Part 10

ðat ſtede he calde manaim, ðor ðis wird of engeles metten hi_m_. ðor he bi-lef, and ſente ðeden[188]

Jacob sends messengers to Esau.

Sondere men to freinen and q_ue_ðen 1792

[185] haueð?

[186] wligt MS.

[187] glad?

[188] ðeðen?

THE MEETING OF ESAU AND JACOB.

If eſau wulde him ogt deren,

Word came to him that Esau was on his way to meet him.

ðog wiſte wel god ſulde hi_m_ weren; ðor him cam bode him for to ſen, ðat eſau him cam a-gen; 1796

[Fol. 35b.] Jacob sends a rich present to Esau.

And iacob ſente fer bi-foren hi_m_ riche loac, and ſundri boren, And iordan he dede ouer waden, Orf & men, wið welðe laden; 1800 And he bi-lef ðor on ðe nigt to bidden helpe of godeſ migt.

He wrestled with an angel,

And ðor wreſtelede an engel wið, Senwe ſpru_n_gen fro ðe lið; 1804

and the sinew shrank from the thigh.

(wulde he non ſenwe ſiðen eten, Self his kinde nile ðat wune forgeten.)

Jacob would not let the angel go,

Get held he wið ðis angel faſt, Til ðe daning up eſten it braſt; 1808 ðo ſeide ðe engel, "let me get ben, ðe daining her nu men mai sen."

until he had blessed him.

Q_u_ad iacob, "ðe ne leate ic nogt, Til ðin bliſcing on me beð wrogt." 1812

Jacob prevailed, and his name was called Israel.

Ðo q_u_ad ðe angel, "ſal tu nu_m_mor ben cald iacob, ſo ðu wore or, Oc ðu ſal ben hoten iſr_ae_l, for ðu ðe weries ſwiðe wel; 1816 Q_u_an ðe ðe migt wið angel weren, Hu ſal ani man ðe mugen deren? Ear iacob and nu iſrael."

This place was called Penuel.

ðat ſte[de] was cald phanuel, 1820 for he nam ou_er_ phanuel; And it wurð ligt and he ſag wel

[Fol. 36.] The meeting of Jacob and Esau.

Q_u_or eſau a-gen him cam, And bi-foren a-gen him na_m_; 1824 And ſeue ſiðes he fell hi_m_ bi-foren, And wurðe him ſo firmeſt boren;

The brothers become reconciled to each other.

And eſau ðo ran him to, And kiſſede, and wept, ðo rew hi_m_ ſo. 1828

JACOB DWELLS AT SUCCOTH. DINAH'S FOLLY.

Esau welcomes Jacob,

"Broðer," q_u_ad he, "ðu and ðin trume ben here i_n_ ðiſ place to me welcume; Haue and bruc wel al ðin p_re_ſent, ðat ðu to me bringeſt and haueſt ſent." 1832 Iacob was wo ðat he iſ for-ſoc,

accepts his present,

And ſcroð hi_m_ ſo(.) ðat ſu_m_ he ðor tok. Here luue ðo wurð hol and ſchir,

and departs unto Seir.

And eſau ferde forð ðeden[189] to ſeyr; 1836 ðat newe burg waſ him to frame, Mad and cald of iſ owen name.

From thence Jacob went to Succoth,

Iacob fro ðeðen wente, ic wot, tgelt on a ſtede, and cald it[190] ſochot; 1840 fro ſochot ſiðen to ſichem,

and afterwards to Shalem,

And wune ðor-inne ſalem,

where he bought a piece of land from Hamor.

ðor him ſolde an lond kinge emor, And he drog ðider and wunede ðor; 1844 wið newe alter wurðed he wel ðe ſtrong god of yſrael.

Here his daughter Dinah "mis-did."

Hiſ dowter dina ðor miſ-dede, ghe nam leueles fro ðat ſtede, 1848

[Fol. 36b.] She went out to see the world.

To ſen de werld ðhugte hire god, ðat made hire ſiðen ſeri-mod, for-liſtede hire owen red;

Shechem took her maidenhead.

Sichem tok hire maiden-hed; 1852 Emor his fader, ſiðen for-ði, And hiſ burge-folc fellen in wi;

Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemites and spoiled the city.

