Thou' rt as my Son whom God Almighty bless This he pronounced with such vehemency That Tears appear'd in his melting Eye Though Pow'r and Policy bid him refrain His face is wash'd and he returns again And bids them set on Bread 't is quickly done For all the rest together him alone And for the Egyptians by themselves whose meat Was not the same with that which Joseph eat Being unto them a great abomination To feed on such things as the Hebrew Nation Now all is ready Chaplain say the Grace And let each Stranger set as is his place He that is eldest bid him first go in And let the rest assede then Benjamin Judge you if Joseph did not give them cause To think that he once their Domestick was He can so well their Birth and Age discern They marvel at it yet doth nothing learn Come Trenchers here Carver cut up this Dish And reach me hither that same boyled Fish Sir take this Mess and you and you and you You 're welcome all they thank him with a Bow But Oh! methinks that young man is not serv'd In a Cooks Shop I would have no man starv'd Here Ramses reach the last man this from me This seen the rest did wonder why 't should be That of him he should take such special care And furnish with more than a five-fold share As Meat of all sorts so the Drink was free For Joseph said with you I 'le merry be The Grace-Cup's over now let us go on To sing of all the Rulers kindness shown Their Sacks he first commands to fill and then Their money to be put in them again Next take my Cup my Silver Cup said he And in Ben's Sack 's mouth let it hidden be With his Corn-money when he hath it paid All is perform'd My Lord as you have said The joyful Brethren e'r it was light day That Morning with their Loads are sent away Though they have scarcely past the City Walls When Hue and Cry's sent out Constable calls Stand thankless Wretches tell me what 's the cause That ye have thus ev'n broken Natures Laws And all the Rules of Hospitalitie You said we 're true men but ye robbers be My Lords both drinking and divining Cup Deny it not you you have taken up Was this requital for your Noble Feast Restor't again may be ye took 't in Jest Nay but you Jest said they we hope your Lord Hath sent you unto us with no such word For though we here be Strangers yet the chief At home we are we need not play the thief Did we not with us treble Money bring Why then should we have stol'n this petty thing If you among us do the Goblet find Hang him that took it and the rest Slaves bind You 've said enough yet it must not be so But he that took it Servant back shall go And you be blameless for it were too much That one should die and th' rest be kept for such A crime then to 't said Reuben to the rest Pull down your Sacks and open them in haste Let this unthought-of search with me begin And so go on to Brother Benjamin When all of them had narrowly been try'd Except the last then was the Cup descry'd Which brought upon them such a sudden fear That some their cloths rent some their hair did tear To see these mourning Brethren 't was great pity Loading their Asses turning to the City When Judah and his Brethren too were come To Joseph's House expecting their last doom He bow'd and said What shall we say unto My Lord What shall we speak What shall we do To prove us guiltless sure God hath found out Our hidden fault for which without all doubt He doth us punish wherefore we are thine Because the Cup is found with Benjamin The Fact is too apparent yet our God Who searcheth Hearts knows our intended load Was Corn not Plate but since it must be so His will be done and we no further go This when the man had heard he answer made I never yet on any burthens laid More than I thought was just then God forbid That I should any keep but him who did Convey away my Cup 't is only he That I adjudge my Servant for to be As for the rest let them go home in peace I 'le use him well although he live by Grace Then Judah with a look that spoke his fears Said Good my Lord graciously deign your ears Unto a few things that I must express About my Brother Ben. his business Didst thou not strictly of us all enquire If we had yet a Brother more or Sire We answer'd Yes a comely aged man Call'd Israel and dwells in Canaan Who keeps at home with him our youngest Brother His Darling being dead who was another Which two fair Rachel to our Father bore This makes him love the living Lad the more And thee require of us more earnestly His coming down that thou might set thine Eye Upon him but we all with one accord Said this can scarce be granted to my Lord For if his Father part with him we fear He will not live with us another year At this thou vexed from us turn'd thy Face Say'ng bring him down or else my wonted Grace I will withdraw which when we did go home We told our ancient Father all in sum But had no answer till at last he said Rise get you down to Egypt for more aid But we remembring this thy threatning word Said none of us dare speak unto the Lord Or see his Face unless our Brother go To Egypt with us Surely it was so