Part 9

And it chanced after this, that the chief butler of the king of Egypt and his chief baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharao was angry with them and put them in ward in his chief marshal's house: even in the prison where Ioseph was bound. And the chief marshal gave Ioseph a charge with them, and he served them. And they continued a season in ward. And they dreamed either of them in one night: both the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt which were bound in the prison house, either of them his dream, and each man's dream of a sundry interpretation. When Ioseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them: behold, they were sad. And he asked them saying, wherefore look ye so sadly today? They answered him, we have dreamed a dream, and have no man to declare it. And Ioseph said unto them. Interpreting belongeth to God, but tell me yet. And the chief butler told his dream to Ioseph and said unto him: In my dream me thought there stood a vine before me, and in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth: and the grapes thereof waxed ripe. And I had Pharao's cup in my hand, and took of the grapes and wrung them into Pharao's cup, and delivered Pharao's cup into his hand. And Ioseph said unto him, this is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days: for within three days shall Pharao lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thine office again, and thou shalt deliver Pharao's cup into his hand, after the old manner, even as thou didst when thou wast his butler. But think on me with thee, when thou art in good case, and shew mercy unto me. And make mention of me to Pharao, and help to bring me out of this house: for I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing at all wherefore they should have put me into this dungeon. When the chief baker saw that he had well interpreted it, he said unto Ioseph, me thought also in my dream, that I had three wicker baskets on my head? And in the uppermost basket, of all manner bakemeats for Pharao. And the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head. Ioseph answered and said: this is the interpretation thereof. The three baskets are three days, for this day three days shall Pharao take thy head from thee, and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. And it came to pass the third day which was Pharao's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants. And he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. And restored the chief butler unto his butlership again, and he reached the cup into Pharao's hand, and hanged the chief baker: even as Ioseph had interpreted unto them. Notwithstanding the chief butler remembered not Ioseph, but forgot him.

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And it fortuned at two years' end, that Pharao dreamed, and thought that he stood by a river's side, and that there came out of the river seven goodly kine and fat fleshed, and fed in a meadow. And him thought that seven other kine came up after them out of the river evil favored and lean fleshed and stood by the other upon the brink of the river. And the evil favored and lean fleshed kine: ate up the seven well favored and fat kine: and he awoke therewith. And he slept again and dreamed the second time, that seven ears of corn grew upon one stalk rank and goodly. And that seven thin ears blasted with the wind, sprang up after them: and that the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And then Pharao awaked: and see, here is his dream. When the morning came, his spirit was troubled; And he sent and called for all the soothsayers of Egypt and all the wise men thereof, and told them his dream: but there was none of them that could interpret it unto Pharao. Then spake the chief butler unto Pharao saying. I do remember my fault this day. Pharao was angry with his servants, and put in ward in the chief marshal's house both me and the chief baker. And we dreamed both of us in one night and each man's dream of a sundry interpretation. And there was with us a young man, an Hebrew born, servant unto the chief marshal. And we told him, and he declared our dreams to us according to either of our dreams. And as he declared them unto us, even so it came to pass. I was restored to mine office again, and he was hanged. Then Pharao sent and called Ioseph. And they made him haste out of prison. And he shaved himself and changed his raiment, and went in to Pharao. And Pharao said unto Ioseph: I have dreamed a dream and no man can interpretate it, but I have heard say of thee that as soon as thou hearest a dream, thou dost interpretate it. And Ioseph answered Pharao saying: God shall give Pharao an answer of peace without me. Pharao said unto Ioseph: in my dream me thought I stood by a river's side, and there came out of the river seven fat fleshed and well favored kine, and fed in the meadow. And then seven other kine came up after them, poor and very evil favored and lean fleshed: so that I never saw their like in all the land of Egypt in evil favoredness. And the seven lean and evil favored kine ate up the first seven fat kine. And when they had eaten them up, a man could not perceive that they had eaten them: for they were still as evil favored as they were at the beginning. And I awoke. And I saw again in my dream seven ears spring out of one stalk full and good, and seven other ears withered, thin and blasted with wind, spring up after them. And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears. And I have told it unto the soothsayers, but no man can tell me what it meaneth. Then Ioseph said unto Pharao: both Pharao's dreams are one. And God doth shew Pharao what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years: and the seven good ears are seven years also, and is but one dream. Likewise, the seven thin and evil favored kine that came out after them, are seven years: and the seven empty and blasted ears shall be seven years of hunger. This is that which I said unto Pharao, that God doth shew Pharao what he is about to do. Behold there shall come seven year of great plenteousness throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of hunger. So that all the plenteousness shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt. And the hunger shall consume the land: so that the plenteousness shall not be once a seen in the land by reason of that hunger that shall come after, for it shall be exceeding great. And as concerning that the dream was doubled unto Pharao the second time, it betokeneth that the thing is certainly prepared of God, and that God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharao provide for a man of understanding and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt. And let Pharao make officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years and let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the power of Pharao: that there may be food in the cities, and there let them keep it: that there may be food in store in the land, against the seven years of hunger which shall come in the land of Egypt, and that the land perish not thorow hunger. And the saying pleased Pharao and all his servants. Then said Pharao unto his servants: where shall we find such a man as this is, that hath the spirit of God in him? wherefore Pharao said unto Ioseph: forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is no man of understanding nor of wisdom like unto thee. Thou therefore shalt be over my house, and according to thy word shall all my people obey: only in the king's seat will I be above thee. And he said unto Ioseph: behold, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And he took off his ring from his finger, and put it upon Ioseph's finger, and arrayed him in raiment of byss, and put a golden chain about his neck and set him upon the best chariot that he had save one. And they cried before him Abrech, and that Pharao had made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharao said unto Ioseph: I am Pharao, without thy will, shall no man lift up either his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And he called Ioseph's name Zaphnath Paenea. And he gave him to wife Asnath the daughter of Potiphar priest of On. Then went Ioseph abroad in the land of Egypt. And he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharao king of Egypt. And then Ioseph departed from Pharao, and went thorow out all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years they made sheaves and gathered up all the food of the seven plenteous years which were in the land of Egypt and put it into the cities. And he put the food of the fields that grew round about every city: even in the same. And Ioseph laid up corn in store, like unto the sand of the sea in multitude out of measure, until he left numbering: For it was without number. And unto Ioseph were born two sons before the years of hunger came, which Asnath the daughter of Potiphar priest of On, bare unto him. And he called the name of the first son Manasse, for God (said he) hath made me forget all my labour and all my father's household. The second called he Ephraim, for God (said he) hath caused me to grow in the land of my trouble. And when the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended, then came the seven years of dearth, according as Ioseph had said. And the dearth was in all lands: but in the land of Egypt was there yet food. When now all the land of Egypt began to hunger, then cried the people to Pharao for bread. And Pharao said unto all Egypt: go unto Ioseph, and what he saith to you that do. And when the dearth was thorow out all the land, Ioseph opened all that was in the cities, and sold unto the Egyptians. And hunger waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came to Egypt to Ioseph for to buy corn: because that the hunger was so sore in all lands.

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When Iacob saw that there was corn to be sold in Egypt, he said unto his sons: why are ye negligent? behold, I have heard that there is corn to be sold in Egypt. Get you thither and buy us corn from thence, that we may live and not die. So went Ioseph's ten brethren down to buy corn in Egypt, for Ben Iamin Ioseph's brother would not Iacob send with his other brethren: for he said: some misfortune might happen him. And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among other that came, for there was dearth also in the land of Canaan. And Ioseph was governor in the land, and sold corn to all the people of the land. And his brethren came, and fell flat on the ground before him. When Ioseph saw his brethren, he knew them: But made strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them saying: Whence come ye? and they said: out of the land of Canaan, to buy vitaille. Ioseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Ioseph remembered his dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them: ye are spies, and to see where the land is weak is your coming. And they said unto him: nay, my lord: but to buy vitaille thy servants are come. We are all one man's sons, and mean truly, and thy servants are no spies. And he said unto them: nay verily, but even to see where the land is weak is your coming. And they said: we thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is yet with our father, and one no man woteth where he is. Ioseph said unto them, that is it that I said unto you, that ye are surely spies. Here by ye shall be proved. For by the life of Pharao, ye shall not go hence, until your youngest brother be come hither. Send therefore one of you and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be in prison in the mean season. And thereby shall your words be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharao, ye are but spies. And he put them in ward three days. And Ioseph said unto the third day: This do and live, for I fear God. {Gode} If ye mean no hurt, let one of your brethren be bound in the prison, and go ye and bring the necessary food unto your households, and bring your youngest brother unto me: that your words may be believed, and that ye die not; And they did so. Then they said one to another: we have verily sinned against our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and would not hear him: therefore is this trouble come upon us. Ruben answered them saying: said I not unto you that ye should not sin against the lad? but ye would not hear; And now verily see, his blood is required. They were not aware that Ioseph understood them, for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned from them and wept, and then turned to them again and communed with them, and took out Simeon from among them and bound him before their eyes, and commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to put every man's money in his sack, and to give them vitaille to spend by the way. And so it was done to them. And they laded their asses with the corn and departed thence. And as one of them opened his sack, for to give his ass provender in the Inn, he spied his money in his sack's mouth. And he said unto his brethren: my money is restored me again, and is even in my sack's mouth. Then their hearts failed them, and were astonied and said one to another: how cometh it that God dealeth thus with us? And they came unto Iacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened them saying: The lord of the land spake roughly to us, and took us for spies to search the country. And we said unto him: we mean truly and are no spies. We be twelve brethren sons of our father, one is away, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan. And the lord of the country said unto us: hereby shall I know if ye mean truly: leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food necessary for your households and get you away, and bring your youngest brother unto me; And thereby shall I know that ye are no spies, but mean truly: So will I deliver you your brother again, and ye shall occupy in the land. And as they emptied their sacks, behold: every man's bundle of money was in his sack. And when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Iacob their father said unto them: Me have ye robbed of my children: Ioseph is away, and Simeon is away, and ye will take Ben Iamin away. All these things fall upon me. Ruben answered his father saying: Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee again. Deliver him therefore to my hand, and I will bring him to thee again: And he said: my son shall not go down with you. For his brother is dead, and he is left alone. Moreover some misfortune might happen upon him by the way which ye go. And so should ye bring my gray head with sorrow unto the grave.

Chapter .xliij.

And the dearth waxed sore in the land. And when they had eaten up that corn which they brought out of the land of Egypt, their father said unto them: go again and buy us a little food. Then said Iuda unto him: the man did testify unto us saying: look that ye see not my face except your brother be with you. Therefore if thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go and buy the food. But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go: for the man said unto us: look that ye see not my face, except your brother be with you. And Israel said: wherefore dealt ye so cruelly with me, as to tell the man that ye had yet another brother? And they said: The man asked us of our kindred saying: is your father yet alive? have ye not another brother? And we told him according to these words. How could we know that he would bid us bring our brother down with us? Then said Iuda unto Israel his father: Send the lad with me, and we will rise and go, that we may live and not die: both we, thou and also our children. I will be surety for him, and of my hands require him. If I bring him not to thee and set him before thine eyes, then let me bear the blame for ever. For except we had made this tarrying: by this we had been there twice and come again. Then their father Israel said unto them: if it must needs be so now: then do thus, take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and bring the man a present, a courtesy balm, and a courtesy of honey, spices and myrrh, dates and almonds. And take as much money more with you. And the money that was brought again in your sacks, take it again with you in your hands, peradventure it was some oversight. Take also your brother with you, and arise and go again to the man. And God almighty give you mercy in the sight of the man and send you your other brother and also Ben Iamin, and I will be as a man robbed of his children. Thus took they the present and twice so much more money with them, and Ben Iamin. And rose up, went down to Egypt, and presented themself to Ioseph. When Ioseph saw Ben Iamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house: bring these men home, and slay and make ready: for they shall dine with me at noon. And the man did as Ioseph bade, and brought them in to Ioseph's house. When they were brought to Ioseph's house, they were afraid, and said: because of the money that came in our sacks' mouths at the first time, are we brought, to pick a quarrel with us and to lay some thing to our charge: to bring us in bondage and our asses also. Therefore came they to the man that was the ruler over Ioseph's house, and communed with him at the door and said: Sir, we came hither at the first time to buy food, and as we came to an inn and opened our sacks: behold, every man's money was in his sack with full weight: But we have brought it again with us, and other money have we brought also in our hands, to buy food, but we can not tell who put our money in our sacks. And he said: be of good cheer, fear not: Your God and the God of your fathers hath put you that treasure in your sacks, for I had your money. And he brought Simeon out to them and led them into Ioseph's house, and gave them water to wash their feet, and gave their asses provender: And they made ready their present against Ioseph came at noon, for they heard say that they should dine there. When Ioseph came home, they brought the present into the house to him, which they had in their hands, and fell flat on the ground before him. And he welcomed them courteously saying: is your father that old man which ye told me of, in good health? and is he yet alive? they answered: thy servant our father is in good health, and is yet alive. And they bowed them selves and fell to the ground. And he lift up his eyes and beheld his brother Ben Iamin his mother's son, and said: is this your youngest brother of whom ye said unto me? And said: God be merciful unto thee my son. And Ioseph made haste (for his heart did melt upon his brother) and sought for to weep, and entered into his chamber, for to weep there. And he washed his face and came out and refrained himself, and bade set bread on the table. And they prepared for him by himself, and for them by them selves, and for the Egyptians which ate with him by them selves, because the Egyptians may not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him: the eldest according unto his age, and the youngest according unto his youth. And the men marvelled among them selves. And they brought rewards unto them from before him: but Ben Iamin's part was five times so much as any of theirs. And they ate and they drank, and were drunk with him.

Chapter .xliiij.