 | Joseph And His Brethren |  |
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
23
“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.
The wanton Favours of the Great,
Are like the scatter'd Seed when sown;
A grateful Harvest they create,
Whene'er on gen'rous Acres thrown.
Are like the scatter'd Seed when sown;
A grateful Harvest they create,
Whene'er on gen'rous Acres thrown.
But, if, as O! too oft', they fall,
Where Weeds and Briers the Soil prophane:
Or lost, they bear no Fruit at all,
Or, bearing, yield a worthless Grain.
Where Weeds and Briers the Soil prophane:
Or lost, they bear no Fruit at all,
Or, bearing, yield a worthless Grain.
| Joseph And His Brethren | |