȝeer þe hundryd foold; and God bliſſide to hym. And þe man fel ryche, and he ȝede profytynge and vndurgrowynge to þe tyme þat he was maad hugeli greet. And he hadde poſſeſſiouns of ſheep, and of droues, and of meyne mych. For þat Paleſtynes noiynge to hym, ſtoppiden alle þe pittis þe whiche þe ſeruauntis of his fader Abraham þat tyme hadden doluun, fulfillynge wiþ erþe, in ſo myche þat hym ſilf Abymalech ſeide to Yſaac, Goo awey fro vs, for greetli þow art maad myȝtyer þan we. And he goynge þens, þat he come to þe rennynge watir of Gerare, and dwelle þere, eftſones he deluyde oþer pittis, þe whiche þe ſeruauntis of his fader Abraham delueden, and whom, hym deed, ſumtyme Philiſtiens ſtoppiden; and he clepide hem þe ſame names, in þe whiche þe fader hadde clepid bifore. Þe deluyden in þe rennynge watir, and þei fonden quyk watir. But and þere was ſtriyf of þe ſheepherdis of Gerare aȝenus þe ſheepherdis of Iſaac, ſeiynge, Oure is þe water; wherfor þe name of þe pit of þat þat felle he clepide chalange. And þei delueden anoþir, and for þilk forſoþe þei ſtryuen, and he clepide it enmyteſe. Fro þens goon he deluyde anoþer pit, for which þei ſtryuen not, and ſo he clepide þe name of it breede, ſeiynge, Now God haþ ſprad vs a brood, and he haþ maad growe vpon þe erþe. Forſoþe fro þat place he ſteiȝ vp into Berſabe, where þe Lord aperyde to hym in þat nyȝt, ſeiynge, I am þe God of Abraham, þi fader; nil þou not drede, for I am wiþ þee, and I ſhal bliſſe to þee, and I ſhal multiplie þi ſeed for my ſeruaunt Abraham. And ſo he bildide þere an auter to þe Lord; and inwardli clepid þe name of þe Lord, ſtrawȝte out a tabernacle, and comaundide his ſeruauntis þat þei ſhulden delue pittis. To þe which place whan þei weren comen fro Geraris, Abymalech and Ochoȝat, frendis of hym, and Phichol, þe duyk of knyȝtis, Yſaac ſpak to hem, What ben ȝe comen to me, a man whom ȝe hatiden, and puttiden awey fro ȝow? Whiche anſweriden, We han ſe þe Lord to be wiþ þee, and þerfor we ſeiden, Be þere an oþ bitwix vs, and maak we to gider boond of pees, þat þow do not to vs eny þing of yuel, and as we towchiden no þing of þin, ne han doon þat ſhulde harm þee, but wiþ pees we han laft þee encreeſſid wiþ þe bliſſyng of þe Lord. Þanne he made hem a feeſt; and aftir meet and drynke, aryſynge eerli, þei ſweren to hem ſiluen to gidere; and Yſaac peeſibli laft hem into her place. Loo! forſoþe in þat day comen þe ſeruauntis of Yſaac, tellynge to hym of þe pit þat þei delueden, and ſeiynge, We han foundun watir. Wher of he clepide it plente; and þe name of þe cyte is ſet Berſabee, vnto þe day þat is now. Eſau forſoþe fourti wyntir olde took two wyues, Judiþ, þe dowȝter of Beery Eþei, and Beþſamaþ, þe dowter of Elon, of þe ſame place; þe whiche boþe hadden offendid þe inwitt of Yſaac and Rebecca.

Capitulum XXVII.

Yſaac forſoþe was olde, and his eyen wexen derk, and he myȝte not ſe. And he clepide Eſau, his moor ſone, and ſeide to hym, My ſone! Þe which anſweryde, I am nyȝ. To whom þe fader, Þow ſeeſt, he ſeiþ, þat Y am wexun olde, and vnknowe þe day of my deeþ. Take þin armes, quyuer and bowe, and go forþ oute; and whan þow haſt wiþ huntyng eny þing takun, make to me þerof ſowil, as þow knowe me to wiln, and brynge to me þat I ete, þat my ſoule blis to þee or I dye. Þe which whan Rebecca hadde herd, and he was goon a wey in to þe feeld, þat he fulfille þe heeſt of þe fader, ſhe ſeide to hir ſone Jacob, I herde þi fader ſpekynge wiþ Eſau, þi broþer, and ſeiynge to hym, Brynge to me of þin huntyng, and maak metis, þat I ete, and Y ſhal bliſſe to þee bifore þe Lord or I dye. Now þanne aſſente to my counſeyls, my ſone, and goynge to þe flok, brynge to me two þe beſt kyddis, þat I make of hem meet to þi fader, þe which he eet gladly; þe whiche whan þow bryngiſt yn, and he etiþ, he bliſſe to þee or þan he die. To whom he anſweride, Þow haſt know þat Eſau my broþer is a man ful of heer, and I ſoft; if my fader groop and fele, Y drede leſt he wene me wiln to bigile hym, and brynge on me malyſoun for benyſoun. To whom þe moder, In me be, ſhe ſeiþ, þis maliſoun, my ſone; oonli here my vois, and goynge forþ brynge to þat Y ſeide. He ȝede a wey, and brouȝte to, and ȝaue to his modir. She greiþide meetis, as ſhe knewe þe fader of hym wiln, and wiþ þe cloþis of Eſau ful good, þe whiche anentis hyr ſhe hadde at hoom, ſhe cloþid hym. And ſhe dide about his hondis litel ſkynnes of kiddis, and ſhe forcoueride þe nakid of þe nak; and ȝaue ſowil, and took þe looues þat ſhe hadde ſoþun. Þe whiche þingis brouȝt to, ſeide, Fader myn! And he anſweryde, I here; who art þow, ſone myn? And Jacob ſeide, Y am Eſau, þi firſt getun. Y haue do to þee as þow haſt comaundide me; aryſe, ſit, and eet of myn huntyng, þat þi ſoule bliſſe to me. Eft Yſaac to his ſone, How, he ſeiþ, ſo ſoone fynde þow myȝtiſt, ſone myne? Þe which anſweride, Þe wil of God was, þat ſoone it ſhulde com to me þat I wolde. And Yſaac ſeide, Come nerre hider, þat I towche þee, ſone myn, and proue wheþir þow be my ſone Eſau, or noon. He com nerre to þe fader; and, hym gropid, ſeide Yſaac, Þe vois forſoþe is þe vois of Jacob, but þe hondis ben þe hondis of Eſau. And he knewe hym not, for þe heery hondis expreſſiden þe liknes of þe moor. Þanne blyſſynge to hym, ſeide, Þow art my ſone Eſau? He anſweride, I am. And he, Brynge forþ, he ſeide, to me meetis of þin hunting, ſone myn, þat my ſoule bliſſe to þee. Þe which offryd, whan he hadde eet, alſo and wyyn he offride, þe which drunkun, ſeide to hym, Come nerre to me, and ȝyue to me a coſſe, ſone myn. He com nerre, and coſſyde hym; and anoon þat he felide þe good ſmel of his cloþis, bliſſynge to hym ſeiþ, Loo! þe ſmel of my ſone as þe ſmel of a ful feeld, to þe which þe Lord bliſſide. God ȝyue to þee of þe dew of heuen, and of fatnes of þe erþe, plente of wheet, and of wyyn, and of oyle; and to þee ſeruen puplis, and lowten þee lynagis; be þow þe lord of þi briþeren, and þe ſonys of þi moder be þei bowid bifore þee; who ſhal curſe to þee, be he curſid, and who ſhal blis to þee, wiþ bliſſyngis be he fulfillid. Vnneþ Yſaac had fulfillid þe word, and Jacob goon out, Eſau com, and ſoþen meetis of þe huntyng broute yn to þe fader, ſeiynge, Aryſe, fader myn, and eet of þe huntyng of þi ſone, þat þi ſoule bliſſe to me. And Yſaac ſeide, Who forſoþe art þow? Þe which anſweride, Y am þi firſt getun ſone Eſau. Iſaac wexe adred in a hidows ſtonying, and more þan it may be leuyd wondrynge, ſeiþ, Who is þanne he þat now riȝt brouȝte to me huntyng takun, and Y ete of al bifore þat þow com, and Y bliſſide hym? and he ſhal be bliſſid. Eſau, þe wordis of þe fader herd, roride wiþ a greet crye, and ſtonyed ſeide, Alſo blis and to me, fader myn. Þe which ſeide, Þi broþir com gilyngliche, and took þi bliſſyng. And he ekyde to, Juſtli is þe name of hym clepid Jacob; he forſoþe haþ ſubplauntid me loo! anoþir ſiþe; þe riȝtis of my fyrſt geting biforn he took a wey, and now ſecounde he haþ vnder rauyſhide my benyſoun. And eftſonys to þe fader, And wheþir þow haſt not reſeruyd, he ſeiþ, to me þi bliſſyng? Yſaac anſweryde, Þi lord I haue ordeynyde him, and alle his briþeren I haue vndir ȝockid to þe ſeruyce of hym; wiþ wheet, and wyne, and oyle I haue ſtablid hym; and to þee, ſone myn, after þeſe ouer what ſhal Y doon? To whom Eſau ſeide, Wheþer oonlich o bliſſyng þow haſt fader? And to me Y preie þee þat þow blis; and wiþ a greet ȝowlyng he wepte. Yſaac moued, ſeide to hym, In þe fatnes of þe erþe, and in þe dewe of heuene fro aboue ſhal be þi bliſſyng; þow ſhalt lyue in ſwerd, and to þi broþer þow ſhalt ſerue, and tyme ſhal come whanne þow ſhalt ſhaak out, and lowſe þe ȝok of hym of þi nollys. Þan Eſau euermore hatide Jacob for þe bliſſyng þat þe fader bliſſide to hym, and ſeide in his herte, Þe dayes of weilyng of my fader ſhal come, and I ſhal ſlee Jacob, my broþer. Þes þingis weren tolde to Rebecca, þe which ſendynge and clepynge hire ſone Jacob, ſeide to hym, Loo! Eſau, þi broþer, þretiþ þat he ſlee þee; now þanne, ſone, here my vois, and aryſynge fle to Laban, my broþer, in Aran; and þow ſhalt dwelle wiþ hym a fewe dayes, to þe tyme þat þe woodnes of þi broþer reſte, and þe indignacioun of hym ceeſſe, and he forȝeete þe þingis þat þow haſt doon to hym. Afterward Y ſhal ſende and lede þee fro þens hydir. Whi ſhal Y be priued of eiþir ſone in o day? And Rebecca ſeide to Yſaac, It noieþ me of my lijf for þe dowȝtrys of Heþ; if Jacob ſhal taak a wijf of þe lynage of þis loond, Y nyl not lyue.

Capitulum XXVIII.

And ſo Yſaac clepide Jacob, and bliſſide hym, and comaundide hym, ſeiynge, Wole þow not taak a wijf of þe kynred of Chanaan; but go, and forþpaſſe into Meſopotany of Syry, to þe hows of Batuel, þe fader of þi moder, and taak to þee fro þens a wijf of þe dowȝtris of Laban, þin vnkle. God forſoþe Almyȝti bliſſe to þee, and make þee growe, and multiplie, þat þow be into þe cumpanyes of puplis; and ȝyue he to þee bliſſyngis of Abraham, and to þi ſeed aftir þee, þat þow haue þe loond of þi pilgrimage, þe which he haþ bihoot to þi graunſire. And whan Yſaac had laft hym, he forþpaſſid com into Meſopotanye of Syre, to Laban, þe ſone of Batuel Siry, þe broþer of Rebecca, his moder. Seynge forſoþe Eſau þat his fader hadde bliſſid to Jacob, and hadde ſent hym into Meſopotany of Syry, þat fro þens he ſhulde taak hym a wijf, and þat aftir þe bliſſyng he hadde comaundid hym, ſeyynge, Þow ſhalt not taak a wijf of þe dowȝtrys of Canaan; and þat Jacob obeiſhynge to his fader and moder ſhulde go into Syrye; and prouynge þat his fader wolde not gladli biholde þe dowȝtris of Chanaan, ȝede to Yſmael, and took a wijf, wiþ out hem þat he hadde byfore, Melech, þe dowter of Yſmael, ſone of Abraham, þe ſiſter of Naboiot. Þanne Jacob, goon out to Berſabee, ȝede to Aran. And whan he was comun to a maner place, and he wolde reſt in it after þe ſunne goyng down, took of þe ſtonys þat lyen, and vnderputting to his heed, ſlepte in þe ſame place. And he ſawȝ in his ſlepis a laddre ſtondynge vpon þe erþe, and þe heiȝt of it towchynge heuene, and aungels forſoþe of God ſteiynge vp and goynge down bi it, and þe Lord cleuynge to þe ladder, ſeiynge to hym, Y am þe Lord God of Abraham, þi fader, and God of Yſaac; þe loond in which þow ſlepiſt Y ſhal ȝyue to þee, and to þi ſeed. And þi ſeed ſhal be as þe powdre of þe erþe, þow ſhalt be ſprad a brode to þe eſt, and weſt, and norþ, and ſowþ; and alle lynagis of þe erþe ſhulen be bliſſid in þee and þi ſeed. And Y ſhal be þi keper, whidir euer þow goſt; and Y ſhal brynge þe aȝeyn into þis loond, ne Y ſhal not leeue forto Y fulfille alle þe þingis þat Y ſeide. And whan Jacob was wakun of þe ſleep, ſeide, Forſoþe þe Lord is in þis place, and Y wiſte not. And dredynge ſeide, Howe feerful is þis place! Here is noþer but þe hows of God, and þe ȝaat of heuene. Aryſynge þanne eerly, took þe ſtoon, þe which he hadde vnderput to his heed, and areryde into a ſigne of worſhip, heeldynge oyle aboue. And he clepide þe name of þe cyte Beþel, þat bifornhoond was clepid Luza. And he a vowide a vowe, ſeiynge, If God were wiþ me, and kepide me in þe weye bi which Y goo, and ȝyue me looues to etun, and clooþ to be cloþid, and ſhal be turned aȝen welſumly to þe hows of my fader, þe Lord ſhal be to me into God. And þis ſtoon, þat I haue areryde into a ſigne of worſhip, ſhal be clepid þe hows of God; and of alle þingis þat þow ſhalt ȝyue to me Y ſhal offer dymes to þee.

Capitulum XXIX.

