Egypts Favourite The Historie of Joseph, divided into four parts: Together with old Israels Progresse into the Land of Goshen. By Francis Hubert |
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IOSEPH IN CARCERE.
OR, The Innocent Prisoner.
1
From hopes of Court, to horrors of a Iayle,From great respect, from friends, from wealth, from place,
Vnto a loathsome dungeon without Bayle;
A wofull fall: yet this was Iosephs case.
2
They which of late did crouch with cap and knee,And would haue done worse offices perhaps,
In his reproach are open now and free,
With bitter tongues discoursing his mishaps.
3
Now is he censur'd by the vulgar breath,For a most base, and most vnthankfull slaue,
For a perfidious villaine, worthy death,
And after death, vnworthy of a graue.
4
'Tis wretchednesse too much to be cast downe;What is it then to fall with infamie?
But he that is to any greatnesse growne,
Vpon a change must looke for obloquie.
5
Vnhappy Vertue cannot be secure,Scarce from the hands, not from the tongues assault,
Faire actions foule constructions must indure,
When our misfortunes shalbe thought our fault.
6
Nay Putipher himselfe is constru'd too,And pierc'd, perhaps, by the Plebeian wind,
In that he would so vndiscreetly doe,
As lay such trust vpon an vnknowne Hind.
7
Thou many-headed Monster that art bredOut of the vulgar mud, without all braine,
How easely is thy erring judgement led?
To passe a sudden sentence, idle, vaine,
8
Without all certaine ground, without all weight,Nay, without any scanning of the matter:
But thou art sway'd with a receiu'd conceit,
And thy light ayre soone turneth into water:
9
For rashly-heady, thou art easely borneNow vnto one, streight to another mind:
So haue I seene a field of eared Corne
Bending all South, blowne with a Southerne wind,
10
And let the same but shift into the North,Then stalkes and heads, and all doe bend that way:
And can that man be vvise, of reall vvorth,
That doth on such light puffes his fortunes lay?
11
But stay: Me thinkes my selfe forgets my course,And I begin to sayle without my Card,
Though emptie Caskes without all true discourse,
Are in their censures sudden, sowre and hard,
12
Yet hee that lookes with other eyes then men,And finds the heart vntainted with offence,
Binds whom we free, & frees whom vve condemne,
'Tis he alone that safe-gards innocence.
13
And oft he works beyond the reach of man,We cannot fathom him with our short lyne,
We may as well graspe Heau'n within our span,
As sound the depth of what he doth designe.
14
How could it be conceiu'd by mans discourse,That gives and fetters were the meanes to rise?
Yet all-commanding God doth take that course,
And Ioseph must be rays'd by enemies.
15
Me thinks I see him looking on his handsFast bound vvith chaines, vvhich vnto heau'n hee reares,
And are (sayes he) these heauy yron bands
The golden bracelets that poore vertue weares?
16
Had my too cruell brothers bin so chain'd,I had not then bin thus in prison pent,
Such manacles their furies had restrain'd,
And I had bin as free, as innocent.
17
Or had I with my Lady chang'd imbracesWhen in her armes she would haue clasp'd me fast,
I had not tasted then of these disgraces,
Which will (I feare) proue fatall at the last.
18
Vertue, I thought, had bin a reall thing,But now I find, that 'tis an ayrie name:
Hate did my brothers, lust my Lady sting,
Yet neither they nor shee feele smart or blame.
19
But I that onely a meere Patient was,And not an agent with them in their sinne;
'Tis I alone that vndergoe the lash,
And I must smart for what they faulted in.
20
Me thinks my crop should haue been like my seed,I planted Vertue, that sweet smelling Rose,
And can that root such stinging Nettles breed?
But there is vse of Nettles, so of foes.
21
Why was I called Ioseph? that's Increasing,And doe not I increase in misery?
My name was rightly giu'n, for without ceasing
My strange disasters daily multiply.
22
Yet Iob had been a fitter name for me:Iob, Sorrowfull, or hated, which you will:
For that sad name doth both wayes vvell agree
With those sad fortunes that pursue me still.
23
For am I not a man made vp of sorrow,Whose matter, and whose forme is vvretchednesse;
Vnhappy now, but shall be more to morrow,
My dayes are but additions to distresse.
24
That Sunne, that sees me breathing out my ill,Will shortly see me without any breath;
Malice and meanes, a vvoman and her vvill,
Lust and neglect; the very sounds of death.
25
And that will be the period of my paine,The short and sweet compendium of all vvoe:
Weake-hearted Ioseph, raise thy spirits againe,
Collect thy selfe, be not deiected so.
26
Oft hast thou heard thy father Jacob say,There was a Libra 'mongst the Signes of Heau'n,
Who alwayes did in equall Ballance weigh
The actes of men, and kept the Scales most eu'n.
27
And without doubt, when thou art truely weigh'd,Thou shalt goe current, though thou suffer now:
Heau'n must not be contested; but obey'd,
To whose iust ends all Mortals needs must bow.
28
And Ioseph, he that rays'd thee from the pit,Wheu thy enraged brothers play'd their part,
Can find both time and meanes, when he thinkes fit,
To free thee from this dungeon vvhere thou art.
29
But say hee doe not, why should wretched dustBe so much daring, as to question God?
Whose Councels oft are secret, euer iust:
If therefore still he please to vse the rod,
30
Bee it for me, I haue for my defenceArmour of Proofe, to beare all blowes withall,
A spotlesse and a peacefull Conscience,
And that is safer then a brazen wall.
31
And, Ioseph, though thy sufferings be most great,Yet thinke vpon the letters of thy name,
Which being inverted bring some comfort yet:
For (Hope Is) is Ioseph his Anagramme:
32
And there is Hope; nay, there's assurance rather,Where God is pleas'd to interpose his hand,
Who out of Poysons Antidotes doth gather,
As by the Storie heere wee vnderstand:
33
For in close prison where poore Ioseph lyes,Mew'd vp in bolts and chaines to death and shame,
Pursude by many dangerous enemies,
Th' abused agents of a lustfull Dame:
34
There, (eu'n vnlook'd for there) vpon a day.(And sure 'twas God that put it in his mind)
The Iaylor thought his Prison to survay,
Where many soules, and foule ones he doth find.
35
Some theft, some bloody murther did commit:Ioseph, thy name is callenderd for lust,
Which they tearm'd Rape; and (which did add to it)
Thy Ladies Rape, against thy Lords deare trust.
36
Whom when the Iaylor viewes, through his faire face,A fayrer soule and heart hee sees within,
(Inspir'd no doubt) hee finds the Iaylors grace,
Who did not onely quit him of the sinne,
37
But of the paine: From chaines he sets him free,And (which was strange) he giues to him the charge
Of all his fellow-prisners: so that hee
Was both a prisner, and was yet at large.
38
Ioseph the prison kept, God Ioseph keepes,And he finds fauour eu'n amongst the bad:
The Iaylor was secure, eates, drinkes, and sleepes,
And trusted this faire youth with all he had.
39
And all that Ioseph did, (and hee did all)Did prosper farre beyond all expectation:
Thus God can rayse, whom men would haue to fall,
And this was strange and worthy admiration.