Symeon and leui it bi-ſpeken, And hauen here ſiſter ðor i-wreken; 1856 folc of ſalem ðor-fore waſ ſlagen, wiwes, and childre, and agte up-dragen; Oc iacob ne wiſte it nogt,

Jacob reproved Simeon and Levi for their cruelty.

Til ðat wreche to bale was wrogt, 1860 Oc michil he frigtede for-ði, boðen ſymeon and leui.

They durst not dwell longer at Shechem, but went to Bethel.

Henden ſichem ne durſten he wunen, ðat folkes kin god bad hi_m_ ſunen, 1864

[189] ðeðen?

[190] caldit MS.

BENJAMIN IS BORN. RACHEL DIES.

And ðeden[191] faren to betel, And he folgede iſ red on ſel;

Their unclean goods they bore not with them.

Agte unclene ne wulde he beren, for he dredde hi_m_ it ſulde hi_m_ deren; 1868 Godes ðat rachel hadde ſtolen, And ay til ðan wið hi_m_ for-holen,

Their idols and gold rings they buried under an oak.

And oðre ydeles brogt fro ſichem, Gol prenes and ringeſ wið hem, 1872 Diep he iſ dalf under an ooc, Made him no_n_ giſcing i_n_ herte wooc.

[Fol. 37.] Long they remained buried, until Solomon found them and decked his temple with them.

Longe it weren ðor for-hid; Men ſeið for-ði waſ ſo bi-tid, 1876 for ſalamon findin iſ ſal, And hiſ temple ſriðen wið-al. Iacob wente fro ðeden[192] i_n_ ſped,

God sent a fear upon the folk round about, so they did no hurt to the sons of Jacob.

God ſente on ðat erdfolc ſwilc dred, 1880 ðan[193] here non iacob ſcaðe ne dede; Q_u_ane he wente a-wei fro ðat ſtede,

Jacob makes an altar at Bethel.

He made an alter at betel, Alſ he god bi-het, ðor he geld wel. 1884

Benjamin is born.

Siðen ðo beniamin was boren,

Rachel dies.

Rachel adde ðe life for-loren; Iacob dalf hire and merke dede, ðat iſ get ſene on ðat ſtede. 1888

At Edar Reuben "misdid" and lay with his father's concubine.

Ðor q_u_iles he wunede at tur ader, Ruben miſdede wid[194] bala ðer.

Jacob arrives at Hebron, and finds his mother gone from this world.

Siðen cam iacob to ebron, And fond his moder of werlde gon; 1892 Starf yſaac q_u_an he waſ hold

Isaac dies at the age of nine score years.

.ix. ſcore ger and fiue told, And was doluen on ðat ſtede, ðor man adam and eue dede. 1896 So riche were growen hiſe ſunen, ðat he ne migte to-gider wunen;

Esau dwells in Edom,

Oc eſau, ſeyr [and] edon Lond ydumeam wunede on; 1900

[191] ðeðen?

[192] ðeðen?

[193] ðat?

[194] wið?

JOSEPH IS HATED BY HIS BRETHREN.

[Fol. 37b.]

Of edon ſo it higte ða,

which was before called Bozra.

for it was hoten ear bozra. Hear haued[195] moyſes ou_er_-gon, ðor-fore he wended eft a-gon. 1904 xii. ger or yſaac waſ dead

Jacob's sons did wickedly.

Iacobes ſunes deden un-red;

Joseph was sixteen when sold into Egypt.

FOr ſextene ger ioſeph was old, Q_u_ane he was in-to egipte ſold; 1908 He was iacobes gunkeſte ſune,

Joseph informed his father of his brethren's misdeeds.

Bricteſt of waſpene,[196] and of witt_er_ wune, If he ſag hiſe breðere miſ-faren, Hiſ fader he it gan vn-hillen & baren; 1912 He wulde ðat he ſulde hem ten ðat he wel-ðewed ſulde ben;

His brethren envied him on account of his dreams.

for-ði wexem[197] wið gret nið And hate, for it in ille [herte] lið. 1916 ðo wex her hertes niðful & bold Q_u_anne he hem adde iſ dremeſ told, ðat hiſ handful ſtod rigt up ſoren,

The vision of the sun, moon, and eleven stars.

And here it leigen alle he_m_ bi-foren; 1920 And ſunne, & mone, & ſterres .xi^e.[198] wurðeden hi_m_ wið frigti luue; ðo ſeide hiſ fader, "hu mai ðis ſen ðat ðu ſalt ðuſ wurðed ben, 1924

Jacob reproached his son, yet he believed it should be so.

ðat ðine breðere, and ic, and ſhe ðat ðe bar, ſulen luten ðe?"

[Fol. 38.]

ðuſ he chidden hem bi-twen, ðoge ðhogte iacob ſiðe it ſulde ben. 1928

The sons of Jacob kept flocks at Shechem.

Hiſe breðere kepten at ſichem Hirdneſſe, & iacob to ſen hem

Joseph was sent to see how they fared.

ſente ioſeph to dalen ebron; And he was redi his wil to don. 1932 In ſichem feld ne fonde he_m_ nogt,

His brethren knew him from afar,

In dotayin he fond he_m_ ſogt; He knewen hi_m_ fro feren kumen,

[195] haueð?

[196] wasteme?

[197] So in MS.

[198] For endluue?

JOSEPH IS SOLD TO CHAPMEN,

Hate hem on ros, i_n_ herte numen; 1936 Swilc nið & hate roſ hem on,

and took counsel to slay him.

He redden alle him for to ſlon. "Nai," q_u_ad ruben, "ſlo we hi_m_ nogt,

Reuben advised them to throw Joseph into an old and deep pit.

Oðer ſinne may ben wrogt, 1940 Q_u_at-ſo him drempte ðor q_u_iles he ſlep, In ðiſ ðiſterneſſe,[199] old and dep, Get wurðe[200] worpen naked and cold, Q_u_at-ſo hiſ dremeſ owen a-wold." 1944 ðiſ dede waſ don wid[201] herte ſor,

Reuben left his brethren to seek better pasture for his cattle.

Ne wulde ruben nogt drechen ðor; He gede and ſogte an oðer ſtede, Hiſ erue i_n_ bettre lewſe he dede; 1948

Judah gave them bad advice,

Vdas dor[202] q_u_iles gaf hem red, ðat was fulfilt of derne ſped; fro galaad men wið chafare Sag he ðor kumen wid ſpices ware; 1952

[Fol. 38b.]

To-warde egipte he gunne ten. Iudas tagte hu it ſulde ben,

and Joseph was sold for thirty pieces of silver.

Ioseph ſolde ðe breðere ten, for .xxx. plates to ðe chapmen; 1956 Get waſt bettre he ðuſ waſ ſold, dan[203] he ðor ſtorue i_n_ here wold.

Reuben came thither again and found Joseph gone.

Ðan r_u_ben cam ðider a-gen, to ðat ciſt_er_neſſe[204] he ran to ſen; 1960 He miſſed Ioseph and ðhogte ſwem,

Great was his outcry, which did not cease until he was assured that Joseph lived.

wende him ſlagen, ſet up an rem; Nile he blinnen, ſwilc ſorwe he cliued, Til him he ſweren ðat he liued. 1964 ðo nomen he ðe childes ſrud, ðe iacob hadde mad im[205] i_n_ prud;

Joseph's coat was dipt in kid's blood,

In kides blod he wenten it, ðo waſ ðor-on an rewli lit. 1968 Sondere men he it leiden on,

[199] cisterneſſe?

[200] _he_ is inserted in the later hand.

[201] wið?

[202] ðor?

[203] ðan?

[204] MS. cift_er_neſſe.

[205] madim in MS.

WHO SELL HIM TO POTIPHAR, AN EGYPTIAN.

and sent to Jacob at Hebron.

And ſenten it iacob i_n_-to ebron, And ſhewed it hi_m_, and boden hi_m_ ſen If hiſ childes wede it migte ben; 1972 Senten him bode he funden it. ðo iacob ſag dat[206] ſori writ,

"Evil beasts," said Jacob, "have swallowed my son."

He gret, and ſeide ðat "wilde der Hauen min ſune ſwolgen her." 1976

Long was his lamentation and sorrow.

Hiſ cloðes rent, in haigre ſrid, Long grot and ſorge is hi_m_ bi-tid.

[Fol. 39.]

