but a few, and gave thee this wide realm to rule. I give thee
now My promise, prince of Hebrews, thy seed shall settle many a
spacious kingdom, the regions of the world from the Egyptian
borders even unto Euphrates, and where the Nile hems in a mighty
land and the sea limits it. All this shall thy sons inhabit;
each tract and tribal realm and lofty stone-built city,
whatsoever those three waters and their foaming floods encircle
with their streams."

(ll. 2216-2219) Now Sarah's heart was heavy that she bare no
goodly son to gladden Abraham; with bitter grief she spake unto
her husband:

(ll. 2220-2233) "The Lord of heaven hath denied me to increase
thy tribe, or bear thee children under heaven. I have no hope
that we shall have a son to stay our house. My heart is sad. My
lord, do now according as I bid thee. Here is a virgin subject
unto thee, a comely maid, a daughter of the Egyptian people. Bid
her go quickly to thy bed and thou shalt prove if by this woman
the Lord will send an heir unto thy house."

(ll. 2234-2246) And the blessed man gave ear unto the woman's
counsels, and bade his handmaid go unto his bed, according as his
wife had counselled him. And the maiden conceived by Abraham,
and her heart grew arrogant. She stubbornly began to vex her
mistress, was insolent, insulting, evil-hearted, and would not
willingly be subject to her, but straightway entered into strife
with Sarah. Then, as I have heard, the woman told her sorrow to
her lord, speaking with bitter grief: