The Maidens Blush: OR, JOSEPH, Mirror of Modesty, Map of Piety, Maze of Destiny, Or rather Divine Providence. From the Latin of Fracastorius, Translated; & Dedicated To the High-Hopefull CHARLES, Prince of Wales. By JOSVAH SYLVESTER.  
LONDON Printed by H. L. 1620.   

TO The High, Hopefull-Happy Prince, CHARLES' Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester.  

AMong the Press that to Your Presence flows,  
With joyful Honours, as this time requires;  
Instead of costly Suits, of curious shows,  
Of precious Gifts, of solemn Panegyres:   

Accept a Heart which to Your Highness owes  
Whole Hecatombs of Happy-most Desires;  
Praying, All prosperous to your blowing Rose,  
In All, to equal, or excel Your Sire's:   

That in All Virtues of a Prince complete,  
All Princely Glories may attend you still:  
All ehat may make a KING as Good as Great.   

All Joseph's Blessings (from th' Eternal Hill)  
Whose Happy Legend comes to gratulate  
Your High Creation, and Your Birthday's Date.   

The better Day,  
The better Deed.   

Look the next leaf,  
And so proceed.    

Prince ARTHVRS CASTLE, Chiefest ARTS CHASTE LURE; Now, Now, or Never, Deign My HEARTS LAST CURE.  

LIke sad Arion on his Dolphins Back,  
Amid the Ocean of my Careful Fears,  
Nigh stripped of all, Now slept in hoary hairs;  
Sat I (poor Relic of Your Brother's wrack.)   

My Harpstrings quaver, while my Heartstrings crack:  
My Hand grows weary, and my Health it wears;  
To stir Compassion in some Powerful ears,  
At last, to land me, and supply my lack.   
You, You alone (Great PRINCE) with Pity's grace  
Have held my Chin above the Water's brink:  
Hold still, alas! hold stronger, or I sink.  
Or hale me up into some safer place,  
Some Privie-groom, some Room within your Doors:  
That, as my Heart, my Harp may all be Yours.  
In Effect, as in Affection, To Your Highness service, Ever humbly devoted, JOSVAH SYLVESTER.   

The Maidens Blush: OR, JOSEPH.  

Chased Muse of Muses, that in sacred Lays,  
With strains unwonted, dost delight to raise  
From black oblivion's sad and silent Tents,  
Th'heroic Gests and Noble Monuments  
Of antic WORTHIES, and their fames revive,  
Through every Age to All that shall survive;  
Now, Now revolve th'authentical Records  
Of th' Holy Nation, whom the Lord of Lords  
Chose for his Own, (Whose Line directly came  
From Princely Loins of faithful ABRAHAM):  
And sweedy tuned to th'sacred voice of Truth,  
Sing That Religious, That rare-Modest Youth  
(Good Isaac's Grandchild, and great Iacob's Son)  
Whom God endued, (by Dreams) of things yet done  
To tell the issue: Tell, o! tell Thou All  
That He endured through swelling Envy's Gall;  
Till at the last, triumphing of his Foes,  
Through Pharao's grace to Princely Place he rose  
(As Egypt's Viceroy) by divine Decree  
Fore-sent, a Friend and Founder there to be  
Of th' happy People, and the holy Seed,  
From Whence, should Hope of future Life proceed;  
And Whence Salvation should be freely given,  
Through th'heavenly Key that should re-open Heaven.   

And, O! Thou Glory of Great STVARTS stem,  
Great Iacob's Heir, Great-britaines' joy and Gem,  
CHARLES, King of Hopes, & Hope-ful Prince of Men,  
My great Maecenas, to encheer my Pen,  
Assist Thou also: and with gentle Gales  
Of Helpful Favour, fill my Hopeful Sails:  
That maugre Enuie's Rock and Fortune's Storm,  
My sacred Voyage I may safe perform,  
To th' only glory of my Ghostly Guide,  
His Church's Profit, and Your Praise, beside;  
While, under IOSEPH's Wondrous Temperance,  
His Piety, His Prudent Governance,  
I prophesy Your Princely Virtue's Crop,  
(Your Parents Prayer, and Your People's Hope)  
God say Amen. But, Tide for none doth stay,  
I must aboard, I must mine Anchor weigh.  
Away to Sea: the Wind is wondrous good,  
Spread all our Canvas: O how swift we scud!  
Through all the Western, and the Midland Seas,  
Arrived already to descry (with case)  
The Coast of joppa and Samarian Hills,  
With wealthy Sichem's goodly Groves and Fields.  
Already (running 'twixt his winding banks)  
jordan begins to wash our welcome Planks,  
Where Hebron's valley our glad Welcome sings,  
And even Mount Tabor with the Echo rings.   

Th' Old Serpent knew (for Much to know is given  
Unto that Hell-god, by the GOD of Heaven)  
It was decreed by everlasting Date,  
And promised, that there should propagate,  
From Abraham's happy Stock, a holy Stem  
Which should confound th' Infernal Diadem.  
In doubt whereof, perplexed and vexed sore,  
His jealousy of jacob grew the more.  
The more he envies Sichem's Shepheard-Prince,  
As well because, with duer Reverence  
Did None observe and serve th'eternal Lord,  
Nor juster lived, nor righter him adored.  
As for the goodly Blessings of his Bed,  
(Twelve lusty Sons) likely alone to spread  
Into a People holy and devout.   

Therefore he labours, and he layes-about,  
With all the Engines of his hellish Hate,  
That, That dear Issue to exterminate.  
Especially, that lovely Lad (whose Birth  
Had happy Stars, presaging holy Worth;)  
JOSEPH, the darling of his Father's age,  
Borne of his (first-loued) second marriage:  
Whom, Nature-grac's, the Graces nurtured fine  
In liberal Arts, and love of Law divine;  
Inspired his Soul with skill of future things;  
His mind aspiring with celestial wings:  
To Elders Modest, to his equals mild,  
With Piety and Prudence past a Child.   

Now, as from flowers whence Bees their honey make,  
The loathsome Spider doth his poison take;  
Hence did the Fiend in th' other Brethren hatch  
Close deadly Hate, him harmless to dispatch:  
Nor would He let the first occasion slip  
That might advance his wily workmanship:  
For, for the most, to each man's Inclination,  
He knows, in time, to offer his Temptation.   

It happened then, upon a Summer's day,  
When as the Sun had with his parching Ray  
Driven all the Brethren all their flocks to drive  
To the cool Covert that the Woods would give;  
Themselves set round under a shady Oak,  
Young JOSEPH thus gently the rest bespoke.   

Brothers, I'll tell you my strange Dream to night,  
Hear it, I pray (what ever mean it might,  
It was an odd one.) Early, when the Stars  
Were all called in (excepting Lucifer's,  
Days daily Usher) slumbering sweet this Morn,  
Methought We all were in a field of Corn,  
All binding Sheaves; and when we each had One,  
My Sheafe, me thought, stood bolt upright alone,  
And all your Sheaves did instantly incline,  
And lowly bow their bended tops to mine.   

Then judah, nettled with no little hate  
Against the Lad, began him thus to rate:  
Why, saucy Boy, What fantasies dost thou fable?  
Is this your Dream, you deem so admirable?  
Hath not perhaps some Spirit inspired you so?  
No doubt there hath: the spirit of Wine, I trow.  
But, pray, What Augur doth your wonder bring?  
That you (belike) shall of us all be King.  
Good King of Crickets, line thy Crown with Bayss,  
Lest drunken Vapours some Rebellion raise.   

The rest concurred to gird the harmless Boy  
With flouts and shouts of O God give you joy:  
God save your Grace. Your Majesty to come,  
And tell, in Scorn, their Father all the sum.   

He, good old man, (not without God within)  
He ponders all that he had heard and seen;  
As if discerning somewhat in the Lad  
Of higher strain, than every stripling had:  
Yet, to conceal it from the rest he seems,  
And bids the Boy beware of guileful Dreams.   

But, He, to whom GOD greater Honours meant,  
Soon after dreamed of graver Argument.  
Him seemed, that, set in stately Eminence,  
Before his Feet, with humble Reverence,  
The Sun and Moon and Eleven Stars he saw,  
Stooping unto him in obsequious Awe.  
Which well recording (for by heavenly grace  
That Gift he had) within a little space  
He tells his Brethren of his second Transe:  
Who, re-incenst with rageful Arrogance,  
Soon show their Father, with his fatal Dream,  
Their rancour, spleen, and cank'red spite extreme.   

jacob, at first amazed, calls his Son;  
And, as interp'ring, thus to chide begun:  
What! Sirrah; shall I, and your Mother too,  
And all your Brothers bow our Necks to you?  
Shall you be mounted on your Chair of State,  
And We come All base Beggars to your Gate?  
If such a folly have befumed your brain,  
And filled your fantasy with presumptuous vain,  
With idle Hopes: away with those Conceits;  
Trust not to Dreams, list not to such Deceits  
So reasonless, ridiculous, and light;  
Monsters, Chimaeras, shadows of the Night:  
Which (if not good) it is not God doth send,  
But some Illusion of the subtle Fiend,  
To train our Weakness to some sinful Trap;  
Or, to betray us to some dire mishap:  
As from his Cells false Oracles he wrists,  
From flight of Birds, and Tripes of mangled Beasts.   

Hast thou not heard of Belus, Anubis,  
Ops, Hecate, and other Deities,  
Whom the blind Heathen in their Temples have,  
Frequent their Altars, and their Rites observe;  
Waiting their Answers with the humblest Awe,  
All which is hateful to our Holy Law?  
Therefore be Wise: and look henceforth we hear  
No more such Dreams of such fantastic gear.   

He thus dismissed, the rest he mild bespoke  
To calm their storm, and kindly bade them take  
The Flocks to Field, and drive them soft and fair  
To Sichem Woods, to feed in cooler air.   

Their Father's bidding they eftsoons obeyed,  
(Young JOSEPH yet at home with him he stayed)  
Passing the fruitful Vales and flowery Green's  
Of plenteous Hebron, to those shady Screens.   

But, nor the Verdure of those Hills nor Dales,  
Nor song of Birds, nor shade of Woods, nor Gales  
Of whispering Winds, could kill or cancel quite  
Those odious Dreams they dream-on day & night.  
Rather, they gather daily more Disdain,  
Sharpen their Envy, give their Rage the rain,  
With Threats & Vows; while the evil spirit too nigh  
Still stirs and spurs their hateful jealousy.   