His ſunes comen him to ſen, And hertedin him if it migte ben; 1980

Jacob would not be comforted for the loss of Joseph.

"Nai! nai!" q_u_at he, "helped it nogt, Mai non herti_n_g on me ben wrogt; ic ſal ligten til helle dale, And groten ðor min ſunes bale." 1984

In hell was a separate abode where the righteous rested,

(ðor was in helle a ſundri ſtede, wor ðe ſeli folc reſte dede; ðor he ſtunden til helpe cam,

till Christ took them from thence.

Til ih_es_u crist fro ðeden[207] he nam.) 1988 ðe chapmen ſkiuden here fare,

The merchants took their ware to Egypt.

In-to egipte ledden ðat ware; wið putifar ðe kinges ſtiward, He maden ſwiðe bigetel forward, 1992 So michel fe ðor iſ hem told, He hauen him bogt, he hauen ſold.

Potiphar bought Joseph.

Putifar waſ wol riche man, And he bogte ioſeph al forðan 1996

He entertained impure desires towards him,

He wulde don iſ lechur-hed wið ioseph, for hiſe faire-hed, Oc he wurð ðo ſo kinde cold, To don ſwilc dede adde he no wold; 2000

but Joseph was strengthened from above.

ſwilc ſelðe cam him fro a-buuen, God dede it al for ioſeph luue[n]. Biſſop in eliopoli[208] Men ſeið he was ſiðen for-ði, 2004

[206] ðat?

[207] ðeðen?

[208] In [H]Eliopolis; the words are run together.

JOSEPH IS CAST INTO PRISON.

[Fol. 39b.]

ðog had he ðo wif(.) and bi-foren Childre of him bi-geten and of hire boren, Oc after ðis it ſo bi-cam, Ioseph iſ dowter to wiue nam. 2008

Potiphar loved Joseph well.

Putifar luuede ioſeph wel, bi-tagte him hiſ huſ eu_er_ilc del, And he wurðede riche man an heg,

His wealth prospered under Joseph's care.

vnder ioſeph hiſ welðe ðeg. 2012 Hiſ wif wurð wilde, and nam i_n_ ðogt

His wife sought to lead Joseph astray.

vn-rigt-wiſ luue, and ſwanc for nogt, One and ſtille ðogt hire gamen wið ioſeph ſpeken and plaigen ſamen; 2016

For gold nor for wealth of any kind would he "forget his chastity."

Ghe bed him gold, and agte, and fe, To maken him riche man and fre, wið-ðhan ðat he wið here wile; Oc hi_m_ mislikede ðat ghe wile; 2020 for ſcrið, ne ðret, ne mai ghe bi-geten for to don hi_m_ chaſthed for-geten;

Neither threats nor intreaties prevailed.

Often ghe ðrette, often ghe ſcroð, Oc al it was him o-like loð. 2024 An time he was at hire tgeld, ðo ghe him his mentel for-held;

Wherefore she sought to be revenged upon Joseph.

for he wið hire ne wulde ſpeken, Ghe ðhenkeð on hi_m_ for to ben wreken; 2028 Sone ghe mai hire lou_er_d[209] ſen, Ghe god him bitt_er_like a-gen,

[Fol. 40.] She accused him falsely to Potiphar,

And ſeið ioſeph hire wulde don, ðat ghe ne migte hi_m_ bringen on; 2032 "ðiſ mentel ic wið-held for-ði, To tawnen [ðe] ðe ſoðe her-bi." ðe wite iſ hiſe(.) ðe right iſ hire, God al-migtin ðe ſoðe ſhire. 2036

who, believing his wife's tale,

Pvtifar trewið hiſe wiwes tale, And haued[210] dempt ioſep to bale; He bad [him] ben ſperd faſt dun,

threw Joseph into prison.

And holden harde i_n_ priſun. 2040

[209] MS. loru_er_d.

[210] ? haueð.

HE INTERPRETS THE PRISONERS' DREAMS.

An litel ſtund, q_u_ile he waſ ðer,

The gaoler loved Joseph.

So gan him luuen ðe p_ri_ſuner, And hi_m_ de[211] chartre haueð bi-tagt,

In this prison, either for misdeed or bad words,

wið ðo p_ri_ſunes to liuen i_n_ hagt. 2044 Or for miſdede, or for on-ſagen, ðor woren to ðat p_ri_ſun dragen,

were placed the chief butler and baker.

