THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH. A POEM  
Written by DANIEL CUDMORE, Gent.  
Say not, my hand this work to end hath brought,  
Nor this my virtue hath attained to:  
Say rather thus, this God by me hath wrought;  
God's th' Author of the little good I do.  Du Bart. in Quadrians of Pabr. 
LONDON, Printed by T. Warren for the use of the Author, 1652.   

To his much respected Uncle Mr. ZACHARY CUDMORE all health and happiness.  
SIR,  
PRomises are due debt; you were pleased not long since, so far to encourage my endeavours as to claim this Poem; which I (having nothing which I might truly arrogate to myself, but you might justly challenge yours, as purchased by your favours) thankfully promised; and now at length, like Pharaohs Butler, on the consideration of your manifold Courtesies, being checked to a remembrance of my promise, humbly tender, and with it (like the poor Spaniard, who when a Father of the Inquisition desired but the Fruit, presented him the Tree) present myself; accept this with the like candour of mind, as I devote it with it really, and I shall esteem my hopes anchored in a happy Bay. If any upbraid me, being a Poet, with the fatal name of a beggar, I answer with the sweet Singer of Israel Adhuc & vilior fiam, so I may but herein do God the least service, and so render myself gracious to your acceptance; nor doubt I but time may so midwife it, that hereafter I may tender some thing which may (if not redeem some of my engagements) yet induce your courtesy to forbear the debts wherein stands obliged  
Your observant Nephew, DAN. CUD.   

To the Reader.  
Courteous Reader,  
I Here present thee with the History of Joseph, which as I could seldom pass over without tears, so I could not but digest them into matter through the Lymbeck of my Quill, though into such a form as my mose easy Genius lead me; 'tis a subject, I confess, which seems to claim both a more elaborate Brain, and a more accurate Pen than mine, yet shall I neither esteem my labour lost, nor my time ill-bestowed, if I may herein prove but the Foil of those who have writ more gravely on the same matter, that in my weakness may the more clearly appear their worth. If thou object, that in the passage between Joseph and his wanton Mistress, I have rendered myself. Pathic than Pathetic, I may answer first, that I have described her Passion in as grave a Wantonest as the tenor of her broad expressions would permit; Secondly, for the frequency of it, the Text tells me that it was her daily practice; Thirdly, I have an example from Solomon himself, who, (doubtless guided by God's Spirit) sets forth a Harlot thus in her courteous vanities; In the last place, I hope His modest answers which struck, for the present, the impatient opponent dumb, will take off a judicious censure from reply. What I here present thee, is mine own, what thou hast here is no Crambes bis cocta, no Page, furtivis ornata coloribus, nor can my fancy upbraid my Pen, as 'tis to be feared, God will one day our new compounded fashions, Hoc non est opus meum, imago mea.  
Farewell.   

The history of Joseph,  

The Proem.  
I Sing of Joseph's fate, our Saviour's type,  
Then heaven be auspicious to my pipe;  
What though my fancy's dull, my style's unfiled,  
My Pia-mater be an infant-child,  
This be a task for Angels, each whose page  
(If fully peraphrased,) would crave an age?  
Each Angel is my muse, Zion the hill  
Whose sacred raptures shall entrance my quill;  
And if divine Apollo tune my harp,  
Let Zoilus censure, and let Momus carp.  
Then, where the Dovelike Spirit daignes us matter,  
Let Owls forbear to screech, and Pies to chatter.  
Here is a story, each whose circumstance  
Is to b'ascribed to providence not chance,  
Compared to this all humane eloquence  
Doth scarce deserve the bounteous name of sense.  
Here is a story, whose sublime invention  
So far transcends man's reach, and weak dimension,  
A story here, whose fancy's towering height  
Doth soar so high beyond our dull conceit  
All wits should here their conquered laurels bring,  
Their Helicons are puddles to this spring.  
Then sacred Three in One, who in this story  
Didst from man's wickedness procure thee glory,  
O let my weakness tuned in slender lays  
Advance thy honour, and promote thy praise;  
Then I'll invoke no Heliconian dame,  
If thou but rarify the smoky flame  
That actuates my fancy, and but drain  
From ' its polluted dregs my youthful brain.  
My pen thus dipped in the true Thespian stream,  
Thus do I prosecute my sacred theme.   

THE heavenly register of sacred truth  
Records old jacob's age, blest with a youth  
Joseph by name; whose virtue from the rest  
Had won the chiefest room in jacob's breast.  
Th' equal proportion of both face, and limb  
(Required in outward beauty) was in him,  
So here, was that more noble Symnetry  
A heavenly heart, the rarer harmony:  
For though no Architect will ever choose  
The stately marble but to noble use,  
And in a palace what a stately, guest  
Is entertained, may by the pomp be guest,  
beauty's oft Bawd to vice, a heavenly fiend,  
Sin oft abounds where beauty doth transcend;  
Whose Angels image, as it oft appears,  
The superscription of the Devil bears.  
Our Joseph's lovely visage some that viewed  
Thought Adam's native beauty here renewed;  
His spotless innocence by others was  
Compared to Adam in his state of grace;  
For he must most be void of all offence  
Who was the perfectest type of innocence.  
God who in mercy did to Abraham swear  
That he should vie a child with every star,  
Here of his promise as the Interest  
Fixed Joseph as a star to guide the rest.  
Fixed star? nay rather planet, since his fate  
Was to be exiled by his brethren's hate.  
Time now had writ old age on jacob's skull,  
And long since changed his down to rougher wool,  
When faint disease did on his members creep  
He to his sons resigned his charge of sheep;  
Joseph was always at his father's beck,  
Each frown, a wound did seem, a death each check,  
And who but wondering saw that he should bring  
So full an harvest in his youthful spring?  
Which much in jacob's thoughts did him promote,  
Who clad him in a particoloured coat;  
His Brethren seeing their Father so inclined  
At his indulgence proudly thus repined.   

He's jacob's seed elixard, we the dregs,  
Base chicken we, born of unhappy eggs,  
Quoth one, we to no other end are born  
But t'wear out wool or to consume the corn,  
Joseph the white hen's chick, he, Fortune's minion;  
His childish face hath purchased this opinion,  
Yet is no more like to my lad (God knows)  
Than is you cowslip to a verdant rose,  
A Kid t'a Lamb, my Ewe to yonder Goat,  
Yet he's invested in a gaudy coat.   

Now since disease, which still attends on age,  
Confined had Jacob to an Hermitage,  
And he whose discipline was wont to awe  
His sons, and give unto their deeds a law,  
The Sunshine of whose presence would disperse  
Such vapours, vice could here have no commerce,  
Declining was, no wonder there appears  
If pitchy vapours now did blot the spheres,  
Which Joseph knew, when he in humble sort  
Unto his father brought their ill report,  
Yet not in base revenge, and rancorous spleen,  
As is in some maligning Brethren seen,  
Who strive to raise the Trophies of their name,  
And Triumph, on the Tombs of others shame,  
Or some, as if their envy were so nice  
To wound the Person, and to spare the Vice:  
But Joseph's heart with Zealous sorrow bleeds  
While to his father he rehearsed their deeds.   

Nay, further thus, he did exasperate  
His brethren's spleen, and moved their sweiling hate;  
Quoth he Dear Brethren, not a foggy stream  
From a distempered liver, no vain theme,  
Engrossed my fancy, when thus (by your leaves)  
I dreamt, you and myself were binding sheaves,  
My sheaf (me thought) risen up; all yours, in sign  
Of duty, did obeisance unto mine.  
His Brethren start and check him, how so plain?  
And must thou thus become our King, and reign?  
True; in your robes your majesty's impaled,  
Oh how we long to see your grace installed?  
A sceptre for him, no, thou saucy swain,  
A Rod to whip thee to thy wits again.  
Nay further, harmless Joseph did incur  
Their hate, which needed not a second spur;  
Brethren quoth he, No aim to disinherit  
You of your Birthright; 'tis no private Spirit;  
My head like th' highest region of the air  
From all such Meteors is pure and fair,  
I dreamed the Sun and Mo●● did with a troop  
Of'leven stars, unto me humbly stoop.  
No sooner spoke, but all his Brethren rouz,  
One stamps and fumes, another frowns and vows,  
Must Father, Mother, and we all eleven  
Submit to thee! how long since cam'st from heaven?  
When is your majesty's inauguration,  
King of your country, Father of your nation?  
These Temples are too stately to be bound  
With rosy Chaplets, no, they must be crowned;  
These arms of late too massy grown to weigh  
The worthless sheephook, must a sceptre sway.  
Joseph takes all with an unfurrowed brow,  
And mildly crowcheth with a lowly bow,  
Anon unto his Father tells again  
The heavenly dreams of his inspired brain;  
Who though his son was yet in years but green,  
It fills him more with wonder than with spleen;  
Quoth he Thine and thy Brother's purity  
Spark like a constellation in my sky;  
In whom Vice ne'er could get a patronage,  
Free from the sins that do engross this age,  
But that I with the rest shall prostitute  
Submissively to thee I yet dispute;  
This in the Brethren had ill blood begotten,  
Which by hot rage was soon to rancour rotten,  
And yet no opportunity had been,  
That they might vomit their impostumed spleen.  
Time was when youthful Joseph's Brethren fed  
Their fleecy charge on Shechems flowery bed,  
Anon-their wanton Lambkin's further roved,  
And they with them to Dothan next removed,  
When Jacob calling Joseph to his tent  
With such like words him to his Brethren sent;  
Run, and make hast again, my darling son,  
On whose lifes thread, that, of my life is spun;  
I through whose Organs breathe my life, and whose  
Eyes if long absent, mine would quickly close;  
These apples in thy cheek, my pretty page,  
Are th' only food that do sustain my age;  
Thou know'st in Shechem now thy Brethren are,  
Run, and bring how they and their flocks do far.   

Obedience, winged with loyalty now posts  
With nimble speed to Shechems pastoral coasts,  
And finding not his Brethren there, he wanders  
In crooked by-paths, mazes and Meanders,  
Thus roved he perplexed, till found by one,  
Who told him they to Dothan late were gone;  
Thither he bends, and might anon behold  
His Brethren, and their flocks, as late was told.  
One of his Brethren seeing him, in haste  
Cries yonder cometh our Enthusiast,  
All with consent gived way to headstrong fury,  
Sans the convention of the sacred Jury  
Of reason love and faith, Joseph must die,  
Grim death shall cast him in a Lethargy.  
Then when he wakes let him with dreams outbrave  
Our thoughts, thus slain let's cast him in some Cave.  
This said thus starts up Reuben, Heaven forbidden  
We should be guilty all of fratricide,  
Forbear, the milder Citizens of th' wood  
Upon each tree will carve this theme of blood,  
Forbear, the Fish will lose their being mute,  
Each Bird 'gainst murder quaintly will dispute;  
Forbear, our Lambs with bleating Oratory  
When they come home will tell of joseph's story,  
Our Herds miscarry, and each pregnant Ewe  
Enix abortive Lambkin's at the view;  
Forbear, the raging winds will burst their lungs  
And in articulate tones pronounce his wrongs.  
O be not taught by self-experience,  
Consider cain's just curse for this offence;  
And since God is the same, can we expect  
But like proceed should have like effect?  
Yet if your charity cannot forgive,  
Then let humanity grant that he live;  
Into the pit let's cast the silly Swain,  
So spoke, that he might set him free again.  
This said, our nimble youth with active pace  
Where they consulted had attained the place;  
All rush on him God save our Sovereign sheaf,  
Nay prithee speak not, resolution's deaf;  
Dost blush? we'll empty all these veins of blood  
As clean as is thy soul from grace and good;  
This is the coat, this that Majestic suit,  
To which we all must humbly prostitute,  
A coat of Sackcloth for to expiate  
Thy sin, and to appease deserved hate,  
Far better would become thee, thou shalt die,  
Pale death shall  thee in her livery;  
What, not a word unless you wear a Crown?  
Pray knit your brows, we'll tremble at your frown;  
I prithee weep; I prithee sigh, my Boy,  
That we may dance, that we may sing for joy;  
Let's place him on yon-hillock, for a throne,  
Then to his Majesty we'll all fall prove;  
Come, come, strip off this coat, and next prepare  
For to unclothe thy soul; why dost thou stare?  
Rapt in some strange Enthusiasm we know;  
Death, quoth another, shall entrance him now.  
At this our youth grew pale, his blood retreats,  
And to his heart a fierce alarm beats,  
Knees bended, hands expansed, erected eye,  
All silent empiric of humility,  
Got nought but this, We will without remorse,  
Of soul and body make a quick divorce,  
Like poor Absyrtus by his Sister slain,  
Or wretched Itis so he begged in vain;  
Quoth he, I do not use this bootless strife,  
For to obtain that worthless name of life,  
I fear not death; yet Brethren, pity take  
If not for mine, yet for my Father's sake;  
Since there's a God, to Heaven I appeal,  
If I you hate, may not the stones conceal  
But give me straight the lie, my soul is white,  
Black guilt on her ne'er could such trespass write;  
If that it could than I would never grudge,  
Nay should my self-condemn were I my Judge;  
Had I deserved death I'd yield to die,  
Justice should swill until my veins were dry.  
Oh how his pity-pleading eyes would view  
Now sadly one, then to another sue!  
Then to their unrelenting Breasts would fly,  
Clasping their necks, Sweet Brethren pity me.  
The true imagination of his pains  
Doth make my blood carcer within my veins;  
When I think on't my passion is so wild,  
I start, and cry as present, Save the child.  
My fingers fail and in perplexed demurs  
Instead of words my pen indenteth blurs;  
My heart doth quake my joints are all benumbed,  
My trembling tongue unto my jaws is gummed:  
Yet not for him alone, but for my Saviour  
Of whom he was the type, with worse behaviour  
They used him of old, let every age  
At once present their Scenes upon one Stage,  
And all the miseries in History  
Couched in most tragic prodigality,  
And in most gorgeous rhetoric expressed,  
Yet his but in their naked colours dressed  
Would show most gaudy, such as would enforce  
Even Pagans unto mourning and remorse.   

Anon our Brethren did deliberate,  
Not to extenuate but defer their hate,  
Till all the horror of their wittiest rage  
Might wait on death in horrid equipage.  
Mean while of Reubens counsel they admit,  
And (void of mercy) cast him in the pit;  
Where if they meant him meat for Wolves or Bears,  
Or in the empty pit to drown in tears,  
Or left him there a prey to greedy famine,  
The text is silent, nor may I examine.   

Mild Reuben joyful that by this persuasion  
He stopped their fury, thought by this evasion  
When the dark night might, with his care conspire,  
To free young Joseph from his Brethrensire,  
Wherefore he cried I'm void from this offence.  
Bear witness heaven of my Innocence,   

Now when they had left Joseph, and were dining,  
And in a bloody synod were combining,  
They lifted up their eyes, and might discern  
A company, which they anon might learn  
Were Midianites, whose trade was merchandise,  
As Gilead Balm, gum, myrrh, and fragrant spice,  
For Egypt on their bunch-backed Camels bound,  
Which seen, thus Judah riseth from the ground;  
Brethren, quoth he, the blood in joseph's veins  
The self same tincture with our own retains,  
And from the selfsame channel it derives  
As we do that which actuates our lives,  
He is our flesh, let not his blood be spilt  
(Since murder can't be hid) lest that the guilt  
On us and our posterity entail  
A curse, from death let forefight be his bail;  
Come then, let's sell him to yond merchant-crew,  
And then see what will of his dreams ensue;  
The Brethren all assent to this advice,  
And one is sent to barter for the price.   

Quoth he, Good sirs we have in yonder cave  
A smooth-faced lad, whom you may buy your slave,  
Whom we would sell at reasonable price  
Of gold, or silver, mirth, sweet balm, or spice:  
Mean while our youth (blessing their cruelty  
That yet where God sat throned he saw the sky)  
Thus prayed, Great God of Angels, and of Man,  
Who meetest out yond heavens with the span,  
Who stretch'st them like a curtain, and canst roll  
Them up together like a Parchment scroll,  
I've not deserved this at my brethren's hands,  
Yet greater, by transgressing thy commands,  
And since thou by the hate, dost me reprove,  
Of those, of whom I most did hope for love,  
'Tis just, 'gainst thee I oft commit offence,  
Who most of me expectedst reverence:  
Yet if I by my Brethren yield my breath,  
O pardon me, and pardon them my death.  
No sooner had he voiced this prayer, when  
His furious Brethren had approached the den,  
Whence having took him up by tackled cords,  
Who looked for nought but death, they use these words,  
Look you, quoth one, look yonder are thy masters,  
we'll give thee time to weep at thy disasters;  
Forsake thy native for a foreign land,  
Where this fair skin shall be Sun-parched and tanned;  
Prepare these dainty limbs t'endure the gripes  
Of hardest labour, and these sides for stripes;  
Prepare this dainty palate to be parched  
With thirst, this stomach to be hunger-searched.  
Quoth Joseph, if you will not pity take  
For mine, nor jacob's, then for heaven's sake  
Here let me starve, here let me dig my grave  
Within this pit, O sell me not a slave.   

I'd weep such characters, my tears should trace  
Such Water-works upon my blubbered face,  
Whose intricate Meanders should outvie  
Trajans or Bushels in Hydrography.  
His moans no more appease their raging minds  
Than can a Seaman's whistle still the winds;  
But him for twenty silver pieces sell,  
And with a scornful look they bid farewell.   

