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

CHAP. XLII.

AND now, behold, when Jacob had been told That there was Corn in Egypt to be sold, He said unto his Sons, Why stand ye thus? Go down to Egypt and buy Corn for us; That so our craving Stomachs may be fed, And not lie here and die for lack of Bread. Thus Jacob's ten Sons were to Egypt sent, But Joseph's Brother Benjamin never went; ⟨p. 62⟩For why, his Father said, I will not send him, Lest peradventure some ill chance attend him. And Joseph's Brethren came among the rest To buy Provision, for they were distressed. Now he was Governor of all the Land, And all the Corn of Egypt in his hand. Wherefore his Brethren when they came to treat With him for Corn, bowed down even at his feet: And he no sooner saw them but he knew them, And showed himself extremely strange unto them: And very roughly asked who they were, From whence they came and what their business there And they made answer, We thy Servants from The Land of Canaan to buy Food are come. Now tho' they knew him not, yet he knew them, And calling now to mind his former Dream, He said, I do suspect ye're come as Spies, To see in what distress our Country lies. But they replied again, my Lord we're come Only to buy some Food to carry home: Think not thy Servants Spies, but true Men rather, For we are all the Children of one Father. Nay, nay, said he, but ye are come to pry Into the Nations great necessity. But they replied again, Thy Servants are Inhabitants of Canaan, and declare, That we're twelve Brethren whom one Man begot, The Youngest is at home and one is not. Well then, said Joseph, hereby shall I know, Whether ye're Spies, as I have said, or no; Now by the Life of Pharaoh do I swear, Unless your Brother come I'll keep you here: ⟨p. 63⟩Send one of you and fetch the Lad to me, And you shall be confined, so shall there be A Proof of what you say before mine Eyes, Or by the Life of Pharaoh ye are Spies. Then he for three days put them all in Ward, And on the third day said I have regard To Equity, therefore if ye are true And honest Men, do this; let one of you Be bound in Prison here, and let the other Go carry Corn home and bring me your Brother; So shall ye be approved and shall not die. And they prepared to do accordingly.