Scriptural poems being several portions of Scripture digested into English verse /

CHAP. XLI.

AND now when two years time was fully past, And Joseph from Confinement not released, It came to pass that Pharaoh dreamed, and He seemed by a River's side to stand, Whence, he seven fat well-favoured Kine beheld, Came up and grazed in the neighbouring Field. And after them there came up seven more Lean and ill-favoured, and did soon devour The seven fat Kine which came up just before. So Pharaoh 'woke, and mused awhile, and then Soon as his Sleep his Dream returned again. Wherein he saw upon one stalk there stood Seven ears of Corn, exceeding Rank and Good, And seven others, with the East wind blasted, And withered, sprang up, and quickly wasted The seven good Ears, and quite devoured them: And Pharaoh 'woke, and, Lo! it was a Dream. ⟨p. 57⟩And in the Morning he was discontent, And for the wise Men, and Magicians sent, To ease his Mind but there was none of them That could interpret to the King his Dream. Then the chief Butler making his address. Unto King Pharaoh, said, I now confess My former Faults, for when the King was wroth With his chief Butler, and chief Baker both, It pleased him, to put us both in Ward, In the House of the Captain of the Guard: And in one Night we dreamed a Dream, each one According to's Interpretation; And there was then an Hebrew there in Ward, A Youth, that served the Captain of the Guard: To whom we told whereof we had been dreaming, And he interpreted to us the meaning, And what he said fell out accordingly, Me he restored to my Dignity, But told the Baker he should surely die. Then Pharaoh sent a Messenger in haste, And Joseph from the Dungeon was released: And having shaved himself, and changed his Clothes, Into the Presence of the King he goes. To whom King Pharaoh said, I have been told Thou canst the meaning of a Dream unfold: Now I have dreamed a Dream, and there is none Can give me the Interpretation. And Joseph said, I cannot do this thing My self, but God shall answer thee, Oh, King. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, In my Dream, As I stood by a River's side, there came ⟨p. 58⟩Up from the River seven well-favoured Kine, And fed upon the Banks, all fat and fine, And after them there came up seven more, Lean and ill-favoured, and exceeding poor: Such as the Land of Egypt never bred, And on the seven well-favoured Kine they fed, And eat them up, but 'twas not to be seen That they had eat them, they looked still so thin.