On ðat ðe kingeſ kuppe bed, And on ðe made ðe kingeſ bred; 2048

Both dreamt dreams in one night,

Hem drempte dremes boðen onigt, And he wurðen ſwiðe ſore o-frigt; Ioſeph hem ſeruede ðor on ſel, At here drink and at here mel, 2052

which caused them to become very sorrowful.

He herde hem m_ur_nen(.) he hem freinde for-q_u_at; Harde dremes ogen awold ðat.

Joseph inquired the reason of their grief.

ðo ſeide he to ðe butuler, "Tel me ðin drem, mi broðer her. 2056

[Fol. 40b.]

Q_u_eðer-ſo it wurðe ſofte or ſtrong, ðe reching wurð on god bi-long."

The butler's dream.

"Me drempte, ic ſtod at a win-tre,

A vine with three branches

ðat adde waxen buges ðre, 2060 Oreſt it blomede, and ſiðen bar

bore grapes;

ðe beries ripe wurð ic war; ðe kinges [kuppe] ic hadde on hond,

the juice the butler squeezed into Pharaoh's cup, and gave him to drink as he was wont.

ðe beries ðor-inne me ðhugte ic wrong, 2064 And bar it drinken to pharaon, Me drempte, alſ ic waſ wune to don."

"Good it is," said Joseph, "to dream of wine.

"Good is," q_u_að Ioſeph, "to dremen of win, heilneſſe an bliſſe iſ ðer-in; 2068

In three days thou shalt be restored to thy office,

ðre daies ben get for to cumen, ðu ſalt ben ut of p_ri_ſun numen, And on ðin offiz ſet agen;

then think of me and bear my errand to Pharaoh,

Of me ðu ðhenke ðan it ſal ben, 2072 Bed min herdne to pharaon, ða[t] ic ut of p_ri_sun wurðe don,

for I am here wrongfully held in prison."

for ic am ſtolen of kinde lond, and her wrigteleſlike holden i_n_ bond." 2076

[211] ðe?

KING PHARAOH DREAMS A DREAM,

The "breadwright's" dream.

Quað ðis bred-wrigte, "liðeð nu me, me drempte ic bar bread-lepes ðre, And ðor-in bread and oðer meten, Q_u_ilke ben wune ðe kinges to eten; 2080

Fowls seized on the baskets of bread intended for the king,

And fugeles hauen ðor-on lagt, ðor-fore ic am i_n_ ſorge and hagt,

[Fol. 41.]

for ic ne migte me nogt weren,

and he could not keep the meat from them.

Ne ðat mete fro hem beren." 2084 "Me wore leuere," q_u_ad Ioſeph, "Of eddi dremes rechen ſwep;

"In three days," said Joseph, "thou shalt be hanged, and fowls shall tear thy flesh in pieces."

ðu ſalt, after ðe ðridde dei, ben do on rode, weila-wei! 2088 And fugeles ſulen ði fleis to-teren, ðat ſal non agte mugen ðe weren." Soð wurð ſo ioſeph ſeide ðat,

The butler soon forgat Joseph.

ðis buteler Ioſeph ſone for-gat. 2092

After two years,

Two ger ſiðen was Ioſeph ſperd ðor in p_ri_ſun wið-uten erd;

Pharaoh dreamt a dream.

Ðo drempte pharaon king a drem,

He stood by the river, and there came seven "neat" fat and great, and seven lean after,

ðat he ſtod bi ðe flodes ſtrem, 2096 And ðeden[212] ut-comen .vii. neet, Eu_er_ilc wel ſwiðe fet and gret, And .vii. lene after ðo, ðe deden ðe .vii. fette wo, 2100

which ate up the fat ones.

ðe lene hauen ðe fette freten; ðiſ drem ne mai ðe king for-geten. An oðer drem cam hi_m_ bi-foren,

Seven full ears of corn sprang up "on a rank bush," and then came seven withered ears,

.vii. eares wexen fette of coren, 2104 On an busk ranc and wel tidi, And .vii. lene rigt ðor-bi, welkede, and ſmale, and drugte numen, ðe ranc he hauen ðo ou_er_-cumen, 2108