As Arethusa through the mazes led  
Of the dark earth, through her enclosed bed,  
At length makes passage, so my sorrow swells,  
O'er flows my Brain, and drowns my briny cells;  
Their names, and natures seem to suit each other,  
Judas sold Christ and Judah sold his Brother,  
And when I sin how can't be understood  
But that I'm guilty of my Saviour's blood!  
I sold him, and he bought me, yet in vain,  
For I each day do barter him again;  
Sins are too pregnant, that they should appear  
So far removed, only in Plato's year:  
Their Brother by the Patriarches of old,  
After our Saviour was by judas sold,  
Men are lived o'er again; O could our times  
Non guilty plead from such unnatural crimes!  
For spurious vices are hereditary,  
Though th' ages vanish, and the seasons vary.   

Now nights dark mantle had the world behung,  
Night's Quirister her evening notes had sung,  
And careful Reuben thinking all secure,  
Darkness at hand that might his care mature,  
Unto his Brother hies, and coming near  
He cries aloud dear Brother joseph hear;  
No answer made, unto a higher strain  
He tunes his voice aloud to rouse the Swain,  
None but an echo answers, with his fist  
Then thumps his Breast, lest death and sleep had kissed,  
Then careful fear makes nearer scrutiny,  
Believing not his ear, he trusts his eye,  
And finding him not there sadly returns  
Unto his Brethren, rends his , and mourns.  
The child is not, than I, I will not home,  
But like savage Satur hence will come,  
Like a wood-Cit'zen, on the same accounts  
With Bears and Wolves I'd dine and sup by ounce.  
You never sucked the Breasts of Wolves or Bears,  
That you should be obdurate to his tears;  
Since he is slain, where have you him inhearsed?  
Which of you hath his guiltless bosom pieced?  
Fear you not Rachel will appear anon.  
And to our Father moon her murdered son,  
And with strong dreams at night entrance his spirit?  
You for a blessing may a curse inherit.  
Had rage no other countermine in store  
Against contempt but death? what could it more?   

At this they all stood mute, none was so bold  
For to reply that Josoph's bought and sold,  
Until that one more boldly for the rest  
To mourning Reuben all the truth confessed.  
That done, the coat which they from Joseph stripped  
I'th' blood of a young tender Goat they dipped.   

Christ's  were parted, joseph's dipped in blood,  
May ne'er by them our Church be understood,  
May ne'er our Church lie tinctured in her gore,  
Not rend by Shismaticks, I heaven implore,  
Nor heresies, may not that lovely Spouse  
Be forced, nor Goats upon that Vineyard browse;  
May ne'er the Boars on it commit their rapes,  
Nor in their mud lie drunken with her grapes.   

Now Dan's instructed with a feigned prize  
Of joseph's coat to pierce his Father's eyes.  
Quoth he, Sir walking partly for to muse,  
Partly to gather hurdles for our Ewes,  
I saw my Cur strangely to breathe the wind,  
Anon this bloody garment for to find,  
I doubt 'tis joseph's, and I could not rest  
Till you resolved what yet my fears suggest;  
Then Jacob rend his , puts sackcloth on,  
Doubtless, quoth he, some beast hath torn my son,  
Come grief unsluce the floodgates of my brain,  
Break open the springs, let forth the silver rain:  
Hath age or passion drained my humours dry?  
What means within my brain this strangury?  
My brain's a barren cloud, though it have felt  
The heat of grief 'twill not dissolve nor melt;  
Me thinks now should my dropsied skin deplore  
My josephs' death with tears through every poor,  
I've heard great sorrow's dumb and wanteth words,  
But now griefs barren, and no tears affords;  
My brain and fancy both alike are dry,  
I can nor weep, nor speak my misery;  
Would from the North I stormy sighs could borrow,  
Tears from the fleeting South to weep my sorrow,  
My heavy heart as moated round with led,  
Doth lie within my bosom buried?  
I've heard some have been nourished by Beasts,  
Some children have been fostered at their Breasts,  
Then, then, could not my Joseph's innocent eye  
E'en charm all Beasts from their Antipathy?  
Dans words did grate the grisles of my ears,  
Cracked not my eyestrings when I saw through tears  
The Coat? O would it had been a disguise,  
But tears were not false glasses to mine eyes;  
I'd weep the dregs of tears, these seem the froth  
Of trivial grief, since tears cause children's growth.  
Come Benjamin, Now thou mayst justly borrow  
Thy Mother's name Benoni, son of sorrow;  
thou'rt not so young in years, but canst conceive  
Of this our loss, how canst thou choose but grieve?  
Father, quoth he (than were his eyes afloat  
When as as he viewed the particoloured coat)  
Do not all sorrow to yourself engross,  
You weep a Sons, and I, as Brother's loss;  
O would my tears were of that precious rate  
That they slain Joseph could redeem from fate;  
Joseph's not lost, I've heard you oft rehearse  
That Enoch had with God so near commerce  
That God did take him, might not providence  
Have like respect to Joseph's innocence?  
If so, I've likewise often heard you name  
How that my faithful Grandsire Abraham  
Would in obedience unto Gods command  
His only Son, with an impartial hand,  
Offer to God, 've many, he no more,  
Grudge not to spare God one of all your store.  
Quoth Jacob, Oh these hopes are counterfeit,  
I'd gladly cheat my grief with such deceit,  
My fear's too real, than his tears he showered,  
Doubtless, quoth he, some beast hath him devoured.  
Come, come, my children, weep with me awhile,  
While that I lie like to a floating Isle  
Soaking in tears, come, and in Sympathy  
Of joseph's fortunes lend a bleeding eye.  
Talk not of , this is griefs ornament,  
Sorrow my food, and Machpalah my tent.  
Would I had never seen these dismal years,  
Then ne'er had I thus died embalmed in tears.   

Grief be my Sexton, Sorrow toll my Bell.  
Death my Vespillo be, Fates ring my knell,  
My Nun-like soul is weary of her cloister,  
So sorrow sucks my marrow, dries my moisture.  
In pity of his tears, what tyrant keeps  
His eyes from raining when an old man weeps?  
With the Venetian sorrow hath a Sea  
Espoused to my brain, tears are griefs plea,  
Whose headstrong torrent who can but affront?  
What Xerxes can but guive my Holiespont?   

The Midianties as doubting a reprieve  
Of their loved purchase straight to Memphis drive,  
Whose burnished turrets as they did approach,  
Showed like some Sapphires dropped from Phoebus' Coach;  
Whose lofty Pinnacles transparent light  
Did seem to mock the twinkling stars by night:  
The Merchants willing to obtain regard  
Of Putiphar Captain of Pharoahs' guard,  
And good opinion of their trading truth,  
With humble Curtsy thus present our youth.  
Great Sir, quoth they, as we pasto'r the plains,  
It was our chance to meet with Hebrew swains;  
At whose much importunity we bought  
This youth, whom we have to your Lordship brought;  
Assuring thus ourselves, that if the grace  
Of mind be answerable to his face,  
So sweet a face, so blest a Genius,  
Is fit for your Lordship, than for us.  
Quoth Putiphar it argues not your thrift,  
To tender gratis such a worthy gift,  
Let not your courtesy thus seem so nice,  
Nor circumstantial, but tell the price.  
Quoth one, the Hebrews asked Spice Balm, or gum,  
But twenty silver pieces was the sum;  
At this the Captain starteth How so cheap?  
So rare a purchase for so small a heap?  
Were I a King, and such a son had lost,  
I would redeem him at my kingdom's cost,  
Nay though twice Egypt, and though Nile did stream  
In golden Cataracts, surpassed a dream,  
Though each sand were a Saphyr on his banks;  
Take gold for silver, for your love take thanks;  
These homely weeds do not beseem my lad,  
Thou shalt in scarlet, and in silks be clad,  
Nor by extorting trials will I prove,  
How thou hereafter wilt deserve my love,  
Though I am not like those that do rejoice  
When that they buy, in nature, more than choice;  
This said, the multitude about him crowds,  
He like a star bemantled round with clouds,  
Or like a Diamond if richly set  
In the circumference of a ring of jet.  
You in his face might read whom he adored,  
And in their visage, whom they oft implored.  
Now to his home the Captain brought his page,  
Dressed with the rest in scarlet equipage,  
Whose blushing cheeks natures fresh livery,  
Did shame the scarlet with a nobler die;  
Jove ne'er was served by such a Ganymede,  
No false Ixion to his master's bed;  
What e'er he did some Angel did attend,  
And brought his actions to a prosperous end,  
And for his sake, his Master's care and pain  
Was ever recompenceed with double gain.  
This seen, there's granted to his providence  
The office of a steward to dispense:  
Where God's the supervisor who will fear?  
T'a faithful steward God's a treasurer;  
Success the midwife was, and gain the heir  
And happy issue still of each affair.  
Envy at this repines, and madly shakes  
About her horrid head her rattling snakes;  
Her looks more meager grew, her limbs more thin,  
And with her rusty teeth gins to grin  
At joseph's Fortunes, he must drink a sup  
Of hers, as well as Fortune's pleasant cup;  
Among the rest that homage did of duty,  
And vowed adorates were to joseph's beauty,  
His mistress (fair jempsar) tore the veil  
Of modesty, no counsel could be bail  
For captive reason I seph gave the wound,  
And who to cureed but Joseph may be found?  
First reason to her fancy read this lecture,  
Should this be known what would the Court conjecture?  
Reason exiled judgement thus depraved,  
Thou to thy servile vassal thus enslaved.  
I grant sweet Joseph hath a peerless beauty,  
But can his loyally dispense with duty,  
He owes his master Potiphar her Lord?  
And fearest thou not his lust-revenging sword?  
But what quoth she? let foresight wait one age,  
Youth ne'er to counsel sues for Patronage;  
Let fabulous fears present their bug bear faces,  
And marshal all their horrors yet the basis  
On which my resolution grounds my love  
What terror can but shake what fear remove?  
Now this resolved upon what flight evasion  
Hath critic reason, and what vain persuasion?  
Were't not for gifts this face persuades alone  
Since he hath eyes and ears, he may be won.   

Pregnant with hopes impariently she tends  
Till time might provent Pander for her ends,  
And long had sweeting lost conspired with fraud,  
Until fa●●e Opportunity the Bawd  
To s●ch designs, appointed time and place,  
When she uninterrupted pleads her case.   

Dear J●seph, long with hopes my breast hath teemed,  
Time long unfleged and ●●llow winged hath seemed,  
Till they delivered by the Midwifery  
B● of this happy Opportunity,  
Which since it smiles on us, I hope my love  
Shall not by coy neglect abortive prove.  
Why starts thou at love named? why dost thou scorn?  
'Tis too and for love that we all were born.  
Frown not but speak yet speak not while you frown,  
I will not hear, nay pray, you shall not down.  
What is it that thou fearest? no spy waits  
To fright our dalliance to distracted straits.  
Pray leave these niceties, and give a kiss  
As happy Prologue to ensuing bliss.  
Come youth, I'll set thee in a shower of gold.  
And rain down Pearls upon thee; nay be bold:  
Pray smooth this brow, these cloudy looks inform  
That some dislike is raising of a storm.   

Madam, quoth he, excuse if I explode  
This your request, 'tis sin against my God.  
How can I then do this? this massy roof  
That thus contains us is not thunder proof:  
How can my loyalty break down the verge  
Of reason, love, and duty? since the charge  
Of all to me is granted, you except  
What hath my Lord from me detained or kept?  
Which would much aggravate this gross abuse,  
So fare beyond remission, as excuse.   

Now here was beauty, if he had been fond  
Beauty with beauty here might correspond.  
Here were large promises, that might inchant  
A stern refusal to a silent grant.  
Since heaven was his love, it is no wonder  
If less he feared her frown than heaven's thunder.   

Not willing to desist at this repulse,  
Our Amorist with second thoughts consults;  
First fearing lest her faces nice perusal  
Might in the lad occasion this refusal,  
Her glass she curses, grief her heart doth gnaw;  
I thought quoth she, these beaming eyes could thaw  
E'en frost-congealed veins, and might suffice  
To melt a heart though moated round with ye;  
But I'm deceived, by Chemosh and you light  
My nails could damn you to eternal night,  
And on this face could act a Martyrdom,  
By't off this fruitless tongue, and hence live dumb.  
Alas poor ornaments, despised tresses,  
Contemned promises, deceiving dresses,  
Love took me prisoner, yet I could take arms,  
And now what wit, what counsell-countercharms  
Can exercise my love? love's spirit lies  
Beyond the reach of all our sorceries.  
What patience can conceal't, What reason smother?  
False expectation is a cursed Stepmother.  
With what an Usury doth she extort  
An ages longing for a minute's sport?  
But joy with grief, Fate on one Bottom spins,  
And pain and pleasure oftentimes are twins.  
Though Pain's the elder, yet to the forlorn  
Anon Joy th'younger Sister will be born;  
On this our Lover Deifies Persuasion,  
And with a Godhead she invests Occasion;  
she'll try once more, though shame do countermand,  
Though life with death in equal balance stand.  
Despair and Hope long in her Breast contested,  
Until her memory time and place suggested;  
And now how slowly Phoebus snails his course,  
And draws his fiery Coach with foundered horse;  
The wings of flagging Time are clipped, he feels  
The keys of sleep and death weighed at his heels.  
Occasion serving her you may conceive  
Our wanton Amorist thus plays the Eve.   

Dear Joseph, Fate and Fortune have conspired  
For to mature the suit I late desired,  
Then let's not longer this our bliss prorogue,  
But now close up our loving Epilogue;  
Why looks disdain asquint? this forehead furled  
In angry folds? Survey this little world,  
What beauty's in the world (my type) surmised  
That's not in me more gloriously comprised?  
My Eyes dim Phoebus' light, my Cheeks the spheres,  
And what deformed clouds on them appears?  
Each beauty here's a star, only from hence  
My J●●eph doth disdain their influence;  
The Sun's all eye, the walls can do no wrong,  
By palate, throat, two lips, four teeth and tongue.  
Then fear no spies, these frowns shall never daunt,  
They're but an Introduction to a grant.  
What, fearest the light? the windows shall be ceil;  
Since love is blind, Come do not frown, but yield.   

Quoth he, What means this chat, this bootless flattr'y?  
Remove your Siege, my Fort disdains the Battery;  
O let your face and deeds be Relatists,  
Where heaven, grace, and beauty in one twists,  
'Tis a rare mixture, else for what's this face?  
Your world doth want his Sun if void of Grace.  
Is lustful Sodoms fiery doom forgot?  
Or was't not heard? me thinks the room's too hot.  
This Curtain's woven in too thin a loom  
To bear out forked lightning and this room  
Not built of such unmalleable stuff,  
But the same God can thunderbolt it through.  
What Mimic figures doth this Face assume  
To set forth Passion? use this fruitless rheum  
Distilling from your Eyes to purge your guilt,  
For to this purpose all in vain are spilt.   

On this jemsar madly ruminates,  
Fortune's a Strumpet, who, but Bawds the Fates?  
Occasion is a Traitress, 'tis no slander  
If Venus be called Where, Cupid a Pander.  
Anon she frets and fumes, vexed with the pride  
That she should be neglected, and denied.  
Then rails on Nature 'cause her beauty's vigour  
Can not prevail, then threats her with this rigour.  
Poor face, quoth she, my nails could quote in scars,  
And trace thy shame in bloody characters.  
These Eyes, these Eyes, are Basilisks, else sure  
Where they are thus avoided, might allure;  
Then since that nought avails this idle breath,  
I'll to my glass, and look myself to death.  
Weak Hair! How often have I thought in vain  
That you in amorous guives could Hero's chain?  
Are you thus slighted? can a servile groom  
Break through your tresses like a Spider's loom?  
I'd gladly Reason re-admit my tutor,  
And friendly counsel, as her Coadjutor;  
But where some beauties cloy the appetite,  
His sets a sharper edge upon delight.  
Let reason chat, so with attentive gristle  
Rough Boreas hearkens to the Seaman's whistle;  
For what! who but a leaden-spirited clown  
Will fearfully stand bend at every frown?  
True Resolution hath my temper steeled,  
Which back will spring, till broke will never yield.  
Long Summers crown the long expected primes,  
And who will gain his ends must wait on times,  
Where pleasure's principal, pain pays the use.  
Of Fate and Fortune now she begs excuse;  
And Love with whom she madly late contested  
Is in his Deity now re-invested;  
Who'll not endure Love's pecking Doves shall smart  
For his impatience with his angry dart;  
To those that yield Love is a gracious Queen,  
A tyrant to a refractory spleen;  
Sometimes she fears suspicion might discover  
To Putiphar, she was her Vassals lover,  
And then what slight, or what insinuation  
Can free her from his just repudiation?  
But Fear's a Pigmy dressed in Gorgon's ;  
To gain her ends she'll break all nuptial oaths:  
On Lover's perjuries they say Jove's smiles,  
And Love is still auspicious to such Wiles.  
As did Semiramis once woe her Nine,  
So likewise our Egyptian Messalina.  
Occasion serving her, you may surmise,  
Thus makes her third assault upon her prize.  
Look dear, how Time hath granted what I claimed,  
And Chance presents the scope to which I aimed,  
Let's not delay, of my request accept,  
And in my grant let Nature have her debt;  
Thou to a Father wert a Child, I gather  
That to a Child thou mightst become a Father;  
Pray do not thus discourteously impeach  
Me as before, hear, till I end my Speech;  
Yet in my suing looks if I were mute,  
Thou mightst most plainly read my loving suit;  
Regard these Tears, Pearls of so rare esteem  
Which Pharaoh, if a Captive, might redeem.  
What's here, shouldst thou of envy take advice?  
What's here deformed that thou shouldst be nice?  
Here's symmetry no ill-proportioned frame,  
Nature and Art herein deserve no blame;  
My sinews active are my spirits quick  
Are as thine own, they're neither gr●ss nor thick;  
Which granted, speak, who (but a senseless stone)  
To such requests as these would not be prone?   