Which when our Father heard he sigh'd and said I thought the Corn had been already paid Must I the pledge of Rachel's love forsake Or else want Corn which I do so much lack Certainly this is hard I am right loath Seeing one is not now to part with both Poor Josephs death torments me yet with grief Only this Boy he gives me some relief If ye then seek me of him to deprive I must breath out my last and ye ne'r thrive This Sir said he if any truth there be In man was said by him and more to me You being Judge can any thing be worse Than for a Child to have the Fathers curse But if I could dispense with that what can I say to him when come to Canaan His life being bound with his of this I 'm sure Without the one the other can't endure Besides to him for this I surety came Saying if he come not let me bear the blame For ever Now let me the favour find To stay in place of him pray Sir be kind And send the Boy unto his Father back With joy that he in him may pleasure take Great Sir if you old Age admire relief Grant be not Author of our Fathers grief This dext ' rous Plea with Joseph took such place As it was soon known by his changed Face Whose frowns do vanish and his threats
since you the handmaid gave And said of her you shall raise seed to me I thought this was enough to make her free I' th' house but now I see 't is otherways Favours of this kind have sudden decays However your desire I will fulfill Hagar be gone it is thy Mistress will Ang. Well said my friend for I desire the same Thy Family must from Isaack have its name And blessing too Ab. Thy will I shall obey Come Sirs get up and make no more delay The Lord commands whose laws are all to me Just though contrary they to nature be This Bread and Water take and so go hence You have abus'd your Mistress patience Though I know nothing I must not controul This peevish humour grieves my very Soul Chorus Each day hath its succeeding night Clouds sometimes darken the Suns light The Flowers that florid are to day Tomorrow Frost nips quite away Youth like a shaddow flies and age Sayth 't is my turn to tread the Stage Life must give place to grim-fac'd Death There 's nothing fixed made of Earth But all dance round and Circle make While one anothers place doth take The passions likewise have their turns One Breast with Love and Hatred burns One's sad and merry Melancholly And all sometimes are counted folly Honours and pleasures are so brittle That most wise men esteem them little In fine there 's nought but thoughts of Heaven That bringeth Wages home at Even Angel Abraham Devil Faith Flesh Despair Ang. Abra'm my faithful Servant do'st thou hear I must give thee a visit once a year Iâ—ave found thee perfect always hitherto And now I am come to try if thou wilt do What I command thee without stay or grudge Remember once thou call'd me righteous Judge Ab. I 'm here speak Lord thy Servant hears and will Count all thy precepts Just and them fulfill Ang. What could'st thou freely part withal for me Ab. What could I not since I have all from thee Ang. Then thou must take thy Son thine only Son And sacrifice him so my will is done The Mount Moriah's fittest for thy turn There thou shalt lead young Isaack and him burn This action Abraham will please me well Ab. My Lord if you command I 'le go to Hell Devil Fond fool give o're Religion makes thee mad Heav'ns Minions never yet rejoycing had Without a damp their sweet is mix'd with soure It is not possible for humane power To act what he commands being as strict As those who bid men without straw make brick Faith Give o're thou murd'ring Sp'rit do not delude The friend of God all whose commands are good If he should fear or fret at his desire Thou canst not keep him from a fiercer fire Than he is bid to kindle for his Son That 's Brimston and will last when this is done And yet will be no pleasing Sacrifice To God nor him do Abraham and be wise Flesh What Father ever yet so cruel was To Murther his own Child without a cause View but these Limbs and features of his face His sparkling Eyes then there will be no space Left in thy harden'd heart for cruelty A faithful man will never Butcher be Of humane Bodies Faith Faint flesh those Eyes and Features are but toys That fade with time and age there 's greater Joys Laid up for Isaack immortality What needs thou care then if he burned be Besides hast thou not heard how Phaenix rare Burned to ashes doth her self repair Out of the same being first a little Worm If thou believe thou need'st not fear this storm Despair Thou canst not be belov'd of God since he Bids thee perform such monstrous cruelty They say he 's merciful if it be so Thou may'st lye still and never think to go To Mount Moriah whom he loves he loves But this command rather his hatred proves Faith This is an old tone and bespeaks thee fool Know that he hath given ev'ry man his Soul Which if he back again from him requires By Famine Sword or Pestilence or Fires 'T is never to destroy that he doth this But for removall to Eternal bliss Ab. Give o're give o're