had Egypt for all kind of grains Exchang'd their Coin their Jewels and their Chains All which our loyall Joseph never wrests To his own use but adds to Pharaohs Chests This store exhausted you may ghess for bread Thus the Egyptians to Joseph plead Dread Sir great Pharaoh's darling Egypts Saint Vouchsafe a patient ear to our complaint We have for Corn exchang'd our coin and gold And yet Dearth rageth as your Grace foretold Our Barns are empty not through our default Nor hath an en'my sow'd our Fields with Salt None enviously have choakt our Fields with stones None of these things are authors of our mones Great Nile's offended and no wonted shout Awakes the Echo since no flood ran out Through his fat banks cut by our num'rous troops No Nile within his shallow chanell stoops Our Money faileth and who will not hold A grain of Corn well worth an ounce of gold Our hopes are faild and when the main-spring Hope Is out of tune the lesser wheels will stop Of joy and pleasure yet we 'll not desist Since in thee bounty hath with goodness kist Think on thy honour let it not be said That we now perish whom you first didst aid Redeem us from the jawes of Death which boon Will make thy fame shine bright as Titans noon Sirs quoth the Lord my troubled heart doth languish In true imagination of your anguish Yet though I you condole I hope each knowes That I dispense as Pharaoh doth dispose Yet will he grant such is his mild remorse Corn in exchange for Heards and teams of Horse Glad was all Egypt nor at all deferr'd T' accept his love each brings his team and heard On which exchange they liv'd this year yet pind In sad conceit of two years yet behind More then with food refresh'd so ranging Deers Fear more emacerates than plenty cheers The year being ended which as in a ring It self within it self again doth bring Sad Egypt having all their cattle spent Which Industry had got or Fortune lent Ghess them in a full press with bended ham And prostrate faces unto Ioseph came Great Sir quoth they now this is the third time We have appeald to thee and yet no prime Is Nile after so many years effluxions Th' earth weary grown after so oft productions And so expects like an exhausted soil A rest and respite from the wonted toil Our Share tusts and our tools that digg'd the earth Hang like some Trophies dedicate to dearth Each body here 's her Obelisk that bears Her triumph Grav'd in meager Characters Since Pharaoh first our Cause to thee refer'd There 's none but hath exchang'd his Teem and Herd Wee not a Beast detain there 's none great Prince That can thy servants of such fraud convince Now if our persons may and each ones land Ioyn'd with thy love in equall ballance stand With one years diet more we have to boast Nor will as yet esteem our selves as lost So Pharaoh shall a double title have In each one of subject and a slave View but these looks well thou wilt not demur Nor will thy pity need another spur Thou art our nostrills breath why should we dy The breath of all our nostrills being by And since now 's the last year by fate decreed That Dearth shall rage we further beg some seed To sow the land that it may be reduc'd Which in its ancient Chaos lies confus'd Sirs quoth our Lord my heart with you condoles The bitter anguish of your troubled Souls Yet 't were a sin in me beyond excuse Should I not all dispence to Pharaohs use Yet as I pittie what you have disclos'd So will I grant you what you have propos'd Ghess Ioseph now for Pharaoh wisely changes Bread for their Fields their Mannors and their Granges And with the Citizens for Pharaoh Barters For Corn their Houses Liberties and Charters And that their lands and rights might all be known By some clear evidence as Pharaohs own Th' Egyptians were to Cities far remov'd To the lands end so Pharaohs right was prov'd Yet the Priests lands and I sis Princely Flamines Became not Pharaohs nor the greedy Famins As if 't were Sacrilegious extortion Ev'n in this Panic sale to buy their portion Nor were they famished for Pharaohs stores They made as bold with as their threshing floors And which those Priests who then serv'd I sis Cow Or they that serve the Lamb of heaven now Are worth most honours reader fear and pray Lest Pagans judge us at the latter day Ghess Egypt now were in a full convention By Joseph summond then to soft attention To whom quoth he Sirs there is none but knowes And will acknowledge still with thankfull vowes That y' are preserved not by common Power Since Fate and Fortune on you all did lower If Pharaoh's bounty did not intervene Your Play were marr'd now in the latter Scene And you like long-toss'd Vessells should fall short And drown within the kenning of the Port Now so will Pharaoh as you do importune In true commiseration of your fortune Not out of Avariee for to supplant But out of pitty to supply your want Be 't then in Egypts Notaries inroll'd That y'have your lands and selves to Pharaoh sold Lo here is seed go sow the land in peace Which with its former vigour shall increase Whereof a fifth part you shall grant the King You now being safe under his Graces wing You for your houshold shall the rest reserve To nourish them Bread's natures chiefest nerve This he Enacted and a Statute seal'd Which to this day 's not cancell'd nor repeal'd At this quoth Egypt most renowned Prince Whose truest Hieroglyphick were a Lynce For as with him compar'd each creature 's blind Each spirits dark to thy inlightned mind Nature the worlds great Soul must needs confess Thee alone her preserver th' world must bless Thee the sole cause thy pitty and remorse That Dearth on both now acts not a divorce To thee we owe we here converse with men And not with Ghosts in deaths unsavoury den Thee that our Wives by her impartiall Bawd Not ravish'd are for death we praise we laud Thee that our children like so many elves Shrink not to nought but yet look like themselves Admit us safe under thy Graces wing Renowned Prince so will we serve the King Grant now that debt that Adam did ingage All men in Death hath claim'd of Jacobs age Who swearing Joseph to transport his bones Hath breath'd his last in blessings on his Sons Grant Ioseph next by generall suffrage Attended on in mourning equipage His Fathers corps to Canaan brought interr'd In Machpelah so of his oath was cleer'd When Iacob thus had deaths arrest obeyd Conscience within the Brethren 'gan t' upbraid Their old offence anew thus guilt would plead Their Brothers hate but slept though it seem'd dead Occasion now might wake it th' end might prove That with their Father di'd their Brothers love That wounds are dang'rous when they