Jacob þanne forþ goon, cam into þe eſt loond. And he ſawȝ a pit in þe feeld, and þre flockis of ſheep liggynge biſidis it; for of it beeſtis weren wateryd, and þe mouþ of it was cloſid wiþ a greet ſtoon. And þe maner was, þat alle þe ſheep gaderyd to gidir, men ſhulden turne vp þe ſtoon, and, þe flockis fulfillid, eftſones þei ſhulden putte vpon þe mouþ of þe pit. And he ſeide to þe ſheepherdis, Breþeren, whens be ȝe? Þe whiche anſweriden, Of Aran. Whom aſkynge, Wheþir, he ſeide, knowe ȝe Laban, þe ſone of Nachor? Þei ſeiden, We han knowun. Wheþir is he, he ſeiþ, hool? Þei ſeiden, He fariþ wel; and loo! Rachel, þe dowȝter of hym, com wiþ his flok. And Jacob ſeyde, Aboue þere is ȝit myche of þe day, ne tyme is þat flockys ben ladde aȝen to þe fooldis; ȝyueþ bifore drynke to þe ſheep, and ſo lede ȝe hem aȝen to þe paſture. Þe whiche anſweryden, We mowen not, to þe tyme þat alle beeſtis ben gaderyd togider, and we mouen awey þe ſtoon fro þe mowþ of þe pit, þat we watren þe flok. Ȝit þei ſpeken, and loo! Rachel com wiþ þe ſheep of hir fader; for ſhe fedde þe flok. Whom whanne Jacob hadde ſeen, and wiſte hir his vnkil dowȝter, and þe ſheep of Laban his vnkle, he mouede awey þe ſtoon wiþ which þe pit was cloſid; and þe flok watered, he kiſſide hir, and wiþ areryd voys ſhe wepte. And he ſhewide to hir þat he was þe broþer of hir fader, and þe ſone of Rebecca; and ſhe hiynge tolde to hir fader. Þe which whan he hadde herd, Jacob, his ſiſter ſone, comen, ȝede aȝen metynge wiþ hym, and clippynge him, and fallynge in coſſis, ladde hym into his hows. Forſoþe þe cauſis herd of his weye, anſweryde, My boon þow art, and my fleiſh. And after þat þe dayes of a moneþ weren fulfillid, he ſeide to hym, Wheþer for þow art my broþer, in veyn þow ſhalt ſerue to me? Sey what of mede þow ſhalt take. He hadde forſoþe two dowȝtrys, name of þe more Lya, þe leſſe forſoþe was clepid Rachel; but Lya was wiþ blerid eyen, Rachel fayr in face, and wiþ ſeemly biholdynge. Whom louynge Jacob, ſeide, I ſhal ſerue to þee for Rachel, þi laſſe dowȝter, ſeuen ȝeer. Laban anſweryde, Betir is þat Y ȝyue hir to þee þan to anoþer man, dwelle wiþ me. Þanne Jacob ſerued for Rachel ſeuen ȝeer, and þei ſemeden to hym fewe dayes for greetnes of loue. And he ſeide to Laban, Ȝyf to me my wiyf, for þe tyme is fulfillid þat Y ſhulde goo yn to hir. Þe which, manye cumpanyes of his frendis clepid to þe feeſt, made þe brydalis, and at euen brouȝte yn to hym Lya, his dowȝter, ȝyuynge an handmayden to þe dowȝter, Zelpha bi name. To whom whan after þe maner Jacob was goon yn, þe morutide doon, ſawȝ Lya, and ſeide to his wyues fader, What is þat þow woldiſt doon? wheþer for Rachel Y ſeruede not to þee? whi vndurputtiſt þow Lya to me? Laban anſweride, It is not of cuſtom in oure place, þat þe leſſe bifore we taken to ſpoſeyls; fulfil þe wike of dayes of þis cowple, and þis forſoþe I ſhal ȝyue to þee for þe werk þat þow art to ſerue to me, ſeuen oþer ȝeris. He aſſentide gladli; and þe wike ouerpaſſid, he took Rachel to wiyf; to whom þe fadir ȝaue a ſeruaunt, Balam. And at þe laſte he vſide þe deſirid ſpoſeyls, put bifore to þe raþer þe loue of hir þat com after, ſeruynge anentis hym ſeuen oþere ȝerys. Þe Lord forſoþe ſeynge þat he diſpiſide Lya, opnyde þe wombe of hir, hir ſiſter bareyne dwellynge. Þe which a conſeyued ſone gat, and clepide þe name of hym Ruben, ſeiynge, Þe Lord haþ ſey my mekenes, now my man ſhal loue me. And eftſonys ſhe conſeyuede, and bare a ſone, and ſeide, For þe Lord haþ ſeen me ben had to diſpiyt, haþ ȝyuun alſo þis to me; and ſhe clepide þe name of hym Symyon. And þe þridde tyme ſhe conſeyuede, and gat anoþer ſone, and ſeide, Now forſoþe myn huſboond ſhal be cowplid to me, þerþurȝ þat I bere to hym þre ſonys; and þerfor ſhe clepide þe name of hym Leuy. Þe ferþ tyme ſhe conſeyuede, and bare a ſone, and ſeiþ, Now I ſhal knowlech to þe Lord; and for þat ſhe clepide þe name of him Juda; and ſhe ceeſſide to bere chyld.

Capitulum XXX.

Seynge forſoþe Rachel þat ſhe was wiþouten fruyt of wombe, enuyede to þe ſiſtir, and ſeide to þe huſboond, Ȝyf to me free childryn, ellis Y ſhal dye. To whom wrooþ Jacob anſweride, Wheþer for a God Y am, þe which haue priuede þee þe fruyt of þi wombe? And ſhe, I haue, ſhe ſeide, a ſeruaunt, Balam, goo yn to hir, þat ſhe bere vpon my kneen, and I haue of hir ſones. And ſhe ȝaue to hym Balam into maryage; þe which, þe man goon yn to hir, conſeyuede, and bare a ſone. And Rachel ſeide, Þe Lord haþ ſhewid me, and he haþ herd my vois, ȝyuynge to me a ſone; and þerfor ſhe clepide þe name of hym Dan. And eftſones Bala conſeiuinge, bare anoþer, for þe which ſeide Rachel, Þe Lord haþ compariſownd me wiþ my ſiſter, and I haue recouered; and ſhe clepide hym Neptalym. Lya felynge þat ſhe had laft for to bere children, ſhe took to þe huſboond Zelpha, hir handmayden. Þe which aftir conſeyuynge bryngynge forþ a child, ſeide, Gracyouſly; and þerfor ſhe clepide þe name of hym Gad. And Zelpha bare anoþir, and Lya ſeide, Þat for my blisfulnes; forſoþe alle wymmen ſhulen ſey me blisful; þerfor ſhe clepide hym Aſer. And Ruben goon out in tyme of wheet herueſt into þe feeld, fonde mandraggis, þat he brouȝte to Lya, þe moder. And Rachel ſeide, Ȝyue me parte of þe mandraggis of þi ſone. She anſweride, Ne ſemiþ it to þee a litil, þat þow haſt bifore takun þe huſbond to me, but alſo þe mandraggis of my ſone þow taak? And ſhe, Slep he wiþ þee þis nyȝt for þe mandraggis of þi ſone. And to Jacob comynge aȝen at euen fro þe feeld Lya was goon out into þe aȝencomyng of hym, and ſeiþ, To me, ſhe ſeiþ, þow ſhalt come yn, for þurȝ mede I haue hyryde þee for þe mandraggis of my ſone. He ſlepte wiþ hir þat nyȝt; and God herde þe preiers of hir, and ſhe conſeyuede, and bare þe fift ſone; and ſeiþ, God haþ ȝeuun mede to me, for I haue ȝouun myn handemaiden to my man; and ſhe clepide þe name of hym Yſachar. Eftſonys Lya conſeyuynge bare þe ſixte ſone, and ſeiþ, Þe Lord haþ enrychide me wiþ a good dower; alſo þis while wiþ me ſhal be myn huſboond, þerþurȝ þat Y haue getun to hym ſixe ſones; and þerfor ſhe clepide þe name of hym Zabulon. After whom ſhe bare a dowȝter, Dyne bi name. And þe Lord, recordid of Rachel, herde hir, and openyde þe wombe of hir. Which conſeyuede, and bare a ſone, ſeiynge, God haþ doon awey my reprofe; and ſhe clepide þe name of hym Joſeph, ſeiynge, Þe Lord adde to me anoþer ſone. Joſeph forſoþe born, Jacob ſeide to his wyues fader, Lat me þat Y go aȝen into my cuntre, and to my loond. Ȝyue to me wyues, and my free children, for þe whiche I haue ſeruede þee, þat I goo; þow forſoþe haſt knowe þe ſeruyſe þat I haue ſeruyde to þee. Laban ſeide to him, Shal I fynde grace in þi ſiȝt, þurȝ experyens Y haue lernyd for God haþ bliſſid to me for þee; ordeyn þi mede þat Y ȝyue to þee. And he anſweryde, Þou haſt knowe what maner Y haue ſeruede to þee, and þi poſſeſſioun how myche was in myn hondis; a litil þow haddiſt bifore þat I com to þee, and now þow art maad ryche, and God haþ bliſſid to þee at myn yncomyng; þanne it is riȝtful þat ſumtyme alſo Y puruey to myn hows. And Laban ſeide, What ſhal Y ȝyue to þee? And he ſeiþ, Y wole noþing, but if þow doſt þat I aſke, eft I ſhal feede and kepe þi beeſtis. Turne abowt alle þi flockis, and ſeuer alle þi ſpeckid ſheep, and wiþ ſpeckyd fleſe, and what euere ȝolow, and ſpeckid, and dyuerſe colourid were, as wel in ſheep as in geyt, ſhal be my mede. And my riȝtwiſnes ſhal anſwere to morwe, whan tyme of pleſaunce ſhal come bifore þee; and alle þat weren not dyuerſe, and ſpeckid, and ȝalow, as wel in ſheep as in geyt, of þeft þou ſhalt vndirnym me. And Laban ſeide, Agreede Y haue þat þow aſkiſt. And he ſeuerde þat day þe ſhe geyt, and þe ſheep, and þe hyeȝ geyt, and þe weþeres, dyuerſe and ſpotti. And al þe flok of o colour, þat is, of whyet or of blak fleſe, he toke in þe hoond of his ſones; and putte a ſpace of þre daies weye bitwix hem and his dowȝtir huſboond, þe whiche fedden þe toþer flockis of hym. Þanne Jacob takynge green popil ȝerdis, and of almanders, and of planes, a parti vnryendide hem; and riendis drawun awey; in þilke þat weren pilde ſemede whytnes, þilke forſoþe þat weren hool dwelten ſtil green, and ſo in þis maner was maad of dyuerſe colour. And he putte hem in þe water trowes, where þe watyr was held out, þat whanne þe flockis weren comen to drynke, bifore þe eyen þei ſhulden han þe ȝerdis, and in þe ſiȝt of hem þei ſhulden conſeyue. And ſo it was doon þat in þat heet of goynge togidere þe ſheep ſhulden biholde þe ȝerdis, and beere ſpotty, and ſpeckid, and ſpreyned wiþ dyuers colour. And Jacob dyuydide þe flok, and putte þe ȝerdis in þe watyr trowis, bifore þe eyen of þe rammys; forſoþe alle þe whyte and þe blak weren of Laban, þe toþere forſoþe of Jacob, ſeueryd bitwix hem ſilf þe flockis. Þanne whanne þe firſt tyme þe ſheep weren ſteyed vp, Jacob putte þe ȝerdis in þe trowis of watrys, biforn þe eyen of rammys and of ſheep, þat in þe ſiȝt of hem þei ſhulden conſeyue. Whanne forſoþe þe laat comyng togidere of beeſtis weren, and þe laſt conceyuyng tyme, he putte not hem. And þilke þat weren of þe later tyme ben maad of Laban, and þilke of þe fyrſt tyme of Jacob. And þe man is maad ryche wonder myche, and he hadde manye flockis, handmaydenys, and ſeruauntis, camels, and aſſis.

Capitulum XXXI.

After þat he herde þe wordis of þe ſonys of Laban, ſeiynge, Jacob haþ takun alle þat weren of oure fader, and of þe faculte of hym richid is maad noble. And he took hede to þe face of Laban, þat it was not towards hym as ȝiſtirday and þe þrid day hens, mooſt þe Lord ſeiynge to hym, Turne aȝen into þe loond of þi fadrys, and to þi kynred, and Y ſhal be wiþ þee. And he ſente, and clepide Rachel and Lya into þe feeld, where he fedde þe flockis, and he ſeide to hem, Y ſe þe face of ȝoure fader, þat it is not toward me as ȝiſtirday and þe þridde day hens; God forſoþe of my fader was wiþ me. And ȝe han knowun þat wiþ alle my ſtrengþis Y haue ſeruyd to ȝoure fader; but and ȝoure fader haþ comen aboute me, and chaungide my mede ten ſiþis; and neuerþelater God haþ not letun hym þat he ſhulde anoye to me. If oþerwhile he ſeide, Þe dyuers colourid ſhulen be þi medis, alle þe ſheep beren conſeyuyng of dyuers colours; whanne forſoþe aȝenward he ſeiþ, Alle þe whyet þow ſhalt taak for þi mede, alle þe flockis beren whyet; and God haþ taak þe ſubſtaunce of ȝoure fader, and ȝeuen to me. Forſoþe bifore þat þe tyme of conſeyuyng of ſheep com, Y heuede vp myn eyen, and ſawȝ in ſleep þe malis ſteiyng up vpon femalis, varye, and ſpotti, and of dyuers colours. And þe aungel of þe Lord ſeide to me in ſlepe, Jacob! and I anſweride, Y am nyȝ. Þe which ſeiþ, Rere up þin eyen, and ſe alle þe malis ſteiyng up vpon þe femalis, varye, and ſprynklid, and ſpottid; forſoþe Y haue ſeen alle þingis þat Laban haþ doon to þee; Y am God of Beþel, where þow anoyntidiſt þe ſtoon, and þow vowediſt auowe to me. Now þanne aryſe, and goo out fro þis loond, turnynge aȝen into þe loond of þi birþ. And Rachel and Lya anſweryden, Wheþer han we eny þing of reſidewe in faculteis and erytage of þe hows of oure fader? Wheþer as aliens haþ he not holdun vs, and ſoold, and haþ etun oure pryis? But God haþ takun þe richeſſis of oure fader, and ȝeuun hem to vs, and to oure ſonys; wherfor alle þingis þat God comaundiþ to þee, do. Forſoþe Jacob aroos, and þe fre children and his wyues put vpon camels, ȝede awey; and took al his ſubſtaunce, flockis, and alle þingis þat he hadde purchaſid in Meſopotany, goynge to Yſaac, his fader, in þe loond of Chanaan. Þat tyme Laban was goon to þe ſheep þat ſhulden be clippid, and Rachel hadde ſtolne þe mawmetis of hir fadir. And Jacob nolde knowleche to his wyues fader, þat he wolde flee; and whanne he was goon, boþe he and alle þingis þat weren of his riȝt, and þe flode paſſid ouer ſhulde go aȝens þe hil of Galaad, it was tolde to Laban, þe þridde day, þat Jacob fleeiȝ. Þe which, his briþeren takun wiþ hym, purſuede hym ſeuen dayes, and ouertook hym in þe hil of Galaad. And he ſawȝ in his ſleep þe Lord ſeiynge to hym, Be war leſt eny þing ſharply þow ſpeek aȝens Jacob. And now Jacob hadde ſtrauȝte a tabernacle in þe hil; and whan he hadde takun hym wiþ his briþeren, in þe ſame hil of Galaad, he ficchide a tent; and he ſeide to Jacob, Whi didiſt þow þus, þat biſyde me þow dryue awey my dowȝtris as caytyues wiþ ſwerde? Whi vnwitynge me woldiſt þow fle, ne ſhewe to me, þat Y myȝte forþ folwe þee wiþ ioye, and ſongis, and tympans, and harpis? Þow ſuffrediſt not þat Y myȝte kiſſe my ſones and dowȝtris; folily þow haſt wrouȝt. And now forſoþe myn hoond may ȝeeld to þee yuel, but God of þi fader ȝiſtirday ſeide to me, Be war leſt þow ſpeek wiþ Jacob eny þing harder. And if þow coueytidiſt to goo to þine, and þe hows of þi fadir was in deſiyr to þee, whi haſt þow ſtoln my goddis? Jacob anſweride, Þat þus fro þee I am goon forþ, Y dredde leſt violentli þow ſhuldiſt taak awey þi dowȝtris; þat forſoþe þow vndirnymiſt me of þefte, anentiſt whom euer þow fyndiſt þi goddis, be he ſlaw biforn our briþeren; and ſerch what euer of þi þing anentis me þow fyndiſt, and taak awey. Þes þingis ſeiynge, he knewe not þat Rachel hadde ſtoln þe mawmetis. And ſo Laban, goon into þe tabernacle of Jacob, and Lya, and of eiþer meyne, fonde nouȝt; and whan he was goon yn to þe tentis of Rachel, ſhe hiynge hidde þe mawmetis vndur þe literyng of a camele, and ſat aboue. And to hym, aſerchynge al þe tent and no þing fyndynge, ſhe ſeiþ, Be not, my lord, wroþ þat Y may not aryſe bifore þee, for after þe vſage of wymmen now it is fallun to me; and ſo bigilid is þe biſynes of hym ſechinge. And Jacob ſwellynge, ſeiþ wiþ ſtriyf, For what my treſpas, and for what my ſynne, haſt þow þus fulbrent after me, and haſt enſerchid alle my neceſſaryes of hows? What haſt þow foundun of eny ſubſtawnce of þin hows? Putte þat bifore my briþeren and toforn þi breþeren, and deme þei bitwix me and þee. Þerfor twenti wynter haue I ben wiþ þee? Þi ſhep and þi geit weren not barein, þe weþeris of þi flok Y ete not, ne takun of beeſt I ſhewide to þee; Y al þe harm ȝolde; al þing of þefte þat periſhide, of me þow aſkidiſt; day and nyȝt wiþ hoot and coolde Y was ſtreynyd, and ſleep fleiȝ fro myn eyen; ſo þurȝ out twenti ȝeer in þin hows Y ſeruede to þee, fourtene for þi dowȝtres, and ſixe for þi flockis; forſoþe þow chaungediſt my mede ten ſiþis. But þe God of my fader Abraham, and þe drede of Yſaac hadde ben to me, perauenture nakid now þou haddiſt laft me; myn affliccioun and þe traueil of myn hondis þe Lord bihelde, and vndernam þee ȝiſterday. Laban anſweride to hym, My dowȝtres, and ſones, and þi flockis, and alle þat þow biholdiſt, ben myne, and what may Y do to my ſones, and to my neces? Com þanne, and goo we into couenaunt of pees, þat witneſſe be bitwixe me and þee. And ſo Jacob took a ſtoon, and areryde it into a title, and ſeide to his briþeren, Bryngiþ to ſtoons; þe whiche gederynge togidere, maden an hillok, and eten þer vpon. Þe which Laban clepyde an hillok of witnes, and Jacob an hipil of wytneſſyng; eiþer after þe proprete of his tunge. And Laban ſeide, Þis hillok ſhal be witnes bitwixe me and þee to day, and þerfor þe name of it is clepid Galaad, þat is, þe hillok of witnes. And Laban leide to, Þe Lord biholde, and deme bitwixen vs, whanne we ſhulen goo from vs; if þow turmente my dowȝtres, if þow bryngiſt yn oþer wyues vpon hem, no man of oure word is witnes, ſaue God, þat preſent biholdiþ. And eft he ſeide to Jacob, Loo! þis hillok, and þe ſtoon þat I haue rerid bitwixe me and þee, witnes ſhal be; þis hilloc, and þe ſtoon ben into witneſſyng, if forſoþe I ſhall paſſe it goynge to þee, or þow ouerpaſſiſt yuel to me þenkynge. God of Abraham, and God of Nachor, deme bitwix vs, þe God of þe fader of hem. Þanne Jacob ſwore by þe drede of his fader Yſaac; and, offrid ſlayn ſacrifice in þe hil, he clepide his briþeren þat þei ſhulden eete breed, þe whiche whanne þei hadden etun, dwelten þere. Laban forſoþe at nyȝt aryſynge, kiſſide þe ſones, and his douȝtris, and bliſſide to hem, turnynge aȝen into his place.

