Part 11

[Fol. 41b.] which smote the others to the ground.

To-ſamen it ſmiten and, on a ſtund, ðe fette ðriſt hem to ðo grund. ðe king abraid and woc in ðhogt, ðeſ dremes ſwep ne wot he nogt, 2112

[212] ðeðen?

WHICH IS INTERPRETED BY JOSEPH.

None were found able to interpret the dreams.

Ne was non ſo wis man i_n_ al hiſ lond, ðe kude vn-don ðis dremes bond;

The butler bethought him of Joseph.

ðo him bi-ðhogte ðat buteler Of ðat him drempte in p_ri_ſun ðer, 2116 And of ioſeph in ðe priſun, And he it tolde ðe king pharaun.

Joseph is taken from prison,

Ioſeph waſ ſone i_n_ priſun ðo hogt, And ſhauen, & clad, & to hi_m_ brogt; 2120

and brought before Pharaoh,

ðe king hi_m_ bad ben hardi & bold, If he can rechen ðis dremeſ wold;

who related to him his dreams.

He told him q_u_at him drempte o nigt, And ioſep rechede his drem wel rigt. 2124

"The two dreams," answered Joseph, "are one."

"ðis two dremes boðen ben on, God wile ðe tawnen, king pharaon; ðo .vij. ger ben get to cumen,

"Seven years of plenty

In al fulſum-hed ſulen it ben numen, 2128 And .vij. oðere ſulen after ben,

shall be followed by seven years of famine.

Sori and nedful men ſulen iſ ſen; Al ðat ðiſe firſt .vii. maken, Sulen ðiſ oðere .vii. roſpen & raken; 2132

I advise thee to make barns and store up corn, that thy folk perish not."

Ic rede ðe king, nu her bi-foren, To maken laðes and gadere_n_ coren,

[Fol. 42.]

ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder-numen, Q_u_an ðo hungri gere ben forð-cumen." 2136 King pharaon liſtnede hiſe red, ðat wurð him ſiðen ſeli ſped.

Pharaoh gave Joseph his ring,

He bi-tagte ioſep hiſ ring, And his bege of gold for wurðing, 2140

and bad him rule the whole land.

And bad him al hiſ lond bi-ſen, And under him hegeſt for to ben, And bad him welden in hiſ hond His folc, and agte, & al his lond; 2144

Then were Potiphar and his wife under him.

ðo waſ vnder him ðanne putifar, And hiſ wif ðat hem ſo to-bar. Ioſep to wiue his dowter nam, Oðer is nu q_u_an ear bi-cam; 2148

THE FAMINE IN EGYPT AND CANAAN.

Before the famine came two sons were born to Joseph.

And ghe ðer him two childer bar, Or men wurð of ðat hunger war, first manaſſen and effraym; He luueden god, he geld it hem. 2152

The years of plenty pass away.

ðe .vii. fulſu_m_ geres faren, Ioſep cuðe him bi-foren waren; ðan coren wantede in oðer lond, ðo ynug [was] vnder his hond. 2156

The famine was felt in Canaan.

Hvnger wex in lond chanaan, And his .x. ſunes iacob for-ðan

Jacob sent his ten sons to Egypt to buy corn.

Sente in-to egipt to bringen coren; He bilef at hom ðe was gungeſt boren. 2160

[Fol. 42b.]

ðe .x. comen, for nede ſogt, To Ioſep, and he ne knewen hi_m_ nogt,

Though they honoured Joseph,

And ðog he lutten him frigtilike, Anð ſeiden to him mildelike, 2164 "We ben ſondes for nede driuen To bigen coren ðor-bi to liuen."

yet he pretended not to know them.

(Ioſep hem knew al in his ðhogt, Alſ he let he knew hem nogt.) 2168 "It ſemet wel ðat ge ſpies ben,

He accused them of being spies.

And in-to ðiſ lond cumen to ſen, And cume ge for non oðer ðing, but for to ſpien ur lord ðe king." 2172 "Nai," he ſeiden eu_er_ilc on,

They declared that they were true men, the sons of one father.