40
But see more wonders yet: some few dayes past,Pharoes chiefe Butler fell into disgrace,
An! from the Court, was into Prison cast,
And that (wee see) is oft a Courtiers case.
41
What was his fault, I list not to define,Great Kings are men, and subiect vnto Ire,
Perhaps hee did not please his tast with wine,
Small faults doe oft add fewell to their fire.
42
Perhaps some other itch'd to haue his place,Which could not bee, till hee was first remou'd:
The fall of one is oft anothers grace:
Such trickes are play'd at Cardes, and well approu'd.
43
And this (for ought I know) might be his case,But the true Cause I find not in the Text,
But this I find: The Butler's in disgrace,
And in the Prison too, and much perplext.
44
But yet this somewhat qualifyde his griefe,My Lord the Baker is committed too,
And some good Natures hold it some releefe,
To haue their friends partakers of their woe.
45
Some fatall starre in Egypt rul'd this yeare,So many starrs of Court from their Orbes fell,
And yet no blazing Comet did appeare:
Which to great states doe dire euents fore-tell.
46
But now these Lords to Josephs care committed,Are entertayn'd by him with much respect:
Nothing that might content them was omitted,
Yet miserie meetes often with neglect.
47
Sweet Natures doe behold calamitie,With Eyes of pittie, not of churlish scorne,
'Tis base to triumph ouer misery,
To treade vpon a poore deiected worme.
48
Would'st thou behold the Picture of a slaue?This very Caracter shall speake him right,
Bee sure to find him insolentlie braue,
Against that man, whom fortune doth despight.
49
Hee is a fearefull Tyrant to affliction,A Phalaris vnto a sinking state:
Nor doth he weigh the causes of deiection,
'Tis fault enough to be vnfortunate.
50
Ioseph is better moulded: He doth wellAnd gently vse his charge (though in distresse)
Affliction's wayward, apt to fret and swell,
It need not to be gall'd with bitternesse.
51
I know not how these Lords did spend the day,But in one night they both fell on a Dreame:
Dreames are the daughters of the wine (some say)
But this was no such vapour, no such steame.
52
Ioseph (as was his vse) doth early wake,Sad Care, and quiet sleepe were euer foes,
A thinking soule doth heauie Eye-lids make,
For want of timely rest, and sweet repose.
53
His Charge, his Care was great, and soone he rises,And rising, finds his prisners much perplext;
To tell the cause, he gently them advises,
And fairely ask'd, what so their temper vext?
54
They answere freely: They had seene that nightA Vision, or a Dreame, they knew not whether,
And this the rather did them so affright,
Because what it should meane, they cannot gather.
55
But Ioseph then replies, Dreames are from God,(That God whom Ioseph serues) please you vnfold
The same, by me they may be vnderstood,
Which cannot be expounded, if not told.
56
Gladly they tell the Youth what they had seene,And first the Butler doth his Vision shew:
Me thought (quoth he) I saw a Vine all greene,
Put forth three stocks, and frō those stocks did grow
57
Leaues, branches, grapes, that were both ripe & faire;Into my hand (me thought) I tooke the cup,
And prest the grapes: The King was debonaire,
Receiu'd the liquour fairely, drunke it vp.
58
Ioseph replies: The Dreame is very good,And (noble Lord) this is th'interpretation:
By the three stockes three dayes are vnderstood,
That will restore thee to thy former station.
59
And when my Lord before the King shall stand,And giue him wine, as hee was wont to doe,
And hee shall take the Goblet from thy hand,
Remember Ioseph, Partner of thy woe.
60
And by thy noble selfe, I thee adiure,Who now canst tell what is a Pris'ners case,
Remember me to Pharaoh, and procure
My liberty, from this delightlesse place.
61
VVho am a stranger, and by force was brought,Out of my natiue Countrey to this land,
Sold by my brethren, and by Merchants bought,
And why kept here, I scarsely vnderstand.
62
Thus Ioseph thought it fit, to vse his friends,To compasse his deliuerance, if hee can:
Hee must vse meanes, that will attayne his Endes:
Good fortune hath forlworne a carelesse man.
63
VVee must not thinke, that wish'd felicitieVVill drop downe from the cloudes, like showers of raine
Our selues must watch all opportunitie,
Vse all Endeuour, if wee vvill attayne
64
VVhat vvee desire: Some say, that IupiterDoth sell his blessings: and the price wee pay,
Is our ovvne labour: and they much doe erre,
VVho thinke by standing still, to end their vvay.
65
But I goe on: vvhen Ioseph had fore-told,The Butler thus, It seemes the Diuination,
Did likevvise Please the Baker: vvho grevv bold,
To tell his Dreame, hoping like Explanation.
66
Mee thought (hee sayes) I boare vpon my head,Three Baskets, full of bak'd meates, and of bread,
And round about the vppermost there fled,
Birds of the Ayre, that from that basket fedde.
67
The Augure sayes: Three baskets three dayes bee,In fine vvhereof, prepare to loose thy head,
And thou shalt hanged bee vpon the Tree,
And vvith thy flesh, The Birds and Rauens bee fedd.
68
The houres spend quickly: and that very day,The third (I meane the Critick of the dreame)
VVas Pharaoh's birth day: (As the Text doth say)
VVherein hee feasts the Nobles of his Realme,
69
And to make good what was divin'd before,The King the Baker hangeth by command,
But did the Butler to his place restore,
Who gaue againe his Cup into his hand.
70
And this great Lord (so must I call him now)Regaining Honour, promises forgot,
And (as some Courtiers doe) neglects his vow,
Per Dures made: such vowes we know bind not.
71
Why should he take to heart anothers harme?He had no feeling how poore Ioseph far'd,
Himselfe (hee thanks his starres) was well & warme,
What others suffred, he nor felt, nor car'd.
72
Indeed we doate vpon our selues too much,And that divides vs from all due respect:
Nature (we see) doth often loose her touch;
Then 'tis not strange, that strangers should neglect
73
The loving service, and kind entertaineOf honest Ioseph, are forgotten quite;
Looke what he did, was but for hope of gaine,
And all he did, no more then was his right.
74
Vnthankfulnesse is euer apt to find,At least some colours wherewithall to paint:
Good turnes receiu'd vve giue vnto the wind,
And in requitall we are dull and faint.
75
Because it is no pleasing MeditationFor mounting men, that are to greatnesse growne,
Alwayes to thinke vpon their Obligation,
And what an answering kindnesse must be showne.
76
Two yeeres of dayes run on, and all this whileThe Butler (drunke with honour) soundly sleeps,
No care of Ioseph, and of his exile,
He dreames not, and his vow therefore not keepes.
77
And here my musing thoughts are at a stand,And I doe more then marvell, that so long
Poore Ioseph scap'd the knife; the bloody hand
Of his enraged Lord, vvhose thought of vvrong,
78
Of most vnworthy wrong (as he might deeme)Might whet him to the worst of punishment:
But graunt, that Time did coole his boyling spleene,
And that the malice of his madnesse spent
79
On it's owne matter, did extinguish so,As fierie meteors in the feeding Ayre,
The vapors being consum'd whence they did grow,
Cease of themselues: but that his Dames dispayre
80
Of euer now attayning her blacke ends,Arm'd with the furie of neglected loue,
Impatient with reuenge, which neuer lends
One thought of peace, but doth with madnes moue,
81
To bring his plotted Tragedie to act,And so to free her selfe from all her feares,
How she (I say) should so long time protract,
As not to worke his end within these yeeres,
82
Is more then my conceit can diue into.But (O) thou deepe vnfounded Providence,
We must admire what thou art pleas'd to doe,
And not survey thy workes by our vveake sense.
