JOSEPH, OR, PHAROAH'S FAVOURITE.  ECCLES. 39.1, 4. 
He only that applieth his mind to the Law of the most high, and is occupied in the Meditation thereof; shall serve among Great men and appear before the Prince.  
LONDON, Printed by B. A. for Matthew Law, and are to be sold at his Shop in Paul's Churchyard. 1623.   

To the right honourable and reverend Father in God, john Lord Bishop of Lincoln, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.  
WHat need I any other Dedication?  
Thy life & Joseph's are but one narration  
He kept King pharoh's Seal which was his Ring  
Thou art the great-Seale Keeper of our King,  
And art the nearest servant to his Throne,  
And in his seat of judgement sit'st alone.  
By him the kingdom's weight, Church, people's care  
Committed to thy equal Balance are,  
Thus as to Pharaoh joseph was at Nile,  
So art Thou to the Monarch of this I'll:  
God make thy service like good Joseph's prove,  
And thee reward with pharoh's Grace and love,  
So Thou shalt give thy Master high content,  
And make us happy in thy Government.  
Your Lordship's most humbly devoted ROBERT AYLET.   

THE FIRST BOOK OF JOSEPH.  
Of him, whom God by brethren's envy sent  
From Canaan to Egypt, to prevent  
Great dearth; I sing; thou that didst him protect  
In all his travels, me in mine direct.  
NOw dwelled the holy Patriarch Israel  
At rest, in Canaan in his father's cell,  
For Esau now did in mount Seir reign,  
One country could not all their flocks sustain:  
And having many storms and dangers past,  
Now hoped in quiet to have lived at last,  
Freed from his brother's hate and menacing,  
From Laban's cruel gripes and coveting,  
His tears for loss of Rachel now were dried,  
For Dina's rape, and Simeons' homicide,  
His sons abroad, in Peace their flocks do tend,  
joseph at home, his father doth attend:  
When lo! an envious Spirit (which did reed,  
In holy jacob, isaack's promised seed,  
Which he to come of joseph most did fear.  
Because he to his father was so dear)  
One day amongst the sons of God appeared,  
Before the Lord, desiring to be heard:  
And thus began: Dread Thunderer: be just,  
Hast thou not raised up sinful man from dust,  
To make those heavenly Mansions, ay his own,  
From which thou Angels in thy wrath hast thrown  
And damned? yet we but once did thee displease,  
But he offends each hour, yet lives at ease:  
jacob in isaack's Tents doth quiet live,  
As with his Blessing he him Peace did give;  
And though by thy Decree man ought attain  
To joys of Heaven, by sorrow, care, and pain▪  
To him thou so benign and gracious art,  
He sees the Pleasures, never feels the smart;  
So as it seems 'tis thy determination,  
To make base Man for bliss, Us for damnation:  
How hast thou blessed him on every side?  
His Children many, his Possessions wide;  
His flocks abound and cover all the Land,  
So thou dost bless all works that pass his hand:  
Well may he serve thee for so great reward,  
But touch him, thou shalt see his slight regard,  
Vex thou but him, or any of his race,  
And he will thee blaspheme unto thy face:  
When thus, th' Almighty; say thou what thou can,  
Iacob's a matchless, just and perfect man,  
Who feareth God, doth good, escheweth ill,  
Try him or his, so thou no blood dost spill.  
Thus now had Satan his desires attained,  
By Jacob's Angel till that time restrained;  
And since for blood he could not get permission,  
He privily sow's Envy and Sedition,  
Which make oft greater rents in Church and State,  
Then open enmity and known debate:  
Simeon and Levi, once his Instruments  
Of murder, under covered false intents,  
With the two handmaid's sons shall kindle hate,  
And Envy, for to overthrow the state  
Of simple joseph, who in honest sort,  
To Israel brought his brethren's ill report;  
And in plain meaning did to them unfold  
His dreams by day, which God by night had told:  
Which enviously this Spirit interpreting,  
As if he of his Brethren would be king;  
And for because he was to jacob dear,  
And tales to him, as they suspect did bear▪  
He by their malice labours cunningly,  
To ruin jacob and his Family  
In Joseph's loss: Thus did the envious Fiend  
Project destruction, God a blessed end.  
Little hereof thought good old jacob, when  
He him to Sichem to his brethren  
Doth send: where wand'ring he at last was told▪  
That they at Dothan pastured their fold  
On side of hill which Sol with cheerful eyes,  
Salutes and comforts soon as he doth rise;  
Under a stately Oak, whose arms dispread,  
From Sun and Rain all under sheltered,  
Near fairest meadows and the River side,  
These Brethren with their Flocks in Tents abide,  
More healthful, pleasant, fruitful, spacious plain,  
Was not in Canaan to be seen again,  
Where whilst their Flocks do feed, they have good leisure,  
To leap, dance, carol, sleep, and take their pleasure,  
And they that feel within diviner motions,  
In private shades may fall to their devotions,  
And imitate the plumed heaun'ly Choir,  
Who in sweet notes God's goodness do admire;  
Hither comes joseph, where he first admires  
The places fertileness and fair attires,  
For his own coat, all party coloured,  
Seemed nought to that the ground apparelled:  
But his ten brethren him no sooner spy,  
But lo! here comes the dreamer, all do cry  
Come let us kill, and in some pit him cast,  
Then see how all his Dreams will prove at last.  
And when our father misseth him, we'll say,  
Some wicked beast devoured him on the way:  
And had not Providence withheld their knife  
By Reuben, they then taken had his life:  
Full glad to see his Brethren was the child,  
And with a pleasing face upon them smiled,  
As little thinking by them to be sold,  
As they at Nile his glory to behold,  
As cruel Cain against his brother rose,  
When nothing less good Abel did suppose:  
And as fierce Simeon came most cruelly  
On Sichem looking for affinity:  
So Jacob's sons unwares on joseph run,  
Who kindly to salute them then did come,  
One bends his fist, another draws his knife,  
Another swears he'll tear from his life.  
Wretch! saith another, thou comest for a spy,  
That thou returning home mayst tell a lie,  
And us disgrace in our old father's ear,  
And be alone his joy and darling dear:  
Lo, saith another, we our sheaves must bring,  
And do to thee obeisance as our king:  
One saith, thou art the Sun, we stars of night,  
And must all bow, whence we do borrow light:  
Then stripping off his party coloured coat,  
They blindfold him, and on the shoulder smote:  
And said, since thou divin'st and dreamest so right,  
Reckon now which of us thee last did smite.  
Whilst Lamblike he before the sharer lies,  
Mute and amazed, yet thus at last replies.  
Ah brethren dear, though now too late, I prove  
The peril's not so great in Hate as Love:  
Cain mortal hate did to his brother bear,  
For that his offerings acceptable were,  
My father hardly 'scaped mine Uncle's knife,  
Because he was Rebecca's dearest life:  
So did you and your mother mine despise,  
Because she gracious was in Jacob's eyes;  
Now him, that never did or thought you ill,  
Because my father loves me, you will kill:  
To him once, I confess, I did relate  
An ill report I heard, not for least hate  
Or malice that my brethren I did bear,  
But that you knowing it, might better clear:  
That which my father did but folly deem,  
To tell mine idle dreams, will you esteem  
It capital? oh brethren dear, forbear,  
If not for love or pity, yet for fear  
Of vengeance, which will follow fratricide,  
cain's curse shall ever on that house abide,  
If all consent your Brother here to slay,  
jacob hath lost eleu'n sons in one day:  
And whence shall then that blessed one proceed  
God promised in our father isaack's seed?  
That cursed Cham, from whom these nations come  
Which here inhabit, never yet have done  
So foul a sin; nor Nimrods' cruel sword  
Was ere in his own brother's blood engored:  
A brother's sight rough Esau's fury chases,  
And makes him fall to kisses and embraces.  
Look on my youth, not half so loath to die,  
As to be slain by brethren's cruelty,  
Look on my innocence. Behold my tears,  
Respect your and my Father's grayer hairs:  
Who cannot but with grief and sorrow die,  
For loss of me by brethren's Butchery.  
Oh! never hope this murder to conceal,  
For though you your own lips should all up seal,  
These beasts, stones, trees, my blood to heaven will cry  
For vengeance, on this bloody Felony:  
And that which now you think in secret done,  
Shall be made plain and clearer than the Sun.  
Now Isaac like I lie under your knife,  
And willingly as he could leave my Life,  
Were I persuaded 'twere the heaun'ly will,  
But herein Satan's purpose you fulfil,  
And your malicious envy satisfy:  
But Lord accept me as I guiltiesse die.  
These words proceeding from a Soul oppressed  
With anguish, wrought so in his brethren's breast,  
That though they willingly all wish him slain,  
Yet each from bloodshed would his hands retain.  
Wherefore they him into a dry pit cast,  
With cold and hunger there to pine and waste,  
And suddenly they sit them down to eat,  
ne'er pitying joseph that must starve for meat:  
So have I seen ten hounds of bloody kind,  
Who long have chased, to kill the harmless Hind;  
When they have lodged her in the hunter's gin,  
Whence never one escapes, if entered in;  
Turn to their Lodge, where for their labours meed,  
They on the heart and bleeding entrails feed.  
Poor joseph had thy Brethren now thee slain,  
Thou long since hadst been rid out of thy pain:  
But whilst thou seekest by tears thy life to save,  
Thou now art buried quick within thy grave:  
What canst thou look for in this Dungeon vast,  
But e'en with cold and hunger here to waste?  
Deprived of Sun's most comfortable Light,  
And evil Spirits with horror thee to fright,  
Yet as a favour this was done to thee,  
Thus are the wickeds mercies Cruelty.  
But Lord! the child to heaven cries from the pit,  
And doth to righteous judge his cause commit;  
Lord thou dost know how innocent I die;  
Me save, and pardon their iniquity.  
As when fierce Cain, (out of base envying,  
That God should best accept his offering.)  
Had Abel slain; His blood to heaven did cry,  
So this child's grievous Lamentations fly  
Into God's ears, who sends the Ishmaelites,  
First persecutors of the Israelites:  
From brethren's malice joseph to set free,  
And save his life, though lose his Liberty:  
So he that late escaped being slain,  
Is raised up out of the pit again,  
Whom to be rid off, and for present pay,  
His Brethren sell to be conveyed away.  
And now large shadows from the Mountain's fall,  
And Heaven with his black mantle covers all,  
Phoebus for rest in Sea his Steeds bestows,  
And from her Sea of rest the Night arose:  
When Jacob's sons amongst themselves devose  
To cover their inhuman cruelties:  
And as we ever see that one foul sin  
Begets another, to lie hidden in;  
As some their foul adultery to hide,  
Have first used Drunkenness, than Homicide;  
So these unjustly against their Father's will,  
One of the Kids then in his Flock do kill,  
And dipping in his blood the coloured coat  
Of joseph, it unto their father brought,  
And say; Now see good father dost thou know,  
Whether this be thy Joseph's coat or no?  
As Turtle dear, when seeking for her love,  
She finds at cu'n the feathers of a Dove,  
Begored with blood late party coloured gay,  
Concluding now her mate hath been the prey  
Of cruel hawk, sends out most piteous cries,  
And in those dearest blooded feathers dies.  
So good old Israel, whose dimmer sight,  
Could scarce discern of colours by the night,  
Yet seeing Joseph's coat begoared red,  
Which lately was so finely coloured:  
For whom, though long he looked, and did inquire,  
Yet saw nor heard lest news of his retire.  
Cries out, 'tis Joseph's coat with blood defiled,  
Some wicked beast devoured hath the child.  
I sent him out alone unwittingly,  
And therefore guilty of the cruelty.  
So grievous were his groans and lamentation,  
They turn to sorrow all his habitation,  
And though his sons and daughters all arise  
To comfort him, the best they can devose,  
Yet still the good old man doth groan and cry,  
joseph is lost, I in his coat will die.  
He with wild beasts is into pieces torn,  
I'll sooner cease to live, then cease to mourn.  
Father saith Dina then, th'unlucky maid,  
Why should you without cause be thus dismayed?  
Before times I have often heard you say,  
God's Angel you conducted in your way,  
From hence e'en unto the Assyrian plain,  
And thence from Laban brought you home again;  
Oh why should you despair then thus and fear,  
As God of yours had not as great a care?  
What because here a bloody coat you see,  
Must it be Joseph's needs? or if it be,  
He may, whilst he from cruel beasts did fly,  
Forsake his coat to scape more speedily:  
He that this coat found loose upon the ground,  
Not any sign of murdering him found,  
Nor found he either hand, head, foot or bone,  
Only this bloody coat lay all alone;  
Blooded it seems with jaws of cruel beast,  
Which on some other prey had made his feast:  
" Thus can the whole to sick good counsel give,  
" And easier 'tis to teach well, then to live:  
But Reuben, judah, all his sons may rise,  
And daughters all to comfort him devose,  
He rends his clothes, puts sack cloth on his loins,  
And for his joseph long time weeps and pines,  
And mourning will go down unto his grave  
To joseph, whom he here shall never have.  
Mean while to Nile the Midian merchants hie,  
Laden with Balm, with myrrh, and Spicery,  
When joseph, whom if they could truly prise,  
Was far more worth than all their merchandise;  
Did bondage base unto his noble mind,  
More bitter, than death to his body find;  
But having none to whom to make his moan,  
Goes sighing, sobbing to himself alone,  
Until a merchant willing him to cheer,  
That he might fairer look, and sell more dear,  
Enquireth of his parents and his kind,  
To put more pensive thoughts out of his mind;  
Know; saith the gentle child, my parents came  
From Heber, whence we Hebrews have our name,  
The fourth from Sem, first of that blessed seed,  
Th' Almighty chose mankind again to breed:  
My Father jacob who the Birth right bought  
Of Esau, that God's Blessing set at nought,  
Was isaack's son, e'en Abraham's blessed seed,  
In whom all Nation's happiness may read.  
My Mother Rachel, now deprived of Life,  
Was Israel's first Love, but second Wife:  
Laban both Son and Father in one night,  
Deceived; of's wife him, me of my Birth right:  
For when his thoughts in nuptial Bed embrace  
My Mother Rachel, Lea's in place:  
Whereby my Brethren me in years surpass,  
But I them in my Father's love and grace;  
For envy hereof, Lo! they me have sold,  
Thus briefly I my state to you have told.  
The Children of the Bond woman were glad,  
They one now Bound of the Free-woman's had:  
But whilst such talk makes shorter seem the hours,  
Behold they now may see brave Memphis Towers,  
Turrets which seem to dare the Starry skies,  
And Temples which like Tops of Mountains rise,  
Whose Phanes and Spires all guilt, with radiant gold,  
They shining like the Lamps of heaven behold,  
Which often with reflecting splendour bright,  
Seem to obscure Sols clearest heavenly Light.  
When thus the Lad. Good Masters, So must I  
Now call you, and will serve you cheerfully,  
Tell me what glorious Buildings yonder be,  
Whose like in Canaan I did never see;  
Which seem, except mine eyes me much do fail,  
Like to a City that on Sea doth sail,  
Or Noah's Ark which floating on the Flood,  
Preserved all kind of Creatures with their food.  
Boy, saith a Merchant, This is Egypt's Plain,  
Where never yet did fall a drop of rain;  
The Waves you see are seven-fold headed Niles,  
Which now doth Overflow the richest soils,  
Whence ever Sol by his all quickening heat,  
Raised Corn and Grass, for Man and Beast to eat:  
There where you see the Flood like Seas appear,  
Will be a Harvest twice within a year.  
Beside, no mortal wight could ever wish,  
Then's there more plenty of most dainty Fish:  
Abram the Father of great Ishmael,  
(From whom our Nation) Famine did compel  
For succour to descend, into this Land,  
Where he is said to make them understand  
The Nature of the highest Deity,  
Forms, Laws, and Natures of the Starry sky,  
And first them taught to measure out their year,  
By Sun's just course: For it doth plain appear,  
That they till then the Moon did measure by,  
Which makes them boast of such antiquity,  
And reckon in their annual Computation,  
Thousands of years before the World's Creation:  
But though he gave them in all Art's direction,  
Yet never brought they one to such perfection,  
As that we call Divine Astronomy:  
For in this Country best they might descry,  
The forms and orders of the Lamps of Night,  
Where never Clouds obscure them from their sight.  
First in Caldea Abram learned this skill,  
And grew so well acquainted with Gods will,  
He knew all things, they say, by Revelation,  
Past, present, future, from the World's Creation,  
Till that last minute that it could expire,  
Which as by Water erst, shall be by Fire.  
Indeed, saith joseph, I have heard it told,  
The first man Adam prophecide of old,  
The world's destruction twice, for sins just hire,  
The one by Water th'other by the Fire,  
Seth therefore Adam's scholar and his son,  
Not knowing which was first: of earth and stone,  
Two Pillars built; The earth against the fire,  
The stone to stand against waters raging ire:  
Where Arts, which long Experience had observed,  
He unto future ages fair preserved,  
The earthen pillar perished in the flood,  
The stone the waters violence withstood,  
These Heber finding after published  
In Syria, where first learning flourished:  
Till Abram, who herein did all excel,  
Came down to Egypt, and as you do tell,  
Conversed with one they called Mercury,  
Whom, with these Arts, he taught the mystery  
Of one trine Godhead, and the world's creation,  
Who read the same unto their neighbour nation.  
Whence now they are, and shall in time be spread  
Through all the earthly globe inhabited▪  
Thus they discourse, as if they would foretell  
Of Gentiles all, which after should excel,  
In Arts and Sciences; which now dispread,  
As men, through all the earth on which we tread:  
For as the earth empeopled was below  
By Adam, so all Arts and Learning flow  
First from the Hebrews, unto every nation,  
As Rules and Precepts come by observation:  
But now the city's towers obscure the skies,  
And make them hold their tongues, and use their eyes  
The splendour of those buildings to behold,  
Where they the second time good joseph sold.  
The end of the first Book of joseph.   