Madam, quoth he my resolution's fixed,  
Nor with ambiguous doubts at all is mixed;  
Were you an Angel come from heaven, and moved  
Me to this suit, I never would have loved;  
Which yer I grant, conceive that Heaven and Hell,  
Things inconsistent, incompatible  
Shall in harmonious unity combine,  
Yer I one thought to your request incline;  
Though nature you with choicest parts endows,  
My eye shall never countermand my vows.  
I hate not love, but that intemperate flame  
Of burning lust that thus usurps his name;  
Love at a heavenly beam doth light his torch,  
While hellish flames the lust-allured scorch.  
Much more than this, for sacred love I'd speak;  
The text is old, the oratory weak.  
Pray speak no more, my ears do burn for shame  
To hear your talk, my cheeks are all aflame.   

Thus daily did our pathic Amorist,  
The fair jempsar, in her suit persist;  
And Joseph's truth, as bold was as her lust  
Denies to violate his faith and trust.  
Oft did his ears pump her invention dry,  
And then her sighs her meaning would supply;  
And as some do observe, the visage keeps  
The selfsame figures when it laughs and weeps,  
So various were her passions, none could read  
In hers where that she smiled, or wept indeed.  
Had but the Sirens to Ulysses sung  
So sweetly, as here wooed jemsars' tongue,  
'Tis thought Ulysses had, though ne'er so chaste,  
Broke through the yielding Cable, burst the Mast,  
His men's unsealed ears charmed by her notes,  
Had left their empty ship to Neptune's floats.  
Now would she strike her Breasts, than otherwhiles  
Weep tears would cheat even the Crocodiles.  
Ne'er was a Roe more weary of her chase,  
Ne'er timorous Hare to shun the Hunter's trace,  
Doubled more folds, or made more near escapes,  
Than to avoid her, he did vary shapes;  
And when he ever would himself unmew,  
She like disdained Echo still would sue;  
Or like his shadow, only had not fled,  
Had he returned to her lustful Bed.   

jempsar at young joseph's chaste regrets,  
Is madly malcontent, and thus she frets.  
Shall expectation longer dull my sense?  
Or I turns o'er to racking patience?  
Stoop I so low, and in my suit so serious?  
And is this Lad so sullen and imperious?  
Shall I, shall I, who was so nobly born  
Thus prove a ●rop●●● to my vassals scorn?  
Shall I, whose words can either save or doom,  
Thus ●ive, as sentenced by my servile groom?  
Shall I, whose powerful face was wont to bow  
The stoutest Monarches to an amorous vow,  
Be thus despised contemned condemned, rejected,  
My promise slighted and my faith suspected?  
I'll make him know by dear experience,  
What 'tis a woman's fury to incense.  
Women are Angels, grant to what they moved,  
Denied are Furies, hate what e'er they loved.  
But yet there are some hopes; perhaps this Boy  
Is out of inexperience thus so coy:  
A bold assault, perchance, may win the crown,  
Then will I thunder if he dare to frown;  
The sweetest Wine hath still the sharpest lees;  
And water heat, once cooled will hardest freeze:  
Seeing thus my resolution hath decreed,  
Let Ven●● or Allecto be my speed.   

Ne'er could our haunted youth have the enjoyment  
Of ease or quiet, labour or employment,  
But him she haunts, at length he unaware,  
Thus boldly she anticipates his ear.   

Look dear, my care thy utmost hath outvi'd;  
Why fliest me so? sweet give me leave to chide;  
Was it not grief enough thou shouldst deny me?  
But thus likewise discourteously to fly me?  
Denials wound but where love cannot plead  
His suit through absence, sorrow strikes him dead:  
Dear, Why art thou and I grown day and night,  
When I am most than thou art least in sight:  
Look Time o'rshades us with a prosperous wing,  
And but thy love could I wish any thing?  
Frown not, since Fortune smiles, make use of season,  
Here is no blab to prate, then fear no treason.  
Art thou religious? What is zeal but love?  
And such proficients must such means improve;  
Leave, leave this coyness, let not love be banished,  
Make use of love, before this Youth be vanished.  
This said, our hasty lover is grown mute,  
As was invention prompting a recruit.  
Quoth Joseph, Madam, leave these Sirens songs,  
This pair of ears can dry a thousand tongues,  
They ne'er shall force a passage to my heart;  
My resolution goes beyond your art.  
Then be resolved, I wish you understood  
Lust stains the tincture of your noble blood.  
Love is all valour, damned lust a craven;  
Love's Emblem is a Dove, but Lust's a Raven.  
More I could speak.— and more he would have spoke  
Had she not lustfully caught at his Cloak,  
Who, of his Cloak, not chastity, bereft,  
Fled, and his garment with his Mistress left.  
He gone, her blood through choler grew adust  
Within her veins, black, as her burning lust;  
Where Lust's the Mother, Hate is still the Child,  
Thus Love and Lust are never reconciled.  
jempsar raves, no other pains she felt  
Than did some Witch her waxed statue melt,  
Her heart knocked at her ribs e'en such a pain  
Did Meleager (Poets say) sustain,  
When that his Mother with her angry hand  
Into the flames had cast the fatal brand;  
Officious envy soon a lie suggested,  
And she as by some horrid guest infested  
Exclaimed aloud, her servants at the noise  
Approached, whom straight she greeteth with this voice.  
Quoth she, The slave on which He so consides,  
Forsooth the Steward who our business guides,  
Would ravish me; but by my outcry chased,  
Fled, and his garment with me left through haste,  
Glad she had dressed her lie in such a shape,  
That he on her attempted had a rape,  
She knew the Youth should from her Husband win  
No expiation for so foul a sin,  
On which triumphing our incensed Dame  
Lays up the Garment till her Husband came.  
He come, her mind our Lady thus discussed,  
As Phaedra once accused her son of lust.  
With mournful looks, moist eyes, and hands expansed,  
Quoth she, The Youth whom you have so advanced,  
Had ravished me, had not my shrieking tongue  
More powerful been, than my defence was strong.  
And as a witness of what he designed  
For hast he left with me his Cloak behind.  
This said, the blood boiled in the Captain's veins,  
Rough Jealousy straight gave his rage the reins;  
Quoth He to Joseph, is this lovely look  
So fair an Index to so false a Book?  
Nay sure old Nature doted, when she shrined  
Within so fair a Case so foul a Mind.  
Hence, I'll ne'er trust to beauty, since I know  
Worst thoughts lurk masked under the fairest show.  
How I'm deceived who would ever fear  
A Devil moved within this splendid sphere?  
I know the reason now, and will assent  
Why fairest flowers have still the foulest sent.  
Is thy Religion but a feigned disguise?  
Is lust the zeal that thus thy temper fries?  
Wert thou for this preferred, so highly fed,  
That thou shouldst thus attempt to slain my Bed?  
Can none, could none, ambitious lust, suffice  
But such a purchase of so rare a prize?  
Hardship shall check this temper day and night,  
Hunger shall quell this lustful Appetite;  
Yet though thou herein were't so malapert,  
And this offence might cancel all desert,  
My rage shall not glut on thy flesh for food,  
Nor shall my furies revel on thy blood;  
Yet leave these robes that I may be revenged,  
These golden Chains for Guives must be exchanged,  
These Rings for Manacles, for Tapestry  
Darkness shall serve thee for a Canopy;  
To prison hence, whence hope for no reprivall:  
Thinkest thou my thoughts can brook my slave, my rival?   

Oft Joseph thus began, yet when he spoke  
The Captain on the Jailor would invoke.  
My grief the rigour of your doom exceeds,  
That Fate hath interwoven so my deeds  
With secrecy that what my Mistress saith  
Beyond my truth, of all should purchase faith:  
Yet innocence is bold and I avouch  
If e'er I so attempted her to touch,  
May heaven and earth against me both conspire,  
And may I stand the object of their ire,  
If I were false, then as my just desert,  
May this right hand prove traitor to my heart.  
To God who is as innocent, so just  
I do appeal, I never meant this lust;  
To him, that will both quit me for this blame,  
And in the end make envy blush for shame.  
These notwithstanding joseph's vows and tears,  
So Jealousy stood in the Captain's ears  
As Sentinel, that no complaint or moan  
Can force a passage unto reason's throne;  
And thus no further brought unto the test  
The Jailor entertains his woeful guest.   

Although a Pearl through glass more dully shines,  
'Tis not the prison Wall but guilt confines;  
Where conscience in the bosom runs a-tilt  
Against the heart, the Jailor there is guilt.  
And if the body, not the mind be free,  
What is that but a captived liberty?  
The greater world to such, no less doth seem,  
Than is the lesser in the souls esteem.  
But innocence though in a narrow gyre  
Is free as ever fancy can desire;  
Angels spread not more free their airy wings;  
The chartered Libertine of the Woods, not sings  
Moore free; the ship cuts not the silver foam,  
Nor Fish more freely in the Ocean come;  
Nay Winds are limited, and Sea's restrained,  
But Innocence is free, though bound and chained.  
Oft our imprisoned Youth his God implored,  
And with these mournful sighs the heaven's board,  
Thou that art clothed with light; as with a cloak,  
Before whom heaven vanisheth like smoke,  
Dispel, O Lord, that wilful ignorance  
That would miscall this Providence, a Chance;  
Lord, I have sinned, and this heavy scourge  
Thou plagu'st me with, was form in my forge;  
'Tis sin, my conscience, Lord, doth so attest,  
Betrays my freedom unto this arrest;  
So that I cannot satisfy my mind  
Which of the two more straightly is confined,  
Either my Soul within this flesh immured,  
Or else my Body that is thus secured;  
Thou, that for former sins dost thine correct  
(Although then innocent) with false suspect;  
Thou who makest greatest men, like stoutest trees  
At thy rebuke to bow their knotty knees;  
Since sin upon my Soul writes not this guilt;  
Let mercy bail, let not my life be spilt:  
This of thee, Lord, I humbly do importune,  
Who art far much above Men, Fate, or Fortune.   

Our Youth in Prison had not long been kept,  
But that his winning manners softly crept  
Into the Jaylours' breast, and won such grace,  
The Jailer captive to his Prisoner was;  
So ever did this holy Witch inchaunt him,  
So ever Joseph's good conceit did haunt him;  
That he anon commiserates the youth,  
And makes strange descants on jemsars' truth;  
Anon his care by constancy matured,  
Had so the Jailor of the truth assured,  
That to his providence, he grants at large  
His keys, his care, his custody and charge;  
Anon great Pharaoh highly was incensed,  
For thus suspicion had her plaint commenced  
His Butler and his Baker had complied  
On him to act a poisonous Regicide;  
The King deferred not, but on his attaint  
Both were confined to a close restraint;  
Both to the selfsame prison were conveyed  
To which sweet Joseph lately was betrayed,  
Whom so the Captain of the guard enlarged  
That with the new-come Prisoners he was charged,  
Who for a time were both in prison kept,  
Till in a night when sleep paid Nature's debt;  
Their brains had etertained such conceits,  
Whose resolution drove them to such straits;  
What should these dreams import, whose riddling fancy  
They feared surpassed the rack of Necromancy;  
With strange imaginations thus perplexed  
They sat revolving on the fancy's text:  
Till joseph came, who straight in humble sort  
Thus asks what these demeanours did import,  
Quoth he, what means this eye, late, quick, and full  
So suddenly grow hollow, sunk and dull.  
These fixed looks, what do these sighs imply?  
This visage dressed in sorrows livery?  
Grief vented much is eased, then tell the cause  
On what you thus demur, and sadly pause;  
This night, quoth they, our troubled Genii  
Have fixed so strangely on our memory  
Strange Dreams, beyond our powers to untwist,  
And (worse) we fear, of Charm or Chemosh Priest,  
This said, quoth Joseph heaven oft in Dreams  
Presents imagination with Themes  
Of high import, inspired fantasy  
Oft speaks more true than weak Astrology;  
And as 'tis God's t'inspire, I dare be bold  
To say 'tis likewise his for to unfold;  
Weak sorcery may feed you with delusion,  
Ne'er satisfy you with a true conclusion;  
Then here unload your thoughts to me, and I  
I'th'end may prove your faithful Mercury.  
At this the Butler speaks then hear, Ipray  
Me thought one Vine three branches did display,  
Which first, me thought, did bud, than bloomed abroad,  
Then bore ripe clusters of a pleasant load;  
I having Pharaohs Cup, before him stood,  
And in it to him crushed their sparkling blood;  
Quoth Joseph then, three branches are three days,  
Which time expired, Pharaoh shall thee raise  
From up this Dungeon, unto former grace,  
And shalt officiate in thy wont place.  
But then, quoth he, as this shall thus prove true,  
So to the King for my releasement sue,  
That I no longer thus, may lie inplunged,  
My spotless name by infamy expunged;  
For I long since was ravished by theft,  
Both of my Country, and my friends bereft;  
Then when you are to dignity restored,  
Pray think on what I humbly here implored;  
Remember Joseph, quit me from this blame,  
Lest I prove, shortly, nothing but the name.  
From that sin of Lust, heaven knows I'm clear,  
As is you light that Chariots in his Sphere.  
The Baker seeing the Butler's Dreams import,  
Was of his re-advancement in the Court,  
Quoth he, I likewise strangely dreamed, me thought  
As to the Court I three white Baskets brought  
With baked-meats, and with other plenty stored,  
Wherewith I might replerish Pharaohs board,  
The Birds alured by the dainties fled,  
And pickd them as I bore them on my head.  
Quoth Joseph these three Baskets do presage,  
When thrice the Sun hath passed the azurd stage.  
The King shall from this Prison thee convey,  
And hang thee on a tree for Birds a prey;  
The third day Memphis with triumphal mirth  
Held in remembrance of their pharoh's birth,  
When that the Butlers innocent desert  
Was re-advanced the Baker to the Cart  
From Prison was conveyed, and in this season  
Was hanged in expiation of his treason;  
Whose trunk alured many an airy guest,  
Who seemed in honour of the time to feast;  
The Butler notwithstanding this, forgot  
Sad Joseph that foretold his future lot,  
As fattest fields yield weeds of foulest savours,  
Ingratitude repays the greatest favours;  
Since Pride, is Fortune's daughters 'tis less strange  
To see how soon us can Preferment change:  
For they whose Fortunes fly another sphere  
Unto their Mates, stern Planets oft appear;  
At least despise them, or their Vows forget;  
So Bells at first speak thick, but raised are set.  
So small Brooks roar, but gaining depth of land,  
Their swelling streams are at a sullen stand.   

Twice swelling Nile his barren banks had drowned,  
And with his fertile slime enriched the ground,  
Twice twelve times had the Mistress of the night,  
Looked black, through absence of her lover's sight,  
When that great Pharaoh on his couch lay stretched,  
And leaden Morpheus on his senses watched,  
His roving Genius was entertained  
By such conceits, which, though his fancy feigned,  
Yet under them, he feared, was couched a sense  
Of high Import, and mighty Consequence;  
When, strait, he tries the Charmers and their Spells,  
Who all implored their wont Oracles;  
One wooed the Stars, another plied the Tomb,  
A third his Spirit charmed, but all were dumb;  
As when some did the Delphian Shrine implore,  
When th'Oracle grew dumb, and spoke no more.  
On which the Butler being seen awoke  
By racking memory, thus humbly spoke,  
Great Sir, I cannot give my thoughts a truce,  
Till I myself thus to your Grace accuse,  
I with the Baker were accused long since  
To have conspired the death of thee, our Prince,  
On which, as Traitors to the solemn Oath  
Of our Allegiance, you confined us both;  
When in one night, our fancies had impressed  
Such Dreams on memory, which to the test  
Of Reason brought, drove us t'amazed straits  
Who might unfold their intricate conceits;  
When to a fellow-pris'ners much requests  
The Captain's servant, We unlocked our Breasts,  
Who, the results both of my innocence  
Foretold, and of the Baker's just events.  
Pharaoh not ask why he was attached,  
A hasty Message to the Guard dispatched  
To set their Prisoner free; who we may guess,  
Was brought to Pharaoh in a seemly dress;  
Who, now rejecting all the Magic sect,  
Thus speaks to Joseph with a mild aspect;  
Strange Dreams, this night, my Spirits have engrossed,  
Remembrance haunts me like an angry Ghost,  
And I have heard thy Spirit is acute,  
And canst unravel Dreams beyond dispute;  
Now, couldst thou lead me through this Maze, and Mist  
Of doubts, couldst thou my riddling Dreams untwist?  
Quoth Joseph, Then let Pharaoh hear me speak,  
Yet 'tis not I, but God, for I am weak;  
Let fears all vanish, let debarement cease;  
My God shall to great Pharaoh answer peace.   

