Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.

                                
                                  Iloren ich haue Iosep, þat ich louede so swiþe,
                                
                                  & nou ich ssal Beniamin, be ich neuere bliþe.
                                
                                  Ac nellich nouȝt, mine sones, ȝoure trouþe þat ȝe breke,
                                
                                  Oure Louerd, wen his wille is, wel he me mai awreke.'
                                
                                  Þis breþren nimeþ Beniamin & forþ hi hine ledeþ,
                                  Line 465 
                                
                                  Iacob falleþ iswowe & for serewe gredeþ.
                                
                                  Feire fareþ þis ȝunge men bi dai & bi niȝt
                                
                                  Into Egipte lond þat hi comen riȝt.
                                
                                  Hi comen into þe castel þer Iosep was in,
                                
                                  Ruben him bitecheþ his broþer Beniamin.
                                  Line 470 
                                
                                  Þo Iosep isauȝ his breþren alle elleuene,
                                
                                  Him þuȝte þat he was bliþore þen þauȝ he were in heuene.
                                
                                  He goþ into þe boure & wepeþ for blisse,
                                
                                  Sore he is alonged his breþren to kisse.
                                
                                  'Louerd,' seide Iosep, 'ich hit þonke þe,
                                  Line 475 
                                
                                  Nou þe eleue sterren icomen beþ to me.
                                
                                  Mi fader & mi moder haddich iwonne,
                                
                                  Þenne hadde ich iwis þe mone & þe sunne.
                                
                                  Feire beþ þis ȝunge men iserued þilke niȝt,
                                
                                  Of mete ne of drinke trukede hem no wiȝt.
                                  Line 480 
                                
                                  Iosep cam to þe bord, anon he hem tolde
                                
                                  'Ich am,' he seide, 'Iosep, into Egipte þat ȝe solde.'
                                
                                  & so he geþ to boure riȝt from þe bord,
                                
                                  & wepeþ for blisse þat he ne mai speken a word.
                                
                                  Þenne seide Ruben, 'Ne seidich ȝou inouȝ,
                                  Line 485 
                                
                                  To sungen on þat child þat ȝe hadden wouȝ.
                                
                                  Nolde ȝe me ileue ȝoure neuer on, [folio 10a] 
                                
                                  Nou is icome þe time þat we beþ alle agon.'
                                
                                  Iosep cam into halle & sauȝ his breþren wepe,
                                
                                  He kisseþ Beniamin anon, his neb he gan wipe,
                                  Line 490 
                                
                                  & so he goþ bi rewe & kusseþ hem eueruchon,
                                
                                  Seþþe he cam into Egypte nas he so bliþe man.

About this Item

Title: Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.
Canvas: Page 16
Publication: Oxford,: Clarendon press,; 1916.

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Collection: Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
Link to this Item: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/acb1675.0001.001
Link to this scan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/acb1675.0001.001/52:3

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Manifest: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/api/manifest/cme:acb1675.0001.001

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Full citation: "Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/acb1675.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2025.

Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.

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