Rebekah came to
that well,
Of nachor bi-geten, of melca boren,
Cam to ðat welle ðor him bi-foren,
and she gave him
and his camel
water to drink.
And hi_m_ and ilc-on his kamel
Wið watres drinc ghe q_ue_mede wel. 1380
[Fol. 27b.]
Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen,
Ne wor nogt ſo forð ðeuwe numen.
Eliezer learned
that she was of
the family of
Nahor.
Eliezer lerede ðor
ðat batuel cam of nachor; 1384
Of batuel ðis maiden cam
ghe waſ forð nifte of abraha_m_;
Thought he, this
maiden will I
have as a wife
for Isaac.
ðogte he, ðiſ maiden wile ic hauen
And to min lou_er_des bofte bi-crauen;[159] 1388
for kindes luue he waſ hire hold,
He gave her ear-rings
and bracelets
of gold.
Wið beges and ringes boðen of gold,
Aſkede here if ghe migte taken
Herberge for hire frendes ſake[n]. 1392
Maiden rebecca ðanne ran,
And kiddit to hire broðer laban,
Laban came to
the well, invited
him home, and
entertained him
well.
And laban cam to ðat welle ner,
faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer, 1396
And[160] fond good grið and good hostel,
Him, and hiſe men, and hiſe kamel.
Eliezer would not
eat till he had
told his errand;
Eliezer, or he wulde eten,
Wulde he nogt hiſe erdene for-geten; 1400
Al he tolde hem fro q_ue_ðen he cam,
And for q_u_at erdene he ðider nam;
Tolde hem tiding of abraham,
Quilc ſelðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam, 1404
how he had been
sent by Abraham
to seek a wife for
Isaac.
Sent he waſ ðider, for kinde wune,
After a wif to yſaac hiſ ſune.
[Fol. 28.]
ſeide he, "rebecca wile ic hauen,
To yſac-iſ bi-ofte wile ic crauen. 1408
Laban and the
mother were well
pleased with the
messenger.
Laban and hiſ moder wið-ðan
fagneden wel ðiſ ſondere man;
[159] _read_ bi-ofte crauen? _v._ l. 1408.
[160] Anð MS.