A Hyve Fvll of Hunnye :: :: University of Virginia Library

Sauen Yeares doth Iacob Laban serue
For Rachel, Labans Childe.
Vnto his bed is Leah brought,
And Iacob is beguilde,
Hee marieth both, and serueth yet
seuen yeares for Rachell more,
And Leah doth Conceiue, and beare
and prayseth God therefore.

1

Then Iacob lyfted vp his Feete,
to pace his iourney oute,
And came to Country of the East,
and as hee lookt about:

2

Behold, in field there was a Wel
and Flockes of Sheepe hard by,
And on the mouth of that same Well,
a mighty Stone did lye.

3

So thyther were the Flockes al brought,
that they might water take,
And then the Stone was rold away,
more roome for Sheepe to make:

4

And when the Sheepe had dronke their fill
they put the Stone agayne
Upon the Wel, til watring tyme
the Mouth did close remayne.

5

Sayd Iacob then, vnto those men,
my Brethren whence are ye?
Of Haran Syr, (sayd they) we are:
and Shepeheardes as you see.

6

And know you Laban then sayd hee)
that Nahors Sonne should bee?
We know him very wel sayd they:
a vertuous man is hee.

7

And is hee in good health or not?
I pray you do me tell
In health (sayd they) and see where comes
his Daughter young Rahell.
Driuing the Flocke of Fathers Sheepe
to bring vnto thys Well.

8

It is but early day (sayd hee)
too sone haue you brought hyther:
It is not tyme the Cattel should
be gathred yet together,

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9

But insomuch as ye be heere
and by the Well remayne,
Water the sheepe and so departe
that they may feede agayne.

10

We may not so, our custome is
to gather all in one:
Then from the mouth of this same Well
wee rolle away the Stone.
And so we water all our sheepe
and backe agayne are gone.

11

Whyle hee yet talked with those men
young Rahel came apace
With Fathers sheepe, for shee them kept:
and when shee was in place,

12

No sooner had young Iacob seene,
this Rahel in the face:
But from the Well he rold the Stone
and so in little space

13

He watered the Flocke of Sheepe,
that Rahel thyther brought:
Which Flocke of Sheepe Laban (in deede)
his mothers Brother ought.

14

And Iacob there did Rahel kysse
and lifted vp his voyce,
And wept and shed such teares of ioye,
as men that much reioyce.

15

Hee told her then, how that he was
her fathers brothers Sonne
She ranne and told her father all,
what was both sayd and done.

16

UUhen Laban heard of Iacob there
his Sisters Sonne to bee,
He ranne to meete, and him embrast,
and welcome (sayd) to mee.

17

And when hee had him frendlye kist,
home to his house him brought,
And Iacob there to Laban told
the matter all in thought
Which hee against his brother had
by mothers counsell wrought.

18

Sayd Laban than, thou art my bone
and eke my Flesh also.
And heee abode a Month with him
about his worke to goe.

19

Though thou (said hee) my Brother bee
should thou for nought serue mee?
Tel mee what shal thy wages bee
and I will geeue it thee.

20

This Laban now two daughters had,
and Lea was the one,
And Rahel shee, the youngst of twaine
was fayr'st to looke vpon.

21

And Iacob Rahel loued well:
and therfore sayd in fyne:
Seuen yeares I wyl thy seruaunt bee
for Rahell daughter thyne.

22

Much better t'is sayd Laban tho
my daughter thyne to bee
Then his vnknowne a straunger borne,
and from my kinred free.
I am content it shalbe so
abyde here styl with me.

23

For Rahel, Iacob thus became
to Laban bound as tho,
Those yeares with him few dayes did seeme
his loue encreased so.

24

And when seuen yeares expired were:
geeue mee my wife, sayd hee,

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That I may know her as I ought,
for now I am set free.

25

Then Laban Father to the Mayde
together streight did cal
The Men and Brethren of that place
and so did feast them all.

26

When Night was come, hee Leah tooke
and vnto Iacob brought,
And Iacob went as Custome was
to Rahel (as hee thought)

27

But when the Morning did appeare
the matter for to trye,
Behold Leah, not Rahel t'was
with Iacob that did lye.

28

Wherfore? (sayd Iacob) hast thou playd
this subtil part with mee,
Did I not serue for Rahel thyne
this seuen yeares past with thee?
Wherfore hast thou thus me beguilde
as al these People see?

29

To whom thus Laban aunswered:
the maner of this place
Is not the youngest to preferre
before the eldest face.

30

Passe out this weeke, then shal this Mayde
be geeuen to thee also,
And for the same thou shalt mee geeue,
seuen yeares of seruice moe.

31

So Iacob did, and passed out
the weeke as was the guise,
Then Laban Rahel gaue to him
to bee his wife likewise.

32

So Iacob now, two wyues possess
but Rahel loued hee,

For whom hee serued Fourtene yeares,
and after was set free.

33

When God did see, how Iacob did
Lea his Wyfe dispise,
Hee blest her Wombe, and fruictfull made
before the Peoples Eyes:

34

But Rahell, whom hee lyued best,
did barren yet become.
And Lea shee conceiued streight
and brought him forth a sonne.

35

And Ruben called shee his name:
and sayd the Lorde did see
My sorrowe greate, and therefore nowe
my Husbande will loue mee:

36

And shee againe conceiued was,
and so to passe it cam:
The Lord hath hard and seene (saith shee)
that I dispised am:

37

And therefore hath this Sonne me geuen,
to feede my ioyes vpon.
And so her second Sonne shee cal'de
by name of Simeon.

38

The third time yet conceiued shee,
an other Sonne him bare.
For this sayth shee my husband now,
my company wil not spare.

39

Because I haue three sonnes hym borne,
to make him glad wythall:
And therfore shee her third sonne nam'de,
and Leuy did him call.

40

And she the fourth time dyd conceiue
and bare another sonne,
Sayd she, now will I prayse the Lord
for this that hee hath donne.

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41

And Iuda called shee this Childe.
and so shee bare no moe:
Till afterward it pleased God
his blessinge great to shoe.