SETTING FORTH THE BENEFITS CONFERRED BY JOSEPH
ON THE PEOPLE IN THE JAIL, AND HIS INTERPRETA-
He who is born upon a happy day,
This beaming light sweeps darkness all away.
He seeks the thorn-brake: 'tis a bed of rose:
The rose for him to Tartar musk-bag grows.
Like cloud if he a thirsty field pass by,
A Paradise beneath his feet will lie.
Like breeze if he across a garden flit,
A bright lamp on each flower's cheek is lit.
If a prison he enters happily,
The prisoners there of their grief are free.
The prison thus to each imprisoned wight
Became a smiling mead at Joseph's sight.
When Joseph arrived there, great was their glee;
From the bond of pain and grief they were free;
The yoke on their necks a collar of gain,—
A ring of joy on their foot was the chain.
If sick became any prisoner there,
Or became a captive to toil and care,
He girt his loins to sick men to give heed,
Till from all care and sickness they were freed.
And if a captive's heart were in despair,
Some means to set him right would he prepare.
With open face he sought his love to gain,
And from his strait conveyed him to the plain.
If a poor man's joy turned to bitterness,
And waned his poverty's moon to grow less,
From the wealthy he seized a golden key,—
With joy broke the lock of his misery.
And if some good man dreamed a dream of woe,
His goods in thought's whirlpool swam to and fro,—
To him the dream's meaning would he declare,—
And his goods reach land from the vortex of care.
Two trusty men of the king of that land
Had been driven away from near his hand.
On equal terms these in the prison spoke,
And in that mourning house bore equal yoke.
Each of these two men dreamed a dream one night;
The souls of both were troubled in affright.
His dream gave one the good news of release,
The other the sad tidings of decease.
To neither of them was the meaning known,
And both a heavy load of care must own.
Each of his dream to Joseph told the word,
And of his own dream each the answer heard.
One then they punished on the gallows-tree;
One in the king's court was again set free.
Towards the king this young man turned his face,
Of honour and of dignity the place;
Towards the king upon his throne he went,
And by his mouth a message Joseph sent.
“When access to the king thou shalt obtain,
“A chance of speaking to him must thou gain.
“In the assembly bring me to his mind,
“And thou an ample recompense shalt find.
“‘A stranger in the prison lies,’ declare,
“Of grace from thee, just king, denied all share.
“Keep not the guiltless thus in misery:
“For this from justice' road to stray would be.”
By fortune favoured, when the man drank up
The wine of nearness from the royal cup,
So passed that message from his mind away,
And came not back again for many a day.
The plant of his promise brought forth despair,
And kept tightly bound the prisoner there.
He of all others whom God may think fit,
Beloved on the seat of honour shall sit.
The road of causes for him will He close,
Nor on security of man repose.
His face will he turn to His own alone;
Aside for others must his love be thrown.
In others' hands He will not leave him prey:
To others He desires not he should pray—
Him in His snare alone that He may see,
His hand on others' skirts laid must not be.