University of Virginia Library

3. PART III.

SCENE I.

Asenath, Phanor.
Asen.
What say'st thou, Phanor! Prove these Strangers then
Such base Ingrates? Bore off the silver Cup,
That's sacred to my Lord's peculiar Use!

Phan.
They have—but shall not long enjoy their Rapine;
Already they are taken, and in Bonds
Await their Doom.

Asen.
Ungrateful impious Men!
“What Gifts, what Favours did the gen'rous Zaphnath
“Show'r down upon them; Honours so unwonted,
“You'd thought this Hebrew Family his own.

Phan.
“At his chief Table I beheld them plac'd,
“Exalted above all the Lords of Egypt;
“Whilst from the richest Viands his own Hand
“Dealt Delicacies to them.

Asen.
—“Often, Phanor,
“The Bounties and Indulgence of the Great
“Fall from their Hands by Chance, and, falling, light
“As oft' on the Desertless—Why then wonder
“To find them with Ingratitude repaid?

AIR.
Phan.

SCENE II.

To them, Joseph.
Asen.
Whence so disturb'd, my Lord—Let not the Crime
Of others be inflicted on thyself.

Jos.
My Sorrows have a deeper, deadlier Root.

Asen.
Why dost thou hide them then from me?—O Zaphnath,
This Diffidence does wrong to faithful Love.
Wherefore that Look? Those Sighs?—Much, much I fear
That Asenath's the Source of this Disquiet—
Why from her else conceal'd—Dire Jealousy,
That baneful Viper, rankles in thy Breast.
AIR.

Jos.
O wrong me not, thy Zaphnath never harbour'd
A Thought that way—Each Hour I gaze upon thee
I view some new Perfections in thy Soul,
And find with Transport something more to love.
One Moment longer, and I'll lay before thee
This only Secret of my anxious Bosom.
At present know, my dear old Father lives,
Still lives, but inconsolable and wretched.

Asen.
Whence springs his Misery?

Jos.
From this cruel Famine,
E'en griping Penury, my Love, has seiz'd him;
No Succour left—Whilst, for his dire Affliction,
I only shed unprofitable Tears.

Asen.
But why, my Lord, hast thou not Egypt's Stores,
The Wealth of Nations?—

Jos.
Pharaoh made me not
Dispenser, only Keeper of his Treasures;
Nor should Corruption cleave unto these Hands,
Or would I touch what's sacred to the Publick,
To save myself and Race from instant Ruin.

Asen.
Then call them into Egypt!—Whence, my Lord,
This criminal Delay?

Jos.
I fear the King—
Fear Egypt too.

Asen.
Such Fears are but ungen'rous;
You've all the Hearts of Pharaoh and his People.

AIR.
Jos.
The People's Favour, and the Smiles of Pow'r,
Are no more than the Sun-shine of an Hour;
There Envy, with her Snakes, assails,
Here cank'ring Slander still prevails,
'Till Love begins to wain;
Oblivion then invelopes all,
Our Merits past, and straight our Fall
Is stil'd the Publick Gain.
[Da Capo.

Asen.
Art thou not Zaphnath? Is not Egypt sav'd
All thy own Work? And won't her Sons with Transport
Give a new Life to him who gave thee Life?

Jos.
“How could his pious Zeal endure in Egypt
“The impious Adoration paid to Idols,
“And ev'ry Monster bred beneath the Sky?
“When all this fair and ample Universe
“Has one sole Cause, sole Mover, and sole Good,
“The Source of Truth, Felicity, and Virtue,
“Worthy alone to be ador'd and lov'd.

Asen.
“That awful Being, with whose sacred Praises
“I've heard thy grateful Lips so oft' resound,
“I likewise sing!—Here then, secure with us,
“Thy pious Sire may mingle in the Concert,
“Nor hear of Egypt's visionary Gods—
I'll instant to the King, and supplicate
With Laud for Bounties past, this farther Boon.
AIR.
[Exit Asen.

Jos.
“Now for these Brethren—Will their smother'd Envy
“Break out anew on the peculiar Favours
“I deign'd the Youth?—Will they, with brutal Gripe,
“Seize on his seeming Guilt to work his Ruin?
“Perfidious Men! I'll prove ye ere I trust ye.
“This Cup shall, like the gen'rous Juice it serves,
“Lay ope' the Mark, and Bias of your Hearts.—
They come—and Indignation in their Looks—
My Bosom beats with an unusual Pulse.

SCENE III.

To Joseph, Phanor with the Brethren in Chains.
Sim.
Whence this vile Treatment! these injurious Chains?
For what Transgression are we shackled thus,
Like Thieves and Traitors?

Phan.
That's like what ye are.
You've stol'n the sacred Cup that's set apart,
For my Lord's Use.—
Why have ye thus rewarded Ill for Good?

[Exit.
Sim.
Imposture!—Fury!—If the Sacred Vessel
Be found with us, rain Vengeance on our Heads.

Jos.
Straight we shall see—and then let the Delinquent
Alone receive the Wages of his Guilt.

Sim.
“In one we all are guilty—with him join'd
“By Blood and Country, with him we'll divide
“Grief, Infamy, and Death.

Jos.
“Ah! had you always but pursu'd the Steps
“Of pious Jacob, you'd had nought to fear:
“But I can read a Story in your Hearts
“That Time cannot obliterate—a Youth
“Most barb'rously betray'd!—an Innocent
“To Strangers sold!—Hah! are ye struck!—Enough—
Heav'n may delay to punish guilty Men,
But won't forget them.

Reuben., Simeon., Judah.
[Aside.]
“Ah! he surely knows
“Our Perfidy.

SCENE IV.

To them Phanor.
Phan.
At length the Cup is found.

Jos.
Where?

Phan.
Hid, my Lord, amidst thy gen'rous Presents.
Benjamin had it.

Jos.
Benjamin!

Benj.
I had it!

Phan.
Behold his Sack, and in it view the Theft.

Benj.
Am I a Robber? Shield me, righteous Heav'n!

Jos.
Seize him.

Benj.
O Heav'n! thou know'st my Innocence!

Jos.
No more—
Leave him alone to suffer—As for you,
Go, get you up in Peace unto your Father.

Recitative accompany'd.
Benj.
What! without me? Ah! how return in Peace!
What can you say? What Comfort can you yield
To the distracted Parent? O unhappy!
Unhappy Benjamin! Thou at thy Birth.
Gav'st Death unto thy Mother—and now dying,
Thou likewise tak'st thy tender Father's Life.

ARIOSO.
Benj.
O Pity!—

Jos.
[Aside.]
—Ah! I must not hear.

Benj.
Not to myself—

Jos.
[Aside.]
—Be blind, my Eyes.

Benj.
My sinking Father!—

Jos.
[Aside.]
—Trait'rous Tear!

Benj.
O pity him!—

Jos.
[Aside.]
—Be still, ye Sighs.

AIR.
Benj.
Remember, at the first Embrace
You call'd me Son—O view this Face;
I still as much deserve the Name;
Thy Heart alone is not the same.

Jos.
To Prison with him.

Sim.
O illustrious Zaphnath,
Give room to Pity; thou who rulest Kingdoms,
Rule, to thy greater Glory, thy own Spirit:
Or to his Father render back the Youth,
Or Death to us.

Jos.
[Roughly.]
On whom the Cup was found, him I retain.

[Exit.
Sim.
What, gone! not hear us!

Judah.
—Yet methoughts I saw
Some Marks of Pity on his Face—

Sim.
What Pity!
Recitative accompany'd.
The Man who flies the Wretched, nor will hear them,
For fear of yielding to their piercing Cries,
Has only Pity for himself.

Recitative accompany'd.
Judah.
Peace, Simeon;
Remember Dothan's Fields, the horrid Pit!
And Joseph's Cries!—Were we not deaf to them?
Then we'd not hear—and now we are not heard.

Reuben.
What Counsel can we take?—If we return,
Our Father dies with Grief—If here we stay,
With Famine—Death is either way his Lot—
And black Despair is ours—

Recitative accompany'd.
Sim.
O gracious God,
We merit well this Scourge, but thou art He,
Whose Property is ever to have Mercy.

Chorus of the Brethren.

Sim.
But Peace, Zaphnath returns—

SCENE V.