Now, twice the Sun had run his journey swift,  
When the next morning they prepare to shift  
To Dothan's pleasant Downs for fresher Feed,  
And to be further off from home (indeed);  
And so the longer ere they could revert,  
Which they even loathed, and hated at the heart.   

Wherefore (night after night, day after day)  
When, past their wont, their Father saw them stay;  
In musefull care his JOSEPH calls he quick,  
And bids him Thus: I prithee Boy go seek  
Thy Brethren out (on Sichem Downes they feed,  
Or near about) and bring me word with speed,  
What uncouth Reason of their stay there is:  
My mind mis-gives me somewhat is amiss  
With them, or with their Cattle: hie thee, Lad.   

Away scuds JOSEPH (no less swift than glad)  
As far as Sichem: but there looking round,  
Neither his Brethren, nor the Flocks he found.  
Perplexed then, he calls them one by one;  
Hoaw, Brothers! Reuben! Levi! Simeon!  
Then, whoops and hallooes with his Treble throat,  
So loud and shrill, that, to his warbling Note  
With doubled Echoes, Woods and Caves reply:  
But, not a Brother answers Ear or Eye.   

By chance, a Woodman that an Oak did shroud,  
Hearing the Lad, and knowing, called him loud,  
And told him thus; I heard your Brethren say  
They would to Dothan: Thither, that's the way,  
There shall you find them with their Cattle safe,  
In better Pasture than is here by half.  
Thanks thinks the Lad: and Sichem out of sight,  
As swift as Roe he runs to Dothan right.   

When, from a Hill, his Hateful Brethren spied  
Him yet far-off: O! yonder comes (they cried)  
Our King to-come, whom both the Sun & Moon,  
And all the Stars must serve and worship soon.  
We, We base Hinds, borne but for Herds & Neat,  
Drudging all Day in the Sun's scorching heat,  
Lodging all Night in holes or hollow Trees,  
Clad but in Leather, or in coursest Frieze,  
And meanly fed with Bread and Water, most;  
While He is setup with his Sod and Roast,  
His Mess of Goats-milk, and his fill of Wine,  
In change of Coats, pranked & painted fine;  
Snoring all night upon his easeful bed,  
Where, from the Forge of his fantastic head,  
He feigns these Dreams in mere disdain of us:  
But, Brethren, shall we, shall we suffer thus  
Him and his Scorn? Shall we be so blind  
T'indure him still, till grown a Man, his mind  
Grown big withal, and bearing proud upon  
His Father's fondness, He supplant anon  
Our Haps and Hopes, usurping All our due,  
And so (in fine) fulfil his Dreams too-true?  
O! We are Buzzards, Blockheads, Cowards all.  
Why rather here, where none descry us shall,  
Where all things sort, where he is come so pat,  
Shall we not kill him, and make sure for that?  
For, in this Pit we may him deep inter,  
And say (at home) some hungry Wolf or Bear  
(Whereof the Deserts, not far off, have store)  
Him quick devoured, and to pieces tore.   

While these dire Counsels they together cast,  
Reuben (who all, in years and pity, past)  
Cried, GOD defend, o Brethren, GOD defend,  
Against our Brother we should so offend:  
O! in his blood do not your hands imbrue,  
Lest Heavens dread Vengeance that dire fact pursue  
On Us and Ours. Though no man witness be,  
GOD, GOD himself is witness, and doth see  
And hear us all: from him is nothing hid,  
he's all an Eye that never closeth Lid.  
But, if you needs will of the Lad be quit,  
Sanz blood or slaughter, put him in this pit,  
There leave him to his Fate. This he advised;  
That, rescued thus from present death devised,  
He, late at night returning to the Cave,  
Might hale him up, and th' harmless stripling save,  
To bring him safe unto his aged Sire,  
And calm at length his brethren's envious Ire.   

Their Elders Words them All a little moved,  
And his advice they all at once approved:  
Him down unslain, into the pit to slide,  
His worse or better Fortune to abide.  
Then Reuben said; be Witness GOD for Me,  
How clear I am from this your Cruelty:  
And as he spoke, him from them far withdrew  
Into the Woods, to wait what would ensue.   

By this, was JOSEPH (full of lively cheer  
For having found them) even arrived near;  
When, fell and furious, they enclose him round,  
Lay hands on him, his tender hands they bound,  
With braving Threats; Now shall you see (say they)  
Your Dreams fulfilled: Must not we all obey  
Your Mightiness? Our Sheaves must stoop to you:  
Yea, to your State, Sun, Moon, and Stars must bow.   

Wondering, and frighted with their uncouth guise,  
In vain (alas!) in vain he calls and cries  
To them for pity of his Innocence;  
While inly Rage, with more Impatience  
Still egged them on, with fell Erynuis brands:  
And hellish Pluto (who too-ready stands,  
Weening to cross the Destinies Divine)  
Doth all their Edge 'gainst him alone incline.   

When he perceived (poor Boy!) no vows, no tears  
Could mollify those stony hearts of Theirs  
To hold their hands, already heaving him  
With violence unto the Dungeons brim;  
His Eyes lift up towards th' Empyreal Pole,  
Thus, loud he groaned from a grieved soul.   

Great GOD of Abraham, Isaac, jacob, too,  
Who kennest all things, and canst all things do;  
If I sincerely have adored thee still:  
If I have gladly done my Parents Will:  
If I have lived pious and upright;  
Lord look upon me in this woeful plight.  
Or, if it please Thee, that I here expire;  
Yet spare, o Lord, o spare mine aged Sire.  
And, o! my Brethren (whom, with due respect  
Of Eldership, I ever did affect)  
However Me you pity not, I pray  
Pity our Father (lest untimely grey  
His hoary head come to the grave for grief)  
Let not him hear it: rather say some Thief,  
Or knot of thieves, Me (by the way) bereft;  
That some false hope may of my life be left,  
To lengthen his: though here (alas!) I lie  
Dead in these sands, and hid from any eye:  
And as he spoke, his Tears so fast did fall,  
They stopped his speech, and almost stayed withal  
His brethren's rage; till Ruthless Isachar  
Re-fand the fire. Nay, having gone thus far,  
We may not now, We cannot safe desist;  
For why? whereon I need not now insist;  
Yourselves (said he) can quickly guess, I trow,  
Mischiefs enough, if now we let him go.  
Let us therefore go on as we decreed,  
Let's let him down: Hereto they all agreed,  
With heart and hand, and did it instantly;  
And then Remorseless, on the Grass hard by  
Made no more bones, but sat them down to dinner.  
O! the dull Conscience of a hardened sinner!   

But, from th' Empyreal, through th' Aethereal Pole,  
GOD looking down upon the harmless Soul,  
In tender Pity, and eternal Love  
Towards his Own; among the Troops (above)  
Of winged Heralds, that are ever pressed,  
Expecting gladly his Divine Behest,  
To one he beckons, and he bids him Thus;  
Right Trusty, high thee, hy thee down from us,  
Toward Samaria, well thou knowest where,  
And whom thou knowst one day ordained to bear  
A glorious Part, in honourable Place,  
Good Isaac's Grandchild, now in piteous case,  
Crying for succour from a dark deep Cell,  
Against his brethren's envious Fury fell:  
Go comfort him, poor heart; but in what kind,  
I need not say. Thou seest: thou knowst my mind.   

So, with his gracious All-directing Nod,  
Th'Angel, dismissed, in th'instant spreads abroad  
Aethereal wings on his Aenreall sides,  
And through the woundless Welkin swifter glides  
Than Zephyrus; or, than (when mounted high  
With many Turns, and towering in the Sky)  
The stout gerfalcon stoopeth at the Herne,  
With sudden sauce, that many scarce discern:  
Such was the speed of this Celestial Bird  
(To prosecute, and execute the Word  
Of his great Master) towards Dothan Down,  
Alighting first upon Mount Tabor's Crown,  
Amazed to see his Groves so sudden green,  
And Lawns so fresh, with flowery tufts between.  
The Hill-born Nymphs with quavering warbles sing  
His happy- Welcome: Caves & Rocks do ring  
Redoubled Echoes; Woods and Winds withal,  
Whisper about a joyful Madrigal.   

But th' Heavenly Herald, from the Mountain eyeing  
The Vale about, sees there the Brethren lying  
Along the Grass, and busy at their Victual,  
And, from a Hill (thence distant but a little)  
Th' Arabian Merchants with their Camels, hard  
(As God would have it) driving thither-ward;  
Thence instantly he casts his gentle Eye,  
On woeful JOSEPH, and immediately  
Descending swift, stands on the dungeons brim,  
Now shining bright with sudden light from him.  
Wherewith the Lad at once dismayed and joyed,  
The sacred Torch-man (to that end employed)  
In lovely Shape, with sweet and lively grace,  
Thus cheers the Lad (himself a Lad in Face).   

Fear not, dear JOSEPH, dear to God above.  
Thy Father's GOD, who All doth guide & move,  
Hath sent me hither from his heavenly Throne,  
To comfort and confirm thee, in thy Moon.  
First, Hence thou shalt be fre'ed: yet, behold,  
Twice, as a Slave, thou shalt be bought and sold,  
Transferred to Memphis, and for many a year  
Shalt live a Servant and a Prisoner there.  
But if thou still have in abomination  
Strange women's Love, & strange gods adoration:  
If still with all thy strength, with all thy heart  
Thou serve the Lord, and from him never start:  
If in his Ways thou walk, and do his Will,  
He will be with thee, for thee, in thee still:  
So that where-ere thou go, whatever thou do,  
Favour and Fortune shall attend thee too.  
And that thou mayst with greater confidence  
Contemn thy wrongs, and trust his Providence,  
Know for a certain, he hath destined thee  
A high Estate, and glorious Empery;  
And time will come, when Thou with me shalt view  
Thy former Dreams in every part prove true;  
When as thy Brethren with self-guilty brow,  
And thy good Father shall before thee bow:  
When thy Compassion, paying good for ill,  
Shall save their lives that meant thee first to kill:  
Shall feed their mouths that thought thee once to starve  
And buy them seats that sold thee forth to serve  
And not alone receive themselves to grace,  
But them and theirs within thy Kingdom place;  
That grown at length in number like the sand,  
Thence the Almighty with a mighty hand,  
(In spite of Envy and Ambitious sway)  
May bring them dry-shod through the Crimson Sea.  
Directed safe in all their uncouth Way,  
By Fire by Night, and by a Cloud by Day;  
Through the dry Desert, plentifully fed  
With Quails from Heaven, & Manna (Angels bread)  
Into a Land where Milk and Honey flow;  
The happy sign of happier substance though:  
Where, in due Time (o haste ye Times away)  
A Golden Age shall see a glorious Day;  
A Day full oft to be foretyped, foretell,  
Forepromised by Prophets manifold;  
When from the Bosom of th'eternal SIRE,  
Th' Eternal SON (What may we So admire!)  
(The SPIRIT o'reshadowing of a Virgin-Mother)  
Shall take Man's Nature, & become your Brother;  
Old ADAM's Gild, and Yours to expiate,  
And wide re-open Heaven's long-locked Gate.  
Concluding here, to Heaven the Angel hied.   

