Eliezer Meets With Rebekah
| Of nachor bi-geten, of melca boren, Cam to ðat welle ðor him bi-foren, | Rebekah came to that well, |
| And him and ilc-on his kamel 1380 Wið watres drinc ghe quemede wel. | and she gave him and his camel water to drink. |
| Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen, Ne wor nogt ſo forð ðeuwe numen. | [Fol. 27b.] |
| Eliezer lerede ðor 1384 ðat batuel cam of nachor; Of batuel ðis maiden cam ghe waſ forð nifte of abraham; | Eliezer learned that she was of the family of Nahor. |
| ðogte he, ðiſ maiden wile ic hauen 1388 And to min louerdes bofte bi-crauen;159 for kindes luue he waſ hire hold, | Thought he, this maiden will I have as a wife for Isaac. |
| Wið beges and ringes boðen of gold, Aſkede here if ghe migte taken 1392 Herberge for hire frendes ſake[n]. Maiden rebecca ðanne ran, And kiddit to hire broðer laban, | He gave her ear-rings and bracelets of gold. |
| And laban cam to ðat welle ner, 1396 faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer, And fond good grið and good hostel, Him, and hiſe men, and hiſe kamel. | Laban came to the well, invited him home, and entertained him well. |
| Eliezer, or he wulde eten, 1400 Wulde he nogt hiſe erdene for-geten; Al he tolde hem fro queðen he cam, And for quat erdene he ðider nam; Tolde hem tiding of abraham, 1404 Quilc ſelðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam, | Eliezer would not eat till he had told his errand; |
| Sent he waſ ðider, for kinde wune, After a wif to yſaac hiſ ſune. | how he had been sent by Abraham to seek a wife for Isaac. |
| ſeide he, “rebecca wile ic hauen, 1408 To yſac-iſ bi-ofte wile ic crauen. | [Fol. 28.] |
| Laban and hiſ moder wið-ðan fagneden wel ðiſ ſondere man; | Laban and the mother were well pleased with the messenger. |
Anð MS.
Notes
159 read bi-ofte crauen? v. l. 1408.