THE SECOND BOOK OF JOSEPH.  
Never did Adam more lament and plain,  
For Abel, by his cruel Brother slain,  
Then jacob mourned for fairest Rachel's Seed,  
Nor would by any means be comforted:  
All Day the field his Lamentations hears,  
All Night his Couch he watreth with his tears:  
And if least slumber close his blubbering eyes,  
Him thinks he sees a cruel Bear surprise  
His dearest joseph; crying out for aid,  
And starting up, awakes, much more afraid,  
His Spirit's thus spent, his Body wearied,  
With groans, and tossing up and down his Bed:  
Lo, aged Isaac, who had long been blind  
Of's fleshly eyes, but yet of clearer mind,  
Comes to his comfort, being thither led  
By Benjamin, who to him ministered.  
Long stood he mute, and to the grievous moans  
Of his blessed jacob, echoed with groans,  
Till's heart with sorrow ready now to break,  
With words all weight, he thus begins to speak.  
Dear Son, the staff and comfort of mine age▪  
The blessed fruit of holy Marriage,  
Far more to Me, then to thee joseph dear,  
Mine only Son, by Promise, But thou here  
Hast Benjamin, by thy beloved wife,  
Fair Rachel, whilst she lived thy joy and Life:  
Not that I joseph dead or lost do fear,  
God that of me and Abram had such care,  
Hath no less of thee and thy blessed seed,  
In which all happiness is promised.  
And if of all, of him especially  
Who is the chief of all thy Family:  
To whom the Sun the Moon and Stars must fall,  
Whose Sheafe his brethren's Sheafs must worship all,  
Of these two dreams I was a due observer,  
And read thence he shall be a great preserver,  
A figure of that Saviour great, which shall  
Himself by losing save himself and all.  
Thus was I once lost to my faithful sire,  
When on the Altar kindled was the fire,  
The knife was ready lift up by his hand,  
To sacrifice my Life at God's command:  
Thus thou as lost, for more than thrice seven years,  
Revailed wert by mine and rebecca's tears,  
When Esau's wrath thee drove to Syria plain,  
But God Almighty brought thee home again:  
And I presage before the revolution  
Of thrice seven years, God will the whole solution  
of Joseph's dreams with joy to thee unfold,  
Which shall revive thy spirit then being old:  
Before great Blessings God doth Crosses send,  
That we may on his Providence attend,  
And see the riches of his grace more clear,  
Which hardlier hear obtained, we hold more dear▪  
Thus Isaac doth interpret Visions dark,  
As great Mathuselah at building th' Ark,  
Who lived until the year of th' inundation,  
As plain appears by Age's Computation.  
Good Israel was wonderfully moved  
At sight of those, he reverenced so and loved,  
His Benjamin but newly taught to stride,  
Of his blind Grandsire's steps then being guide,  
Both which seemed two good Angels to him sent  
From heaven, to ease his grief and discontent:  
Wherhfore soon rising on his weary bed,  
Having his Father duly honoured,  
He answers with a piteous sigh and groan,  
joseph is gone, and I am left alone:  
Dear Rachel's first borne, whom to make my wife,  
I was a servant best part of my Life.  
After we had been married fourteen years,  
Rachel and I, with Prayers, Vows, and tears,  
Begged him of God: Then did my years expire,  
Which Laban for my two wives me did hire:  
One daughter and ten sons I had before,  
By Leah seven, and by my Handmaids four,  
But I my joseph prized them all above,  
As I his Mother more than theirs did love:  
And though I churlish did mine Uncle find,  
In many things herein he was most kind,  
To pay me wages ere my work was done;  
For I had Rachel ere that I begun  
My first year's Service, whereby seven years seemed  
But a few days, so I her love esteemed:  
No man had ever more experience  
Than I of God's good grace and Providence,  
When I was first to Padan Aram sent,  
I only with my staff forth from thee went  
To Bethel, where th' Almighty Lord to me  
Appeared by Vision, promising to be  
My God, and to my Seed the Land to give,  
Whereon I slept; which firmly I believe.  
Then did I vow, so he would me protect  
Safe in my journey, and my ways direct,  
Giving me Bread to eat, and Clothes to wear,  
The Tenth of all I had, to offer there:  
God gave my ask, and abundance more,  
So as I thence returned with stock, and store:  
And though I long forbore my Vow to pay,  
God never me forgot, unto this day.  
I confident, beyond all hope, can prove  
I him shall see again, whom so I love,  
At the last day: till then, he's dead, and gone,  
No hope before of Resurrection.  
This is his coloured Coat, begored red  
By jaws of Beasts, which on his Carcase fed.  
Were I now blind, I happy were, than could  
I not this dismal spectacle behold.  
But if, saith Isaac, he hath changed his Tent  
For heavenly home, why should you thus lament,  
As without hope? since now he is at rest,  
Let likewise the remembrance of him rest.  
Weep you, because your loss turns to his gain?  
Your mourning cannot bring him back again.  
God, our chief comforts oft from us doth rend,  
Lest we too much on outward means depend.  
It may be, you your love so on him set,  
You thereby did your love to God forget:  
Then's justice justly him from you hath rend,  
And Mercy gives you cause now to repent.  
But whether joseph living be, or dead,  
Let little Benjamin stand in his stead:  
What your affection so to him inclined,  
You e'en the same in Benjamin shall find,  
Of Rachel both begot in marriage bed,  
Only this last she never suckled,  
For in the pains of Birth she left her life,  
Thus he a tender nurse lost, thou a wife:  
This isaack's rubbing on an ancient sore,  
Made Israel lament more than before;  
So as the child who still was standing by,  
To hear such mourning weeps for company:  
And as a Parrot, newly taught to prate,  
The voice doth of another imitate,  
So cries the Boy; good Father, Ioseph's gone,  
And I alas! here left am all alone.  
'tis this fine coloured coat he want to wear,  
Good father let us it to joseph bear,  
(For that was ever under Jacob's arm)  
He may have need thereof to keep him warm.  
These pleasant reasons from the witty child,  
Old jacob of his sorrows so beguiled,  
He was content a while his heart to ease,  
The better this his dearest Boy to please.  
And since he joseph thought dead, and at rest  
By little he his Lamentations ceased,  
But ever little Benjamin would cry,  
To let him go to joseph by and by.  
My Boy saith jacob, if that thou wilt go  
To joseph, thou must first as joseph do,  
Be a good Boy, serve God, thy prayers say  
At Morn, at Night, and oftentimes a day:  
All lying, swearing, idle talk forbear,  
Duly obey and serve thy Parents dear,  
To any, nor of any speak least ill,  
And always be obedient to Gods will:  
For so did joseph, therefore I had given  
Him this fine coloured coat, But now in heaven  
He is most gloriously by God arrayed,  
And sees all joys and Pleasures can be said.  
By this the Boy to imitate grows fain,  
joseph in all, for hope of Joseph's gain;  
If jacob any thing would have him do,  
Say joseph did it, he would do it too,  
If he from any ill would him retain,  
Say joseph would not do't, he would refrain:  
All which he so well ordered, that in fine,  
The Boy was measured all by Joseph's Line,  
And jacob so delighted therewithal,  
He leaves his couch and comes down to the Hall,  
Where ever Benjamin his darling dear,  
Was ready with his prattling him to cheer,  
Till in the end his love so on him set,  
Makes him all grief for Joseph's loss forget:  
And pleasure take in Benjamin now more,  
Then he in joseph ever did before.  
So doth one for his wife oft weep and cry,  
As, after her, he would not live but die,  
Forbears his meat, till time of mourning past,  
Then cheers his spirits, and falls to his repast,  
And suddenly a second marriage proves,  
Whom he more dear than the former loves,  
And so his dear affection on her sets,  
He all his former sorrows quite forgets.  
Thus lived old jacob many happy years  
With Benjamin, but wisely he forbears  
Him to adventure once out of his sight,  
Lest as good joseph him befall it might.  
Twelve times through all the Signs the Sun had passed,  
And now through Gemini was making haste,  
When he more kindly on his Paramour  
The Earth did shine, than ever heretofore:  
Which made the superstitious Cananite  
Adore this Planet, as a God of might,  
And by Religion of his own devising,  
To worship the Sunne-setting, well as rising.  
And amongst other their Inventions vain,  
Dan Phoebus to leave Delos I'll they fain,  
To court the Nymph of jordane for his Bride,  
And her to honour with his fertile side.  
Therefore her Banks he richly doth adorn,  
And Hills and Valleys fills so thick with Corn,  
The eared Lands seem a continued plain,  
Whose ears of Corn stoop to the ground again,  
And she proud of the honour of his rays,  
Her bosom all with fragrant flowers begayes,  
The more him with sweet savours to delight,  
And seem more fair embellished in his sight:  
Which made the Hills and Dales to laugh and sing▪  
And all the Birds with sweetest warbeling,  
With them to tune sweet ditties to his praise,  
Whose heat and Light divides the night from days.  
seven times this Giant his full course had run,  
And ended, where his travel he begun,  
Whilst Iordans Nymph continues in his grace,  
Which Canaan made the happiest fruitful place  
Of all the Regions, where Suns fertile heat,  
Doth cause the labourer with joy to sweat▪  
But as we always after Drowth see Rain,  
War after Peace, and after Pleasure Paine;  
So after plenteous and fruitful years,  
Great famine, want, and scarcity appears  
In Canaan's Land: For seven years being passed  
Of Plenty; Famine all the world doth waste.  
Therefore, they that of late Sols marriage feigned,  
Now of his wrath and jealousy complained,  
That he which with his Beams late cherished  
All fruits, the Earth in fruitful bosom bred,  
Was so inflamed with jealousy and Ire,  
As if he all the Earth would set on fire:  
So as he either would her seeds not deign  
To quicken, or if that the hopeful grain  
Promised a fruitful harvest at the last,  
He in his fury all would burn or blast,  
Thus did those heathen of God's wonders fable,  
And vainly construe his works admirable.  
But good old Israel who, like Lily-white  
Amongst the thorns, feared God and did upright,  
The glory they did to the Creature give,  
Gave the Creator, who doth ever live,  
And looking to the Author of this store,  
For this his greater plenty, honours more.  
And takes the Famine for a Chastisement  
To man for sin, that so he might repent.  
But as the plenteous store did nothing breed  
But Pride and Follies vain in Canaan's seed,  
(Excessive rioting, Lust, Drunkenness,  
Amongst the rich: Niceness and Idleness  
Amongst the poor: who swinishly e'en all  
The Acorns eat, but look not whence they fall,  
Consuming all the Corn their land them bears,  
Not laying up least store for dearer years,  
But loathing and despising courser grain,  
Transport it as superfluous for their gain,  
So when the Earth denied like store to bring  
All fall to grudging and to murmuring,  
And Sol whom, they so honoured at the first  
For his high favours, for his Fury cursed:  
And those which late so plenteously were fed  
In the first year, are like to starve for bread.  
Yea holy jacob though he were exempt  
From Canaan's sins, yet in their punishment  
Doth bear his share, and now for want of Bread  
He fears the ruin of himself and seed.  
And though he sole relieth on God's grace,  
Of which he had good trial in like case,  
Neglects no means to make supply of store▪  
But thus bespeaks his sons, I heretofore,  
When plenty in your fields did so abound,  
Wished that a man amongst you might be found,  
Who wisely would for future wants provide,  
But folly 'tis for Haddit I wist to chide,  
We hear there's store of Corn in Egypt land,  
Yet one doth gaping on another stand;  
Oh hast you thither Bread from thence to buy,  
To save alive us and our Family.  
The brethren ten, (for jacob would not send  
Down Benjamin with them) do soon descend  
To Egypt, where near Memphis on the way  
A grave old Sage they overtake in grey,  
Who seemed by his grave gestures and his motions,  
To be a Hermit, now at his devotions.  
As Isaac going out one even to pray,  
Seeing his servant lighting on the way,  
With fair Rebecca veiled, and all her train,  
Left his devotions them to entertain;  
e'en so this Sage, whose eyes on heaven were placed,  
As they would thither ere his body haste,  
Seeing these gentle strangers there alight,  
And him to mutual courtesy invite,  
Leaves his devotions, and of them inquires,  
(Knowing they Hebrews were by their attires)  
In their own language, what, and whence they are,  
Which true and plainly they to him declare:  
And farther tell him that a famine sore  
Had now consumed their Corn and all their store,  
Compelling them from Canaan to go down  
To Egypt, where they knew none, nor were known.  
Therefore saith Reuben, may we you request  
Us strangers to inform, as you may best,  
Of your condition first, next of your king,  
Your country, and your form of governing:  
And if, as Fame reports, here's store of grain,  
And how and where we may the same obtain,  
For here, e'en as at home, we see all waist,  
No future harvest, nor least sign of Past,  
And therefore with my brethren I desire  
To know the cause of what we so admire,  
Without a Seedtime or a Harvest, Plenty.  
And Garners full, although the fields be empty.  
Brethren said Trismegist, for so he hight,  
I first must here lay open to your sight,  
That Being's his goodness Power and Providence:  
By which we all have Motion, Being, Sense,  
Who, the first cause of all, doth things dispose  
By Second, these we see, that keeps he close:  
I am a Priests and Prince's eldest son,  
For Priests and Princes are in Egypt one,  
And to the Sun, as was our country guise,  
Was consecrate to offer Sacrifice,  
Great Trismegistus was mine ancester,  
A King, a Priest, and a Philosopher:  
Soon as my Tongue men's words could imitate,  
And, though with little understanding, prate,  
My parents me instruct to learn by heart  
The rules of Wisdom, and the laws of Art,  
The aspects of the Stars, their several ways,  
Conjunctions, Orders, Interposing, Stays,  
Flying of Birds, Beasts entrails, and in fine,  
All that might make with them a sound Divine.  
And well I profited, for ere least hair  
Of Silver, with my Golden did appear,  
The wisest, I of all my Peers was deemed,  
And most in Temple and in Court esteemed:  
Could best of all expound the hardest Themes,  
Tell men their Fortunes, and interpret Dreams:  
Thus I the Oracle was many a year  
Of Egypt, and of all the Countries near;  
Till that high Wisdom which things future knows  
As present, Them by Dreams to Pharaoh shows.  
Fast by a River side him thought he stood,  
Whence came up seven fat Kine, well fleshed and good,  
And other seven ill-favoured Lean, that hour  
Came up, and all the fair ones did devour:  
Again, he slept, and saw seven ears of Corn  
On one root, well-set, rank, and goodly borne,  
Which seven thin blasted, spoilt and eat up clean,  
Then Pharaoh waked, and lo! it was a dream.  
The Morning come, and he sore troubled,  
His Sonthsayers are all assembeled,  
Pharaoh thereof to us makes declaration,  
But not a man can give th'interpretation▪  
Our Spheres, Spells, Circles, Birds, nor Sorceries  
Had power to discern these Mysteries:  
Then Pharaoh moved, and thenceforth grieving sore,  
Forbears his meat, and comes abroad no more:  
Until his Butler, raised again to grace,  
Who had forgot his friend in wretched case,  
Till twice twelve times the Moon with borrowed light,  
Had filled her horns (for friends once out of sight,  
Are e'en as soon out of a Courtier's mind,  
" Such Courtesy in Court most Scholars find):  
Thus said to Pharaoh, Sir you cannot yet  
Choose but remember, how you did commit  
Me and your Baker to your Steward's ward,  
For some misdeeds, which you of us had heard:  
Where in the Prison we a young man found,  
In whom divinest wisdom did abound,  
For we a several Dream had in a night,  
Which told to him, to us he read aright;  
The Baker to the Gallows, I to Grace  
Should be restored, and all in three days space:  
This of our Dreams th'interpretation was,  
All which you saw most truly came to pass.  
Thus ends the Butler: Pharaoh glad to hear  
Of aught might ease his longing, wished him there,  
Who quickly sent for, shaved, apparelled white,  
As him became to stand in pharoh's sight,  
Herd, and as soon his Dream did right expound,  
Which by nine years' experience true is found.  
For these seven fair Kine, and rank goodly ears,  
He did interpret seven fat fruitful years,  
The seven thin starved which did them devower,  
seven years of famine▪ In a lucky hour  
For Egypt: for thus store we up did lay  
In fruitful years, against this evil day:  
And not sole happy for our temporal store,  
But spiritual: For many who before  
(Long led in ignorance and error blind,  
Till they God's Truth by good experience find)  
To stones and stocks, Sun, Moon, and Stars did fall  
Now worship God the maker of us all:  
Of which, for ever (blessed be his name)  
A thankful one I, though th'unworthiest, am.  
And having all vain worldly joys forsaken,  
Now to devotion sole myself betaken.  
Thus ends the Sage: When judah, holy Sire,  
Hearing thy words, God's goodness we admire,  
Happy that God hath kindled in thy breast,  
The holy Fire these flames do manifest:  
But tell us what became of that great Sage  
Which of such store and famine did presage:  
You told us how the Butler him neglected,  
But how hath Pharaoh his desert respected?  
For great ones, for the most part, do despise  
The poor, though they be ne'er so just and wise:  
And though the Land is by their wisdoms guarded,  
They are not long respected or rewarded.  
That's th'end, saith Trismegist, for which I told  
The rest. When as King Pharaoh did behold  
Such heaun'ly wisdom, in such youthful years,  
(For scarce six Lustres in his face appears,)  
Who counselled him with speed for to provide,  
A man of understanding, that might guide  
His under Officers, through all the Land,  
To store up plenty under pharoh's hand:  
The fifth part e'un of all their Corn and seed,  
To feed his people in the time of need:  
The saying seemed so good in pharoh's eyes,  
And all his Servants, that they soon devose,  
(Because no man in Egypt could be found,  
In whom the Spirit of God did so abound)  
To place him over all his house and Land,  
That all might be e'en as he should command,  
Thus now he with the King is all as one,  
He only sits above him in his Throne,  
Him then most sumptuously apparelling,  
He made the Lord and Keeper of his Ring,  
The which he used, as the public Seal,  
For all his private state and Commonweal:  
And his second Chariot bravely placed,  
And with the highest princely honour graced:  
This is the Man hath stored up in the Land  
Great heaps of Corn, in number like the Sand:  
For as the Sands cannot be numbered,  
No more the Plenty he hath gathered.  
Now twice the Sun hath his full course nigh passed,  
Since all our Lands have barren lien and waist;  
Nilus no more our Fields hath watered,  
Nor fertile dews our fruits have cherished:  
And now the dearth in all the Land is sore,  
As well amongst the Richest as the Poor;  
The Garners opened are, and thence is sold  
Great store of Corn; Nor doth this Prince withhold  
From strangers his Provision; For well-nigh  
All Regions hither come them Corn to buy:  
This man will you for Money Corn afford,  
For he's wise, gentle, just, and fears the Lord:  
But, whilst the Sage to them this tale relates,  
They unawares approach near Memphis gates,  
Then to his Cell returns the aged Sire,  
They hast into the City to inquire  
More of that Prince, by whom the Corn was sold,  
Where they their Brother though unknown, behold.  
The end of the second Book of joseph.   

