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