To them Joseph.
Jos.
How! not departed!
Ye insolent! away! What foolish Hope?—

Judah.
Though Fear, my Lord, and Anguish
Have nigh lock'd up our Lips, yet would I crave
To offer one Word more—and O! my Lord,
Let not thine Anger burn against thy Servant.
When drove by dire Necessity to wrest
From the reluctant Bosom of our Father,
(Ah! with what Force! but such was thy Command)
His youngest, dearest Son, his Heart's first Joy!
He weeping, thus bespake us—Well you know,
This Child's the Prop and Succour of my Age,
The only Relick of my Rachel's Bed;
Joseph, alas! my much lamented Joseph,
In a sad Hour went out, and fell a Prey,
As oft' you've told me, to the Tiger's Rage;
If then you tear this also from my Arms,
And Mischief shall befal him—my gray Hairs
Ye will bring down with Sorrow to the Grave.

Jos.
[Aside.]
My Soul itself now weeps.

AIR.
Sim.
Thou hadst, my Lord,
A Father once—perhaps hast now—O feel,
Feel then for us—as thou didst love thy own,
O pity ours—Feel then our Anguish, feel.

[Sim.]
Give, give him up the Lad
In whom his Life is bound—
O let me suffer,
Whatever Punishment is doom'd for him;
He is too young for Slavery or Stripes;
Labour and Years have render'd me more hardy.
Recitative accompany'd.
Lay all on me, Imprisonment, Chains, Scourges,
All, all I can endure—But to my Father,
To be the Messenger of Death I cannot.

Jos.
[Aside.]
I can no longer—Phanor, bring the Youth—
[Exit Phanor, and returns with Benjamin.
Far off, ye Guards and Servants—from my Presence
Let ev'ry Man depart— [To the Brethren.]
Know, I am Joseph.
Doth my dear Father live?—I am your Brother;
Your long-lost Brother—I am Joseph.

The Brethren.
Joseph!

Sim.
O Heav'n!

Judah.
Joseph!

Sim.
Wretched We!

[Aside.
Jos.
Arise:
And banish Fear—my Benjamin, come hither;
And let me press thee to my yearning Bosom.
Brethren, receive and give a kind Embrace.

Benj.
“My Brother Joseph living! Ah! my Father!
“What Floods of joyous Tears at this glad Tale,
“Will wash the Furrows of thy hoary Cheeks?

Jos.
[To Benj.]
Forgive this harmless Stratagem. [To the Brethren.]
and ye,
Pardon my groundless Jealousy—I fear'd
You now to Benjamin might prove perfidious,
As erst to me—But I have try'd your Faith.
“Virtue's your Guide, Fraternal Love unites ye,
“And Joseph was your last Offence—

Sim.
O Joseph!
Just, yet mysterious, are the Ways of Heav'n.

Jos.
“So now, it was not you that sent me hither,
“But God; to be a Father unto Pharaoh,
“And Ruler of his Land; your Envy thus
“Converting to my Grandeur, and the Good
“Of half Mankind—
“But haste ye to our Father, and relieve
“His anxious Spirits.

SCENE the LAST.

To them, Asenath.
Asen.
—Whilst the Nile and Memphis,
To him and his are destin'd for a Country;
Thus Pharaoh has ordain'd— [To Jos.]
Now, my dear Lord,
Cast Sorrow from thy Breast.

Jos.
And thou, my Fair,
Disclaim thy Doubts, and no more breathe Suspicion.

Asen.
Trust me, O Zaphnath, 'twas the Breath of Love.

Zaph.
Mine too, O Asenath, was still the same.

DUETTO.
Asen.
What's sweeter than the new-blown Rose,
Or Breezes from the new-mown Close?
What's sweeter than an April-Morn,
Or May-Day's silver fragrant Thorn?
What than Arabia's spicy Grove—
—O sweeter far the Breath of Love.
Hence, Gen'rous Lovers! scorn Alarm,
Away Suspicion cast;
Beauty and Wit begin the Charm—
—But Kindness makes it last.

Da Capo.
Jos.
“My Bliss is now at full, and swells a Tide
“Of multiply'd Delights; Wife, Father, Brethren!
“And thou, my Benjamin! all, all partake
“The glowing fond Affections of my Soul.
“Soon we'll resort, and pay our due Obeisance
“At gracious Pharaoh's Feet—But first of all,
With Songs of ardent Gratitude and Praise,
Let us approach the high Eternal's Throne,
The Fountain of all Joy, all Peace, all Honour.

CHORUS.
ANTHEM.

We will rejoice in thy Salvation, and triumph in the Name
of the Lord our God. Hallelujah!