now it is almost day I will no more dispute Believe and pray I will for success on my loved host I spend but time my God is at the cost He gave me Isaack and desires that he In fire and flames should from the Altar be Sent whence he came Sarah Abraham Servants Sar. My Lord I fear you have a troubled head For I could scarcely hold you in your Bed Tell me your Dream it fearful is I 'm sure For I have Dreamed too and can't endure Now when awake no not to think of it I saw a Bow from Heav'n bent and hit My darling Ab. Sarah then our Dreams are one God bids me go and burn my little Son Sar. Burn him alas I see I laugh'd too soon Then must my hopes and comforts all be gone Ab. Peace Sarah it is God requires the Lad And he shall have him if I twenty had Can I bestow them better than to give My Maker all in whom I move and live Sar. My Lord 't is but a Dream as yet forbear Such things require a double Messenger Ab. Dearest thou know'st my Dreams are always true Though such a Dream as this I never knew However honey let us with submission Part with the Lad obeying Heav'ns commission His pow'er is great so is his mercy too Thou know'st not what he is about to do For I may safely with the Boy return And if I do not there 's no cause to mourn We are but as were and he another May give whom thou may'st call Isaack's Brother The promiser is all-sufficient We can have no just cause then to repent Our Piety which always promise hath Of grace and freedom from Eternal Death Sar. My Lord he is your own and God your Friend Obey him mean while I will Prayers send For him to Heav'n as soon as you are gone And beg he may not give me cause to moan Who laugh'd before Ab. Go Sadle me my Ass and two of you Must go with me where yet I do not know Call my Boy softly tell him he must rise To see his Father offer Sacrifice Go to the Log-pile and choose out some wood Cleave none for use but that 's exceeding good Ser. Sir all is ready Ab. Sarah fare thee well Still hope in God the Lad may live and dwell Again with thee his Mother till he come To mans ' state or another in his room Sar. My doubts are over may the Lord direct You in your Journey for if he protect Or kill the Boy I shall leave to complain Perhaps he doth intend a greater gain Than either you or I as yet expect Kiss me dear Child and thou my God effect The present work my Husband is but clay And may stretch out his hand another way Than is thy will again kiss me my Son Then go with courage Heav'ns
to the weary Pilgrim on his way What 's greater joy than when he sees and wheâ— His friends receive him safe return'd agen Such straits had I in all my life yet still I sought to be submissive to the will Of my good God and shall I quest'on now That Strength and Goodness which I ever knew No thou art welcome as the Harbinger To call me hence where my affections were All this sad time that I have liv'd on earth No man's more willing to resign his breath Death Thou' rt not afraid of death as Dives was Laz. No Sir you see that I have no such cause Death You are a debtor too and 't must be paid Laz. Yes unto nature What my sins have made Me liable to th' Law when Christ did bleed He said that from the same I should be freed Whose Cross my Crown and Blood my Treasure is This being so pardon I cannot miss Death Then thou art ready Laz. Yes through Heav'ns Grace And hope e're long to see his blessed face â—n Glory Who is that behind you stands Death It is an Angel into whose blest hands You must resign your Soul Now I must see The Rich Man's Funeral Solemnitie Pride Sexton Chyrurgions Masons Carvers Pr. This loathsome pale-fac'd Death made me retire â—rom my deceased Lord whose last desire Was That you Sexton ring his passing Bell And you Embalmers dress his Body well And that you Masons out of Marble Rock â—ig for his Statue a substantial Block 〈◊〉 length sev'n foot breadth four and somewhat more â—or's just dimension as he was before â—ou'r wish'd likewise who Mallet use and Tool â—o cut th' Effigies while his wandring Soul â—oth miriads of years 'bout Lethe Streams â—ange drink and sleep until his newer Dreams Remove him to the fair Elizium Where none but such as my dear Dives come Sext. Master I went about your just Commands But flaming Spirits flood and held my hands Saying That since you you had damn'd his Soul He was no better if the Bell did towl Though then at Pray'r these unexpected words With stranger Faces and prodigious Swords Repell'd my spirits so as I seem'd to be As fit for my last Fun'ral Rite as he Pr. Well 't is no matter I and Gluttony In spight of Heav'n and Hell will Ringers be Chyrurg ' on s view the Corps and spare no cost We do too little when we do the most For our dead Father Dives by whose breath All men received either life or death Though we 'bove all as Trustees must our skill Use till we have performed his last Will. An 't shall be done Artists what say you to 't Chyr Sir Art availeth not we cannot do it The sparkling Glow-worm yesterday shin'd bright Melts into Rottenness A horrid sight