im, and friends unknown. Many haughty
men spoke of the beauty of his wife in their remarks,
men distinguished by their wealth: to many high-spirited 1850
men, vassals of the king, his wife seemed noble in counte-
nance. They brought the news to their liege-lord, and[22]
few women did they repute fairer before the king, but
they lauded exceedingly Sarra's countenance for its 1855
great beauty, until he bade them bring the lovely woman
to his own hall. The ruler of the people and chief of
the nobles bade them enrich Abraham with treasures.
But the Lord God became aggrieved and incensed against 1860
Farao for his love of the woman: the joy of his house-
hold[23] bore this wrath hardly with his intimates. How-
ever, the ruler of the people perceived what the Lord
was sending upon him for punishment: urged on by 1865
fear, the king of Egipt called Abraham to him and gave
him his bride, [returned] his wife into his keeping, bade
him seek friends elsewhere, noblemen of another race.
Then the ruler of the country ordered his vassals and 1870
ministers to escort him out of their land again, honor-
ably, uninjured in any respect, so that he might be in
peace.

Then Abraham took [all his] possessions out of the
country of Egypt: these worthy heroes took their wives, 1875
both brides and rings, while they brought their flocks
to Bethlem, a familiar dwelling-place, [brought] their
womenfolk and treasures and their worldly goods. 1880
Then they began to build there, and to erect their city
and settle their homes, and renew their prosperity.
The men built an altar in the meadows near the one that
Abraham had formerly reared to his Lord, when he
came to this western land: there the fortunate man 1885
exalted the Name of the Eternal Lord once more; the
high-minded ruler offered sacrifice to the King of the
Angels, thanked exceedingly the Source of Light and
Life for his happiness and honor.

XXIII.

Abraham and Loth lived in these dwellings and had 1890
abundance of prosperity, ruled over their heritage, until
they could not enjoy plenty together any longer in that
land and keep the possessions of both there, but the
worthy warriors had to seek broader seats elsewhere. 1895
There were often dissensions among the followers of the
steadfast heroes, quarrels among the her