THE THIRD BOOK OF JOSEPH.  
NOw is the time that all the Sheaves must bend  
To one, now raised on high upon his end,  
The Sun, Moon, & Stars eleven must now  
To him they meanly erst accounted, bow.  
For joseph now by due desert and right,  
Is placed in honour's Chariot shining bright,  
And all the Corn, the Treasure of the Land,  
Under his sole disposing and Command:  
For this same joseph which the Hebrews sold,  
Is he of whom great Trismegist erst told:  
Who Corn had heaped up numberless like sand,  
And was the Ruler over Egypt's land,  
When lo! the brethren ten before him brought,  
Low bowing to the ground, him thus besought:  
Great Lord! whose wisdom and deserved grace  
Give's thee in Egypt e'en the second place,  
Whose Prudence, honour, glory and renown,  
Through all the habitable Earth is known,  
Vouchsafe to us thy Servants now such grace,  
As thou hast done to many in our Case:  
We Brethren all, one man's Sons, come to buy  
Corn to relieve us and our Family,  
Except we by thy Clemency be fed,  
We and our Race must die for want of Bread.  
The Lord of Egypt then who them did know,  
But was unknown, Himself strange rough doth show,  
And now remembering well his Dreams of late,  
For which these, that thus honour, him did hate,  
Thus answers: See! you have a fair pretence,  
To buy you Corn and Victual from hence;  
But you are come into the Land as Spies,  
To see wherein our strength and weakness lies:  
ist like ten Brethren should so far descend?  
None left at home their houses to defend,  
Or are you all without a house or home,  
And masterless about the Country room?  
Truly, saith judah, we twelve Brethren be.  
All one man's sons, of which thou ten dost see,  
The least, at home, doth with his Father stay,  
But no man knows, where th'other is this day:  
To buy food are thy Servants hither come,  
For us and for our Families at home:  
By this, saith then the Prince, the truth I'll know,  
Whether you, as I say, be Spies or no:  
For, by the life of Pharaoh, no man home  
Shall go, before your younger Brother come:  
Take them to Prison, till his coming tries  
The truth: By pharoh's life you are but Spies.  
Then he three days committeth them to ward,  
Whilst of an answer they themselves prepared.  
Thus, as God's Minister and Substitute,  
He vengeance on their sins doth retribute,  
Sins now forgot, because so long since past,  
But though God's slow, he pays them home at last:  
Yea then, when they themselves think most secure  
For Joseph's wrongs, he pays them home and sure.  
Happy who make right use of Chastisement,  
Which is to hate, forsake Sin, and repent:  
But, they in Prison, joseph doth advise  
Alone with God, how he may best devose,  
Them for their foul offences to correct,  
And yet his aged Father not neglect,  
Whom fain he would relieve with store of grain,  
But fears his Brethren will not come again.  
The third day therefore, thus saith joseph, hear,  
Do this and live; for I the Lord do fear:  
If you be true men, as you all affirm,  
Leave one man bound, the rest all home return,  
With Corn for to relieve your Family,  
Then bring your brother, And not one shall dye,  
But traffic here as true men in the Land,  
And I will free your Hostage from his Band.  
His word prevailed, But they in conscience  
Pricked for their cruelty, and foul offence,  
Long since committed against this Lord unknown,  
And thinking God now pays them with their own,  
Thus one to other to complain begin;  
Ah! how did we against our Brother sin,  
When his Souls anguish did to us appear,  
And he besought us, yet we would not hear:  
Therefore on us, this trouble now doth fall,  
When Reuben thus; oh! did I not you all  
Not to offend against the Lad desire,  
And now you see God doth his blood require:  
Little think they that joseph by doth stand,  
And all their speeches plainly understand,  
Who turns and weeps, yet soon returns again,  
So Friends afflictions tears from friends constrain.  
Then taking Simeon he him binds with bands  
Before their eyes: And secretly commands.  
To fill their Sacks with Provender and Grain,  
And put their Money in their Sacks again:  
So they return with Conscience tiring more,  
Then all the Miles from Nile to Jordan shore,  
As when ten horse men roving out for prey,  
Lose one of their dear fellows by the way,  
Though with rich Spoils they to the camp return,  
All for him lost, lift up their voice and mourn;  
So mourn these Brethren nine for Simeons' chain,  
Their brother's loss was greater than their gain:  
But when Gad in the Inn his Sack unbindes  
For Provender, and there his money finds,  
Their hearts them failing, all are sore afraid,  
That they as Simeon likewise were betrayed:  
Ah! What, say they, hath God upon us brought  
For all the wickedness which we have wrought?  
This thing upon us all is justly come,  
But most especially on Simeon:  
Who was the cruelest, and rather would  
Have joseph slain; then to the Merchants sold:  
But when at home they to their Father tell  
All that to them in Egypt had befell:  
And how that they for Spies were taken there,  
Imprisoned three days, and put in fear;  
And that the Man there still kept Simeon bound,  
Till by inquiry all the Truth he found:  
And seeing also every man bring back  
The money, which he carried, in his Sack:  
The good old man was wondrously afraid,  
That Simeon e'en as joseph was betrayed:  
And said, my sons you laugh mine age to scorn,  
You have my Simeon pawned or sold for Corn,  
Else where should you provide such store of grain,  
And yet bring all your Moneys home again?  
But when they farther told him in a word,  
How rough and stern they found th' Egyptian Lord▪  
And that their bringing Benjamin must try,  
Whether or no they came the Land to Spy;  
He thinks they likewise seek him to deprive  
Of Benjamin, his dearest son alive:  
Wherefore he thus Laments and makes great moan,  
His brother's dead, and he is left alone;  
If mischief him befall upon the way,  
You bring my head to grave with sorrow grey:  
The Dearth grows great, Corn's spent, jacob in vain  
Them bids for food to Egypt hast again;  
We dare not see, say they, the Prince's face,  
Except our youngest Brother be in place:  
We strait will go, so him with us thou send.  
But ah! saith jacob, what did you intend,  
By telling of the man you had a brother?  
Alas, saith judah, how could we do other?  
He of our state and kindred did inquire,  
Saying, what liveth yet your aged Sire?  
Have you a Brother yet? we told him so,  
Ah! how could we what he intended know?  
But send the Lad with us, we instantly  
Will bring you food for all your Family:  
I am his surety, him of me require,  
For ever let me bear thy blame and ire,  
Except I bring him back: The fault is thine,  
Else we returned had the second time.  
Father, saith Reuben, let my Sons be slain,  
Except I safe do bring him home again.  
As in some Siege when Famine grows so great,  
That Mothers their own children dear do eat,  
One close her dearest Darling up doth hide,  
Lest others her compel it to divide,  
And rather chooseth e'en to starve and pine,  
Then cleave her tender infant in the Chine:  
So when the Famine now grows grievous sore  
In Jacob's house, and like still to be more,  
He starving rather chooseth to abide,  
Then part with his dear darling from his side;  
But when he saw himself, and all his race  
With dearest Benjamin, in equal case,  
That all for want of Bread must starve and die,  
Except from Egypt they had new supply;  
He said to them: Since needs it must be so,  
A present of my hands take ere you go,  
Balm, Spice, and Myrrh with best fruits of the land,  
Take likewise double money in your hand,  
And that brought back return, as it is right,  
It may be it was but some oversight,  
And take your Brother with you, and arise,  
God send you favour in the Prince's eyes.  
To free my Simeon, and this my delight,  
Thus of my Children I am robbed quite:  
With that he poured out a flood of tears,  
But hungry Stomaches had nor eyes nor ears,  
But took the Spice and money in their hand,  
And haste with Benjamin to Egypt's Land,  
From Hebron, three days journey, pass they right  
To Memphis, where they lodged all that night,  
Early ' n the morning, when as joseph sat,  
Dispatching Suitors and affairs of State,  
Amongst the other suitors in the Hall,  
He first one of his Brethren spies, then all;  
But most his dearest Benjamin he eyed,  
And therefore bids his Steward soon provide,  
And take those Hebrews to some private room,  
For he would have them dine with him at noon:  
'Tis fit that those whom God to Place doth call,  
Should be to strangers kind and hospital.  
Then brought to Joseph's house, they are afraid,  
The money to their charges should be laid.  
When judah thus: The money we did find  
In our Sacks mouths, when we did them unbind,  
We have brought back, with money eke to buy  
New Corn for us, and all our Family:  
Peace, saith the Man, your Father's God you sent  
That treasure, I was paid and well content.  
And forthwith Simeon out unto them brought,  
Who each saluting other, as they ought,  
Inquire at first of one another's wealth,  
But Simeon chiefly of his Father's health:  
Then are they to a stately Parlour brought,  
All hanged with curious Arras richly wrought  
By Joseph's Bride, To whom he had made known  
His Kindred, there in curious colours shown,  
(For, as her Lord, so she no time mispends,  
But duly with her Maids, her work intends:  
Lo! joseph is the Pattern of her life,  
Thus a good Husband always makes a wise):  
The Deluge in the first piece was contained,  
Where, but the Ark, nought on the floods remained,  
But they abated, Lo! there cometh forth,  
All living ceeeping things upon the earth,  
With such variety and cunning wrought,  
As plainer folks them living would have thought,  
So skilful Art doth Nature imitate,  
The Dogs do seem to run, the Lambs to bleat▪  
Here Noah offereth on an Altar built,  
Of all clean Beasts to cleanse sins foulest guilt;  
Good Sem, Arphaxad, Selah (of whose race  
Came Heber, whence the Hebrews) next had place,  
And Pelag next, who first divides the Land,  
Reu, Serug, Nahor, Tarah next do stand,  
From whence comes blessed Abraham, by whom  
The blessed Seed of Sarahs' womb should come:  
Here Angels him salute, with God he walks,  
And as two friends with God familiar talks,  
Here Sarah laughs to hear from her dry womb,  
Seed like Sea sands, all numberless, should come:  
Here Isaack's Circumcised, Here sacrificed  
By Faith, but for his blood a Lamb sufficed:  
Rebecca skins on Jacob's hands here cleaves,  
Here's Brother of his Blessing he deceives:  
And blessed, strait flies from his brother's wrath  
To Laban, where he both his daughters hath:  
Here he returns, whom soon as Laban misses,  
With anger he pursues, but parts with kisses:  
Here wrestles he with God, lo here he meets  
His angry brother, who him kindly greets:  
Before one Sheafe, here ten Sheaves seem to fall,  
Here Sun, and Moon, and Stars, it worship all;  
Here are ten Brethren playing in the shadows,  
Whilst all their flocks are mowing of the Meadows,  
Like lively Shepherds all do dance and sing,  
That Woods and Hills with Echoes seem to ring:  
When comes a Child in party-coloured Coat,  
Them to salute, but all fly to his Throat,  
And like so many Butchers 'bout a Lamb,  
Seek to bereave him from his dearest Dam,  
Of all the stories they did there behold,  
This had most life. For Joseph's wife had told,  
With her own hands, it here so cunningly,  
A man would think he saw the Picture cry,  
And on his knees with unfeigned Innocence,  
To beg his Life of their Malevolence.  
This made their eyes those curious sights forbear,  
And ghastly one upon another stare,  
And so amazed them, they now surely thought,  
God all their wickedness to light had brought:  
But now that joseph is returned they hear,  
Therefore their Present ready they prepare.  
As Abram when he had recovered  
His Kinsman Lot, and Captives with him led,  
Returning by the way with Bread and Wine,  
Was met by great Melchizedek divine,  
And blessed, for that God now by his hand  
Had saved the Prince and People of the Land;  
e'en so good joseph who by pains, not sword,  
Had saved alive th' Egyptians and their Lord,  
And daily from fierce Famine succoured  
Such as had died else for want of Bread,  
Was met with Presents coming to his Hall,  
And blessed as the Preserver of them all.  
Amongst the rest these Hebrews louting low  
Their Present offer him, who strait would know,  
How they did all, and if their Father old  
Lived still in health, of whom they last him told:  
And what is this your Brother young, said he,  
Of whom you told me? They all answered yea.  
God bless my son, saith joseph, and retires,  
To weep for joy, now having his desires:  
But washing's eyes and face, he doth refrain,  
And to his Brethren soon returns again,  
So calls for meat, he by himself alone,  
Th' Egyptians by themselves are placed each one,  
His brethren by themselves (For Egypt's Nation  
Are ranked as their ages do require,  
Which made them this due order all admire;  
To all then from his Board he messes sends,  
But five to one on Benjamins he spends,  
Lo thus they all eat, drink, and made good cheer,  
Till they had drowned all sorrow, grief and care.  
But joseph; who amidst his feasts doth mind  
Those, that abroad for hunger starved and pined;  
Thinks of his Father old, and doth command  
His Steward for to fill, straight out of hand,  
The Hebrews sacks, so full as they can thrust,  
And put their moneys in their sacks, as first:  
And in the youngest's sack his silver Cup,  
So in the morning, ere the Sun was up,  
They with their Camels laden are let go,  
But e'er they thence are gone a mile or two,  
Up gets the Steward, and them after hies,  
Whom overtaking, thus aloud he cries:  
Ah! why have you rewarded ill for good?  
My Master of his Grace hath given you food,  
And you his Cup wherein he drinketh wine,  
And wont to Prophecy and to divine,  
Purloined have, oh it is evil done.  
Good sir, saith Reuben, Think not any one  
Of us would do such thing: the money found,  
Last time, when we our sacks at home unbound,  
Was brought to thee again, most truly told,  
How should we then or Silver steal or gold?  
Die let him wheresoever it is found;  
We Bondmen to my Lord for ever bound.  
He saith the Steward, shall be bound, where we  
The Cup shall find, the other shall go free:  
Then taking down their sacks, they do begin  
To search from Reuben, e'en to Benjamin,  
There was it found, than all their clothes rend,  
And back again unto the City tend.  
As Thiefs who by the owner overtake,  
In fresh pursuit, with goods about them take  
And brought before the judge, all mercy cry,  
Without defence, for such their Felony:  
So they to joseph brought; before him fall,  
And only unto him for mercy call.  
What have you done, saith he, know you not, I  
Am able to divine and Prophecy?  
Ah! judah saith, what shall thy servants say,  
Or do? How can we clear ourselves this day?  
God hath made plain thy servant's wickedness,  
We are thy Bondmen all, we must confess,  
As likewise he with whom the Cup was found,  
Nay, God forbid, saith joseph; he be bound  
Who had the Cup, The rest depart in peace  
To your old Father, haste, why do you cease.  
My Lord, saith judah, we have no defence,  
Yet let me speak one word without offence:  
At our last being here, thou didst inquire  
Of this our Brother, and our aged Sire,  
And we, thy servants, true and plainly told,  
We have a Father which is very old,  
Who also in his age begat our brother,  
The only child alive now of his mother,  
His Brother's dead, and therefore more beloved,  
By this my Lord, then answered, shall be proved  
The truth of all your sayings, Bring him hither  
That I may see the Brethren all together:  
We answered, if the Lad should but depart  
From his old Father, It would kill his heart;  
My Lord replied, except he to this place  
With you return, forbear to see my face;  
We coming home, this to our Father show,  
Who to buy Corn again would have us go,  
But, we replied; except the Lad we place  
Before the Man, we may not see his face:  
Ah! saith our Father, you my sons well know  
That I had by his Mother, only two,  
One's dead, and gone, if this away you have,  
You bring my head with sorrow to the grave:  
Now if thou us unto my Father send,  
Without the Lad, on whom his days depend,  
Soon as our Father misseth him he dies,  
And we be Authors of his miseries.  
Besides, I surety for the Lad became,  
And if I bring him not, must bear the blame:  
How shall I then my Father's face behold,  
Without the Lad be there, except I would  
Bring on my Father's house such wretchedness,  
As no man's Tongue is able to express:  
With that like Jordan floods his tears do fall,  
And as he wept, so wept his Brethren all.  
But joseph then no longer could refrain,  
But bids forbear, there may not one remain  
Within with him, whilst he himself declares  
Unto his Brethren, with such cries and tears,  
That the Egyptians and Pharaoh hear  
His loud laments, and scarcely can forbear  
To mourn with him, who kept them all from mourning:  
But joseph to his Brethren soon returning,  
Saith, I am joseph; doth my Father live?  
Fear not my Brethren, I you all forgive.  
As when a King, that he discover may  
Some traitorous plot, his body doth array  
In such an habit, as none can descry  
Him from one of that close Conspiracy,  
Till hearing all the Traitors Conjuring,  
He shows himself to be their Lord and King.  
So that they all stand mute and in a maze,  
And ghastly one upon another gaze:  
So stand the ten, one looking on another,  
To see so high their late betrayed Brother:  
Thus at the last, the wicked men shall hide  
Their face at sight of him they Crucified,  
When on his Throne his glory they behold  
Like Joseph's, who shall like to him be sold.  
But Benjamin poor harmless innocent,  
After he had endured this chastisement,  
At hearing Joseph's name lifts up his eyes,  
And louder now for joy then Sorrow cries:  
So shall the innocent at last appear,  
To be absolved by their Brother dear.  
Then joseph saith, my Brethren all, draw near,  
I am your Brother joseph, do not fear,  
That very joseph you to Egypt sold,  
But be not grieved therewith, nor do it hold  
A cruel thing; For God me sent before,  
For to preserve your lives with millions more:  
This is the second year, five are behind,  
When none shall reap, or mow, or sheaves up bind,  
God sent me to preserve your Progeny,  
And save you by a great delivery:  
Not you, I say, but God me hither sent,  
And made me here, to your astonishment,  
Great Pharoh's Father, and given free command  
o'er all his House, and over all his Land,  
Hast to my Father; Tell him in a word,  
Thus saith thy joseph, God hath made me Lord  
Of Egypt: Tarry not, but soon come down,  
And thou shalt dwell on Goshens fruitful down:  
Thy Children, children's children, and thy flock,  
Beasts, Asses, Camels, all thy store and stock:  
Lo there I sustenance for thee will find,  
For those five years of Famine yet behind:  
Your own eyes see, and Benjamins behold,  
I all in your own tongue have truly told.  
My glory here then to my Father tell,  
As you have seen, and hither hast to dwell,  
So weeping he upon the neck doth fall  
Of Benjamin▪ and he on his, so all  
He kisses, and doth after with them talk,  
Familiarly, as they together walk.  
As when a Treasure in the earth is found,  
Fame's Trumpet doth it far and near resound,  
So Fame this news in pharoh's Court doth tell,  
Which pleased him and all his servants well:  
Therefore he thus to joseph, out of hand  
Thy Brethren send with Corn into their Land,  
To bring their Father and his family,  
That they may eat my Lands fertility.  
Besides, I will my Charrets thou command  
For to convey your Father to my Land,  
With Wives and Children, let them leave their stuff,  
Egypt shall furnish them with store enough.  
Then joseph, hasting them away to send,  
Peace by the way doth thus to them commend:  
I will not now things passed commemorate,  
Your grief and sorrow more to aggravate:  
For God hath turned your morn of grief and sadness,  
Unto a day of Feasting, joy, and gladness,  
Yet patiently my loving Counsel hear,  
And, by your former harms, learn to beware:  
Let not that wicked Enuyer of mankind  
Breed discords, strifes, or quarrels in your mind,  
Nor question or dispute one with another,  
Who's most in fault for selling of your brother:  
Each of his sin unfeignedly repent,  
And give God glory, who me hither sent,  
And all the evil you against me thought,  
Turning to good, this great deliverance wrought,  
I send now Charrets by the King's command,  
To bring my aged Father to this land:  
Ten Asses laden all with Egypt's good,  
I likewise send my father for his food:  
And ten she-Asses lad with corn and bread,  
That by the way, you may thereof be fed:  
Changes of Raiment I to each assign,  
These five my dearest Benjamin are thine;  
With these three hundred silver pieces: So  
He hath his right, yet you no wrong I do.  
Let not your eye, cause I am good, be ill,  
'Tis reason good enough to say, I will:  
Yet Nature may inform you of another,  
He is my only brother by my mother.  
Envy him not, because he in mine eyes  
Most gracious is, nor shall he you despise.  
Brethren, in love and amity combined,  
Are like small sticks we in a faggot bind:  
No force them bends, whilst they remain in one:  
Disjoind, a child will break them all alone.  
Hast; Fare-you-well; fall not out by the way  
W'offend against my Father by your stay,  
Lo! thus they fly from Nile to Iordans shore,  
To tell their Father all you heard before.  
joseph is yet alive, saith judah, and  
Is Governor of all King pharoh's land:  
Alas! saith jacob come you me to flout,  
joseph now lives in heaven, I make no doubt,  
He was the Prey long since of cruel beast,  
I have his bloody, Coat still in my chest.  
Ah! saith Dan, to God's glory we confess,  
(Who hath laid open all our wickedness)  
That we our brother out of envy fold,  
When we at Dothan pastured our fold,  
To Ishmaelites, who after for their gain,  
In Egypt, where we found him, sold again:  
His coloured Coat which doth with thee abide,  
We dipped in blood, our foulest sin to hide:  
Lo! now thy sons on knees before thee fall,  
And for this our offence beg pardon all:  
joseph unasked, our trespass did remit,  
Therefore good father also pardon it.  
As Indian merchant on the sudden told,  
His ship is safe arrived all lade with gold,  
Which long since to be cast away he feared,  
Because he never tidings of her heard,  
First wavers, and it hardly can believe,  
Fearing lest he too sudden credence give,  
But when he sees the Porter's bringing in  
The golden Oar, and Ingots, doth begin  
For to revive: e'en so old Israel  
Misdoubts, when first he heard his children tell  
Of Joseph's life and glory great at Nile;  
But when he thus had wavered awhile,  
And saw the goodly charrets joseph sent,  
To bring him and his household from their tent  
To Egypt; and his dearest Benjamin  
Confirmed it all for Truth: Behold within,  
The old man's spirit doth again revive  
And cries with joy: joseph is yet alive,  
God pardon you all your Iniquity,  
I will go down and see him ere I die.  
The end of the third Book of joseph.   