likewise his for to unfold Weak sorcery may feed you with delusion Ne'r satisfie you with a true conclusion Then here unload your thoughts to me and I I'th'end may prove your faithfull Mercury At this the Butler speaks then hear Ipray Me thought one Vine three branches did display Which first me thought did bud then bloom'd abroad Then bore ripe clusters of a pleasant load I having Pharaohs Cup before him stood And in it to him crusht their sparkling blood Quoth Joseph then three branches are three days Which time expired Pharaoh shall thee raise From up this Dungeon unto former grace And shalt officiate in thy wonted place But then quoth he as this shall thus prove true So to the King for my releasment sue That I no longer thus may ly inplung'd My spotless name by infamy expung'd For I long since was ravished by theft Both of my Country and my friends bereft Then when you are to dignity restor'd Pray think on what I humbly here implor'd Remember Joseph quit me from this blame Lest I prove shortly nothing but the name From that sin of Lust heav'n knows I 'm cleer As is you light that Chariots in his Sphear The Baker seeing the Butlers Dreams import Was of his re-advancement in the Court Quoth he I likwise strangely dream'd me thought As to the Court I three white Baskets brought With bak'd-meats and with other plenty stor'd Wherewith I might replerish Pharaohs board The Birds allured by the dainties fled And pickd them as I bore them on my head Quoth Joseph these three Baskets do presage When thrice the Sun hath past the azurd stage The King shall from this Prison thee conveigh And hang thee on a tree for Birds a prey The third day Memphis with triumphall mirth Held in remembrance of their Pharohs birth When that the Butlers innocent desert Was re-advanc'd the Baker to the Cart From Prison was conveigh'd and in this season Was hang'd in expiation of his treason Whose trunk allured many an aery guest Who seem'd in honour of the time to feast The Butler notwithstanding this forgot Sad Joseph that foretold his future lot As fattest fields yeeld weeds of foulest savours Ingratitude repayes the greatest favours Since Pride is Fortunes daughters 't is less strange To see how soon us can Preferment change For they whose Fortunes flie another sphear Unto their Mates stern Planets oft appear At least despise them or their Vows forget So Bells at first speak thick but rais'd are set So small Brooks roar but gaining depth of land Their swelling streams are at a sullen stand Twice swelling Nile his barren banks had drown'd And with his fertile slime inricht the ground Twice twelve times had the Mistris of the night Lookt black through absence of her lovers sight When that great Pharaoh on his couch lay stretcht And leaden Morpheus on his senses watcht His roving Genius was entertain'd By such conceits which though his fancy feign'd Yet under them he fear'd was coucht a sense Of high Import and mighty Consequence When straight he tryes the Charmers and their Spells Who all implor'd their wonted Oracles One woo'd the Stars another pli'd the Tomb A third his Spirit charm'd but all were dumb As when some did the Delphian Shrine implore When th' Oracle grew dumb and spake no more On which the Butler being seen awoke By racking memory thus humbly spoke Great Sir I cannot give my thoughts a truce Till I my self thus to your Grace accuse I with the Baker were accus'd long since To have conspir'd the death of thee our Prince On which as Traitours to the solemn Oath Of our Aleageance you confin'd us both When in one night our fancies had imprest Such Dreams on memory which to the test Of Reason brought drove us t'amazed straights Who might unfold their intricate conceits When to a fellow-pris'ners much requests The Captains servant We unlockt our Breasts Who the results both of my innocence Foretold and of the Bakers just events Pharaoh not asking why he was attach'd A hasty Message to the Guard dispatch'd To set their Pris'ner free who we may ghesse Was brought to Pharaoh in a seemly dresse Who now rejecting all the Magick sect Thus speaks to Joseph with a mild aspect Strange Dreams this night my Spirits have ingrost Remembrance haunts me like an angry Ghost And I have heard thy Spirit is accute And canst unravell Dreams beyond dispute Now couldst thou lead me through this Maze and Mist Of doubts could'st thou my ridling Dreams untwist Quoth Joseph Then let Pharaoh hear me speak Yet 't is not I but God for I am weak Let fears all vanish let debarement cease My God shall to great Pharaoh answer peace Quoth Pharaoh as I slept this was my Dream Me thought I stood close by a pleasant stream I look'd and from the banks I saw there climb'd Seven Kine fat-flesh'd and well proportion limb'd Which in a Medow neer the River plac'd Fed pleasantly and made a full repast Next from the stream ascending I observ'd Seven Kine small limb'd sunk-ey'd and hunger-starv'd Who straight devour'd the rest that came before Yet still remain'd ill-favoured lean and poor Then I awoke and while I sadly mus'd Where this were naturall or else infus'd I know not yet what vapours did condense Within my brain sleep once more lockt my sense When lo I dream'd again One stalk sustaind Sev'n eares of Corn rank good and heavy-graind Next them sev'n eares thin blasted and deflowr'd Arose which strait the former crop devour'd I told the Charmers this yet ne'r could learn Of them what these my dreamings did concern Great Sir quoth Joseph thus these sev'n full ears And sev'n good kine are seven plenteous years In which the earth shall in increasfull crops Rejoyce the Husbandmen beyond their hopes The sev'n thin eares and seven ill-favoured kine Are seven years of Famine I divine Which shall ensue the first the Springs recruit Be