JOSEPH, though first distract & stupefied,  
With such a Glory (and confused a-space)  
Him recollects, and re-erects his Face;  
Inly rejoicing, deeply rumining,  
All in his mind maturely pondering.  
And future Hopes confirm him passing strong,  
'Gainst present fears, and all his Woes & Wrong;  
That cheerly thus, with heart and hands erect,  
His holy Vows he doth to Heaven direct:   

Great King of Kings, that rulest All-abroad;  
My Fathers, Grandsires, & Great-grandsires God,  
Almighty Guide and Guard, still gracious be  
To Us and Ours, whose trust is all in Thee.  
Especially, thy favour, Lord I crave  
Towards my Father, ready for the Grave:  
And as for Me; however please thee, deal  
Me sour or sweet; or send me Woe or Weal,  
It shall be welcome, and I well content.  
Only dear Father, if that Death prevent  
Mine eyes (unworthy) of that wished Day,  
That long long-hoped, happy Holiday:  
When from thy Throne (whose Glory hath no End)  
Thine only Son shall into Flesh descend,  
At least vouchsafe me, though in shadow dim,  
As in a Glass to see and knowledge Him;  
And (through Faith) to feel the saving Savour  
Of this thrice-sacred, gracious, precious Laver.  
So, with an inward and deep sigh, he ceased.   

The while, Arabians (Merchants of the East)  
With Camels loaden with their Country Ware,  
Myrrh, Storax, Incense, the most choice and rare,  
Coming from Madian, towards Egypt bound,  
Were passing by, where on the grassy ground,  
The Shepherd Brethren sat to eat and talk;  
And busy yet, their Teeth and Tongues did walk,  
Till on the sudden they descried the Men.  
Whence judah thus begins: O brethren,  
Behold how GOD doth better far provide,  
Then we could plot (more safe for either side).  
For, to these Merchants if we sell the Lad,  
First, a good piece of Money will be had;  
Next, of our Brother's blood we shall be clear;  
And last of all, be sure no more to hear  
Or news, or noise, or name of JOSEPH here,  
Whether to Memphs or Marmorid's they wend.  
Therefore, forthwith one to them let us send,  
The Mart to offer, and the Price to make,  
As of a Slave; and bring their answer back.   

They all agree, and one is sent away  
To drive the Bargain; while the rest assay  
About a Tree-trunke fastening fit a rope,  
And letting 't down, to hale their Brother up.  
And up he comes as fresh as Maying Rose,  
Or Daffodil that in a Garden grows;  
As lively Form as erst, as lovely Face,  
Shining with signs of GOD'S assisting Grace.   

By this, the Merchants with their Broker came,  
To see the Ware, and did so like the same,  
They stood not hucking, of the price to bate  
(So good, and so good cheap, who would not have't!)  
But, who would ween (good God) that ever He,  
That was prae-destined to such dignity,  
To whom such Wealth and Honour should befall,  
Should thus be sold, and for a price so small?  
(Save that my Saviour, Heir of Heaven & Earth,  
That God-begotten, holy Virgin's Birth,  
Whom Angels serve, whom Cherubins adore,  
To jews his judas sold for little more;  
(Woe to His Soul, Woe to my Sins therefore!)  
As, Twenty Pence. O base and cursed Thrall!   

But, both sides pleased, joseph must suffer all.  
Now must he mount on his new Master's pack,  
Upon his Camels double bunched back;  
To troth to Nile-ward (never heard of Nile)  
As proud and glad of such a Load, the while  
His gentle Beast, now easiest of the Troop,  
Aptest to stop, humblest at need to stoop  
To this new Rider, with a cheerful Neigh,  
Lists light his feet, and still he leads the way.   

Well: Now the Brethren have their Brother rid,  
How shall his Fate, how shall their Hate be hid?  
Who, to their Father the sad news shall bring?  
This is the doubt: This they are hammering.  
In fine, they jump; first to send home his Coat  
(For they had stripped him) and in blood of Goat  
Deep dipping it, Dan is instructed fit  
In this sad manner to deliver it  
To aged JACOB, doubting nothing less,  
Than His mishap, or their so Hatefulness.  
Father (said Dan) ranging within a Wood,  
Our Cur did find this Coat, thus stained with blood.  
Not knowing therefore, whence, nor whose it is,  
Nor how it came, we thought it not amiss  
To show 't you first; and after hearken further,  
As you think fit, in case of Maim, or Murder.  
But, Father JACOB had no sooner spied  
The spotted Coat, with blood and dirt bedyed,  
But, drowned in Tears, he tears his hoary hair,  
With Ashes sprent, and rend his garments there,  
And cries, Alas! decree JOSEPH, staff & stay  
Of all mine Age, so sudden ta'en away!  
O! O! My Son, Who? How? What did befall,  
To murder Thee, to murder Me withal?  
Doubtless, no Man: some savage Beast it was,  
Some hungry Boar, some hairy Bear, alas!  
Where are your Brethren? Quickly all of you,  
Through all the Woods, go take a thorough view:  
You may perhaps at last yet light on him,  
Or find at least some Part, some mangled Limb,  
Some woeful Relic, which I pray bring home,  
That I may give it his last Rites, a Tomb:  
Or rather, let me go myself to seek,  
And find my dead Son, or a Death, his Like:  
And saying so, down in a swoon he slid,  
With much ado to be recovered.   

On th' other side, sad Reuben towards night,  
When th'evening Star began to twinkle bright,  
When Sheep & Shepherds to their Coats were gone  
All but himself, himself comes all alone  
Unto the Cave, and calling twice or thrice,  
Why! joseph, joseph; when as none replies,  
Dismayed, and doubting, lest in their disdain,  
His Brethren there the silly Lad had slain;  
He makes a shift to cut a Holmen Pole,  
And by that help, gets down into the Hole,  
Looks round about; but finding nothing there,  
Gets up again, as full of grief and fear.  
Then, hopeless, leaves that search to seek the others;  
And by the Sheep's track, tracking of his Brothers,  
Soon finds them out; and out of them will know  
Both how, and where, they JOSEPH did bestow.  
They tell him truly how it did befall.   

A little cased (though little pleased withal)  
To hear the Lad was yet alive and safe,  
(Though for his thraldom he did inly chafe)  
He thus advices: Brethren, let us hie  
Home to our Father, and our best apply  
To comfort him; Let us inform him this,  
That the Arabians (as their manner is)  
Spying the Lad alone upon the Way,  
Pursued him, took him, stole him quite away;  
And while he struggled from them to have got,  
With a light hurt he bloodied all his Coat.  
Which let some Shepherd's boy or other bring  
(As having found it) to aver the thing:  
For there be many can affirm (no doubt)  
They lately saw Arabians hereabout.   

This fitted thus, together home they go,  
And do their best to cheer their Father's woe.  
But though perhaps with some small hope relieved,  
Perpetually (alas!) he mourned and grieved,  
Nor could the Torrent of his Tears retain,  
Nor outward Solace inly entertain;  
But day and night a bitter life he led,  
Mostly alone, although alive, as dead.   

Meanwhile, the Merchant well content & glad,  
Holds on his journey, bears away the Lad;  
Wondering to see all things so suit his will,  
Wether so temperate, and the Winds so still,  
The Ways so dust-lesse, and so durt-lesse fair,  
The Sun so friendly, and so fresh the Air;  
Above their Want: for, having Heaven to friend,  
With JOSEPH, Graces, Hope, and Hap do wend.   

Now, having past Judea's confines quite,  
From a steep Hill, they have anon the sight  
Of stately Memphis lofty Towers and Walls,  
With glittering roofs of high & sumptuous Halls  
Amid a rich and pleasant Plain, replete  
With goodly Herds of cattle, Sheep, and Neat,  
With goodly Corne-fields, here & there between:  
And, near the City, on a spacious Greene,  
They might behold, as in some Martial Muster,  
Thousands of Youth in several Troops to cluster;  
Attending all, Some, manly Exercise;  
Some, light and speedy, running for a prize:  
Some, strongly active, wrestling for a fall,  
Some, hurling Sledges, till they sweat withal:  
Some, on swift Horseback to out-swim the wind;  
Some, to shoot backward at their foes behind:  
Some with their Lances ready couched in Rest,  
Wheeling about, to charge in Flank or Breast:  
Some, at the Tilt, in strong and steady course,  
To break their Staffs, or bear down man & horse  
Whereon th' Arabians, with th' Isaacian Lad,  
(Now very near) stood gazing, as right glad,  
And all most greedy of so various sorts  
Of Manly Poems, of so warlike sports.   

An Eunuch of the Kings, one much esteemed,  
And Master of those Martial Games (it seemed)  
Seeing those Strangers, with so much delight  
Stand still so long in viewing all the Sight,  
Sends to invite them kindly to come near;  
And then perceiving that they Merchants were,  
Began to ask, What Ware, what rare device,  
They had to sell? Nothing, said they, but Spice,  
And this young Lad; Whom if Your Lordship like,  
Accept as Yours, and freely, we beseek:  
Or, if you nill accept him gratis, prise  
As please yourself; your favour shall suffice.   

Yes, said the Eunuch, I accept your Love,  
And of Your Present I so well approve,  
And prise it so, You could not bring me better:  
The more my hope, the more am I your debtor,  
Such grace his Face presageth to my mind;  
So shall you never me ungrateful find,  
Said Potiphaer: and then he takes the Lad,  
And causing him to be right seemly clad,  
In Silken suit, gives him a Livery  
Of Purple, guarded with Embroidery.  
Then on a goodly Horse he sets him up,  
The stillest, yet the stateliest in the troop.   

JOSEPH right joyful, from a bashful Brow,  
Returns dumb Homage, with a graceful Bow  
Unto his Lord: then, re-erect, appears  
Taller and trimmer than were all his Peers.  
Him, home before (thus furnished) with a Guide,  
Sends Potiphar unto his lovely Bride.   