Quoth Pharaoh, as I slept, this was my Dream.  
Me thought I stood close by a pleasant stream,  
I looked, and from the banks I saw there climbed  
Seven Kine, fat-fleshed, and well proportion limbed,  
Which in a Meadow near the River placed,  
Fed pleasantly, and made a full repast:  
Next, from the stream ascending, I observed,  
Seven Kine, small limbed, sunk-eyed, and hunger-starved,  
Who strait devoured the rest that came before,  
Yet still remained ill-favoured, lean, and poor,  
Then I awoke, and while I sadly mused,  
Where this were natural, or else infused,  
I know not yet, what vapours did condense  
Within my brain, sleep once more locked my sense,  
When lo, I dreamed again, One stalk sustained  
seven ears of Corn, rank, good, and heavy-graind;  
Next them, seven ears thin, blasted, and deflowered  
Arose, which straight, the former crop devoured:  
I told the Charmers this yet ne'er could learn  
Of them, what these my dream did concern.   

Great Sir, quoth Joseph thus, these seven full ears,  
And seven good kine, are seven plenteous years,  
In which the earth shall in increasfull crops.  
Rejoice the Husbandmen beyond their hopes;  
The seven thin ears, and seven ill-favoured kine,  
Are seven years of Famine, I divine,  
Which shall ensue the first, the Springs recruit  
Be void, the Earth fail of her wont fruit;  
The Vine shall not her wont Vintage bleed,  
And Nile in nothing fruitful but in weed.  
The Dream was twice presented, for to show  
That this established is, and shall ensue  
Through God's decree, now (by your Grace's leave)  
If I might counsel what I fit conceive,  
Though I am shallow, and my thoughts I still  
Confess, flag much below your Counsel's skill.  
Yet I might say, that oft (your Grace doth know)  
To lowest means we greatest matters owe.  
And though that no one can anticipate  
The Heaven's decree, and cross the doom of Fate,  
Your Grace may know there's by this warning meant,  
That you this judgement may through care prevent;  
Let Pharaoh make one of his wisest Peers  
Chief Master of the Corn the plenteous years.  
Who may disperse his servants through each County.  
To gather up Ceres' superfluous bounty  
To a fifth part, while plenty so shall last,  
Through riot that there be no spoil nor waist,  
Who where there are no Barns may give a charge;  
To build where they are small for to enlarge;  
For great shall be the plenty and extreme  
Shall be the famine, as your Grace did Dream;  
So shall you wisely deal, like careful Aunts,  
Whom Natures teacheth to prevent their wants;  
Famine's Death's younger Sister, 'tis an Elf  
More terrible than War or Death itself.   

This liking Pharaoh well he answers thus;  
Where can we find so fit a Genius?  
So dexterous as thyself so full of merit,  
In whom there is enshrined so rare a Spirit?  
So worthy of our confidence, so prompt?  
Of my affairs here take the full account,  
Who dares against my choice for to repine?  
Or turn a Rebel to thy Discipline?  
My Genius, my triple eye I swear  
Thou than my other two art far more dear;  
How joy refines my temper! oh 'tis strange,  
They err that think Complexions cannot change.  
Embraces distant are O would that Fate  
Would grant we might more near incorporate.  
My wit wants words to set my Passion forth,  
Or Hieroglyphycks to describe thy worth;  
Who dares with thee confessed? there's greater none  
Than thee but I that sit upon the Throne.   

So ●e late under an Imperious guard,  
Was now advanced unto high reward;  
Pharaoh sat at the Helm, but Joseph steered,  
And in the second Chariot was preferred  
And some, according to the King's Decree  
Would run before him, crying, Bow the knee.  
So he, who seemed in misery forlorn'd  
His neck hath with a golden Chain adorned;  
His finger decked with a precious Ring  
Which Pharaoh wore as Emblem of a King.  
Who in despised rags did lie of late.  
Now in rich Robes walked in Majestic state:  
The Bias of all Egypt he, that drew  
Their Inquisition t'an admiring view:  
The Court was but the Ring, and he the Gem,  
As to a branch of Egypt's Royal Stem.  
All did submit themselves, and to the Court  
As to a late descended God resort.  
First, one would call him Father, and salute  
Him with a present of his early fruit;  
In things of weight, one by his Genius swore,  
A third in pain would joseph's God implore,  
The old (late weary of their lives) desired  
To bless their Eyes with him yet they expired;  
The middle aged would bless him, and the young  
Unto him issue, in a numerous throng;  
Rich, poor, strong weak, the humble, and the haughty,  
All ran to see the Author of their safety;  
So he, on whom the heavens seemed to frown,  
Is now advanced unto high renown.  
So he, who late in Prison did obey,  
Now o'er all Egypt bears a mighty sway;  
Our Saviour's truest Type; so Christ arose  
To save those whom God of his mercy chose;  
As Pharaohs love to Joseph was inclined,  
Hath God the Father to his Son resigned  
All Power, hath Him from bonds of flesh released,  
So is the Father in the Son well pleased;  
Hath at his right hand placed him, wills that we  
At Jesus name should bow an humble knee.   

Thrice ten times Joseph had seen I aniveer  
With double face to usher in the year,  
When thus he stood before great Pharaohs face,  
And gained this measure of his Princely grace,  
Which age, now for a bosom help matured,  
Such was kind Pharoahs' love, that he procured  
Potipherah, the princely Priest of Un,  
To take his Country's Father for his Son,  
His firstborn was Manasseth, for I have  
Quoth he, forgot how I was sold a slave.  
My present happiness where e'er I come,  
Makes me forget my Friends and native home;  
His second Ephraim, for I, a stranger,  
Quoth he, am fruitful in a Land of danger;  
About which age our blessed Sacrifice  
Having redeemed us not with common price,  
But with his blood, ascended hence from this,  
〈…〉 a far more glorious world of bliss;  
And for his sweet beloved, though he the groom  
Prorogue the Marriage till the day of doom;  
He ne'er is absent from the Church, his Spouse,  
Both by the Spirit dart their mutual vows.   

Now began the plenteous years, Nile at no time  
Did ever leave such fruitful beds of slime;  
The Husband's pain though great, though fat the soil,  
Yet still the fruit surpassed their hopes and toil;  
As if God through a gracious remorse  
Of man's great toil, had here repealed that curse  
Of tedious barrenness, for here their ground  
Did like a fertile Paradise abound;  
Fields that this Marshes weep, that Fens did mourn,  
With fruit now laughed, and sung with cheerful corn;  
The weather seasonable, no fierce rain  
Egged on by Tempests, washed away their grain;  
The heat was temperate, Sols gaudy torch  
Did smile to ripen, never kiss to scorch.  
And now did Joseph, like a careful Father,  
Against the time of Dearth begin to gather,  
Conceived how many sands are on the shore,  
So vast, so numberless was Joseph's store;  
Who, from the King's Exchequer stored with Coin,  
Filled up both Field and City, then would join  
Barn unto barn, which large repositories  
Stood long as Monuments of Joseph's glories.  
Now to prevent all riots he began,  
Which still destroys more than a Famine can,  
Corrupting plenty often is the Nurse  
Of foul disease, no blessing but curse,  
Time oft can witness, when abuse begat  
Upon so fair a piece so foul a Brat.   

seven times had Sol cheered the Cymmerian coast,  
Twelve times so oft exchanged his monthly Host,  
Since Nature like an ill-drawn Picture grew,  
When it is penciled with a partial view;  
Or an unconstant Parent, whose love's blind,  
And so imparts his store by Gavell kind,  
Since she thus Egypt with such plenty blest,  
But proved almost a Stepdame to the rest.   

Anon (all things being hurried on the hinge  
Of change, and subject to the fatal swinge  
Of misery) here Famine raised her stage,  
And began, as Joseph did foretell, to rage's.  
Nile that was wont to drench their parched earth,  
Now only flowed in tears to weep their dearth;  
As if some poor, or dry-exhausting vein  
Had drained that slime that should refresh their grain;  
The Husbandman lamented, that his seed  
Died not to live again, the noisome weed  
Did revel in his labour whose excess  
Did riot in a fruitful barrenness;  
Thus pined he, 'cause he lived a bootless slave:  
Now might he with his Plough share dig his grave;  
His Prune-hook useless was, unless the Fate  
Of Dearth therewith he would anticipate.  
Now Famine had presented her first scene,  
Which made the frighted Countryman to glean  
His late neglected fields, and that is prized  
As a rich Harvest which was late despised;  
Another greedily would scrape the dough  
That lay neglected in her kneading trough;  
That face, which had Nature's fresh liv'ry worn,  
And showed as verdant as the rosy morn,  
Now full-faced plenty had the Land forsook  
Famine displayed pale colours in each look,  
All walking like to naked Skeletons  
Unto their Fellows made their heavy moans;  
Some in the street did reel, how could they tread  
A steady pace, that lacked the staff of bread?  
Now all near famished, and their glean done,  
With trembling steps they all to Pharaoh run,  
As to their Father, making their complaint,  
While some through weakness in his presence faint.  
Great Sir quoth one, look how our beauty's blasted,  
Our strength is spent, our spirits are exhausted,  
Our young ones starve, our abler stomaches feed,  
(Unless thou food supply,) on grass and weed;  
Observe how Dearth mocks Death, our nether jaws  
Hang down through weakness, while we plead our cause;  
Look, look, how some would speak, but their faint lungs  
Stop the intendments of their clammy tongues;  
Grant, and dismiss us, for we here resort  
Not for to make a Charnell-house thy Court.  
The King pricked with remorse of Egypt's want,  
Thus mildly condescends his Princely grant,  
Quoth he, go, and what Joseph shall enjoin  
Obey, doubt not, his spirit is divine.  
That said, they crouched their thanks, have you observed  
How that a Falcon through neglect near starved,  
Soon as her Keeper comes within her sight,  
Both makes an eager, though a slug-like flight,  
Unto her prey, and though her limbs be weak,  
She fiercely tugs it with her ragged beak;  
So the Egyptians in a numerous press  
To Joseph's Palace, make their full address,  
Some dumbly passionating begged, some kissed  
His feet, who opening all his store dismissed  
Them all without a rigorous dispute,  
With a glad burden of their purchased suit.   

Now Egypt in this fatal time of dearth  
Remained the only Storehouse of the Earth,  
The world's chief Granary, of grain the sole  
Exchequer of each Land from Pole to Pole;  
Even Canaan on whose rich abounding store  
Once lived thirty Kings, must now implore  
Her neighbours help, glad if she might in peace  
Be made partaker of her blessed increase;  
Among whom (so did Providence design)  
Old Jacob and his Sons began to pine  
Through dearth; the  late so liquorish,  
Would gladly banquet on a common-dish;  
Oft Jacob ruminates and weighs the cause  
Why were all Kingdoms offered to the jaws  
Of Famine, then concludes they're justly cursed,  
Since they such monstrous sinners long had nursed;  
Then would he doubt lest that his children's sin  
Had brought this Curse on fertile Palestine.  
Then seeks with Sacrifice for to appease  
The heaven's wrath, so might their fields increase;  
Distrust he would not, for he did believe  
God would redeem him with a safe reprieve,  
Who promised that his seed (though death did rage)  
Should have their Country for their Heritage;  
While thus imagination had engrossed  
His sense, and fancy thus divinely glossed;  
He calls his sons, to whom, you may suppose,  
His smothered thoughts old Jacob did disclose.   

My Sons, quoth he you know our Corn is spent,  
And little's left either in Field or Tent,  
Our plenty-pregnant sins have now at last  
Brought forth a Dearth, the mighty Protoplast  
Moved by our monstrous sins hath strongly seeled  
The heavens with brass, and th'earth beneath hath steeled:  
And Death and Famine two remorseless Mates,  
Triumphing ride, and knock at all our gates;  
Those dainties fail that fed our glutt'nous lust,  
Our chalky teeth have lost their unctuous rust,  
Why do you whisper thus, why do you gaze  
One on another? let your Lambkins graze.  
There's Corn in Egypt, go and buy, my sons,  
That we may live, we and our little ones.  
You know our fruitful fields forbear to teem,  
We starve, unless your speedy care redeem;  
Go, and make haste my sons, your Brother's pain  
Shall be redoubled till you come again;  
Your Sheep shall feed upon their pleasant grounds,  
No Goat shall rove beyond his wont bounds,  
No Dog shall fright, no ravenous Beast pursue  
With fearful flight a Kid or tender Ewe.   

No dull delay could their intents adjourn,  
But when stout Chaunticleer had waked the morn,  
The careful Brethren with a rustic port  
Knocked to fair Memphis, then to joseph's Court;  
For he it was who did dispense the Corn  
To those whom meager Death had made forelorn.  
Anon to Joseph they themselves addressed  
With great submission, and with lowly crest  
The prostrate Ten unto his Lordship crouched,  
In every look humility was couched,  
Whom Joseph knew, yet he his passion checked,  
And strangely views them with a stern aspect;  
And thus began What are you, and from whence?  
Under what clime have you your residence?  
Quoth they Great Master, Canan is our home,  
Hither to buy food are thy servants come.  
Their lowliness remembering him the truth  
Of his presaging Dreams while yet a Youth.  
Now might pale rancour swell, revenge insult,  
And malice might demand no common mulct,  
And envy by that seeming Justice backed  
Of like for like, might proudly now exact  
Great recompense, a Dungeon well might sit  
Their cruelty that doomed him to the Pit;  
The law of Nature now might seem to crave  
As they had him, so he should them enslave;  
And in remembrance of their slouts, in scorn  
Dismiss them hopeless, and deny them Corn.  
Where envy is the memories Recorder,  
Expect proceed in remo●slless order;  
But he ne'er entertained Her as a guest,  
Much less a Tenant, in his peaceful Breast;  
Their sight his pity, not revenge begat,  
His blood did dance for joy, not boil with hate;  
Yet though his bowels did through passion yern,  
As were his looks, thus his reproofs were stern.  
Quoth he, what made you hither to repair  
To leave your own, to breathe a foreign air?  
How careless is our guard? how have they watched?  
That such suspicious Spies pass unattached?  
Y'are Spies, our tortures shall the truth extort,  
Why you thus saucily approach our Court;  
You come to spy our weakness, you shall feel  
What strength our Country hath, perhaps our Steel.   

Our sins makes God seem strange, as clouds we see  
 th'ey of heaven, so sin God's heavenly eye;  
Or if but seen his cheeks with an anger glow,  
Wrath's on his eye throned, ruin on his brow,  
And while they sin, as Traitors he attaints  
Unto his Covenant, his dearest Saints.   

The Brethren started at these thundering words,  
The active blood within each body curds,  
Quoth they, let not your Lordship this Impute,  
Nor misinterpret our unfeigned suit,  
We all the tincture have of one man's blood,  
Who hither hath us sent to buy some food,  
And so let heaven with thy servants deal,  
As we intent unto your Common-weal.   

we'll have the truth of this upon the racks,  
Quoth he, your suit, your Asses and your Sacks  
Are mere pretences, you are all but Spies,  
These specious colours cannot blind our eyes.   

We're twelve, quoth they, and by one man begot,  
The youngest is at home, and one is not,  
We are no such, that to such ends do room,  
Hither to buy food are thy servants come;  
Let not your Lordship trample misery;  
Pity a stranger's privilege should be;  
O do not censure, weare so innocent  
We scarce conceive what by your words is meant;  
If want be treason, and to come to buy  
Food be invasion, than we come to spy.   

Y'are Spies, quoth he, vain words no longer urge,  
They are too empty this your guilt to purge,  
Since you no other voucher can produce  
To prove your truth, but only this excuse,  
My Sentence, like my words, none may revoke,  
Send for that youngest Son of whom you spoke;  
Unless that Brother prove your evidence,  
By Pharaohs life ye shall not part from hence,  
Send one, mean while ye shall be all restrained  
To prove if that your words be true or feigned,  
But if th'event convince you of a lie,  
Why then by Pharaohs life ye come to spy.  
Now were the Brethren all imprisoned.  
Till thrice the Sun had left Aurora's bed;  
When thus his Lordship spoke. Sirs if y'are true,  
Do this, I fear a God as well as you,  
If your cause spring from an unfeigned source,  
No false injustice shall divert its course;  
If true, you blunt, if false, you whet the edge  
Of our proceed, leave one as a Pledge  
Of our return, yet see you do not fail,  
None but that Brother proves your pledges bail.   

Now conscience like a wound by time o'r-skined,  
(Lanced by the memory of what they'd sinned)  
Grew to an Ulcer, which seemed sound before,  
And guilt, like Titius Vultur gripes the sore;  
Crosses the Midwives to the conscience be,  
From the gross womb of dull security;  
As Sols fierce heat dissolves the ycic plain,  
That drowns the murmur of the roaring main;  
So crosses soon the frozen heartstrings thaw,  
As if a flaming Hell were in the Maw,  
Heart-gnawing Vultures gripes are not so fierce  
As those, that do a frighted conscience pierce;  
Like a fierce lightning which doth fry at once  
The marrow, and incinerates the bones.  
No Tyrant's cruelty, nor are the fangs  
Of ravenous Beasts more horrid than those pangs,  
Which now the Brethren knew, when that they felt  
Their wounded hearts even in their Breasts to melt;  
Brethren, quoth one would we could that forget  
Which doth our conscience-seared heartstrings fret,  
When we (O horrid piacle enrolled  
In heaven's notaries) our Brother sold,  
Tyrants had wept, but we would not condole  
The bitter anguish of his troubled soul;  
This Curse our Brother did to us bequeath,  
Whom we undoubtedly betrayed to death;  
The fact was heinous, and the sin most gross,  
So here is rage for rage, and cross for cross;  
Me thinks, as yet, his moans do pierce my ears,  
My heart drops blood, fast as his eye wept tears;  
Our scourging conscience more doth tyrannize,  
Than did our rage upon so weak a prize.   