Capitulum XXXII.

Jacob forſoþe wente in his weie þat he biganne, and þere weren to hym met aungels of þe Lord. Whom whanne he hadde ſeen, ſeiþ, Þe tentis of God ben þes; and he clepide þe name of þat place Manaym, þat is, tentis. And he ſente forſoþe meſſangeris biforn hym to Eſau, his broþer, into þe loond of Seyr, in þe regioun of Edom; and he comaundide to hem, ſeiynge, Þus ſpek ȝe to my lord Eſau, Þes þingis ſeiþ þi broþer Jacob, At Laban I haue pylgrimagid, and was vnto þe preſent day; I haue oxen, and aſſis, and ſheep, and ſeruauntis, and handmaydens, and I ſende now a meſſage to my lord, þat Y fynde grace in þi ſiȝt. And þe meſſangeris ben comun aȝen to Jacob, ſeiynge, We comen to Eſau, þi broþer, and loo! he goþ into þin aȝen-comyng, wiþ foure hundrid men. Jacob ful myche dred, and afeerd dyuydide his peple þat wiþ him was, þe flockis forſoþe, and ſheep, and oxen, and camels diuydid in two companyes; ſeiynge, If Eſau come to þe too companye, and ſmyte it, þe toþer companye þat is lafte ſhal be ſauyd. And Jacob ſeide, God of my fader Abraham, and God of my fader Yſaac, þow Lord, þat ſeidiſt to me, Turne aȝen into þi loond, and into þe place of þi birþe, and I ſhal wel do to þee, Y am laſſe þan alle þi mercyes, and þi treuþe þat þow haſt fulfillid to þi ſeruaunt; in my ſtaf I haue paſſid þis Jordan, and now wiþ two companyes Y turne aȝen; delyuer me of þe hoond of my broþer Eſau, for greetly Y drede hym, leſt perauenture comynge he ſmyte þe moders wiþ þe children. Þow haſt ſpokun þat þou ſhuldiſt wel do to me, and þat þow ſhuldiſt ſprede abrood my ſeed as þe grauel of þe ſee, þat for multitude may not be noumbred. And whanne he hadde ſlept þere þat nyȝt, he ſeueride of þat þat he hadde ȝiftys to Eſau, his broþer, ſhe geyte two hundrid, hee geyte twenty, ſheepe two hundrid, and weþeris twenti, camels fulle wiþ her coltis þretti, kien fourti, and bullis twenti, ſhe aſſis twenti, and þe coltis of hem ten. And he ſente bi þe hondis of his ſeruauntis eche oon after oþer þe flockis aſide; and he ſeide to his children, Goo ȝe bifore me, and be þere a ſpace bitwixe flok and flok. And he comaundide to þe forþer, ſeiynge, If þow mete my broþer Eſau, and he aſke þee, whos art þow, or whidir þow goſt, or whos ben þes þat þow folwiſt, þou ſhalt anſwere, Of þi ſeruaunt Jacob, ȝiftis he haþ ſent to his lord Eſau, and he comeþ after vs. Þe ſame wyſe he ȝaue maundementis to þe ſecounde, and þe þridde, and to alle þat folweden þe flockis, ſeiynge, In þe ſame wordis ſpek ȝe to Eſau, whanne ȝe fynden hym, and ȝe ſhulen adde, And he þi ſeruaunt Jacob oure weie in folwiþ. He ſeide forſoþe, Y ſhal pleſe hym wiþ ȝiftis þat goon bifore, and afterward Y ſhal ſe hym; perauenture he ſhal be maad pleſid to me. And ſo bifore ȝeden þe ȝiftis bifore hym; he forſoþe dwelte þat nyȝt in tentis. And whanne ſobirly he was aryſun, he toke his two wyues, and as feel ſeruauntis wiþ elleuen ſones, and he ouerpaſſide þe foorþ of Jaboþ. And, ouerladde alle þingis þat to hym perteyneden, he dwelte aloon, and loo! a man wriſtlide wiþ hym vnto þe morwe. Þe which whanne he ſawȝ þat he myȝte not ouercome hym, he towchide þe ſynwe of his hip, and anoon it wexe drye. And he ſeide to hym, Leeue me, forſoþe now vpſteyeþ þe morwetide. He anſweride, I ſhal not leeue þee, but if þow bliſſe to me. Þanne he ſeiþ, What is þe name of þee? He anſweride, Jacob. And he, No more, he ſeiþ, Jacob ſhal be clepid þi name, but Iſrael; for if anentis God þow haſt ben ſtrong, myche more anentis men þow ſhalt haue þe mayſtri. Jacob aſkide hym, Sey to me what name art þow clepid? He anſweride, Wherto aſkiſt þow my name, þat is merueilows? And he bliſſide hym in þe ſame place. And Jacob clepide þe name of þat place Phanuel, ſeiynge, I haue ſeen þe Lord face to face, and my ſoule is maad ſaaf. And anoon is ryſun to hym þe ſunne, after þat he was ouerpaſſid Phanuel; he forſoþe haltide wiþ þe too foote. For what cauſe þe children of Iſrael eten not ſynwe, þat wexe drie in þe hipe of Jacob, vnto þe day þat is now, þerþurȝ þat he towchide þe ſynwe of his hipe, and it was ſtoneyd.

Capitulum XXXIII.

Jacob forſoþe heuynge vp þe eyen ſawȝ Eſau comynge, and wiþ hym foure hundrid men; and he departide þe ſones of Lya, and of Rachel, and of boþ his ſeruauntis. And he putte eiþer handmayden, and þe fre children of hem, in þe bigynnynge; Lya forſoþe in þe ſecounde place, and þe ſones of hyr; Rachel and Joſeph laſte. And he bifore goynge anouride bowide into þe erþe ſeuenſiþes, to þe tyme þat þe broþer of hym ſhulde neiȝ. And ſo Eſau rennynge to meete wiþ his broþer, cleppide hym, and ſtreynynge hys necke and kiſſynge wepte. And þe eyen heued vp, ſawȝ wymmen, and þe children of hem, and ſeiþ, What to hem wiln þes? and if þei perteynen to þee? He anſweride, Litil children þei ben, whom God haþ ȝouun to me, þi ſeruaunt. And neiȝynge þe handmaydens and þe ſones of hem, ben doun bowid. And Lya wiþ hir children com nerre; and whanne þe ſame maner þei hadden anowrned, þe laſte Joſeph and Rachel anowryden. And Eſau ſeide, What forſoþe ben þes companyes þat Y mette? He anſwerde, Þat I ſhulde fynde grace bifore my lord. And he ſeiþ, Y haue many þingis, broþer myne, ben þi þingis to þee. Jacob ſeide, Nyl þow ſo, Y preye, but if Y haue foundun grace in þin eyen, taak a litil ȝift of myn hoondis; ſo forſoþe Y haue ſeyn þi face as Y ſe þe chere of God; be þow to me benygne, and taak þe bliſſyng þat Y haue brouȝt to þee, and þat God delyuerynge alle þingis haþ ȝouun to me. Vnneþ, þe broþer compellynge, takynge ſeiþ, Goo we togideres, and Y ſhal be felowe of þi weye. And Jacob ſeyde, My lord, þow haſt knowun þat Y haue tender litil children, and ſheep, and oxen ful wombe wiþ ynne, þe whiche if more yn goynge Y do to traueyl, þei ſhulen o day alle þe flockis dyen; my lord go bifore his ſeruaunt, and Y ſhal folwe litil mele þe ſteppis of hym, as Y ſe my litil children to mowen, to þe tyme þat Y come to my lord, in Seyr. Eſau anſweride, Y preye þee, þat of þe puple þat is wiþ me, algatis felawis dwellen of þi weye. It is not, he ſeiþ, nede; þis oon oonlich Y nede, þat Y fynde grace in þi ſiȝt, lord myne. And ſo Eſau is turned aȝen þat day in þe weye þat he come, into Seyr. And Jacob com into Sachot, where a hows bild, and þe tentis fycchid, he clepide þe name of þat place Sachot, þat is, tabernaclis. And he paſſide forþ into Salem, þe cite of Sychymor, þat is in þe loond of Chanaan, aftir þat he was turned aȝen fro Meſopotany of Syrye, and dwellide biſydis þe wallid town; and bouȝt a parti of þe feeld, in þe which he ficchide tabernaclis, of þe ſones of Emor, þe fader of Sichym, wiþ an hundrid lombis. And þere, an auter reryd, he inwardly clepide vpon þe mooſt ſtrong God of Iſrael.

Capitulum XXXIIII.

Dyne, þe dowȝter of Lya, forſoþe was goon oute, þat ſhe myȝte ſe wymmen of þat regioun. Whom whanne hadde ſeen Sichym, þe ſone of Emor Euey, þe prince of þat loond, louede hir, and rauyſhide, and ſlepte wiþ hir, wiþ force oppreſſide a mayden. And þe ſoule of hym was glewid wiþ hir, and hir ſory he ſwagide wiþ ſoftneſſis. And he goynge to Emor, his fadir, Tak to me, he ſeiþ, þis damyſele to wijf. Þe which whanne Jacob hadde herd, abſent þe ſones, and in þe foode of þe beeſtis occupied, he heelde his pees, to þe tyme þei comen aȝen. Emor forſoþe, þe fader of Sichem, goon oute, þat he myȝte ſpeke to Jacob, loo! þe ſones of hym comen fro þe feelde. And þe þing herd þat was fallun, þei weren ful wroþ, þerþurȝ þat a fowle þing he hadde wrouȝt in Iſrael, and þe dowȝter of Jacob defowlid, an vnleueful þing hadde fulfillid. And ſo Emor ſpeke to hem, Þe ſoule of my ſone Sichem haþ cleued to ȝoure dowȝter, ȝyueþ hir wijf to hym, and ioyne we togidere maryagis; ȝoure dowȝtres ȝif ȝe to vs, and oure dowȝtres taak ȝe, and dwel ȝe wiþ vs; þe loond is in ȝoure power, excerſiſe ȝe, chaffare ȝe, and haue ȝe it. But and Sichem to þe fader and to þe breþeren of hir ſeiþ, Fynde Y grace bifore ȝow, and what þing ȝe ordeyne Y ſhal ȝyue; eche ȝe dower, and aſke ȝe ȝiftis, gladly Y ſhal ȝyue þat ȝe aſken; oonly ȝyf ȝe to me þis dameſele to wijf. Þe ſones of Jacob anſweriden to Sichem and to þe fader of hym in trechory, waxynge cruel for þe ſtupre of þe ſiſter, We mowen not doon þat ȝe aſken, ne ȝyue oure ſiſter to a man vncircumſidid, þe which is vnleful and wrongful anentis vs. But in þat we mowen ben togidere boundun, if ȝe wole be like vs, and al kynde of maal be circumſidid in ȝow, þanne we ſhulen ȝyue and take togidere oure dowȝtris and ȝouren; and we ſhulen dwelle wiþ ȝow, and we ſhulen be o peple. If forſoþe ȝe wolen not be circumſidid, we ſhulen take our dowȝtres, and goo awey. Þe profre of hem pleſide to Emor and to Sichem, his ſone, ne þe ȝonglyng tariede, but anoon þat þat was aſkid he ſhulde fulfil; forſoþe he louede ful greetli þe damyſele, and he was noble in al þe hows of his fader. And þei goon yn þe ȝate of þe cite, ſpeken to þe puple, Þes men ben peſible, and wolen dwelle wiþ vs; chaffare þei in þe loond, and excerſiſe þei it, þe which large and broode nediþ tyliers; þe dowȝtris of hem we ſhulen take wyues, and oure we ſhulen ȝyue to hem. O þing is þat puttiþ off ſo myche good; if we circumſiden oure males, folwynge þe ryte of þe folk, and þe ſubſtaunce of hem, and þe beeſtis, and al þat þei han ſhulen be ouren; oonli in þat aſſent we, þat dwellynge togidrys we maken o peple. And alle þei ben aſſentid, alle þe malis circumſidid. And loo! þe þridde day, whanne þe ſorwe of þe woundes is mooſt greuows, þe two ſones of Jacob, Symyon and Leuy, þe briþeren of Dyne, drawen to her ſwerdis, ben goon into þe cyte triſtiliche, and ſleyn alle þe males; Emor and Sichem togideres þei ſlewen, takynge Dyne, her ſiſter, fro þe hows of Sichem. Þe which goon oute, þe toþer ſones of Jacob fellen vpon þe ſlayn men, and þei diſtruyden þe cyte, in to vengeaunce of þe ſtupre, þe ſheep of hem, droues, and aſſes, and alle þingis waſtynge, þat in þe howſis and in þe feeldis weren; þe litil children forſoþe, and þe wyues of hem þei ladden cheytiues. Þe whiche þingis ful doon hardilich, Jacob ſeyde to Symyon and Leuy, Ȝe han diſturbid me, and ȝe han maad me haatſum to Chananeis and Phareȝeis, þe dwellers of þis loond; we ben fewe, and þei gederyd to giderys ſhulen ſmyte me, and Y ſhall be doon awey and myn hows. Þei anſweriden, Wheþer as a ſtrumpet þei ſhulden myſuſe oure ſiſtre?

Capitulum XXXV.