Now Hesperus the Evening on did bring;  
When, leaving Fields, the youthful troops do ring  
About their Captain, & attend, in State  
To guard him home triumphant to his Gate.  
And lovely JOSEPH, having had by this  
A view of his fair Lady-Misteresse;  
And of his Office, tutured at large,  
What him belonged in his Lords Chamber-charge,  
Him humbly ranked (of his own accord)  
Among his fellows to go meet his Lord.   

As burnished Gold amid a heap of Sand,  
Or Orient Pearl among the Pibble Strand,  
Such seemed He, among ten thousand Squires,  
Whom Men and Matrons, young and old admires:  
His pace so grave, his Face so gracious,  
His eyes and Feet still so officious  
About his Lord, as fixed still on Him,  
With steady Looks, and with as ready Limb:  
No less within doors than he was without,  
Active and apt in all he went about;  
On all occasions, in whatever kind,  
Of body's Labour, or of Birth of Mind.  
But above all, his faithful diligence,  
And mature Wisdom in all Managements,  
So well accepted and admired are,  
That not alone unto his Trusty Care  
His Lord committed what before he had;  
But, over All, him only Steward made.  
For, Potiphar perceined that under Him,  
Whatever he had did thrive and prosper trim:  
His Fields and Flocks more fruitful than before;  
His Favours greater, and his Honours more:  
All which, inspired by some secret Test,  
To his young JOSEPH he ascribed, as Blest.  
And th' Oracles of Egypt, than afoot,  
Seemed even to point at, and persuade unto 't.   

There was a Peach-Tree growing then amid  
God Camosh Temple, to him consacred,  
Which, brought from Persia long ago, they say,  
When Isis erst did all the World survey,  
By her own hand was planted, for Posterity,  
To be a famous Monument of Verity.  
Hereon, arriving from far wander,  
Bright-shining Apis, with change-coloured wings,  
Fair Apis settled; after whom did muster  
A mighty Swarm, which hung all in a Cluster  
Upon one Bough. This wonder blown abroad  
Among the Bards, they vouch that it did boad,  
Some Stranger should from foreign parts arrive;  
And after him, a mighty people hive,  
Through whom the house of Potiphar should rise  
To wondrous Wealth and goodly dignities.  
Weening therefore these Augurs all fulfilled  
In JOSEPH now, him every one well-willed,  
Him every one accordingly respected,  
Him every one for this the more affected.   

But fair Tempsar (wife of Potiphar)  
Above the rest, his Parts did high prefer:  
Him more then All she inly did admire,  
And still beholds him with a young desire.  
Yet, ignorant what fury would ensue  
The pleasing Passion she did so pursue:  
What wily Godling to beguile her, sought  
To snare her freedom in a servile thought;  
As yet she vented neither Sigh nor Tear:  
All yet was sweet, no bitter Fit, no Fear.   

Which th' envious Prince of Styx and Acheron,  
Malignant Father of confusion,  
Man's deadly Foe, observing; and beside,  
That Isaac's seed still happy multiplied:  
In fell despite, and full of desperate rage,  
He calls a bird of his infernal Cage,  
A cruel Harpy, full of wicked Wile,  
A thousand ways, the wisest to beguile.  
Go, hie, saith He, my darling, hie thee quick  
To fair jempsar; she is Phantsie-sicke  
Already. Therefore so insinuate,  
That more and more thou her intoxicate:  
Breath in her bosom, blowe-in new infection,  
Kindle the Tinder of her light affection  
To such a flame, that neither Gods nor men  
May be of Power to put it out again:  
And, do thy best (for that I most desire)  
If possible, set JOSEPH (too) a fire:  
But, if on him, thou nothing canst prevail,  
Return to her, her Fancy re-assaile,  
Fill her with Frenzy, and with Fury double  
Still burn her fell, till all her Friends she trouble:  
Till with disgrace, disdained, and desperate,  
She turn her dear Love to as deadly Hate:  
Till then, desist not; but persist and ply  
To play thy Part with Art and Subtilty.   

He, glad and ready for the worst of Ills,  
With Stygian puddle half a Vial fills,  
Blending some bitter, sharp-sweet wine withal:  
Then snatching quick one of the snakes that crawl  
About Alecto's grim and ghastly Brows,  
Away he hies to Potiphar his House,  
Within his bosom hiding what he had,  
And formally just in the Form him clad  
Of Iphicle, the Lady jempsars' Nurse;  
With better credit, to beguile the worse.  
Then, to her Lady having made a duck,  
Sweet Madam (said she, fie on all ill luck)  
What sad disaster, what misfortune rife,  
Hath made poor JOSEPH weary of his Life?  
Myself, of late, have seen him oft, forlorn  
Sat sole and sighing, and have heard him mourn,  
Wishing for Death. And when I sought to know  
The secret cause of his exceeding woe:  
O! Mother (said he) whether I conceal it,  
Needs die I must, or whether I reveal it.  
Inquire not therefore; for, 'tis better end,  
With my sad life, my sorrow's cause unkend.   

Not so, my Son (said I) for oft a Wound  
Discovered, is recovered, and made sound;  
Which, hid a while, would gangrene to the bone:  
Tell boldly (Lad) art thou in love with none?  
If that be cause of thy distress; Why Boy  
Be of good cheer, Thou shalt thy Dear enjoy.  
Hope well, and have well: So shalt thou; or else  
I'll charm Love's Passion with some stronger spells.   

With bashful Blush, than said he, yes, I love:  
Be witness, Gods, how earnest I have striven  
To strangle it! How I have laboured long!  
How loath (alas!) my Lord in thought to wrong!  
More wishing Death: Death now make good my trial,  
Happy were I, to live and dye so loyal.  
And, saying so, on his fair Cheeks he pours  
A Sea of Tears, in Pearl and Crystal showers:  
So that, I see, without quick Remedy,  
For love of you (Madam) the Youth will dye.   

Alas! then said the Lady, Woe is me,  
For his Misfortune and his Misery;  
To me right tragic is the tale you tell:  
For, truth to say, I love him but too well,  
And would enjoy him, if I could or durst;  
But o! I cannot, o, I may not: first,  
For sacred Laws, for Hymen's secret yoke,  
(Which never any yet, unpunished, broke)  
For fear of danger, and dishonours brand,  
And dreadful vengeance of my Husband's hand.   

Why, my dear Daughter, damned Nurse replies,  
The Gods do laugh at Lover's injuries:  
And with thy Wedlock thou mayst well dispense,  
On so good ground of so great consequence,  
As is the saving of a Life so young,  
So innocent, that never yet did wrong;  
Unless it be a wrong to love too much,  
Or die for Love (Who would not die for such!)  
Lover's must dare, and wisemen must not dread  
The worst of Dangers that is threatened:  
For, even the Gods have Lovers in their guard,  
And Love and Pity they will still reward.  
I have a Water of a sovereign use  
(Th' extracted Spirit of many a Chemic juice)  
Which inly ta'en, in a perplexed Case,  
Expels the Doubt, and shows Truth's naked Face;  
That, far from ambage, th' undistract affection  
May of the better freely make election.  
If therefore, Madam, yet you stand divided,  
What Part to take; to have your doubts decided,  
I'll give it you: and as she spoke, she gave  
The hellish philter made of Stygian wave.   

Thanks, dearest Mother, said her Ladyship,  
And taking all, not with a fearful sip,  
But full Carouse, lifting her hand on high,  
Quaffed off the poison, drew the goblet dry.   

This done, the Daemon with a Beldame's face,  
Towards Joseph's chamber hies with hobbling pace;  
Where he was praying, and devoutly praising  
The God of Gods, for his so gracious raising:  
But when the false Fiend in his Portall spied  
A heavenly Warder (both his Guard and Guide)  
With threatfull brandish of a shining Blade,  
More speed them good, headlong he downward made  
In dreadful Maze; and, as the foulest Fowl,  
Transforms him quick into a Scrieching-Owle,  
Night's horrid Monster, hover long aloof,  
At last perched on jempsars' Chamber roof.   

The wretched jempsar, having quaffed up  
The brim and bottom of the Stygian Cup,  
Now all alone, she feels her all afire,  
Blood, Bones, and Marrow, burning in desire;  
Sad, silent, sighing, in a wondrous Fit;  
And all for joseph, nigh beside her wit,  
Now on her bed she falls, and by and by  
Flings up again; and to and fro doth fly  
From place to place; soon weary of the best,  
Runs every where, and no where findeth rest;  
Like one whose breast a burning Fever fries,  
Or whom some Serpent's sting doth agonize.  
At last she breaks out; and Alas! quoth She,  
What, what is this that thus tormenteth me?  
O! is it Love? or was it not the Drink  
I took right now? No: it is Love I think,  
'Tis surely Love, Love in extremity,  
And but fair JOSEPH gently help, I die.  
Then help, Sweetheart, come, be thou boldly mine:  
Come be my Love, and I will still be thine.  
Both living loving, we will die guiltless both  
Of either's blood: be witness Gods how loath  
I would incur so fell, so foul a stain,  
To kill such Lover with unkind disdain.  
Duly and truly, while I ought and could,  
I served Hymen, till (alas!) controlled  
By higher Godheads more Imperial Right:  
He favour me, as now I feel his might  
far, far exceed weak Woman's opposition.  
He will no doubt; and deign us both Tuition.  
Sith wont, himself, to love, he as a Lover  
Will pity Passions, and our pleasures cover.   

Thus having said, impatient of delay,  
Efren she calls (Efren a Maid, that aye  
Used, as most trusty, diligent and chary,  
Her Mistress Errands to and fro to carry)  
Go quickly Efren, seek me JOSEPH out,  
And if the business he is now about  
Be not too earnest, and too instant too,  
But what he may as well hereafter do,  
Bid him forthwith to come and speak with Me.   

Winged with her words, about it strait runs she:  
And, after summons, JOSEPH comes anon  
Up to his Lady; who than all alone,  
First with a Blush, and bashful glanse among,  
From quivering bosom, with a shivering tongue,  
Thus breaks the Ice (still bidding him come nearer)  
Dear, my dear joseph, than mine own Eyes dearer.  
Shall I entreat thee, what I might command,  
To answer truly what I shall demand?   

Madame, said he, Should I be false to you?  
What ere it be, I swear to tell you true.   

I hear (quoth she) that thou art deep in Love:  
If it be true (thou must thy Truth approve)  
Thou mayst not hide it; though myself were she,  
For whom thou sufferest, thou must tell it me:  
Confess it freely: and I must confess  
As much to Thee; for, Thee I love no less:  
So, loving Both, we shall have matuall Fewell,  
Nor Thou to Me, nor I to Thee be cruel:  
join hands, join hearts, how happy manifold!  
How great! how graced! how will I heap thee gold!  
Thus she protests, and with a sudden kiss  
Upon his Lips she seals her Promises.   