This said, quoth Reuben, Brethren, spoke, not I  
(Soon as I heard your Plot your Tragedy)  
Although I fortuned not to intervene,  
When you were acting of that rigid Scene.  
O spare the Child, but you proved to my plea  
As deaf and unrelenting as the Sea;  
Bondage is Bawd to death, I fear whose knise  
Made quick abridgement of his tender life;  
We justly bondage fear, and which is worse,  
His blood may challenge blood, a greater curse,   

Little the Brethren thought that their remorse  
Of Conscience, their language and discourse  
His Lordship understood, whose meanings were  
Delivered them by an Interpreter;  
Who now no longer could his passion smother,  
But as in Tides one wave pursues another,  
Oft ceasing not, till in their rolling ranks  
They drown all Barriers and fencing Banks;  
So at each circumstance his passion higher  
And higher swelled, then did so high aspire,  
That he retiring could not tears refrain,  
But through his eyes discharged his troubled brain;  
Who though the rain was past, would yet allow  
Some frowning clouds to triumph on his Brow.  
Anon quoth he returning to the room,  
Your reason's woven in too thin a Loom,  
To take our faith, my will by oath is sealed,  
By vow my sentence not to be repealed;  
Since you no other evidence a league  
To prove your truth, thus will I choose my pledge;  
Before them all then Simeon was bound;  
Even thus, quoth he, the truth I'll justly sound  
Of your intents, you gain no further grace,  
Unless that younger Brother see my face;  
That youngest Brother only shall redeem  
This Brother bound then traffic with esteem.  
Why do you whisper thus? speak, if your cause  
Be just demur not thus, Truth needs no pause.  
Now had he charged the Steward of his Treasure  
To fill their Sacks with Corn in bounteous measure,  
To store them for the journey, and to pack  
Their Money in the mouth of each man's Sack.  
Their Asses loaden, now you may conceive  
With humble promises they take their leave,  
And lest old Jacob might through their delay  
Do not lest they might prove an untimely prey  
Unto some danger, lest his hopes might bleed  
T'a lingering death they make the greater speed.   

Now at his Inn as each his Ass did bait,  
Opening their Sacks, their Money in full weight  
Was in their Sacks mouth, much they did resent  
With sad amazement that strange accident;  
One doubted Egypt's spells, another feared  
Th'abused Medium, which another cleared;  
A third nonpayment, and a fourth pursuit,  
But all concluded in confused dispute;  
But all grant 'twas an act that God had wrought,  
Which should b'unraveled far beyond their thought.  
Conceive them now at home, where, you may guess,  
They tell their Father of their sad success;  
Dear Sir, quoth one, the Master of the Land  
Dealt roughly with us, and began to brand  
Us with the name of Spies, as some that aimed  
To search their weakness, which we all disclaimed,  
We humbly all our suit for Corn inferred  
As witness of our truth, and more averred,  
We're twelve, quoth we, and by one man begot,  
The youngest is at home, and one is not;  
Excuse, nor plea, could not maintain our cause,  
But He th'advantage taking of that clause,  
The youngest is at home, thus aimed to prove.  
Where we were such that to such ends did rove;  
Quoth he, where either you speak truth, or feign,  
I'll do no more than Justice shall maintain;  
Take for to nurse your houses and be gone,  
And come not here without that youngest Son.  
If  at home a Brother, as you spoke,  
That labours with you under the same yoke  
Of filial duty, if you here approach  
Sans him, as Spies, no doubt, you now encroach;  
And that you may conceive, how far your wit  
Shall fail of our suspect you to acquit,  
Let one of you, here, as your Pledge reside  
Till your return, so shall your truth be tried.  
You me, quoth mourning Jacob, have beguiled  
Of Simeon now, and Joseph whilst a Child;  
And think you with this slight me to supplant?  
To take his Brother? This I cannot grant.  
At this, quoth R●uben, let my Sons be slain,  
If I return thy son not safe again;  
Both mine I'll sacrifice unto thy rigour,  
If that he come not home, in perfect vigour.  
My Son, quoth Jacob, shall not hence go down  
To be a prey to those of Memphis town,  
The journey's dangerous, and at each pace  
Death may arrest him with his Ebon Mace;  
Oh be advised, my sons, when Joseph died,  
My Soul near sailed forth with his purple tide;  
And should his Brother fail, the self same dart  
Would cut the Cables of my an'chring heart,  
Or weigh it from my bosom's anchorage;  
Deliberate, take pity on my age.  
Now jacob's Corn was spent, and yet this year  
Small show of future harvest did appear,  
Who calling for his Children, thus began;  
My Sons, quoth he, life, which some term a span  
Dearth will t'an inch reduce, and we shall wax  
(Being Famine-sucked) as empty as our Sacks.  
Again go buy some food, there's yet small hope  
That th'heavens will their wont fatness drop;  
Your Brother shall take care, that while you want,  
No ravenous Beast near to your folds shall haunt.   

At this, quoth Judah, Egypt's Master swore  
He neither would our Brother bond restore,  
Nor yet supply our wants, until thy Son  
Appeared before his face as we have done;  
If he be sent we'll go; since here are graves,  
Why should we hence to die Egyptian slaves?  
Quoth jacob, why spoke you of Benjamin?  
Now ill betid such an unnatural sin,  
You might the matter with more judgement wave,  
Unless you meant to hiss me to my grave.  
Dear Sir, quoth they, with us He subtly dealt,  
And roughly asked of us where we dwelled,  
Then of our Kindred, and our Father's life,  
Then of the youngest son began the strife,  
Who thought such strife would from these words arise,  
The youngest is at home, through his devise?  
Dear Sir quoth judah, if we thus divide,  
We shall be guilty all of suicide,  
Since, though weare brought unto those exigents,  
God to prevent our Dearth the means presents;  
Of me require him, may my hopes be racked  
On all extremities, thy rage compact  
With danger to overthrow me, may my name  
Be henceforth branded with eternal shame  
T'have slain my Father's joys, if that the Swain  
Be not safe to thy Bosom brought again:  
If thou hadst sent him, which thou wouldst not grant.  
We now had laughed with store, who weep through wan●  
Our Sacks that now exhausted are, and empty,  
Replenished with our care had swelled with plenty.   

Well then, quoth Jacob, since it must be so,  
And that I must thus needs embrace my woe,  
Go take a Present for the man, the savour  
Oft of a little brings the greatest favour.  
He may your Brother from his Bonds release,  
Send you replenished home, my Son in peace;  
Take Nuts and Almonds, Myrrh, sweet Balm, and Ho●  
And lest there were mistakes, take double Money.  
Dear Image of thy sweet deceased Mother,  
Sweet relic of thy too too soon slain Brother,  
By Nature's secret and unknown instinct,  
Thine to my cords of life, are strongly linked  
In a firm Union, soon again return,  
Lest soon thy absence hiss me to my urn.  
Even as a friend who till his cy-strings fail.  
Stands viewing of his Friend late under sail,  
As if his feet unto the shore did grow,  
First points him out as small as is a crow,  
The mast to th' diminution of a hair,  
Till all dissolved are quite from that to air.  
So jacob though his Suns began to set,  
And that through age almost his eyelids met,  
Long correspondence with their motion kept,  
Then out of sight he turned his head and wept.   

Omit their weary journey's tedium,  
Cold fear already did their sense benumn,  
For now they saw (so may your fancy prompt)  
Fair Memphis, Arts chief pride, and Nature's pomp▪  
Who now with Country gates, and rustic greets  
To the nice Citizens, knocked through their streets:  
Then did they all to Joseph's Palace plod,  
Each one approaching with a submissive nod;  
Soon Joseph at first-sight his Brother knew,  
Soon joy and fear their tears began to brew;  
Then charged the Steward of the house to haste,  
For they at night with him should take repast;  
Long had they not attended, till a Groom  
Conducted them into an inner room;  
When Conscience to its former rigour grew,  
And Fear of danger pierced the wound anew,  
Fear made strange descants, and few could conclude  
Why they, in manners rough, in habit rude,  
Were used kindly thus, unless to cloak  
Their close intents to seize them, and to yoke  
Them as their slaves, or how God had disposed  
About the Money in their Sacks enclosed.  
Whereof they fearing now a rough inquest,  
Themselves to Joseph's Steward thus addressed;  
Sir, long it is not, since with full-stufft Sacks  
We left the noise of Nilus' Cataracts,  
Since we t'your Master owed, we are not brought  
(Being Dearth exhausted) to our former nought,  
But fears have mixed sweet joy with sour conceit,  
We in our Sacks our Coin found in full weight;  
Of this event we often have revolved,  
Which yet stands undetermind, unresolved;  
Pity with casual errors oft dispenseth,  
While cruelty mistakes, as fauls commenceth;  
Unless we much mistook, our money weighed  
In equal balances we truly paid,  
Yet that we paid it, we will not aver,  
For memory is frail, and we may err,  
But faults are lost i'th' name of Innocence,  
Since what e'er hap'ned'twas not meant offence;  
Deceit could not advantage, since we knew  
We shortly must our former suit renew,  
Great Sir 'twas no imposture, for, What stranger  
Is so foolhardy as to play with danger?  
Then here accept your due, and grant our suit  
On like Conditions for a new recruit.   

Sirs, quoth the Steward, to remove your terror,  
There was no false deceit, nor casual error,  
I had your coin, nor will deserve the curse  
To take th'advantage on a stranger's purse;  
I had good weight, as you had bounteous measure,  
Then traffic with esteem, and trade at pleasure;  
Your God, your Father's God, whom you adore  
Did each man's Money in his Sack restore;  
None shall your persons hurt, your state impair,  
Our actions, like your faces, shall be fair;  
And you (his Lordship seldom grants this boon)  
Must at my Master's table dine at noon;  
Half all men's hearts are His, miled courtesy,  
That wins each heart, sits smiling in his eye.  
As token that his Lordship thus was pleased,  
Their Brother Simeon was strait released,  
Who, unattended with a ridgid Mace,  
Was now saluted with a glad embrace;  
Now were a little of their fears suspended,  
And they to Joseph's House were all attended;  
One brought in water with a courteous greet,  
To wash their journey-dirt-bedaubed feet,  
One dressed their Asses, in officious duty,  
Another showed the Palace and its beauty;  
All which, thus showed so far beyond their merits  
They rather thought dreams of their troubled spirits  
Than real objects, now they began to shape  
Them in their best attire, anew to ape  
The seemliest postures, how they might present  
The Token with a grace their Father sent,  
Then all of Table courtesy combine,  
Because they heard they with the Lord should dine.  
Gladly did Joseph his affairs prorogue,  
Now were deferred the needy Catalogue,  
Imagine him returned to his house,  
Where they with humble thanks, with hearty vows,  
In great submission prostrate on their face,  
Tender their Fathers Present to his Grace.   

Sirs, quoth his Lordship, if I err not much  
You are the same, or very like to such  
Whom I as Spies suspected, if y'are ttue,  
Present that youngest Brother to my view;  
Oft-times hath Phoebus wheeled about his teem,  
Yet you ne'er came to gain your lost esteem,  
And yet, I fear, the day is yet to dawn.  
Wherein you will redeem again your Pawn.  
Sir (quoth they, crouching) we at length have won  
Our wary Father for to send his Son,  
Our former callow hopes again are fledge.  
That you to freedom will restore our pledge.   

As yet quoth Joseph, doth that old man breath?  
Hath Fate not yet betrayed him unto death?  
Is death yet retrograde? hath yet your God  
Unto your Famine set a period?   

Great Sir, quoth they, our Father yet doth breath  
Through heaven and you, but no triumphant wreath  
Of full-eared Harvest crowns the Husband's brows,  
Nor one smali Sheaf doth answer all our vows;  
Our Father lives, though not with wont heat  
His heart with healthy vigour yet doth beat;  
As yet he lives, unless his life be spun  
To th'utmost thread, through absence of his Son;  
By us he begs you, Sir, (though we are rude,  
And though of language indigest and crude)  
This present as the Interest t'accept  
Of a more vast, and far immense a debt;  
Is this, quoth Joseph, he of whom I swore,  
That being owes, and life to the same care,  
Of the same Sire with you? they, on their knee  
Falling submissively, say this is he.  
Let God, quoth Joseph from his bounteous treasure  
Shower on thee blessings in a gracious measure;  
I now my Censure willingly revoke,  
Gladly release your brother from this yoke,  
Until your misery be retrograde,  
You shall b'admitted here in peace to trade.  
Y'are proof enough, y'are of an honest tribe,  
What doth this Present mean? I ruth needs no bribe.   

Scarce could he Passion check, which would eruct  
What he would have concealed, scarce obstruct  
His tears, which now like billows raised by wind,  
Disdained within their cells to be confined;  
Which lest too soon they might excel his power  
He stepped aside, and wept a plenteous shower;  
Thrice had he washed his face, but tears did rise  
Too great a channel for his conduit-eyes,  
And he must stay their weeping, the extent  
Of his large cells had too too small a vent:  
Thrice, had he locked his door, but all in vain;  
For through the floodgates broke the silver rain;  
Thrice, he in Passion, as he passed the stair,  
Did for his Brother hug the empty air:  
Then must return, for tears again did trace  
Their rivulets upon his blubbered face:  
Scarce could he with his Passion take a truce,  
Scarce could he stop his tear-betraying sluice;  
His reeking cheeks, like Roses rain-bedasht,  
Imagine from their stains at length were washed;  
When Passions close recluse at length came down,  
With looks importing, nor a smile nor frown,  
None there despaired, through a stern reflect,  
None by his pleasant looks might him suspect;  
At his command the Table straight was spread;  
The Dainties ushered by a grim death head;  
Where Joseph by himself was served in state;  
His honour had no rival, knew no mate:  
And Egypt 'mongst all of the Universe,  
With th' Hebrews might not eat, and scarce commerce.  
Now as each Brother's age excelled in date  
Of years, each one above another sat;  
The eldest was not Lord, nor th' youngest his Page,  
But each took place according to his age;  
To whom his Lordship sent to each a dish,  
And so surpassed at once, desert and wish;  
And as, though clouds shroud Titan's golden ray,  
Through them, unseen, he doth dispense the day;  
So Joseph, though thus strange, yet did dispense  
Kind welcome through his favours influence;  
As oft the Sun doth through those vapours pierce  
That shroud his beauty from the Universe  
So through his austere strangeness, oft there shined  
Beams of unwonted favour, while they dined,  
On Benjamin, though few the cause could guess,  
Why he was served with a five fold mess.  
And though his Lordship by no means could brook  
Excess his Butler, Luxury his Cook,  
No Kickshawe wanting was, nor Courtly cate,  
Which they enjoyed in peace and jolly chat.  
Now heaven through grief of losing Phoebus' light  
In mourning darkness entertained the night;  
And stars like to obsequious Tapors shined,  
As if lamenting that their Lord declined;  
When Joseph charged the Steward of his Corn  
With early care t'anticipate the morn;  
Yer sleep the Owlets watchful sense benumbed.  
Birds chirp their morning peals, or Beetle humed;  
In plenteous sort to fill each Brother's Sack,  
Till even they did with swelling plenty crack;  
To give them for their journey and restore  
In each one's Sack his Money as before;  
And in the youngest Brothers Sack to knit  
His silver Cup, Love's waited on by wit.  
Soon as Aurora wept her dewy drops,  
And jocund day peered on the mountain tops,  
The careful Brethren kindly were dismissed,  
And when departing Sol the morn had kissed,  
His Lordship sent his Steward on pursuit  
Of the late strangers to their charge t'impute  
T'have stolen his Lordship's Cup, and thus to gloss  
With harsh expressions on a fault so gross;  
That if his Lordships late unwonted care  
Wrought no impression, yet how they did dare  
T'abuse him thus, whose power like the Kings  
Can reach far off like wide-stretcht Dragon's wings?  
That not deliberation could of time  
Nor close evasions excuse this crime;  
That 'twas the Cup by which his Lord divined,  
No weak conjecture of a doubtful mind.  
This spoke, that by this means he might reduce  
Them, on pretence to answer this abuse,  
The careful Steward this command discharged,  
And wisely on the premises enlarged;  
Soon like a biting frost this fierce arrest,  
Nipped all the hopes that budded on their crest;  
Great Sir, quoth they why speaks my Lord these words?  
They of our hearts dissect the tender cords;  
God, who Heaven rules, and Hell's infernal vault,  
Knows we are innocent, free from this fault,  
Fearing mistakes, we brought again our Coin,  
Why should we Gold or Silver then purloin?  
we'll this offence not with pretences gild,  
Truth needs no colour, let his blood be swilled  
By the severest Justice at a sup,  
With whomsoe'r is found his Lordships Cup.  
Well, quoth the Steward, as you say, I'll deal,  
Your words are just, and I to them appeal,  
With whomsoe'r his Lordship's Cup is found.  
Even as you spoke, he shall my slave be bound;  
But ye shall all be free through innocence,  
Since each must answer for his own offence;  
At this each willingly his Sack unknit,  
While each one sought himself for to acquit,  
The Cup was found knit in the youngest his Sack,  
At which even all their eye-strings seemed to crack,  
So stars as shamed of day I've seen to wink,  
So have I seen the Snail being hit, to shrink  
Within his shelly penthouse, and now failed  
Their eyes, as sudden grief their ey-balls veiled.  
What should they say? for to deny the deed  
Did seem a shift weak as a Nilus' reed  
Which would both fail and hurt them, should they lie,  
What should they do? who like a late-spawned fry  
In the wild Sea, were subject to the prey  
Of every greater fish, even so seemed they.  
Sad Benjamin spared neither vows nor oaths  
To back his innocence, each rent his   
And back in grief returned to the City  
Submissively to crave his Lordship's pity.  
Guess them returned, to them the Lord begun,  
What deed is this, quoth he, that you have done?  
I gave you Wine, for which my Cup you stole,  
Thought you I had not a divining Soul?  
The fact is evident, then cease to quilt  
A web of specious lies upon your guilt,  
This aggravates what I of late suspected;  
Heaven will not you should thus pass undetected.   