The mene tyme þe Lord ſpak to Jacob, Aryſe, and ſtey to Beþel, and dwel þere, and mak an autere to þe Lord, þat aperide to þee whanne þou flowȝ Eſau, þi broþer. Jacob forſoþe, al his hows clepid togidere, ſeiþ, Doþ awey alyen goddis, þat ben in þe mydil of ȝow, and be ȝe clenſid, and chaunge ȝe ȝoure cloþis; riſe ȝe, and ſteye we vp in to Beþel, þat we maken þere an autere to þe Lord, þe which haþ herd me in þe day of my tribulacioun, and was felaw of my weye. Þanne þei ȝyuen to hym alle alyen goddis þat þei hadden, and þe eer ryngis, þat weren in þe erys of hem; and he indeluede hem vndur an þeribynte, þat is bihynde þe cite of Sichem. And whanne þei weren goon, feerde of God ȝede vpon alle þe cytees by enuyroun, and þei weren not hardi to purſue hem awey goynge. Þanne Jacob com to Luzam, þat is in þe loond of Chanaan, Beþel bi name, he and alle þe peple wiþ hym. And he bilde þere an auteer, and clepide þe name of þat place Þe hows of God; þere forſoþe aperyde God to hym, whanne he ſhulde flee his broþer. Þe ſame tyme was deed Delbora, þe noriſch of Rebecca, and was byried at þe rootis of Beþel, vndur an ook, and þe name of þe place is clepid Þe ook of weping. God forſoþe aperyde eftſones to Jacob, after þat he was turnyd aȝen fro Meſopotany of Syrye, and com into Beþel, and bliſſid to hym, ſeiynge, Þow ſhalt no more be clepid Jacob, but Yrael ſhal be þi name. And he clepid hym Yrael, and ſeide to hym, Y God Almyȝti, grow, and be þow multiplied, folke of kynde and peplis of naciouns of þee ſhulen ben, kyngis of þi leendis ſhulen goon oute; þe loond þat Y haue ȝouun to Abraham and Yſaac, Y ſhal ȝyue to þee, and to þi ſeed after þee. And he ȝede a wey fro hym. He forſoþe areride a ſtonen ſigne of worſhip, in þe place þat God ſpeke to hym, ſacrifiynge vpon it ſacrifice of licowres, and heldynge oute oyle, and clepynge þe name of þat place Beþel. And he goon out þens, com in veer tyme to þe loond þat lediþ to Effratam, in þe which whanne Rachel ſhulde bere childe, for þe hardnes of birþ ſhe biganne to periſhe; and þe meedwijf ſeide to hir, Wole þow not drede, for alſo and þis þow ſhalt haue a ſone. Þe ſoule forſoþe goynge oute for ſorwe, and now deeþ fallynge ynne, þe name of hir ſone ſhe clepide Benony, þat is, þe ſone of my ſorwe; þe fader forſoþe clepide hym Beniamyn, þat is, þe ſone of þe riȝt ſide. Þanne Rachel was deed, and was biryed in þe weye þat lediþ to Effratam, þat is Beþleem. And Jacob reyſide a ſigne of preyſing vpon þe ſepulcre of hir; þis is þe title of þe monument of Rachel vnto þe preſent day. He goon out þens ficchide a tabernacle ouer þe towre of þe flok. And whanne he ſhulde dwelle in þat regioun, Ruben ȝede, and ſlepte wiþ Bala, þe ſecundarye wijf of his fader, þat to hym was not vnwiſt. Forſoþe þe ſones of Jacob weren twelue; þe ſones of Lia, þe firſt gotun Ruben, and Symyon, and Leuy, and Judas, and Yſachar, and Zabulon; þe ſones of Rachel, Joſeph, and Beniamyn; þe ſones of Bale, þe ſeruaunt of Rachel, Dan, and Neptalym; þe ſones of Zelphe, þe handmayden of Lye, Gad, and Aſer. Þes þe ſones of Jacob, which ben born to hym in Meſopotanye of Syrye. He cam alſo to Yſaac, his fadyr, into Mambre, þe cyte of Arbee, þis is Ebron, in þe which pilgrimagid Abraham and Yſaac. And fulfillid ben þe dayes of Yſaac an hundryd and eiȝti of ȝeris; and endid þurȝ age is deed, and he is put to his peple, olde, and ful of dayes; and biryeden hym Eſau and Jacob his ſones.

Capitulum XXXVI.

Thes forſoþe ben þe generaciouns of Yſau; he is Edom. Eſau took wyues of þe dowtres of Chanaan, Ada, þe dowȝter of Elom Eþei, and Oolibama, þe dowȝter of a ſone of Sebeon Euehi, and Beþſemaþ þe dowȝter of Iſmael, þe ſiſtir of Nabaioþ. Ada forſoþe bare Eliphat; Baþſemaþ gat Rahuel; Oolibama gat Hyeus, and Hielon, and Chore. Þes þe ſones of Eſau, þat weren born to hym in þe loond of Chanaan. Eſau forſoþe took his wyues, and ſones, and dowȝtres, and al þe ſoule of his hows, and ſubſtaunce, and beeſtis, and al þat he myȝte haue in þe loond of Chanaan, and ȝede into anoþir regioun, and wente awey fro Jacob his broþer; forſoþe ryche þei weren greetli, and togidere dwellen myȝten not, and þe loond of þe pilgrimage of hem ſuſteynede hem not, for þe multitude of flockis. And Eſau dwelte in þe hil of Seyr; he is Edom. Þes forſoþe ben þe generaciouns of Eſau, fader of Edom, in þe hil of Seyr, and þes þe names of þe ſones of hym. Eliphaþ, þe ſone of Ada, wijf of Eſau, and Rahuel, þe ſone of Baþſemaþ, wijf of hym. And þe ſones of Eliphat weren, Cheman, Emaþ, Sephu, Gatan, Ceneþ, and Chore. Tanna forſoþe was þe ſecundarie wiyf of Elipaþ, ſone of Eſau, þat bare to hym Amalech. Þes ben þe ſones of Ada, wijf of Eſau. Þe ſones forſoþe of Rahuel, Naaþ, and Ara, Semma, and Mera. Þes þe ſones of Baþſemaþ, wijf of Eſau. And þes weren þe ſones of Oolibama, dowȝter of Ane, ſone of Sebeon, wiyf of Eſau, whom ſhe get to hym; Hyeus, and Hielon, and Chore. Þes þe dukis of þe ſones of Eſau; þe ſones of Elyphaþ, þe firſt getun of Eſau, duke Theman, duke Omar, duke Sephua, duke Seneþ, duke Chore, duke Datan, duke Amelech. Þes þe ſones of Eliphaþ, in þe loond of Edom, and þes þe ſones of Ade. And þes þe ſones of Rahuel, ſone of Eſau, duke Naaþ, duke Zara, duke Semma, duke Mera; þes forſoþe dukis of Rahuel, in þe loond of Edom. Þes þe ſones of Baþſemaþ, wijf of Eſau. Þes forſoþe þe ſones of Oolybama, wijf of Eſau; duke Hyeus, duke Hyelon, duke Chore; þes þe dukis of Oolibama, dowȝter of Anee, wijf of Eſau. Þes ben þe ſones of Eſau, and þes þe dukes of hem; he is Edom. Þes ben þe ſones of Seyr Horrey, þe dwellers of þe loond, Joþan, and Sobal, and Sebeon, and Anam, and Dyſon, and Eſer, and Dyſan; þes þe dukis of Horrei, ſones of Seyr, in þe loond of Edom. Þe ſones forſoþe of Joþan ben maad, Horrey, and Theman; forſoþe þe ſiſter of Joþan was Thanna. And þes þe ſones of Sobal; Aluan, and Maneeþ, and Ebal, Sephi, and Onam. And þes þe ſones of Sebeon; Achaia, and Ana; þis is Ana, þat fonde hoot watris in wildernes, whanne he fedde þe ſhe aſſis of Sebeon, his fadir; and he hadde a ſone Dyſan, and a dowȝter Oolibama. And þes þe ſones of Dyſan; Amdam, and Jeſban, and Jetran, and Charan. And þes þe ſones of Heſar; Baalan, and Zauan, and Acham. And Dyſan hadde ſones, Hus, and Haran. Þes þe dukis of Horreis; duke Joþan, duke Sobal, duke Sebeon, duke Ana, duke Dyſon, duke Heſer, duke Dyſan; þes þe dukis of Horreis, þat comaundeden in þe loond of Seyr. Þe kyngis forſoþe þat regneden in þe loond of Edom, or þat þe children of Yrael hadden a kyng, weren þes; Balach, þe ſone of Beor, and þe name of his cyte Denaba. Balach forſoþe died, and for hym regned Jobab, þe ſone of Zare of Boſra. And whanne Jobab was deed, regnede for hym Huſam of þe loond of Thamaus. Þis forſoþe deed, regnede for hym Adad, þe ſone of Badady, þe which ſmote Madyan in þe regioun of Moab, and þe name of þe cite of hym Abyuþ. And whanne Adad was deed, regnede for hym Semla of Maſarech. And þis deed, regnede for hym Saul of þe flood of Robooþ. And whanne and þis was deed, folwide into þe kyngdom Balaanan, þe ſone of Achobor. And þis deed, regnede for hym Adad, and þe name of þe cite of hym Phoa, and þe wijf of hym was clepid Meeſabel, þe dowȝter of Maþret, dowȝter of Meſaab. Þes þanne þe names of þe dukis of Eſau, in kynredis, and places, and her names; þe duke Thanna, þe duke Alua, þe duke Jezeþ, þe duke Oolibama, duke Ela, duke Phynon, duke Zeneþ, duke Theman, duke Mabſar, duke Madiel, duke Yram; þes þe dukys of Edom, þe dwellers in þe loond of his empire; he is Eſau, þe fader of Ydumeis.

Capitulum XXXVII.

Jacob forſoþe dwelte in þe loond of Chanaan, in þe which his fader pilgrimagide; and þes ben þe generaciouns of hym. Joſeph whanne he was of ſextene ȝeer fedde a flok wiþ his breþeren, ȝit a childe, and he was wiþ þe ſones of Bale and of Zelphe, wyues of his fader; and he accuſide his breþeren anentis þe fader of þe werſt ſynne. Yrael forſoþe louede Joſeph ouer alle his ſones, þerþurȝ þat in elde he hadde getun hym; and he made hym a coote of dyuerſe colours. And þe breþeren of hym ſeynge þat of þe fader more þan alle þe ſones was loued, hatiden hym, and myȝten not to hym eny þing peſebli ſpeken. And it felle, þat a ſeen ſweuen he tolde to his briþeren, þe which cauſe was ſeed of more haat. And Joſeph ſeide to his briþeren, Here ȝe my ſweuen þat Y ſawȝ, I wenede vs to bynden hondfullis in þe feelde, and myn hondful as to ryſe, and ſtonde, and ȝoure hondfullis ſtondynge al aboute to loute myn hondful. And þe briþeren of hym anſweriden, Wheþer þow ſhalt be oure kyng, oiþer we ſhal be vndirloute to þi bidding? Þis þanne cauſe of ſweuenes and of wordis mynyſtride noriſhynge of enuye and of haate. And anoþer ſweuen he ſawȝ, þat tellynge to his briþeren, ſeiþ, I ſawe bi dreem as þe ſunne, and þe mone, and þe elleuen ſterrys to lowtun me. Þat whan to his fader and briþeren he hadde tolde, blamede hym his fader, and ſeide, What to it ſilf wole þis ſweuen þat þow haſt ſeen? Wheþer Y, and þi moder, and þi briþeren ſhulen lowt þee vpon erþe? Þanne enuyeden to hym his briþeren. Þe fader forſoþe þe þing ſtilli bihelde, and whanne þe briþeren of hym in þe flockis of þe fader to ben fedde dwelliden in Sichem, Yrael ſeide to hym, Þi briþeren feden ſheep in Sichemys; come, Y ſhal ſende þee to hem. Who anſwerynge, Y am redi, he ſeiþ, Go, and ſe if alle þingis be welſum anentis þi briþeren, and beeſtis, and aȝen tel þow to me what is doon. He, ſent fro þe valey of Ebron, cam into Sichym; and a man fonde hym in þe feelde errynge, and aſkide, what he ſouȝte. And he anſweride, My breþeren Y ſeche, ſhew þow to me where þei feden þe flockis. And þe man ſeide to hym, Þei wenten a wey fro þis place, forſoþe I herde hem ſeiynge, Go we into Doþaym. And Joſeph ȝede after his briþeren, and fonde hem in Doþaym. Þe whiche whanne þei ſeyen hym a ferre, or he neiȝede to hem, þouȝten to ſleen hym, and togidere þei ſpeken, Loo! þe dremer comeþ, go we, and ſle we hym, and putte we hym in an olde ſiſtern, and we ſhulen ſeye, Þe werſt wiylde beeſt haþ deuowrid hym; and þanne it ſhal apere what profiten to hym hys dremes. Þes þingis forſoþe herynge Ruben, enforſide to delyuere hym of þe hondis of hem, and ſeide, Slee we not þe lijf of hym, ne ſhede we blood, but þrow ȝe him into þe olde ſiſterne, þat is in wildernes, and kepe ȝe ȝoure hondes vngilti. Þat forſoþe he ſeide, wilnynge to delyuer hym fro þe hondes of hem, and to ȝelde to his fader. Þanne anoon as he cam to his briþeren, þei nakiden hym þe ſide coote to þe hele, and of manye colowrs, and puttiden into an olde ſiſterne, þat hadde no watyr. And ſittynge for to eet breed, þei ſeen Yſmaelitis weiegoers to comen fro Galaad, and camels of hem berynge ſwete ſpyces, and ſwete gumme, and myrre, into Egipte. Þanne Judas ſeide to his briþeren, What ſhal it profit vs if we ſleen oure broþer, and we hiden þe blood of hym? It is betere þat he be ſold to Iſmaelitis, and our hondes ben not defoulid; forſoþe þe broþer and oure fleſh he is. Þe briþeren aſſentiden to þes wordes; and þe marchaundes Madyanytes goynge biſides, þei, drawynge hym oute of þe ſiſterne, ſolden hym to Yſmaelytis for þretti ſiluer pens; þe whiche ladden hym into Egipte. And Ruben turned aȝen to þe ſiſterne, fonde not þe child; and þe cloþis to-rent, goynge to his breþeren, ſeiþ, Þe childe not aperiþ, and whider Y ſhal go? Forſoþe þei token þe coote of hym, and in þe blood of a kyde þat þei hadden ſlayn ſteyneden; þe which ſendynge ſhulden bere to fader, and ſeyn, Þis we han foundun, loke wheþer þe coote of þi ſone it be or noon. Þe which whanne þe fader knowiþ, ſeiþ, Þe coote of my ſone it is, þe mooſt yuel wiylde beeſt haþ etun hym, a beeſt haþ deuowrid Joſeph. And þe cloþis to-rent, was cloþid wiþ an heyr, weilynge his ſone myche tyme. And alle his free children gedered to gideres, þat þei myȝten ſwage þe ſorow of þe fader, he nolde coumfortyng take, but ſeiþ, Y ſhal deſcende to my ſone weilynge into helle. And hym ſtedfaſtli dwellynge in wepyng, Madenytis ſolden Joſeph in Egepte, to Putiphar, þe geldyng of Pharao, þe mayſter of chyualrye.

Capitulum XXXVIII.

