Joseph could no longer refrain himself before many that stood by: whereupon he commanded that all should go out, and no stranger be present at their knowing one another.

Non se poterat ultra cohibere Joseph multis coram astantibus: unde præcepit ut egrederentur cuncti foras, et nullus interesset alienus agnitioni mutuæ.

Joseph could contain himself no longer, and there were many standing by. So he gave orders that all these should leave his presence; there must be no strangers to see it, when he made himself known.

And he lifted up his voice with weeping, which the Egyptians and all the house of Pharao heard.

Elevavitque vocem cum fletu, quam audierunt Ægyptii, omnisque domus Pharaonis.

But when he spoke, he burst into such a fit of weeping that these Egyptians, and all Pharao’s household, could not but hear it.

And he said to his brethren: I am Joseph: is my father yet living? His brethren could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear.

Et dixit fratribus suis: Ego sum Joseph: adhuc pater meus vivit? Non poterant respondere fratres nimio terrore perterriti.

I am Joseph, said he to his brethren; is my father yet alive? But his brethren were so overcome with fear that they could not answer him,

And he said mildly to them: Come nearer to me. And when they were come near him, he said: I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Ad quos ille clementer: Accedite, inquit, ad me. Et cum accessissent prope: Ego sum, ait, Joseph, frater vester, quem vendidistis in Ægyptum.

and he must needs use gentleness; Come closer, he said, and then, when they had drawn close to him, I am Joseph, that brother of yours whom you sent away to be sold as a slave in Egypt.

Be not afraid, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me into these countries: for God sent me before you into Egypt for your preservation.

Nolite pavere, neque vobis durum esse videatur quod vendidistis me in his regionibus: pro salute enim vestra misit me Deus ante vos in Ægyptum.

And now, do not take it to heart; waste no regrets over the bargain that brought me here; if I came to Egypt first, it was on God’s errand, to be your protector.

For it is two years since the famine began to be upon the land, and five years more remain, wherein there can be neither ploughing nor reaping.

Biennium est enim quod cœpit fames esse in terra: et adhuc quinque anni restant, quibus nec arari poterit, nec meti.

It is two years now since famine came to these parts, and there will be no ploughing, no reaping harvests, for five years more;

And God sent me before, that you may be preserved upon the earth, and may have food to live.

Præmisitque me Deus ut reservemini super terram, et escas ad vivendum habere possitis.

so God would have me here in readiness to preserve your race, by giving you food to live on.

Not by your counsel was I sent hither, but by the will of God: who hath made me as it were a father to Pharao, and lord of his whole house, and governor in all the land of Egypt.

Non vestro consilio, sed Dei voluntate huc missus sum: qui fecit me quasi patrem Pharaonis, et dominum universæ domus ejus, ac principem in omni terra Ægypti.

It was not your design, then, it was God’s will that sent me here; he it is that has put Pharao himself under my tutelage, made me regent of all his domains, with the whole of Egypt under my care.

Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God hath made me lord of the whole land of Egypt: come down to me, linger not.

Festinate, et ascendite ad patrem meum, et dicetis ei: Hæc mandat filius tuus Joseph: Deus fecit me dominum universæ terræ Ægypti: descende ad me, ne moreris,

Make haste, go back to my father and give him this message from his son Joseph: God has made me ruler of all Egypt; make thy way here with all speed.

And thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen: and thou shalt be near me, thou and thy sons, and thy sons’ sons, thy sheep, and thy herds, and all things that thou hast.

et habitabis in terra Gessen: erisque juxta me tu, et filii tui, et filii filiorum tuorum, oves tuæ, et armenta tua, et universa quæ possides:

Thou shalt have the land of Gessen for thy dwelling-place, so that thou canst live close to me, with thy children and thy grandchildren, thy sheep and cattle and all that is thine.

And there I will feed thee, (for there are yet five years of famine remaining,) lest both thou perish, and thy house, and all things that thou hast.

ibique te pascam (adhuc enim quinque anni residui sunt famis) ne et tu pereas, et domus tua, et omnia quæ possides.

And there, since there are still five years of famine to come, I will maintain thee and keep thee from starving, with that household of thine and all thou hast.

Behold, your eyes, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaketh to you.

En oculi vestri, et oculi fratris mei Benjamin, vident quod os meum loquatur ad vos.

You and my brother Benjamin here can assure him from the witness of your own eyes, that it was Joseph who spoke to you.

You shall tell my father of all my glory, and all things that you have seen in Egypt: make haste and bring him to me.

Nuntiate patri meo universam gloriam meam, et cuncta quæ vidistis in Ægypto: festinate, et adducite eum ad me.

Tell my father of all these honours I enjoy, and of all you saw in Egypt, and bring him back to me here with all speed.

And falling upon the neck of his brother Benjamin, he embraced him and wept: and Benjamin in like manner wept also on his neck.

Cumque amplexatus recidisset in collum Benjamin fratris sui, flevit: illo quoque similiter flente super collum ejus.

With that, he threw his arms round Benjamin’s neck, in tears; Benjamin, too, wept as he clung to him.