Great Sir, quoth they, you justly may upbraid  
Us with your love, we justly are betrayed,  
The fact is clear, what shall we then allege  
To clear ourselves? and who shall be our pledge?  
We scarce have blood in all our veins, great Lord,  
Enough to slain your Vice-revenging sword;  
Create Sir, we beg if bondage expiates,  
Our Crime, than mercy rules among the Fates?   

Nay, quoth the Lord, my heart's not Adamant,  
No rocky Isle where such like Furies haunt,  
Nor hath my Soul so liquorish a gust  
That nought but blood can satiate her lust,  
Mercy, and Justice, here, are near a kin,  
Our mercy here's still greater than the sin;  
Think, I have pity on your Father's age,  
Nor will enslave you all in vassalage,  
I'll only recompense upon that Youth  
That had my Cup, bonds, for his breach of truth.  
No sore-tormenting Probe unto the quick  
More deeply searched a wound, nor of the sick  
No launcet hit more sure the master-vein,  
Than did his Lordship's words pierce through each swain,  
Who ever thus, in terms accutely couched  
Rubbed on the matter they would have untouched;  
Some begged, some wept, and some confusedly muttered,  
Some indigested resolutions uttered,  
At last, quoth Judah, humbly on his knee,  
Great Sir, yet what you spoke your vow decree,  
Let not your anger flame, that I, so rude  
In language, and in habit, thus intrude;  
You asked when first we hither did repair,  
Doth yet your Father breath the common air?  
Have you alive a Brother more at home?  
Our speech in devious falsehoods did not come,  
But kept truths road, quoth we, Our Father's old,  
Half wearied Fate doth yet her distaff hold,  
We have a Brother more, a youthful page,  
Whom He esteems the comfort of his age,  
His Father's joy, since his deceased Brother,  
The only Son of his expired mother;  
And since our Father's old, and lame, and dim,  
He only walks, and breaths, and sees in him;  
Then saidst thou, as a witness of your truth,  
Bring down your Brother, let me see the youth;  
Great Sir, quoth we, our Brother stands between  
Death and our Father's lamp as th'only screen;  
And He removed our Sires declining snuff  
Would soon b'extinguisht by some envious puff;  
Yet saidst thou to thy servants, bring the Child,  
If that you will we shall be reconciled;  
All this we to our Father did rehearse,  
With the proceed of our last commerce;  
Our Corn exhausted there was long dispute  
IT wixt Want and Nature, we renewed our suit  
To him to send our brother, and at large  
Importunately urged your Lordship's charge;  
So, quoth our father, were I most forlorn;  
By Rachaell I had two children born,  
Whereof one parting hence, became a feast  
(Ay me!) I fear unto some rav'nou, Beast,  
With whom fled half my life, then leave his Brother,  
'Twere Parricide to take away the other;  
O think, my sons, should you remove the prop  
That stays my age, I in my grave should drop;  
Were there a Crystal window in each Breast,  
We know no more than what we have confessed;  
Now should we home, and leave his son behind,  
As with Prophetic doubts his fear divined,  
Both hope and life would fail him, should I know  
That I myself were the unhappy Bow,  
Through whom false death aimed her remorseless dart  
To the true mansion of my Father's heart,  
What should I do? that shall both guilty seem,  
Both of my Brother's loss, and death of him;  
I to my Sire was surety for the youth,  
Have pity on his age, and on my truth.  
When death, quoth I, my lamp of life shall quench,  
May my good name die in a noisome stench;  
And with like vows I heaven did implore,  
If I his son not safely did restore;  
Then if my Lord please to reverse his doom,  
I'd gladly serve bound in my Brother's room;  
Great Sir, be pleased t'admit me in exchange,  
I'd weary cruelty, and mock revenge,  
I'd count deaths sentence but an idle breath,  
Yer I'd seem guilty of my Father's death.  
Good Sir, have pity, I would dare to meet  
A Thunderbolt wrapped in a lightning sheet,  
Yet I'd provoke a Father's angry gall,  
Since Parent's curses are Prophetical.   

As a new tuned Cask of unpurged Wine;  
Wind pris'ned in the earth, or like a Mine,  
The one, if closed, will make a furious vent;  
The other break forth in a thundering rent;  
Such were his Lordship's tears, such was his joy,  
Which Passion though it long seemed strange and coy,  
And fickle in the wooing, th'end did prove  
In it was couched a Brother's tender love,  
Which he no more was able to resist,  
Than the quick pulse that thumped within his wrist;  
And joy, like wind imprisoned in the earth,  
Will shake th'hearts centre but 'twill have a birth.   

Now since he could no longer thus contest,  
H'intended secretly t'unlock his breast,  
Shame, that's sins daughter, were't not for this care  
Might here have proved the mother of despair;  
Open reproofs, like an impetuous rain,  
Do wash away, but not refresh the grain.  
Now would he think to speak, and then retreat,  
Then on the prize his heart a charge would beat,  
And though the cause, as yet, obscurely slept,  
Yet Pharaohs servants heard him while he wept;  
At last he thus began, I Joseph am;  
Is th' Oil yet spent that fed my Father's flame?  
This on the porches of their ears he beat,  
But all in vain, that sense had left her seat.  
And with the eyes, by horror scattered,  
Had to the brain as an Asylum fled;  
Yet being the kingly hearts chief sentinels,  
He by degrees dismissed them from their cells:  
For sense-bereaving horrors are like lees,  
Which being once stirred, will sink, but by degrees.  
Now, when they something had expelled their fears,  
He with these speeches board anew their ears,  
I am your brother Joseph whom you sold;  
Is yet my Father 'mongst th'alive enrolled?  
Come near, and see, I have no false reserves,  
Come, on this visage spend your visive nerves,  
I am the same as when you took my coat,  
Though changed in hue, and of a rougher throat,  
Though heaven have changed my Fortune, years my stature,  
Nor time hath changed my love, nor climb my nature.  
Fear not, the fact though gross, shall not be blazed,  
'Tis from the book of my remembrance razed,  
Then judge yourselves not rashly, bless the deed,  
For I was promised to preserve your seed,  
Two years are past, wherein remorseless dearth,  
Hath knit the bowels of the teeming earth,  
And yet these five years Nile in vain shall flow,  
The Husbandman in vain shall plough and sow;  
Like a true Alchemist hath providence,  
Drawn Honey from the Poison of offence;  
You sold, God sent me hither, heaven be blest,  
That turned your very sin unto the best;  
Hast then, with winged swiftness, and infuse  
Fresh spirits in our Father with this news,  
Say thus, saith Joseph, whom thou thoughtst to be  
Sealed in the bosom of eternity;  
Thus saith thy Son, who, by the common vogue,  
Was thought one of grim deaths large catalogue;  
Thus saith our Brother, here I am adored  
As Pharaohs Father, and all Egypt's Lord,  
Come down, thou with thy house, thy herds, and flocks,  
Time limps away, methinks, with leaden socks  
Until thou come, accept of my advice,  
Thine shall be Goshen Egypt's Paradise;  
Let no delay this thy descent prorogue,  
Lest Famine in a fatal Epilogue  
End thee, and thine; come, that with my Protection  
I in some sort may answer thy affection.  
The Sun five times shall pass through all his Inns,  
Till dearth shall fully expiate our sins;  
Mean while descend, and of my store partake;  
Since heaven by me prepared it for thy sake.  
Hast for your own sakes, that I may refresh.  
And cloth your naked bones with tender flesh;  
My words and actions have not divers centres,  
Both end in one, but if upon the tenters  
This stretch your faith, beside the foretold signs  
Observe this visage and its wont lines;  
Sweet Benjamin, blest were th' Astrologers,  
If as I know these eyes, they knew the Stars;  
If so, though all events be closely sealed,  
No doubt the future should be all revealed.  
His Lordship's speeches were no sooner ended,  
But he and Benjamin together blended  
Themselves in close embraces, both did lie  
Entwined like the Zodiacs Gemini;  
As if they meant, lest we again should part,  
Come, by the strings let's knit each others heart;  
Their eyes now paid their long-retained debt,  
Each on another's neck entwined wept;  
That done, the rest with sweet inviting phrases  
He even wearied in his close embraces;  
Then kissed them all, and Chorus-like enquired  
Again, is not my Father yet expired?   

God will be sued to, who no other task  
Imposeth on our wants, but this, to ask;  
And though he seem long in majestic pause,  
Not only not to hear, but slight our cause,  
'Tis but to edge devotion, to enhance  
His Grace upon our Souls before he grants;  
All distance than is changed to an embrace,  
Wrath falleth as a Vizard from his face,  
He not defers, nor his affection smothers,  
Nor doth disdain at all to call us Brothers;  
As one that dreams he's falling from a steep  
And towering precipice into the deep,  
Awaking finds himself free from such harms,  
And taking safe repose in friendly arms:  
Such were the brethren's fears, and sad extremes,  
Which now did seem but fancies and vain dreams,  
When Joseph in their Passions Ecstasy  
Revived their senses from their Lethargy;  
With sundry Passions were at once their minds  
Like a Ship tossed 'twixt two opposing winds;  
Now would they joy, than grief, by shame being backed,  
Their new resolved greetings would distract;  
The tears from divers springs seemed to proceed,  
Which they not so much seemed to weep, as bleed;  
Within their brain two floods at once arose,  
Of joy, and grief, as when two Seas oppose;  
Some wept, some weeping smiled, like April's weather,  
Which reins, then shines, then reins and shines together.  
Now were they all resolved to regret  
Their Brother's courtesy, but as a fleet  
Which coming near the harbour, back is thrust  
Into the Ocean by some angry gust,  
Shame would retard intention, some would smother  
In silent whispering the name of Brother;  
Glad Reuben though he gave to God the glory,  
Yet blessed persuasion, and his oratory,  
And Judah though he sold him, yet was bold  
To say he joyed, though grieved he thus was sold.  
Now they confessed his Dreams no vain Phantasms,  
But heavenly, and inspired Enthusiasms,  
Their Sheaves and Stars had bowed, the saucy Boy  
Was now their Lord, and Egypt's chief Viceroy;  
Glad Benjamin admiring the results  
Of their immanity, thus now exults,  
A Brother lost, and found, is worth like mirth,  
As if you joyed at a Brother's birth;  
Come then let's triumph, for who could expect  
From this so bad a cause so good effect?  
To hear the Lord speak; how he was re-sold,  
How often fashioned in afflictions mould,  
His Chastity, which with a full mouthed blast  
Shall fill Fame's trump as long as time shall last,  
How he ran Chance as blind as ever painted,  
Yet he by adoration thus was Sainted  
In men's opinions, would make a dint,  
And deep impression in hearts of flint;  
For joy some swooned, and each circumstance  
Of each relation struck them in a trance,  
Each passage made each minute's time the mother  
Of some new joy so one joy crowned another;  
Had th'whole world seen each act, heard each rehearsal,  
No doubt the joy had here been Universal.  
T'express the triumph fully would extort  
Descriptions treasury, undo report.  
Now tell-tale Fame hath with a nimble wing  
Proclaimed these tidings to the Court, and King,  
Who thus to Joseph, placed next his Throne,  
We to thy Father's care, thy Mother's groan,  
All own our lives, nay more, for to him seeing  
Thou being ow'st, we own him all well being;  
Now since he liveth, and the fatal Star  
That blasts our Kingdom's plenty, spreads so far  
Her fatal influence as Canaan's clime,  
Send for thy Father, on our Souls this crime  
Shall not write guilt, that He amidst our store  
Should faint, whom for thee, all are bound t'adore;  
To Him alone for thee all Egypt's bound  
So deep, more than conceit hath line to sound;  
Thy duty shall join issue with my will,  
Since his one life exceeds the numerous Bill  
So far, that daily doth attend our gates,  
As doth one Phoenix life whole clouds of Gnats;  
Thus by thy Brethren say, we, youth, and dotage,  
Both lofty Palace, and the lowly cottage,  
Own thee, the Father of a Son so blest,  
More than by Hieroglyhick can b'exprest;  
Thus saith the King, let not thy thoughts be graveled  
In doubts, thy Joseph who my Dreams unravelled,  
Which all our Sophies did in vain examine,  
Shall nourish, and protect thee in this famine.  
Which though it have set limits to my wish,  
And scarcity doth season every dish,  
Delay not thy descent: for thou deservests  
The greatest measure of our seven years Harvests.  
This to thy Brethren say, go take the best  
That Egypt yields, and lead each man his beast,  
Since that remorseless dearth to death proscribes  
Your aged Father and his hopeful tribes,  
Think Egypt's King for Joseph's sake deplores  
Your empty Wine-presses and threshing-floores;  
Go, bring your Father down, if Egypt's Map.  
Have land whose poares breath a more vigo'rous sap  
Than this, that is more fertile and more pleasant,  
Come down, none shall resist thee, Peer nor Peasant;  
This say, and for thy Father's ease take Wagons,  
And for thy Brethren, spare no sprightly Flagons  
To ratify their welcome, since with them  
Thou art a Branch sprung from the self same stem.   

Glad Joseph was that Pharaoh's thus inclined  
To what before he had himself designed;  
Envy could not upbraid his want of love,  
So much he did the means, and time improve,  
Scarce Morpheus could at all betray his sense,  
But care would counter-charm His influence,  
When bright Hyperion mounted Phlegon's back,  
He gave command to fill each Brother's Sack,  
To all he gave provision, lest the length  
Of the large journey, should exceed their strength;  
To each (remitting their unnatural quarrel)  
He bounteousty gave changes of apparel;  
To Benjamin, besides five change of raiment,  
Three hundred silverlings in courteous payment;  
To Jacob thus, a choice Viaticum,  
And to reward his Myrrh, Spice, Balm, and Gumm,  
Ten Asses load of those best things, in which  
Egypt is held most happy, and most rich,  
And ten she Asses load of Corn; close thirst  
Seems base, where princely duty walls a gift.  
Their Asses ready, and their justling Wagons,  
Lest that our Joseph's (should like Cadmus' Dragons  
Fierce teeth-sprung Brethren) when they failed in words,  
Dispute the matter with their angry swords,  
While each one to acquit himself attempted,  
Who from that former rage was most exempted,  
At least, they might expect to be surprised,  
The lot of quarr'ling strangers not advised,  
As a small Fleet, who, in a foreign Sea,  
While each ship would maintain a private plea,  
And rudely mutiny amongst themselves,  
Is sunk, surprised, or dashed against some shelves;  
For fear of which events you may conjecture,  
joseph thus to his brethren reads this lecture;  
You may remember, but I wish that it  
You could so soon forget, as I remit,  
When you conspired my destruction,  
As if your hearts were graveled into stone,  
Or ribbed with steel, congealed t'an Iron mass,  
Yet though your Bowels thus were cramt with Brass,  
Mine now are soft with pity, may you find.  
As here of body, always peace of mind;  
Confession cancels all, and I accept  
Acknowledgement, as if you paid the debt;  
Your pardon is with many favours sealed,  
Which time shall ne'er see cancelled, age repealed;  
For which grant this one favour, 'tis but one,  
That you forget the wrong that you have done,  
I, in oblivion have laid it deep,  
Then dig't not up again, but let it sleep;  
Both for your Fathers, mine, your safety's sake,  
Drink, to it all a draught of Lethe's Lake;  
Take my example, 'twas I had the wrong,  
'Tis I that for your reconcilement long;  
Since I forgive it, in dissentious sort  
Do not one on another it retort?  
Dissent not in the way, lest that you teach  
Strangers to take advantage on the breach;  
Advise with Policy, if not with Love;  
Nay, with the Serpent, if not with the Dove;  
Serpents will not sting Serpents, nor will crush  
The Cockatrice's egg, than Brethren blush,  
That Reason's law to that of sense subscribes,  
Should Brethren quarr'll with Brethren, Tribes with Tribes?  
With such advice as This, you may suppose  
Our careful joseph did his farewell close.   

Even thus our Saviour yer his last he breathed,  
Peace, his last Legacy, to his bequeathed;  
Who, if he now should come, would look to find  
Us, as he left us, of a peaceful mind;  
And if both Poles did now to ruin reel,  
Did th'world its pangs of dissolution feel,  
Would he not find, adherents did increase  
More to the Prince of discord than of peace?   