void the Earth fail of her wonted fruit The Vine shall not her wonted Vintage bleed And Nile in nothing fruitfull but in weed The Dream was twice presented for to shew That this establish'd is and shall ensue Through Gods decree now by your Graces leave If I might counsell what I fit conceive Though I am shallow and my thoughts I still Confesse flag much below your Counsels skill Yet I might say that oft your Grace doth know To lowest means we greatest matters owe. And though that no one can anticipate The Heavens decree and cross the doom of Fate Your Grace may know there 's by this warning meant That you this judgement may through care prevent Let Pharaoh make one of his wisest Peers Chief Master of the Corn the plenteous years Who may disperse his servants through each County To gather up Ceres superfluous bounty To a fifth part while plenty so shall last Through riot that there be no spoil nor wast Who where there are no Barns may give a charge To
build where they are small for to inlarge For great shall be the plenty and extream Shall be the famine as your Grace did Dream So shall you wisely deal like carefull Ants Whom Natures teacheth to prevent their wants Famine's Death's younger Sister 't is an Elf More terrible than War or Death it self This liking Pharaoh well he answers thus Where can we find so fit a Genius So dext'rous as thy self so full of merit In whom there is inshrin'd so rare a Spirit So worthy of our confidence so prompt Of my affairs here take the full accompt Who dares against my choice for to repine Or turn a Rebell to thy Discipline My Genius my triple ey I swear Thou than my other two art far more dear How joy refines my temper oh 't is strange They erre that think Complexions cannot change Embraces distant are O would that Fate Would grant we might more neer incorporate My wit wants words to set my Passion forth Or Hieroglyphycks to describe thy worth Who dares with thee confest there 's greater none Than thee but I that sit upon the Throne So â—e late under an Imperious guard Was now advanced unto high reward Pharaoh sate at the Helm but Joseph steer'd And in the second Chariot was preferr'd And some according to the Kings Decree Would run before him crying Bow the knee So he who seem'd in miserie forlorn'd His neck hath with a golden Chain adorn'd His finger decked with a precious Ring Which Pharaoh wore as Embleme of a King Who in despised rags did lie of late Now in rich Robes walk'd in Majestick state The Bias of all Egypt he that drew Their Inquisition t'an admiring view The Court was but the Ring and he the Gem As to a branch of Egypts Royall Stem All did submit themselves and to the Court As to a late descended God resort First one would call him Father and salute Him with a present of his early fruit In things of weight one by his Genius swore A third in pain would Josephs God implore The old late weary of their lives desir'd To bless their Eyes with him yet they expir'd The middle ag'd would bless him and the young Unto him issue in a num'rous throng Rich poor strong weak the humble and the haughty All ran to see the Author of their safety So he on whom the heavens seem'd to frown Is now advanced unto high renown So he who late in Prison did obey Now o'r all Egypt bears a mighty sway Our Saviours truest Type so Christ arose To save those whom God of his mercy chose As Pharaohs love to Joseph was inclin'd Hath God the Father to his Son resign'd All Power hath Him from bonds of flesh releas'd So is the Father in the Son well pleas'd Hath at his right hand plac'd him wills that wee At Jesus name should bow an humble knee Thrice ten times Joseph had seen I aniveer With double face to usher in the year When thus he stood before great Pharaohs face And gain'd this measure of his Princely grace Which age now for a bosome help matur'd Such was kind Pharoahs love that he procur'd Potipherah the princely Priest of Un To take his Countries Father for his Son His first-born was Manasseth for I have Quoth he forgot how I was sold a slave My present happiness where e'r I come Makes me forget my Friends and native home His second Ephraim for I a stranger Quoth he am fruitfull in a Land of danger About which age our blessed Sacrifice Having redeem'd us not with common price But with his blood ascended hence from this 〈…〉 a far more glorious world of bliss And for his sweet belov'd though he the groom Prorogue the Mariage till the day of doom He ne'r is absent from the Church his Spouse Both by the Spirit dart their mutuall vowes Now 'gan the plenteous years Nile at no time Did ever leave such fruitfull beds of slime The Husbands pain though great though fat the soyl Yet still the fruit surpast their hopes and toyl As if God through a gracious remorse Of mans great toyl had here repeal'd that curse Of tedious barrenness for here their ground Did like a fertile Paradise abound Fields that this Marshes weep that Fens did mourn With fruit now laught and sung with cheerfull corn The weather seasonable no fierce rain Egg'd on by Tempests wash'd away their grain The heat was temperate Sols gawdy torch Did smile to ripen never kiss to scorch And now did Joseph like a carefull Father Against the time of Dearth begin to gather Conceiv'd how many sands are on the shore So vast so numberless was Joseph's store Who from the Kings Exchequer stor'd with Coin Fill'd up both Field and City then would join Barn unto barn which large repositories Stood long as Monuments of Joseph's glories Now to prevent all riots he began Which still destroyes more than a Famine can Corrupting plenty often is the Nurse Of foul disease no blessing but curse Time oft can witness when abuse begat Upon so fair a piece so foul a Brat Sev'n times had Sol cheer'd the Cymmerian coast Twelve times so oft exchang'd his monthly Host Since Nature like an ill-drawn Picture grew When it is pencill'd with a partiall view Or an unconstant Parent whose love 's blind And so imparts his store by Gavell kind Since she thus Egypt with such plenty blest But prov'd almost a Stepdame to the rest Anon all things being hurried on the hinge Of change and subject to the fatall swinge Of misery here Famine rays'd her stage