The
STORY
of
Jacob
and
Rachel
attempted
.
To
the
same
.
Thou
!
to
whom
nature
variously
imparts
,
The
gift
of
conq'ring
,
and
of
keeping
hearts
,
Smile
on
the
lay
—
nor
deem
the
Tale
too
long
,
Which
,
but
for
Thee
,
had
yet
remain'd
unsung
.
So
may
some
chosen
Youth
hereafter
view
All
Rachel's
Graces
bloom
in
Thee
anew
,
And
love
,
like
Jacob
,
tenderly
and
true
.
Far
in
the
East
,
as
Sacred
Writ
records
,
Dwelt
Laban
,
rich
in
sundry
flocks
and
herds
;
Near
Haran's
famous
Well
was
his
abode
,
There
smoak'd
his
altars
to
his
Houshold-God
.
His
dwellings
large
,
and
fertile
was
his
land
,
And
num'rous
servants
waited
his
command
;
The
fruitful
lawn
,
the
hill
,
the
levell'd
down
,
Far
as
the
eye
could
stretch
,
were
all
his
own
:
Throughout
the
East
extended
Laban's
fame
,
And
where
he
journey'd
,
there
he
left
a
name
.
Two
only
Daughters
to
his
age
remain'd
,
And
Leah
one
,
and
one
was
Rachel
nam'd
.
Time
had
from
Leah
rifled
ev'ry
grace
—
But
blooming
beauty
,
dwelt
on
Rachel's
face
.
Well-favour'd
,
graceful
,
in
the
bloom
of
life
,
She
led
the
flocks
,
or
tript
it
to
the
fife
When
summer
suns
burnt
fiercely
o'er
their
heads
,
She
drove
the
wantons
frisking
to
the
shades
;
Or
when
the
merry
pipe
rejoic'd
the
vale
,
Led
up
the
dance
,
or
told
the
jocund
tale
;
Chearful
and
blythe
she
pass'd
the
day
along
,
And
ev'ry
valley
echo'd
with
her
song
.
She
was
each
shepherd's
theme
,
each
swain's
delight
,
Their
talk
by
day
,
their
vision
in
the
night
;
Whene'er
they
feasted
on
their
homely
cheer
,
No
mirth
was
heard
,
if
Rachel
was
not
there
:
'Mongst
all
their
rural
sports
She
still
was
seen
,
And
foremost
at
the
feast
,
as
on
the
green
.
Her
Fame
and
Charms
soon
reach'd
young
Jacob's
ear
,
Rebekah's
best
belov'd
,
and
Isaac's
Heir
:
But
ere
his
friends
and
family
he
leaves
,
His
Father's
Blessing
on
his
head
he
craves
.
To
Padan-aram
now
his
course
he
steers
,
His
hopes
succeeded
by
a
thousand
fears
;
The
mingled
passions
take
up
all
his
soul
,
And
vast
events
within
his
bosom
roll
.
As
on
he
journey'd
far
into
the
East
,
Fatigued
himself
,
his
camels
wanting
rest
,
Not
far
away
,
with
pleasure
he
beheld
A
spacious
well
,
amidst
a
fruitful
field
;
Where
with
their
flocks
the
sun-burnt
shepherds
came
,
Panting
and
faint
,
to
quaff
the
limpid
stream
.
Of
these
he
ask'd
their
country
and
their
name
:
"
From
Haran
(
they
reply'd
)
thy
servants
came
.
"
And
know
ye
Laban
?
lives
he
,
can
ye
tell
?
"
He
lives
,
my
Lord
;
thy
servants
know
him
well
:
His
num'rous
flocks
in
yonder
valley
stray
,
And
with
them
,
lo
!
his
daughter
comes
this
way
.
"
When
Jacob
saw
the
Maid
,
his
beating
breast
The
pow'r
of
Love
and
radiant
eyes
confest
.
Quick
thro'
his
veins
the
gen'rous
pleasure
flow'd
,
His
bosom
with
unusual
fervours
glow'd
;
Around
his
heart
the
soft'ning
passions
crept
,
He
gaz'd
he
sigh'd
,
he
wonder'd
,
and
he
wept
;
Then
seiz'd
her
hand
,
and
kiss'd
her
rosy
cheek
,
And
trembling
from
his
lips
the
accents
break
.
