 | Joseph And His Brethren |  |
SCENE IV.
A Room of State in Pharaoh's Palace.Pharaoh, High-Priest of On; Asenath, Chorus of Egyptians, &c.
Phar.
Thus, Stranger! I have laid my troubled Thoughts,
The midnight Visions of my Bed before thee,
Which all the Skill of Egypt can't unfold—
Come then, interpret to the King his Dreams.
Jos.
O mighty Pharaoh, it is not in me;
Interpretation does belong to Heav'n;
And may the Lord Jehovah give the King
A gracious Answer!
[Invocation.]
“By that O'erflowing of the Nile,
“Which makes the careful Tiller smile;
“By those glad Rays that swell the Grain,
“And pay with Sheaves the Reaper's Pain;
“By all the Blessings ev'ry Day,
“Which Egypt tastes from Pharaoh's Sway,
“Thy dark Resolves, kind Heav'n! display.
“Which makes the careful Tiller smile;
“By those glad Rays that swell the Grain,
“And pay with Sheaves the Reaper's Pain;
“By all the Blessings ev'ry Day,
“Which Egypt tastes from Pharaoh's Sway,
“Thy dark Resolves, kind Heav'n! display.
Chorus of Egyptians.
O God of Joseph, gracious, shed
Thy spirit on thy Servant's Head;
That to the King he may reveal
The Truths his Mystick Dreams conceal.
10
Jos.
Pharaoh, thy Dreams are one—the Lord Jehovah
In Vision shews what he's about to do.
The Seven fat Cattle, and full Ears of Corn,
Denote Seven Years of Plenty—The like Seven
Of meagre Kine, and unreplenish'd Grain,
Mark the same Years of Famine to succeed.
Embrace this Warning, and with studious Search
Look out a Man of Providence and Wisdom,
To garner up in the redundant Years,
A Store for Comfort in the Days of Dearth.
Phar.
Divine Interpreter! What Oracle
Could thus have solv'd my Doubts?—Where can we find
A Man like thee, in whom God's Spirit dwells?
Be this Day Ruler o'er my House and People,
And by thy Word let all the Land be govern'd;
But only in the Throne will I be greater.
Jos.
These are thy Workings, Infinite Jehovah!
AIR.
Asen.
[Aside.]
O lovely Youth, with Wisdom crown'd,
Where ev'ry Charm has Place!
What Breast so firm was ever found,
As could resist such Grace?
If thou hast stoln my Virgin Heart,
To me in change thy own impart.
[Pharaoh putting his Ring on Joseph's Finger.]
Phar.
Wear, worthy Man! this Royal Signet wear,
Pledge of thy boundless Dignity and Power;
Whilst in our Second Chariot thou shalt ride,
And Heralds cry before thee, Bow the Knee:
Then henceforth, as the Saviour of the World,
Let Zaphnath-Paaneah be thy Name.
11
Joyful sounds! melodious Strains!
Health to Egypt is the Theme!
Zaphnath rules, and Pharaoh reigns—
Happy Nation! Bliss supreme!
[Exunt.
| Joseph And His Brethren | |