And 'gan as Joseph did foretell to rage Nile that was wont to drench their parched earth Now only flow'd in tears to weep their dearth As if some pore or dry-exhausting vein Had drain'd that slime that should refresh their grain The Husband-man lamented that his seed Di'd not to live again the noysome weed Did revell in his labour whose excess Did riot in a fruitfull barrenness Thus pin'd he ' cause he liv'd a bootless slave Now might he with his Plough share dig his grave His Prune-hook useless was unless the Fate Of Dearth therewith he would anticipate Now Famine had presented her first scene Which made the frighted Country-man to glean His late neglected fields and that is priz'd As a rich Harvest which was late despis'd Another greedily would scrape the dough That lay neglected in her kneading trough That face which had Natures fresh liv'ry worn And shew'd as verdant as the rosie morn Now full-fac'd plenty had the Land forsook Famine display'd pale colours in each look All walking like to naked Skeletons Unto their Fellows made their heavy mones Some in the street did reel how could they tread A steady pace that lack'd the staff of bread Now all neer famish'd and their gleanings done With trembling steps they all to Pharaoh run As to their Father making their complaint While some through weakness in his presence faint Great Sir quoth one look how
then cease to quilt A web of specious lies upon your guilt This aggravates what I of late suspected Heav'n will not you should thus passe undetected Great Sir quoth they you justly may upbraid Us with your love we justly are betrayd The fact is clear what shall we then allege To clear our selves and who shall be our pledge Wee scarce have blood in all our veins great Lord Enough to stain your Vice-revenging sword Creat Sir we beg if bondage expiates Our Crime then mercy rules among the Fates Nay quoth the Lord my heart 's not Adamant No rocky Isle where such like Furies haunt Nor hath my Soul so liquorish a gust That nought but blood can satiate her lust Mercy and Justice here are neer a kin Our mercy here 's still greater than the sin Think I have pitty on your Fathers age Nor will enslave you all in vassalage I 'll onely recompence upon that Youth That had my Cup bonds for his breach of truth No sore-tormenting Probe unto the quick More deeply searcht a wound nor of the sick No launcet hit more sure the master-vein Than did his Lordships words pierce through each swain Who ever thus in tearms accutely coucht Rub'd on the matter they would have untoucht Some beg'd some wept and some confus'dly mutter'd Some indigested resolutions utter'd At last quoth Judah humbly on his knee Great Sir yet what you spake your vow decree Let not your anger flame that I so rude In language and in habit thus intrude You ask'd when first wee hither did repair Doth yet your Father breath the common air Have you alive a Brother more at home Our speech in devious falshoods did not come But kept truths rode quoth we Our Father 's old Half wearied Fate doth yet her distaff hold We have a Brother more a youthfull page Whom He esteems the comfort of his age His Fathers joy since his deceased Brother The onely Son of his expired mother And since our Father 's old and lame and dim He only walks and breaths and sees in him Then saidst thou as a witness of your truth Bring down your Brother let me see the youth Great Sir quoth we our Brother stands between Death and our Fathers lamp as th' only screen And He remov'd our Sires declining snuff Would soon b'extinguisht by some envious puff Yet saidst thou to thy servants bring the Child If that you will we shall be reconcil'd All this we to our Father did rehearse With the proceedings of our last commerce Our Corn exhausted there was long dispute 'T wixt Want and Nature we renew'd our sute To him to send our brother and at large Importunately urg'd your Lordships charge So quoth our father were I most forlorn By Rachaell I had two children born Whereof one parting hence became a feast Ay me I fear unto some rav'nou Beast With whom fled half my life then leave his Brother 'T were Paricide to take away the other O think my sons should you remove the prop That stayes my age I in my grave should drop Were there a Chrystall window in each Brest We know no more than what we have confest Now should we home and leave his son behind As with Prophetick doubts his fear divin'd Both hope and life would fail him should I know That I my self were the unhappy Bow Through whom false death aim'd her remorsless dart To the true mansion of my Fathers heart What should I do that shall both guilty seem Both of my Brothers loss and death of him I to my Sire was surety for the youth Have pitty on his age and on my truth When death quoth I my lamp of life shall quench May my good name dy in a noysome stench And with like vows I heaven did implore If I his son not safely did restore Then if my Lord please to reverse his doom I 'd gladly serve bound in my Brothers room Great Sir be pleas'd t' admit me in exchange I 'd weary cruelty and mock revenge I 'd count deaths sentence but an idle breath Yer I 'd seem guilty of my Fathers death Good Sir have pitty I would dare to meet A Thunderbolt wrapt in a lightning sheet Yet I 'd provoke a Fathers angry gall Since Parents curses are Propheticall As a new tun'd Cask of unpurged Wine Wind pris'ned in the earth or like a Mine The one if clos'd will make a furious vent The other break forth in a thundring rent Such were his Lordships tears such was his joy Which Passion though it long seem'd strange and coy And fickle in the wooing th' end did prove In it was coucht a Brothers tender love Which he no more was able to resist Than the quick pulse that thumpt within his wrist And joy like wind impris'ned in the earth Will shake th' hearts center but 't will have a birth Now since he could no longer thus contest H'intended secretly t' unlock his breast Shame that 's sins daughter wer 't not for this care Might here have prov'd the mother of despair Open reproofs like an impetuous rain Do wash away but not refresh the grain Now would he think to speak and then retreat Then on the prize his heart a charge