thy people, during the seven years of famine, that they perish not with hunger. Wherefore my advice is, that your majesty look out for some wise and honest man, suitably qualified, and give him a commission for this purpose, that the burden may be lighter upon the king.

The king looked with admiration at Joseph all the while he was speaking, astonished to find so much wisdom in a youth, and as soon as he had done. speaking, sprung from the throne, and grasped him in his arms with all the ardour of friendship, and said, "Yes, this is the interpretation, and thou art the man who was presented to me in my sleep, to be my assistant in a work so great, I embrace thee, therefore, as one sent by the God of heaven, to be a saviour to the people. And where my lords," said he to his courtiers," shall we find one endued with wisdom and discretion equal to him." Now the butler, who all this time stood by, a silent but delighted auditor, came up, and tenderly embraced his quondam friend, begged pardon for his long neglect, and hoped that Joseph would not impute it to want of regard. Joseph told him, that the Lord's time

was not till now come.

The king then gave command to the master of his wardrobe, to take Joseph away and clothe him in superb array. Just as he departed from the king's presence, one of the lords in waiting entered, and informed his majesty, that Potiphar, his general, waited in the hall, and requested a private audience upon matters of great importance. "Let him come in," said the king, "for he is a good man.'

The

king retired with Potiphar into an anti-chamber, and thus he preferred his suit. May it please your majesty, immediately before I went by your commission against the Ethiopians, I committed the steward of my house to prison, on my wife's accusing him with an attempt to ravish her; it was indeed, my intent to have spoke to your majesty to have had him put to death; but thanks to the gods, the suddenness of the invasion and the urgency of the king's com

mand, together with my regard for the public good, made me utterly forget my own affairs. My wife, upon my return, hath withdrawn her charge, intreating me to procure his release, and indemnify him for his unjust imprisonment. This favour therefore, I would humbly intreat of your majesty, and if it is agreeable to take him under your sacred protection, for he is one of the most virtuous and wise of the human race. Glad should I be to enjoy him as my friend and companion in my own house; but circumstances forbid his re-admission there.

The king heard with attention, and rightly suspecting that Joseph was the person in question, ordered him to be brought again into his presence. But how great was Potiphar's surprize, to see his friend, his ill-used Joseph, brought unto the king clothed in purple, with a chain of gold and diamonds about his neck. He stood motionless for some time, then with an agitated voice, he abruptly said, "It is he." And flying to his embrace, he held him as if he grew unto him. Joseph, equally astonished on his part, to find such a change, said, "I rejoice, my master, once more to embrace you as my friend; and indeed, Sir, I never gave you cause to be otherwise." "I know it Joseph, I know it," returned he, " but if his majesty will permit me, I will give you an account how it is that my friendship hath returned to its proper channel.

"You told me, Joseph, on that detested night that I sent you to the dungeon, that the God whom you and your fathers adore, would by some means or other clear up your innocence, and detect the guilt of your accusers. It is done my friend, your prediction is fulfilled. Your poor unhappy mistress has paid dearly for her folly; she is a proper object of your pity; let her then be ever free from your resentment. The accursed nurse, the wretched Syrena, was more to blame than my fond Sabrina. But I

was more to blame than both. How could I think that female virtue could be insensible of your attracting charms? I delighted to present you to her, re

joiced to see her at any time look friendly upon you, not considering the danger to which I exposed my poor unhappy wife. Whereas I ought to have concealed you entirely from her sight. But I exposed her to the snare, and I wonder not if she was entangled. I grieved to see her beauty fade away like the decaying rose, and all her wonted vivacity changed into a settled melancholy. She lost all taste for pleasure, for amusements, company, or dress; her sleep was unseasonable, and disturbed with distressing dreams. And oft have I heard her in secret, mourning her betrayed and injured lord Potiphar. Cautious of adding to her distress, I avoided searching into the cause of it; till last night, she sent for me into her apartment, where she has been for several days confined to her bed, dangerously ill of a fever.