THE FOURTH BOOK OF JOSEPH.  
NOw Jacob's tents abound with such great store  
Of corn, which they had wanted heretofore;  
As if God had heau'n's windows opened,  
And to his chosen thence had reigned bread:  
Which he as liberally participates,  
Unto his Neighbours and Confederates  
Of whom then taking leave, soon as he might,  
He to Bersheba journeyed that night,  
Full twenty miles; where freed from heathen eyes,  
He to his God might offer sacrifice,  
And saith thus to his sons: this is the place,  
Where the Egyptian Agar first found grace,  
When as God's Angel made her see the well  
Which saved the life of her and Ishmael.  
Here let us up to God an Altar rear  
For sacrifice: that God which did appear  
To Abraham and Isaac, also may  
To us appear as well upon our way,  
And in our journey us direct aright:  
Then in a Dream and Vision of the night,  
When sleep his body's senses seized all,  
God to his Soul doth jacob, jacob, call.  
I am the God unto thy fathers known,  
Then fear not into Egypt to go down,  
For I will go with thee, and make thee there  
A mighty people: Therefore do not fear,  
But they shall come again: And Joseph's hand  
Shall close thine eyes in the Egyptian land.  
Then early from Bersheba all arose,  
And in the Wagons all themselves dispose,  
(Sixty seven which with joseph and his sons  
Before in Egypt just to seu'nty comes)  
Leaving the high montanous craggy hills  
Of Pharan, near th' Arabian rocky shells  
Upon their left hand; bend down, on the right  
To that which the Egyptian sea is height,  
Where a plain way from thence to Egypt guides  
o'er Sihor, which from Canaan it divides  
By South, as great Euphrates doth divide  
Chalde, by North, from Canaan's fruitful side.  
Here jacob, who doth all occasions take,  
Gods promise certain to his sons to make,  
Thus tells them: By this River's is bordered  
The land God promised to Abraham's seed;  
From this Egyptian River, all the lands  

1. Kin. 4.21.  Are given us, e'en to great Euphrates sands,  
A King of judah's seed one day shall reign  

Gen. 15.18 called there the river of Egypt. A city so called.  o'er all from Sihor, to the river main;  
Sihor on South, shall border judah's side,  
Euphrates, Dan: so sure as God did guide  
joseph to Egypt to provide us grain,  
He to this land will bring us back again:  
Then by this Proverb men shall understand,  
From Dan unto Bersheba all the land,  
Oh how can you incredible this deem?  
Who have in Egypt, Joseph's glory seen;  
That harder was then this to bring to pass:  
This promised, but that never hoped was,  
Then, fording Sihor, they through Kedar past,  
A country barren, savage, wild and waste,  
Called so of Kedar, son of Ishmael:  
Here jacob eke occasion seeks to tell 
Gen. 25.13   
Of God's great goodness, them a land to give,  
Not fruitless, barren, where the dwellers live,  
As here, of covin, Rapine, Theft and spoil,  
But a most pleasant and well watered soil,  
Where plenty both of corn and wine do grow,  
A land which doth with Milk and Honey flow.  
Besides, what cause have we our God to praise,  
Who us conducts through these most dangerous ways,  
Amidst these Robbers, without fear or dread,  
As late he at Bersheba promised.  
There was a city, 
Called Ostracina or Cheres.  built of costly matter  
A goodly outside, but it wanted water,  
Like to a lamp, that shineth fair and bright,  
But wants the Oil, that should maintain the light:  
Or like some outside gallants compliment,  
That lacks minds inward grace and ornament.  
From Kedar passing towards Casius mount,  
They up unto a goodly city mount,  
Where stood a goodly temple dedicate,  
To jupiter, thence Casius nominate:  
Not that huge mount which doth in Syria lie,  
Which one reports to be near four miles high, 
Plin lib. 5. cap. 22.   
This city e'en on Egypt's border stands,  
And is the utmost of the Hagarian lands.  
Here jacob grieves at the abomination  
Of his near kindred, and his neighbour nation  
His uncle Ishmael, who with him came  
By Hagar, from the loins of Abraham,  
And in his flesh received the Circumcision,  
But fall'n to foulest heathenish superstition.  
Oh my dear sons! beware; I speak to all,  
How you to foul Idolatry do fall,  
Leaving that God, which made the heavens alone,  
To worship Idols made of wood and stone;  
And, by religion of man's vain devising,  
Adore Moon, Planets, Stars, Fire and Sunrising.  
How are we bound, above all other nations,  
To bless God for our often preservations!  
But most for that God us hath given his light,  
And chosen us to worship him aright,  
This Idol, whom these heathen Casius name,  
With Hammon Jupiter's the very same,  
In Canaan worshipped; e'en that cursed Cham,  
From whence the Canaanites receive their name,  
Whom holy Noah in malicious pride,  
As Ishmael good Isaac, did deride.  
Now five times had Aurora's tresses bright  
Chased away the shadows of the night,  
Since jacob came from Hebron with his train,  
And now was journeying on his way again  
To Egypt, when thus Reuben doth begin,  
That place where we last lodged, is the In,  
Where Gad his money in his sack did find,  
When he for Provender did it unbind,  
Lo there before us is the fruitful down  
Of Goshen; there above is Ram'sis town:  
Not one more pleasant, spacious, fruitful plain  
For pasture is in all the world again;  
There pharoh's pleasure is, that we shall keep  
Our Camels, Asses, all our flocks and sheep:  
Not ten miles thence are those two cities great,  
Which Pharaoh holds for his Imperial Seat.  
The one called On, Egypt's Metropolis,  
The other Memphis, whose large circuit is  
By measure seventeen miles and more about,  
But On is three miles larger out of doubt;  
One with three thousand paces measure may,  
Betwixt these two huge cities, the midway,  
There's Joseph's country house, whence to the court  
He at his ease and pleasure may resort.  
Whether the King lie at his Memphian Bowers,  
Or in his stately On's more princely Towers:  
If God shall guide us on our journey right,  
Thou mayst see yet thy Joseph's face ere night.  
Then jacob sends out judah, from that place  
To joseph, rightly to direct the face  
Of jacob, and of all his sons and train,  
And hasten back to bring him word again.  
Then joseph takes his Chariot for to meet,  
His aged father, and him duly greet:  
As when good jacob at Mahanaun met  
God's host, in order like an Army set,  
When Esau threatened his last overthrow,  
So doth the glory of these worthies show, 
josephus' ad Heroum oppidum Iacobo occurrit. jos. lib. 2. Antiq. ca 4.   
When they do both in Goshens plain appear,  
And each unto the other draweth near:  
joseph begins to welcome his great Sire,  
And jacob Joseph's glory doth admire,  
And but they Idol worship both abhorred,  
They one another surely had adored.  
As when this jacob after twenty years  
With Laban spent, to Isaac old appears,  
They each in other wondrously delight,  
So do these Worthies two in mutual sight,  
joseph forgets his honour and his state,  
And weeps on Jacob's neck, e'en as he sat,  
And Israel forgets he was his son,  
And as did joseph, would to him have done.  
Clouds may, not Muses can express their tears,  
So long forbearance mutually endears  
Them each to other: but old Israel  
To joseph saith, since I may with thee dwell,  
And see thee in such great prosperity,  
Lo! willingly I am content to die.  
So have I seen a fair and tender Lamb,  
Purloined by wicked hand from loving Dam,  
Long missed, at last, when both do meet again,  
With loving Bleat fill both hills and plain▪  

