bid her now repair to thy bed forthwith, and see if
the Lord will allow any heir for thy goods to come into 2230
the world through this woman!"

Then the holy man yielded to the advice of his wife,
and bade the handmaiden go to his couch as a bride.[29] 2235
Her spirit exalted itself, when she had become pregnant
with a man-child by Abraham; stiff-necked in scorn she
began to despise her mistress, showed insolence, was
overweening, and was unwilling to endure servitude but 2240
boldly began to resist Sarra strongly.

Then I heard how the wife spoke to her husband in the
sorrow of her heart, with these words; sad in mind she
spoke, and said bitterly:

"Thou dost not deal properly and rightfully with me. 2245
Thou hast hitherto allowed it to happen that my hand-
maiden afflict me every day by deed and word, ever
since Agar entered thy bed in place of thy wife, as was
my entreaty: she shall pay for this mercilessly, if I 2250
may still control mine own before thee, dear Abraham;
of this may the Almighty Lord of Lords be judge
between us two!"

The wise-minded man then answered her at once in 2255
these words:

"Never shall I leave thee without honor, while we
both live; but thou must manage thine own maid as