83
Thicke clouds and darknesse doe encompasse thee,And are about thy great Pauilion;
Wonder wee may, and must adorers bee
Of all thy workes: but we must let alone
84
All curious Queres, and all busie pryingInto those secrets which thou dost conceale:
We melt our wings, and fall, by too high flying;
Prometheus, that the fire from Heau'n did steale,
85
Was sharply punisht for his enterprise:That outward barke containes this pith within,
We must not labour to be ouer-wise;
To prie into Gods Arke, it is a sinne.
86
We know 'twas he that calm'd these billowing seas,And brought wrackt Ioseph to his hau'n at last,
Else had hee sunke vnder such stormes as these,
But that Gods hand (his Anchor) held him fast.
87
And now th'eternall and still-waking Eye,(That is all Eye to see, to helpe all Hand)
Lookes downe at last on Iosephs miserie,
And finds him by affliction fully fann'd,
88
And streight he stirres: and now all other meanes,(All hopefull meanes) doe seeme to fayle him quite,
Now hee (in mercy pitying his extreames)
Doth rouse himselfe, to doe wrong'd Ioseph right.
89
O happie men that are in Gods protection,No earthly Monarch hath a guard so sure:
Legions of Angels serue at his direction,
To fortresse those, whom he will haue secure.
90
All the whole Creature is at his command,The Sunne stands still to wayt on Ioshua,
The Starres of Heau'n (enrolled in his band)
Doe in their courses fight 'gainst Sisera.
91
Nay, fire and vvater too are ioy'nd in one,Both starres and streames doe their best helpe afford,
The riuer Kishon vnto armes doth runne,
To fight the glorious battels of the Lord.
92
The Elements are Marshals of his hoste,By night the fiery Pillar, and by day
The Cloud conducts his people to their coast,
To which the very Sea it selfe giues way.
93
The Vict'lere of his Campe he makes the Winds,Somtimes with bread from Heau'n, sometimes with Quailes;
The stony rocke plenty of water finds,
To giue his Souldiers drinke when water failes.
94
O euer to be fear'd, and lou'd withall,(Fear'd for thy might, and for thy mercy lou'd)
I am all wonder, when to mind I call,
With what strange weights thy motions still are mou'd.
95
Ioseph must be releast: that's the Decree,And from the Prison to the Court be brought,
That's in the Order too: And now let's see
How God doth worke, till all his will be wrought:
96
First vnto Pharaoh (Egypts King) he sendsA double Dreame, with which hee's much perplext:
He wakes, and longs to know what it portends;
(What the Dreames were, I leaue you to the Text)
97
Then doth he send, and summon to the CourtAll Egypts Magi, to expound his Dreames:
They heare them told, but cannot make report
Vnto the King, what this his Vision meanes,
98
And that was strange: Th'Egyptians were renowndAboue all Nations, for their skill that way,
In hidden Learning they were held profound,
And so the sacred Text doth seeme to say.
99
Witnesse beside the skill they labour'd so,In that abstruse and secret Mysterie
Of Hieroglyphicke Art, which they did shew
In an obscure deepe-shadow'd Charactrie.
100
But yet in this the Magi must be blind,Because the taske for Ioseph was reseru'd;
And now the Butler wakes, and cals to mind
Forgotten Ioseph, vvhom he thus preferr'd:
101
Great King, I must confesse my fault this day,And craue your pardon: I haue broke a vow
Which once I made (when I in prison lay)
Vnto an Hebrew, and remember now:
102
When as my Lord was vvith his servants vvroth,And put his Baker, and my selfe in chaines,
A vision in one night appear'd to both,
And there this Hebrew pris'ner it explaines.
103
And as he did divine, it did succeed,You hang'd your Baker, tooke me to your grace,
Th'inspired Prophet can your Dreame aread.
Make haste (quoth Pharaoh) let me see his face.
104
And now is Ioseph sent for to the Court,And (new adorn'd) doth looke as fresh as May,
And well he might doe so, there's reason for't:
Good fortunes breed good blood, good spirits (men say.)
105
Being come, the King doth take him by the hand,(Eu'n Kings know to be kind, to gaine their ends)
Although no phrase did fit him but command,
Yet he vnto a milder forme descends,
106
And (welcome) sayes: I had a Dreame this night,And what is meant thereby I faine would learne;
And thou in Visions hast (I heare) insight,
Thy piercing eye heau'ns secrets doth discerne.
107
And then hee tels him, what before he toldTo Egypts Magi. Ioseph streight replies:
Your double dreame one meaning doth infold,
And that God will not hide from Pharaohs eyes.
108
In me it is not; but the God of Heau'nShall answere Pharaoh to his hearts desire.
Poore puffe-past Man, here is example giu'n
Vnto thy swelling thoughts, not to aspire.
109
Not to assume the glory and the praiseVnto thy selfe, of what is giu'n to thee:
Thy parts are but reflections from those Rayes,
By whose faire beames thy clouds dispersed be.
110
Cymerian darknesse doth possesse thy spirit;If gracious God be pleas'd to lend thee light,
Wilt thou ascribe it to thy proper merit?
And steale from him that which is his in right?
111
Wilt thou vnto thy Netts doe sacrifice?And hug thy selfe in th'armes of thine owne loue?
If thou beest noble, learned rich, and wise,
Know, 'tis the highest sphere that makes thee moue.
112
Thy graces are but Donatiues from Heau'n,The good is thine, returne the glory thither,
For feare God take away what he hath giu'n,
And he that made thee grow doth make thee wither
113
What, is not this great Babel I haue builtTo shew my power, perpetuate my name?
Alas (poore Prince) thy outside is but guilt,
A sudden storme will wash away the same.
114
For whilst the word was yet eu'n in thy mouth,A voyce from Heau'n did tell thee heauy newes,
Promotion comes not from the North or South,
Heau'ns influence onely doth all good infuse.
115
I could not choose when I had yoak'd my Teame,But make this furrow to enrich my field,
And now I doe returne to Pharaohs Dreame,
Whose Exposition Ioseph thus doth yeeld:
116
The seu'n fat Oxen that you saw ascend,That were so faire to sight in your first dreame,
Seu'n yeeres of ioyfull plentie doe portend,
Seu'n yeeres of famine the seu'n leane ones meane.
117
The Eares of Corne divine the selfe same thing:But God is good, and what he meanes to doe,
He now is pleas'd to shew vnto the King,
And giue him warning ere it shall ensue.
118
After seu'n yeeres of store, seu'n yeeres of want,Of bitter famine shall the land oppresse,
Wherein both bread and food shall be so scant,
As all the land shall mourne for barrennesse.
119
Twice did my God present it to your view,Because he would haue Pharaoh marke it well:
When God speaks one thing twice, beleeue 'tis true;
Make vse (great King) of what I doe foretell.