When
Rachel
heard
his
family
and
name
,
Their
common
stock
,
the
tribe
from
whence
she
came
;
With
decent
haste
,
exulting
o'er
the
plain
,
She
,
with
the
tidings
,
to
her
Father
ran
.
Meanwhile
her
harmless
flock
neglected
stray
,
Or
round
the
Well
in
expectation
lay
:
These
Jacob
water'd
,
could
he
well
do
less
?
He
lov'd
the
sheep
,
but
more
the
Shepherdess
.
When
Laban
heard
the
tidings
,
forth
he
went
To
meet
,
and
welcome
Jacob
to
his
tent
.
"
My
joy
(
cry'd
Laban
)
let
my
actions
speak
;
A
kind
embrace
,
and
friendly
welcome
take
,
—
This
for
Rebekah
—
this
for
Isaac's
sake
.
"
Now
mirth
and
feasting
thro'
the
house
were
found
,
The
damsels
tript
it
to
the
tabret's
sound
,
And
the
brisk
bowl
to
Jacob's
health
went
round
.
Each
in
the
gen'ral
joy
affects
his
share
,
And
none
seem'd
pensive
,
but
the
Patriarch's
Heir
.
He
oft
on
Rachel
gazes
,
oft
approves
,
And
much
he
muses
,
for
as
much
he
loves
:
All
night
her
pleasing
image
sooth'd
his
mind
;
He
found
her
fair
,
and
hop'd
to
prove
her
kind
.
Soon
as
the
rosy
morn
unveil'd
the
light
,
And
with
her
splendor
chas'd
the
gloom
of
night
;
Jacob
arose
,
and
blest
the
new-born
day
,
Then
sought
the
flock
,
where
Rachel
led
the
way
.
And
now
he
guides
'em
to
the
flow'ry
hill
,
Or
drives
'em
skipping
to
the
distant
rill
:
At
noon
secures
'em
from
the
scorching
heat
;
With
Rachel
near
him
,
Jacob's
toil
is
sweet
.
If
on
the
reed
his
skilful
fingers
move
,
He
pours
the
song
to
harmony
and
Love
.
Oft
on
the
trees
imprints
her
much-lov'd
name
,
Or
sighs
his
passion
to
the
murm'ring
stream
;
To
deck
her
hair
the
flow'ry
wreath
prepares
,
The
flow'ry
wreath
for
Jacob's
sake
she
wears
:
Jacob
!
whom
now
she
views
with
partial
eye
,
Nor
pass'd
his
slighest
deeds
unnotic'd
by
.
Nor
were
their
thoughts
to
Love
alone
confin'd
,
To
mutual
vows
instructive
talk
they
join'd
.
As
how
the
stars
in
beauteous
order
stood
,
And
each
the
splendid
witness
of
a
God
!
—
Their
signs
and
seasons
they
observe
with
care
,
And
mark
their
influence
on
the
earth
and
air
:
Which
threats
their
flocks
,
or
which
destroys
their
vines
,
And
which
with
good
,
or
baleful
aspect
shines
.
Thus
pass'd
their
time
.
When
Laban
now
beheld
His
flocks
increase
,
his
vines
more
clusters
yield
;
Pleas'd
with
his
growing
wealth
,
he
strait
prepares
To
offer
some
reward
for
Jacob's
cares
.
Jacob
,
whose
heart
nor
gold
nor
gems
could
move
,
Look'd
with
disdain
on
all
—
but
Rachel's
Love
;
And
thus
reply'd
.
"
If
gracious
Laban
means
"
Or
to
reward
my
past
,
or
future
pains
;
Bless
,
with
a
bounteous
hand
,
bless
all
my
life
,
And
give
me
lovely
Rachel
for
a
Wife
.
I
ask
no
dow'r
my
fortunes
to
improve
,
Rich
in
possession
of
my
Rachel's
Love
.
Let
sordid
swains
,
whom
thirst
of
gain
invites
To
woo
the
Fair-One
to
the
nuptial
rites
,
Bargain
for
Love
,
and
sell
their
vows
for
gold
;
But
let
not
Rachel
,
like
her
sheep
,
be
sold
.
Rachel
!
whose
beauty
softens
ev'ry
breast
,
Whose
worth
outweighs
the
treasures
of
the
East
!
Full
sev'n
long
years
I'll
serve
thee
for
the
Maid
;
The
toil
looks
pleasing
,
when
so
well
repaid
.
