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XXXI.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXVII. Ver. 5.

to 11.

Jofeph's Dreams. His Brethren hate him.

AN Envy, Hatred, and Ambition reign

CAN

With harmless Shepherds on their humble
Ev'n there we fearch forHappiness in vain:(Plain!
Against a Favrite too they there combine,
With lefs of Art, but ftill the fame defign:
They on another's Ruin hope to rife,

And for a Dream wou'd Jofeph facrifice.

He thought he faw the Fields with Harveft crown'd,
And in large Sheaves the golden Bleffings bound;
His Brother's Sheaves to his, obeisance pay'd;
They beard,and thus with scornful Taunts they said:
Is that ftrong Hand a Scepter doom'd to fway,
While we and all our Father's House obey?

Agen he dreams, the Sun and Moon appear, Elev'n fair Stars which weaker Luftre wear Compose their Train; they all in confult meet, Humbly fubmit, and bow beneath his Feet : The Patriarch hear'd, his forward Son reprov'd, Tho' with the weighty Omen not unmov'd:

He treasures

up his Dreams, content to wait Till labring Time difclos'd the deep Refolves of Fate.

XXXII.

Jofeph fold to the Ifhmaelites by his Brethren, and carried into Egypt.

NE

Ear Shechem's ruin'd Walls the Patriarchs led
Their Father's Flocks, and there fecurely fed;
From thence, (the Fields depaftur'd) farther drive
Till they at Dethan's fertile Plains arrive :
Young Jofeph goes, commanded by his Sire
To find the Ten, and of their Health enquire;
Discern'd at Distance, they his Death confpire:
He comes, they cry, our future Lord let's kill,
And fee if then he can his Dreams fulfil.
Reuben, of Nature merciful, and mild,
Allays their Rage, and feeks to save the Child:
Into a Pit the Innocent they caft,

And careless feat themselves to their repaft:
As chanc'd a Band of Ifmaels Sons came by
With Spices, Balm, and Myrrh, approching nigh,
Thus Judah to his liftning Brethren faid:
What Gain if each upon his guilty Head
Our Brother's Blood we draw? Our felves let's
clear

To these we'll fell the Youth, nor need we fear
Of him or of his Dreams again to hear.

The motion pleas'd, he's fold, the Price is pay'd, And thro' the Deferts he to Mizraims Realms convey'd.

XXXII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXVII. Ver. 12.

59

to 28.

V.26. Judah faid unto his brethren, what profit is it if we flay our brother, and conceal his bloud? 27. Come, and let us fell to him the Ishmaelites, and let not our band be upon him; for he is our brother, and our flefb: and his brethren were content.

28. Then there paffed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lift up Jofeph out of the pit, and fold Jofeph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of filver: and they brought Jofeph into Egypt.

XXXIII.

Jacob laments for his Son Jofeph.**

TH

HE Brethren now with Fraud their Fact dif-
guife,

And their Injustice muft conceal with Lies:
His Coat of various Colours richly made,
Diftain'd with Blood is to his Sire convey'd :
The Coat too well he knew, with Grief o'rpow'rd,
Tis his, 'tis his, he cries, my Son's devour'd,
My Fofeph is no more Behold him tear

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With loud Laments his Garments and his Hair!
His goodly Robes he into Sackcloth turns,
Cover'd with Duft in deep Despair he mourns.
His num'rous Sons and all his House arife
And ftrive to cafe his Cares; too late, he cries,
And Hope and Comfort now alike defies:
Ah my Lou'd Son! fhall I thy Lofs furvive?

When Jofeph is no more shall Facob live?

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Heavier ye Griefs! make hafte ye ling'ring Cares.
And quickly prefs to Earth thefe Hoary Hairs:
As faft as an Old Man can move, I'll come,

And meet thee once agen, my Foseph, in the Tomb.

XXXIII.

XXXIII.

GENESIS, Chap. XXXVII. from Ver.

61

31. to 35.

31. They took Jofeph's coat, and killed a kidof the goats, and dipped the coat in the bloud.

32. And they sent the coat of many colours, and brought it to their father; and said, this have we found: know now whether it be thy fon's coat or no.

33. And he knew it, and faid, it is my fons coat; an evil beast hath devoured him: Jofeph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loyns, and mourned for his fon many days.

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