When Joseph, by his Brethren sold,
Was with his Masters on their Way,
Prest by sad thoughts and dreading to behold
The rising Light of each succeeding Day:
A Night there came when, burdened with his Woes,
His Fears and Wrongs, he felt inclined to rest;
When Sleeping Visions on his Fancy rose,
And Wonders on his troubled Spirit prest.
At first his Thoughts were all confused:
A fair young Slave was in his dream, 10
Who like himself did seem,
But whom he saw, now trusted, then accused—
One often tried and ever faithful found;
But still in Prison bound.
Anon, a City to his View arose;
Then a fair Dame, and then a Clank of Chains;
Alternate Smiles and Frowns of Friends and Foes;
Temptations, Trials, Favours, Perils, Pains;
But in each shifting Scene
Was he, that self-same Youth, still virtuous, still serene. 20
All else past off like Summer Clouds;
And that fair Youth, a Slave no more,
Was now attended by applauding Crowds,
And Robes of royal State he wore;
And ever, as this Youth the Dreamer viewed,
He seemed his very Self to [see];
Save that this other Self was new indued
With Power that his must never be;
For how could one be great, who felt he was not free!
He saw that other self beside a Throne, 30
Ennobled and admired of noble Men;
He saw him too, retired, alone,
Virtuous, and still more happy, then.
He seemed as fitted for his State,
And not by Love of Greatness led;
But as a Man advanced by Fate
To be a mighty People’s Head;
For, though so high, so near a Throne,
He served his God aright and worshipped Him alone.
Then he again beheld that Youth 40
With Wonder and increased delight!
For the young Dreamer saw the inward Truth,
And saw that all he did was just and right,
Acting as ever in his Mother’s sight;
And much he loved, but knew not why,
As Hearts are drawn by secret Chain;
When soon he heard a Voice that said, “Draw nigh,
And see what Truth and Piety obtain!”
While yet the Voice was heard, behold, there came
A Princess fair, or one in princely Guise; 50
The sleeping Shepherd feels a sudden flame,
And in his Slumber sighs.
Yet, when he saw that noble Youth address
The royal Maiden in a lover’s Style,
He felt no jealous Pangs his Heart oppress,
But joyful saw the soft, assenting Smile.
Scenes change.—The Pair are wedded and are blest;
He ruled the Land, but sterile was the Earth—
Dry as the parchèd Rock, yet not distress’d—
An unseen Plenty came upon the Dearth, 60
Like a full Stream; and lo! as Merchants came
A mingled race, to buy their Households food,
All praise his foresight; all revere his Name—
The Great, the Wise, the Bountiful and Good!
Then by that noble Youth, behold, there stood—
Strange Fate!—his Brothers, trembling at their Lot.
The Lordly Man them question’d; they replied:
“Our Father lives; One Brother, and beside
That one”—they looked abashed—“one more, my Lord, is not.”
He then beheld his Father and his Race, 70
Who found Protection from that bounteous hand.
Jacob had Honour, and his Brethren Grace,
And Joseph saw them in that Presence stand.
Strange joy he felt; for in his Dream
He as that princely Youth did seem;
And felt that Glory new of all the Scene.
But, as the Tidings of that Glory rose,
The gorgeous Scene appeared about to close;
For all the People shout, and all the Host
Of Egypt join’d, along the Red-Sea Coast, 80
In one loud peal of Praise; and was it joy?
Oh, no! it was the call his Masters gave,
That from his Vision drew the Hebrew Boy
To know himself a Slave!
While on his Ear that Shout of Triumph broke,
Joseph unwilling to the Call awoke;
He saw far off the Egyptian Turrets gleam,
And wept his cruel Fate, and longed again to dream.