120
Cull out some man that's provident and wise,And let him be Surveyor of your Land,
Let him collect the fruits that shall arise
From forth the first seu'n yeeres of plentie, and
121
Let every Towne and Citie Garners build,Where they may safely lay vp corne and graine;
And when those Garners are so stor'd and fild,
Take care (O King) it be not spent in vaine.
122
The King was glad to heare the Divination,And his great servants were as glad as hee:
What man so fit as thou in all the Nation,
(The King replies) in whom heau'ns graces be?
123
Be it as thou hast sayd: Thy selfe aloneShall be the Regent of my Land and State.
Onely my selfe will sit vpon the Throne,
And next my selfe I thee subordinate.
124
With that he takes the Signet from his hand,And therewith Iosephs finger doth invest;
A golden chaine (the Ensigne of command)
Puts on his Necke: clads him in linnen vest.
125
And on his second Charret makes him ride,Whil'st through the Court the Trumpets sound his name,
By officers, who were therein imployd,
Who seem'd most forward to performe the same.
126
Because that Ioseph now is in his spring,But if a Winter should but chance to come,
Those Nightingales that now so sweetly sing,
I doubt, would chaunge their notes, or els be dumbe.
127
Nay (which is worse) they would like Adders bee,And hisse and bite: Greatnesse trust not too much,
Vnto a smiling brow, a Cringing knee,
A soothing tongue: they'l scarse abide the touch,
128
When they are truely brought vnto the Test:Momus did find an errour in Ioues Art,
Because he made no windowes in mans breast,
By which he might both see and know his heart.
129
Well Ioseph now is mounted very high,And God hath rays'd him to a loftie Pitch,
Whose Agent Pharoah still doth multiply:
His fauours to him: Hee growes great and rich.
130
The eyes of Kings are more then common eyes,They are the starres that doe predominate,
Th'affayres of men, and in their influence lyes,
The good or badd of euery ones estate.
131
They are the Primum Mobile of all,They whirle about our fortunes, as they list:
Their motions make Inferiours rise or fall:
And as they fauour, wee are curst or blest.
132
Though Poets fictions seeme to sauour muchOf Idle Errours, yet they haue their sence:
King Midas turn'd to gold all hee did touch,
The morall is: the fauour of the Prince.
133
This gracious hand can worke the like effect,Not India's richest mines breede purer gold,
Then those fayre Rayes of comfort that reflect,
From th'eyes of Kings: there growes that precious mold.
134
Whose smooth and smiling brow is the true place,Of honour, wealth, respect, dependencie,
And in his frowning Fore-head dwels disgrace,
Common contempt, hate, wrong, and pouertie.
135
And it is fitting, that it should bee so,All Light must bee deriued from the Sunne,
And as all Riuers from the Sea first flowe,
So they againe into the Sea must runne.
136
Pharoah still studies to doe Ioseph good,And (to compleate the pleasures of his life)
Fayre Asenath, of grace and Princely blood,
A beautious Virgine, must bee Iosephs wife.
137
Asenath, Daughter of the Prince of On:Thus for his seruants gracious God prouides,
Who after troubles and affliction,
Fils vp their ioyes: as rivers the Spring-tides.
138
Now you haue seene a true particularOf Iosephs fortunes, weigh them at a Beame,
His sowre, his sweet, his losse, his gaine conferre,
'Twill be a vsefull and delightfull Theame.
139
Ioseph remou'd from Canaans fruitfull Soyle,Planted in Egypt, with great growth is blest;
In vulgar Phrase this may be cal'd Exile,
But that's a mans best countrey where hee's best.
140
In Canaan Ioseph in a Pit I find,Here I doe see him next the Regall Throne,
There hee hath many brothers, but vnkind:
Here many fauours are by strangers showne.
141
But hee's diuided from a Fathers sight,To whom hee was as deare, as his owne Eyes:
In liew whereof a monarch of great might,
Eu'n Pharoahs loue old Iacobs losse supplyes.
142
And yet hee is not lost: Hee shall bee met,With a more tender touch of true delight:
So broken bones proue stronger, being well set,
And darkest grounds make white to seeme more white.
143
The Ishmalites did sell him for a slaue,But (loe) hee's rays'd to bee a power-full Lord:
The Prison, (that at least was ment his graue)
The meanes of his aduancement doth afford.
144
His first disaster did arise from dreames,And dreames must cure the woundes that dreames did make
Friends oft do faile their friends in their extreames,
But God his seruants neuer doth forsake.
145
Twas hee that made this Metamorphosis,And marke how all his workes are fitted right:
The Prison to a Pallace changed is,
The yron grates to Prospects of delight.
146
His Alchymy did turne the gyues hee wore,(The yron gyues) Into a golden chayne,
With course and common cates hee fedde before,
Now Sea and Land both giue him entertayne.
147
Without all doubt Ioseph did often beare,The bitter burden of offensiue scorne:
Now ( Abrech, Abrech) sounds in euery eare,
Whil'st in his Charet hee's in Triumph borne.
148
The loathsome Sauours change to sweet perfumes,The Prison garment to a Robe of Price,
The groanes of wretched Soules to cheerefull tunes,
All hell indeed is turn'd to Paradice.
149
And for th'imbraces of an vnchaste Dame,(Whose softest touch is but an Aspicks sting,
Whose fayrest lookes doe breed a hellish flame,
Whose sweetest breath a deadly dampe doth bring)
150
Ioseph enioyes the pure and heauenly heatOf both a lawfull and delightfull bed,
Whose vertuous pleasures onely are compleat,
From whence there is nor shame, nor sorrow bred.
151
Well, then I see the Prouerbe holdeth true,Bees make not hony onely for the bad,
Triumphant Vertue shall attaine his due,
Whose acts endswel, though the first sceanes be sad.
152
Where sinne seemes Suger to vs at first tast,Which oft we swallow down with deepe delight,
But still it ends in bitternesse at last,
And proues to bee a deadly Aconite.
153
Well, Ioseph is at rest with his faire Phere,And that (my weary Muse) is fit for thee.
For this time (loe) I pitch my Pillers here,
And (Ne plus vltra) shall my Posie bee.
Timens Deum, non habet quod timeat vlterius.
IOSEPH IN SVMMO.
OR, The Noble Favourite.
1
Now after thunder and tempestuous stormes,The purged aire grows to be calme & cleare,
And all the stars put on their fairest formes,
To smile on Ioseph each one from its Sphere.
2
Old froward Saturne (earst malevolent)Is now appeas'd by his more gentle Sonne,
Whose sweet aspect hath made him eminent,
And he is seated next the Kingly throne.
3
Sterne Mars, that but of late was bent to blood.Being now with Venus in coniunction.
Hath chang'd his fury to a milder mood,
And now from Armes he is to Amours wonne.
4
Sol shines vpon him with his cherefull rayes,Who giues him wealth; and Hermes eloquence,
And Cynthia shee her brightest beames displayes,
And he growes fruitfull by her influence.
5
But these are not the giuers of our good,'Tis onely God that doth command them all,
And his commands can neuer be withstood:
He smiles, and men doe rise; He frownes, they fall.