josephus' ibidem.  Yea so th'old man with joy was ecstasied,  
It wanted little but he there had died,  
But pious joseph, with great care and pain,  
By chafing brought him to himself again.  
Both being then in Ioseph's Chariot placed,  
jacob begins thus with God's favours past:  
Many all done by Chance and Fortune deem,  
And little of God's Providence esteem,  
I wish such would in all my life observe,  
How all men's actions here God's purpose serve:  
It was not Chance made Esau set at nought  
His birthright, for a mess of Pottage bought:  
Nor the device alone of my dear mother,  
That got my father's Blessing from my brother;  
For's anger kindled thus, it forth me drives  
To Laban, where I children get and wives.  
'Twas Laban's churlishness and avarice  
Enriched me, by a new and strange device,  
Colours before his yeaning Ewes to spread,  
Which made white sheep bring Lambs discoulered,  
These he to me for wages did allow,  
And suddenly they to a number grow.  
The murmuring of Laban's sons constrain  
Me with my household to hast home again,  
Whom Laban follows with an angry heart,  
But God us made good friends before we part.  
Lo! Esau's fear at Peniel by night  
Brought me to wrestle with the Lord of might;  
Whose blessing so away his fury chases,  
He turns his threats to kisses and embraces.  
Simeon and Levi, cruel instruments,  
From Sichem made me to remove my tents  
To Bethel; where my house of Idols cleared  
I up an Altar to th'almighty reared;  
And paid my Tenth as I to him did swear,  
When first from Esau's wrath I fled or fear,  
And saw a Ladder, which from Earth did tend  
To heaven, whereby the Angels did descend:  
Now last thy brethren's envy spite and hate,  
By selling thee, have saved my life and state;  
For but for thee, we all had perished,  
Amongst the Canaanites for want of Bread.  
That God caused all these things, it is most clear,  
For in the most he did to me appear,  
As late when I to Egypt should descend,  
Thus all doth on God's Providence depend.  
Long did I thee as dead lament and plain,  
And never hoped to see my son again,  
And so did Isaac thy dear Grandsire grieve,  
But never would, that thou were't dead, believe,  
In God he was so confident and bold,  
And in the dreams, which thou before hadst told,  
As if, though blind, he had foreseen this day,  
But now in heavenly joys he lives for ay.  
Some ten years since, him dying in his bed,  
I and my brother Esau buried.  
Oh! my dear son, my soul is much delighted,  
As to relate, e'en so to hear recited  
God's goodness, towards his; therefore unfold  
How God preserved thee since thy brethren sold  
Thee to the Ishmaelites: for thrice seven year  
Are past, since I least news of thee did hear:  
Good jacob had no sooner made an end,  
But joseph was as as ready to commend  
God's care and Goodness in his preservation,  
From all his troubles: in this next narration.  
I know not whether, by their fault or Fate,  
It oft befalleth great men in the state,  
Rich, wise and happy in their Prince's grace,  
Comely in body, beautiful in face,  
To be conjoined to a wanton wife,  
Which soureth all the sweetness of their life:  
This was the fault or Fortune of a Pear  
Of pharoh's, to the King his Master dear;  
My master Potiphar, who, as I ween,  
Had in his youth a skilful Merchant been,  
And Stewarded so frugally his own,  
That Pharaoh wise, to whom all this was known,  
Mad him chief steward; they that can hold fast  
Their own, their Master's treasure seldom waste.  
He that did by experience understand,  
How things are hoist up, bought at second hand,  
Hearing that Merchants stored with spicery,  
Were come to town, goes his own self to buy  
The King his masters, and his own provision,  
,, Thrift stands not on nice courtlike superstition.  
Amongst some other wares then to be sold,  
A fair young Hebrew lad, he doth behold,  
Adorned and set out in the fairest guise,  
As horses to be sold at higher prize.  
A price once pitched, and I by running tried,  
As some do horses, ere they buy them, ride,  
Was sold to Potiphar, who for his table  
Me bought, as we our horses for our stable▪  
ay of this change was most exceeding glad,  
For now I ease for pain and travel had,  
For hard fare, Good; but as a grateful mind,  
Returns ay thanks, where Benefits they find,  
So did I my good Lords munificence  
Requite with Industry and diligence:  
And for I found he pleased my Master best,  
That pleased my Mistress well; above the rest,  
I to observe her was most diligent,  
And all means used to give her best content:  
So that by Prudence more than taking pain,  
I both their Loves and Favours sought to gain.  
For who so will observe, shall ever find  
Best way to please▪ is to observe the mind  
And the affection of men of state,  
And thereunto themselves accommodate:  
Therefore a bliss on good men to attend,  
But misery on wicked to depend,  
Both proved by me, who, for my service true,  
Was by my Lord preferred to honour due,  
And for like service to my wicked dame,  
Was brought to prison, obloquy and shame.  
This my fair Mistress, (for no other name  
I give her willing, ay to hide her shame,)  
Some mean mechaniques' daughter seems to be,  
First matched in her own order and degree,  
But raised to wealth and honour from the dust,  
Thinks all to little for her Pride and Lust:  
And as a man that stands on steeple high,  
His equals erst doth now like Crows descry,  
So she now clambered up on honour's Spire,  
Thinks all to low her greatness to admire.  
Soon might I in her scornful looks descry  
Her haughtiness, and my base slavery,  
But bearing then an honest gentle mind,  
Omit no service that may favour find,  
Which so succeeds, that ere the Crescent bright  
Had filled her horns with brother's borrowed light,  
I by my diligence of her did gain  
Sweet smiling looks, in stead of proud disdain.  
And now the envious spirit, which sought of late  
To ruin by my Father's love, my state,  
Me by my Mistress lust seeks to entrap,  
And dandle in vile sinful pleasures lap.  
Damned spark of hell! Base counterfeit of love,  
And those pure warming flames from heaven above,  
Which so true lover's hearts in one unite,  
That they enjoy, without offence, delight:  
Therefore true love, like morn is fair and bright;  
Lust like an Imp begot of blackest night;  
But later days, since Rapines did abound,  
Do Lust and Love most wickedly confound▪  
This base Lustful Love the Spirit did choose  
(As he did first the Serpent to abuse  
The weaker Eve) this proudest dame to train  
To taste the fruit forbidden by death's pain,  
And kindling in her eyes first lustful fire,  
This Sense presents it with her foul desire  
To Reasons brighter eye, which soon that flame  
Makes to return into her cheeks, with shame.  
Reason with this base Passion strived long,  
Put one weak, as the other groweth strong:  
But nought so checks her Pride and courage brave,  
As stooping to an hated Hebrew slave:  
That she who now did sit in highest grace,  
Should thus her honour great and state debase,  
As to become a vassal to her slave,  
Pride many women's chastities doth save.  
But now the violence of lustful flame  
Had seared the Reason of th' Egyptian Dame,  
Who waiting till her Lord to Court was gone,  
Thus, smiling, set upon me all alone.  
Fair Hebrews son, whose equal never I  
Yet saw, nor do I think Sols searching eye  
In all his travels from the East to West,  
A Beauty sees with thine fit to contest,  
Not that hereby I underprize mine own,  
Mine no Superior, Thine hath never known  
An equal, and though Fates us up did rear  
In sundry Climates, yet since now appear,  
In one Horizon, Suns so equal bright,  
Let's each on other shine with mutual light,  
Let thy bright Beams upon my Beauty shine,  
I on thee will reflect both thine and mine:  
Dear servant, do not thou my grace despise,  
Thee I alone can make to honour rise,  
Thou seest how Potiphar alone doth stand  
In pharoh's grace, and rules both Court and Land.  
To the I love, I dare be bold to say,  
I Potiphar, the Court and Kingdom sway:  
See then thy happiness, a slave of late,  
In me to rule all Egypt's glorious state:  
And if the Fates us send a lucky heir,  
Which may like to his Parents seem most fair,  
All hearts he by thy Beauty shall command,  
And by my right inherit all our land:  
Sweet joseph, let not frownings cloud thy face,  
Sour looks thy glorious Beauty do disgrace.  
Let's take th'occasion now we are alone,  
As Bodies so our souls to join in one.  
So may we with good likelihood suppose  
Bright Phoebus with fair Cynthia to close,  
When joining for their mutual delight,  
They seem eclipsed to the vulgars' sight.  
As when some lustful Prince alone, unseen,  
Doth tempt the faithful handmaid of his queen▪  
To win her to his will and wicked lust,  
The modest maid considering well the trust  
Of her great Dame; whom if she so offended,  
She justly were of God and man condemned,  
Prays and entreats his awful majesty  
Her not to force to such iniquity,  
And break the sacred Laws (for lustful rage)  
Of faithful trust and holy marriage;  
So I poor wretch, whose fresh and youthful chin  
Fine softest down, to shadow did begin,  
Strangely amazed, and grieved at this foul fact,  
Abhorring e'en the offer as the act:  
Yet with all due respect and reverence,  
Did show my duty and obedience:  
And thus replied: dear Mistress, you shall find  
Me ready ay, to satisfy your mind,  
In all, where I may justly you obey,  
And not my heavenly Masters will gainsay.  
My master all commits unto my hand,  
Nor knoweth he, how his own state doth stand,  
No man is greater in his house then I,  
Nor doth he to my custody deny  
Ought but thyself; because thou art his wife,  
His only comfort, dear delight, and life:  
How can I to this sin then condescend,  
And not against my father's God offend?  
The simple rude, saith she, a sin it call,  
But here at Court, 'tis no offence at all;  
Those that are most severe against this vice,  
Delight it most, Oh 'tis a deep device  
Of Politicians, to make a law,  
To hold their children, wives and fools in awe,  
When they, then keep it, nothing less intend,  
But at their pleasures diversely offend:  
I know not one brave spirit in pharoh's Court,  
That this esteems of other than a sport,  
And yet their fair young lusty able wives  
Must, like reclused virgins, lead their lives;  
For my part I have learned this by kind,  
Such measure as men meet us, they shall find:  
Then blushing she doth Tears like Pearls distil,  
For she had tears and Blushes at her will.  
But I replied, good Madam, be content,  
I cannot to your arguments consent:  
To prove from Greatness, lawfulness to evil,  
Is for to draw a Pattern from the Devil,  
Who is the greatest worldly Potentate,  
Yet no excuse 'tis him to imitate:  
For great men's faults they are unsearched, unkowne  
To me; I have enough to mend my own:  
They that severely judge sin, yet delight  
Therein, they judge themselves, and yet judge right:  
And who do thus God's judgements just abuse,  
Must never hope, that greatness shall excuse,  
Will you, because men wrong your sex, offend,  
Your Maker? God such wickedness defend,  
Embrace true chastity of flesh and mind,  
Which honours men and graceth womankind.  
But notwithstanding she, from day to day,  
Me woos, yet would I not her voice obey,  
But shunned, by all good means, her company,  
Till one day she occasion did espy,  
I being in my closet all alone,  
And in the house not of the household one:  
Then all enraged with Fury heat and Lust,  
Like hungry Hawk that hath a Partridge trust,  
She on my garment ceased immodestly  
And cried, come sleep with me, or else I die.  
Not Rachel's loss, my brethren's rage, nor yet  
The fear of Famine lying in the pit,  
Nor Midians bondage did me so perplex,  
As now this woman's furious Lust doth vex,  
Who as the cruel Serpent's said to wind  
About the noble Elephant by kind;  
So winds this wicked monster, woman's shame,  
About me to my sorrow and her blame  
What shall I fly? she me too fast doth hold,  
Shall I cry out? for shame be it not told  
A manlike heart did for a woman cry,  
Oh who can but bewail my misery!  
Should I but now to dalliance consent,  
Me follows honour, pleasure, world's content,  
But if that I this offered grace reject,  
Bondage, disgrace, a prison I expect,  
But fearing more divine revenging hand,  
Then rack, disgrace, imprisonment or band,  
Taking more pleasure in a conscience sound,  
Then all wealth, honours, joys she did propound,  
Acquit my body, though I left behind  
My garment, and out of the room do wind:  
So have I seen some modest country maid,  
With some uncivil usage much dismayed,  
Closely her Aprons strings, to escape, untie,  
And left it with the clown, away to fly.  
Who can the Leopard's fell rage display,  
Chase a Pilgrim fast upon the way,  
And laying on his Cloak her cruel paws,  
e'en ready to devour him in her jaws,  
Who struck with sudden terror and affright,  
Forsakes his Cloak and 'scapes by winged flight,  
May tell the rage of this most cruel Dame,  
Who now hath nothing left, but spite and shame:  
Then raging, that her Beauty which she prized  
Above all others, should be so despised,  
She calls her Servants in, and to them told,  
How that base Hebrew slave was grown so bold,  
And proud of hers, and her dear husband's grace,  
That now he did aspire into his place;  
And would have slept with her, had she not cried,  
All which his garment left here testifide,  
Which up until her Lords return, she laid,  
Then with my Coat her malice she displayed;  
For which my Lord, me into Prison cast,  
My days in pain and misery to waste;  
Thus lightly crediting the accusation,  
And his false Wives most guileful simulation,  
He by his rashness lost a servant just,  
And still maintains a strumpet's Pride and Lust.  
But as a six-squared die, or carved stone,  
How ever cast, stands still upright, all one,  
So was I constant in Adversity,  
As resolute in my prosperity:  
That God which me had erst delivered  
From brethren's Fury, and me honoured  
In time of my unjust captivity,  
Me leaves not now in this Calamity,  
Oh happy they! whose Conscience them acquit,  
That here they suffer wrong for doing right,  
So but a while God's leisure they attend,  
They sure shall have a good and happy end:  
Let Tyrant's rage, they God as gentle, kind,  
In Prison, as in Paradise do find:  
Wherefore though I was of my Coat bereft,  
My master's Grace, and Favour, and now left  
In stinking dungeon, yet I felt no harm,  
God gave me power my jailer's hands to charm;  
And sent me in the Prison-Keepers sight,  
Favour and grace for Potiphars' despite.  
For now that former diligence, which gained  
Me favour with my Lord, like trust obtained  
Me in the Prison, so that to my care,  
Lo all the Prisoners committed are:  
The Keeper looks to nought under his hand,  
God ever prospers all I did command.  
About this season, as it oft befalls,  
Great Favourites in Court have sudden falls,  
By their own faults, or others accusation,  
Or by their Lords dislike and alteration  
Of Favourites: Two Lords of high regard  
In pharoh's Court, committed are to ward:  
The Keeper these doth to my trust commend,  
That I with diligence should them attend:  
These wanton Courtiers which had formerly  
Lived all in plenty, ease, and jollity,  
Acknowledging nor serving other God  
Then Pharaoh, and now chastened with his rod;  
As without souls this change of Fortune bear,  
But I by all means sought my charge to cheer,  
And told them, if indeed they guiltless were,  
The justest King of Heaven would find them clear;  
And if they had through frailty him offended,  
So they their sins confessed and amended,  
He e'en as willing was them to forgive,  
As they in's Grace and favour here to live:  
How earthly Kings our bodies might enchain,  
But still our souls in Freedom did remain:  
With many such good words I sought to please  
My charge, who found therein no little ease,  
And grew less heavy; till both in one night  
Had several Dreams, which did them much affright,  
Which soon as I had heard, I right aread,  
And as I told, so all things followed.  
Such Visions are not like Dreams natural,  
Which ordinary us in sleep befall:  
They in our Souls deeper impressions leave,  
Then such as commonly the Sense deceive;  
Which in the Fantasy worst revel keep,  
When Commonsense the Master is a sleep;  
And do th' Imagination vain delight  
Sometime with hope, sometime with Fear affright,  
Working most on th' affections of the mind,  
When Sleep the Body's senses fastest bind,  
For e'en in Sleep, Grief, joy, Fear, Hope, Hate, Love,  
The soul's affections wake, and lively move.  
God often by such Visions tells men plain,  
What things they ought to do, and what refrain,  
Sometimes by Dreams to them are promised  
Great Blessings, and great curses threatened:  
God oft thus shows one his determination,  
And gives another the interpretation,  
Thus unto me two Dreams by night he told,  
Which, as they prove, my Grandsire did unfold,  
Thus pharoh's Servants first, and next their King  
See things to come, But the interpreting  
Was given to me, which done, I told them plain,  
Interpreting to God as Dreams pertain:  
And now who thinks, but that I thought it long  
Yet two years to abide in Prison strong?  
After I had so well interpreted  
His dream, whom now the King so honoured,  
But having learned with Patience to attend  
God's leisure, and to hope unto the end,  
e'en at that time, when as I least expected,  
So long of pharoh's Cupbearer neglected,  
He that doth all things here by weight and measure,  
On whom they all attend to do his pleasure,  
By one poor Dream but from an heathen King,  
What's long before decreed to pass doth bring:  
I raised to Grace, the World from Famine quite,  
The Butler doth acknowledge his ore-sight:  
South sayers weakness is discovered,  
And God is all in all acknowledged,  
My Brethren bold are to Repentance brought  
For all the wickedness, which they had wrought:  
And this my wicked Mistress may reclaim,  