"Spies were we neu_er_ non, Oc alle we ben on faderes ſunen, For hunger doð es[213] hider cumen." 2176 "Oc nu ic wot ge ſpieſ ben, for bi gure bering men mai it ſen;

"Only kings," said Joseph, "had so many sons."

Hu ſulde oni man[214] poure for-geten, ſwilke and ſo manige ſunes bigeten? 2180 for ſeldu_m_ bi-tid ſelf ani king ſwilc men to ſen of hiſe ofſpring."

[213] doðes MS.

[214] MS. Hu suld sulde oninan.

JOSEPH'S HARSHNESS TO HIS BRETHREN.

"One," the brethren said, "is at home with his father."

"A lou_er_d, merci! get iſ ðor on migt he nogt fro his fader gon; 2184 He iſ gungeſt, hoten beniamin, for we ben alle of ebriſſe kin."

[Fol. 43.] Quoth Joseph, "Ye shall not all go hence, until ye bring me Benjamin."

"Nu, bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon, ſule ge nogt alle eðen gon, 2188 Til ge me bringen beniamin, ða gungeſte broðer of pore[215] kin." For ðo waſ Ioſep ſore for-dred ðat he wore oc ðhurg hem for-red; 2192 He dede hem binden, and leden dun,

He kept them in prison, and on the third day let them all go except Simeon.

And ſperen faſte in his priſun; ðe ðridde dai he let hem gon, Al but ðe ton broðer ſymeon; 2196 ðiſ ſymeon bi-lef ðor in bond, To wedde under Ioſepes hond. ðes oðere breðere, ſone on-on, Token leue and wenten hom; 2200

The others bemoaned their ill-luck.

And ſone he weren ðeden[216] went, Wel ſore he hauen hem bi-ment, And ſeiden hem ðan ðor bi-twen,

They thought of their sin towards Joseph.

"Wrigtful we in ſorwe ben, 2204 for we ſinigeden q_u_ilu_m_ or On hure broðer michil mor, for we werneden him merci, Nu drege we ſorge al for-ði." 2208 Wende here non it on hiſ mod, Oc Ioſep al it under-ſtod.

Joseph's men did, meanwhile, as they were commanded,

Ioſepes men ðor q_u_iles deden Al-ſo Ioſep hem adde beden; 2212

[Fol. 43b.] and filled the brothers' sacks, and placed in them the money paid for the corn.

ðo breðere ſeckes hauen he filt, And in eu_er_ilc ðe ſilu_er_ pilt ðat ðor was paid for ðe coren, And bunden ðe muðes ðor bi-foren; 2216 Oc ðe breðere ne wiſte_n_ it nogt Hu ðis dede wurðe wrogt;

[215] gure?

[216] ðeðen?

BENJAMIN IS TAKEN TO EGYPT.

Unopened they brought them to Jacob and told him how they had sped.

Oc alle he weren ou_er_-ðogt, And hauen it ſo to iacob brogt, 2220 And tolden him ſo of here ſped, And al he it liſtnede i_n_ frigtihed;

Great was their fear when they saw the money in the sack's mouth.

And q_u_an men ðo ſeckes ðor un-bond, And in ðe coren ðo agtes fond, 2224 Alle he woren ðanne[217] ſori ofrigt. Iacob ðus him bi-meneð o-rigt,

"Much sorrow," says Jacob, "is come upon me,

"Wel michel ſorge is me bi-cumen, ðat min two childre aren me for-nume_n_; 2228

since my two children are taken from me.

Of Ioſep wot ic ending non, And bondes ben leid on ſymeon; If ge beniamin fro me don, Dead and ſorge me ſegeð on; 2232

Benjamin shall remain with me."

Ai ſal beniamin wið me bi-lewen ðor q_u_iles ic ſal on werlde liuen." ðo q_u_að iudas, "us ſal ben hard, If we no[218] holden him non forward." 2236

The corn is soon consumed, and Jacob bids them go to Egypt for more.

Wex derke,[219] ðis coren iſ gon, Iacob eſt[220] bit hem faren agon,

[Fol. 44.]

Oc he ne duren ðe weie cumen in, "but ge wið uſ ſenden beniamin;" 2240

Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.

