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