wrought gold and the beloved maidens, the 2155
womenfolk of thy people. Thou needst not fear for
a while the attack of the hostile warriors, the battle
of the northmen, for the birds of prey sit all smeared
with blood, among the fastnesses of the mountains, well 2160
gorged with the slaughter of the armies."

So the king set out on his return home with the spoils
which the pious lord of the Hebrews, regardful of honor,
gave up to him.

Then again to Abraham the High-King of Heaven 2165
showed himself, with holy speech comforted the wise-
hearted man, and spoke to him thus:

"Great are thy rewards. Let not now thy heart
grow idle, thou steadfast [doer] of my will. Nor needst
thou fear anyone, while thou heedest my commandment,
for with my own hands will I shelter and shield thee 2170
during thy life-time here against every woe: thou
needst not be fearful."

XXVI.

Then Abraham, famed for his deeds, answered his
Lord and asked Him, in the fullness of his days:

"O Ruler of spirits, what dost thou give me for free- 2175
men's solace, now that I am thus solitary? I have no
need to found an ancestral seat for any sons of mine, but
after me shall my distant kinsmen dispose of my goods;
thou hast not given me a son, and therefore sorrows
weigh upon me very heavily in my heart; I myself can 2180
not devise any counsel. My steward goes rejoicing in
his sons, and is firmly persuaded in his thoughts that
after me his sons shall be the keepers of the heritage:
they see that no children are born to me of my bride."

To him then at once God answered: 2185

"Never shall thy steward possess the heritage of thy
sons: but thine own children shall hold the treasure,
when thy flesh lies [in the grave]. Behold the sky. Count
those jewels, the stars of heaven, which now freely scatter 2190
their glorious radiance far and wide to shine brilliantly
over the broad surface of the sea. Such shall be the
multitude of thy descendants, rich in progeny. Let not
thy heart be bound by sorrow. A son shall yet be born 2195
to thee, a child born of thy wife by ordinary birth, who
after thee shall be the keeper of the inheritance, rich in
property. Grieve no more: I am the Lord, who many
winters ago led thee out of the stronghold of Caldea 2200
with but few followers, an