ðo q_u_að he, "q_u_an it iſ ned, And ne can no bettre red,

He sends back the silver,

Bereð dat[221] ſilu_er_ hol agon, ðat hem ðor-of ne wante non, 2244

and other corn-money,

And oðer ſiluer ðor bi-foren, for to bigen wið oðer coren;

together with a present of fruit and spices for Joseph.

fruit and ſpices of dere priſ, Bereð ðat man ðat iſ ſo wiſ; 2248 God hunne him eði-modes ben, And ſende me min childre agen."

The brethren come again to Egypt.

ðo nomen he forð weie rigt, Til he ben cumen i_n_-to egypte ligt; 2252

Joseph treats them kindly,

And q_u_anne Ioſep hem alle ſag, Kinde ðogt i_n_ his herte was [ðag].

[217] MS. ðanno

[218] ne?

[219] derðe?

[220] eft?

[221] ðat?

JOSEPH'S INTERVIEW WITH HIS BRETHREN.

and bids his steward prepare a feast for them.

He bad hiſ ſtiward gerken iſ meten, He ſeide he ſulden wið him alle eten; 2256 He ledde hem alle to Ioſepes biri, Her non hadden ðo loten miri. "Lou_er_d," he ſeiden ðo eu_er_ilc on,

They tell Joseph that they have brought back the silver which they found in their sacks.

"Gur ſilu_er_ iſ gu brogt a-gon, 2260 It was in ure ſeckes don, Ne wiſte ur non gilt ðor-on." "Beð nu ſtille," q_u_ad ſtiward, "for ic nu haue min forward." 2264

[Fol. 44b.] Simeon was brought out unto them.

ðor cam ðat broðer ſymeon And kiſte iſ breðere on and on; Wel fagen he was of here come, for he was numen ðor to nome. 2268

Joseph came home about noon,

It was vndren time or more, Om cam ðat riche lou_er_d ðore; And al ðo briðere, of frigti mod,

and the brethren offered him their present.

fellen bi-forn ðat lou_er_d-iſ fot, 2272 And bedden him riche p_re_ſent ðat here fader hi[m] adde ſent; And he leuelike it under-ſtod, for alle he weren of kinde blod. 2276

He inquires after his father.

"LIueð," q_u_ad he, "ðat fader get, ðat ðus manige ſunes bi-gat?"

They answer that Jacob is well,

"lou_er_d," he ſeiden, "get he liueð, Wot ic ðor non ðat he ne biueð; 2280

and that Benjamin stands before him.

And ðiſ iſ gunge beniamin, Hider brogt after bode-word ðin." ðo Iosep ſag him ðor bi-foren, Bi fader & moder broðer boren, 2284

Joseph was overcome.

Him ou_er_-wente his herte on-on, Kinde luue gan hi_m_ ou_er_-gon;

He went out and wept secretly.

Sone he gede ut and ſtille he gret, ðat al his wlite wurð teres wet. 2288

After a while he returned to them and bade them eat.

After ðat grot, he weiſ iſ wliten, And cam ðan in and bad he_m_ eten

THE BRETHREN ARE ACCUSED OF THEFT.

[Fol. 45.] He made his brethren sit before him according to their age.

He dede hem waſſen and him bi-foren, And ſette hem aſ he weren boren; 2292 Get he ðhogte of hiſ faderes wunes Hu he ſette at ðe mete hiſe ſunes;

Of meat and wine, the best he gave to Benjamin.

Of eu_er_ilc ſonde, of eu_er_ilc win, moſt and beſt he gaf beniamin. 2296 In fulſu_m_-hed he wurðen glaðe,[222] Ioſep ne ðoht ðor-of no ſcaðe, Oc it him likede ſwiðe wel,

Joseph gave them good counsel,

And hem lerede and tagte wel, 2300 And hu he ſulden hem beſt leden, Q_u_ene he comen in vnkinde ðeden;

and advised them to act truthfully.

"And al ðe bettre ſule ge ſpeden, If ge wilen gu wið treweiðe leden." 2304

On the morrow they depart.