Pr. Where is the leaden Coffin put him in Chyr Nor this Sir can we do he hath no skin His flesh and bones consume nothing remains So save your Gold good Sir as we our pains Pr. Is' t usual for dead men to do so Chyr No no it only speaks where he 's to go Pr. Why He 's already in th' Elizian Groves Chyr Be not deceiv'd Heav'n no corrupt'on love Pr. And do you truly think his state is bad Chyr We do so truly and think your's as sad Without Repentance Pr. Now I know ye rave Chyr We knew what we should have no more we crave Pr. Masons where is the Stone that I bespoke For 's Statue Mas Coming hither it was broke Pr. I think we shall be cross'd in each design Mas We ne're were so till now 't is a bad sign Pr. I never heard so much of these till now Mas Such om ' nous things may make a proud man bow Pr. Bow with a Pox then what must the most do Mas We answer soon learn to be humble too Pr. Be gon ye Rogues about your business Mas From such as you we ne're expected less Pr. Carvers have you no such already made Car. Yes but we must take pains about the head which we with artificial hairs must cover And in his hands put bags of Gold however Now Sir it 's done according to your mind Pr. Come take your Mony I 'll have that 's behind Mourners Thrice cursed be the day and Fate That did our bliss obliterate Our golden Mine is now shut up Its owner drinks of Styg'an Cup While we his Votaries do groan Being depriv'd of him alone From whom we all our living had All but his Flatter'rs wanted bread His Friends though few he loved well Since for them he would go to Hell Where we must leave him and repent E're our last glass of time be spent Or else we must expect that Doom To which he is too surely come For his neglect of Pietie Of which he would no lover be Our Tears are vain then let 's give o're And take possession of his store It is sufficient that his Glory Will live as long as Sacred Story And name of Dives will be sweet To every earthly Proselyte Who make their God of gilded clay Till Heav'n as him sweep them away There needs no Tomb most Rich Mens Purses Wrap him as Children by their Nurses Death Angel Lazarus Death Friend Lazarus how like you my returnâ— Laz. Well though your absence gave me cause to mourn Had not the glor'ous Light you left behind Made my past mis'ries vanish from my mind Death Doth not the Doom of the Rich Man affright Thy feeble flesh Laz. Ne're while I see this Light Which I am sure is earnest of that bliss I shall receive when come where Jesus is Keep me no longer here I am most willing Thou canst not hurt me having lost thy Sting Speaketh to the Angel And you if sent from God to be my Guide Hold fast dark night rough way may make me slide Ang. Joy of thy Lord I 'm come for that same end To bring thee safe to Heav'n he did me send Whose will I always cheerfully obey Yet e're we take our wing pray let us stay And talk of your Adventur's here below This I desire Laz. I 'll tell you what I know What entertainment had you all this time On earth Laz. As Cynthia now Full now Prime Or as bright Phebus whose resplendant Rays Give heat and light to the renewed days And yet are sometimes wrapt in Clouds and Mist That if he shine or not it is not guest Or when pale Luna overshades his face So various was my state while in this place Ang. Is there not then 'mong Mortals difference Laz. Yes that 's one cause for which I would go hence Some swim in pleasure some are drown'd in want Though this last happens where true Grace is scant The Rich oppress the Poor the fat devour The lean and yet this lasteth not an hour Being compared with Eternity Ang. Do not some say that they shall never dy Laz. Yes so said the Rich Man but yesterday Now I am almost weary of my stay For
what to say To still their clamour only that they may Repair to thee for answer and receive What thou thinks meet I know 't is bread they crave The Famine now grown over all the Earth And every Creature suffering under dearth The Store-houses were opened and meat The moneyed Egyptians did eat Yet though he sold to many of the store The Famine waxed daily more and more Neither did Egypt only Victuals want But in all other Countryes Food was scant Yea even in Cana'n which was wont to be For plenteousness the Worlds Granary The Famine plac'd it self in every Face Which Jacob seeing cryed out Alass What shall we do we 'd better ne'r been born Then die for hunger yet I hear there 's Corn In Egypt up then get you down and try If of the Ruler you can any buy Go thither therefore all of you save one Him leave with me I cannot be alone Father said they our lives we owe to you Can we refuse then what you bid us do No Benjamin shall stay till we are come With all our Asses fully loaden home Your blessing Sir e'r we our Journey take We are all ready only that we lack That God's and mine your Journey prosper may Till ye return I 'le never cease to pray Your Money make full weight entreat the man Tell him the Famine's great in Canaan And that with others you are come to buy Egyptian Corn your wants