would beat And though the cause as yet obscurely slept Yet Pharaohs servants heard him while he wept At last he thus began I Joseph am Is th' Oyl yet spent that fed my Fathers flame This on the porches of their ears he beat But all in vain that sense had left her seat And with the eyes by horrour scattered Had to the brain as an Asylum fled Yet being the kingly hearts chief centinells He by degrees dismist them from their cells For sense-bereaving horrors are like lees Which being once stirr'd will sinke but by degrees Now when they something had expell'd their fears Hee with these speeches board anew their ears I am your brother Joseph whom you sold Is yet my Father ' mongst th'alive inroll'd Come neer and see I have no false reserves Come on this visage spend your visive nerves I am the same as when you took my coat Though chang'd in hiew and of a rougher throat Though heav'n have chang'd my Fortune years my stature Nor time hath chang'd my love nor clime my nature Fear not the fact though gross shall not be blaz'd 'T is from the book of my remembrance rac'd Then judge your selves not rashly bless the deed For I was promis'd to preserve your seed Two years are past wherein remorsless dearth Hath knit the bowels of the teeming earth And yet these five years Nile in vain shall flowe The Husband-man in vain shall plough and sow Like a true Alchimist hath providence Drawn Honey from the Poyson of offence You sold God sent me hither heav'n be blest That turn'd your very sin unto the best Hast then with winged swiftness and infuse Fresh spirits in our Father with this news Say thus saith Joseph whom thou thoughtst to be Seal'd in the bosome of
eternity Thus saith thy Son who by the common vogue Was thought one of grim deaths large catalogue Thus saith our Brother here I am ador'd As Pharaohs Father and all Egypts Lord Come down thou with thy house thy heards and flocks Time limps away methinks with leaden socks Untill thou come accept of my advice Thine shall be Goshen Egypts Paradise Let no delay this thy descent prorogue Lest Famine in a fatall Epilogue End thee and thine come that with my Protection I in some sort may answer thy affection The Sun five times shall pass through all his Inns Till dearth shall fully expiate our sins Mean while descend and of my store partake Since heav'n by me prepar'd it for thy sake Hast for your own sakes that I may refresh And cloath your naked bones with tender flesh My words and actions have not divers centers Both end in one but if upon the tenters This stretch your faith beside the foretold signs Observe this visage and its wonted lines Sweet Benjamin blest were th' Astrologers If as I know these eyes they knew the Starrs If so though all events be closely seal'd No doubt the future should be all reveal'd His Lordships speeches were no sooner ended But he and Benjamin together blended Themselves in close embraces both did lie Entwined like the Zodiacks Gemini As if they meant lest we again should part Come by the strings let 's knit each others heart Their eyes now pay'd their long-retained debt Each on anothers neck entwined wept That done the rest with sweet inviting phrases He even wearied in his close embraces Then kist them all and Chorus-like enquir'd Again is not my Father yet expir'd God will be su'd to who no other task Imposeth on our wants but this to ask And though he seem long in majestick pause Not onely not to hear but slight our cause 'T is but to edge devotion to inhance His Grace upon our Souls before he grants All distance then is chang'd to an imbrace Wrath falleth as a Vizzard from his face He not defers nor his affection smothers Nor doth disdain at all to call us Brothers As one that dreams he 's falling from a steep And tow'ring precipice into the deep Awaking finds himself free from such harms And taking safe repose in friendly arms Such were the Brethrens fears and sad extremes Which now did seem but fancies and vain dreams When Joseph in their Passions Extasie Reviv'd their senses from their Lethargie With sundry Passions were at once their minds Like a Ship tost 'twixt two opposing winds Now would they joy then grief by shame being backt Their new resolved greetings would distract The tears from divers springs seem'd to proceed Which they not so much seem'd to weep as bleed Within their brain two floods at once arose Of joy and grief as when two Seas oppose Some wept some weeping smil'd like Aprils weather Which rains then shines then rains and shines together Now were they all resolved to regreet Their Brothers courtesie but as a fleet Which comming neer the harbour back is thrust Into the Ocean by some angry gust Shame would retard intention some would smother In silent whispering the name of Brother Glad Reuben though he gave to God the glory Yet blest perswasion and his oratory And Judah though he sold him yet was bold To say he joy'd though griev'd he thus was sold Now they confest his Dreams no vain Phantasms But heav'nly and inspir'd Enthusiasms Their Sheaves and Stars had bow'd the sawcy Boy Was now their Lord and Egypts chief Vice-roy Glad Benjamin admiring the results Of their immanity thus now exults A Brother lost and found is worth like mirth As if you joyed at a Brothers birth Come then let 's triumph for who could expect From this so bad a cause so good effect To hear the Lord speak how he was re-sold How often fashion'd in afflictions mold His Chastity which with a full mouth'd blast Shall fill Fames trump as long as time shall last How he ran Chance as blind as ever painted Yet he by adoration thus was Sainted In mens opinions would make a dint And deep impression in hearts of flint For joy some swounded and each circumstance Of each relation struck them in a trance Each passage made each minutes time the mother Of some new joy so one joy crown'd another Had th' whole world seen each act heard each rehearsall No doubt the joy had here been Universall T' express the triumph fully would extort Descriptions treasury undoe report Now tell-tale Fame hath with a nimble wing Proclam'd these tidings to the Court and King Who thus to Joseph placed next his Throne We to thy Fathers care thy Mothers grone All owe