2. With this intention he went to the well, and desired the maidens to
give him some water to drink: but while the others refused, on pretense
that they wanted it all at home, and could spare none for him, one only
of the company rebuked them for their peevish behavior towards the
stranger; and said, What is there that you will ever communicate to
anybody, who have not so much as given the man some water? She then
offered him water in an obliging manner. And now he began to hope that
his grand affair would succeed; but desiring still to know the truth, he
commended her for her generosity and good nature, that she did not
scruple to afford a sufficiency of water to those that wanted it, though
it cost her some pains to draw it; and asked who were her parents, and
wished them joy of such a daughter. "And mayst thou be espoused," said
he, "to their satisfaction, into the family of an agreeable husband, and
bring him legitimate children." Nor did she disdain to satisfy his
inquiries, but told him her family. "They," says she, "call me Rebeka;
my father was Bethuel, but he is dead; and Laban is my brother; and,
together with my mother, takes care of all our family affairs, and is
the guardian of my virginity." When the servant heard this, he was very
glad at what had happened, and at what was told him, as perceiving that
God had thus plainly directed his journey; and producing his bracelets,
and some other ornaments which it was esteemed decent for virgins to
wear, he gave them to the damsel, by way of acknowledgment, and as a
reward for her kindness in giving him water to drink; saying, it was but
just that she should have them, because she was so much more obliging
than any of the rest. She desired also that he would come and lodge with
them, since the approach of the night gave him not time to proceed
farther. And producing his precious ornaments for women, he said he
desired to trust them to none more safely than to such as she had shown
herself to be; and that he believed he might guess at the humanity of
her mother and brother, that they would not be displeased, from the
virtue he found in her; for he would not be burdensome, but would pay
the hire for his entertainment, and spend his own money. To which she
replied, that he guessed right as to the humanity of her parents; but
complained that he should think them so parsimonious as to take money,
for that he should have all on free cost. But she said she would first
inform her brother Laban, and, if he gave her leave, she would conduct
him in.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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