6
The Planets are but agents of his will,They rule in vs sometimes, he rules them euer:
The Trine aspect is the most blessed still,
Who's vnder that can be vnhappy neuer.
7
Ioseph was so, vvho but of late was seene,Eu'n in his depth of Winter almost dead;
And (loe) a sudden Spring hath made him greene,
Much growne in height, and very greatly spread.
8
Obserue the flowes and ebbes of Mans estate;See how that part of the still turning vvheele,
Which was but low, and toucht the ground of late,
Is now the highest, and will straight wayes reele
9
Downe to the Center: No man is so fix'd,But that he may be soone remoou'd againe,
The vvorld hath nothing simple: all is mix'd,
An houre of pleasure, and a day of paine.
10
Therefore what ere thou be, doe not despaire,Loose not thy fortunes, and thy hopes together:
Thy Morning's foule, thine Euening may be faire,
For Mans estate doth alter like the weather.
11
Oft haue I heard some aged men foretellOr following Raine, by th'aking of their bones:
I doe not like that Almanacke so well,
Ide rather fetch my skill from sweating stones:
12
For stones (some say) will sweat against a raine:That may be so: but this is certaine true,
Our states haue somtimes cramps, then sound again,
Then sicke againe, and then comes health anew.
13
Joseph you saw late in a deadly swoune,Now he recouers, and to strength doth grow,
Who (notwithstanding all his great renowne)
Doth not forget why he was raysed so.
14
Hee knowes although hee were a Magistrate,T'was not for his owne ends, or for his ease,
But to prouide for, and preserue the state,
Which seuen yeares bitter famine els would seyze.
15
Hee thinkes vpon his worke hee hath to doe:Hee mouldes his busines in his carefull minde:
Great King, braue Court, deare wife to all adue,
Ioseph must sayle now with another winde.
16
Hee's Country-bound: and now hee doth prouide,For following famine, In the yeares of store:
'Tis good (men say) to take both Wind and Tyde,
And whil'st they both serue well, to ply the Oare.
17
Mee thinkes, I doe behold this labouring Bee,How hee flyes vp and downe to store his hiue,
And (sweetest time) hee gathers most from thee,
And so must all Bees doe that meane to thriue.
18
There are some happy houres which if wee take,Wee crowne our labours with desir'd successe,
And if those fitting seasons wee forsake,
Wee well may wish them more, but find them lesse.
19
Hee builds, hee gathers, and hee layes vp grayne,The best of his abilityes hee spends,
In ceass-lesse labour, and vnwearied payne:
That hee may bee succesfull in his ends.
20
It was no May-game that hee had in hand,His charge was weighty, and requir'd him all;
Men that are great in Place, and in command,
Are not their owne, must not bee seuerall.
21
They must be like the Sunne, whose common flame,Affordeth heate and light to euery-one,
Ther's more in greatnes then the very name,
It hath much matter for to worke vpon.
22
The prudent states-man often-times doth wake,Whil'st sweet Repose seales vp the vulgar Eye:
His countrey care oft makes his head to ake,
With forging thousand formes of policie.
23
And without doubt, they which sit neere the healmeAnd haue the greatest steerage of the state,
Are the most painefull seruants of the Realme,
To whom the Prince his power doth delegate.
24
Both for his owne, and for his Countreys good,Which must be the chiefe end of their endeauors:
So Ioseph is imployd to gather food,
And in that seruice seuen yeeres he perseuers.
25
And the Almightie pleas'd to blesse him so,That he did store vp graine in such a measure,
As that the number numberlesse did grow,
And yet he was not barr'd from lawfull pleasure:
26
For in those yeeres God gaue him two fayre Boyes,To be the staffe of his declining Eld,
And in those blessings Iosephs soule more joyes,
Then in the greatest honours that he held:
27
Manasseh, Ephraim, (comforts of his life)You are his glory, and his strength beside,
Himselfe divided was, his loving wife,
His children vvere himselfe, but multiplide:
28
So many selues will make one selfe long liu'd,In whom he still shall liue, when he is dead:
Egypt saw Josephs end, yet hee surviu'd
In those faire boughs, that from his root were spred.
29
But I must to my taske, for Time goes on,And (as men say) flies with a Swallowes vving:
The yeeres of plentie soone are past and gone,
And famine now thrusts forth her deadly sting;
30
And then how Ioseph did himselfe deport,How well he gouern'd his long-gather'd graine,
And how all Egypt did to him resort
For needfull food, whose sale brought in great gaine
31
To his Lords coffers: how he bought their Land,Their goods, their cattell, and themselues vvithall,
The sacred Writ will make you vnderstand.
Egypt farewell: for Canaan now doth call.
32
Yet this before I goe, (obserue it well)And 'tis but touch'd, to shame our wretched Time:
Although wise Ioseph, (as the Text doth tell)
Did make a purchase of th'Egyptian Clime
33
To his Kings vse: yet did he hold his handFrom buying of the Priests that which was theirs,
He would not meddle vvith the Holy land,
'Twas consecrated: therefore he forbeares
34
Such irreligious purchase: yet the King,Supplyes them, with all necessary food:
Though thē their fields no fruitful crops did bring;
Yet they that serued for the common good,
35
T'was iust the common-good should serue for them,Eu'n Heathen people held it pietie,
To furnish with fit meanes religious men:
Although they worship'd a false Dietie.
36
How then should wee respect and honour too,The faithfull seruants of the liuing Lord?
And so (wee see) our sacred Soueraigne doe:
And (O) mee thinkes his Copie should afford
37
A fayre example, for to guide our hand;In other things Autoritie swayes much:
And wee are willing Apes to great command:
But yet in this wee haue too little touch.
38
And so (indeed) wee haue in all deuotion,Our heau'n is on the Earth: wee sweate for that:
Our Ayme's at wealth, at honour, and promotion,
And in pursuite of them, w'are very hot.
39
But stay, my Muse, why dost thou change thy course?For thou wert shipt and bound for Canaan,
Where famine likewise raged with great force;
Eu'n Iacob wants, that vvas a vvealthy man,
40
That had both Coyne, and Cattell at command,Strong in his issue, and belou'd of God:
Yet now hee's vnder his afflicting hand,
Whose dearest children cannot scape the rod.
41
And he doth often rule them with blacke Lead,That he may keepe them straighter in the line.
And (left by rest there should a rust be bred)
By filing them hee doth them oft refine.
42
Therefore thou happy soule, that seekes for Heau'n,Expect not here a Deluge of delight:
If God doth make thy cares and comforts eu'n,
It is a worke of Mercie, not of right.
43
When Iacob heard, that Egypts store did yeeldSufficient graine, eu'n for a forren good,
He cals to him his sonnes, and then he wild
They should for Egypt make, to buy some food.
44
Hee needs not bid them spur (the Prouerbe sayes)Whom bitter famine on their way doth driue,
They take their fathers blessing, goe their wayes:
And speed for Egypt, where they soone arriue.
45
To Ioseph brought, their busines they declare,And to the ground their humble knees they bow,
VVithout his warrant they can haue no ware:
And by the name of Lord salute him now.
46
Ioseph his brethren sees, and wonders much,And now his former dreames hee cals to mind:
Hee beares him selfe, as if hee had no touch,
Of nature in him: striues to bee vnkind.
