Of Esau and Iacob two twinnes, and of the diuersity of their conditions and qualities. CHAP. 4.
IN the memory of our fore-fathers (to speake of men of note) there were two (a) twins borne, so nere to gether, that the second held the first by the heele, yet * 1.1 in their liues, maners and actions, was such a maine disparity, that that very difference made them enemies one to another. I meane not this, that the one sat, when the other stood, nor that the one slept, when the other waked, these belong to those first markes and moments which they cannot comprehend who erect those figures of natiuity for the Astrologers to iudge vpon: (b) one of them bound himselfe to serue for wages: the other serued not at all: the one was loued by his mother, so was not the other: the one lost his honor and inheritance (a matter of great moment amongst them) and the other obtained it: And how great a diuersi∣ty was there in their mariages, wiues, children and goods? exceeding much.
L. VIVES.
TWo (a) Twins borne] Iacob and Esau, of Isaac and Rebecca Gene. 25. 25. 26. (b) One of] Iacob he serued Laban his father in law, for Rachell: he was dearely beloued of his mother Re∣becca, and got Esau his patrimony from him, which was a thing in those daies of most honor, and vse, of all things besides.