our lives nay more for to him seeng Thou being ow'st we owe him all well being Now since he liveth and the fatall Star That blasts our Kingdomes plenty spreads so far Her fatall influence as Canaans clime Send for thy Father on our Souls this crime Shall not write guilt that He amidst our store Should faint whom for thee all are bound t' adore To Him alone for thee all Egypts bound So deep more than conceit hath line to sound Thy duty shall joyn issue with my will Since his one life exceeds the num'rous Bill So far that daily doth attend our gates As doth one Phoenix life whole clouds of Gnats Thus by thy Brethren say wee youth and dotage Both lofty Palace and the lowly cotage Owe thee the Father of a Son so blest More than by Hieroglyhick can b'exprest Thus saith the King let not thy thoughts be gravell'd In doubts thy Joseph who my Dreams unravell'd Which all our Sophies did in vain examine Shall nourish and protect thee in this famine Which though it have set limits to my wish And scarcity doth season every dish Delay not thy descent for thou deservests The greatest measure of our sev'n years Harvests This to thy Brethren say go take the best That Egypt yeelds and lead each man his beast Since that remorslesse dearth to death proscribes Your aged Father and his hopefull tribes Think Egypts King for Joseph's sake deplores Your empty Wine-presses and threshing-floores Go bring your Father down if Egypts Map Have land whose poares breath a more vigo'rous sap Than this that is more fertile and more pleasant Come down none shall resist thee Peer nor Peasant This say and for thy Fathers ease take Waggons And for thy Brethren spare no sprightly Flaggons To ratifie their welcome since with them Thou art a Branch sprung from the self same stem Glad Joseph was that Pharaoh's thus inclin'd To what before he had himself design'd Envy could not upbraid his want of love So much he did the means and time improve Scarce Morpheus could at all betray his sense But care would counter-charm His influence When bright Hyperion mounted Phlegons back He gave command to fill each Brothers Sack To all he gave provision lest the length Of the
inward bleed And if their Brother all this while should feed Upon revenge since full rage now had vent It 's poys'nous rancour should on them be spent Fear by guilt raised seldome is remiss Till in conclusion hope and pardon kiss Nor were our Brethren negligent but strove To gain firm int'rest in their Brothers love Yet so conceit had of their weak demerits Dissolv'd their courage and outbrav'd their spirits That they came not but sent nor durst they frame The message in theirs but their Fathers name Know'ng if their sute in Iacobs name were coucht 'T would like a Charm not cease till it had touch'd Their Brothers midriffs with remorse 't would wrest A soft remission from his melting Brest Great Sir this was the burthen of their sute And thus they humbly taught to prostitute Thus said our Father yer in Ephrons Urn He pawn'd his body for his Souls return Thus in my name you shall to Ioseph speak Remember not thy Brethrens sin nor wreak Thy just revenge upon their hate which sin Than all their sinns in gross hath greater been Remit what God hath pardond and in this On their soft Souls thy pardon seal with His Thus did our Father bid whose Soul above Hovers with blessings yet to crown thy love Now this offence remit we thee intreat Whose hearts with true devotion truly beat Of Jacobs God t' whom from our hearts arise Zealous affection in Sacrifice For Gods for Iacobs sake our fault remit Though we for neither would at all acquit Thy innocence and if it yet appears Thy rage doth flame we 'll quench it with our tears Mild Joseph pittying their anxious fears Could not but second grief again with tears Now griev'd he they suspected him and wept Then joy'd their conscience not securely slept Now as one having foil'd a fell disease Wherein he long hath labour'd doth not cease Untill that Physick shall the reliques purge Which after might in wonted Symptoms urge Ev'n so the Brethren though they now might judge Their Brother reconcil'd and that no grudge Did swell his peacefull Brest but that with tears He entertained had their anxious fears Yet Conscience never leaves her nice inquests Till in the Bosome shee of pardon rests Nor were the Ten remiss till they found out By true experience they had nought to doubt Wherefore all in a personall submission Thus beg their Pardon and thus couch contrition Neither presum'd they on an equall greet But thus fell prostrate at their Brothers feet Dread Sir in Jacobs name and for his sake We come to second what our message spake Thus Jacob said yer he enjoy'd on high The blessings purchas'd by his lamed thigh This in my name to Ioseph speak pray blot Thy Brethrens sin if it be not forgot From thy remembrance since they are convinc'd And their Souls in repentant tears are rinc'd Trample not grief guilt is a greater scourge That can revenge inflict or Justice urge 'T is true the fault was great and to be brief Such as me thinks yet startles my belief Yet think not on revenge their fault forget And let not rage usurp mild mercies seat This did our Father bid before his death Yer Angells suck'd his Soul out with his breath And now we hope our fault did not so harden Thy heart but tears may melt it to my pardon Huge winds they say are still'd by little rain Then let not all our tears thus fall in vain Thou at first sight we hope was 't reconcil'd For ever since thy carriage hath been mild And if yet mercy in thy Brest bear sway Our hopes are anchor'd in a happy Bay If not but then their passion grew so high That with th' Aposiopesis of a sigh They there must stop to whom quoth Joseph thus I know already what you would discuss 'T is true your fact was gross and since y' are come If you want tears I here will lend you some For to lament it God did you prevent And unto good did wrest your bad intent Who hath so many sav'd alive by one Unworthy person as you see is done I long for no revenge but that you sentence Your sin to death by an unfeign'd repentance Tears are the blood I thirst for since to God Belongs revenge I 'll not usurp his rod Yet since