Eft on morwen q_u_an it waſ dai, Or or ðe breðere ferden a-wei, Here ſeckes woren alle filt wið coren, And ðe ſilu_er_ ðor-in bi-foren; 2308

Joseph's cup is hid in Benjamin's sack.

And ðe ſeck ðat agte beniamin Ioſepes cuppe hid was ðor-in; And q_u_uan he weren ut tune went, Ioſep haueð hem after ſent. 2312

Joseph's messenger overtakes them,

ðis ſonde hem ou_er_takeð raðe, And bi-calleð of harme and ſcaðe;

and accuses them of theft.

"Vn-ſeli men, q_u_at haue ge don? Gret vn-ſelðehe iſ gu cumen on, 2316

[Fol. 45b.]

for iſ it nogt min lord for-holen, ða[t] gure on haueð iſ cuppe ſtolen." ð[o] ſeiden ðe breðere ſikerlike,

The brethren assert their innocence.

"Vp q_u_am ðu it findes witterlike, 2320 He ſlagen and we agen driuen In-to ðraldom, eu_er_mor to liuen."

They are ransacked one by one,

He gan hem ranſaken on and on, And fond it ðor ſone a-non, 2324 And nam ðo breðere eu_er_ilk on, And ledde hem ſorful a-gon,

[222] = glade.

JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.

and brought before Joseph,

And brogte hem bi-for ioſep Wid reweli lote, and ſorwe, and wep. 2328 ðo q_u_at ioſep, "ne wiſte ge nogt

who reproaches them for their crime.

ðat ic am o wol witter ðogt? Mai nogt longe me ben for-holen Q_u_at-ſo-eu_er_e on londe wurð ſtolen." 2332

Judah tells Joseph of his promise to his father.

"Lou_er_d!" q_u_ad Iudas, "do wið me Q_u_at-ſo ði wille on werlde be, Wið-ðan-ðat ðu friðe beniamin; ic ledde [him] ut on trewthe min, 2336 ðat he ſulde ef[223] cumen a-gen to hiſe fader, and wið him ben."

Joseph commands all, except his brethren, to leave him, and makes himself known to them.

ðo cam ioſep ſwilc rewðe up-on, he dede halle ut ðe toðere gon, 2340 And ſpac un-eðes, ſo e gret, ðat alle hiſe wlite wurð tereſ wet.

[Fol. 46.]

"Ic am ioſep, dredeð gu nogt, for gure helðe or hider brogt; 2344 Two ger ben nu ðat derke[224] iſ cumen, Get ſulen .v. fulle ben numen, ðat men ne ſulen ſowen ne ſheren, So ſal drugte ðe feldes deren. 2348

Tells them to hasten to his father,

Rapeð gu to min fader a-gen, And ſeið him q_u_ilke min bliſſes ben, And doð him to me cumen hider,

and return with their cattle to Egypt.

And ge and gure orf al to-gider; 2352 Of lewſe god in lond gerſen ſulen ge ſundri riche ben." Eu_er_ilc he kiſte, on ilc he gret, Ilc here was of iſ teres wet. 2356

Soon did Pharaoh learn the new tidings.

Sone it was king pharaon kid Hu ðis newe tiding wurð bi-tid; And he was bliðe, in herte fagen, ðat Ioſep wulde him ðider dragen, 2360 for luue of Ioſep migte he timen.

He bad them take carts and

He bad cartes and waines nimen,

[223] eft?

[224] derðe?

JACOB AND HIS FAMILY GO INTO EGYPT.

wains and fetch their wives and children.

And fechen wiues, and childre, and men, And gaf hem ðor al lond gerſen, 2364 And het hem ðat he ſulden hauen More and bet ðan he kude crauen.

Joseph gave them changes of raiment.

Ioſep gaf ilc here twinne ſrud, Beniamin moſt he[225] made prud; 2368

[Fol. 46b.]

fif weden beſt bar beniamin, ðre hundred plates of ſilu_er_ fin, Al-ſo fele oðre ðor-til,

He bad them take presents for Jacob,

He bad ben in is faderes wil, 2372 And .x. aſſes wið ſemes feſt; Of alle egiptes welðhe beſt Gaf he iſ breðere, wið herte bliðe,

and hasten homeward.