Judas deſcendynge þe ſame tyme fro his briþeren, turnede to a man Odollamyte, Hyram bi name; and he ſawȝ þere þe dowȝter of a Chanany man, Sue bi name. And a wijf takun, ȝede into hir, þe which conſeyuede, and bare a childe, and clepide þe name of hym Her. And eftſones conceyued þe kynde, ſhe nemnyde þe born ſone Onam. And þe þridde child ſhe bare, whom ſhe clepide Sela, þe which born, ſeeſide to more bere childe. Judas forſoþe ȝaue a wijf to his firſt getun Her, Thamar bi name. And Her, þe firſt getun of Jude, was wickid in þe ſiȝt of þe Lord, and þerfor was ſlayn of hym. Þanne Judas ſeide to Onam, his ſone, Go yn to þe wijf of þi broþer, and be þow felawſhipte to hir, þat þow rere ſeed to þi broþer. He wytynge ſones to be born not to hym, goynge to þe wijf of his broþer, ſhede þe ſeed into þe erþe, leſt fre children weren born in name of þe broþer; and þerfor þe Lord ſmote hym, þerþurȝ þat a curſid þing he dide. Wherfore Judas ſeide to Thamar, þe wijf of his ſone, Be þow a widwe in þe hows of þi fader, to þe tyme þat Sela my ſone growe; forſoþe he dredde leſt and he ſhulde dye as þe briþeren of hym. Þe which ȝede, and dwelte in þe hows of hir fader. And manye ȝerys ouergoon, diede Sue, þe wijf of Jude, þe which after weilyng coumfort takun, ſteiede vp to þe ſheepherdis of his ſheep, he and Yras, þe ſheepherd of þe flok, Odollamyte, in Tampnas. And it was told to Thamar, þat hir houſbonde fader ſteiede vp into Tampnas, to þe ſheep þat ſhulden be clippid. Þe which, þe cloþis of widewhed don down, toke to a roket, and þe abite chaungid, ſat in þe place of two weyes þat ledeþ to Tampnam; þerþurȝ þat Sela was growun, and ſhe hadde not takun hym to houſbonde. Whom whanne Judas hadde ſeen, he trowide hir to ben a ſtrumpet; ſhe forſoþe hadde couerede hir chere, leſt ſhe were knowun. And he yngoynge to hir, ſeiþ, Lat me, þat Y goo togidere wiþ þee; forſoþe he wiſte not þat ſhe was þe wijf of his ſone. Þe which anſwerynge, What ſhal þow ȝyue me, þat þow vſe me wiþ liggyng? he ſeide, Y ſhal ſende to þee a kidde fro þe flockis. And eft ſhe ſeiynge, I ſhal ſuffre þat þow wolt, if þow ȝyue to me a wedde, to þe tyme þat þow ſende þat þat þow bihotiſt. Judas ſeiþ, What to þee wolt þow be ȝouun for a wedde? She anſweryde, Þi rynge, and þin armſercle, and þe ſtaf þat þow holdiſt in þin hoond. Þanne at oon togiders goynge þe womman conceyuede, and aryſynge, ſhe ȝede a wey; and þe abite doon doun þat ſhe toke, ſhe is cloþid wiþ þe cloþis of widewhod. Judas forſoþe ſente a kidde bi his ſheepherd Odollomyte, þat he ſhulde take a wedde þat he ȝaue to þe womman; þe which whanne he hadde not foundun hir, aſkide þe men of þat place, Where is þe womman þat ſat in þe two weies? anſwerynge alle men, Þere was not in þis place a ſtrumpet. And he turnede aȝen to Juda, and ſeide to hym, I haue not foundun hir, but and þe men of þat place ſeiden to me, neuer þere to haue ſittun a ſtrumpet. Judas ſeiþ, Haue ſhe to hir ſilf, certis of leſynge vndurnym vs ſhe may not; I haue ſente a kydde þat Y bihiȝte, and þow haſt not foundun hir. Loo! forſoþe after þre moneþis men tolden to Jude, ſeiynge, Thamar, þi ſones wijf, haþ doon fornycacioun, and þe wombe of hir is ſeen to wexe ful greet. And Judas ſeide, Bryng hir forþ, þat ſhe be brent. Þe which whanne ſhe ſhulde be lad to þe peyne, ſent to her houſbond fader, ſeiynge, Of þe man whos þes ben Y haue conſeyued; know þow whos is þe ryng, and þe arm ſercle, and þe ſtaf? Þe which, þe ȝiftis knowun, ſeiþ, She is more riȝtwiſe þan Y, for I haue not takun hir to Sela, my ſone; and neuerþelater ouer þat tyme he knewe hir not. Forſoþe inſtondyng þe beryng, gemels apereden in þe wombe, and in þat heeldyng out of þe children, þe toon putte forþ an hoond, in þe which þe medewife bonde a reed þreed, ſeiynge, Þis ſhal goon out raþer. He forſoþe drawynge aȝen þe hoond, ȝede out þe toþer, and þe womman ſeide, Whi is þe wal for þee dyuydid? And for þat cauſe ſhe clepide þe name of hym Phares. Afterwarde ȝede out þe broþer of hym, in whos hoond was þe reed þreed, whom ſhe clepyde Zaram.

Capitulum XXXIX.

Thanne Joſeph was lad into Egepte, and bouȝt hym Putiphar, þe geldyng of Pharao, þe prince of his ooſt Egipcien, fro þe hondis of Iſmaelitis, of whiche he was brouȝt. And þe Lord was wiþ him, and he was a man in alle þingis welſumly doynge. And he dwellide in þe hows of his lord, þe which alþerbeſt knewe þe Lord to be wiþ hym, and alle þingis þat he ſhulde doon, of hym to be greiþid in þe hoond of hym. And Joſeph fonde grace bifore his lord, and mynyſtride to hym, of whom bifore putte to alle þingis, gouernede þe hows takun to hym, and alle þingis þat to hym weren bitauȝt. And þe Lord bliſſide to þe hows of þe Egipcyen for Joſeph, and multipliede, as wel in howſys as in feeldis, al þe ſubſtaunce of hym; ne eny þing oþer knewe but þe breed þat he eete. And Joſeph was fayr in face, and ſeemly in ſiȝt. And ſo after many dayes þe ladi keſte hir eyen in Joſeph, and ſeiþ, Sleep wiþ me; þe which not aſſentynge to þe ſhrewid dede, ſeide to hir, Loo! my lord alle þingis to me takun, vnknowiþ what he haþ in his hows, ne eny þing is, þat is not in my power, or haþ not takun to me, ſaue þee, þat art þe wijf of hym; how þanne may Y þat yuel don, and ſynne in my God? Wiþ ſiche maner wordis bi alle daies þei ſpeken, and þe womman was greuyd to þe ȝonge man, and he refuſide þe hordom. It felle forſoþe a day, þat Joſeph ſhulde goo into þe hows, and ſumwhat of werk he ſhulde do wiþ outen witneſſis. And ſhe, þe hemme takun of þe cloþing of hym, ſhulde ſeye, Slep wiþ me; þe which, forſakun þe mantil in þe honde of hir, fleiȝ, and ȝede oute. And whanne þe womman hadde ſeen þe cloþ in hir hondes, and hir to be diſpiſid, clepide to hir men of hir hows, and ſeide to hem, Loo! he haþ brouȝt yn an Ebrew man, þat he ſhulde bigile vs; he was comun yn to me, þat he ſhulde togidere goo wiþ me, and whanne Y hadde vndercried, and he herde my voys, he forſoke þe mantil þat I heelde, and fleiȝ out. Þanne in argument of bileue, þe holdun mantil ſhe ſhewide to þe houſbonde turnynge aȝen hoom. And ſeiþ, To me is comun yn an Ebrew ſeruaunt, whom þow hidir brouȝtiſt, þat he ſhulde bigijl me; and whanne he hadde ſeen me to crye, he forſoke þe mantil þat I heelde, and fleiȝ out. Þes þingis herd, and þe lord to mych leueful to þe wordis of þe wijf, was ful wroþ; and toke Joſeph into pryſoun, where þe gyued men of þe kyng weren kept, and he was þere cloſid. Þe Lord forſoþe was wiþ Joſeph, and hauynge rewþe of hym, ȝaue to hym grace in þe ſiȝt of þe prince of þe pryſoun, þe which toke in þe hond of him alle þe gyued men þat weren holdun in kepyng, and what þing was doon was vndur hym, ne he knewe eny þing, alle þingis takun to hym; þe Lord forſoþe was wiþ hym, and made redi alle þe werkys of hym.

Capitulum XL.

And ſo þes þingis doon, fel þat two geldyngis ſynneden, þe botler of þe kyng of Egepte, and þe baker, to her lord. And Pharao wroþ aȝens hem, for þe toþer was bifore to botlers, and þe toþir to bakers, putte hem into þe priſoun of þe prince of knyȝtis, in þe which and Joſeph was gyued. And þe kepere of þe priſoun tok hem to Joſeph, þe which and mynyſtryde to hem. A litil of tyme ȝede bitwixe, and þei in keping weren holdun, and boþ ſeen a ſweuen oon nyȝt, aftir couenable vndoyng to hem. To whom whanne Joſeph cam yn eerly, and ſawȝ hem drery, aſkide hem, ſeiynge, Whi dreryer is ȝoure face to day þan it was wonte? Þe which anſweryden, A ſweuen we han ſeen, and þer is not þat wol vndo it vs. And Joſeph ſeide to hem, Wheþer not of God is þe vndoyng? Telle ȝe to me what ȝe han ſeen. And þe proueſt of botlers bifore tolde his ſweuen; I ſawȝ bifore me a vyne, in þe which weren þre braunchis growun litil mele into cluſtris, and after floures þe grapes to wexe rijp, and þe chalice of Pharao in myn hoond; þanne I toke grapes, and wrong into þe chalice þat Y heelde, and toke drynke to Pharao. Joſeph anſweryde, Þis is þe vndoyng of þe ſweuen; þre braunches þre ȝit dayes ben, after whiche Pharao ſhal record of þi ſeruyce, and ſhal reſtore þee to þe bifore had gree, and þow ſhalt ȝyue to hym a chalice, after þin office, as þow were wont to do bifore. As myche haue mynde of me, whanne it were wel wiþ þee, and mercy þow ſhalt do wiþ me, þat þow make ſuggeſtioun to Pharao, þat he lede me out of þis priſoun; for þeuelich Y am had a wey fro þe loond of Hebrew, and here an ynnocent Y am ſent into a laak. Seynge þe mayſter of bakers þat he hadde vndo wiſeli þe ſweuen, ſeiþ, And I ſawȝ a ſweuen, þat I hadde þree baſketis of melow vpon myn heed, and yn þe o baſket, þat was heiȝer, Y trowide me to bere al maner metis þat ben made wiþ bakers craft, and bryddis to eet þerof. And Joſeph anſweride, Þis is þe vndoyng of þe ſweuen; þre baſkettis þre ȝit dayes ben, aftir whom Pharao ſhal take a wey þin heed, and ſhal honge þee in þe croſſe, and fowlis ſhulen teere þi fleiſh. And fro þens þe þridde day was þe birþe day of Pharao, þe which makynge a greet feeſte to his children, recordid amonge þe meetis of þe mayſter of botlers, and of þe prince of bakers; and reſtoryde þe toþer into his place, þat he brynge forþ drynke to þe kyng, þe toþer he hongide in a gibite, þat þe ſoþnes of þe remener were proued. And neuerþelater after fallynge welſum þingis, þe proueſt of botelers forȝete of his dreem reder.

Capitulum XLI.

After two ȝeer Pharao ſawe a ſweuen; he trowide him to ſtonde vpon a flood, of þe which ſteyden vp ſeuene fayre oxen and ful fatte, and þei weren fed in merſhi places; and oþer ſeuene out comen of þe flood, fowle and al ouercomen wiþ leeneſſe, and þei weren fedde in þe brenke of þe flood, in mooſt plenteuows grene places; and þei deuouriden hem of whom was merueilows fayrnes and proporcioun of bodies. Pharao wakned, ſlepte eftſones, and ſawȝ anoþer ſweuen; ſeuene eerys buriounde in o ſtalk and ful fayr, and oþer as feel eerys, þinne and ſmytun wiþ meldew, weren growun, deuowrynge al þe fayrnes of þe firſt. Pharao, a wakynge after reſte, and þe morwetide bigunne, feerd for drede, ſente to alle þe reders of Egepte, and to all þe wiſe men, and hem clepid to, tolde þe ſweuen, and þere was not þat vndide it. Þanne at þe laſt þe maiſter of botlers remembrynge, ſeiþ, I knowleche my ſynne; þe king wroþ to his ſeruauntis, me and þe mayſter of bakers comaundid to be put in priſoun of þe prince of knyȝtis, where eiþer o nyȝt ſeen a ſweuen, bifore ſhewynge of þingis þat ben to comun. Þere was a ſeruant, Hebrew childe, of þe ſame duke of knyȝtis, to whom tellynge þe ſweuenes, we herden alle þingis þat afterward þe oute comyng of þe þing proued; forſoþe Y am ȝoldun aȝen to myn office, and he was hongid in þe croſſe. Anoon þei doddiden Joſeph lad out of þe priſoun, at þe maundement of þe kyng, and wiþ chaungid cloþing offreden to hym. To whom he ſeiþ, I ſawȝ ſweuens, ne þere is þat opniþ, þe which I haue herd þe mooſt wiſeli to caſte. Joſeph anſwerde, God wiþ outen me ſhal anſwere welſum þingis to Pharao. Þanne Pharao tolde þat he ſawȝ; I wende me to ſtonde vpon þe brynk of þe flood, and ſeuen oxen fro þe flood togideres ſteyden vp, ful greetli fayr and þurȝ oute wiþ fatt fleiſh, þe whiche in þe paſture of merſhe þe grene leſwis cheſeden; and loo! þes folweden oþer ſeuen oxen, in as myche defourme and leene, þat neuer ſiche in þe loond of Egipte Y ſawȝ; þe whiche þe raþer deuowrid and waſtid, no merke of fulfedyng ȝouun, but wiþ þe ſame leeneſſe and foulnes þei dwelten. A wakynge, eftſones born doun wiþ ſleepe, I ſawȝ a ſweuen; ſeuene eeris buriounde in o ſtalk, ful and mooſt fayr, and oþer ſeuen, þinne and ſmytun wiþ a brennynge blaſte, growiden of þe ſtalk, þe whiche deuowreden þe fayrnes of þe raþer. I haue tolde to þe reders þe ſweuen, and no man is þat out openiþ. Joſeph anſweride, Þe ſweuen of þe kyng is oon; þe þingis þat God is to do he ſhewede to Pharao. Seuen oxen fayr, and ſeuen eerys fulle, ſeuen ȝeris of plentiþ ben, and þe ſame ſtrengþe of ſweuen holdun; and þe ſeuen oxen þinne and leene, þe whiche ſteyden after hem, and ſeuen eeris þinne and ſmytun wiþ a brennynge wynde, ſeuen ȝeris ben of hungur to comen, þe whiche bi þis ordre ſhulen be fulfillid. Loo! ſeuen ȝeres ſhulen come of greet plente in al þe loond of Egipte, whom ſhulen folwe oþere ſeuen ȝeer of as greet bareynes, þat to forgetyng be takun al þe bihynd plenteþnes; forſoþe to waſte is hungur al þe erþe, and þe greetnes of myſeys is to ſpille þe greetnes of plentiþe. Þat forſoþe þow haſt ſeyn ſecoundli a ſweuen perteynyng to þe ſame þing, ſhewyng is of faſtneſſe, þerþurȝ þat þe worde of God be doon, and ſwiftloker be fulfild. Now þanne puruey þe kyng a wiſe man and a redi, and bifore maak hym to þe loond of Egipte, þe which ordeyn proueſtis þoruȝ out alle regiouns, and þe fifte part of fruytis þurȝ out þe ſeuen ȝeer of plenteþ, þat now ben to comen, now geder he in to þe beernes; and al þe wheet be leide vndur þe power of Pharao, and be kepte in þe cytee, and be bifore made redi to þe hungur to come of þe ſeuen ȝeer, þe which is to oppreſſe Egipte, and þe loond be not conſumed wiþ myſchef. Þe counſeil pleſide to Pharao, and to alle þe mynyſtris of hym, and he ſpake to hem, We mowen not fynde ſuch a man þe which be ful of þe ſpiryt of God. Þanne he ſeide to Joſeph, For God haþ ſhewed to þee alle þingis þat þow haſt ſpokun, wheþer a wiſer or a liyk to þee fynde Y may? Þow ſhalt be vpon myn hows, and at þe maundement of þi mouþ al þe puple ſhal obeiſhe; in o þing oonli in dignyte of þe rewme þee Y ſhal go bifore. And eft Pharao ſeide to Joſeph, Loo! Y haue ordeynyde þee vpon al þe loond of Egipte. And he took a ryng of his hoond, and ȝaue hym in his hoond, and he cloþide hym a ſtool of biys, and putte aboute his necke a goldun beeȝe, and made him ſteyȝ vpon his ſecound chaar, criynge a bedel, þat alle men ſhulden bifore hym knele, and þei ſhulden wite hym to be proueſt to al þe loond of Egipte. And þe kyng ſeide to Joſeph, I am Pharao, wiþ outen þi maundement ſhal not eny man meue hoond or foot in þe loond of Egipte. And he turnede þe name of hym, and he clepide hym in Egipcian tunge, þe ſaueor of þe world; and he ȝaue to hym a wijf, Aſenech, þe dowȝter of Putifar, preeſt of Helyopoleos. And ſo Joſeph, goon oute to þe loond of Egipte, forſoþe was of þritti wynter whanne he ſtode in þe ſiȝt of kyng Pharao, and he ȝede aboute alle þe regiouns of Egipte. And plentiþnes cam of þe ſeuen ȝeer, and þe cornes maad into handfullis ben gederyd into beernes of Egipte, and al þe plentiþ of fruytis in alle þe citees was leide to kepe, and þe plentiþe of wheet was ſo myche, þat to þe grauel of þe ſee it was meſurid euen, and þe plentiþ paſſide meſure. To Joſeph forſoþe weren borne two ſones bifore þat þe hunger cam, whom to him bare Aſenech, þe dowȝter of Putifar, preeſt of Helyopoleos. And he clepide þe name of þe firſt gotun Manaſſes, ſeiynge, God haþ maad me to forȝete alle my trauayls, and þe hows of my fader; and þe name of þe ſecounde he clepide Effraym, ſeiynge, God haþ maad me growe in þe loond of my pornes. Þanne ouerpaſſed ſeuen ȝeer of plentiþe þat weren in Egipte, bigunne to come to þe ſeuen ȝeer of meſeys, whom Joſeph ſeyde byfore, and in al þe world hungur wex greet; alſo in al þe loond of Egipte was hungur; þe which hungring, þe peple cryede to Pharao, aſkynge lyuelod, to whom he anſweride, Goþ to Joſeph, and what euere he ſhal ſeye to ȝow, doþ. Forſoþe ech day hungur encreſide in al þe loond, and Joſeph openyde alle þe beernes, and ſolde to Egipcyens, for and hem oppreſſide hungur; and alle þe prouynces camen into Egipte, þat þei myȝten bigge meetis and þe yuel of myſeis ſwagen.