47
Hee knew them well: but would not know them nowO, they were spies, and came to search the land,
Corne was their Colour, but they practis'd how
To bring all Egypt vnder their command.
48
How soone may greatnesse draw the innocent,At least within the seeming gripe of lawes?
And if it bee to rigorous courses bent,
How readily it finds, or makes a cause?
49
The brethren tell him, that they came to buy,Food for their father, and their familyes,
That they his seruants ment no trachery,
That they were neither borne, nor bred for spyes.
50
That they were one mans sons, who had two more,And that the youngest with their Syre was left,
And that the other was (long time before)
By fatall accident from him bereft.
51
I, thence it is, that I suspect you spyes,You goe not hence, except that youth come hither,
By this you shall be try'd (Ioseph replyes)
As by a third they parley'd thus together.
52
Ther's no contesting with great Ioseph now:They must to Prison, whither they were sent,
Till farther time more leasure did allow,
And better meanes, to sound their whole entent.
53
Imprisonment, thou art the liuing graue,Wherein to bury men, whil'st they are quicke,
And yet the soule may freest motions haue:
Although the body bee immur'd with bricke,
54
For nothing can confine the working soule,That may recourse vnto Heau'ns glorious frame,
And compasse all the vvorld vvithout controule,
And see, and sound the actions of the same.
55
An able actiue Gentleman of worth,That lost his head vvhen Mary swayd the State,
Vpon the Scaffold freely gaue it forth,
That he had learn'd more in the Tower of late,
56
Then in the course of all his life beside,Being vvell-traveil'd, vvell-imployd at home;
And yet (quoth he) whilst I did there abide,
I got more knowledge in yon little roome,
57
(Poynting vnto a corner of the Tower)Then before that I euer could attaine:
For there I learn'd to know Gods supreame power,
My selfe a sinfull worme, the vvorld most vaine.
58
O happy man, that studiest well this art;And happy place that made him study so:
And blessed Bookes (deare bolts) that did impart
Such sacred, secret Science, vvhich few know,
59
And fewer care to learne: and that's the causeWhy our desires so doat on vanitie,
That we are carried hood-wink'd vvithout pause,
Into vnseene, but certaine miserie.
60
I may eu'n of my selfe an instance make:When did I entertaine such thoughts as these?
Oh vvhen did I this theame for subiect take?
Whilst sin (begot with wealth, and nurst with ease,
61
Confirm'd with vse) did onely sway my will,Without all care of God, my selfe, or other.
But this is not the story of my ill,
The brothers call me, shut vp by a brother,
62
And so restrain'd, and all remoou'd from them:Me thinks, I seeme to see them, how they stare
Each vpon other, like amazed men,
Wondring both why, and how, and where they are.
63
A three dayes durance they indured there:Ioseph, thou keep'st not iust proportion,
One day the Pit contain'd thee, and vvas cleare
Of thee againe before the setting Sunne.
64
The punishment in this transcendes th'offence,Eu'n like for like, had bin equalitie:
Yet Ioseph, this Ile say in thy defence,
And truely, without partialitie.
65
Their act was diu'llish, and vnnaturall,Which cast vpon thee many-yeares-restraynt,
In daily feare of death (the gall of gall)
Whil'st their vnsuffring soules no care did taynt.
66
No thought of thee, no pittie of thy wrong,And therefore now they very iustly beare
This short, and easie durance: thine was long,
And vndeseru'd: thou free, they faultie were.
67
And yet it seemes, that Iosephs soule did grieue;For sending for them, thus to them hee sayd:
I likewise feare your God: doe this, and liue:
Let one of you a Pris'ner here be stayd,
68
The rest returne vnto your aged Sire,Both his, and your owne wants shalbe supplide,
But bring your brother with you I require,
For that's the Test whereby you shalbe tryde.
69
Ioseph had spoke the vvord, they must obey;And yet they tooke it to the very heart,
And to themselues in their owne language say,
That these their sufferings came by due desert.
70
Although that they were spotlesse of this crime,Wherewith vniustly they were charg'd vvithall,
Yet when they cast th'account of their whole time,
And summ'd vp all their actes in generall,
71
They found a Brother missing, whom they sold,(Stirr'd vp by spleenefull hatred) to his graue,
And now ther are by sad Remembrance told,
That they must Legem talionis haue.
72
Now Conscience giveth better Evidence,Who is both Witnesse and Tormentor too,
And Reuben now vpbraids them with th'offence,
Now see, what your blind malice made you doe.
73
I wish'd you not to sinne against the youth,But you were deafe as Adders, would not heare,
Now is his blood requir'd: And now in truth,
Your seed of sinne this crop of shame doth beare.
74
They doe confesse th'Indictment, 'twas too true,Their brothers blood did for iust vengeane crie,
And now the hand of Heau'n payes them their due,
And they are caught in their impietie.
75
O sinne, the fretting corr'siue of the heart,The biting worme that breeds within the breast,
A sure, but sad remembrancer thou art,
No rest till done, and then indeed no rest.
76
Well, now there's no resisting Iosephs will:Of all extreames 'twas best to chuse the least:
Simeon as Pledge must stay in prison still,
(For so was Josephs choyce) for all the rest,
77
Who were dismist in peace, and all their sackesBy Iosephs Officers vvere fild with graine,
Who likewise put their moneys in their packes,
And vvhat they brought, restor'd to them againe.
78
Home they returne, and to their father tellHow Egypt vs'd them, what the Ruler sayd,
Of all things in the voyage them befell,
A short, plaine, true narration to him made.
79
You may conceiue, that aged Israell,Heard the relation with a great distast:
And inwardly his grieued heart did swell,
Till thus it leap't into his tongue at last.
80
Ioseph is not: Simeon is not to mee,And shall I likewise Beniamin forgoe?
Why haue you done these things: since these things be
Against your father, and all worke his woe.
81
What, doe you find your owne affections such,As that you hold the losse of Children light?
In my sad soule I feele another touch,
And nature workes in mee with powerfull might.
82
The motions of a tender father's loue:An vntouch'd heart can hardly comprehend:
But you are fathers too: and well may proue,
Eu'n by your selues: that nature doth discend.
83
I cannot yeeld, that Beniamin should goe,His brother's dead, and hee is left alone:
If hee should die, I should but liue in woe,
And dying, goe into my graue with moane.
84
When hee was borne, his mother was bereft mee,My dearest Rachell (see, you make mee weepe)
And nothing now of her, but him is left mee,
And (as her dying Pledge) I him will keepe.
85
Thus hee resolu'd: but famine still growes hot,The food was almost spent, that late was brought:
In Canaan there was little to bee got:
A new supply from Egypt must bee sought.
86
The stately Steed that champes the steely bit,And proudly seemes to menace friend and foe,
Doth fling and foame, and boundeth oft, and yet,
(Poore beast) perforce hee is inforc'd to goe.
87
And good-old Israell, so it fares with thee,Thy Beniamin must goe: there is no boot,
For all thy other sonnes in this agree:
That without him, they will not stirre a foot.
88
Better at home to end their weary race,And with their dearest friends together dye:
Then goe and seeke for death in a strang place,
And that with publicke scorne, and infamie.
