Eliezer Meets with Rebekah

Of nachor bi-geten, of melca boren,
Cam to ðat welle ðor him bi-foren,
Rebekah came to that well,

And him and ilc-on his kamel

1380

Wið watres drinc ghe quemede wel.
and she gave him and his camel water to drink.

Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen,
Ne wor nogt ſo forð ðeuwe numen.
[Fol. 27b.]

Eliezer lerede ðor

1384

ðat batuel cam of nachor;
Of batuel ðis maiden cam
ghe waſ forð nifte of abraham;
Eliezer learned that she was of the family of Nahor.

ðogte he, ðiſ maiden wile ic hauen

1388

And to min louerdes bofte bi-crauen;
for kindes luue he waſ hire hold,
Thought he, this maiden will I have as a wife for Isaac.

Wið beges and ringes boðen of gold,
Aſkede here if ghe migte taken

1392

Herberge for hire frendes ſake[n].
Maiden rebecca ðanne ran,
And kiddit to hire broðer laban,
He gave her ear-rings and bracelets of gold.

And laban cam to ðat welle ner,

1396

faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer,
And fond good grið and good hostel,
Him, and hiſe men, and hiſe kamel.
Laban came to the well, invited him home, and entertained him well.

Eliezer, or he wulde eten,

1400

Wulde he nogt hiſe erdene for-geten;
Al he tolde hem fro queðen he cam,
And for quat erdene he ðider nam;
Tolde hem tiding of abraham,

1404

Quilc ſelðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam,
Eliezer would not eat till he had told his errand;

Sent he waſ ðider, for kinde wune,
After a wif to yſaac hiſ ſune.
how he had been sent by Abraham to seek a wife for Isaac.

ſeide he, "rebecca wile ic hauen,

1408

To yſac-iſ bi-ofte wile ic crauen.
[Fol. 28.]

Laban and hiſ moder wið-ðan
fagneden wel ðiſ ſondere man;
Laban and the mother were well pleased with the messenger.

read bi-ofte crauen? v. l. 1408.

Anð MS.