"
Laban
consents
,
and
Jacob
joys
to
find
The
Sire
as
courteous
as
the
Daughter
kind
,
Nor
e'er
suspects
the
depths
of
Laban's
mind
.
His
upright
heart
,
as
yet
,
no
guile
could
see
;
He
thought
men
honest
,
as
they
seem'd
to
be
.
But
when
the
long-expected
day
appears
,
That
Rachel
should
reward
her
Jacob's
cares
,
When
with
united
hearts
they
join
to
bless
The
first
fair
dawnings
of
their
mutual
peace
;
Laban
prepares
a
banquet
,
and
invites
The
neighb'ring
swains
to
grace
the
nuptial
rites
.
In
num'rous
crouds
they
came
from
distant
lands
,
To
hail
the
Bride
;
with
presents
in
their
hands
;
Rich
sparkling
wines
,
or
firstlings
of
the
flock
,
Or
swelling
clusters
from
the
pendent
rock
.
A
flowing
mantle
lovely
Rachel
wore
,
Emboss'd
with
gems
,
with
gold
embroider'd
o'er
;
In
wanton
ringlets
wav'd
her
aubourn
hair
,
Succinct
her
robe
,
her
buskin'd
legs
half
bare
.
She
gave
the
health
,
She
welcom'd
ev'ry
guest
,
And
seem'd
to
all
the
Mistress
of
the
Feast
.
But
when
the
sun
withdrew
his
kindling
beams
,
And
the
last
ray
danc'd
faintly
on
the
streams
;
The
guileful
Laban
,
whose
long-frozen
breast
No
more
the
youthful
pow'r
of
Love
confest
,
Observ'd
how
Leah
often
look'd
askance
,
And
cast
on
Rachel
many
an
envious
glance
,
Himself
the
willing
wayward
damsel
led
To
Rachel's
Place
,
and
seiz'd
the
bridal
bed
.
But
when
the
morn
appear'd
,
and
by
his
side
Jacob
beheld
his
unexpected
Bride
;
Enrag'd
,
he
smote
his
breast
,
his
clothes
he
rent
,
And
sorrowing
sought
the
faithless
Laban's
tent
,
And
thus
upbraids
"
What
hast
thou
done
?
Why
led
The
tasteless
Leah
to
my
nuptial
bed
?
Did
I
serve
thee
for
Her
?
ungentle
fair
!
—
And
dost
thou
thus
reward
my
honest
care
?
Little
wast
Thou
,
thou
know'st
it
,
ere
I
came
;
How
God
has
blest
thee
since
,
let
Me
proclaim
.
What
time
I've
serv'd
thee
,
have
I
done
thee
wrong
?
Have
or
thy
Ews
or
Goats
once
cast
their
Young
?
That
which
was
torn
of
beasts
I
brought
thee
not
,
I
bare
the
loss
,
nor
hast
thou
suffer'd
aught
.
Thus
,
thus
I
was
;
for
Thee
my
sleep
I
lost
,
Endur'd
the
summer's
sun
,
and
winter's
frost
.
Unrighteous
Man
!
is
this
then
my
return
?
I
serv'd
for
Rachel
—
but
for
Leah
mourn
.
"
Laban
reply'd
,
"
What
tho'
,
young
man
,
I
led
"
My
first-born
Leah
to
thy
arms
,
and
bed
;
Know
,
'tis
our
country's
custom
:
'twere
a
crime
To
give
the
younger
first
—
yet
both
are
thine
,
If
,
with
thy
boasted
fondness
,
thou
canst
bear
Sev'n
added
years
of
servitude
and
care
.
"
Ill-fated
Jacob
!
who
must
now
embrace
These
hard
conditions
of
his
happiness
,
Or
lose
his
lovely
Maid
,
his
much-lov'd
Fair
!
Source
of
his
woes
,
and
partner
of
his
care
—
Twice
sev'n
long
years
!
'
twas
hard
for
Love
to
bear
.
Yet
all
his
trials
well
did
he
sustain
,
And
Rachel
shar'd
,
or
soften'd
ev'ry
pain
,
Till
Heav'n
at
length
confirm'd
Her
all
his
own
;
When
,
to
their
mutual
joy
,
She
bare
a
son
,
And
thence
enjoy'd
his
Love
unrival'd
,
and
alone
.