40
CHAPTER 40
1When these things were done, it befelled that two geldings, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, sinned to their lord.
2And Pharaoh was wroth against them, for the one was master butler, and the tother was master baker.
3And he sent them into the prison of the prince of knights, in which also Joseph was bound.
4And the keeper of the prison betook them to Joseph, which also served, or kept, them. Somewhat of time passed, and they were holden in keeping,
5and both saw a dream in one night, by covenable expounding to them.
6And when Joseph had entered to them early, and had seen them sorry,
7he asked them, and said, Why is your cheer heavier today than it is wont to be?
8Which answered, We each saw a dream, and there is no man that expoundeth it to us. And Joseph said to them, Whether the expounding is not of God? Tell ye to me what ye have seen.
9The master butler told first his dream; I saw before me that a vine,
10in which were three scions, waxed little and little into burgeonings, and that after the flowers, the grapes waxed ripe,
11and the cup of Pharaoh was in mine hand; therefore I took the grapes, and pressed them out into the cup that I held, and I gave drink to Pharaoh.
12Joseph answered, This is the expounding of the dream; three scions be yet three days,
13after which Pharaoh shall have mind of thy service, and he shall restore thee into the first degree, and thou shalt give to him the cup, by thine office, as thou were wont to do before.
14Only have thou mind of me, when it is well to thee, and thou shalt do mercy with me, that thou make suggestion to Pharaoh, that he lead me out of this prison;
15for thiefly, that is, by thievery, I am taken away from the land of Hebrews, and here I am sent innocent into prison.
16The master baker saw that Joseph had declared prudently the dream, and he said, And I saw a dream, that I had three baskets of meal on mine head,
17and I guessed that I bare in one basket, that was highest, all meats or baked foods that be made for Pharaoh by the craft of bakers, and that birds ate thereof.
18Joseph answered, This is the expounding of the dream; three baskets be yet three days,
19after which Pharaoh shall take away thine head, and he shall hang thee in a cross, and birds shall draw thy flesh.
20From thence the third day was the day of the birth of Pharaoh, which made a great feast to his servants, and he had mind among the meats or during the meal, of the master butler, and of the prince of bakers;
21and he restored the one into his place, that he should dress the cup, either drink, to the king,
22and he hanged the tother in a gibbet, that the truth of Joseph declaring the dreams should be proved.
23And nevertheless when prosperities befelled to the master butler, he forgat Joseph that declared his dream.