Capitulum XLII.

Jacob forſoþe herynge þat lyuelodes weren ſolde in Egipte, ſeide to his ſones, Whi ben ȝe necgligent? I haue herd þat wheet is ſolde in Egipte, deſcende ȝe, and biggiþ to vs nedeful þingis, þat we mowen lyue, and we ben not conſumed wiþ myſeys. Þanne deſcendynge þe ten briþeren of Joſeph þat þei myȝten bigge whete in Egipte, Beniamyn wiþholdun at home of Jacob, þe which ſeide to þe briþeren of hym, Leſt perauenture in þe weye eny þing he ſuffre of yuel. Þei ben goon into þe loond of Egipte, wiþ oþere þat ȝeden to bigge; forſoþe þere was hungur in þe loond of Chanaan. And Joſeph was prince of Egipte, and at his bikenyng whete cornes weren ſolde to þe peplis. And whanne his briþeren hadden lowtid him, and he knewe hem, as to aliens harder he ſpak, aſkynge hem, Whens cam ȝe? Þe which anſweryden, Fro þe loond of Chanaan, þat we biggen nedeful þingis to oure lyuelod. And neuerþelater he þe briþeren knowinge is not knowun of hem, and recordid of þe ſweuen þat ſumtyme he ſawȝ, ſeiþ to hem, A ſpies ȝe ben, ȝe ben comen þat ȝe myȝten ſe þe febler þingis of þe loond. Þe whiche ſeiden, It is not ſo, lord, but þi ſeruauntis comen, þat þei myȝten bie meetis; alle þe ſones of o man we ben, peſibli we comen, ne þi ſeruauntis eny þing caſten of yuel. To whom he anſweryde, Oþer weies yt is, þe vnwardid þingis of þis loond ȝe ben comen to biholde. And þei ſeiden, Twelue briþeren, þei ſeyn, þi ſeruauntis we ben, þe ſones of o man in þe loond of Chanaan; þe leeſt is wiþ oure fader, þe toþer is not aboue. Þat is, he ſeiþ, þat I ſpeke, a ſpies ȝe ben, for now experyment of ȝow I ſhal taak, bi þe helþe of Pharao ȝe ſhulen not goon hens, to þe tyme þat ȝoure leeſt broþer come; ſendiþ of ȝou oon, and bringe he him, ȝe forſoþe ſhulen ben in boondis, to þe tyme þat þe þingis þat ȝe han ſeide ben proued, wheþer fals or ſoþ þei ben; ellis bi þe helþ of Pharao aſpies ȝe ben. Þanne he took hem to warde þre daies; þe þridde forſoþe dai ledynge out of priſoun, ſeiþ, Do ȝe þat I ſeide, and ȝe ſhulen lyue, God forſoþ Y drede; if ȝe be peſible, ȝoure o broþer be boundun in priſoun; ȝe forſoþe goþ, and beriþ þe whete þat ȝe han bouȝt into ȝoure howſis, and ȝoure leeſt broþer bryngiþ to me, þat Y may proue ȝoure wordis, and ȝe not die. And þei diden as he ſeide, and þei ſpeken to gideres, Þurȝ deſert þes þingis we ſuffren, for we han ſynned in oure broþer, ſeynge þe angwiſhe of þe ſoule of hym, while he preyde vs, and we herden not, þerfore comeþ vpon vs þis tribulacioun. Of þe whiche oon, Ruben, ſeiþ, Wheþer Y ſeide not to ȝow, Nyle ȝe ſynne in þe childe, and ȝe herden not me? loo! þe blood of hym is out ſouȝt. Þei wiſten not forſoþe þat Joſeph ſhulde vndurſtonde, þerþurȝ þat bi a mene perſone vndoynge boþ þe langagis he ſpak to hem. And he turnyde hym ſilf a wey a litil, and he wepte, and turned aȝen he ſpak to hem; and takynge Symeon, and byndynge hym, hem preſent, and comaundide to þe mynyſtris, þat þei ſhulden fille þe ſackis of hem wiþ whete, and leggen aȝen þe money of eche in her ſackis, ȝeuun ouer meetis in þe weie; þe whiche diden ſo. And þei berynge þe whete in her aſſis ȝeden forþ, and þe ſak of oon openyd, þat he myȝte ȝyue to his beeſt meete in an inturnyng place to reſte, biholdun þe money in þe mouþ of þe ſak, ſeide to his briþeren, To me is ȝoldun my money, loo! it is had in þe ſak; and þei ſtonyed al aboute and ſturbed, ſeiden togideres, What forſoþe is þis þat God haþ doon to vs? And þei comen to Jacob, her fader, in þe loond of Chanaan, and tolden to hym alle þingis þat was fallun to hem, ſeiynge, Þe lord of þe loond hard ſpake to vs, and he wenyde vs to be ſpies of þe prouynce; to whom we anſwerden, We ben peſible, ne we ben not aboute eny ſpies; twelue briþeren of o fadur getun we ben, þe oon is not aboue, þe leeſt wiþ þe fadur dwelliþ in þe loond of Chanaan. Þe which ſeiþ to vs, So I ſhal proue þat ȝe ben peſible; ȝoure o broþer leeue ȝe anentis me, and meetis to ȝoure houſis nedeful take ȝe, and goþ, and ȝoure leeſt broþer lediþ to me, þat Y knowe þat ȝe ben not aſpyes, and þis þat is holdun in boondis ȝe mowen reſeyue, and þeraftir of biggyng þat ȝe wolen ȝe han leue. Þes þingis ſeid, whanne eche heelden out whete, þei founden in þe mouþ of þe ſackis boundun moneys. And alle togideres afeerd, þe fader Jacob ſeide, Wiþ outen free children ȝe han maad me to be; Joſeph is not aboue, Symeon is holdun in bondes, Beniamyn ȝe ſhulen take a wey fro me; alle þes yuels in me han bacwarde fallun. To whom anſwerde Ruben, My two ſones ſle þou, if Y brynge hym not aȝen to þee; taak hym in myn hoond, and Y hym to þee ſhal ȝelde aȝen. And he, My ſone, he ſeiþ, ſhal not deſcende wiþ ȝow; þe broþer of hym is deed, and he alone abidiþ; if ony þing to hym of aduerſite falle in þe loond to þe which ȝe ſhulen goon, ȝe ſhulen lede doun myn hoore heeris wiþ ſorwe to helle.

Capitulum XLIII.

The meene tyme hungur al þe loond greetly bare doun; and, þe meetis brouȝt to ende, þat fro Egipte þei hadden brouȝt, Jacob ſeide to his ſones, Turne ȝe aȝen, and bigge ȝe to vs a litil of meetis. Judas anſwerde, Þilke man denounſide to vs vndur witneſſyng of oþe, ſeiynge, Ȝe ſhulen not ſe my face, but ȝoure leeſt broþer ȝe bryngen wiþ ȝow; if þanne þow wolt ſende hym wiþ vs, we ſhulen goon togidere, and to þee we ſhulen bye nedeful þingis; if forſoþe þou wolt not, we wolen not goon; þe man forſoþe, as we han ofte ſeide, denounſide to vs, ſeiynge, Ȝe ſhulen not ſe my face wiþ outen ȝoure leeſt broþer. And Iſrael ſeide, Þis ȝe han doon in to my wrecchidnes, þat ȝe wolden ſhewe to hym and anoþer ȝow to han a broþer. And þei anſwerden, Þe man aſkide vs bi ordre oure progenye, if þe fader lyued, if we hadden a broþer; and we anſwerden to hym ſewyngly, aftir þat þat he aſkide; wheþer we myȝten wite þat he was to ſeyn, Bryngiþ wiþ ȝow ȝoure broþer? And Judas ſeide to his fader, Send þe child wiþ me, þat we goon forþ, and we mowen lyue, leſt dien we and oure children; I take þe child, of myn hoond aȝen aſke hym; but if I come aȝen and take hym to þee, Y ſhal be gilti of ſynne in þee al tyme; if tariyng hadde not falle bitwix, now eftſones we hadden comen. Þanne Yrael, þe fader of hem, ſeide to hem, If ſo it is nede, doþ what ȝe wolen; take ȝe of þe beſte fruytis of þe loond in ȝoure veſſils, and beriþ ȝiftis to þe man, a litil of precious licoure of ſwete gumme, and of hony, and of licoure of þe tree of ſtorax, and of ſtactes, þe licoure of myrre tree, and of þerebynt, and of almaundis; and dowble money bere ȝe wiþ ȝow, and þat þat ȝe han foundun in þe ſackis bere ȝe aȝen, leſt perauenture þurȝ errour it be doon; but and ȝoure broþer takiþ, and goþ to þe man; and my God Almyȝti make hym pleſable to ȝow, and ſend he aȝen wiþ ȝow ȝoure broþer, þat he holdiþ in boondis, and þis Beniamyn; Y forſoþe as priued wiþ outen free children ſhal be. Þanne þe men token ȝiftis, and dowble money, and Beniamyn, and deſcendiden into Egipte, and ſtoden bifore Joſeph. Whom whanne he hadde ſeen, and Beniamyn togidere, he comaundide to þe diſpenſatowr of his hows, ſeiynge, Lede yn þe men hoom, and ſlee þe beeſtis of ſacrifice, and ordeyne a feeſte; for wiþ me þei ben to etun to day. And he dide as it was comaundid, and brouȝte in þe men hoom; and þere þei agaſt ſeiden to gideres, For þe money þat we brouȝten bifore in oure ſackis we ben lad yn, þat chalengyng he turne in vs, and violently ſugette to þraldom and vs and our aſſis. Wherfore in þilke ȝatis goynge to, ſpeken to þe diſpenſatour, Syre, we preyen þee, þat þow here vs; now bifore we deſcenden þat we biggen meetis; þe whiche bouȝt, whanne we comen to þe place of turnyng into reſte, we opnyden oure ſackis, and we fonden money in þe mouþ of þe ſackis, þat now in þe ſame peyſe we han brouȝt aȝen; but and oþer money we han brouȝt, þat we biggen þilke þingis, þat ben neceſſarye to vs; it ys not in oure conſcience, who it putte in oure bagges. And he anſwerde, Pees wiþ ȝow, wole ȝe not drede; ȝoure God and þe God of ȝoure fader haþ ȝyue to ȝow treſours in ȝoure ſackis; for þe money þat ȝe ȝyuen to me, I haue it aproued. And he ladde out to hem Symeon; and þei in lad hoom, brouȝt watir, and þei weſchen her feet, and he ȝaue fodder to þe aſſes of hem. Þei forſoþe greiþiden ȝiftis to þe tyme þat Joſeph ſhulde come yn at mydday, þei hadden herde forſoþe, þat þere þei weren to etun breed. Þanne Joſeph cam into his hows, and þei holdynge ȝiftis in her hondis, offerden to hym, and lowtiden bowid into þe erþe. And he goodly hem aȝen ſalutid, aſkide hem, ſeiynge, Wheþer ȝoure oold fader is ſaaf, of whom ȝe ſpaken to me? ȝit lyueþ he? Þe whiche anſwerden, He ys al hool, þi ſeruaunt oure fader ȝit lyueþ; and þei bowid lowtiden hym. And Joſeph heuynge vp þe eyen, ſawȝ Beniamyn, his broþer of o wombe, and ſeiþ, Þis is ȝoure litil broþer, of whom ȝe ſpeken to me? And eft, God, he ſeiþ, haue mercy of þee, ſone myne. And he hiȝede into þe hows, for þe entrayls of hym weren moued vpon his broþer, and teeris briſten oute, and he, goynge in to þe bed place, wepte. And eft his face waiſhun, goon oute, ſtillide hym ſelf, and ſeiþ, Settiþ looues. Þe whiche ſett forþ, Joſeph bi hym ſelf, and þe briþeren bi hem ſeluen, and þe Egipciens togideres eetun bi hem ſeluen; forſoþe it is vnleueful to Egipciens to etun wiþ Ebrews, and a fowle þing þei wenen ſich a manere feeſte. Þei ſetten bifore hym þe firſt geten, aftir þe riȝtis of his firſt getyng, and þe leeſte aftir his age; and þei wondreden mych, þe partiſe takun þat þei token of hym, and þe more party cam to Beniamin, ſo þat bi fyue partis he paſſide; and þei drunken, and ben fulfillid wiþ hym.

Capitulum XLIIII.

