 | The Discovery of Joseph |  |
371
1. PART THE FIRST.
Joseph, Thanetes.Jos.
None of the Hebrew brethren yet return'd?
Than.
None yet, my lord.
Jos.
Hast thou dispatch'd, to explore
The public ways?
Than.
I have; but sent in vain
Full many a messenger.
Jos.
Yet not so far
Is Mambre's valley from these regal walls,
But since they parted hence, their tardy feet
Might long ere this have measur'd back the way.
Than.
Forgive me, if I know not what to think
Of such concern: a few poor simple shepherds
Appear an object far beneath your care.
Jos.
[aside.]
Thanetes little thinks these simple shepherds
372
—I'm offended, friend,
To find myself deceiv'd: to these I gave
In charge to bring with them, at their return,
Young Benjamin, old Jacob's latest born.
Thou heard'st with what unwilling lips they vow'd
To do my bidding.
Than.
But your wisdom well
Secur'd compliance, by detaining one
A hostage for their faith: if this should fail,
The force of famine must again compel
These Hebrews back. The barren provinces
Yield not sufficient nurture to sustain
The pale inhabitants: the blighted corn
Dies in the blade, or shoots not from the soil.
The feeble shepherd mourns his lessening flock,
The famish'd cattle chew the unsavoury stubble
Unmeet for nourishment: the husbandman,
With trembling feet, each field explores in vain
For life-sustaining food; while Memphis only
(Such thanks to you we owe) abounds with plenty
Of well-stor'd harvest, and the afflicted world
To fly from famine, all repair to Egypt.
Jos.
If Benjamin, a victim to the rage
Of envious brethren, should no longer live,
What hopes to see him here?
Than.
And whence, my lord,
373
Jos.
The boy was Jacob's hope.
Than.
What then?
Jos.
Myself,
Myself, like him, have known the calumny,
The treacherous wiles of deep fraternal envy.—
O! powerful King of Heaven! protect and save him.
Than.
What means this tenderness for one unknown?
Jos.
My life with Benjamin's is nearly pair'd,
His fortune bids me recollect my own,
His fortune bids me recollect my own,
By nature to compassion mov'd,
We feel the griefs of those,
Whose hapless destiny has prov'd
The touch of kindred woes.
We feel the griefs of those,
Whose hapless destiny has prov'd
The touch of kindred woes.
A sympathy the heart constrains
To pity the distrest;
When, by our own, we judge the pains
That rend another's breast.
To pity the distrest;
When, by our own, we judge the pains
That rend another's breast.
Than.
And this, shall this suffice to make you wretched!
Alas! how true, that here on earth is found
No perfect happiness: for if to pass
From life's worst evils to the highest rank
Of human honours, be indeed a blessing,
Who should like you rejoice? A slave, a stranger
You came to Memphis; slander'd by a base
Unhallow'd tongue and bound in cruel chains,
Your life was forfeited, when righteous Heaven
Declar'd itself for Joseph: future time
Was open'd to your view: to one your words
Greatness presag'd, to one they menac'd death.
All Memphis heard your prophesies: the king
Perplex'd recurr'd to you; your wisdom solv'd
His anxious doubts; disclos'd the impending evils,
And shew'd the remedies: th' event declar'd
Your counsels just. Behold you now remov'd
From prison to the palace; see your fetters
Exchang'd for glittering gems and costly robes,
Sublimely seated on the regal car,
You pass those ways, which once your feet had trod
A shackled prisoner; hear your name proclaim'd
The SAVIOUR OF MANKIND. Now minister
Of king and people, ripe with blooming honours,
Rich in a beauteous offspring, blest by all
The grateful world, and highly lov'd of Heaven,
It seems that nought is wanting to your wishes;
And yet amidst this unexampled flow
Of earthly blessings, your inventive mind
Can for itself create unthought-of evils.
Alas! how true, that here on earth is found
No perfect happiness: for if to pass
From life's worst evils to the highest rank
Of human honours, be indeed a blessing,
Who should like you rejoice? A slave, a stranger
374
Unhallow'd tongue and bound in cruel chains,
Your life was forfeited, when righteous Heaven
Declar'd itself for Joseph: future time
Was open'd to your view: to one your words
Greatness presag'd, to one they menac'd death.