O my lord!' said she, can you forgive the must wretched creature, that ever was confided in by an indulgent and over credulous husband? I have betrayed you, my lord, and I cannot die without informing you of my guiltiness, Had the injured Hebrew been no more virtuous than Sabrina, your bed had been stained with the vilest pollution.' What!' cried 1, is he not guilty?' No, my lord,' returned she, he is not guilty; his virtue is inflexible. Neither tears, intreaties, nor threats could shake his steady mind. He trusted in his God, and was delivered. I alone am guilty. I conceived an involuntary passion for him the first time you presented him to me. Conscious of its baseness, I did what I could to stifle it; but do what I would, it grew stronger upon me, till it burned as a flame intolerable. Encouraged by my nurse, I gave scope to my wild desires, did all that I could to entice him, but to no purpose, His regard to his God and his master, prevailed over all my charms and snares; and by his stability he hath convinced me, that there is something in piety and virtue, which I am unacquainted with. O my lord! may I hope to hear the voice of your forgiveness, before I depart? And O! how heartily could I beg forgiveness of injured virtue, was I not fearful that the sight of the Hebrew would overcome me,"

Do

"Yes, Sabrina," replied I, "I forgive you with all my heart, this honest, this frank confession, is a certain sign of returning virtue. I embrace you my love, and will hasten Joseph's enlargement, and reinstate him in the family. Oh never, never' answered she; I shall not dare to behold him again; for although I feel nothing but the most laudable friendship for him now, I shall never dare to expose my weakness to danger so imminent any more. you my lord, what you can to serve him in any other way, but do not let me see him. When I am dead you may use your discretion, but save your poor, weak, and unstable spouse from temptation.' She said, and I promising to comply with her request left her to rest. Having unburthened her mind, she slept composedly all the night, and I have not seen such calm serenity on her countenance for a long time, as this morning when I visited her, before I came to wait on his majesty.

"But I see Joseph, that your God in whom you trusted, would not permit Potiphar to have the pleasure of presenting you to the king; but whosoever he is, that has that honour, shall be my friend for ever." Pharaoh replied, " Joseph hath preferred himself to my regard, and your story Potiphar hath riveted him in my esteem. It serves to illustrate and confirm what the native loveliness of his features indicate; and let me say, it does not a little embellish the character of my noble captain, to be so ready to repair an injury done through misinformation. Go home, my good lord, and let poor penitent Sabrina know, that Joseph is second in dignity and power in the kingdom of Egypt. The particulars of which, you shall be informed of Potiphar at another time."

The same virtue that enabled Joseph to bear with fortitude the adversity to which his innocence had exposed him, enabled him now to hear his praise echoed from one to another, without pride or vanity. His purple robe, and almost imperial dignity, altered not the native humility and modesty of his mind;

whereby he retained his dignity unenvied by those of inferior rank.

Pharaoh issued a royal proclamation, in which he nominated Joseph as high-steward of Egypt, and required all his subjects, of what rank soever, to be aiding and assisting to him, in whatsoever work he should undertake, or in whatsoever else he might require. Joseph on his part behaved with so much equity, discretion, and benevolence, that the people in general rejoiced to see the reins of government put into a hand so suitable.

Advanced to power, the first thing he did was to establish the strictest economy at court, to abridge the king's expences, as much as consisted with the dignity of so great a monarch, that the exchequer might furnish him money sufficient to buy up all the overplus of annual grain, and provide proper repositories for receiving it, when purchased. A square mile, on a pleasant meadow adjoining to Memphis, was selected for the seat of his granaries. The spring approached, and every thing in nature appeared to bear a fertile appearance, for the earth brought forth not in its usual course, but in great abundance. At the close of the year Joseph issued a proclamation, wherein he signified by royal authority, that at the king's granaries a certain price would be given for all the corn that should be delivered to the servants in waiting. The proclamation brought prodigous quantities of corn from all quarters, as soon as the overflowing of the Nile enabled them to bring it by water carriage; and this was continued annually for the space of seven years, by which time he had filled every place that he could procure with grain.

One day king Pharaoh took him into his closet and thus addressed him. "Joseph, I and Egypt in general have reason to consider you as a preserver and redeemer, raised up unto us against the day of calamity. As your God has been pleased to send you amongst us, it behoves us to do what we can to make your accommodation agreeable. I have pro posed a match for you Joseph. Nay, do not he