let me lead again in freedom to their native land and wasted
dwellings the children of my people, the women and lads and
widows in their affliction. Our sons are dead and all our
nobles, save a few only who must guard with me the marches of our
land."

(ll. 2136-2138) And straightway, crowned with valour and victory
and glory, Abraham made answer before the earls. Right nobly
spake he:

(ll. 2139-2160) "I say to thee, O prince of men, before the Holy
Lord of earth and heaven, there is no worldly treasure I will
take, nor scot nor shilling of what I have redeemed for thee
among the bowmen, great prince and lord of men, lest that thou
afterward shouldest say that I grew rich with the riches of Sodom
and its olden treasure. But thou mayest take hence with thee all
that booty which I won for thee in battle, save only the portion
of these lordly men, of Aner, and of Mamre, and of Eshcol. I
will not willingly deprive these warriors of their right, for
they upheld me in the shock of battle and fought to thine
advantage. Depart now, taking home the well-wrought gold, and
lovely maidens, the daughters of thy people. Thou needest not to
dread the onrush of thy foes, or war of the Northmen, but the
blood-stained birds of prey are resting on the mountain slopes,
gorged with the slain of their armies."

(ll. 2161-2167) Then the king departed to his home with the booty
which the holy Hebrew prince, mindful of honour, had given him.
And the Lord of heaven appeared again unto Abraham, comforting
the noble man of heart with holy speech, and said: