t
with her when he attempted to force her. But Potiphar not being able
to disbelieve what his wife's tears showed, and what his wife said, and
what he saw himself, and being seduced by his love to his wife, did
not set himself about the examination of the truth; but taking it for
granted that his wife was a modest woman, and condemning Joseph as a
wicked man, he threw him into the malefactors' prison; and had a still
higher opinion of his wife, and bare her witness that she was a woman of
a becoming modesty and chastity.

CHAPTER 5. What Things Befell Joseph In Prison.

1. Now Joseph, commending all his affairs to God, did not betake himself
to make his defense, nor to give an account of the exact circumstances
of the fact, but silently underwent the bonds and the distress he was
in, firmly believing that God, who knew the cause of his affliction, and
the truth of the fact, would be more powerful than those that inflicted
the punishments upon him:--a proof of whose providence he quickly
received; for the keeper of the prison taking notice of his care and
fidelity in the affairs he had set him about, and the dignity of his
countenance, relaxed his bonds, and thereby made his heavy calamity
lighter, and more supportable to him. He also permitted him to make use
of a diet better than that of the rest of the prisoners. Now, as his
fellow prisoners, when their hard labors were over, fell to discoursing
one among another, as is usual in such as are equal sufferers, and to
inquire one of another what were the occasions of their being condemned
to a prison: among them the king's cupbearer, and one that had been
respected by him, was put in bonds, upon the king's anger at him. This
man was under the same bonds with Joseph, and grew more familiar with
him; and upon his observing that Joseph had a better understanding
than the rest had, he told him of a dream he had, and desired he would
interpret its meaning, complaining that, besides the afflictions he
underwent from the king, God did also add to him trouble from his
dreams.

2. He therefore said, that in his sleep he saw three clusters of grapes
hanging upon three branches of a vine, large already, and ripe for
gathering; and that he squeezed them into a cup which the king held in
his hand; and when he had strained the wine, he gave it to the king to
drink, and that he received it from him with a pleasant countenance.
This, he said, was what he saw; and he desired Jo