89
Besides his Iudah earnest suit did make,That to his care hee would commit his sone:
His deare-lou'd Darling, hee would vndertake,
For his returne: which should be safe, and soone.
90
Iacob replyes: it must bee so (I see)Well, take with you the best fruits of the land,
Gifts silent speakers, but preuailers bee:
For Haukes come not vnto an emptie hand.
91
Therefore take somewhat of each seu'rall thing,To shew your thankfull mindes in worst extreames:
A better fortune greater gifts would bring:
But your poore present answeares to your meanes.
92
And in your hand the money hither brought,Doubly returne: for feare some ouersight
By you my sonnes should formerly be wrought:
And take your brother too, my chiefe delight.
93
And when that you haue done all that you may,God make you gracious in the great-mans eyes,
For onely hee must guy'd you in your way:
And giue a blessing to your enterprize.
94
I, holy father, tha's the poynt indeed,Now thou hast hit the nayle vpon the head,
The best of our endeuours cannot speede,
If by the hand of heau'n not seconded.
95
Vaine are their thoughts, that think their watching canPreserue that Cittie, which God doth not keepe,
And their's as vaine, who quit all vse of man,
And thinke that God will guard them, though they sleepe
96
Where to our safetie our sedulitie,Is requisite: God seldome workes alone,
Neglect of meanes is fond credulitie,
First for the Lord, and then for Gideon.
97
And that's the only course that men can take,Vnto Gods blessing ioyne thyne owne endeuour,
Heau'n helpes not him, that doth him-selfe forsake,
The end and meanes doe alwayes goe together.
98
But stay my muse, mee thinkes thy pace is slow,Thou mak'st no speed in thy intended way:
Perhaps th'art tyr'de with trauell to and fro,
Then take thyne Inne vntill some other day.
99
Or els perhaps the famine makes thee faynt,Which works too strongly in thy feeble braine:
I, ther's the gall: These are thy yeares of want,
Some better times will make thee sing againe.
Timens Deum, non habet quod timeat vlterius.
The Continuation.
1
After a blessing from their aged Syre,To Egypt land the Brethren bend their course,
A speedy helpe such sad extreames require,
They needs must haste, whom griping famin force.
2
Some time being spent, and weary travell past,Once more they gaine the wisht-for Land of food,
And once againe before the face at last,
Of their knowne Lord, but vnknown Brother stood;
3
Who had their errand, e'r they could it tell,He knew 'twas Hunger forc'd them to that place:
'Twas Egypts food that must that Monster quell,
And that could not be had without his grace.
4
He could not likewise choose but call to mindTheir cruell and vnnat'rall insolence,
How once with envie more then famine pynd,
To thraldome they betrayd his innocence.
5
Without regard of dutie to their Syre,Or pitie to the moanes of him their brother:
Now time seru'd fit for to repay their hyre;
Yet all these faults his tender loue doth smother,
6
And his mild Heart relents to see their wantThey were his Brothers though before vnkind,
Perhapps (saith hee) their error they recant
And if they doe, shall they not pardon find?
7
So fed, his Beniamin he doth behold,Then calls his Steward, wills him to prepare
Plenty of Meat. Those Hebrew-strangers should
Dyne at his hoame, and of his bounty fare.
8
To Iosephs house the Steward leads these Men,They went vnwilling being sore afraid,
Their hearts misgaue them some state-plot ev'n then
To worke their Bondage cunningly was layd.
9
And therefore to the Steward they confesseThat food of him they once had bought before
Feare was so powrefull, they could doe no lesse
Their full confess' on pardon doth implore.
10
They told him that the price, last paid for Graine,Was vnexpected found in each Mans sacke,
But they that silver, and as much againe
For new supplies had honestly brought backe.
11
The Steward saies, all's peace, be not dismay'dYour God, your fathers God that silver gaue,
I had your money; for the Corne ye payd:
And you, your Symion left for pledge shall haue.
12
Them all, into his Lords faire house he guidesPrepares them water for to wash their Feete,
And for their Beasts he provender provides,
With other things for their refreshment meet.
13
Meane while the great Lord they prepare to greet,With those rich presents they from Canaan brought
He's now retur'd from Court, loe at his Feete
They prostrate fall, and him of grace besought.
14
To buy some food his favour they desire,He kindly greets them, rayseth them from ground
And quest'ond them how far'd their aged Syre
The good old Man, they spake off; safe and sound?
15
They lowly bow'd againe, then make replyeOur aged Syre thy servant yet doth liue
Wherewith on Beniamin he cast his Eye,
And loving lookes vnto the Lad doth giue,
16
Is this the youth of whom ye earst did tell,To thee my sonne (he said) God gracious be:
With that kind Nature in his breast doth swell,
His bowels yernd his Mothers sonne to see.
17
Moou'd by affection, be from them vvithdrawes,And in his priuate chamber weepes amaine:
Then dries his eyes after a little pause,
With cheerefull lookes he visits them againe.
18
Meane while good Ioseph rowes against the tide,Nature, kind Nature would it selfe display,
But (willing) yet awhile himselfe to hide,
He forc'd his Loue, Discretion to obey.
19
He cals for meat, which was seru'd vp in state,And at the table he doth sit alone:
The Hebrewes vvere in order seru'd, vvhereat
Within himselfe, they marveiled each one.
20
The Hebrewes and Egyptians severd set:For by the Law of the Egyptian Nation,
They might not at one board together eat,
Because by them 'twas held abomination.
21
To count the seuerall dishes of this FeastIn these deare times, would make my Muse too sad,
Messes they had, the Text saith, who had least,
But Beniamin fiue times their portion had.
22
They are full-fed now vvith delicious cates,Whose hungry soules did whilome pine for food,
Such is the change of our vncertaine states,
After a dead low water, comes a flood.
23
The fickle vvorld is neuer at one stay,Humane affaires roule in vncertaintie,
Vaine men, vve ring the Changes: euery day
Brings forth, to light, some new varietie.
24
Then let this ceaselesse, restlesse agitationInflame our soules; all our affections moue
To seeke for rest, and a sure habitation
In Heau'n the new Ierusalem aboue.
25
The Dinner ended, Ioseph doth provideTo haue each Hebrewes sacke fild full with graine,
And each mans Coyne in his sackes mouth was tide:
Thus they haue food for nought yet once againe.
26
Into the Sack of his deare Beniamin,Hee caus'd his siluer Cup to bee conueyd,
And by this meanes hee doth occasion winne,
To haue the youth from his departure stayd.
27
As soone as morne displayd her blushing red,And cleare light shew'd to Trauellers their way,
Each Hebrew with his chardg from Ioseph sped:
Little suspecting of a new delay.
28
They had not from the Citie traueld farre,But Josephs Steward them in hast pursues:
Hee ouer-takes them, they arrested are,
And speechlesse stand amaz'd at this sad newes.
29
Hee question'd them, why ill for good they payd,His Lords diuining Siluer Cup was gone,
They strangers were, and false perhaps hee sayd:
For but themselues, himselfe suspected none.
30
This sayd, at length they thus to him replyde:Why should our Lord to vs these speeches say,
In our sackes mouthes when wee the siluer spyde,
Brought backe from Canaan wee did it repay.
