 | Joseph And His Brethren |  |
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,
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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?
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[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.
| Joseph And His Brethren | |