And bring her to acknowledgement with shame,  
And make my master see his foolish passion,  
And learn to judge by better information:  
My two first Dreams prove true which I had told,  
My Father's spirit revived now being old:  
Pharaoh thus gains the wealth of all his Land,  
And must acknowledge it from Gods own hand,  
Thus all the parts of this sweet sacred story,  
Are for man's good, but end all with God's glory,  
All these are now the Consequence and Themes  
Of mine, of pharoh's and his servant's Dreams.  
See farther here, Satan's Malevolence,  
And man's will freely serve God's providence:  
Satan sought by my brethren's Cruelty,  
In me to ruin isaack's Family.  
My brethren me of wilful envy sold,  
And for the twenty silver pieces told,  
The Midian Merchants bought me for their gain,  
And into Egypt meant to sell again:  
God hither sent me Grain here to provide,  
Else thou and all thy sons for want had died:  
Thus Satan sought dishonour of God's name,  
And all for this my Brethren rightly blame,  
Goodmen such Merchant's Covetise detest,  
That buy and sell God's Image as a beast:  
But God who's only powerful, good, and wise,  
From all these evils makes the Good arise.  
But I thus having in great pharoh's grace,  
Obtained the first, in Realm the second place:  
First pray to God me to direct aright,  
To use this favour and my borrowed Light;  
Nor sought I mine own honour, wealth, and praise,  
But his, who did me from the Dungeon raise,  
And therefore, first take care for public good,  
Providing against the Future Famine food:  
Wherefore, I first through Egypt Circuit ride  
And garners great in every place provide,  
In those seven fruitful years to fill with store  
Of every Grain: And sith it is no more  
Virtue to purchase, then preserve, no tide  
I slipped, but did most carefully provide,  
To kill all Vermin, cut off all excess  
Of Gluttony, and beastly Drunkenness:  
Abate all needless Beasts, Dogs, Mules and Horse,  
Rid idle Rogues and Vagrants, which are worse  
Than Caterpillars to consume the store,  
To rob the richest and to starve the poor:  
No Corn out of the Land let I go out,  
But buy in rather from the Coasts about,  
And many Forests which before did lie  
All waste, I unto Tillage did apply:  
Thus I proceed, and God so blessed my hand,  
That all things prosper over all the Land.  
But when the years of plenty all are past,  
And all the Land of Egypt lieth waste,  
So that they live of former years remains,  
Which them perhaps a month or two sustains,  
The people first of Pharaoh seek supply,  
Who them to joseph sends; I suddenly  
Set open the Barns, and sell for money out  
The Corn to all the Nations round about.  
Now is the time indeed, that I might buy  
Castles and Lands for my Posterity,  
But I all money bring to pharoh's hand,  
To be the strength, and sinews of the Land:  
If Pharaoh will bestow on me a Place,  
Or money to buy Land, I of his Grace  
Will House and Land, as I my Office hold:  
Strangers in purchasing may be too bold.  
When all their money's spent with buying bread,  
One year with Corn I them for cattle fed:  
But when the next year they in need do stand,  
I will for Corn their Bodies buy and Land,  
But all for Pharaoh: whereby growing strong,  
He and his Empire may continue long:  
And to establish more his Segnurie,  
From Place to Place I will each Colony  
Transplant, who on the East of Nile abide,  
I will remove unto the other side:  
Thus Pharaoh Lord of Egypt shall be known,  
By Seisin, none shall say this is mine own.  
Thus have I seen when Want or Waste compel  
A Gallant his Inheritance to sell,  
(Lest any right in him should still be thought)  
Give place to him that hath the purchase bought,  
And in another Country dwelling hire,  
Whether he with his household may retire.  
Thus will I do with all the Common Lands,  
But for the Sacred in the Prophet's hands,  
To Muses and to Learning dedicated,  
Or to Religious uses consecrate,  
I think it Sacrilege indeed to touch,  
Could all by this example learn as much:  
And let the Priests their Portions freely eat,  
Whose Brains in youth for understanding sweat,  
Their age in Prayers and Persuasions spend,  
To save the Good, and wicked to amend.  
When I seven years have furnished them with bread,  
I in the eighth will furnish them with seed  
To sow their Land, The fifth of whose increase  
Shall be the Kings: The other four in Peace,  
They and their Households eat: And this shall stand  
For ever as a Law in pharoh's Land:  
The Priest's Lands only shall be ever free,  
For to the Lord they consecrated be.  
Now, as I said, when I did Circuit ride,  
And Egypt's Land surveyed from side to side:  
One thing of greatest use I did observe,  
Which doth perpetual memory deserve,  
Which, if it once were rightly understood,  
Would force all studious of the public good  
To do, speak, write, of this most rare invention,  
Till to effect they brought what next I mention:  
A piece of Land an Istmos, Bar, or stay,  
'twixt Midland-Sea, and the Arabian Bay,  
Supposed some 
a Sex aut septem miliaeria a capite Delta admare rubrum. Gorop. Hisp. lib. 6. Herod plus distantiae po●it. lib. 2.  ten Miles over at the most,  
Adjoineth fast unto th' Egyptian Coast,  
Which if one by a Channel did divide,  
Both Seas might each into the other slide.  
This if it were once 
b Psamni. thus Egyptorum Rex hoc tentavit, sed oraculo interpellatus desutit. Herod. ibidem.  navigable made,  
Would bring, to Kings and people of each trade,  
Such wondrous gain as cannot be expected,  
With endless fame to those which it effected:  
For it would open an easy way and pressed  
To sail from Europe, Africa, Asia-West  
Within few days to the rich Indieses place,  
Which hardly now is done in three years' space:  
How might all dwellers on the earth hereby,  
Soon be enriched by their Industry?  
When by this Channel Merchants might convey,  
Exchange of Merchandise so near a way,  
e'en from the Northern Isles and Western Lands  
To China, Ganges, and the Indian Sands.  
This project I to Pharaoh did commend,  
Entreating him this princely work t' intend,  
But some base minds, active in nought but ill,  
Men of acedious spirits, and little skill,  
Who are most forward ay to vilify  
All works of Honour, Art, and Industry,  
Were ready this most noble work to stay,  
Saying a Bear, or Lion's in the way.  
This Isthmos, say 
c Eedam significat aggerem perpetuum nullo modo rumpendum: Gorop. lib. 6. Hisp.  they, is ordained by fate,  
To bar these Seas that they should never meet,  
But evermore remain a fatal Dam,  
Betwixt them both; and therefore called Eedam.  
A fancy vain, which from mistaken name  
Some superstitious wizards idly frame,  
For 'tis not called Eedam, and though it were,  
Who for this name would this attempt forbear?  
For Eedam notes in language 
d Cimbrica seu Germanica. Gorop.  which they mean,  
A 
e Dam significat aggerem fluctibus Maris & aquarum oppositum. Gorop. Herm lib 4. Ee. significat firmum.  firm strong watercourse great Banks between;  
So from that name they might more truly gather,  
This Isthmos should be a firm current rather.  
For water's course; which I more boldly say,  
Because not Eedam it, but 
f Hebraite sic vocatur & sic vocandae est.  Eetham ay  
Was called, and so is still; by which is meant  
That with his double 
g Etham dicitur vel ab Hebraeo Thaam (permecathesin) qd. significat geminum quiae inter duo maria positum est: vel ab Ethah quod significat curro quia Ethan olim futurus est locus ubi mare currat.  side the Seas close penned,  
Shall one day have a Current fair and great,  
In which the waves of both those Seas shall meet,  
And have so large a passage, Ships may turn,  
As they go to the Indies or return.  
And whereas these fantastic men do dream,  
This to effect impossible doth seem.  
They without reason, self-conceited, wise,  
Against the public profit this device;  
High 
h Athas mons. celissimus factus est navigabilis à Xerxe, Plut. Iust. & alij.  Mountains, Rocks of flint have been made plain,  
And forced to yield a passage to the Main,  
Yea who knows not that far more harder 
i Quales sunt obelisci 4. quorum v. nusquisque erat 480. cubitorum longitudine.  things,  
Have been effected by the Egyptian Kings,  
But never any of such Eminence,  
Nor any that could bring such recompense  
As this; For little labour, cost and pain,  
Would to th'whole world bring infinite great gain.  
Another let they tell as fond and vain,  
That if this Bar be cut, th' Arabian Main  
Doth rise so high, his waves would overflow  
All th' Egyptian plains, they lie so low:  
But I upon my view could not descry  
'twixt Sea and Land such inequality:  
But howsoever Earth, stones, and that doth rise  
From digging of the Channel, would suffice  
To raise Sea walls, for a most strong defence,  
Against the water's rage, and violence,  
And more secure on either side the shore,  
From overflowing then it was before,  
But though I have small hope to win this Nation,  
To cut this shorter course, for Navigation,  
Yet when that King to whose high Sceptres sway,  
All Nations, will they, nill they, must obey,  
Shall rule as well o'er Asia ' and Europe's Lands,  
As China, India, and Arabian Sands.  
Some potent Monarch will himself alone,  
Or many Princes joining all in one,  
Will take this Noble enterprise in hand,  
And make this shorter passage to each Land,  
If not for th' ease and good of Navigation,  
Yet for God's Glories farther propagation,  
That so his Words and Wisdoms glorious sound,  
May through all Corners of the Earth resound,  
This for the public good I have made known,  
In Egypt, as I now to thee have shown,  
Now whilst I for the Public take such care,  
Pharaoh at home a help doth me prepare,  
A Prince's daughter, Egypt's ornament,  
For whom King Pharaoh with her Father sent,  
And welcomes thus: Great On! who by thy place,  
Art to me next, and second in my grace;  
joseph is first, whose merits to display,  
To light a candle were in clearest day:  
All Nilus' Borders do resound his fame,  
And honour most-deseruedly his name:  
Strength, youth, and vigour in his face appears,  
And wisdom in his heart of graiest hairs:  
His Beauty, as his Virtue hath no pair,  
Him would I match with Asenah thine heir,  
I know he is a stranger in this place,  
And wants Possessions, yet in pharoh's grace,  
And he thou knowst deserveth at my hands,  
To have a part in all my Goods and Lands.  
The reverend Priest replies: Dread Sovereign,  
Lo! all the Place and honour I obtain  
In Egypt, I acknowledge from thy grace:  
Which is enough to raise to highest place  
The meanest, But thou dost a match propound,  
Where Virtues more than honours do abound:  
Amongst the many Favours thou hast done  
Thy Servant, this I deem the highest one,  
A Priest to be so gracious in thy sight,  
To match his Child with pharoh's Favourite:  
May't please your Grace to ask the maid's consent,  
But by her looks, I see she is content,  
For then her veil (where modestly she shrouds  
Her radiant Rays, as Sol doth his in clouds)  
Put off, such heavenly Beauty did disclose,  
As if another Sun in Court arose,  
Which as the Rising Sun the Courtiers all  
Adore, and like a Queen before her fall:  
Then Pharaoh saith, her taking by the hand,  
By silence thy consent we understand,  
Good daughter, thou art like thy Parents fair,  
As of their Goods, be of their Grace's heir:  
A fitter match for joseph none can find,  
If to thy Body's grace thou suit thy mind,  
So, as thine outward Beauties heaun'ly shine,  
Thine inward shall b' angelical divine,  
Oh! Labour to be glorious within,  
So Gods, man's Joseph's favour thou shalt win,  
The King forth with then sends for me in haste,  
And first repeating all things as they passed,  
With his own hand her gives me for my Bride,  
Assuring us for ever to abide  
As loving, as our Father's natural:  
When humbly I upon my face did fall,  
And first gave thanks, as duty did require  
To Pharaoh, next unto her holy Sire.  
As when Garden Adam all alone  
Saw Eve, flesh of his flesh, Bone of his Bone,  
He her embraced, kissed and so highly prized,  
As if all Beauty were epitomised  
In his fair Rib, now with the Body met,  
(Two Suns, which but for sin had never set)  
So I, who, though in honour, was alone  
In Egypt, till I met my flesh and Bone,  
Sweet Asenah, in whose fair eyes and face,  
I saw my mother Rachel's comely grace;  
This Egypt's Gem, whose eyes I did behold,  
Like radiant Diamonds fair set in Gold;  
Embrace, kiss, love her, and her Grace admire,  
And set her as the Bound of my desire:  
Thinking I now did reap with treble gain,  
The Crop of all my travel care and pain.  
Then in the presence of the Court and King,  
I courted her with this speech following.  
Fair Lady whose high Grace and Beauty seen  
To me your servant, may become a Queen.  
Yet art, (such is thine humbleness) content  
To be poor Joseph's: without compliment,  
I am all yours, nor do I less esteem  
Your worth, because you it so meanly deem:  
Our Sex's duty to your Sex I know,  
Is you to Court entreat and humbly woe,  
But since that service you to me remit,  
I will so much remain more in your debt.  
My time is precious, therefore let me show  
To you in brief, what Joseph's wife must do.  
It is not this world's false, vain glittering glory,  
So full of hazard, lubrique, transitory,  
At which I aim: 'Tis an eternal place,  
Where we shall live for ay in blessed case,  
Whether the gods, Th' Egyptians wont to serve,  
Can never bring you: He that will preserve  
This Land from Famine by th'interpretation  
Of Pharoh's Dreams, must bring to this salvation▪  
One God with joseph must his wife adore,  
One God one true Religion, and no more:  
God jealous is, no Idol-stocke or stone,  
May be his Rival, God, and Truth is one:  
These worldly shows delights and vanity,  
As Mortal with our Mortal Bodies die,  
The Pleasures which I speak off ay remain,  
Eternal thus for Temporal we gain.  
This God my Fathers with their wives have served  
Who to this day from dangers me preserved,  
This God me from the dungeon deep did raise  
To be thy Husband, him for ever praise:  
Madam, your King and Father are content,  
But your own mouth must show your free consent.  
When fairest Asenah long silence breaks,  
And as an Angel sent from Heaven thus speaks:  
Good sir such is my due and filial awe,  
My Father's judgement is to me a Law,  
Much more my Sovereigns: But such worth in you  
I see and hear of, I should rather sue,  
But for my Sexes bashful modesty,  
For such an honour, rather than deny:  
Nor shall I meanly of myself thus deem,  
To honour him, whom King and Realm esteem  
Their Father, and the Kingdom's Favourite.  
What greater Grace befalls a mortal wight?  
Sir, that Religion, which my holy Sire  
Taught me his child, informed my soul's desire,  
World's Glory, Pomp, and vainness to despise,  
But thy Religion makes men heavenly wise,  
And brings them by an upright conversation,  
To happy ever lasting habitation.  
Therefore as thy Religion our transcends,  
As aiming at more high and happy ends,  
So greater is my joy and happiness,  
To match, where I it truly must profess.  
So sure as that (whereof thou didst divine  
By Dreams) shall come to pass, so am I thine:  
Thy God shall be my God, and mine thy Nation,  
In earth, grave, heaven one be our habitation:  
What thou approu'st as good, the same do I;  
With thee, Sweet Hebrew, let me live and dye.  
Pardon: A woman's Tongue knows no content,  
Yea, is enough t'express a Maids consent.  
Lo thus Hearts, hands, words, wishes, joined in one,  
Two by Consent, become one Flesh and Bone.  
Then princely On begins: Lo God hath tie  
These two in one, Let no Man them divide:  
Dear Daughter, I to joseph thee commit,  
Thou therefore must thy Father's house forget,  
And people: so shall sons before thee stand,  
Fit to bear rule as Princes in the Land:  
That God whom Pharaoh, On and joseph serve,  
Who, as he all things made, doth all preserve,  
God who of things to come to Pharaoh told  
By Dreams, which none but joseph could unfold,  
When God him from the Dungeon did advance,  
To save us by a great Deliverance,  
God Author sole, and end of happiness,  
This holy Marriage and this Union bless  
Of the Egyptian, and the Hebrew Nations;  
And make them happy in their Generations,  
And honour ay in heaven our Sovereign King,  
As he his Servants honours in this thing.  
The King thus pleased in royal pomp and state  
With sumptuous Feasts and shows doth celebrate  
Our Marriage day, where all with Music rings,  
And King and Court a happy Hymen sings.  
Happy I hope though with an Heathen Dame,  
Whose Grace and Virtues I the rather name,  
That you may know we here as elsewhere find,  
Some good as well as bad of womankind,  
As a loose wicked wife of Potiphar,  
So a most pious child of Putiphar:  
But why should I time in her praises spend,  
Since her own Works, her best of all commend,  
God me hath given, by her, two lovely Boys,  
Before the Famine, which are all my joys:  
Lo! here she kindly comes with all her train,  
Her welcome Father for to entertain:  
For now they all at Joseph's gate arrive,  
Where pharoh's Pears, and Servants all do strive,  
How best their Loves and Service show they may,  
To add more honour to this happy day.  
When Asenah, first kneeling down, begun  
Oh holy Father, of a blessed son,  
Bless me thy Daughter; Blessed shall they be,  
Whom thou dost bless: As welcome now to me,  
As dearest joseph to his Father's sight.  
All Egypt's glory yields not such delight.  
When jacob, Daughter; Fitter 'tis for me,  
To your great state, to bow my humble knee,  
But rightly you of me a blessing crave,  
No other Dower to bestow I have,  
The Lord on thee from Heaven all Blessings shower:  
But Jacob's tongue not having farther power,  
Now to express his Wondrous joy and Love,  
His eyes produce abundant Tears to prove  
His joyful soul, for Joseph's happy state,  
When Joseph's Steward tells him it was late  
And supper time: Wherefore they all addressed  
Themselves, in their due order, to the feast.   