He, red for shame, selfe-sadly ruminates  
His Heavenly Angels sacred Caveats  
Against Temptations and Attempts unjust,  
Of Idols service, and unlawful Lust:  
Internal praying for supernal Strength,  
In modest manner Thus replies at length:   

Madam, what ever of my Love you hear,  
However fervent, or how deepely-deere;  
If you have heard it, as (perhaps) impure,  
Unchaste, unhonest Love; I you assure  
None love I so; nor wish I (I protest)  
So to be loved: and of my Lady, lest.  
My Lord, you know, hath nothing from me kept,  
I all command, only yourself except:  
And shall I then, disloyal, Traitor prove  
Unto my Lord; and to My God above?  
No, God forbid: No, rather let me dye;  
And in the sands unburied ever lie,  
A prey to Birds and Beasts: and as he spoke,  
She and her Chamber did he quick forsake.   

She, seeing then her Hopes so sudden dashed,  
Herself deluded; as with Lightning flashed,  
Stands first a while movelesse, amazed and mute;  
Then grinds a Groan, and many sighs pursue't:  
Then wrings her hands, falls backward on her bed,  
Distract in mind, her colour pale and dead.   

All which observed by that Divell-owle,  
Upon the Roof, he putteth off the Fowl,  
And re-puts-on Nurse Iphicle a space,  
To visit jempsar in so piteous Case.  
Alas! quoth she, What ails my Lady dear?  
My tender Nursling, What hath happened here?  
Why are you daunted and dejected so?  
Be of good Cheer; be of good Comfort: Lo,  
ay, I am here; look on me, look, my Lamb,  
Your help at need, your loving Nurse I am.   

At name of Nurse, her somewhat she erects,  
And with these Taunts a frowning glance reflects:  
Nurse, once a Nurse, or Mother more than Nurse,  
But now a Stepdame, or some Fury worse.  
Thou, thou hast killed me, thou hast quite undone me,  
Thou toldst me joseph was enamoured on me,  
Deep, to the Death; & when I come to prove him,  
Alas! he loves not, nor will let me love him:  
Nay, Prayers, Proffers, Presents cannot move him  
Thou, thou hast made me make myself a mock;  
To shame my Name, to stain my House & Stock,  
To wrong my Lord, to break my Faith, to fall;  
Thou wert the Author, thou the cause of all.  
What wanteth more, but with a murderous blade,  
This guilty Soul to send to endless shade?   

False Iphicle doth her as sharp reprove;  
Ah, foolish woman, unexpert in Love:  
What wonder was it, if a bashful boy,  
Vntraind, untouched (as Virgin) first were coy  
To hear of Love, a Novice, yet a Stranger,  
Doubtful of you, perhaps; fearful of danger.  
'Twas not the course: you have miscarried it.  
Then be not heartless, neither hopeless yet,  
For I will once more undertake the matter,  
I'll chide his rudeness, and instruct him better  
How to behave him: Have you Patience  
But for three days, and on the fourth from hence  
Will reign a gracious Star, whose mild Aspect  
On Love and Lovers gently doth reflect;  
Under whose Radiance, in Conjunction sweet,  
Hymen and Cupid in one instant meet.   

With these her Words jempsar, part re-cheard,  
Her sinking heart again a little reared:  
Then Go, said she, the Gods grant better speed:  
And that we may the better now succeed,  
We will the while the sacred powers implore,  
Frequent their Altars, and their Shrines adore.   

Next morning therefore, by what time the Sun  
With glittering Rays had gilded the Horizon,  
jempsar decks her, goodly to behold,  
In Scarlet, set with jewels and with Gold  
(But much more goodly for her lovely grace,  
And native Beauties of her Form and Face)  
And to the Temple with a Train she tends,  
Of Matrons, Maidens, servants, Neighbours, Friends.   

Among the rest, the Steward also went,  
Faire-featured JOSEPH, with his Eyes down bend,  
As inly pitying with a grief unshown,  
His Lady's Passions as he did his own:  
For, he supposed her gaite to Church had been  
To seek for Mercy, and forsake her sin:  
But, nothing less; She all the gods requires,  
To friend her love, and further her desires:  
And so the next day, and the next ensuing,  
And every day still greater Gifts renewing,  
The reaking Entrails of her Offerings viewing.  
But, when the fourth, long-wished, welcome day  
Titan began burnish with his burning Ray,  
Hail happy day (said she) hail holy Lights,  
That favours Lovers, and that love delights:  
And by your power and gracious Influence,  
Preserve the World's perpetual Increments.  
And then she sends for the beloved Lad:  
Who, selfely good, suspecting nothing bad,  
Supposing now his Mistress mind reclaimed,  
At least from daring what before she aimed,  
Comes instantly: She, by the Nurse seduced,  
Presuming All to her content conduced;  
Nor sooner spies him, but she springs for haste,  
About his neck her ivory Arms she cast:  
She holds him, hugs him; saying, Welcome Mine,  
Mine, Mine thou art, and I am only Thine:  
Then, Why delay we? Why defer we thus  
Our joint delights, sith none can hinder us?  
Why burn we Daylight? Hence with Fear & Sloth.  
Let's mix our Loves. This Bed will serve us Both:  
She leaps upon't, and like a Nay-lesse Wooer,  
Holding his Cloak, she pulls him hard unto her.   

The goodly Youth, as beautiful as blameless,  
Amazed, ashamed, to see his Lady shameless,  
Roplyes, Alas! (Thus sharp reproving her)  
Late Noble Wife of Noble Potipher,  
What mood? what madness hath obdured your mind,  
To dare these Pranks, uncomely and unkind?  
To shame yourself, your Sex, your House, your State,  
To wrong my Lord, and me unfortunate?  
These are the fruits of Easeful Idleness,  
Of wanton Pride, of wasteful Pamprednesse;  
From whence the Fiends (our foes) advantage cull,  
To kill our Souls, and fill our Sins-sacke full:  
For, 'tis not Iphicle, your Nurse, your Friend,  
As you suppose: no, 'tis a hellish Fiend,  
A Hag, a Fury sent from Sulphury Styx,  
That thus deludes you with deceits and tricks:  
She dared, and did attempt to tampt me too;  
But, God forbade: she me no hurt could do.  
I saw her shrinking out, as I came in:  
I know the feigned form she masketh in:  
I feel the Sulphury fume, the filthy Sent  
She left behind her, when away she went.   

He having spoken; from behind the door,  
The subtle Fury (lurking there before)  
With sudden rush did crush the posts in sunder;  
And coming in, fills all with fear and wonder;  
When ghastly squinting, griezly, Thus she spoke  
With hellish voice: Indeed you do mistake,  
False, Iphicle I am not: I am one  
Oh th' Odious Sisters, sent from Acheron,  
I'll make you prove it now: then forth she drew  
A poisonous Snake, and it at JOSEPH threw:  
But, th' Heavenly Warder still repelled it back,  
And all th' endeavours frustrate still did make:  
Unable therefore Him to hurt at all,  
Towards jempsar doth it softly crawl,  
With slippery windings, wriggling to and fro:  
Into her skirts at length it twineth so,  
That up it creeps, and quick into her gets,  
Gnaws all her bowels, and despiteful spets  
His hellish poison in her inmost heart.   

The Lad, thus frighted, quick away did start,  
To his own Chamber; and perplexed in mind,  
Forgetful he had left his cloak behind.   

Seeing him fled, and feeling in her womb  
The fretting Venom; wholly overcome,  
In rageful fury, suddenly she falls,  
And, Help, Help, Help, with a loud Cry she calls,  
So loud and shrill, that all the Court it heard,  
And all the house, and neighbours near it scared;  
As if within had ●●●ne some sudden fire  
Which instantly would to the roof aspire.  
Help, womans, Help, quick, quickly. O! the Slave,  
The jew, the Rascal, the young Hebrew knave,  
Even now (o Gods!) finding me here alone,  
(O the bold Villain! Hath the like been known?)  
Dared t'have defiled great Potiphar his Bed;  
And, but my Nurse me timely rescued,  
Had ravished me (O, horrid thing to think!)  
But hearing Help, away the Slave did slink,  
And left, for haste, his Cloak behind him here.  
With Hue and Cry, pursue him far and near,  
Lay hold on him, and lay him fast in Hold;  
And let my Lord of his Abuse be told.   

Thus fell jempsar her complaint prefers.  
All which, and more, false Iphicle avers,  
And aggravares, adjudging him exempt  
From pity, fit to hang for such attempt  
So insolent, so impudent; and whets  
The hearer's hearts. Then close away she gets,  
Unseen, and Owle-like in a Cloud involved,  
Her borrowed Body into Air dissolved;  
Descending swift from whence she came, to tell  
Her good-ill service, and success, in Hell.   

Poor JOSEPH then his fellow's felly seize;  
And, hasty, hurry him towards Little-Ease:  
Feign would he speak, but none would hear a word;  
None, none at all, and least of all his Lord,  
Whom the Report already had incensed;  
Yet not with Death to have him recompensed:  
But, in a Dungeon (worse than Death) to dwell,  
For worst Offenders the most loathsome Cell;  
There, kept Close-Prisoner, to be barely fed  
With puddle-water, and with Barley-bread.   

But, better kept by his supernal Keeper  
(Yet, more his dear, the more their woes be deeper)  
A winged Watchman shining heavenly bright,  
Is sent to JOSEPH (when the first sad Night  
With sable Courtin had beclowded all)  
Who entering (through the Wicket and the Wall)  
Into the Prison, with a new-come Ray  
Lightning the dungeon, driving Night away,  
With spiritual Comforts, and with speeches kind,  
Cancels his fears, and well confirms his mind.   

This, from a Tower th' Egyptian Keeper spied:  
Some God, some God is in the Light, he cried.  
I know, such Splendour, and the speech I heard,  
If it be God, it must be needs inferred  
This Lad is guiltless of the crime pretended.  
For, Innocents' just JOVE hath aye defended.  
Thenceforth, to JOSEPH bore he great respect,  
A kind of Reverence, with a kind Affect;  
took off the Irons from his hands and feet;  
Fed, lodged him better, made his prison sweet;  
Visits him oft, entreats him friendly fair,  
With loving Comforts; lets him take the Air.   