While that old jacob fervently did burn  
In expectation of his Son's return,  
Guess them come home, who to their Father thus,  
The Sum of their proceed did discuss;  
Dear Sir, you causelessly accused Fates knife  
To have bereft thy joseph of his life;  
Unless that she again have knit his cord,  
For he yet liveth and's great Egypt's Lord.  
My Sons, quoth he, my Meditation chewes,  
And dubiously doth ruminate your news,  
O be advised, when my joseph died  
My tears stowed high, even at their highest tide  
But if you mock my grief, I drown in tears,  
My heart of joseph an impression bears  
Too deep to be forgot, enhance not grief,  
Lest you incur a Curse, not win belief.   

Dear Sir, quoth they, what's by these Wagons meant  
There's twenty Asses load that he hath sent  
As duteous Pledges? those our change of ,  
But if these fail, believe us on our oaths.   

So now, quoth he, these evidences draw  
My Faith as strong, as Vouchers do in Law;  
Speak thick till th'vapours of your breath condense  
Even to the smothering of my hearing sense;  
I've surfeited with sorrow, but this joy  
Is so transcendent, it can never cloy,  
My soul would hence, and leave her truth behind,  
How she disdaineth thus to be confined!  
My senses seem too weak to hinder her,  
But she would hence my winged harbinger;  
O for some eagle's pinions, or some Dragons  
With wide-stretcht wings to waft along our Wagons;  
Their motions are too dull, O would their wheels  
Were swift as Titans, or the slippery Keels  
Which with a Sphear-tike swiftness cut their way  
Through the wide Bosom of the yesty Sea;  
I'll down and see my Son, and yield my breath  
In Jos●ph's bosom, and then welcome death.   

Conceive him on his journey, with his train,  
When in the Visions of the night, his brain  
Received the Ordinance of Pharaoh's love  
Confirmed to an act from heaven above;  
And sealed with promises that God would bless  
This his removal with a good success;  
And with assurance that he had decreed  
The safe returning of his numerous seed,  
Guess Judah likewise sent for to direct  
His Father's face to Goshen, then reflect  
Your thoughts on Joseph, who you now may gather  
In gallant equipage did meet his Father,  
Imagine with what triumph at the last  
Earth-rending sound, and tomb-dividing blast,  
The widowed Soul will welcome the return  
Of her dear Body from the sleepy urn;  
With such like joy, your fancy may admit,  
Were Joseph and his Father sweetly knit  
In twined embraces, as if they each other  
Would cramp in chained arms, or meant to smother  
Each other in their kisses; hast thou ever,  
Beheld a Gardener while he did discover  
Two sprigs asunder, then to join by craft  
Two divers parts in one entired graft;  
Even thus was Jacob twined with his Son,  
As if they meant to grow again in one;  
jacob could only with glad tears dispute;  
For as great sorrow's dumb, great joy is mute;  
Even so did Joseph, at his brethren's sight  
His eyes but drizled, now they reigned downright;  
For tears are badges both of joy and sorrow,  
Both Passions do alike the visage furrow;  
Dear God, quoth I acob, then in numerous chase  
Tears pursue tears upon his reeking face  
Blest heaven that always thus dost me restore,  
Unless 'twere heaven I could wish no more;  
Sweet Son, I know these eyes, this rosy cheek,  
That thus in duteous tears doth sweetly reek,  
Since yet thou liv'st, Fate finish out my glome,  
And let my Soul on wings of joy fly home,  
But yet, my darling Son, great heaven forgive,  
If I for thee do yet desire to live;  
My tears shall tell the rest, my lungs are weak,  
If not, I know not what I more shall speak.   

Sir, quoth his Son (than tears in a full stream  
Choked the proceed of his duteous theme)  
Dear Sir, my swelling Breast will burst a sunder,  
Like wind-swoll'n Clouds rend by the heaven's thunder,  
My mouth a vessel of a narrow bore,  
That must by slow degrees vent forth its store,  
Though pay I cannot what your love deserves,  
Yet to requite I'll stretch my utmost nerves,  
Since Seas repay, through crannies of the earth,  
Streams to the Springs from whence they had their birth,  
Then why should Chilkrens if advanced by Fate,  
Neglect their Parens in a meaner state?  
But yet I boast not, that my power is such,  
But joy, I means t'express my love so much;  
Though heaven have freed me from the slavish yoke  
Of heavy bondage, that he hath not broke  
Of filial duty, this that thus doth deck  
With gaudy Ornament my gorgeous neck,  
I count less honour, than that duteous bond  
In which I serve thee; do not then despond;  
I Father am to Pharaoh, but will be  
A true, observant, duteous Son to thee;  
No bleer-eyed sorc'rers, nor Egyptian Weirds  
Shall hurt your persons, wrong your Flocks or Herds,  
Thy crown of silver hairs I'll ever hold  
In greater honour, than his Crown of gold;  
Honours null not relation, th'ocean's flood  
altars not Nilus, nor can honour, blood,  
It tickles oft the temper with conceits,  
But as for me, honour on duty waits;  
I'●l go before, and as your true Attorney  
Possess the King of your intents and journey;  
My Father, and his household, flocks and droves,  
Have late left Palestinu's Sun-parcht groves,  
And down are come, whose cognizance of old,  
Both was, and is, a sheephook and a fold,  
Which should his Grace demand, speak, I beseech,  
According to the tenor of my speech,  
And since th' Egyptians ever entertain  
A Shepherd, both with fury and disdain,  
You may in Goshen safely live, and trade,  
Where for your Flocks are Pastures, Wells and Shade.  
And thus you may, if thus you wisely deal,  
Instate yourselves in Egypt's Common-weal.  
When Love with Policy had thus conspired,  
Imagine joseph to his charge retired,  
Where he without a dilatory pause,  
Thus to his Sovereign, pleads his Father's Cause;  
Dread Sir, what am I? a dead dog, or flea?  
That thou shouldst grant my suit, or hear my plea?  
Who first thy favours didst to me impart,  
And then look'st on me worthy of desert,  
To all which wouldst thou add this one request,  
I'd count it greater far than all the rest;  
My Father, and my Brethren late are come,  
And have left Canaan their native home,  
Their stomaches bark for food, their bodies lean,  
Their looks are meager, and their teeth are clean,  
And Dearth more fierce than either Wolf or Fox,  
Hath from the Pastures scared their Herds and Flocks,  
Which with them they have brought, and all to prove  
The promised bounty of his princely love,  
That while Dearth falls unto her lowesteb,  
Their threads of life may to a peaceful web  
Of safety here be spun, whose hearts do pant  
In expectation of thy Princely grant.   

This ended, quoth the King, My darling Prince,  
I rather will enlarge, than basely mince  
My promise to evasions, I applaud  
Thy filial love, nor power shall, nor fraud,  
Oppose, or circumvent you, no, my gem,  
I love the Branch, nor will neglect the stem;  
Since I sent for him, he and his affairs  
Held room in equal with my choicest ears.  
Joseph triumphing at these blessed events,  
Five of his Brethren to his Grace presents,  
To whom, quoth Pharaoh, by what labours sweat  
Have you your sustenance, are clothed, and eat?  
Do you the Sullow hold, or tug the Oars?  
What trade expels your vigour through your poars?   

Dread Sir, quoth they, we are but simple worms,  
Or such like creatures of despised forms;  
Yet not to grate thy ears with vain digression,  
Ours, and our Father's trade, is by succession  
To feed our Flocks, and so by careful thrift  
Our providence enlargeth heaven's gift;  
We feed them, they feed us, and lest we frieze  
In Winter time, they cloth us with their fleece;  
When Phoebus first displays his golden locks,  
We send abroad our Herds, dismiss our flocks,  
And while he cheers the world, with careful hook  
We them protect, defend, and overlook;  
And when the Sun again withdraws his gold  
From th'Western hills, we pin them in our fold;  
We are by famine from our homes divorced  
No idle vagrants, but are sadly forced;  
We 〈◊〉 in vain for Springs, our Wells are sunk  
Down to the Centre, and our Earth is shrunk  
And baked to stony clods, whose chaps in vain  
Gape for the showers of refreshing rain;  
Now we entreat thee in this time of Dearth,  
That art the only Father of the earth,  
Let us in Goshen live, where both are Rocks  
Fi● for our Goats, and Pasture for our flocks;  
We'll in the Land not plant ourselves, nor build,  
But sojourn in our Tents as strangers should,  
We'll all b●●uled by thy Country laws,  
And with our labours feed our hungry maws;  
At ●his, quoth Pharaoh, Sirs, do not despond,  
To such it were no weakness to be fond;  
Your Brother makes you nigh as if each vein  
Swelled with ●igh blood, and of a nobler grain;  
Nature none equals unto me in blood,  
Who shall partake more freely of our food,  
Then shall your Father, and yourselves, I grant  
You may in Egypt freely build and plant;  
This said, thus unto Joseph he insists,  
Dear Joseph, I, my Peers, and princely Priests,  
Thy Father's coming do congratulate,  
And likewise with thee, all condole his Fate,  
Yet though the Sun shoot forth his scorching beams,  
The air distil gross dews, and rotten streams,  
Our Fields forbear to spring, our Trees to bud,  
And Nile desist to yield his fruitful mud;  
As if the Skies, had with the earth combined,  
To act the ruin of all humane kind;  
My Genius tell me, and I more than hope  
Thy Fathers, and each Brother Horoscope,  
With kinder aspect, happier things foretold,  
And that 'tis in Fate's Notaries enrolled,  
That Egypt is designed (without dispute)  
Their safe Asyle, from Famines fierce pursuit:  
All Egypt is before thee, if our Land  
Have any part untouched by Famines band  
Of scourging plagues, as Goshen most is known,  
Let them possess that Country as their own,  
They shall not be as Meteors for a time  
Exhaled, but as fixed Stars in Egypt's clime:  
And if thou know'st one fit to feed my Herd,  
Let him unto that Office be preferred.  
This said, old Jacob by his careful Son  
Was brought, and placed near to Pharaohs Throne;  
Where, having breathed on the King, and Peers,  
A blessing both of Peace, and many years,  
Grave, Sir, quoth Pharaoh, we our thanks retort,  
And welcome thy descent unto our Court;  
Thy duteous Son was for his Father zealous,  
I and my Peers, were of thy safety jealous,  
Lest Famine having drained our Fields, and Cells,  
Should leave you, like so many barks and shells,  
Sans coat, or kernel, cease thou to request,  
Live boldly on thy Joseph's Interest.  
Who sees the Sun, but reason wills for shame  
To praise the Author of that glorious flame?  
And who survives his neighbour in those days  
Who for the Son will not the Father praise?  
Thou hast a Son whom all the world must prise,  
Less worth hath been adored with Sacrifice;  
An Angel sent from heaven, could not have done  
More than preserved us all, so hath thy Son;  
IT was he, that when all Charmers were nonplussed,  
Enchanters all were dumb, my Dreams discussed,  
All Sorcery as hushed, now with their Spells  
Let them recruit their Garners, and their Cells;  
Astrologie's undone, now let them dine  
On joints of Taurus, or some empty sign;  
I'll make no nice inquiries, I have had  
A full rehearsal of thy life and trade.  
Thus thou wouldst speak, but I anticipate  
Thy sad complain, which would thus debate;  
That as Deucalion's flood drowned all the Earth,  
Some fear lest it dispeopled be by dearth;  
That your Earth's chaps yawn like so many graves  
To swallow you, unless that plenty saves,  
That Famine's grown a Monster of huge stature,  
Which not with few content, exacts on Nature;  
Since plenty, as if Bankrupt of her store,  
Keeps private house in Egypt, you implore  
Thy Joseph being her Steward, she would deign  
T'accept thee, and thy sons, amongst her train;  
I'll not impose upon thy lungs a task  
Of large, long-winded answers, but this ask  
Since Nature in thee fails, thy eyes decline,  
And in thy two-leaved Spheres withdraws their shine;  
And each decaying part doth seem to crave  
With bended ham of every land a grave;  
How long was't since thy Souls inspired flame  
Possession took of this declining frame?   

Dread Sir, quoth Jacob, rudeness, are, and age  
Unfit to act upon a Kingly stage,  
A hundred, and full thirty years I've seen,  
Both few, and evil, all my days have been;  
Nor have I yet attained to the age  
Of my forefather's in their Pilgrimage;  
Though I am ancient, I may truly say  
Sorrow, as well as age, hath made me grey,  
'Tis grief postdates my time, which 'twere but vain  
To think that joy can antedate again:  
An ounce of grief emacerates the flesh  
More than a pound of joy can it refresh,  
Sol sooner may regrade his morning tract,  
Than joy can change this grey to youthful black;  
If I've a Son, whom all, of all degrees,  
From those that fry, even unto those that frieze,  
Under their Zones, are bound to praise, and love,  
Impute it not as his, but Gods above;  
Let not the Husbandman give to the clod  
That glory, which is only due to God;  
Yet if his merit be so much, and more  
Than he can be made Bankrupt of, w'implore  
That you would lay it, (if our charge surmount  
Your expectation) on my Son's account.  
This said, again on them he blessings breathed,  
And them, departing, to his God bequeathed;  
And glad he brought his wishes to this close  
Resigns himself as Joseph should dispose.   

Guess him in Goshen next, where he immerds  
The fruitful Pastures, with his Flocks and Herds;  
I'th' Land of Ramisses he lived, a soil  
Which Famine could not of its vigour spoil;  
And though it laughed not, now, with kinds of grains,  
It smiled with Pastures to delight our Swains.  
To him by Joseph all respect was shown;  
No Manumissive Corbon yet was known  
To Supersedeas a Son, for he  
Still gave, yet ne'er esteemed himself as free;  
No, though he cherished had his age, as long  
As He by him was nourished being young;  
For filial duty's God command, no Bull  
Can it repeal, no Vote can change, or null,  
No wit, or art reverse it, no man's joint  
Carved it, 'twas sculptured by his finger's point  
That published it by thunder, and His bolt  
Or worse, shall vengeance take on their revolt  
That dare oppose it, for they who explode  
Duty to Parents, next will theirs to God.   

Old jacob's Cells were stored with Wine, and Corn,  
As full and free, as was that plenteous Horn  
Jove gave his Nurse, even such was Joseph's love  
Unto his Father, great as that of jove;  
Nor time, nor charge could dull it, even so  
Wells if you draw them, will the freer flow.   

Nor was our Joseph's duty only such,  
But to his Brethren was his love as much;  
Though for their former rage he once seemed strange,  
Yet now they found in him a bounteous change,  
As pardon is the daughter of Contrition,  
So love's the common issue of remission;  
He, who was like the Sun, that could dispense  
Upon the meanest his bounteous influence,  
Can not neglect the Stars, could not deny  
Unto his brethren's want his gracious eye;  
Not like to some, whose proud advanced height,  
Looks on all other men as out of sight,  
As fixed in higher Spheres, out of the view,  
And the Horizon of the common crew,  
As if conceit of honour with th'affection,  
Had likewise changed the temper and complexion;  
But Joseph thought it honour to descend  
His brethren's Father, and his Father's friend.   

Now more and more the Dearth began to rage,  
Advancing on in horrid equipage;  
New maladies outbraved the Physics skill,  
And  murder acted now its will,  
Faintness had some confined to their Beds,  
As if Dearth meant to ravel out their threads,  
Or if she scorned the common way, by knife,  
And meant t'untwind their fatal glomes of life;  
The Barns were empty, where was nought, unless  
The mournful Owl, to wail their emptiness;  
The gaudy gallants spirit now grew dull,  
And wished a Garner for his Wardrobe full;  
His Robes no better than the Beggar's rags,  
The poor man's Scrip good as the rich man's bags;  
Though Gold be cordial, it but to the sight,  
But a sad meal to hungry appetite;  
The clown that thought that metal was divine,  
Had rather find a Garner than a Mine;  
Were Nole a Tagus, and each found i'th' stream,  
Such stones whereof Philosophy doth dream;  
Yet Midas now, would gladly change his wish  
For roots, or Acorns, or so mean dish;  
The Harvests pass, the Clown no longer reaps,  
But now his Husbandry lay all in heaps;  
O'ergrown with Burrs, rough Thistles, Docks, and Sedges,  
The Coulter rusted, and the fruitful Hedges  
Now with disordered boughs grew perewigged,  
None ploughed, pruned, planted, sowed, manured, or digged;  
Dearth so purveied for Death, now were the roads  
Wherein they justled with their plenteous loads,  
So much o'ergrown, through scarcity of men,  
Each fearful Beast there boldly made his den;  
Each house as empty stood, the owner's dead,  
As were their Bodies, now their Souls were fled;  
Each look so meager, none could know, almost.  
Where 'twere the man that walked, or else his Ghost,  
Who, now with weakness, bowed their feeble hams  
Like late-earnd Lambkins, yer they sucked their dams;  
The Ox i'th' Commons motionless did lie,  
The Gum down-roping from his pale dead eye,  
The Cow lobed down her head, the raw-boned Ass  
His mouth was foul with half-chewed roots of grass,  
Each Beast half starved, drooping the side, and hip,  
Not moving for the Scourge, goad, spur, or whip;  
Unto the Cities there was no resort  
Except of Crows, who tore in knavish sport  
Their dead, and still, impatient of delay,  
Rooked on the house tops, waiting for their prey;  
Their streets o'ergrown with rubbish, seemed t'express  
Unto the eye a civil wilderness;  
So pining Dearth had shriv'led each one's skin,  
With looks distorted they did strangely grin,  
Which when they viewed in glasses, and in brooks,  
Amazedly they startled at their looks;  
In fine, a task that lames both tongue, and pen,  
All nothing, but the shales, or husks of men;  
This while, had Egypt for all kind of grains  
Exchanged their Coin, their Jewels, and their Chains,  
All which our loyal Joseph never wrists  
To his own use, but adds to Pharaohs Chests,  
This store exhausted, you may guess for bread,  
Thus the Egyptians to Joseph plead;  
Dread Sir, great Pharaoh's darling, Egypt's Saint,  
Vouchsafe a patiented ear to our complaint;  
We have for Corn exchanged our coin and gold,  
And yet Dearth rageth as your Grace foretold;  
Our Barns are empty, not through our default,  
Nor hath an en'my sowed our Fields with Salt;  
None enviously have choked our Fields with stones;  
None of these things are authors of our moans;  
Great Nile's offended, and no wont shout  
Awakes the Echo, since no flood ran out  
Through his fat banks, cut by our numerous troops,  
No, Nile within his shallow channel stoops;  
Our Money faileth, and who will not hold  
A grain of Corn well worth an ounce of gold?  
Our hopes are failed, and when the main-spring Hope  
Is out of tune, the lesser wheels will stop  
Of joy and pleasure; yet we'll not desist,  
Since in thee bounty hath with goodness kissed.  
Think on thy honour, let it not be said  
That we now perish, whom you first didst aid;  
Redeem us from the jaws of Death, which boon  
Will make thy fame shine bright as Titan's noon.   

