seph, that if he had
any portion of understanding in such matters, he would tell him what
this vision foretold. Who bid him be of good cheer, and expect to be
loosed from his bonds in three days' time, because the king desired his
service, and was about to restore him to it again; for he let him know
that God bestows the fruit of the vine upon men for good; which wine is
poured out to him, and is the pledge of fidelity and mutual confidence
among men; and puts an end to their quarrels, takes away passion and
grief out of the minds of them that use it, and makes them cheerful.
"Thou sayest that thou didst squeeze this wine from three clusters of
grapes with thine hands, and that the king received it: know, therefore,
that this vision is for thy good, and foretells a release from thy
present distress within the same number of days as the branches had
whence thou gatheredst thy grapes in thy sleep. However, remember
what prosperity I have foretold thee when thou hast found it true by
experience; and when thou art in authority, do not overlook us in this
prison, wherein thou wilt leave us when thou art gone to the place we
have foretold; for we are not in prison for any crime; but for the sake
of our virtue and sobriety are we condemned to suffer the penalty of
malefactors, and because we are not willing to injure him that has thus
distressed us, though it were for our own pleasure." The cupbearer,
therefore, as was natural to do, rejoiced to hear such an interpretation
of his dream, and waited the completion of what had been thus shown him
beforehand.

3. But another servant there was of the king, who had been chief baker,
and was now bound in prison with the cupbearer; he also was in good
hope, upon Joseph's interpretation of the other's vision, for he had
seen a dream also; so he desired that Joseph would tell him what the
visions he had seen the night before might mean. They were these that
follow:--"Methought," says he, "I carried three baskets upon my head;
two were full of loaves, and the third full of sweetmeats and other
eatables, such as are prepared for kings; but that the fowls came
flying, and eat them all up, and had no regard to my attempt to drive
them away." And he expected a prediction like to that of the cupbearer.
But Joseph, considering and reasoning about the dream, said to him, that
he would willingly be an interpreter of good events to him, and not of
such as his dream denounced to him; but he told h