THE FIFTH BOOK OF JOSEPH.  
Soon as Aurora, with her blushing face,  
Ushered the Giant out to run his race,  
His longest journey from the East to West,  
Good joseph, though he overnight did feast,  
e'en all th'estates of Egypt with their train,  
His father in more state to entertain,  
Gets up and with his servants all repairs  
Unto a chapel by, to public prayers,  
Which Pharaoh had given joseph there to serve  
God, who from famine Egypt did preserve,  
No time to men of action is so free  
For their devotions, as the Mornings be,  
Especially for those that live at Court,  
Where they make Dinners long, but Prayers short,  
But they done; joseph doth his speech direct  
Thus to his Brethren: you perhaps expect,  
That I, now for mine own and houses grace,  
Should raise you all to honourable place,  
And make you Lords at least in pharoh's land,  
But if you wisely things will understand.  
And know that honour ladeth more than graces,  
If wealth and virtues answer not your places,  
No grace nor honour can give such contents  
To you, as quietly to live in tents.  
You that have had your Breeding in such sort,  
Cannot observe the Niceties of Court:  
They, whose ambition would be over all,  
The higher climbed oft take the greater fall:  
Equals envy▪ Superiors such disdain,  
Inferiors malign, all seek their gain,  
Grace and Preferment by another's frown;  
Who get up seek to thrust the other down.  
Courtiers are Dial's, whilst Sol on them shines,  
Observed of all, else but as painted Lines.  
Many Court-honour only do admire,  
And as another heaven on earth desire:  
These only look on outward splendour, shown,  
Our inward cares and dangers are unknown,  
None would envy our glory and content,  
Knew they the weight and cares of government:  
They Altas burden on their shoulders brare,  
To whom committed is the public Care,  
Besides most stand in such high slippery places,  
I would not have their hazard for their graces.  
I speak not to dehort from government  
The wise, for fear of griefs and discontent,  
Under this burden they must bow their back,  
Lest if the wicked rule all goes to wrack:  
But who are prudent, moderate and wise,  
Are rather raised for worth, then seek to rise:  
And such like tubs on their own bottom stand,  
Nor need the least support of others hand;  
When they which want this true worth of their own,  
No sooner clambered up, but tumble down,  
The first like fixed Stars stand firm and fast,  
Last make fair shows, like Comets, but son waist,  
Their matter is pure elemental fire,  
Of these ambitious humour and desire:  
Such is the Humour of Ambition vain,  
For grace and offices to take much pain,  
Wherein they never comfort take nor rest,  
So fear of losing doth their mind molest:  
When could they their fair Fortunes use aright,  
They Freedom might enjoy with much delight.  
I five of you, my brethren, will present  
To Pharaoh, who I know hath an intent  
To give you any honour you require,  
But you his Favour only shall desire,  
And tell him plainly how you have been bred,  
And herds and cattle all your life time fed.  
(My reason is, for that this occupation  
Is here in Egypt of small reputation)  
Desiring you of his high grace may hold,  
Some pastures only for your flocks and fold,  
Where you may serve God free from care and strife▪  
And pray for pharoh's long and happy life:  
Should I you all now raise to Dignity,  
Ones Folly ruin might the Family;  
Many united stronger are then one,  
But 'tis most: what more safe to stand alone:  
Especially so high; where one man's fall  
May make a breach, and so endanger all.  
Oh happiness, if known, of country bowers!  
Where in Devotion they their freer hours  
May spend, and with Groves citizens sweet sing  
Divinest praises to the heavenly King:  
Where free from plots and undermining Arts,  
All may the Truth speak boldly from their hearts,  
(For to a goodman 'tis no little pain  
To flatter for the greatest grace and gain)  
There may they see their Lambs grow great and more,  
And heavenly blessings on their stock and store;  
There may they see corn thrive upon their lands,  
And God to prosper all works pass their hands:  
Happy whose lot falls in so fair a ground,  
Such pleasures are at Court but seldom found;  
But le's make haste, my brethren to the court,  
My business is long, my time but short.  
And now had Phoebus climbed up to such height,  
His beams did warm the world, as well as light,  
When Israel old; with travel wearied,  
Slept sound, till waking, he much wondered  
(Thinking himself at first in his own tents)  
To see such costly gorgeous ornaments:  
But soon remembering where he did abide,  
He turns to Leah lying by his side:  
And thus begins, Dear wife! should I survey  
God's blessings from my birth, unto this day,  
And in a sum his benefits recount;  
They would my days, nay e'en my hours surmount.  
His Goodness, Wisdom, Four, Love in those past  
Shined several, but all now in this last:  
Goodness in drawing so much good from ill,  
To work the sound good purpose of his will:  
His power herein is manifestly shown,  
In raising up the meek, and throwing down  
The proud; his heavenly wisdom did foresee:  
And told us all by dreams which now we see:  
The Stars eleven to joseph bowed long sense,  
Now we the Sun and Moon him reverence:  
And lastly here appears his wondrous Love  
That all for's glory and our good doth prove.  
Thus Israel doth God's benefits recite,  
Beginning in the morning e'en till night.  
But whilst he thus God's Bounty magnifide  
Like fairest Ewe with twin Lambs by each side,  
Comes Asenah, on either hand a son,  
Smugge, lively, like two Rabbits newly run:  
Which seemed their mother's graceful steps to guide,  
As two trim Squires that lead to Church a Bride,  
The tender boys, whose mothers pious care,  
Before had taught themselves aright to bear,  
Down on their knees before their Grandsire fall,  
And sweetly to him for his blessing call:  
The good old man whose heart doth dance for joys  
To see his Nephews, thus begins, sweet boys,  
Which like two fairest july flowers shown,  
Or buds of damask Roses scarcely blown.  
Oh these my daughter give you more content  
Than Egypt's wealth and costliest ornament.  
Me thinks they hang upon each arm of thine,  
Like two fair Clusters on a fruitful Vine.  
These shall renew our dying memory,  
And us revive unto Posterity.  
Behold I see in little Ephraim's face,  
My dearest Rachel's lovely looks and grace.  
Manasses like to joseph doth appear,  
Who above all his brethrens was my dear.  
But oh! my daughter, how much am I bound  
To you, for undeserved favours found;  
But joseph more; a Princess of your state  
So lowly to descend to be his mate?  
God make him worthy of your grace and love,  
And that he may as acceptable prove  
To you his dear, as he was wont be blessed  
With highest favours, always of the best.  
For he at home in Bondage, Prison, Court,  
In grace was always with the better sort.  
I Potiphar the Gaoler, and the King  
Best loved and trusted him in every thing:  
Then Asenah? I wish you were observed  
Here, my dear father, as you have deserved:  
As for your son no nobleness of birth,  
Nor Egypt's dowers can countervail his worth,  
Who me hath taught the vanity of state,  
Me worthy make as happy of my mate;  
Such is his worth and nobleness of mind,  
I wonder not that he should favour find  
Amongst the best: But shall I you entreat  
To tell your daughter, what you use to eat,  
For here you all must as at home command,  
We but desire your will to understand.  
Daughter saith jacob I was never nice  
Nor dainty to consume things of high price,  
That's always best you easiliest can prepare,  
Better are homely Cates then foreign fare.  
My herds my food, my sheep my clothing bread,  
No better wear I, nor no other feed:  
Six score and ten years have I been content  
To live on milk, fruits, and such nourishment:  
Yet few or none that to mine age attain,  
So strong of body are, and free from pain:  
But above all, the weather being fair,  
I love to walk abroad in freshest air;  
After my morning's draught to stir, is good  
For to refresh the Spirits and warm the blood,  
This is the way diseases to prevent,  
I thank God, I near knew what physic meant.  
Thus whilst they talk in plain familiar sort,  
Lo joseph unexpected comes from Court,  
And tells his father, how he did present  
His brethren to the King, who is content  
Them to employ according to their breeding,  
In looking unto sheep and cattle feeding,  
And now he much desires to see your face,  
And with all Courtly honour you to grace:  
I (jacob saith) with all my heart will go  
To that good King, that joseph honours so,  
But I desire of him no greater grace,  
Then to live in his Land and see thy Face,  
I hope he likewise will conceive my breeding,  
And leave me to my flocks and cattle feeding.  
joseph his Father then to Pharaoh brings,  
Who doing first Obeisance due to Kings  
Begins, oh! blessed, blessed thou ever be,  
That raised my joseph to such Dignity,  
From Dungeon where stocks did his Limbs enrol,  
And irons entered e'en into his Soul,  
To rule all Egypt by thy borrowed might,  
And be alone great pharoh's Favourite.  
And blessed be ay for thy Benignity,  
Who savest me and all my Family  
From perishing; Alas! for want of food,  
God render in thy Bosom all thy good,  
And double thy forefather's days upon  
Thee, and thy seed that sit upon thy throne.  
Thus ends the Sage: when Pharaoh thus replied,  
How much more cause have I to bless the tide,  
That noble joseph did to Egypt drive,  
To save me and my people all alive:  
Come hither jacob, let me thee embrace,  
How can I but love thee, and all thy race,  
Whom now as Cause and Author I do see  
Oh joseph? Father of all mine and me:  
It joys me Israel most exceedingly,  
When I thy son in aught can gratify,  
To whom my Kingdom, Life, and all I owe,  
As thou and thine, and all the people know:  
God sent thy joseph, as a man before,  
To lay up here against this famine store,  
For had we not by his foresight been fed,  
We, thou and all, for want, had perished.  
Thy joseph doth inform my Senators,  
And Wisdom teach unto my Counselors:  
Well may he rule then o'er my house and Land,  
And all my substance have at his command,  
I am to this by Providence but led,  
God hath indeed thus joseph honoured.  
Thou seemest of no less wisdom and defert,  
Then good old father, tell how old thou art,  
And in what course, thou hast worn out this term,  
I ask not to examine, but to learn:  
Examples more than precepts teach to live;  
Good King, saith jacob, thou dost e'en revive  
My older age to hear thy wondrous love  
To joseph, whom more than myself I love.  
But seeing thou inquirest of mine age,  
Know that the days here of my Pilgrimage  
A hundred and full thirty years have been,  
The days are few and ill which I have seen,  
Nor have I yet attained to the age,  
And days of my forefather's Pilgrimage.  
Two things I study here especially,  
The first to live well, second well to die,  
For what is all our life once gone and passed,  
But e'en a way unto our happy last.  
The term from whence to all flesh is the womb;  
That whither all do hasten is the Tomb.  
He happiest here who findeth on the way,  
Fewest impediments his course to stay.  
Some pass through sickness, poverty, some wealth,  
Honour, preferment, pleasure, strength and health,  
Some equally of both participate,  
This is the mean, yet safe and happiest Fate,  
The highest I did ever here aspire:  
And in this state I still to live desire.  
The highest honours to your Grace are due,  
For God hath with a Kingdom honoured you,  
Whereof you have yourself most worthy shown,  
In looking to God's glory, not your own.  
Wisely therefore, I speak it to your praise,  
You honour them, whom God would have you raise,  
And in your Kingdom prudently depress,  
Those whom God hateth for their wickedness.  
Thus needs your Government must happy be,  
When King and Senators in one agree,  
The proud to cast down, and to raise the just,  
So may the Rulers one another trust.  
God that from Famine us delivered,  
And by a dream foretold, thee counselled  
Both for thy land, and household to provide,  
And all the world, which else for want had died,  
Feed thee with inward and spiritual grace,  
And give in heaven an everlasting place,  
For this, I your poor Beadsman, night and day,  
Will in a homely country cottage pray.  
Pharaoh much joyed, would fain have entertained,  
And him at his own board with bread sustained▪  
But good old jacob modestly denied,  
And said, How long have I on earth to bide?  
I cannot now of good from ill make choice,  
Nor music judge by instrument or voice,  
Why should I be a burden to the King?  
And he reward so my small-meriting,  
But let my son for me before thee stand,  
And ready always be at thy command.  
Good man, saith Pharaoh, I have given command  
To place thee in the fattest of my Land,  
The Land of Goshen be a habitation  
To thee, thy children and thy generation  
There is best pasture-ground for them to keep,  
Their Camels, Asses, cattle, Goats and Sheep.  
To raise to place of honour I desire  
Thee and thy sons, but they of me require  
Still to be Herdsmen: wherefore the most bold  
And active, I make Rulers of my fold.  
Then jacob blessing Pharaoh did depart  
Out of his presence with a joyful heart.  
Seu'nteene years after in prosperity,  
Lived jacob and did greatly multiply,  
And joseph in his former Grace did stand,  
Still under Pharaoh ruling all the Land.  
Nor might be ere out of his master's sight,  
Because he was his only Favourite,  
Till one day joseph, absent from the Court,  
Pharaoh bespeaks his servants in this sort.  
Near thrice ten times the Sun with panting horse  
Hath run through heaven his swift and yearly course,  
Since first arose in this our hotter clime,  
That hebrew Sun, which ever since did shine,  
And all the time he did in court appear,  
We have had Spring and Summer all the year,  
I cannot eat by day nor sleep by night,  
Without his Beams most comfortable bright:  
That honest man, in whose ingenuous face,  
A man may read what in his heart hath place,  
Now, by my life, I higher do esteem  
This Hebrew, then great Egypt's Diadem.  
Nor is it to the least of you unknown,  
He hath been better to me then my Crown,  
And bears still for me, to all men's content,  
The weight of all my kingdom's government,  
In those seven years of Famine and of Store,  
When his employments greater were and more,  
If he were but one day out of my sight,  
I certain was to hear from him at night,  
But now of's light hath been near three days pause  
Yet no man here will tell to me the cause.  
When thus the Butler (who by pharoh's grace  
Restored was as he dreamed to's former place)  
Dread Sovereign! some small clouds do in this sort  
Shadow his beams, which want to shine at Court:  
But no defect in his ay-constant light,  
He's still the same, and shines as ever bright.  
joseph at home for pharoh's health now prays,  
To Israel's God, these are his mourning days.  
His father old now sleeps in happy rest,  
Who dying made to him this last request.  
My dearest son the honour of my race,  
If in thy sight thy father hath found grace,  
(For though thou art my son by true relation  
Yea I am subject to thy domination)  
Now graciously and truly with me deal,  
Not for my private, but our common weal;  
Well do I know that our posterity,  
Will soon admire fair shows and vanity,  
And not regard the land of happiness,  
The Type of future and of present bless,  
Therefore to me, my dearest joseph, swear,  
Thou wilt not me in Egypt hear enter,  
But safely carry to the land of Rest.  
With my forefathers there my Bones to rest,  
It may be ours will sooner hasten thither,  
Where all their Father's Bones do lie together.  
Then joseph swore and Israel worshipped,  
The Fear of Isaac sitting on his bed.  
These words he me desired, with many tears,  
That I would publish in King pharoh's ears,  
And Licence of thee to that end obtain,  
Which done he would to Court return again.  
When Pharaoh thus: Is that good old man dead,  
Like apple ripe in Autumn gathered?  
We all must follow, who can tell how soon,  
Some fall at night, at morning, some at noon?  
But I desire, if any here can tell,  
How that good old man died, that lived so well,  
For most what it befalls mortality,  
As they have lived here, e'en so to dye.  
Good joseph, saith the Butler, thus me told,  
That jacob growing weak, as he grew old,  
He Ephraim and Manasses his two sons,  
Takes with him, and unto his Father comes,  
Wherewith his weakness greatly comforted,  
He takes his strength, and sits up in his bed.  
And thus begins: My son, my joseph dear,  
The God Almighty did to me appear  
At Luz in Canaan, where he did me bless,  
And promise to my seed much fruitfulness,  
Assuring me to make a mighty Nation,  
And give that Land unto my Generation:  
For those two sons God here hath given to thee,  
Before my coming, thou shalt give them me,  
As Simeon and Reuben, they are mine,  
Thy Children since begotten, shall be thine;  
These two, I mean, shall be two Tribes, The rest  
In these Tribes names, shall be of Land possessed▪  
For I a double portion thee allot,  
As my First borne: Because I thee begot  
Of Rachel dear, my first, my lawful Wife,  
Who on my hand in Canaan left her life,  
Her there, alas! I buried on the way  
To Ephrata, called bethlehem to this day.  
But what are these two Lads? my joseph dear,  
My sons saith joseph God first gave me here:  
Oh! bring them me saith jacob to this place,  
Before I die, to kiss, bless, and embrace:  
Sweet Boys! Good joseph, I ne'er thought indeed  
To see thy face, but now I see thy seed:  
The old man then, though he were dim of sight,  
His left hand on Manasses, and his right  
On younger Ephraim lays, and wittingly,  
Thus blesseth joseph in his Progeny:  
God in whose sight I here have walked always,  
Who all my Life-long fed me to this day,  
The God of Abram, and great isaack's dread,  
And th' Angel which hath me delivered  
From evil, bless these Lads, and let my name  
With name of Isaac and of Abraham,  
Be in them named and in their Tribes renewed;  
And grow on earth e'en to a multitude.  
But it displeasing was to Joseph's sight,  
To see on Ephraim's head, him lay his right,  
And on Manasses his left hand to place;  
And would his First borne with the right hand grace,  
But jacob nould, but said I know indeed  
Thy Firstborn shall be great: But lo! the seed  
Of Ephraim, shall be greater far than he,  
And a more strong and mighty people be.  
Thus aged jacob blessed them both that day,  
And said in thee let Israel bless and say,  
God send thee Ephraim's and Manasses store,  
But Ephraim he Manasses set before:  
Then said he, Lo! I die, now out of hand,  
And God shall bring you to your father's land,  
Then ere he died, he swanlike sung this song,  
Most sweet, because he lived not after long.  

