 | Joseph And His Brethren |  |
SCENE III.
Joseph and Phanor.Phan.
This Hebrew Prisoner—
Jos.
Hither bring him, Phanor.
[Exit Phanor.
The wide Circumference of Egypt's Regions,
The vast Extent betwixt the Nile and Ocean
Given me to rule, is Slav'ry, not an Honour;
Not Rest, but Travel—
—“Ye departed Hours,
“What happier Moments have I seen!—O Hebron!
“What Peace enjoy'd amidst thy smiling Valleys!
“Might I review thee! might I careless tend
“Thy fleecy Herd; might I once more embrace
“My good old Sire; list to his sacred Lessons
“Of God's Creation, of Man's fatal Fall,
“The Race-preserving Ark, the Heaven-hung Bow,
“And Hope Divine of Abraham and his Seed—
“It cannot be—Tyrant, enslaving Greatness!
“Who'd languish in thy gilded Chains an Hour,
“That in the Courts of Quietness could dwell?
AIR.
The Peasant tastes the Sweets of Life,
Unwounded by its Cares;
No courtly Craft, no publick Strife
His humble Soul insnares.
Unwounded by its Cares;
No courtly Craft, no publick Strife
His humble Soul insnares.
But Grandeur's bulky noisy Joys
No true Contentment give;
Whilst Fancy craves Possession cloys,
We die thus whilst we live.
No true Contentment give;
Whilst Fancy craves Possession cloys,
We die thus whilst we live.
17
Fain wouldst thou had my Life! Cruel! but hold—
I fear, O Heav'n! that some disastrous Death
Has snatch'd the other from me, and perhaps
Simeon's the only Brother left me now;
I'll touch thee not—the Image of our Father
Sits on thy Brow—nor shall thy Perfidy
Dissolve the sacred Ties of Love and Nature.
But I will speak such Daggers to thy Soul!—
| Joseph And His Brethren | |