you fear I will revenge your deed That false suggestion doth from guilt proceed For though there be no cause yet busie guilt Still holds her hand upon her Daggers hilt Envy doth burn like fire and then no doubt But once in seventeen years it would break out But yet thus may your busie guilt insist My cords of friendship you may doubt were twist Upon my Fathers heart-strings and guilt durst Infer perchance both were together burst Fear not my Brethren this the end shall prove That guilt 's a traitour which misconstrues love Doubt no close malice fear no poys'nous rancour But in this Bosome let your hopes cast anchor I 'll nourish you respect you little ones And when I die the like will charge my Sons With such advice as this you may suppose Mild Ioseph did his satisfaction close Ev'n so as these Gods Saints do never cease Till through repentance they have purchas'd peace I in Gods mercy ioy that he did die A sacrifice for me yer I was I Yet can I not but grieve and grieving mourn That I him crucifi'd yer I was born Nay greater cause of grief for I 'm the Iew And him each minute crucifie anew My sighes should wing me to some Hermites Cave Where with my nayles I 'd hourly dig my grave And there would live a sorrowfull Recluse Tears should be Helicon and grief my Muse And as an Anch'ret would my self immure Yet live in tears a gawdy Epicure When Ioseph fully pardon'd had this crime Admit a certain Intervall of time When Fortune serving whom she can't seduce As proud of his acceptance grew profuse T'wards Ioseph in her favours which he took Still with a thankfull not ambitious look Vertue commandeth Fortune and doth clip Her wings or holds her like an anchor'd ship Nor doubted he lest that with giddy changes She should vacillate in her wonted ranges God who Alph ' and Omega is is love Which still doth Alpha and Omega prove Thus Ioseph long in honour liv'd the strength Of whose old age extended to that length That his Posterity to three degrees Descent he saw and on his aged knees Were Machirs children brought Manasseh's Son So might he boast as Iacob once had done Who comming one o'r Iordan was increast When he came back a Nation at the least Now as the glorious Sun who proudly oft Hath rid in triumph through the azurd loft Anon meets an Eclips which in a brook If view'd affronts him with a gloomy look So death which makes a falling-Star of each Although he mount unto the highest reach And altitude of honour in his Sphere Began to threaten Ioseph with such fear Rude death esteems not honour and Fate dooms With equall sentence Monarchs and their Grooms Shuffles the Beggers scabs and Ladies paint Into a clod nor Villain knowes nor Saint So Ioseph with the mean'st of Adams race Must feel th' arrest of Deaths imperious Mace When Fates black-bed-roul of diseases 'gan T' assault the suburbs of his inward man He conscious of his weakness 'gan to doubt His Souls frail mansion could not long hold out Wherefore his Brethren he as one convenes To whom Sirs I perceive what heaven means For death Gods Bayliff with his Ebbon Scepter Stands ready to arrest me as his debtor Nought but my life acquits me and each day Presents my senses with some new decay Now Brethren since you know my youthfull Dreams Th' event can witness were no idle theams I 'll speak a truth too now but it propounds Its burthen to your thoughts on surer grounds 'T is truth as if 't were by the heavens hoasts Proclaim'd and witness't by our Fathers Ghosts That God will sure in his appoined time To Can'an bring you back your Native clime Which Abr'ham Jsaack and to Jacob both He gave by promise and confirm'd by oath Then do not my expiring spirit grieve Nor forfeit Can'an by your unbelief Believ 't as if each of you as an heir Unto Gods promise now breath'd Can'ans air Record it on your Souls in after years Let these my words still echo in your ears And when you see th' event doth not fall short Of expectation swear for to transport My bones with you to Can'an for I lust To be dissolved with my Fathers dust So Joseph yeelded to the Fates so old That he an hundred and ten years had told Did all the Muses Springs unto my brain Pay Tribute as all Rivers to the Main I could not weep him as he was nor fits My creeping stile with Egypts tow'ring wits Yet thus conceive they mourn'd th' Astrologers Began to curse the base-revolting Stars Could one command the Sun he 'd make him burn As an obsequious Tapor on his Urn The Moon a second then unto his Hearse The yesty Sea should pay its brackish tears A third the Orbs then he would make them meet On earth in honour for his Winding sheet A fourth the Air then should some Meteors shine Like to a Fun'rall lamp stand o'r his shrine A fift the Earth then should her teeming womb Spread a continued May about his Tomb A sixth command the Fire then he would bid A ne'r to-be-extinguish'd Pyramid Blaze on his Hearse A seventh would set forth Fit Hieroglyphicks to describe his worth Pharaoh devested of his Kingly State In mourning wailes Zaphnath-Paaneahs fate The princely Priests lament and Isis Cow Within her Temple did in mourning low Th'embalming Doctor not at all forbears But with his Odours doth commix his tears One in commemoration of his alms With them his name as with sweet odour balms Grief witty grew in some each day his years Some vie with sighes and some his months with tears 'T were infinite to quote their Fun'rall Odes Endless for to describe their mourning Modes Fit Mourners were they all whom you might see Nature had deck'd in mourning Cap-a-pe But this large task had dull'd my tyred Muse My fingers are benum'd my Pen's obtuse Leave him in Egypt where on this Divorce Worms sweetly fed on his embalmed Course FINIS