And bad hem rapen hem homward ſwiðe; 2376 And he ſo deden wið herte fagen. Toward here fader he gunen dragen,

When they came home, Jacob scarcely recognized them.

And q_u_ane he comen him bi-foren, Ne wiſte he nogt q_u_at he woren. 2380

"Lord Israel," they said, "Joseph liveth and greeteth thee well."

"Lou_er_d," he ſeiden, "iſrael, Ioſep ðin ſune greteð ðe wel, And ſendeð ðe bode ðat he liueð, Al egipte in hiſ wil cliueð." 2384

Jacob believed not till he saw the presents.

Iacob a-braid, and trewed it nogt, Til he ſag al ðat welðe brogt. "Wel me," quað he, "wel iſ me wel, ðat ic aue abiden ðuſ ſwil[c] ſel! 2388

Then he said, "I shall go to my son ere I turn from the world."

And ic ſal to min ſune fare And ſen, or ic of werlde chare."

Jacob and his family left Canaan.

[I]Acob wente ut of lond chanaan, And of iſ kinde wel manie a man; 2392 Ioſep wel faire him vnder-ſtod, And pharaon ðogte it ful good;

[Fol. 47.]

for ðat he weren hirde-men,

Pharaoh gives them the land of Goshen to live in. Jacob is brought before Pharaoh,

He bad hem ben in lond gerſen. 2396 Iacob waſ brogt bi-foren ðe king for to geuen him hiſ bliſcing.

[225] MS. be.

THEY DWELL IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN.

"fader derer," q_u_að pharaon, "hu fele ger be ðe on?" 2400

and tells him of his age,

"An hundred ger and .xxx. mo Haue ic her drogen i_n_ werlde wo, ðog ðinkeð me ðor-offen fo,

of his many sorrows,

ðog ic iſ haue drogen i_n_ wo, 2404 ſiðen ic gan on werlde ben, Her vten erd, man-kin bi-twen; So ðinked[226] eu_er_ilc wiſ man,

and how all suffer for the sin of Adam.

ðe wot q_u_or-of man-kin bi-gan, 2408 And ðe of adames gilte muneð, ðat he her uten herdes wuneð."

Pharaoh bad him rest in peace.

Pharaon bad him wurðen wel in ſofte reſte and ſeli mel; 2412 He and hiſe ſunes in reſte dede In lond gerſen, on ſundri ſtede; Siðen ðor waſ mad on ſcité, ðe waſ y-oten Rameſé. 2416

Jacob lived one hundred and forty-four years.

Iacob on liue wunede ðor In reſte fulle .xiiij. ger;

God showed him the time of his death.

And god him let bi-foren ſen Q_u_ilc time hiſe ending ſulde ben; 2420

[Fol. 47b.] Jacob bad Joseph promise

He bad ioſep hiſe leue ſune, On ðhing ðat[227] offe wel mune, ðat q_u_an it wurð mid him don,

to bury him in Hebron,

He ſulde him birien in ebron; 2424 And witterlike he it aueð hi_m_ ſeid,

where Abraham was laid,

ðe ſtede ðor abraham was leid; So was him lif[228] to wurðen leid, Q_u_uor ali gast ſtille hadde ſeid 2428

and his elders before him.

Him and hiſe eldere(.) fer ear bi-foren, Q_u_uor ieſu criſt wulde ben boren, And q_u_uor ben dead, and q_u_uor ben grauen; He ðogt wið hem reſte to hauen. 2432

Joseph swore to do as his father wished.

Ioſep ſwor him al-ſo he bad, And he ðor-of wurð bliðe & glad.

[226] ðinkeð?

[227] ðar?

[228] lef?

THE DEATH OF JACOB.

Before he died Jacob called his sons before him, and "said what of them should be."

Or ðan he wiſte off werlde faren, He bade hiſe kinde to him charen, 2436 And ſeide q_u_at of hem ſulde ben, Hali gaſt dede it him ſeen; In clene ending and ali lif, So he for-let ðis werldes ſtrif. 2440

Joseph caused his father's body to be embalmed.