[1467]-8
At one burden she bore
Two, who were to her akin of blood.
sibbe blod = O.H.G. sippe-bluot, blood relatives. Perhaps this line was inserted by the author on account of the popular belief at this time, that the birth of twins was an indication of unfaithfulness on the part of the woman to her husband. [1469]-71 Also it seemed to her day and night, As (though) they wrought in fight (struggling, conflict), Which of them should first be born. [1470] "And the children struggled together within her."—(Gen. xxv. 22.) The following curious paraphrase of this passage occurs in the Cursor Mundi, fol. 20b:—
"His wiif (Rebekah) þat lang had child forgane,
Now sco bredes tua for ane,
Tuinlinges þat hir thoght na gamen,
Þat in hir womb oft faght samen.
Swa hard wit-in hir wamb þai faght,
Þat sco ne might rest dai ne naght;