Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.

                                
                                  On Rachel he wan tweye, Iosep & Beniamin.
                                
                                  Betere is for to here þis tale þen to drinke win; [folio 1b] 
                                
                                  For whoso hereþ þis tale to þe nendinge,
                                
                                  Of more reufule song herde he neuere singe.
                                  Line 30 
                                
                                  Nou he sit in halle, Iacob þe elde man,
                                
                                  & his sones alle from felde comeþ hom.
                                
                                  Iacob bihalt his sones, of hem he was bliþe;
                                
                                  & Iosep þe ȝunge bigan to speke swiþe.
                                
                                  His fader he tolde a swefne aniȝt þat him mette
                                  Line 35 
                                
                                  & bad swiþe ȝerne telle þat me him lette.
                                
                                  'Do nou, mi sone dere, God leue þe so to speke,
                                
                                  Þat tou in none worde his heste ne tobreke.'
                                
                                  'Vader,' seide Iosep, 'nou ich wole þe telle
                                
                                  Of mine metinge & of mine spelle.
                                  Line 40 
                                
                                  Me þuȝte, ase ich slepte, afeld þat we were,
                                
                                  Þou & mi moder & mine breþren here;
                                
                                  & so we repen oure corn & oure sseues knetten,
                                
                                  & vpriȝt in þe felde wel feire we hem setten,
                                
                                  Me þuȝte þat ȝoure sseues, þer hi stoden alle,
                                  Line 45 
                                
                                  To me þei gonnen louten & to mi fet falle.
                                
                                  Ȝit me þuȝte an oþer, fader, God hit wot,
                                
                                  Þat te sunne & þe mone fellen to mi fot.
                                
                                  Ȝit me þuȝte þe þridde, fader, telli þe,
                                
                                  Þat elleue sterren to fote fellen me.
                                  Line 50 
                                
                                  Þis is mi sweuene, fader, þat ich telle þe,
                                
                                  Ȝif hit þi wille were, ared what hit mai be.'
                                
                                  Þenne seide Iacob to Iosep his sone,
                                
                                  'Tide wat bitide, ȝit wole þi swefne come.
                                
                                  Tide wat bitide, ȝit wole þi swefne be. [folio 2a] 
                                  Line 55 
                                
                                  Ich wene mid iwisse, ȝut we hit ssulen ise,
                                
                                  Þat ich & þi moder & þine breþren ek
                                
                                  Moten for fine nede comen to þine fet.'

About this Item

Title: Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.
Canvas: Page 2
Publication: Oxford,: Clarendon press,; 1916.

Technical Details

Collection: Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
Link to this Item: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/acb1675.0001.001
Link to this scan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/acb1675.0001.001/34:3

Rights and Permissions

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact [email protected]. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact [email protected].

DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States

IIIF

Manifest: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/api/manifest/cme:acb1675.0001.001

Cite this Item

Full citation: "Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/acb1675.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2025.

Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.

Annotations Tools

Actions

About this Item

Technical Details

Rights and Permissions

Related Links

IIIF

Cite this Item