wolde he nogt hi_m_ hiſ ſwinc for-geten, 912
[Fol. 18b.]
The patriarch
would accept of
nothing.
oc ab_ra_m dede ðor meðelike wel,
wid-held he ðor-of neu[_er_]e on del,
oc al ðat eu_er_e fel him to,
Then first began
the custom of
keeping the 15th
year holy.
Sac-les he let hin welden it ſo. 916
Ebruiſ ſeigen, wune hem wex her
To algen ilk fiftene ger,
for loth waſ fifti winter hold,
Quan ab_ra_m him bi-told. 920
Abel first began
first-fruit.
Abel primiceſ firſt bi-gan,
Abram tithes.
And decimas first ab_ra_m;
Nu iſt ſo boden and ſo bitagt,
Quo-ſo hiſ alt him bi agt. 924
After this God
spake to Abram,
saying,
"I am thy safety
and thy defence,
thy toil shall be
requited."
After ðiſ ſpac god to abram:—
"ðin berg and tin werger ic ham.
ðin ſwinc ðe ſal ben gulden wel,
wid[134] michel welðe in good[e] ſel." 928
Quoth Abram,
"What avails
wealth, seeing
that I am childless,
and that Eliezer's
son shall inherit
my wealth?"
Quad he, "q_u_at ſal me welðes ware,
Q_u_ane ic child-leſ of werlde fare;
Damak eliezereſ ſune,
In al min welðe ſal he wunen?" 932
God said, "Of
thyself shall
thine heir come."
Q_u_at god, "ſo ſal it nogt ben,
Of ðe ſelf ſal ðin erward ten."
Abram leuede ðiſ hot i_n_ ſped,
dat[135] waſ him [told] to rigt-wiſhed. 936
Abram took
three deer each
three years old
and offered them
as a sacrifice.
ðre der he toc, ilc ðre ger hold,
And ſacrede god on an wold;
[Fol. 19.]
of godeſ bode he nam god kep,
An heifer, a goat,
and a sheep he
took, and divided
them in two and
set them apart.
A net, and a got, and a ſep; 940
Eu_er_ilc of ðeſe he delte on two,
And let hem lin on ſunder ſo,
Vndelt heſ leide q_u_or-ſo heſ tok;
The dove and the
turtle he divided
not.
And ðor a duue and a turtul ok 944
Sat up on-rum til heuene he tok,
And of ðo doles kep he nam
Greedy fowls fell
upon the carcases.
Gredi foueles fellen ðor-on,
[134] _read_ wið
[135] _read_ ðat