Joſeph forſoþe comaundide to þe diſpenſatour of his hows, ſeiynge, Fille þe ſackis of hem wiþ whete, as myche as þei mowen take, and ley þe money of eche in þe cop of her ſak; my ſilueren forſoþe coppe, and þe priſe of whete þat he ȝaf, putte in þe mouþ of þe ſak of þe ȝonger; and it is do ſo. And þe morwetyde ſprongun, þei ben lete go wiþ her aſſis. And now þe cyte þei ȝeden oute, and forþ ȝeden a litil; alſo Joſeph, þe diſpenſatour of his hous clepid, ſeiþ, A ryſe, he ſeiþ, purſue þe men, and hem takun ſey þow, Whi han ȝe ȝoldun yuel for good? Þe coppe þat ȝe han ſtoln, it is in þe which my lord drynkiþ, and in þe which he is wonte to dyuyne; þe mooſt yuel þing ȝe han do. He dide as he comaundide, and, hem takun, bi ordre ſpak. Þe whiche anſwerden, Whi þus ſpekiþ oure lord, þat þi ſeruauntis ſo meche of wickidnes ſhulden han doon? Þe money þat we founden in þe cop of þe ſackis we han brouȝt aȝen to þee fro þe loond of Chanaan, and what maner is it folwynge þat we ſhulden haue ſtolne fro þe hows of þi lord gold or ſiluer? Anentys whom euere of þi ſeruauntis it were foundun þat þou ſekiſt, be he deed, and we þe ſeruauntis ſhulen be of oure lord. Þe which ſeide to hem, Be it doon after ȝoure ſentens; anentis whom it be foundun, be he my ſeruaunt; ȝe forſoþe ſhulen be giltles. And ſo blyue doynge down into þe erþe þe ſackis, eche opnyde; þe which aſerchinge, bigynnynge fro þe more vnto þe leeſte, fonde þe coppe in þe ſak of Beniamyn. And þei þe cloþis to-rent, and eft chargid þe aſſis, ben turned aȝen into þe wallid town. And Juda þe firſte wiþ þe breþeren wente in to Joſeph; ne forſoþe ȝit fro þe place he hadde goon; and alle to þe erþe togidere fallen. To whom he ſeiþ, Whi þus wolden ȝe doon? wheþir ȝe vnknowen, þat þere is noon lijk me in kunnynge of dyuynynge? To whom Juda, What, he ſeiþ, ſhulen we anſwere to my lord, or what ſhulen we ſpek, or riȝtwiſly we mowen aȝen ſtryue? God haþ foundun þe wickidnes of þi ſeruauntis; loo! alle ſeruauntis we ben of my lord, and we and anentis whom þe cuppe is foundun. Joſeph anſwerde, Fer be it fro me, þat Y þus do; he þat haþ ſtolne þe cuppe be my ſeruaunt; ȝe forſoþe goþ awey free to ȝoure fader. Forſoþe Judas comynge ner, ſeiþ triſtily, My lord, Y preye, þi ſeruaunt ſpek a word in þin eeris, and ne wraþ þow to þi ſeruaunt; þow art forſoþe after Pharao, my lord. Þow aſkidiſt bifore þi ſeruauntis, Haue ȝe a fader or broþer? And we anſwerden to þee, my lord, Þere is to vs a fader oold, and a litil child, þe which in eeld of hym is born, whos broþer of o wombe is deed, and him oonli haþ his moder; þe fader forſoþe tenderli loueþ him. And þow ſeidiſt to þi ſeruauntis, Bryngiþ hym to me, and Y ſhal putte myn eyen vpon hym. We meueden to þee, my lord, þe child may not leeue his fader; if forſoþe he leeue hym, he ſhal dye. And þow ſeidiſt to þi ſeruauntis, But ȝoure leeſte broþer come to vs, ȝe ſhulen no more ſe my face. Þanne whanne we hadden ſteyed vp to oure fader, þi ſeruaunt, we tolden hym alle þingis þat my lord ſpak; and oure fader ſeyde, Goþ aȝen, and biggiþ vs a litil of whete; to whom we ſeiden, We mowen not goon; if oure leeſte broþer ſhul deſcende wiþ vs, we ſhulen go togideres; ellis, hym abſent, we dorun not ſe þe face of þe lord. And he anſwerde, Ȝe witen þat two children gat to me my wijf; þe oon is goon oute, and ȝe ſeiden, a beeſt haþ deuowryd hym, and ȝit hidir to he aperyde not; and if I take þis, and eny þing to hym ſhal falle in þe weye, ȝe ſhulen doun lede myn hoore heeris wiþ mournyng to helle. Þanne if I ſhal goo to þi ſeruaunt, oure fader, and þe child were þens, ſiþ þe lijf of hym hongiþ of þe lijf of þis, and ſe hym not be wiþ vs, he ſhal dye, and þi ſeruauntis ſhulen down lede þe hoore heeris of hym wiþ ſorwe to helle. Be I propirli þi ſeruaunt, þe which haue reſſeyued þis into my feiþ, and haue bihoote, ſeiynge, But I brynge aȝen hym, Y ſhal be gilti of ſynne in my fader al tyme; and ſo Y ſhall dwelle þi ſeruaunt for þe child in to þe ſeruyce of my lord, and þe child aſcend wiþ his briþeren; forſoþ Y may not turne aȝen to my fader, þe child abſent, leſt a witnes I ſtonde to of myſchef, þat is to oppreſſe my fader.

Capitulum XLV.

Joſeph myȝte no ferþere wiþ holde hym ſelf, many biforn ſtondynge nyȝ; wherfor he comaundide þat alle men ſhulden goon out, and noon alien were amonge to þe knowyng togideres. And he arerid a voys wiþ wepyng, þat Egipcyens herden, and al þe hows of Pharao. And he ſeide to his breþeren, I am Joſeph; ȝit my fader lyueþ? Þe briþeren myȝten not anſwere, for ful myche drede afeerd. To whom he goodliche, Come ner, he ſeide, to me. And whanne þei weren comun nyȝ, Y am, he ſeiþ, Joſeph ȝoure broþer, whom ȝe ſolden in to Egipte; wole ȝe not drede, ne ſeme it to ȝow to be harde, þat ȝe han ſoold me in þes regiouns; forſoþe for ȝoure helþe God haþ ſent me bifore ȝow into Egipte. Two ȝeer it ys þat hungur began to be in þe loond, ȝit fyue ȝeers leeuen, in þe whiche it may not be eerid, ne ropun; and God haþ bifore ſent me, þat ȝe ben kepte vpon erþe, and meetis to lyue han ȝe mowen. Not þurȝ ȝoure counſeil, but þurȝ þe wil of God Y am ſent hydir, þe which haþ maad me as þe fader of Pharao, and lord of al þe hows of hym, and prince in al þe loond of Egipte. Hye ȝe, and ſtye ȝe vp to my fader, and ȝe ſhulen ſeye to hym, Þis biddiþ þi ſone Joſeph; God me haþ maad lord of al þe loond of Egipte; deſcende to me, ne abide þow, and dwel in þe loond of Geſſen; and þow ſhalt be biſide me, þow, and þi ſones, and þe ſones of þi ſones, þi ſheep, and þi droues, and al þat þou haſt, and þere Y ſhal fede þee; ȝit forſoþe fyue ȝeer ben leeued of hungur, leſt and þow periſhe, and þin hows, and al þat þow haſt. Loo! ȝoure eyen, and þe eyen of my broþer Beniamyn ſeen, þat my mouþ ſpekiþ to ȝow; telliþ to my fader al my glorie, and alle þingis þat ȝe han ſeen in Egipte; hye ȝe, and bryng ȝe hym to me. And whanne cleppid hadde þriſt to hym þe necke of Beniamyn, his broþer, he wepte, and hym wepynge alſo vpon þe necke of hym. And Joſeph kiſſide alle his briþeren, and wepte vpon echone; aftir þat þei weren hardi to ſpeke to him. And it is herd, and wiþ ſolempne word puppliſhid in þe halle of þe kyng, Þe breþeren of Joſeph ben comun. And Pharao ioyede, and al þe meyne of hym; and he ſeide to Joſeph, þat he ſhulde comaunde to his briþeren, ſeiynge, Chargynge þe beeſtis goþ into þe loond of Chanaan, and takiþ fro þens ȝoure fader, and kynrede, and comeþ to me, and I ſhal ȝyue to ȝow al þe goodis of Egipte, þat ȝe eeten þe mary of þe loond. Comaunde alſo, þat þei taken þe waynes of Egipte to þe kariyng of her children, and wiues, and ſey þow, Takiþ ȝoure fader, and anoon as ȝe mowen comynge makiþ redi, ne leue ȝe not eny þing of eny purtenaunce to ȝoure howſhold, for al þe ryches of Egipte ſhulen be ȝouren. Þe children of Yrael diden, as it was bodun to hem; to whom Joſeph ȝaf waynes, after þe heeſte of Pharao, and metis in þe weye; and to echone he comaundide to be brouȝt forþ two ſtolys; forſoþe to Beniamyn he ȝaf þre hundryd ſilueren pens, wiþ fyue þe beſt ſtolis; as feele of money and of cloþing ſeendynge to his fader, addynge to hem ten hee aſſis, þat ſhulden karye of alle þe riccheſſis of Egipte, and as feele ſhe aſſis, whete in þe weye, and breed berynge. Þanne he lafte his briþeren, and to hem forþ goynge ſeiþ, Ne wraþþe ȝe in þe weye. Þe whiche ſteyynge vp fro Egipte camen into þe loond of Chanaan, to her fader Jacob; and tolden to hym, ſeiynge, Joſeph, þi ſone, lyueþ, and he is lord in al þe loond of Egipte. Þe which herde, Jacob as of a greet ſleep awakynge; neuerþelater he trowide not hem. Þei aȝenward tolden al þe ordre of þe þing; and whanne he hadde ſeyn þe caryagis, and al þat he hadde ſent, aȝen quyckenyd þe ſpiryt of hym, and ſeiþ, It ſufficiþ to me, if ȝit Joſeph my ſone lyue, I ſhal go and ſhal ſe hym or Y dye.

Capitulum XLVI.

And Yrael forþ goon wiþ al þat he hadde, cam to þe pit of ooþ; and ſlawn þere þe beeſtis of ſacryfice to þe God of his fader Yſaac, herde hym bi a vyſioun þe nyȝt clepynge hym, and ſeiynge to hym, Jacob! Jacob! To whom anſwerde, Loo! I am nyȝ. God ſeiþ to hym, Y am þe mooſt ſtrong God of þi fader; nyl þou not drede, deſcend into Egipte, for into a greet folk of kynde Y ſhal make þee þere; I ſhal deſcende wiþ þee þidir, and Y ſhal þens lede þee comynge aȝen, and Joſeph ſhal leye his honden vpon þin eyen. Jacob aroos fro þe pit of ooþ, and his ſones token hym, wiþ þe children, and his wyues, in þe waynes þat Pharao ſente to bere þe oold man, and al þat he hadde in þe loond of Chanaan; and he cam into Egipte wiþ al his ſeed, and þe ſones of hym, and coſyns, dowȝteres, and al þe progenye togideres. Þes ben forſoþe þe names of þe ſones of Yrael, þe whiche ben goon into Egipte; he wiþ his free children. Þe firſte getun Ruben; þe ſones of Ruben, Enoch, and Phallu, and Eſrom, and Carmy. Þe ſones of Symyon, Jemuhel, and Jamyn, and Ȝahoþ, and Jachyn, and Sab, and Saber, and Saul, þe ſone of Chanynytidis. Þe ſones of Leuy, Gerſon, Caaþ, and Merary. Þe ſones of Juda, Her, and Onam, and Sela, and Phares, and Zara. Deed forſoþe ben Her and Onam in þe loond of Chanaan; and born ben þe ſones of Phares, Eſrom, and Amul. Þe ſones of Yſachar, Thola, and Phua, and Jobab, and Semron. Þe ſones of Zabulon, Sared, and Thelom, and Jahelel. Þes þe ſones of Lye, þat ſhe gat in Meſopotanye of Syrie, wiþ Dyna hir dowȝter; alle þe ſoulis of þe ſones of hir and of douȝtres, þree and þretti. Þe ſones of Gad, Sephyon, and Aggy, Suny, and Heſebon, Hery, and Arodi, and Arely. Þe ſones of Aſar, Jamne, and Jeſua, and Jeſuy, and Berya; and Sara, þe douȝter of hem. Þe ſones of Berya, Heber, and Melchiel. Þes þe ſones of Zelphe, whom Laban ȝaf to Lye, his douȝter, and þes gat Jacob, ſixtene ſoules. Þe ſones of Rachel, wijf of Jacob, Joſeph, and Beniamyn. And born ben þe ſones of Joſeph in þe loond of Egipte, þe which gat to hym Aſenech, þe douȝter of Putyphar, of þe preeſt of Heliopoleos, Manaſſes, and Effraym. Þe ſones of Beniamyn, Bela, and Becor, and Aſbelgora, and Naaman, and Jeþi, and Reſemophym, and Ophyn, and Ared. Þes þe ſones of Rachel, þe whiche gat Jacob; alle þe ſoules fourtene. Þe ſones of Dan, Vſym. Þe ſones of Neptalym, Jaſyel, and Gumy, and Jeſer, and Salem. Þes þe ſones of Bale, whom ȝaf Laban to Rachel, his douȝter. Þes gat Jacob, alle þe ſoules ſeuen. And alle þe ſoules þat ben goon wiþ Jacob into Egipte, and goon out of þe leende of hym, wiþ oute wyues of his children, ſexti and ſexe. Þe ſones forſoþe of Joſeph, þat ben born to hym in þe loond of Egipte, ſoules two. Alle þe ſoules of þe hows of Jacob, þat ben goon into Egipte, weren ſeuenty. Jacob forſoþe ſente Juda before hym to Joſeph, þat he ſhulde telle to hym, and he ſhulde aȝen come into Geſſen. Whider whanne he was comun, Joſeph, ioyned his chare, ſteiede vp to mete wiþ his fader at þe ſame place. And ſeynge hym, felle vpon þe nek of hym, and bitwix þe clippyngis wepte. And þe fader ſeide to Joſeph, Now glad Y ſhal dye, for I haue ſeen þi face, and at þin aboue þee Y leeue. And he ſpak to his breþeren; and to al þe hows of his fader, Y ſhal ſteye, and telle to Pharao, and Y ſhal ſeie to hym, My breþeren, and þe hows of my fader, þe whyche weren in þe loond of Chanaan, ben comen to me, and ben men kepers of ſheep, and han biſynes of flockys to ben fedde; her beeſtis, and her droues, and al þat þei mowen haue, þei brouȝten wiþ hem. And whanne he ſhal clepen ȝou, and ſeie, What is ȝoure werke? ȝe ſhulen anſwere, Men ſheepherdes we ben, þi ſeruauntis, fro oure childhod vnto þe tyme þat is now, and we and oure faders. Þes þingis forſoþe ȝe ſhulen ſeye, þat ȝe mowen dwelle in þe loond of Geſſen, for alle Egipcyens haten alle ſheepherdes of ſheep.

Capitulum XLVII.

