The picture in the middle represents the Temptation of Christ by the Devil; that on the right, the Temptation of Adam by Eve; and that on the left, Esau selling his birthright for a Mess of Pottage, which his Brother Jacob has evidently just cooked in the iron pot suspended over the fire on a ratchet in the chimney-breast. The ham and goat's flesh or venison hanging on the kitchen wall remind us of the Dutch paintings of two centuries later. Esau's bow and quiver will be seen to be of a very primitive character. On the thirty-second page (to give another example) we find in the middle compartment Christ appearing to His Disciples; on the left, Joseph discovering himself to his Brethren; and on the right, the Return of the Prodigal Son. At the bottom of the page are these rhyming Latin verses:-- _Under Joseph and his Brethren._ Quos vex(av)it pridem Blanditur fratribus idem. _Under the Return of the Prodigal Son._ Flens amplexatur Natum pater ac recreatur. Hic ihesus apparet: surgentis gloria claret. Which have been roughly translated: Whom he so lately vexed He charms as brother next. The wept-one is embraced And as a son replaced, Here doth Christ appear, in rising glory clear. {15} [Illustration: JACOB AND ESAU--BIBLIA PAUPERUM _Facsimile of the original cut_] {16} The 'Biblia Pauperum,' although it could not be read by the laity, was evidently issued for their especial benefit, and, with the help of the priests, it afforded excellent lessons in Bible history. It is believed that the first copies were printed at Haarlem about A.D. 1430 to 1440. Five editions of the 'Biblia Pauperum' are known as block books with the text in Latin; two with the text in German; and several others were printed about 1475 with the text in movable type. At least three editions were printed in Holland, and seven or eight others appear to be of German origin; the earlier are of the Dutch School. There are four copies, differing editions, in the British Museum, one in the Bodleian Library, and one in the Spencer Library. Some of the copies are coloured in a very simple manner.