t she had pretended sickness on this very account, and had preferred
his conversation before the festival and its solemnity; or whether he
opposed her former discourses, as not believing she could be in earnest;
she now gave him sufficient security, by thus repeating her application,
that she meant not in the least by fraud to impose upon him; and assured
him, that if he complied with her affections, he might expect the
enjoyment of the advantages he already had; and if he were submissive to
her, he should have still greater advantages; but that he must look
for revenge and hatred from her, in case he rejected her desires, and
preferred the reputation of chastity before his mistress; for that he
would gain nothing by such procedure, because she would then become his
accuser, and would falsely pretend to her husband, that he had attempted
her chastity; and that Potiphar would hearken to her words rather than
to his, let his be ever so agreeable to the truth.

4. When the woman had said thus, and even with tears in her eyes,
neither did pity dissuade Joseph from his chastity, nor did fear compel
him to a compliance with her; but he opposed her solicitations, and did
not yield to her threatenings, and was afraid to do an ill thing,
and chose to undergo the sharpest punishment rather than to enjoy his
present advantages, by doing what his own conscience knew would justly
deserve that he should die for it. He also put her in mind that she was
a married woman, and that she ought to cohabit with her husband only;
and desired her to suffer these considerations to have more weight with
her than the short pleasure of lustful dalliance, which would bring her
to repentance afterwards, would cause trouble to her, and yet would not
amend what had been done amiss. He also suggested to her the fear
she would be in lest they should be caught; and that the advantage of
concealment was uncertain, and that only while the wickedness was not
known [would there be any quiet for them]; but that she might have the
enjoyment of her husband's company without any danger. And he told her,
that in the company of her husband she might have great boldness from a
good conscience, both before God and before men. Nay, that she would act
better like his mistress, and make use of her authority over him better
while she persisted in her chastity, than when they were both ashamed
for what wickedness they had been guilty of; and that it is much better
to a lif