These words introduce the Poet’s account of the succession of Adam’s descendants,—Seth,—Enoch,— Noah,—Abraham,—Isaac and Jacob—to the birth of Joseph, upon whom, of his twelve children, Jacob concentrated his strongest affection. Losing his mother after two years, he is taken in charge by his aunt; who becomes so devotedly fond of him, that she will not part with him, and resorts to devices for keeping him from his father, and as much as possible to herself. But after a time she too dies, and Jacob can no longer resist his fatherly yearnings to enjoy his son’s companionship.