Now, twice four Roundels Phoebe had complete,  
When, on suspicion of some treacherous feat  
Of poisoning Pharao's Bread (as went the Fame)  
Two were committed from the Court (by name,  
The King's chief Baker, and chief Butler, too)  
To the same Jail where JOSEPH hath to do.  
For, now his Keeper trusted him so deep,  
He made him Keeper, and of nought took keep.   

In short time after, Either, in one night  
Dreamt a Dream; whence the next morrow light,  
Pained and perplexed, what they might portend,  
Too sadly serious seemed they to perpend.  
Which JOSEPH noting: Gentlemen, I pray,  
How hap (quoth he) you are so sad to day.   

Tonight (said they) we dreamt each a Dream,  
But none we find that can interpret them:  
And that's our trouble. Can you tell them me?  
Come, let me hear them, if you can, quoth he;  
It may please God we may have sight therein.  
Right gladly, said the Butler, I'll begin.  
Me thought I saw a green and goodly Vine,  
With three fair Branches, budding, blowing fine,  
Than flowering fresh, than swelling Clusters blush,  
Whose spumy juice in Pharao's cup I crush,  
Which with my hand into his hand I reached,  
Whereof the King tooke-in his wont Draught.   

Then, thus the Lad: I'll tell your Dreams Portent.  
First, by that goodly Vine your Life is Meant;  
The Buds, Flowers, Fruits, be fruits yourself have boar,  
Your Services, your Virtue's here-tofore,  
Which shall be guerdoned, you restored to grace;  
The three fair Branches are but three days space,  
When in your wont manner you shall bring  
The wont Cup unto your Lord the King.  
Then, when with Pharaoh you shall gracious be  
(If I be worthy) but remember me,  
And that unworthy I am here detained.   

The Baker, hearing This thus right explained,  
Said, let me also, if you please, I pray,  
Report my Vision; and your Verdict say.  
Me thought I had three Baskets on my head,  
Two full of Flower, the third of finest Bread,  
Made with most Art and Cunning that I might;  
But, all anon the Birds devoured quite.  
Then said the good Interpre'r: Things to come  
Are known to GOD; Men often fail in some:  
Yet, what I guess and gather of this matter,  
I'll tell you true: I cannot, may not, flatter.   

That which you saw the Baskets filled with,  
Of diverse kinds, your Life betokeneth:  
The Flower your former, simple and sincere;  
The Bread, your later, compound (as it were)  
Of all deceits, Theft, Plotting, Poisoning,  
Treason, and all discovered to the King;  
Who, for reward of these fowl Crimes, by Law  
Will hang you up: and then the Birds you saw,  
Rav'ns, Vultures, Eagles, Kites & carrion Crows,  
Shall eat your Carcase, peck your Eyes and Nose.  
Within three days, your Baskets number notes:  
Yet I may err, and you may change your Lots.  
For, GOD doth change, when Men do change from ill,  
His mediate Work, not his immediate Will.   

This past, their Parts both diverse pondering,  
On the third day came Warrant from the King,  
To clear and to declare the Butler Quit,  
And hang the Baker, at first sight of it.   

Accordingly, from Prison both are brought;  
But, to a diverse End, with diverse thought:  
Th' one with reproach, th' other with good report;  
Th' one to the Cart, the other to the Court;  
Th' one to the Gallows, th' other to be graced  
Of Prince and Peers, and in his room re-placed;  
With Caps and Claps, with cheerful shouts & songs  
Welcomed, rewarded, honoured for his wrongs.   

Thrice through the Zodiac had Hyperian pranced,  
And fourthly now his fiery Teeme advanced,  
When quiet stretched upon his ivory bed,  
In sweetest sleep, well toward Morning-sted,  
To mighty Pharaoh the Almighty sent  
A double Dream, of so deep Consequent,  
That wondering much, the King awoke withal,  
Conceiving it some high prognostical.   

Wherefore, forthwith he summons far & wide,  
Through Egypt and Chaldea, from each side,  
All that had knowledge in Astrology,  
Cunning in Spells, or Skill in Prophecy,  
Or could foretell by Magic from below;  
Or from above, by Oracles fore-show;  
Or by insight of Sacrificed Herds;  
By Fire, by Water, or by Flight of Birds,  
Or by their Songs; by Sand, by Geomancy;  
Or by whatever Heathen Feat or Fancy.   

Then swarmed the Court with Sages of all sorts,  
Of diverse habits, and of diverse ports.  
Some on their Heads wore Horns, hairy & horrid,  
Some with thick Turbands did surround their forehead,  
Some with high Mitres, some with trailing whoods,  
Some with rich Garlands, set with precious Studs;  
But, broad long-bearded all, adown their Chin,  
With sad aspect, and of a sallow skin.   

Whom when before him Pharaoh had admitted,  
He tells his Dreams, first; then (as him befitted)  
Propoundeth Honours and rich Recompense  
To whom-soever shall expound the sense,  
And sets them days, & nights, & times, & hours,  
To bring their Answer: But (beyond their powers)  
Days, Nights, Times, Hours, they break, none doth appear  
T'explane the Dream, or the King's doubt to clear:  
Neither their Spheres, Spells, Circles, Sorceries,  
Birds, Beards, nor Mitres, could decipher This.  
Angry therefore, and thenceforth grieving deep,  
The King would hear none, but did private keep.   

The Butler then remembering (at the last)  
During his Durance what before had past,  
(Which hitherto, as Courtiers, yet, for most,  
Good Turns received, he had forgot, or crossed.)  
How truly JOSEPH by their Dreams did tell,  
What to the Baker and himself befell;  
Fell on his knees, and cries unto the King,  
Pardon, My Liege, my stolid linger,  
To tell your Highness, in this manner moved,  
What (late) in prison I both saw and proved.   

Your Majesty (no doubt) remembers yet,  
Your Baker and myself you did commit  
To your High Marshals Tower; where then we found  
An Hebrew Youth, a Prisoner (on false ground,  
As may be guest) late Page to Potiphar.   

Both grown in time with him familiar,  
Both of us dreamt in one very night;  
Both of our Dreams to Him we did recite;  
Both he expounded; and both did succeed  
To both of us, as he of both did reed.   

To me, said he, Thou shalt in three day's space,  
Return to Court, recover Place and Grace:  
But, to the Baker; Thou (said he) that day  
Shalt be hanged up, for ravening Birds a Prey,  
Unless thy faults thou canst so quick repent,  
That change of life thy threatened death prevent:  
(For, GOD doth change, when men do change from Ill,  
His mediate Work, not his immediate Will.)  
All which, for True, before your Eyes is clear;  
The Baker hanged: and I your Butler, here.  
Upon my Life, my Lord, your hidden Dream  
That Lad will read: he hath some Spirit supreme.   

Herewith the King re-cheerd, and inly glad,  
Commands him strait, Go, quickly fetch the Lad,  
And in Our Name him instantly enlarge.   

Forthwith he hies him to perform his charge;  
Gets forth the Prisoner, shifts him, suits him pressed,  
Of his own cost, and hath him barbed and dressed;  
And then conducts him, bashful, to the King;  
Who well beholds the Lad, likes every thing;  
Then questions thus: They tell me, Youth, that you  
Interpret Dreams; now, tell me, Tell they true?   

My gracions Lord, said JOSEPH, God alone  
Immediately knows Dreams; and other none,  
Save only such to whom that sacred Gift  
Th' Almighty daignes: I may my Prayer lift  
Unto my GOD for you, my Lord, and shall:  
It may be, He will grant this grace withal.  
For, ay with special care he guides the things,  
That long to Kings; as only King of Kings.  
A while then inly did he meditate:  
Then, prays the King his Visions to relate.   

Me thought, said Pharaoh, by Nile's bank I stood,  
And suddenly from out the silver Flood,  
Came seven fair Kine, which ranging far & wide,  
Fed in the Meads along the River's side,  
On Oxe-lips, Cowes-lips, Trifole and the rest,  
Which for the Altar fat our Beasts the best.   

Scarce had I turned mine eye, when on the shore,  
Methought in th' instant came up 7. Kine more,  
With staring hair, too-weake to stand alone,  
Ill-favoured, lank, and lean, bare skin & bone;  
As poorly fed, With Holly, Broome, and Heath,  
Anatomies, or living Forms of Death.   

Amazed with this, yet was I more anon,  
When these (me thought) for hunger, set upon  
The former seven, and so to work did fall,  
That suddenly they had devoured them all.   

Herewith I waked: and anon again  
Sweet slumber caught me, and I dreamt than  
I saw seven goodly full fair Ears of Corn,  
Rise from one straw, scarce able to be borne:  
And by and by, seven other Ears there sprung  
Light, chaffy, blasted, thin and closely clung,  
Which in like manner greedily did eat  
And quick consume the 7. full Ears of Wheat.   

These were my Dreams, which I have oft propounded  
To many, yet by none can be expounded.  
Now, if for Thee this Honour be reserved,  
If Thee alone my deeper Dreams deserved;  
Then, happy Youth, rejoice with all thy heart,  
Eternal Fame shall trumpet thy desert:  
And, with Reward we shall so richly store thee,  
That in all Egypt none shall be before thee.   

Great King, said joseph, both your Dreams be one,  
Sent down from God, to be revealed by none  
(However wise, how ever full of Parts,  
However complete in all depth of Arts)  
Save by some Vessel of his own Election,  
To whom he daignes the grace of his direction:  
And therefore could your Sages nothing show,  
Not knowing God, though All-thing else they know.  
Know this, o King: God by This Vision sends,  
To let you know what shortly he intends.   

Your seven fat Bullocks are seven fruitful years,  
Which through all Egypt shall o'erflow your shires,  
While Nile, far fatter than to-fore he want,  
Shall farther spread his slimy Sweat upon't;  
When happy Memphis shall such Plenty see,  
That your old Barns shall, all, too little be:  
Your Riekes, your Garners, and your barton's, All,  
Too narrow for your Crops, too short, too small!  
And, to confirm it, that it shall be so,  
Your seven full Ears but the same thing fore-show.  
Now be you pleased, my great and gracious Prince,  
To hear the rest with heed and Patience:  
For, 7. poor years these 7. rich years shall follow,  
Whose Penury their Plenty soon shall swallow;  
When Nile shall shrink into his Channel, nigh  
Leaving the Ridges and the Furrows dry,  
Fields scorched, parched, burned even to dust,  
Both Solstices like deawlesse and adust:  
No Torrents gushing from the Mountain tops,  
Nor (under Cancer) on the Ethiop's  
Any return of Winter's Moist again,  
Nor any help of sweet and timely Rain:  
So that the Husband cannot plough his Land;  
Or if he could, he should but plough the sand,  
And cast his Seed amid the same to burn,  
Without all hope of any Crops return,  
Or of increase: but rather pressed, for need,  
To quit his Plough, and on his Oxen feed.  
Your seven lean Bullocks, & seven slender Ears,  
Devouring, show these seven devouring years.  
This is your Dream, o King; and doubled Thus,  
That, more assured, more solicitous,  
More speedily you may provide before  
(Thus warned by GOD) a Salve unto this Sore.   

