Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/351

Ⅻ, 51-61. forbid ! we know no bad of him.’ Said the wife of the prince, ‘Now does the truth appear! I desired him for his person and, verily, he is of those who tell the truth.’

‘That’ (said Joseph) ‘was that he might know that I did not betray him in his absence, and that God guides not the craft of those who do betray! Yet I do not clear myself, for the soul is very urgent to evil, save what my Lord has had mercy on ; verily, my Lord is forgiving and merciful !’

And the king said, ‘Bring him to me. I will take him specially for myself.’ And when he had spoken with him he said, ‘Verily, to-day thou art with us in a permanent place of trust.’

He said, ‘Place me over the treasures of the land ; verily, I will be a knowing keeper.’

Thus did we stablish Joseph in the land that he might settle in what part thereof he pleased — we overtake with our mercy whom we will, nor do we waste the hire of those who do good; and surely the hire of the future life is better for those who believe and who have feared.

And his brethren came to Joseph, and they entered in unto him and he knew them, but they recognised not him.

And when he had equipped them with their equipment he said, ‘Bring me a brother that ye have from your father; do ye not see that I give good measure, and that I am the best of entertainers ? But if ye bring him not to me, no measure shall ye have with me, nor shall ye come nigh me.’

They said, ‘We will desire him of our father, and we will surely do it.’ [6]