And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept upon every one of them: after which they were emboldened to speak to him.

Osculatusque est Joseph omnes fratres suos, et ploravit super singulos: post quæ ausi sunt loqui ad eum.

Then Joseph kissed all his brethren in turn, and wept over them, till at last they found courage to speak to him.

And it was heard, and the fame was abroad in the king’s court: The brethren of Joseph are come: and Pharao with all his family was glad.

Auditumque est, et celebri sermone vulgatum in aula regis: Venerunt fratres Joseph: et gavisus est Pharao, atque omnis familia ejus.

And now the news was in everybody’s mouth, and all Pharao’s court heard that Joseph’s brethren were there. Pharao rejoiced heartily over it, and all his courtiers with him;

And he spoke to Joseph that he should give orders to his brethren, saying: Load your beasts, and go into the land of Chanaan.

Dixitque ad Joseph ut imperaret fratribus suis, dicens: Onerantes jumenta, ite in terram Chanaan,

and these were the orders he would have Joseph give to his brethren, Pack your beasts, and go back to Chanaan,

And bring away from thence your father and kindred, and come to me: and I will give you all the good things of Egypt, that you may eat the marrow of the land.

et tollite inde patrem vestrum et cognationem, et venite ad me: et ego dabo vobis omnia bona Ægypti, ut comedatis medullam terræ.

bring your father here, and all your family, to share the blessings of Egypt with me, and live on the best the land can give.

Give orders also that they take wagons out of the land of Egypt, for the carriage of their children and their wives: and say: Take up your father, and make haste to come with all speed:

Præcipe etiam ut tollant plaustra de terra Ægypti, ad subvectionem parvulorum suorum ac conjugum: et dicito: Tollite patrem vestrum, et properate quantocius venientes.

And they might borrow waggons from Egypt, to carry their wives and children back. Take your father with you (he was to tell them) and make haste over your return;

And leave nothing of your household stuff: for all the riches of Egypt shall be yours.

Nec dimittatis quidquam de supellectili vestra: quia omnes opes Ægypti vestræ erunt.

and leave none of your farm stock behind you; all the wealth of Egypt awaits you here.

And the sons of Israel did as they were bid. And Joseph gave them wagons according to Pharao’s commandment: and provisions for the way.

Feceruntque filii Israël ut eis mandatum fuerat. Quibus dedit Joseph plaustra, secundum Pharaonis imperium, et cibaria in itinere.

The sons of Israel did as they were bidden; Joseph providing them with waggons at Pharao’s command, and with food for the journey.

He ordered also to be brought out for every one of them two robes: but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver with five robes of the best:

Singulis quoque proferri jussit binas stolas: Benjamin vero dedit trecentos argenteos cum quinque stolis optimis:

He also had two new garments brought out for each, and gave Benjamin three hundred silver pieces and five new garments of the choicest sort;

Sending to his father as much money and raiment, adding besides ten he asses to carry off all the riches of Egypt, and as many she asses, carrying wheat and bread for the journey.

tantumdem pecuniæ et vestium mittens patri suo, addens et asinos decem, qui subveherent ex omnibus divitiis Ægypti, et totidem asinas, triticum in itinere, panesque portantes.

sending his father a like gift in both kinds, as well as ten asses laden with the best merchandise of Egypt, and ten she-asses with corn and bread to last him over his travels.

So he sent away his brethren, and at their departing said to them: Be not angry in the way.

Dimisit ergo fratres suos, et proficiscentibus ait: Ne irascamini in via.

Thus he sent his brethren home, and his last word, as they set out, was Be sure there is no quarrelling on the way.

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Chanaan to their father Jacob.

Qui ascendentes ex Ægypto, venerunt in terram Chanaan ad patrem suum Jacob.

So they left Egypt, and when they reached their father Jacob in Chanaan,

And they told him, saying: Joseph thy son is living: and he is ruler in all the land of Egypt. Which when Jacob heard, he awaked as it were out of a deep sleep, yet did not believe them.

Et nuntiaverunt ei, dicentes: Joseph filius tuus vivit: et ipse dominatur in omni terra Ægypti. Quo audito Jacob, quasi de gravi somno evigilans, tamen non credebat eis.

they gave him their news, Thy son Joseph is still alive, and it is he that rules the whole land of Egypt. Jacob heard it, with the look of one just awoken from a heavy sleep, but at first he would not believe them,

They, on the other side, told the whole order of the thing. And when he saw the wagons and all that he had sent his spirit revived,

Illi e contra referebant omnem ordinem rei. Cumque vidisset plaustra et universa quæ miserat, revixit spiritus ejus,

and they must tell him the whole story from first to last. Then, when he had seen for himself the waggons and all the gifts, he could breathe again.

And he said: It is enough for me, if Joseph my son be yet living: I will go and see him before I die.

et ait: Sufficit mihi si adhuc Joseph filius meus vivit: vadam, et videbo illum antequam moriar.

If my son Joseph, he said, is still alive, that is all I ask; I will go with you, and have sight of him again before I die.