Sirs, quoth the Lord, my troubled heart doth languish  
In true imagination of your anguish;  
Yet though I you condole, I hope each knows  
That I dispense as Pharaoh doth dispose;  
Yet will he grant (such is his mild remorse)  
Corn in exchange for Herds, and teams of Horse.   

Glad was all Egypt, nor at all deferred  
T'accept his love, each brings his team and heard;  
On which exchange they lived this year, yet pinned  
In sad conceit of two years yet behind,  
More than with food refreshed; so ranging Deers  
Fear more emacerates, than plenty cheers.  
The year being ended, which as in a ring  
Itself within itself again doth bring,  
Sad Egypt having all their cattle spent,  
Which Industry had got, or Fortune lent,  
Guess them in a full press, with bended ham,  
And prostrate faces, unto joseph came;  
Great Sir, quoth they, now this is the third time  
We have appealed to thee, and yet no prime.  
Is Nile after so many years' effluxions,  
Th'earth weary grown after so oft productions?  
And so expects like an exhausted soil  
A rest and respite from the wont toil;  
Our Share tusts, and our tools that digged the earth  
Hang like some Trophies dedicate to dearth;  
Each body here's her Obelisk, that bears  
Her triumph Graved in meager Characters;  
Since Pharaoh, first, our Cause to thee referred;  
There's none but hath exchanged his Teem and Herd,   

We not a Beast detain, there's none, great Prince,  
That can thy servants of such fraud convince,  
Now if our persons may, and each one's land  
Joined with thy love, in equal balance stand  
With one years' diet more, we have to boast,  
Nor will as yet esteem ourselves as lost;  
So Pharaoh shall a double title have  
In each one, of subject, and a slave;  
View but these looks well, thou wilt not demur,  
Nor will thy pity need another spur,  
Thou art our nostrils breath, why should we die,  
The breath of all our nostrils being by?  
And since now's the last year, by fate decreed  
That Dearth shall rage's, we further beg some seed  
To sow the land, that it may be reduced,  
Which in its ancient Chaos lies confused.   

Sirs, quoth our Lord, my heart with you condoles  
The bitter anguish of your troubled Souls,  
Yet 'twere a sin in me beyond excuse,  
Should I not all dispense to Pharaohs use,  
Yet as I pity what you have disclosed,  
So will I grant you what you have proposed;   

Guess joseph now for Pharaoh wisely changes  
Bread for their Fields, their Manors and their Granges,  
And with the Citizens for Pharaoh Barters,  
For Corn, their Houses, Liberties, and Charters,  
And that their lands and rights might all be known  
By some clear evidence as Pharaohs own,  
Th' Egyptians were to Cities far removed;  
To the lands end, so Pharaohs right was proved,  
Yet the Priests lands, and I this Princely Flamines,  
Became not Pharaohs nor the greedy Famine's;  
As if 'twere Sacrilegious extortion,  
Even in this Panic sale to buy their portion;  
Nor were they famished, for Pharaohs stores  
They made as bold with, as their threshing floors;  
And which, those Priests who, then, served I this Cow,  
Or they that serve the Lamb of heaven, now,  
Are worth most honours? reader, fear, and pray,  
Lest Pagans judge us at the latter day.   

Guess Egypt now, were in a full convention  
By Joseph summoned then to soft attention,  
To whom, quoth he, Sirs there is none but knows,  
And will acknowledge still, with thankful vows,  
That y'are preserved, not by common Power,  
Since Fate, and Fortune on you all did lower,  
If Pharaoh's bounty did not intervene,  
Your Play were marred now in the latter Scene;  
And you, like long-tossed Vessels, should fall short,  
And drown within the kenning of the Port;  
Now so will Pharaoh as you do importune,  
In true commiseration of your fortune,  
Not out of Avariee for to supplant,  
But out of pity to supply your want;  
Be't then in Egypt's Notaries enrolled,  
That  your lands, and selves to Pharaoh sold,  
Lo, here is seed, go, sow the land in peace,  
Which with its former vigour shall increase;  
Whereof a fifth part you shall grant the King,  
You now being safe under his Grace's wing,  
You for your household shall the rest reserve,  
To nourish them, Bread's nature's chiefest nerve.  
This he Enacted, and a Statute sealed,  
Which to this day's not cancelled, nor repealed;   

At this quoth Egypt, most renowned Prince,  
Whose truest Hieroglyphic were a Lynce,  
For as with him compared, each creature's blind,  
Each spirits dark to thy enlightened mind;  
Nature (the world's great Soul) must needs confess  
Thee alone her preserver, th'world must bless  
Thee the sole cause, thy pity and remorse,  
That Dearth on both, now acts not a divorce;  
To thee we own, we here converse with men,  
And not with Ghosts, in deaths unsavoury den;  
Thee, that our Wives by her impartial Bawd  
Not ravished are for death; we praise, we laud,  
thou, that our children, like so many elves  
Shrink not to nought, but yet look like themselves,  
Admit us safe, under thy Grace's wing,  
Renowned Prince, so will we serve the King.   

Grant now that debt that Adam did engage  
All men in, Death hath claimed of jacob's age;  
Who swearing Joseph to transport his bones  
Hath breathed his last in blessings on his Sons;  
Grant joseph next, by general suffrage  
Attended on in mourning equipage,  
His Father's corpse (to Canaan brought) interred  
In Machpelah, so of his oath was cleared.  
When jacob thus had deaths arrest obeyed,  
Conscience within the Brethren began t'upbraid  
Their old offence anew, thus guilt would plead;  
Their Brothers hate but slept, though it seemed dead,  
Occasion now might wake it, th'end might prove,  
That with their Father, died their Brother's love;  
That wounds are dangerous when they inward bleed,  
And if their Brother all this while should feed  
Upon revenge, since full rage now had vent,  
It's poisonous rancour should on them be spent.   

Fear by guilt raised seldom is remiss,  
Till in conclusion hope and pardon kiss;  
Nor were our Brethren negligent, but strove  
To gain firm interest in their Brother's love;  
Yet so conceit had of their weak demerits  
Dissolved their courage, and outbraved their spirits,  
That they came not, but sent, nor durst they frame  
The message in theirs, but their Father's name,  
Know'ng if their suit in jacobs' name were couched,  
IT would like a Charm, not cease till it had touched  
Their Brother's midriffs with remorse, 'twould wrest  
A soft remission from his melting Breast;  
Great Sir (this was the burden of their suit,  
And thus they humbly taught to prostitute)  
Thus said our Father, yet in Ephrons' Urn  
He pawned his body for his Souls return,  
Thus in my name you shall to joseph speak,  
Remember not thy brethren's sin, nor wreak  
Thy just revenge upon their hate, which sin,  
Than all their sins in gross hath greater been;  
Remit what God hath pardoned, and in this  
On their soft Souls thy pardon seal with His;  
Thus did our Father bid, whose Soul above  
Hovers with blessings yet to crown thy love;  
Now this offence remit we thee entreat,  
Whose hearts with true devotion truly beat  
Of jacob's God, t'whom from our hearts arise  
Zealous affection in Sacrifice.  
For Gods, for jacobs' sake, our fault remit,  
Though we for neither would at all acquit  
Thy innocence, and if it yet appears  
Thy rage doth flame, we'll quench it with our tears.   

Mild Joseph pitying their anxious fears  
Can not but second grief again with tears,  
Now grieved he they suspected him, and wept  
Then joyed their conscience not securely slept.   

Now, as one having foiled a fell disease  
Wherein he long hath laboured, doth not cease  
Until that Physic shall the relics purge,  
Which after might in wont Symptoms urge,  
Even so the Brethren though they now might judge  
Their Brother reconciled, and that no grudge  
Did swell his peaceful Breast, but that with tears,  
He entertained had their anxious fears;  
Yet Conscience never leaves her nice inquests,  
Till in the Bosom she of pardon rests.  
Nor were the Ten remiss till they found out  
By true experience they had nought to doubt;  
Wherefore all in a personal submission  
Thus beg their Pardon, and thus couch contrition;  
Neither presumed they on an equal greet,  
But thus fell prostrate at their Brother's feet.  
Dread Sir, in jacob's name, and for his sake,  
We come to second what our message spoke;  
Thus Jacob said, yer he enjoyed on high  
The blessings purchased by his lamed thigh;  
This in my name to joseph speak, pray blot  
Thy brethren's sin (if it be not forgot)  
From thy remembrance, since they are convinced,  
And their Souls in repentant tears are rinsed;  
Trample not grief, guilt is a greater scourge  
That can revenge inflict, or Justice urge;  
'Tis true, the fault was great, and to be brief,  
Such as me thinks yet startles my belief;  
Yet think not on revenge, their fault forget,  
And let not rage usurp mild mercy's seat;  
This did our Father bid, before his death;  
Yer Angels sucked his Soul out with his breath;  
And now we hope, our fault did not so harden  
Thy heart, but tears may melt it to my pardon.  
Huge winds, they say, are stilled by little rain,  
Then let not all our tears thus fall in vain,  
Thou at first sight, we hope, was't reconciled,  
For ever since thy carriage hath been mild;  
And if yet mercy in thy Breast bear sway,  
Our hopes are anchored in a happy Bay.  
If not— but then their passion grew so high,  
That with th' Aposiopesis of a sigh  
They there must stop; to whom quoth Joseph thus,  
I know already what you would discuss;  
'Tis true, your fact was gross, and since y'are come,  
If you want tears, I here will lend you some  
For to lament it, God did you prevent,  
And unto good did wrest your bad intent,  
Who hath so many saved alive by one  
Unworthy person as you see is done;  
I long for no revenge, but that you sentence  
Your sin to death by an unfeigned repentance;  
Tears are the blood I thirst for, since to God  
Belongs revenge, I'll not usurp his rod;  
Yet since you fear I will revenge your deed,  
That false suggestion doth from guilt proceed;  
For though there be no cause, yet busy guilt  
Still holds her hand upon her Dagger's hilt,  
Envy doth burn like fire, and then no doubt  
But once in seventeen years it would break out;  
But yet, thus may your busy guilt insist,  
My cords of friendship, you may doubt, were twist  
Upon my Father's heartstrings, and guilt durst  
Infer, perchance, both were together burst,  
Fear not my Brethren, this the end shall prove  
That guilt's a traitor which misconstrues love;  
Doubt no close malice, fear no poisonous rancour,  
But in this Bosom let your hopes cast anchor,  
I'll nourish you, respect you little ones,  
And when I die the like will charge my Sons;  
With such advice as this you may suppose  
Mild joseph did his satisfaction close;  
Even so as these, God's Saints do never cease,  
Till through repentance they have purchased peace,  
I in God's mercy joy, that he did die  
A sacrifice for me yer I was I,  
Yet can I not but grieve, and grieving mourn,  
That I him crucified yer I was born,  
Nay greater cause of grief, for, I'm the jew,  
And him each minute crucify anew,  
My sighs should wing me to some Hermit's Cave,  
Where with my nails I'd hourly dig my grave,  
And there would live a sorrowful Recluse,  
Tears should be Helicon, and grief my Muse,  
And as an Anch'ret would myself immure,  
Yet live in tears a gaudy Epicure.   

When joseph fully pardoned had this crime,  
Admit a certain Interval of time,  
When Fortune (serving, whom she can't seduce)  
As proud of his acceptance, grew profuse  
Towards joseph in her favours, which he took  
Still with a thankful, not ambitious look;  
Virtue commandeth Fortune, and doth clip  
Her wings, or holds her like an anchored ship;  
Nor doubted he, lest that with giddy changes,  
She should vacillate in her wont ranges,  
God who Alph ' and Omega is, is love  
Which still doth Alpha and Omega prove;  
Thus joseph long in honour lived, the strength  
Of whose old age extended to that length,  
That his Posterity to three degrees  
Descent he saw, and on his aged knees  
Were Machirs children brought, Manassehs Son;  
So might he boast as jacob once had done,  
Who coming one o'er jordan, was increased,  
When he came back, a Nation at the least.   

Now as the glorious Sun, who proudly oft  
Hath rid in triumph through the azurd loft,  
Anon meets an Eclipse, which, in a brook,  
If viewed, affronts him with a gloomy look,  
So death (which makes a falling-Star of each,  
Although he mount unto the highest reach,  
And altitude of honour in his Sphere)  
Began to threaten joseph with such fear;  
Rude death esteems not honour, and Fate dooms  
With equal sentence Monarches and their Grooms;  
Shuffles the Beggar's scabs, and Ladies paint  
Into a clod, nor Villain knows nor Saint,  
So joseph with the meanest of Adam's race  
Must feel th'arrest of Death's imperious Mace;  
When Fates black-bed-roul of diseases began  
T'assault the suburbs of his inward man;  
He (conscious of his weakness) began to doubt  
His Souls frail mansion could not long hold out;  
Wherefore his Brethren he, as one convenes,  
To whom, Sirs, I perceive what heaven means,  
For death (God's Bailiff) with his Ebbon Sceptre  
Stands ready to arrest me as his debtor;  
Nought but my life acquits me, and each day  
Presents my senses with some new decay;  
Now Brethren, since you know my youthful Dreams  
(Th'event can witness) were no idle themes,  
I'll speak a truth too now, but it propounds  
Its burden to your thoughts on surer grounds;  
'Tis truth, as if 'twere by the heaven's hosts  
Proclaimed, and witnessed by our Father's Ghosts;  
That God will sure, in his appoined time,  
To Can'an bring you back, your Native clime,  
Which Abr'ham, Isaac, and to Jacob both,  
He gave by promise, and confirmed by oath,  
Then do not my expiring spirit grieve,  
Nor forfeit Can'an by your unbelief;  
Believe't, as if each of you (as an heir  
Unto God's promise) now breathed Can'ans air;  
Record it on your Souls, in after years  
Let these my words still echo in your ears;  
And when you see th'event doth not fall short  
Of expectation, swear for to transport  
My bones with you to Can'an, for I lust  
To be dissolved with my Father's dust;  
So Joseph yielded to the Fates, so old,  
That he an hundred and ten years had told;  
Did all the Muse's Springs unto my brain  
Pay Tribute, as all Rivers to the Main;  
I could not weep him as he was, nor fits  
My creeping stile with Egypt's towering wits;  
Yet thus conceive they mourned, th' Astrologers  
Began to curse the base-revolting Stars;  
Can one command the Sun, he'd make him burn  
As an obsequious Tapor on his Urn;  
The Moon a second, then unto his Hearse  
The yesty Sea should pay its brackish tears;  
A third the Orbs, than he would make them meet  
On earth in honour for his Winding sheet;  
A fourth the Air, then should some Meteors shine  
Like to a Funeral lamp stand o'er his shrine;  
A fift the Earth, then should her teeming womb  
Spread a continued May about his Tomb;  
A sixth command the Fire, than he would bid  
A ne'er to-be-extinguished Pyramid  
Blaze on his Hearse; A seventh would set forth  
Fit Hieroglyphics to describe his worth;  
Pharaoh devested of his Kingly State  
In mourning wails Zaphnath-Paaneahs fate,  
The princely Priests lament, and Isis' Cow  
Within her Temple did in mourning low.  
Th'embalming Doctor not at all forbears,  
But with his Odours doth commix his tears;  
One, in commemoration of his alms  
With them his name as with sweet odour balms;  
Grief witty grew in some, each day his years  
Some vie with sighs, and some, his months with tears;  
'Twere infinite to quote their Funeral Odes,  
Endless for to describe their mourning Modes;  
Fit Mourners were they all, whom you might see,  
Nature had decked in mourning Cap-a-pe:  
But this large task had dulled my tired Muse,  
My fingers are benumbed, my Pen's obtuse,  
Leave him in Egypt, where on this Divorce  
Worms sweetly fed on his embalmed Course.   
FINIS.