A Hyve Fvll of Hunnye :: :: University of Virginia Library

God prospreth Ioseph in eche thing,
where he a Bondman is:
His Maisters VVyfe entiseth him
with her to doe amis.
By her he falsly is accusde,
and into Prison cast:
But God his mercy doth extend
and settes him free at last.

1

Now Ioseph was to Egypt brought
by those that Marchantes were:
To one of Egypt they him solde,
whose name was Potiphere:

2

This Potipher an Eunuche was,
and one of Pharos Lords:
And of his House the Steward chiefe
and kept the Kinges Recordes.

3

But stil the Lord with Ioseph was
so that he prospred wel,
For euery thing he tooke in hand
did all the Rest excell:
Thus in his Maisters house did he
continue stil and dwell.

4

Hys mayster the Egyptian
did see and vnderstand
That God made all thinges prosper wel
which Ioseph toke in hand.

5

Did make him Ruler of his House,
and gaue him charge of all,

And euery one obedient was,
and came at Iosephes call.

6

It fortuned from that tyme forth
his Maister did him make
The cheefest Ruler of his House
God blest him for his sake.

7

God blest his House and al he had
both in the Field and Towne:
His Mayster toke no comptes of him,
but walked vp and downe:

8

Saue onely on the Bread hee Eate:
such fauoure Ioseph found,
And Ioseph was a Goodly Man
as went vpon the ground.

9

That in so much his Maysters Wyfe
her Eies on Ioseph cast,
And did desire the vse of him
to lye with her at last.

10

But he refused so to do,
and said, Maistrisse, behold,
My Mayster left hath in my Handes
his Substaunce and his Gold:

11

Him selfe not knowes what he hath put
of trust into my Hand:
And there is none in fauour more
then I, ye vnderstand:

12

Ne yet hath he kept any thyng
from me that he doth knoe
But onely you, who are his Wife,
as reason would it soe.

13

How can I then thus wickedly
accomplishe your desire
Agaynst my God to do such Synne?
do not the same require.

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14

Yet notwithstanding Day by Day,
she Ioseph stil besought,
But he Refused so to doe,
and set her speach at nought.

15

And did as much as lay in him
her company refrayne
Because he would not lye with her
nor heare her babling vayne,

16

It hapned on a certayne Day
that Ioseph could not chuse
But come whereas his Maystris was,
he might not then refuse.

17

Because he busynesse had to doe
his Maisters House within,
And none of al the House was by.
saue she that ment to Sinne.

18

She caught his Garment fast in hand
and frendly to him sayd
I pray thee Ioseph sleape with me,
but he the same denayed,

19

And left his Garment in her hand
and fled, and got him out:
She seyng this, her people calde
to come her rounde about.

20

And sayd, behold, my Husband hath
an Hebrew hither brought:
To doe vs shame and villanye,
the Uerlet now hath sought.

21

For he into my Chamber came
with me for to haue slept:
I Cride aloude as ye haue heard
whereat away he leapt.

22

And left his Garment hym behynd
the which shee then vp layd,

To kepe vntil her Lorde returnde,
to whom with Tears she sayd:

23

This Hebrewe which thou hast home broughte
came in to do me shame,
And sought my honor for to spoyle,
and reaue me of my Name.

24

But when I lifted vp my voyce,
and Cride that al might heare:
He left his garment hym behynde
and fled away for feare.

25

His Maister hearyng this of her,
beleued al she sayd,
And beyng wroth he Ioseph toke
and hym in Prison layed.

26

In place where Prisners of the Kinges
in Fetters laye fast bound:
Thus Ioseph there continued
in Prison vnder Grounde.

27

But yet the Lord with Ioseph was
and mercy did him show,
And got him fauour of the Lorde
that did the Pryson owe.

28

And he that keper was therof
to Ioseph did cōmit
The charge of al the Prisners there
to doe as he thought fit.

29

For why, the Keper medled not,
but wel did vnderstand
That God did prosper eu'ry thing
That Ioseph toke in hand.