Which, how to do, (of me if you demand)  
I would advise you first through all the Land,  
To build new Garners, long and large enough,  
From time to time to store up all the stuff,  
That may be spared throughout your State,  
During those Years of Plenty fortunate;  
Allowing only for each Household's need,  
And for their Land, a Competence of Seed.   

You must have also Treasure ready still  
To buy this Store, if well proceed you will.  
And to this end, let there a man be sought  
Discreet and wise, to wield it as it ought.  
Let him have power, as in your Royal Name,  
Through all your Kingdom to dispose the same;  
And underneath him to subordinate  
Sub-Officers, to serve him and the State.   

Thus JOSEPH counselled: & the while the King,  
With silence all maturely pondering,  
At last breaks out in joyful admiration,  
There is (no doubt) a Divine Inspiration  
In this young man. Without a spirit Divine,  
Of future things, none could so deep define:  
There is none like him, none to match him near,  
In all Chaldaea, nor in Egypt here.   

Then, on his neck, shedding a shower of joy,  
The King embraced, and kindly graced the Boy;  
Then, thus bespoke him: Seeing God hath given  
Thee this to know, and to foreshow, from Heaven;  
I know not one so wise and so discreet,  
Nor for this Office than thyself more meet.  
Thee, next to me, shall all my people serve,  
And call thee Saviour: Thou dost them preserve.   

Then, on his back a Purple robe he dons,  
Embossed round with rich and Orient Stones;  
About his neck a massy Chain of Gold,  
And on his finger (as they want of old)  
A royal Signet, a most precious Ring  
(Not to be worn by any, but the King,  
Or his Vicegerent, whom he doth esteem  
And will have deemed Second unto Him)  
Which Pharaoh there then plucked from his own,  
To put on IOSEPH's, that he might be known  
To be the Second to Himself, in all.  
Then, on a Steed, the second in his Stall,  
(Or second Chariot) in this solemn Pomp  
He makes him ride; and with the sound of Trump  
Proclaims, before him that they bow the knee  
To his Vicegerent, to This Second He,  
To this Preserver of their State; or rather  
To this (adopted Son) their Country's Father;  
This Prince of Worth, this more than Man, this Miracle,  
This happy, holy, Heaven-inspired Oracle;  
Who, the King's Dreams in time interpreting,  
Had saved themselves, their Country & their King.   

With all these Honours, and with Wealth conferred,  
With all applause good JOSEPH is preferred,  
To rule all Egypt: which with great Dexterity,  
Wisdom and Worth, Care, Courage, & Sincerity,  
He executes: And first, his Circuit rides  
O'er all the Land; Barnes every where provides,  
Which in those Plenteous Years he fills with Store,  
Of every kind. And, sith it is no more  
Virtue to purchase than preserve what's got,  
He slips no time, but prudently doth plot  
To kill all Vermin, cut off all Excess  
Of Gluttony and beastly Drunkenness;  
Abates their needle's Beasts, Dogs, Mules, & Horse,  
Rids idle Rogues and Vag'rants, that be worse;  
And rather buyes-in, from the Coasts about,  
Than by a Licence jets a Corn go out.  
Thus he proceeds: and GOD so blest his hand,  
That all things prospered over all the Land.   

There was a City called Heliopolis,  
(Whose Surname from the Sun derived is)  
Whose Prince (a Priest too, to Apollo's Grace)  
Had one fair Daughter, (fair indeed of Face  
And outward Feature; but, much more divined  
For inward Beauties, Graces of the mind)  
Whom Phoebus oft consulted with, had shown,  
Not to be matched to any of their Own:  
But, by a higher Fate, reserved to be  
A Stranger's Bride, with greater Dignity  
To raise her Name, and honour her Posterity.   

This Oracle at JOSEPH points in Verity,  
Thinks Phoebus' Priest and great King Pharaoh, too:  
And to this end, th' Isaacian Prince they woo.  
When Egypt now seven happy years had had,  
All plentiful, all prosperous and glad;  
It pleased the King, with Royal Pomp and State,  
These Nuptial Bands to knit and consummate  
With sumptuous feasts; and (to prolong their joys)  
With Tilts and Tourneys, Dances, Masks, & toys,  
So long, that now the seven rich Years, at last,  
Were ended all, and all their Plenty past.   

And now, Sol's Palfreys, having past the Twins,  
Were posting hotly towards Cancer's Inns,  
When the Egyptians could no more perceive  
Nile's over-flood, nor any mud to leave;  
But, pure, unpudled on the sand to slide,  
And in his Bottom him well-near to hide:  
Their whilom fertile soil now serely rives,  
Yawns wide for thirst, no hope of Harvest gives:  
If any seed be sown, it never springs,  
Or never buds, or never bears; or brings  
Unhappy Darnell, or dry Poppy seed,  
Or is devoured by Vermins hungry breed.  
So that they live of former Years remains,  
Which hardly yet the first hard Year sustains;  
But men are fain to Grass and Rats to fall,  
To harmless Creatures, unclean Beasts and all.   

Then, to the King, City and Country fly  
To sue for Comfort, and to seek supply:  
He to his Viceroy JOSEPH them refers;  
He, instantly to under-officers,  
Who (by His Order) furnish all their Wants,  
At equal Price; yet do so high advance  
The King's advantage, that from far and nigh  
The Wealth of all runs to his Treasury:  
His Checquer's full: yet had they past (alas!)  
Scarce four hard years, and had 3. more to pass.  
What shall they do, poor souls? How will they shift?  
Now nothing have they, but their bare Lands left:  
Those they would sell; but, Who (Alas!) should buy?  
None hath the Purse, except the King. They try  
The Prudent Viceroy: who approves the thing,  
Bargains and buys a fifth part for the King.   

This Famine raging fiercely every where,  
Fame bruits abroad (which came to Jacob's ear)  
That yet in Egypt they were stored so well,  
That they had Corn enough, and some to sell:  
Old Israel therefore calling up his Sons,  
You see, saith he, our short Provisions:  
You see how like we are to starve and pine,  
And perish all, without the hand Divine:  
I hear there's Corn in Egypt to be bought;  
Methink, ere now, you should yourselves have thought  
It time to go: Go, get you quickly thither,  
Take Coin and Sacks: go, hie you all together,  
Save Benjamin. The other Ten agree,  
And, furnished fit, set forth immediately.   

Arrived in Egypt, they eftsoons inquire  
The Great Corn-master; lowting low, desire  
Corn for their money; JOSEPH knows them brim  
To be his Brethren: but they know not Him.  
He well remembers their unkindness past,  
(And, wrong received, draws strong revenge too fast.)  
Yet, for God's sake, his Fathers, and his Brothers  
(Young Beniamin's) he spareth all these others;  
And speaks to Them, but strangely and austere:  
Whence? what are you? you (Sirs) that cluster there?   

My Lord, Your Servants are one Jacob's Sons;  
We come from Canaan (where our Father wonnes)  
Compelled by Famine, (which there rageth sore)  
To seek your Favour; of your happy Store,  
To deign us for our Money what you may.  
Our Father hath great Household to defray,  
Himself, Eleven of Us, our Little Fry,  
Shepherds and Bondmen a great company:  
And therefore hither are we come, my Lord,  
To crave the Help your Favour may afford,  
To save so many lives, that may be able,  
And shall be willing (some way serviceable)  
To thank your Lordship: for, our Father reigns  
As King in Sichem, and he stocks the Plains  
With goodly Flocks of many Thousand Sheep,  
And store of Cattle of all kinds doth keep:  
Vouchsafe us therefore of your Corn, we pray,  
That we may live, what ever price we pay:  
For, we come hither, not to beg, but buy.   

* To buy? said JOSEPH; nay, I doubt to spy:  
Spies are ye all; so many sturdy Clowns  
To troop at once through all our Forts & Towns,  
To view and to survey our Strength and store,  
And so the weakness of the Land explore.  
Yet tell me of your Father and your Brother:  
But, I believe neither the one, nor other:  
Where's your Commission? Where's your Father's Test?  
Why came not that one Brother with the rest?  
Or why came you so many? It is clear  
* You come to spy: and you shall buy it dear.  
Thus, though his heart did melt, his bowels yearn,  
He feigns him fierce, and bears him roughly stern.   

They, prostrate all, beseech him not suspect  
Them any such. Our coming was direct,  
We swear (say they): The witness we implore  
Of th' only GOD our Father doth adore,  
Our Father sent us; Famine drove us hither;  
For Corn we come: and that we come together,  
Our need, our number, and our distance, crave  
At once as much as we at once can have:  
Our other Brother is but yet a Lad  
(And all the comfort that our Father had)  
Too young to travel such a journey yet;  
Which, upon us our Father laid, more fit.  
We thought on no Commission: for, indeed  
In such a case we thought there none should need.  
Be good unto us, good my Lord, we pray,  
Pity our Father, (and if pity may  
Pierce you at all) pity our Brother's case,  
Pity our Babes, the hope of all our Race.   

'twixt overjoyed, his eyes will needs run over,  
Which, yet a while, he turns aside to cover:  
Then, thus returns; Your cunning answer shows  
That you are false. Truth needs not such a Gloze:  
I am resolved, and can believe no other.  
By th' Life of Pharaoh, till you fetch your Brother,  
You shall not hence, one Hostage shall remain,  
The rest shall go well laden home with grain:  
This favour will I do, expect no other,  
Nor move me more, until you bring your brother,  
To testify your Stories are not lies:  
Else, by the life of Pharaoh you are Spies.  
(Here, Sirrah, Martial, take them to your charge,  
Look none of them be let to go at large)  
I'll give you three day's Respite, to revolve;  
Then let me hear what herein you resolve.   

They (inly pricked in their own conscience  
For cruelties committed, now long since,  
'Gainst this their unknown Brother, now a Prince)  
Among themselves debating what was best  
(Seeing the Viceroy did so deep protest)  
Thought most expedient, and resolve in brief,  
To send home Nine, laden with such relief,  
To fetch their Brother; leaving one behind:  
Which Part, by Lot, to Simeon was assigned;  
Whom they for Hostage to the Prince present,  
(Upon the third day) with their full intent.  
Then he commands their Sacks with Corn be filled:  
They pay for it; but, secretly he willed,  
That each man's money should again be put  
Into his Sack, and then the Sack re-shut.   