31
It is vnlikely therefore wee should steale,And vse such falshood where such loue wee found:
Yet search vs all, and hee that thus shall deale,
Let him to death, the rest to Prison bound.
32
Bee't so, the Steward sayes; with that each one,Takes from his Loden beast his sacke of corne,
From eldest Reuben now the search is gone,
And by degrees come to the youngest borne.
33
The siluer Cup is found in the youths sacke,The brethren rend their cloathes to find it so,
Now once againe each man assumes his packe,
And with sad lookes backe to the Citie goe.
34
And hee that whilom seru'd these men in state,With dainty dishes at a Princelike board,
Safe-guards them now as fellowes of stolne-plate,
So great a change so small time doth afford.
35
To Iosephs house they now againe are brought:Where hee did stay expecting their surprize,
For hee was witting of what would bee wrought,
And theeues now made them that supposd them spyes
36
When they beheld his face, (with shame deiected)To bended knees they doe themselues betake:
A as (quoth he) what's this ye haue effected;
Did you not know that I could tryall make?
37
Then Iudah (thus) What shall we plead or sayVnto my Lord, our selues vve cannot free,
Tis Israels God that doth our sinnes repay,
And for our theft we must thy bond-men be.
38
Nay God forbid that I should vse you so,Ioseph to those afflicted men replyed,
Who stole my Cup, himselfe to me doth owe,
He is my seruant, no man else beside.
39
The rest depart in peace vnto your Sire.Then Iudah on his knees sayes, O my Lord,
Whom as a second Pharaoh we admire,
Vouchsafe to heare thy servant speake a word:
40
When first before my Lord we did appeare,It pleas'd him aske, if we had Syre or Brother:
We truely told, we had a father deere,
All we his sonnes, and that he had one other,
41
A little one, begot in his old age,Therefore the more belou'd, the more respected,
His brother dead, and he the onely gage,
Left by that Mother, whom our Syre affected.
42
Then you enioyn'd vs, neuer see your face,Or bring the youth, you might his face behold:
When to our father we first told our case,
The sad relation made his old heart cold.
43
One of my sonnes (quoth he) sent to the field,Was torne in pieces, neuer more seene since,
Should I depart with this, and he should yeeld
To death, by sicknesse, or by violence,
44
'Twould breake my aged heart, my old gray headWith griefe and sorrow throw into the graue:
(O my good Lord) detaine me in his stead,
I am his Pledge, and to my father gaue
45
My saith for his returne, with execration,Let Iudah beare the blame for euermore,
Vnlesse I bring to Israels habitation,
Young Beniamin; euen thus thy servant swore.
46
Then since the old mans being doth dependOn the Youths life, let me thy servant be
And with my Brethren backe the stripling send
And Iudah will be bound, to pray for thee.
47
When Ioseph heard his Brothers sad relation,He could no longer his affection hide
Though great ones present, of th' Egyptian Nation
Yet Ioseph wept, the text saith, loud he cryed.
48
Avoyd the Roome, quoth he, let no man stayExcept these Hebrewes, all the rest depart,
Then Ioseph to his brethren doth display
The inward feelings of his tender heart.
49
See Ioseph, liues our father? make report,But they were stricken dumbe with that surprize
Be not dismay'd, God sent me to the Court
For to relieue your wants, by my supplyes.
50
And this was done to worke your preservations,Our fathers God made me his instrument,
Two yeeres hath famine seiz'd vpon most nations,
And fiue such yeere of want must yet be sent.
51
Therefore returne vnto our aged SyreAnd from my selfe, salute him in this sort;
Egypts Protector Ioseph doth desire
To see old Isr'el at King Pharaohs Court.
52
Himselfe, his Childrens Children, heards and sheep,In fruitfull Goshen land, shall haue a Rome
Neere to my selfe, I them, and theirs will keepe
From fiue yeeres Famine that is yet to come.
53
Remember what I giue in charge ye tell,And Iosephs Honours seene by you relate,
With that on Beniamins faire necke he fell,
And wept so fast, his teares, their teares begat.
54
This was a wondrous and strange salutation,And vnto Egypts King was quickely brought
Who was affected so with the relation
That till he Ioseph saw, full long he thought.
55
And seene, he sayes, vnto thy Brethren sayDoe this, depart, load beasts, to Canaan goe
And bring your father hither that he may
Here with his houshould liue, aud let him know.
56
'Tis Pharaohs will, the best of Egypts landYe shall possesse, and ye shall eat the fat,
Eu'n Egypts fat. This more I doe command,
You giue them Chariots, to conveigh them, that
57
Their father, children, wiues may come at ease,They shall bee welcome, vnto Egypts King,
Care not for stuffe, nor vtensils, for these
Pharoah shall giue them, and what other thing
58
Egypt is master of, my land is yoursThe best of all my land, tis Pharoahs gift;
Wee well may call that ours which God assures,
Ti's hee from ashes vnto Thrones can lift.
59
I am so ouerioy'd I cannot write,What were the Ioyes the brethren did conceiue?
But sure I am each heart must needs bee light;
For Royall Gifts ioyfull impressions leaue.
60
They came to Egypt Merchant-like at best:But home are caried like great Lords in state,
Their iourney was for bread, now they may feast,
Both Horse and Seruants, many on them vvaite.
61
These (once vnkind) their Brother stript, but heDoth giue them change of raiments of the best:
To his lov'd Benjamin he was more free,
And fiue times more did giue him, then the rest.
62
For Israels journey Ioseph doth provide,And by the way, what dainties he should eate,
And ten shee-Asses sent to him beside,
All heavy loaden with the purest wheat.
63
And thus set foorth, Ioseph each one salutes,And wills them in their travaile to agree:
Vnfayned concord best with Brethren sutes,
Small jarres, 'mongst you so link'd, great discords be.
64
Who best instructs, doth best example giue,This good doe I, is better, then this Doe,
Most by the Eye, few by the Eare doe liue,
Faire actions doe compell, good words but wooe.
65
He that had shew'd himselfe so kind a Brother,Beyond their hope, beyond all expectation,
Had by his paterne taught them loue each other,
They goe; and bring Iacob this gratulation.
66
Ioseph is yet aliue, and, which is more,'Tis he that rules all Egypt: Israel heard,
And his Heart fail'd, he was so moov'd therefore,
But when he saw the gifts that were conferr'd,
67
And did behold the Chariots Ioseph sent,His Heart reviu'd (whom would not such a sight
Recall from Death?) and then incontinent,
Like one new moulded, full of actiue spright.
68
Ioseph, faith he, doth liue, my child is foundAnd like a Man distract with joy doth try,
I haue enough, nay, now my joyes abound,
I will goe downe, and see him ere I die!
69
Tis time these happy travellers opprestWith their long voyage make a little stay,
Israel (good night) my weary Muse must rest,
To Egypt will be worke for a new day.
O gracious God, thou searcher of each heart,
Thou three in Person, but in Essence one:
Some Heavenly power to my weake Muse impart:
To end the sacred taske she works vpon.
Thou three in Person, but in Essence one:
Some Heavenly power to my weake Muse impart:
To end the sacred taske she works vpon.
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