that may supply Now unto Zoan Jacob's Sons are come Saying is the Lord the Governor at home We come from far O let 's obtain the grace To speak and shew him our disast'rous case Lo I am here said he your business At this they bow'd to the Earth and could express Nothing his Glory and their present grief Ties up their Tongues they cannot ask relief The Prince again who all their Faces knew Stranged himself from them and angry grew Saying whence come you surely you are Spies The countenance often the heart betrayes This rough expression so encreas'd their fear That trembling they reply No Sir this year Our Syrian Land was parch'd and nothing bore Meer want made us come unto thee for store Go go you lye I know your whispering Perswadeth me that there is no such thing But Villains come the nakedness to view Of this our Land and then himself withdrew Nay Good my Lord said they our Story hear We all Sons unto one and true men are Mark what we say and if we tell you Lyes Then and not else conclude that we are Spies Tush this is nothing every man will say As much if so by that he cleared may Be but if you give not a better reason Of your down coming I will swear there 's Treason Intended Then we 're twelve reply'd the other Brethren of whom you see ten and another At home his Fathers joy and one is not Ha now that you be Spies I surely wot And so for all your words I shall you prove If you bring not to me your Fathers Love Choose out among you one and for him send Till then our Controversie cannot end Nor you be clear if you do not I swear By Pharaoh's Life that you vile Vagrants are Go bring the Lad his Face when I do see I 'le say all 's true that ye have said to me Resolve this Prison must be your abode Till all agree this do live I fear God If ye be true men then let one of you Be bound in Prison where you all are now And let the rest take Corn that may supply Your wants at home lest they for hunger die In this great Famine only bring the Boy It 's truth I seek to prove not to destroy Your lives to which they 'gree and say t' each other We guilty are concerning our dear Brother Who to his anguish't Soul so hard'ned were That when he pray'd his plaint we would not hear For which in Justice our Almighty God Doth lay on us this his afflicting Rod. Then Reuben unto them reply'd and said Did I not tell you so when fast you laid Your hands upon the Boy but did no good Therefore of us required is his blood This they among themselves in Hebrew spake Thinking that Joseph could no notice take For seeing one who as his part requir'd Interpreted what they of him desir'd And unto them what his Lords answer was They spake their minds aloud about the cause Of their distresses which when Egypt's Lord Had heard he turn'd from them without a word His sympathizing Soul swell'd so high That he must either quickly burst or cry See where Gods Spirit dwells no hatred lives He turns again communes in heart forgives Their ancient Crime yet seemingly unkind He from them Simeon takes and him doth bind And then commands his Servants for to fill Their Sacks with Corn not leaving off until They said they had enough the money he Bids put into their Sacks mouths most secretly Provision for their way bids also take Saying here 's enough I would not have you lack Nor yet diminish ought that ye have bought It 's pity you should come so far for naught Their Asses now when they all loaded had From Egypt soon they their departure made Travelling hard till it was time to bait Their Asses and themselves had need to eat Their Dinner over Beasts now to be proven'd One his Sack opens and cryes out I 'm cosen'd Did you not all see me my money pay And yet 't is here in my Sacks mouth this day This quickly made their joyful Faces lowr And curse the day and the unhappy hour When they their Brother sold It surely is For vengence said they that our God doth this Up and let 's load again till we our place In Canaan see and our old Fathers face That from his wise and long experience May gather'd be what can proceed from hence Now they 're returned home and do relate To Jacob how the Steward did them hate All which we might well by his car'age gather But Ah! said they this was not all dear Father For he would not convinced be but we Must needs be spies come Egypt for to see And though we spoke the truth all this he urg'd May come from Subtile Rogues and so be forg'd But if you will prove true said he leave one Till ye have brought me Jacob's little Son This we were forc'd to do Simeon is there And must till Ben our Brother doth repair Thither with us when we go next to buy Whose sight will work poor Sim's delivery And our free Traffick throughout all the Land Of this we have the Rulers Word and Hand But pray let 's see your Corn if it be right Said Jacob sure your Money was full weight You shall Dear Father bring the Asses nigh That we may empty't in the Granary Lift up this Sack 't is of unusual weight Pray God there be not here another slight Look here 's my Money mine and mine and mine And all of