All Memphis heard your prophesies: the king
Perplex'd recurr'd to you; your wisdom solv'd
His anxious doubts; disclos'd the impending evils,
And shew'd the remedies: th' event declar'd
Your counsels just. Behold you now remov'd
From prison to the palace; see your fetters
Exchang'd for glittering gems and costly robes,
Sublimely seated on the regal car,
You pass those ways, which once your feet had trod
A shackled prisoner; hear your name proclaim'd
The SAVIOUR OF MANKIND. Now minister
Of king and people, ripe with blooming honours,
Rich in a beauteous offspring, blest by all
The grateful world, and highly lov'd of Heaven,
It seems that nought is wanting to your wishes;
And yet amidst this unexampled flow
Of earthly blessings, your inventive mind
Can for itself create unthought-of evils.
Did every outward feature show
The inward pangs of secret woe,
How oft would those our pity know,
That now our envy move.
The inward pangs of secret woe,
How oft would those our pity know,
That now our envy move.
375
'Twould then be seen, in many a breast,
What cruel foes their peace molest;
And those, who seem to us so blest,
As wretched then would prove.
What cruel foes their peace molest;
And those, who seem to us so blest,
As wretched then would prove.
Jos.
Thanetes, go—Asenetha approaches.
Forget not my command: if Jacob's sons,
If Benjamin should come, return with speed
To welcome their arrival.
Than.
I obey.
My gracious lord, henceforth be to yourself
What you are still to others; every comfort
You give to them, but to yourself distress,
You heal another's pains, but feed your own.
Asenetha, Joseph.
Asen.
My consort, is Asenetha permitted
To ask a boon.
Jos.
The doubt, my love, offends me.
Asen.
Release the Hebrew prisoner from his bonds.
Jos.
Simeon?
Asen.
The same.
Jos.
But what excites thy pity
For one thou know'st not?
Asem.
And what rigour, say,
Has mov'd you to the punishment of one,
Who ne'er to you was guilty?
376
And how know'st thou
That he is innocent?
Asen.
His crime I see not:
His punishment is present to my sight.
Jos.
And is it less a crime because unknown?
Asen.
But yet it merits sure, forgive me Joseph,
A judge more merciful.
Jos.
But not unjust.
Asen.
Alas! my lord, without the touch of pity,
Justice were cruelty.
Jos.
And but for justice,
Pity were weakness.
Asen.
Let us imitate
The CAUSE of ALL, who sheds his kindly rain
Alike on good and wicked: equal HE
Wills that his blessed sun should shine on both.
Jos.
Who seeks to be like him, sometimes must scourge,
For their correction, those whom most he loves.
Asen.
But what you feel for Simeon, pardon sir,
By outward signs more hatred seems than love.
Jos.
Condemn me not too soon. How apt is man
To judge of others harshly! Wretched fruit
Of blind self-love! The blame we cast on others
Is flattery to our pride: we seem to gain
That which we take from them; and ever seek
To find companions of our faults in others,
Or faults which we have not; and hence it comes
We change the names of things: fear, in ourselves,
Is prudence call'd, and meanness, modesty.
But seen in others, modesty is meanness,
And prudence fear. 'Tis hence we ever prove
So partial to ourselves; and hence it comes
With slow belief we join the voice of praise,
While censure ever finds our open ear.
To judge of others harshly! Wretched fruit
Of blind self-love! The blame we cast on others
Is flattery to our pride: we seem to gain
377
To find companions of our faults in others,
Or faults which we have not; and hence it comes
We change the names of things: fear, in ourselves,
Is prudence call'd, and meanness, modesty.
But seen in others, modesty is meanness,
And prudence fear. 'Tis hence we ever prove
So partial to ourselves; and hence it comes
With slow belief we join the voice of praise,
While censure ever finds our open ear.
Ah! still with hasty judgment fear
To view another's deed;
For what may cruelty appear,
From mercy may proceed.
To view another's deed;
For what may cruelty appear,
From mercy may proceed.