Jacob's last blessing.  
Sith, my dear sons, I have not long to dwell  
On earth, come hither: and I will you tell,  
What shall come on you in the latter days,  
Assemble and attend your Fathers Says:  

1 Reuben  My first borne Reuben, thou that art the might,  
And first beginning of my strength by right,  
Thou shouldst have all my Power and Dignity,  
Which thou hast lost by thine iniquity:  
Unstable water! thou shalt not be head,  
Because thou went'st up to thy father's bed,  
For then indeed thou didst my couch defile,  
And thy true right of firstborn lost the while:  

2 Simeon &  Simeon and Levi, Brethren, instruments  

3 Levi.  Of cruelty, near to your father's tents,  
My soul come not near to their congregations,  
Mine honour join not in their machinations,  
Who in their Wrath the Sichemites slew all,  
And in their Fury digged down a wall:  
Cursed be their wrath, for it was void of shame,  
And Fierceness which was cruelly to blame,  
Lo! I their seed in jacob will divide,  
And them abroad in Israel scatter wide.  

4 judah  judah is next, whom all his brethren praise,  
Thine hand be in thine enemy's neck always,  
Thy Father's Children thee shall stoop before,  
Lo judah like a Lion's whelp shall roar,  
My son comes like a Lion from the spoil,  
Who laid him down, and couched himself awhile,  
e'en like a Lion or a Lioness,  
Who dares awake him from his sleepiness?  
The Sceptre from his race shall never start,  
Nor a Law giver from his feet depart,  
Till the Messias come, who to him shall  
By his great power the Nations gather all;  
Lo! he shall bind his Foal unto the Vine,  
His Colt unto the Branch, His Cloak in Wine  
Is washed; His clothes with blood of grapes bedight,  
Eyes red with wine: His Teeth with milk are white.  
The Sea-Haun's Zabulon shall dwell beside, 
5 Zabulon.   
And's Border e'en to Sidon shall divide,  
Like a strong Ass shall Isachar couch low  
Between two burdens, 
6 Isachar.  And for he doth know,  
That rest is good in such a pleasant Land,  
Shall stoop and be another's to command.  
Dan shall be judge and one of Israel's Tribes, 
7 Dan.   
A serpent by the way him well describes,  
Or Adder in the path, horse-heels to gall,  
Until he make the rider backward fall:  
To be a Judge's a dangerous Vocation,  
Lord I have waited long for thy Salvation.  
An host of men God down in war shall cast, 
8 Gal.   
Yet they shall overcome him at the last.  
Aser from fattest Lands his bread shall bring, 
9 Aser.   
And shall enjoy e'en pleasures for a King.  
Napthalim is as nimble as the hind, 
10 Napthalim.   
But favour seeks with pleasing words to find:  
Ioseph's like plant by well, whose boughs are small, 
11 joseph.   
Yet run up flourishing upon the wall:  
With shooting many Archers have him harmed  
And with sharp Darts to's hindrance him disarmed;  
But he stands fast, his arms are made so strong  
By God, to whom all strength and power belong,  
His glory all his brethren's doth excel,  
And he's become a stone in Israel:  
His Father's God shall help him from above,  
And the Almighty with his Blessings prove:  
With Blessings that from height and depth shall come,  
With Blessings of the Breasts and of the Womb,  
To thee thy Father's Blessings be more strong,  
Then those that do from mine, to me belong:  
From th'utmost hills they light on Joseph's head,  
That from his Brethren once was severed.  

12 Benjamin.  Benjamin like a Wolf shall spoil: The prey  
He shall divide by night, and eat by day:  
Thus jacob of each several prophecide,  
What should to their Posterity betide:  
Some call it his last will: Then to them all,  
He dying spoke these words in general.  
We all are Pilgrims on the way, our home  
Is Heaven; as all men enter by the Womb,  
So through the Gate of Death, we all must drive,  
Before we at this City fair arrive:  
Lusts of our youth, Infirmities of age,  
Make few and ill our days of Pilgrimage,  
All spend like Lamps, some blown out with a blast,  
Some waste, some melt, some hold out till the last:  
Like fruit all blow, bud, grow green, ripe, then fall;  
Bud, blossom, green, or ripe, we perish all:  
And turned to dust, are under Death's subjection  
In Grave, until the day of Resurrection.  
e'en as our ages, so we change our mind,  
For those things we do most delightful find  
To Childhood, Youth disdains; our Youthful fires  
Accord not with our riper years desires:  
Old-age in none of all the three delights,  
The reason's plain, we serve our appetites:  
Truth and Religion's path we leave to tread,  
And follow as our Lusts and Pleasures lead;  
Which alter with our body's constitutions,  
And these are sensual, beastly resolutions:  
But who doth his affections measure by  
Right rules of Reason, and of Piety,  
Them never altars, but is still the same,  
All tending to the glory of God's name:  
No change of state, age, health, wealth, constitution,  
Can alter such desires and resolution.  
This Life's a minute to Eternity,  
Like mite unto the Globes immensity,  
Like drop compared unto the Ocean Maine,  
Yet here we either all must lose or gain;  
Upon this mite, drop, minute doth depend,  
All Bliss, we aye continue as we end.  
All Gods most gracious, glorious promises,  
But types and Shadows are of future Bless;  
Phari on Land, us to the Port to light;  
And guide our Barks through world's dark misty night,  
In all our voyage, through world's Ocean-wast,  
Are many Rocks and dangers to be passed;  
Without are Satan and the World's infections,  
Within, our Lusts, vain, frail, and vile affections,  
Which like so many Traitors readiely  
Against the Pilot ay to mutiny;  
But most in danger of them all we stand,  
When nearest we approach unto the Land:  
So some escape the boisterous raging Sea,  
And near the Port do wreck upon the Lea:  
I looking back my span like days behold,  
Like a fantastic Dream or tale new told,  
And were I now them to begin again,  
I should all worldly vain delights refrain,  
Yea could you see heavens joys by Faiths clear eyes,  
You would with me World's Pleasures vain despise,  
And run fast to the mark you set before  
Your end; to live with God for evermore.  
As th'air is hottest nearest to the Sun,  
Brooks deeper, nearer to the Sea they run,  
So nearer to your end; do you aspire  
To grow in grace, and glow with heaun'ly fire;  
Now go I hence, and shall be seen no more,  
Have mine examples always you before,  
So Isaac followed faithful Abraham,  
I holy Isaac, from whose loins I came,  
What we did well do you the like: But when  
We did amiss, observe we were but men.  
Oh let your wisdom shine with your grey hairs,  
Most of you now draw near to seu'nty years,  
joseph is fifty seven, a child e'en when  
The most of you, were grown up to be men.  
Seau'nty seven years a single life I led,  
God since hath seau'nty to them numbered;  
The youngest nor the strongest have no power,  
To add a minute to their fatal hour.  
Defer not of Repentance than the date,  
Now is the time, to morrow is too late,  
Count all men's ages that on earth remain,  
More die before, then to your days attain,  
And should you old mathusela's surmount,  
The longer life, the greater your account▪  
I will not exprobrate offences past,  
Repent, amend, and turn to God at last,  
Leave off to sin, his Promises believe,  
You cannot ask so much as God will give,  
You are a chosen seed, a holy race,  
Not by desert, or worthiness, but Grace.  
Oh make it known to all your Generations,  
God us hath chose before all other Nations,  
To walk here worthy of this Grace divine,  
And like to purest heavenly Tapers shine,  
In this world's misty dark obscured night,  
Whose evil works abhor to see the light.  
Expect not worlds vain glory, Pomp and state,  
Those that live Godly here, the world will hate,  
But God doth ever them most highly prise,  
Who here are meanest in the wickeds eyes.  
The World will you deride, and say that this,  
But some vain, peevish, single humour is,  
Or some light idle motion, which doth rise  
From some mean, ignorant, conceited wise,  
Despise their censures, for I certain know  
The spirit, whence such heavenly motions flow:  
What care I how their worldly wisdom deem,  
Of them, So they with God be in esteem?  
Oh! were my words now written in a book,  
That who, so list to learn, on them might look,  
Or with a Diamonds point engraven plain,  
On Adamant, for ever to remain.  
I know that my Redeemer true and just  
Lives, and shall raise us at the last from dust,  
And though the worms my skin and flesh destroy,  
I God shall in my body see with joy,  
e'en with mine own; and with no other eyes:  
But now my spirit begins so high to rise,  
As if she meant to leave this habitation,  
And fly to heaven, by holy contemplation;  
Oft hath she strived to rise before this day,  
As weary of her brittle Tent of Clay,  
But hath been by the weight thereof depressed,  
But now she feels herself from thence released,  
I cannot last, my Lamp so fast doth spend,  
And now burns clearest, nearest to the end,  
Farewell dear sons; my Blessing on you all  
Continue to your after-Ages shall.  
Oh God of Life; now thou dost me deny,  
The Pour to live, me willing make to die.  
These all are those twelve Tribes of Israel,  
Which good old jacob blessed and wished well,  
Besides the blessing to each several,  
Wherein he told them what should after fall:  
And now as joseph erst he made to swear,  
So chargeth he e'en all his Children there,  
To lay him in that place of Burial,  
Where his forefathers were interred all:  
Thus when his swanlike song was at an end,  
And all commanded that he did intend,  
He plucked up his feet into the Bed,  
And was unto his people gathered.  
Oh happy man! saith Pharaoh, God me send  
e'en such a life, and such a happy end.  
Lo, farther Pharaoh did that day command,  
That all his Peers and Nobles of the Land,  
Should go with joseph and his Brethren all,  
To honour holy Jacob's funeral:  
Where they seven days made so great Lamentation,  
They drove the Canaanites to admiration:  
And after he was buried in this sort,  
joseph returns again to pharoh's Court,  
His Brethren unto Goshen, where in peace,  
They Lived, and did mightily increase,  
Till joseph was an hundred ten years old,  
So that he Ephraim's children did behold,  
To their third Generation, and the seed  
Of Machir, eldest of Manasses Breed,  
Sat on his knees: Then saith he, lo I die,  
But God will visit you assuredly,  
And in that Land, a place for you prepare,  
As he to Abram, Isaac, jacob swore,  
Then, as I swore to jacob, to me swear,  
Thither my Bones with you from hence to bear,  
His Brethren swore: So joseph, as I told,  
Died honourably being very old,  
Whose Body they imbalmed in a Chest,  
And after carried to the land of Rest:  
Where they erect a Pillar on his grave,  
And thereupon this Epitaph engrave:   
FINIS.   

Joseph's Epitaph.  

HIs Father's Darling, mother's dear delight.  
Object of Satan's malice, brethren's spite:  
To Master just; chaste, faithful to his Dame:  
In Prison free, condemned, yet void of blame:  
From Dungeon raised to highest reputation,  
By Wisdom, Counsel, Dreams, and Divination:  
Thus God by him a great deliverance wrought,  
In saving them, who his destruction sought:  
A diligent, wise, provident Obseruer,  
And therefore of Mankind a great preserver.   

In Padan borne, In Canaan nourished,  
In Midian bound, in Egypt honoured,  
From whence his soul flew to eternal Rest,  
His Bones here in like expectation rest.   

He saved from Famine, King, Priests, People all,  
For which his seed and Nation they enthrall:  
Unworthy Egypt! of this sacred Urn,  
Who such rewards for merits dost return.    

SUSANNA was of all thy Poems best,  
But JOSEPH her excels, as she the rest.