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

CHAP. XLIV.

AND to his Steward Joseph spake, and said, Give these Men Corn as much as they can lade. And in their Sacks bind each Man's Money up, And in the Youngest's put my silver Cup Besides his Money: and he made hast and did According as his Master had commanded. And in the morning by the break of day, With Asses laden they were sent away: And now, ere they had scarce the Town's end past, He sent his Steward after them in hast, ⟨p. 70⟩And said, Go follow them and ask them why They have dealt by me so ungratefully? And say unto them, You have done great evil To Rob my Master who hath been so civil, And steal the Cup wherein he drinks his Wine; Is it not it whereby he doth Divine? Then he pursued and quickly overtook Them, and these very words to them he spoke. To whom they said, Why hath my Lord such thought? Oh, God forbid that we should be so naught; Behold, thou knowest we brought the Money back The which we found bound up in each Man's Sack, Which shows that we had no design to cheat; How then should we now steal your Masters Plate? With which of us thy Servants it is found Let him be slain, and we to Slavery bound. Now as you say, said he, so let it be, He shall be bound, but you shall all go free. Then they unladed every Man his Beast, And to his view exposed their Sacks in hast; And he from first to last them searched round, And lo, the Cup on Benjamin was found: Whereat surprised, each Man his Garment rent, And lades his Beast, and back again they went. And now when Judah and the rest were come To Joseph's House (for he was yet at home) They fell before him to the ground, to whom He said, What deed is this that you have done; Are you not sensible that such a one As I, can certainly thereof make trial? Then Judah said, my Lord there's no denial, ⟨p. 71⟩We cannot clear our selves: The Lord hath sent, For our mis deeds this heavy Punishment. Behold, to be thy Slaves we all are bound, Both we, and he on whom the Cup was sound. Then Joseph said, the Lord forbid that I Should exercise so great severity: For he with whom 'tis found, and he alone Shall be my Servant, you may all be gone. Then unto Joseph, Judah drawing near, Said, O my Lord! I pray be pleased to hear Thy Servant speak, and be not angry now, For as King Pharaoh is even so art thou. My Lord did bid thy Servants to discover Whether we had a Father or a Brother;