More cautious weigh whate'er can move
Your thoughts to vain surmise:
As cruelty may mercy prove,
So mercy may chastise.
Your thoughts to vain surmise:
As cruelty may mercy prove,
So mercy may chastise.
Asen.
If you refuse to set the prisoner free,
At least consent to hear him: this, my lord,
You will not sure deny.
Jos.
I grant thy suit:
Bring Simeon hither. [to a servant]
Little does she know
The secret treason once employ'd against me;
That Simeon is my brother and my foe.
[aside.
378
Thus by his speech, his action and his looks
You may divine his innocence or guilt.
Jos.
Fallacious signs, Asenetha, are these.
'Tis not for us to penetrate the secrets
That lurk within the heart: the mortal sight
Views but the outward semblance: God alone
Beholds the soul of man.
Asen.
But oft the soul
That actuates life, impresses on the body
Such strong emotions, that the passions lie
Unveil'd, and looks and gestures speak the man.
That actuates life, impresses on the body
Such strong emotions, that the passions lie
Unveil'd, and looks and gestures speak the man.
Each tree will by its aspect show
Whate'er defect is hid below:
By leaf and fruit and flower we know
What from the eye the root conceals.
In vain the face may features wear
To veil the mind's corroding care;
While borrow'd smiles would peace declare,
A look the war within reveals.
Whate'er defect is hid below:
By leaf and fruit and flower we know
What from the eye the root conceals.
In vain the face may features wear
To veil the mind's corroding care;
While borrow'd smiles would peace declare,
A look the war within reveals.
Joseph, Asenetha, Simeon.
Jos.
See, Simeon comes— [aside.]
O! could he but divine
That Joseph lives in me—Eternal Justice!
Behold him in my power; behold him bound,
Bound in a brother's chains whose life he sought!
379
Sim.
Thus prostrate, mighty lord,
Thus humbly at your feet—
Jos.
Rise.
Sim.
[aside.]
Sure that voice—
What means that likeness? Wherefore do I tremble?
Why have I lost all courage?
Asen.
Speak.
Sim.
I dare not:
I feel, I feel in presence of your lord
A sudden coldness freezing at my heart.
Jos.
[aside.]
Remorse has touch'd him, yet he knows not why.
Jos.
Shepherd, thy name—
Sim.
Thou know'st it well—'tis Simeon.
Jos.
Thy country?
Sim.
Carra.
Jos.
And thy father?
Sim.
Jacob.
Jos.
Thy mother?
Sim.
Leah.
Jos.
Who are those that came
With thee companions at thy first arrival?
Sim.
My brethren.
Jos.
Was not Jacob then a father
380
Sim.
Alas! alas! he was:
The beauteous Rachael bore him other sons.
Jos.
Their names were? Say.
Sim.
Joseph and Benjamin.
Jos.
Why came not these with thee?
Sim.
The youngest stay'd
To cheer his aged father.
Jos.
And the elder?
Sim.
O! powerful God!—the elder—
Jos.
Speak—what follows?
Sim.
I know not what befel—
Jos.
[aside.]
But well I know.
Asen.
[aside.]
The colour leaves his cheek.
Jos.
Tell me at least—
Does Joseph live?
Sim.
His father mourns his death.
Jos.
Is he then dead?
Sim.
To us his fate's unknown.
Jos.
Thy words but ill agree.
Sim.
Yet truly spoken.
Jos.
But what was Joseph's fortune?
Sim.
Mighty lord,
Speak not of Joseph more—his name alone
Is tenfold anguish to the heart of Simeon.
381
What crime has he committed?
Sim.
None—O! none.
Jos.
Perhaps, ungrateful to a tender father,
False to his brethren's love, with impious guile
He sought your lives, and merits now your hatred.
Sim.
O! he was innocent, was just to all—
Ah! sir, what have you ask'd? How wak'd remembrance
To dreadful images! Dismiss me hence;
For pity's sake dismiss me to my dungeon:
You know not how you rack me—O! that look
Has wither'd all my strength, and every question
Infixes in my breast a thousand stings.
