JOSEPH CAST INTO THE DUNGEON.
Poor Joseph's innocence was no defence,
Against this brazen strumpet's impudence,
She first accus'd, and that she might prevail,
She to her husband thus then told her tale.
Hast thou this servant hither brought that he
Might make a mock upon my chastity?
What tho' he's one come from the Hebrew Stock,
Shall he thus at my virtue make a mock?
}For if I once should yield to throw't away
On such a wretch.—O think what you would say?
And yet he sought to do't this very day.
But when he did this steady virtue find,
Then fled, and left his garment here behind.
No wonder if this story so well told
Stirr'd up his wrath, and made his love turn cold;
He strait believ'd all that his wife had said,
And Joseph was unheard in prison laid.
Joseph must now again live underground,
And in a dungeon have his virtue crown'd,
But tho' in prison cast and bound in chains,
His God is with him, and his friend remains;
So here he with the gaoler favour finds,
That whatsoe'er he does he never minds:
The Gaoler knew his God was with him still,
And therefore lets him do whate'er he will.
King Pharoah's butler and his baker too
Under their Princes great displeasure grew
And therefore both of them were put in ward,
As prisoners to the captain of the guard
Where Joseph lay; to whom they did declare,
Their case, he serving them whilst they were there.
One night, a several dream to each befel,
But what it signify'd they could not tell.
Joseph perceiving they were very sad,
Demanded both the Dreams that they had had,
On which they each their dream to Joseph told,
Who strait the meaning of it did unfold.
}The butler in three days restor'd shall be,
The baker should be hang'd upon a tree,
But when this comes to pass remember me,
Said he to the Butler, for here I am thrown,
And charg'd with crimes that are to me unknown,
In three days time (such was their different case)
The Baker hang'd, the Butler gains his place;
And he again held Pharoh's cup in his hand,
And stood before him as he us'd to stand.
And yet for all that he to Joseph said,
Joseph in prison two years longer staid,
In all which time he ne'er of Joseph thought,
Tho' he his help so earnestly besought.
So in affliction promises we make,
But when that's o'er forget whate'er we speak.