So, now their Hostage in safe custody,  
They lad their Asses, and full heavily  
Leave Egypt and their Brother; hying home,  
Unto Samaria: where no sooner come,  
But their old Father, forthwith missing one,  
Cries, Where's your Brother? Where's my Simeon?  
What, is he sick, or dead (I doubt me rather)?  
Neither, said juda, dead, nor sick, good Father:  
he's well in Health, but doth for pledge remain  
In Egypt, till we all go back again,  
And bring with us our Brother Benjamin:  
For, such conditions must we enter in,  
Or else we could have brought you nothing thence.   

The Man we dealt with, a Great Man, a Prince,  
Next to the King, at our arrival there,  
Asked many questions, whence, and what we were:  
Whether we had a Father, or a Brother,  
In what estate, how old; and many other.  
We, doubting nothing, told him truly all:  
Then, more austere, and more majestical,  
Now I perceive (saith he) that you are Spies,  
And all your Answers are so many Lies:  
You come but to survey our Strength, and Store,  
To find our Weakness, and our Wants explore:  
You tell me of your Father and your Brother,  
But I believe neither the one, nor other.  
Where's your Commission? Where's your Father's Test?  
Why came not that one Brother with the rest?  
Or, Why came you so many? It is clear,  
You come to spy, and you shall buy it dear.   

We answered for ourselves the best we could:  
All would not serve: Th' issue was this; we should  
Leave one for Hostage, and the other Nine  
Should bring home Corn, and bring him Benjamin,  
Or never to return unto that place,  
Or never dare to look him in the face:  
For, by the Life of Pharaoh, we were spies,  
(That is his Oath) and all our Words were Lies.  
Good Father jacob having heard all this,  
With many a sigh (as sorrow's manner is)  
Is there, saith he, under the Heaven's bright Eye,  
Another Father so distressed as I?  
One Son is lost; another, Prisoner left  
In a strange Land; another, now bereft  
(By your device, or your advice at least)  
And all of you (I doubt me) all the rest  
To be extinct, while I survive in fears  
Of so bad news to come to my sad ears.  
First would to God (so God were not displeased)  
My days were ended, and my sorrows eased.  
Thus speaking wept he, and thus weeping spoke.  
His Sons with Comforts seek his Care to slake,  
Saying, The Godly should not fear so deep,  
Sith God his servants will more safely keep.   

Then to their Sacks: Each having his unknit,  
Each finds his money in the mouth of it.  
Amazed all: sad jacob, there-upon,  
Sons, Sons, (said he) there lacked but this alone:  
This is enough to kill all Hope (as vain).  
For, if to Egypt you return again,  
The mighty Man that feigned you Spies before,  
Will find you thieves now; & what need he more,  
Having so sisted, and so sought your Coat,  
To find a hole, that he might cut your throat?  
No, no (I swear) my Benjamin, my Boy,  
Mine only comfort left, mine only joy,  
I will not hazard on so tickle ground:  
You, you shall go that are so promise-bound,  
If you think good, and God will have it so:  
And when you are determined to go,  
I'll give you all the golden good I have,  
jewels and Coin, your Brother to un slave  
And save yourselves; and to bestow in Corn,  
If God be pleased that you shall return.  
On th' other side, against his Father's Fears,  
Sad juda thus entreats him, even with Tears.   

Dear Father, hear us first; and then I pray  
Have Care of us, and of yourself this day.  
For, how shall we unto that Man return,  
Who solemnly hath by his Pharaoh sworn,  
Except we bring our brother Benjamin,  
Nor we, nor he that is there cooped in,  
Shall be dismissed: nor shall we have the grace  
To hear his voice, or ever see his face;  
Where, GOD he knows, what shall of us become:  
And how much better shall you be at home?  
How will you live? Where will you have to feed  
This multitude, if there we do not speed?  
Father, for God's sake follow my advice:  
Upon my peril, stand not off so nice.  
This Lad will save both us and you, and all;  
And, on my life, no hurt shall him befall:  
Two tender pledges leave I here of mine;  
If he miscarry, let Them pay the Fine.   

Then doubt not, Father, lay your fear aside,  
And prudently for you and yours provide.  
That thus our money was returned; no doubt,  
By his direction it was brought about:  
But, for a pitte-fall, or for Pity, rather,  
It is uncertain: this is certain, Father,  
He is reported, over all that Coast,  
To be a good man, and a godly-most;  
And, if the Whole be partly guest by Part,  
We saw some tokens of a tender heart:  
For, while to him we there did sad relate  
The sad distresses of our present state,  
Of you and of our Brother, and our Brats;  
Our misery he so compassionates,  
That he even wept: which though he thought to hide,  
And turned away, yet many of us spied.  
Wherefore, good Father, let us lose no time;  
Prolong no longer, neither doubt the Clime,  
Nor fear the man, nor faint for any thing:  
We shall be safe under th' Almighty's wing.   

This, urged with tears; the Old man, overcome,  
Cries, Go on God's name, God re-guide you home:  
Go when you will, and with you take the Lad,  
And some best Presents that may here be had  
In this hard time; Myrrh, Storax, Almonds, Honey,  
Gum, Cinnamon, and therewith, double Money,  
Both for the former which you brought again,  
And for the New, if Now you shall obtain.  
And We the while will pray and pay our vows,  
To th' everlasting Patron of our house.  
The Lord of Hosts, our Father's God and ours,  
To prosper and protect you with his powers.   

Blushing Aurora sweetly peeping out,  
When Sol again had brought his Teeme about,  
The Father and the Sons, together all,  
All up and ready, on their knees do fall  
In due Devotion, as they daily wont:  
Then to their Breakfast (not to dwell upon't)  
Furnished of what their journey did require,  
Gifts, Money, Benjamin. Their tender Sire,  
Weep, Him kissing, and embracing, Thus  
Bids sad Adieu: Dear Son, Ay prosperous  
Thy journey be. If Fates thee safe restore,  
Then wish I life; for Tears he could no more.  
Then to the rest; embracing, blessing all,  
While all for Blessing on their knees do call.   

They to their long-hard journey settling them,  
Leaving Samaria and jerusalem;  
Past Idumaeas Palmy Groves, and past  
Syrbonian Moores, Arabian Deserts vast;  
At length arrive on Egypt's wealthy Coast,  
And reach at last their Memphis wished most.  
Whom gladly JOSEPH entertaineth there,  
And instantly lets out his Prisoner.   

Admitted then to gracious Audience,  
Thus Reuben spoke: When we, Right Noble Prince,  
Returned home, had to our Father done  
Your high Commands touching his younger Son,  
Whom you required to be hither brought;  
Opening our Sacks to shoot the Corn we bought,  
In every Sack we found our several Sum  
(Which God he knows, we know not, how should come.)  
Our Father hearing what was come to pass,  
And, seeing it, deep-sighing, cried, Alas!  
Alas! My sons, I see some sad Mishap  
Hangs over us: and all our old good hap  
Is crossed and cancelled. Sees heavens glorious eye  
Another Father so distressed as I?  
Twelve sons I had, and one (alas!) is lost;  
Another, Prisoner in a foreign coast;  
Another, now (mine only comfort left)  
Surrepted Thus, and You withal bereft:  
And all of you to go I wot not whither  
(Made thieves) perhaps to perish all together.   

We comfort, We thus press with all our powers,  
O Father, trust our Father's God and ours  
And for the Man that now in Egypt sways,  
He is most just, most gentle. Him they praise  
For their Preserver, and their Father there  
Pious and pure: then, What is thence to fear?   

Won with our words, at last with much ado,  
He granted us to bring his Darling too.  
Go then, said he, God to and fro direct you;  
And with his wings of Favour still protect you.  
Take with you Benjamin; and take withal  
(Such as our Country yields) these Presents small,  
Gum, liquid Storax, bitter Almonds, Honey,  
Myrrh, Cinnamon: take also double money,  
To pay both for the Corn you had before,  
And for as much as now you shall bring more:  
And to that just Man (as you say) commend  
Me and my Son: pray him to stand a Friend,  
To pity Him, and You, and Me, and All.  
So all good Hap to Him and You befall.   

While this he spoke; The Prince, with much ado  
Refraining Tears, cries, Welcome all of you,  
Yourselves, your Presents, and your Brother here,  
Who quits you from suspect: Be of good Cheer,  
Go wash your weary Limbs from soil & sweat,  
And soon I pray come sit with me at meat.   

Thus said the Prince The servants, some prepare  
Bath for their Foet; some Vessels; some their Fare;  
Buttery and Pantry, some; some spread the Table;  
And othersome, as busy in the Stable.  
Himself the while dispatched affairs of State,  
Heard Suits for Food, appointed each their Rate;  
And then returns unto his Guests again;  
Shows them his stately House, his Stuff, his Train,  
His gold and silver Plate, ingrau'n, embossed,  
Couches and Carpets of a wondrous Cost;  
And round about, most sumptuous to behold,  
Deep Arras Hangings, all of silk and gold,  
Of sundry Stories there so lively wrought,  
That, almost, living were the Figures thought;  
Such sprightly Postures, and so speaking Gestures,  
So native Visages, so natural Vestures.   

Faith-famous Abra'm, after heavens behest,  
Leads here his Isaac to be killed, as Beast.  
The Lad here loads the Ass with Holmen sprays:  
The Father makes the Pile: Hereon he lays  
His bond-led, blind-led Son: his hand, heaved up,  
An Angel holds, and there is held a Tup.   

There, jacob, flying his rough Brother's wrath,  
Hies him amain towards his native Path,  
His Father's ancient Seat, and happy Realm,  
Betwixt swift Tigris, and th' Euphratean Stream.  
There, at a Well his Uncle's Daughter aids,  
Drawing up Water for the tender Maids:  
There, on the Downs he tends their Father's sheep,  
Serving for Rachel double Prenticeship.   

While Israel's glad Sons (at this wealth amazed,  
Now full of Hope, on these things greedy gazed,  
Great JOSEPH calls (for, Supper was gone up.)  
Come, give us Water: It is time to sup:  
Then, tall, he sets him in his ivory Chair,  
And bids them sit, and treats them wondrous fair.   

here, Death preventing Fracastorius,  
This, late begun, He left un-ended Thus.   
FINIS.