boys grown up, and maidens sitting about a certain well, he staid
with them, as wanting water to drink; and beginning to discourse
with them, he asked them whether they knew such a one as Laban,
and whether he was still alive. Now they all said they knew him,
for he was not so inconsiderable a person as to be unknown to any
of them; and that his daughter fed her father's flock together
with them; and that indeed they wondered that she was not yet
come, for by her means thou mightest learn more exactly whatever
thou desirest to know about that family. While they were saying
this the damsel came, and the other shepherds that came down
along with her. Then they showed her Jacob, and told her that he
was a stranger, who came to inquire about her father's affairs.
But she, as pleased, after the custom of children, with Jacob's
coming, asked him who he was, and whence he came to them, and
what it was he lacked that he came thither. She also wished it
might he in their power to supply the wants he came about.

5. But Jacob was quite overcome, not so much by their kindred,
nor by that affection which might arise thence, as by his love to
the damsel, and his surprise at her beauty, which was so
flourishing, as few of the women of that age could vie with. He
said then, "There is a relation between thee and me, elder than
either thy or my birth, if thou be the daughter of Laban; for
Abraham was the son of Terah, as well as Haran and Nahor. Of the
last of whom (Nahor) Bethuel thy grandfather was the son. Isaac
my father was the son of Abraham and of Sarah, who was the
daughter of Haran. But there is a nearer and later cement of
mutual kindred which we bear to one another, for my mother Rebeka
was sister to Laban thy father, both by the same father and
mother; I therefore and thou are cousin-germans. And I am now