Joſeph þanne goon yn tolde to Pharao, ſeiynge, My fader and breþeren, þe ſheep of hem, and droues, and alle þe þingis þat þei han, ben comen fro þe loond of Chanaan; and loo! þei ben in þe loond of Geſſen. And fyue men, þe laſt of his breþeren, he ſette bifore þe kyng, whom he aſkide, What han ȝe of werke? Þei anſwerden, Sheepherdes of ſheep we ben, þi ſeruauntis, and we and our fadres; to pilgrimage into þi loond we ben comen, for þere is noon eerbe to þe flockis of þi ſeruauntis; hungur meche wexynge greuows in þe loond of Chanaan, and we axen þat þow comaunde vs to be þi ſeruauntis in þe loond of Geſſen. And ſo þe kyng ſeide to Joſeph, Þi fader and þi breþeren ben comen to þee; þe loond of Egipte is in þi ſiȝt, in þe beſte place make hem to dwelle, and tak to hem þe loond of Geſſen; and if þow haſt knowe to be redi men in hem, ordeyne hem mayſtrys of my beeſtis. After þes þingis Joſeph ladde yn his fader to þe kyng, and ſette hym beforn hym, þe which bleſſynge to hym, and aſkyde of hym, How feele ben þe dayes of þe ȝeris of þi lijf? He anſwerde, Þe dayes of þe pilgrimage of my lijf ben of an hundrid and þretti ȝeer, litil and yuel, and þei comen not vnto þe dayes of my fadris, in þe whiche þei han pilgrimagid. And þe kyng bliſſid, he ȝede oute. Joſeph forſoþe to þe fader and to his breþeren ȝaf poſſeſſyoun in Egipte, in þe beſt ſoyl of þe loond of Rameſſes, as comaundyde Pharao; and he fedde hem, and al þe hows of his fader, ȝyuynge meetis to eche oon. Forſoþe in al þe world breed lackide, and hungur oppreſſide þe erþe, mooſt of Egipte and of Chanaan; of þe whiche al þe money he gederyde togider for þe ſellyng of whete, and putte it to þe treſorye of þe kyng. And whanne to þe biggerys faylide prijs, cam al Egipte to Joſeph, ſeiynge, Ȝif to vs breed; whi dien we bifore þee, faylynge money? To whom he anſwerde, Bryngiþ ȝoure beeſtis, and Y ſhal ȝyue to ȝow for hem meetis, if prijs ȝe han not. Þe whiche, whanne þei hadden brouȝt, he ȝaf to hem foode for horſis, and ſheep, and oxen, and aſſis; and he ſuſteynede hem þat ȝeer for chaungyng of beeſtis. And þei camen þe ſecounde ȝeer, and ſeiden to hym, We hiden not to oure lord, þat failynge þe money and þe beeſtis togideres han failid, ne it is priue fro þee, þat wiþ outen bodies and loond we han not; whi þanne ſhulen we dye, þee ſeynge? and we and our loond of þee ſhulen ben, bie vs in to þe kyngis þraldom, and ȝif vs ſeedes, leſt peryſhynge þe tilyer, þe loond be turned aȝen into wildernes. Þanne Joſeph bouȝte al þe loond of Egipte, echoon ſellynge his poſſeſſiouns, for þe greetnes of hungur; and he ſugettide it to Pharao, and al þe puplis of it, fro þe laſte termes of Egipte vnto þe vttmeſt cooſtis of it, out takun þe loond of preſtis, þe which of þe kyng was take to hem, to whom and certeyn meetis of þe comoun beernes weren ȝouun, and þerfor þei ben not nedid to ſellen her poſſeſſiouns. Þanne ſeide Joſeph to þe peplis, Loo! as ȝe beholden, and ȝow and ȝoure loond Pharao haþ; takiþ ſeedis, and ſowiþ feeldis, þat ȝe mowen han lyuelodis; þe fyfþe part ȝe ſhulen ȝyue to þe kyng, þe toþer foure partis Y leeue to ȝow into ſeed, and into metys, to meynes, and to ȝoure children. Þe whiche anſwerden, Oure helþe is in þin hoond; oure God oonly bihold vs, and gladliche we ſhulen ſerue to þe kyng. Fro þat tyme vnto þe day þat is now, in al þe loond of Egipte þe fifþe part to kyngis is payed, and yt is maad as into a lawe, wiþ outen þe preeſtis loond, þat free was fro þis condicioun. Þanne Yrael dwelte in Egipte, þat is, in þe loond of Geſſen, and hadde it, and was encreeſid and multiplied greetly. And he lyuede in it ſixtene ȝeer, and alle þe dayes of þe lijf of hym ben maad of an hundryd and ſeuene and fourti ȝeer. And whanne he bihelde þe day of deeþ to neiȝ, he clepide his ſone Joſeph, and ſeide to hym, If Y haue foundun grace in þi ſiȝt, putte þin hoond vnder myn hippe, and þow ſhalt do to me mercy and treuþe, þat þow byrie me not in Egipte; but I ſhal ſleepe wiþ my fadris, and þow ſhalt take me fro þis loond, and birye me in þe ſepulcre of myn eldres. To whom Joſeph anſwerde, I ſhal do þat þow haſt bodun. And he, Sweer þanne, he ſeiþ, to me; whom ſwerynge, Yrael anowrede God, turned to þe heed of þe bedde.

Capitulum XLVIII.

And ſo þes þingis paſſid ouer, it was toold to Joſeph, þat þe fader of hym wex ſik. Þe which wiþ hym takun two ſones, Manaſſes and Effraym, forþ ȝeden to go. And it was ſeide to þe olde man, Loo! þi ſone Joſeph is comen to þee; þe which coumfortid ſat in þe bedde. And to Joſeph comun in to him, ſeiþ, God Almyȝti aperyde to me in Luza, þat is in þe loond of Chanaan, and he bliſſide to me, and ſeiþ, Y þee ſhal encreeſe and multiplie, and make into cumpanyes of peples, and Y ſhal ȝyue to þee þis loond, and to þi ſeed after þee, into euerlaſtynge poſſeſſioun. Þanne þi two ſones, þat ben born to þee in þe loond of Egipte bifore Y com hider to þee, ſhulen ben myne, Effraym and Manaſſes as Ruben and Symeon ſhulen ben acountid to me; þe toþer forſoþe whom þow ſhalt gete after hem ſhulen be þine, and bi name of her breþeren ſhulen be clepid in her poſſeſſiouns. To me forſoþe whanne Y cam fro Meſopotanye, Rachel was deed in þe loond of Chanaan, in þat weie, and it was veer tyme; and Y cam into Effratam, and Y biryede hir biſide þe weie of Effraþe, þe which in anoþer name is clepid Beþleem. And Jacob, ſeynge þe ſones of hym, ſeide to hym, Who ben þes? He anſwerde, My ſones þei ben, whom God haþ ȝouun to me in þis place. Bryng hem, he ſeiþ, to me, þat I bliſſe to hem. Þe eyen forſoþe of Yrael weren derke for greet eelde, and cleerli he myȝte not ſe; and hem put to hym, kiſſynge and cleppynge hem, ſeide to his ſone, Y am not bigilid of þi ſiȝt; forþermore God haþ ſhewid to me þi ſeed. And whanne Joſeph hadde takun hem fro þe boſum of þe fader, he anowride, bowid into þe erþe. And he putte Effraym at his riȝt hoond, þat is, at þe left ſyde of Iſrael; Manaſſes forſoþe in his lift ſide, at þe riȝt ſide of þe fader, and he putte boþe to hym. Þe which ſtrecchynge out þe riȝt hoond, putte vpon þe heed of Effraym, þe laſſe broþer; þe left forſoþe vpon þe heed of Manaſſe, þe which was more þurȝ birþe. Jacob togidere chaungynge þe hondes bliſſide þe ſones of Joſeph, and ſeiþ, God, in whos ſiȝt ȝeden my fadres Abraham and Yſaac; God, þat fedde me fro my ȝongþe into þe day þat is now; þat aungel þat delyueride me fro alle yuels, bleſſe to þes children, and my name be inwardly clepid vpon hem, and þe names of my fadris Abraham and Yſaac; in multitude vpon erþe growe þei. Joſeph forſoþe ſeynge þat his fader hadde putte þe riȝt hoond vpon þe heed of Effraym, greuowſly tok, and þe hoond of þe fader takun, enforſide to heue fro þe heed of Effraym, and to ber ouer vpon þe heed of Manaſſe. And he ſeide to þe fader, Not ſo, fader, it falliþ to be, for þis is þe firſt getun; put þi riȝt hoond vpon þe heed of hym. Þe which forſakynge ſeiþ, I knowe, ſone myne, Y knowe; and þis forſoþe ſhal be into puples, and ſhal be multiplied; but þe broþer of hym laſſe more þan he ſhal be, and þe ſeed of hym ſhal growe into folk of kynde. And he bliſſide hem in þat tyme, ſeiynge, In þee Yrael ſhal be bliſſid, and ſhal be ſeide, God do to þee as to Effraym and Manaſſe; and he ſette Effraym bifore Manaſſe. And he ſeiþ to Joſeph, his ſone, Loo! Y dye, and God ſhal be wiþ ȝow, and he ſhal brynge ȝow aȝen to þe loond of ȝoure fadris; Y ȝyue to þee o parti oute of þi breþeren, þat Y tok of þe hoond of Amorrey, in ſwerde and in my bowe.

Capitulum XLIX.

Jacob forſoþe clepide his ſones, and ſeide to hem, Be ȝe gederid togidris, þat Y telle þat ben to comen to ȝou in þe laſte daies; be ȝe gadered togidris, and here ȝe, þe ſones of Jacob, here ȝe Yrael ȝoure fader. Ruben, my firſt getun, þow my ſtrengþe, and þe bigyning of my ſorwe; firſt in ȝiftis, and more in comaundyng; þow art held out as water; ne grow þow, for þow haſt ſteied up þe cowche of þi fader, and þow haſt defoulid þe bedde of hym. Symeon and Leuy, breþeren, þe veſſels of ſhrewidnes, makynge batails; in þe counſeil of hem come not my ſoule, and in þe cumpanye of hem be not my glorie; for in her woodnes þei ſlewen a man, and in her owne wil þei vndurdelueden þe wal; curſid is þe woodnes of hem, for it is ſtedfaſt, and þe indignacioun of hem, for it is hard; Y ſhal deuyde hem in Jacob, and I ſhal ſcater hem in Yrael. Juda, þee ſhulen preyſe þi briþeren, þin hondis in þe ſkulles of þin enemyes, þe ſones of þi fader ſhulen lowte þee. Þe whelp of lyon Juda; to þe prey, ſone myne, þow ſteydiſt vp; reſtynge þow ley down as a lyon, and as a lioneſſe who ſhal arere hym? Þe ſeptre fro Juda ſhal not be takun awey, and a duke fro þe leende of hym, to þe tyme þat he come þat is to be ſent, and he ſhal be þe abidynge of folk of kynde, byndynge to a vynȝerd his colt, and to a vyn, O! my ſone, his ſhe aſſe; he ſhal waſſhe in wyne his ſtoole, and in blood of a grape his mantil; fayrer ben þe eyen of hym þan wyn, and þe teeþ of hym whitter þan mylk. Zabulon in þe brynke of þe ſee ſhal dwelle, and in þe ſtacioun of ſhippes, arechynge vnto Sidon. Yſachar, an hee aſſe ſtrong, liggynge bitwix þe teermes, ſawȝ reſt þat it was good, and þe loond þat it was beſt, and vnderputte his ſhuldur to bere, and he is maad to tributis ſeruynge. Dan ſhal deme his puple, and as anoþer lynage in Yrael. Be maad Dan an eddre of ſhadowe in þe weie, and an horned eddre in þe paþ, bitynge þe cleen of an hors, þat þe ſteyer up of hym falle bacward; and þi ȝyuer of helþe Y ſhal abyde, Lord. Gad gird ſhal feiȝt bifore hym, and he ſhal be gird bihynde. Aſer, þe fat breed of hym, and he ſhal ȝeue delices to kyngis. Neptalym, þe herte ſent out, and ȝyuynge þe ſpechis of fayrnes. Þe ſone acreeſynge, Joſeph, þe ſone acreſynge, and ſemly in ſiȝt; þe douȝtres hidir and þider renneden vpon þe wal, but þei eggiden hym out, and ſtreuen, and enuyden to hym, hauynge dartis. Sat in þe ſtrong þe bowe of hym, and vnbounden ben þe bondis of armes, and of þe hondis of hym bi þe hoond of þe myȝti of Jacob; þens a ſhepherde ȝede out, þe ſtoone of Yrael. God of þi fader ſhal be þin helper, and þe Almyȝti ſhal bleſſe to þee wiþ bleſſynges of heuene fro aboue, and wiþ bleſſyngis of þe ſee liggyng beneþ, and wiþ bleſſyngis of tetis, and of þe wombe; þe bliſſyngis of þi fader ben coumfortid wiþ þe bliſſyngis of þe fadris of hym, to þe tyme þat were comen þe deſyre of euerlaſtynge hillis; ben þei maad in þe heed of Joſeph, and in þe heed of Nazarei amonge his breþeren. Beniamyn, a wulf raumpynge, þe morwen tide he ſhall eete a pray, and þe euentide he ſhal dyuyde ſpoylis. Alle þes in þe lynagis of Irael twelue; þes þingis ſpak to hem her fader, and bleſſide hem eche wiþ propre bleſſyngis. And he comaundide hem, ſeiynge, Y am gedered to my puple, birye ȝe me wiþ my faders in þe dowble ſpelunk, þat is in þe feeld of Effron Eþei, aȝens Mambre, in þe loond of Chanaan, þat Abraham bouȝte wiþ þe feeld of Effron Eþei, into poſſeſſioun of a ſepulcre. Þere þei birieden hym, and Sara, þe wijf of hym; þere alſo byried is Yſaac, wiþ Rebecca þe wijf; þere and Lya biried lieþ. And endid þe maundementis wiþ whiche þe ſones he enfourmyde, he gederede togedere his feet vpon þe bed, and dyed, and put he is to his puple.

Capitulum L.

That ſeynge Joſeph, fel vpon þe face of þe fader, wepynge, and kyſſynge hym, and comaundide to þe ſeruauntis, his leches, þat wiþ ſwete oynementis þei ſhulden anoynte þe fader. Þe whiche þe maundementis fulfillynge, paſſiden ouer fourti dayes; þis forſoþe manere was of bodies anoynt, and Egipte wepte hym ſeuenti dayes. And fulfillid þe tyme of weilyng, Joſeph to þe meyne of Pharao ſpak, If Y haue founde grace in ȝoure ſiȝt, ſpek ȝe in þe eeris of Pharao, þerþurȝ þat my fader haþ chargid me wiþ ooþ, ſeiynge, Loo! Y dye, in my ſepulcre þat I deluede to me in þe loond of Chanaan, þow ſhalt byrye me; þanne I ſhal ſteie vp þat Y byrye my fader, and ſhal turne aȝen. And Pharao ſeyde to hym, Stey vp, and byry þi fader, as þow haſt ſworne. Whom ſtiynge vp, ȝeden wiþ hym alle þe oold men of þe hows of Pharao, and alle þe more þurȝ birþe of þe loond of Egipte, þe hows of Joſeph wiþ his breþeren, wiþ outen litil children, and flockis, and droues, þat laften in þe loond of Geſſen. And he hadde in his ledyng chares, and rydynge men, and þere was maad þe companye not a litil. And þei camen to þe þreſſhyng feelde of Adad, þe which is ſet biȝonde Jordan, where holdynge þe offices for þe deed, wiþ greet weilyng and hydows, fulfilliden ſeuen dayes. Þat whanne hadden ſeen þe dwellers of þe loond of Chanaan, ſeiden, A greet weilyng is þis to þe Egipcyens, and þerfor þei clepiden þe name of þat place Þe weylyng of Egipte. Þanne þe children of Yrael diden as it was comaundid hem, and berynge hym into þe loond of Chanaan, byryden hym in þe dowble ſpelunk, þat Abraham bouȝte wiþ þe feelde, into poſſeſſioun of a ſepulcre, of Ephron Eþei, aȝens þe face of Mambre. And Joſeph is turned aȝen into Egipte, wiþ his briþeren, and wiþ al þe cumpanye, þe fader beryed. Þe which deed, dredynge þe breþeren of hym, and togidere ſpekyng, leſt perauenture he haue mynde of þe wrong þat he ſuffrede, and ȝeelde to vs al þe yuel þat we han do, ſenten to hym, ſeiynge, Þi fader comaundide vs or he ſhulde die, þat þes wordes to þee we ſhulden ſeye, Y preye, þat þow forȝete þe wickidnes of þi breþeren, and of þe ſynne, and of þe malyce þat þei wrouȝten in þee; and we preyen, þat to þe ſeruaunt of God, þi fader, þow forȝeue þis wickidneſſe. Þe whiche þingis herd, Joſeph wepte. And to hym comen his breþeren, and mekid into þe erþe lowtiden, and ſeiden, Þi ſeruauntis we ben. To whom he anſwerde, Wole ȝe not dreden, wheþer mowen we aȝenſtonde þe wil of God? Ȝe þouȝten of me yuel, and God turneþ it into good, þat he ſhulde enhaunce me, as ȝe now ſeen, þat ſaaf he make many puples; wole ȝe not dreden, Y ſhal fede ȝow, and ȝoure children. And he coumfortide hem, and fayre and ſoftly he ſpak, and dwelte in Egipte, wiþ al þe hows of his fader, and lyuede an hundrid and ten ȝeer, and ſawȝ þe ſones of Effraym vnto þe þridde generacioun; and þe ſones of Machir, ſone of Manaſſe, ben born in þe kneen of Joſeph. Þe whiche þingis ouerpaſſid, he ſpak to his breþeren, After my deeþ God ſhal viſite ȝow, and make ȝow ſteyen vp fro þis loond to þe loond þat he faſtnede wiþ ooþ to Abraham, Yſaac, and Jacob. And whanne he hadde adiuryd hem, and ſeide, God ſhal viſite ȝow, bere ȝe wiþ ȝow my bones fro þis place, he diede, fulfillid an hundred and ten ȝerys of his lijf, and anoyntide wiþ ſwete oynementis, was leid in to towmbe in Egipte.

Heere endiþ Geneſis and now bigynneþ Exodus.