our beautie 's blasted Our strength is spent our spirits are exhausted Our young ones starve our abler stomacks feed Unless thou food supply on grass and weed Observe how Dearth mocks Death our nether jawes Hang down through weakness while we plead our cause Look look how some would speak but their faint lungs Stop the intendments of their clammy tongues Grant and dismiss us for we here resort Not for to make a Charnell-house thy Court The King prick'd with remorse of Egypts want Thus mildly condescends his Princely grant Quoth he go and what Joseph shall injoyn Obey doubt not his spirit is divine That said they croucht their thanks have you observ'd How that a Falcon through neglect neer starv'd Soon as her Keeper comes within her sight Both makes an eager though a slug-like flight Unto her prey and though her limbs be weak Shee fiercely tugs it with her ragged beak So the Egyptians in a numerous press To Joseph's Palace make their full address Some dumbly passionating begg'd some kist His feet who op'ning all his store dismist Them all without a rigorous dispute With a glad burthen of their purchas'd sute Now Egypt in this fatall time of dearth Remain'd the onely Store-house of the Earth The worlds chief Granary of grain the sole Exchequer of each Land from Pole to Pole Ev'n Canaan on whose rich abounding store Once lived thirtie Kings must now implore Her neighbours help glad if she might in peace Be made partaker of her blest increase Among whom so did Providence design Old Jacob and his Sons began to pine Through dearth the palat late so liquorish Would gladly banquet on a common-dish Oft Jacob ruminates and weighs the cause Why were all Kingdomes offer'd to the jawes Of Famine then concludes they 'r justly curst Since they such monstrous sinners long had nurst Then would he doubt lest that his Childrens sin Had brought this Curse on fertile Palestine Then seeks with Sacrifice for to appease The heavens wrath so might their fields increase Distrust he would not for he did believe God would redeem him with a safe reprieve Who promis'd that his seed though death did rage Should have their Country for their Heritage While thus imagination had ingrost His sense and fancy thus divinely glost He calls his sons to whom you may suppose His smother'd thoughts old Jacob did disclose My Sons quoth he you know our Corn is spent And little 's left either in Field or Tent Our plenty-pregnant sins have now at last Brought forth a Dearth the mighty Protoplast Mov'd by our monstrous sins hath strongly seel'd The heav'ns with brass and th' earth beneath hath steel'd And Death and Famine two remorsless Mates Triumphing ride and knock at all our gates Those dainties fail that fed our glutt'nous lust Our chalkie teeth have lost their unctuous rust Why do you whisper thus why do you gaze One on another let your Lambkins graze There 's Corn in Egypt goe and buy my sons That we may live we and our little ones You know our fruitfull fields forbear to teem We starve unless your speedy care redeem Go and make haste my sons your Brothers pain Shall be redoubled till you come again Your Sheep shall feed upon their pleasant grounds No Goat shall rove beyond his wonted bounds No Dog shall fright no rav'nous Beast pursue With fearfull flight a Kid or tender Ewe No dull delay could their intents adjourn But when stout Chaunticleer had wak'd the morn The carefull Brethren with a rustick port Knockt to fair Memphis then to Josephs Court For he it was who did dispense the Corn To those whom meager Death had made forelorn Anon to Joseph they themselves addrest With great submission and with lowly crest The prostrate Ten unto his Lordship croucht In every look humility was coucht Whom Joseph knew yet he his passion checkt And strangely views them with a stern aspect And thus began What are you and from whence Under what clime have you your residence Quoth they Great Master Canan is our home Hither to buy food are thy servants come Their lowliness remembring him the truth Of his presaging Dreams while yet a Youth Now might pale rancour swell revenge insult And malice might demand no common mulct And envy by that seeming Justice backt Of like for like might proudly now exact Great recompence a Dungeon well might sit Their cruelty that doom'd him to the Pit The law of Nature now might seem to crave As they had him so he should them inslave And in remembrance of their slouts in scorn Dismiss them hopeless and deny them Corn. Where envy is the memories Recorder Expect proceedings in remoâ—slless order But he ne'r entertain'd Her as a guest Much less a Tenant in his peacefull Brest Their sight his pitty not revenge begate His blood did daunce for joy not boyl with hate Yet though his bowels did through passion yern As were his looks thus his reproofs were stern Quoth he what made you hither to repair To leave your own to breath a forreign air How careless is our guard how have they watch'd That such suspitious Spies pass unattach'd Y' are Spies our tortures shall the truth extort Why you thus saucily approach our Court You come to spie our weakness you shall feel What strength our Country hath perhaps our Steel Our sins makes God seem strange as clouds we see Shrowd th'ey of heav'en so sin Gods heav'nly ey Or if but seen his cheeks with an anger glow Wrath 's on his ey thron'd ruin on his brow And while they sin as Traitors he attaints Unto his Covenant his dearest Saints The Brethren started at these thundring words The active blood within each body curds Quoth they let not your Lordship this Impute Nor mis-interpret our unfeigned sute We all the tincture have of one mans blood Who hither hath us sent to buy some food And so let heaven with thy servants deal As we intend unto your Common-weal Wee 'll have the truth of this upon the racks Quoth he your sute your Asses and your Sacks Are meer pretences you are all but Spies These specious colours cannot blind our eyes We 're twelve quoth they and by one man begot The youngest is at home and one is not We are no such that to such ends do rome Hither to buy food are thy servants come Let not your Lordship trample miserie Pitty a strangers privilege should be O do not censure w' are so innocent We scarce conceive what by your words is meant If want be treason and to come to buy Food be invasion then we come to spy Y' are Spies quoth he vain words no longer urge They are too empty this your guilt to purge Since you no other voucher can produce To prove your truth but only this excuse My Sentence like my words none may revoke Send for that youngest Son of whom you spoke Unless that Brother prove your evidence By Pharaohs life yee shall not part from