The Privileges of the First Born
| Wexen boden yſaac ſunes, 1480 And ðhogen, and adden ſundri wunes; | Isaac’s sons grew up and had different occupations. |
| Eſau wilde man huntere, And Iacob tame man tiliere. | Esau was a hunter, and Jacob a husbandman. |
| ðe fader luuede eſau wel, 1484 for firme birðe & ſwete mel; | Isaac loved Esau for that he was the eldest. |
| ðe moder, iacob for tamehed, And for ðe ali gaſteſ red. Iacob An time him ſeð a mete | [Fol. 29b.] Rebekah loved Jacob because of his peaceful disposition. |
| 1488 ðat man callen lentil gete, | Jacob sod pottage. |
| And eſau fro felde cam, Sag ðis pulment, hunger him nam. | Esau came from the field hungry. |
| “Broðer iacob,” quat eſau, 1492 “Of ðiſ warme mete ðu gif me nu, for ic ham mattilike weri.” Iacob wurð war he waſ gredi; | “Brother,” said he, “give me of this warm meat, for I am weary.” |
| “Broðer,” quad he, “ſel me ðo wunes, 1496 ðe queðen ben ðe firme ſunes, ðat ic ðin firme birðehe gete, If ic ðe fille wið ðiſ mete.” | Jacob said, “Sell me thy birthright, and I will fill thee with meat.” |
| Quad eſau, “ful bliðelike,” 1500 And gafe it him wel ſikerlike. | Esau consented full blithely. |
| firme birðe waſ wurði wune ðe fader dede ðe firme ſune; ðe firme ſune at offrende ſel 1504 Waſ wune ben ſcrid ſemelike and wel, | The eldest son was highly honoured. |
| And ſulde auen ðe bliſcing Or or ðe fader dede hiſ ending; And at heg tide and at geſtning, 1508 ðe gungere168 ſune geuen ðe bliſcing, | At his father’s death he had the blessing. |
| And hauen mete ðan at iſ mel, More or ðe gungere twinne del; | At meat he had a double portion. |
| And quanne ðe fader were grauen, 1512 two doles of ereward riche auen. | [Fol. 30.] His inheritance was twice as much as the younger’s share. |
Notes
168 An error for eldere.