Ah! sir, what have you ask'd? How wak'd remembrance
To dreadful images! Dismiss me hence;
For pity's sake dismiss me to my dungeon:
You know not how you rack me—O! that look
Has wither'd all my strength, and every question
Infixes in my breast a thousand stings.
O! mighty God! I now behold
The tears that down his features roll'd;
The tears of innocence and truth.
I hear his sighs, I hear him mourn,
Thus from a fire's embraces torn,
In all the bloom of early youth.
The tears that down his features roll'd;
The tears of innocence and truth.
I hear his sighs, I hear him mourn,
Thus from a fire's embraces torn,
In all the bloom of early youth.
Jos.
[aside.]
My soul is mov'd!—O! let me now, to give
His sorrows ease, reveal the brother—no—
Time is not yet mature— [to him]
Thy doubtful words
Increase my first suspicions; while to this
Thy brethren's long delay—
382
Than.
His brethren, sir,
Are now arriv'd.
Jos.
And Benjamin?
Than.
Behold him;
Observe that stripling who with tardy steps
Now lags behind the rest.
Jos.
[looking out.]
O! powerful nature!
How do I trace in him a mother's likeness!
[aside.
—Thanetes, go; prepare the friendly banquet:
Let Simeon be releas'd from bonds, and you,
Ye shepherds, now draw near— [aside.]
Betray me not,
My yearning heart!
Joseph, Asenetha, Simeon, Thanetes, Judah, Benjamin, and the rest of Joseph's brethren.
Judah.
Our promise, mighty lord,
Behold fulfill'd: behold us once again
Thus prostrate at your feet: then cast aside
Your former doubts, and now vouchsafe to take,
With every zealous vow of grateful homage,
These presents offer'd here.
Jos.
What presents? Say.
383
Accept our humble tribute here,
The balm of many an odorous tear
Distilling from the Arabian tree:
The liquor sweet, as crystal clear,
The produce of the labouring bee.
In gifts like these no wealth is shown;
But what we give we boast our own,
The fruits of simple industry.
Jos.
I take your offer'd presents: rise, my friends,
Say, is your father well? The hoary Jacob
Of whom ye spake, say does the good man live?
Judah.
He lives, your servant lives, but bow'd beneath
The weight of years.
Jos.
And Benjamin, the youth
Of whom ye spake?
Judah.
Behold him here.
Jos.
My son—
[aside.]
O! how his fight alone affects my soul!
[to him.]
Heaven! O my son, be watchful o'er thy days,
And keep thee still.— [aside.]
O God! what sudden tumult
Of bursting passion! [to him]
Still, my son, preserve—
384
My eyes o'erflow with tears—I can no longer
Restrain their course—O! let me seek elsewhere
To hide me from their presence.
[retires with Thanetes.
Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, and the rest of the brethren.
Benj.
Does he then
Abruptly leave us thus?
Judah.
I know not, brethren,
What mean those broken accents.
Sim.
Ah! too surely
He has till now conceal'd, beneath the veil
Of placid looks, the anger in his bosom.
Judah.
Who knows for us what Fate has next prepar'd?
Benj.
Whither, my brethren, would you lead me now?
Sim.
We merit all we feel: for Joseph's sufferings
The Almighty now pursues us: prayers and tears
Alas! avail'd not him.
Judah.
In vain I urg'd,
Touch not the guiltless youth, and lo! from us
His blood is now requir'd.
385
Than.
Shepherds, my lord
Requires your presence; he would have you share
With him the social banquet.
Sim.
Ah! some snare
Is surely laid for our unhappy lives.
Benj.
O! what a day is this!
Judah.
O! fatal banquet!
Than.
Why loiter thus? Come shepherds, let us go.
Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, and the rest of Joseph's brethren.
All.
Great God of Israel! hear; defend thy people.
Chorus.
Great God of Abraham! we confess our guilt,
But we are still thy people: deal not then
Thy judgments strictly; for before thy sight
What living soul shall e'er be justify'd?
And whither, whither shall we fly to shun
A God incens'd but to a gracious God?
Our hopes, our fears, on thee alike depend,
On thee our Judge, our Father and our Friend!
END OF THE FIRST PART.
| The Discovery of Joseph | |