proue your sayings to be true, and that you die not. They did as he had said, 21and they talked one to an other: Worthily doe we suffer these thinges, because we haue sinned against our brother, seeing the distresse of his soule whilest he besought vs, and we heard not: therfore is this tribulation come vpon vs. 22Among whom Ruben one of them, said: Why, did not I say to you: Sinne not against the boy; and you heard me not? Loe his blood is required. 23And they knew not that Ioseph vnderstood: because he spake to them by an interpreter. 24And he turned away himselfe a litle while, and wept: and returning he spake to them. 25And taking Simeon, and binding him in their presence, he commanded his seruants that they should fil vp their sackes with wheat, and put euerie mans money againe in their bags, giuing them besides for to eate on the way: who did so. 26But they carying their corne vpon their asses, tooke their iourney. 27And one of them opening his sacke to giue his beast prouender in the Inne, beholding the money in the sackes mouth, 28he said to his brethren: My money is giuen me againe, behold it is in the sacke. And being astonished and troubled amongst themselues, they said: What is this, that God hath done vnto vs? 29And they came to Iacob their father into the land of Chanaan, & they told him al things that had chanced vnto them, saying: 30The Lord of the land spake to vs roughly, & thought vs to be spies of the prouince, 31to whom we answered: We are men of peace, neither doe we attempt any treachery. 32We are twelue brethren borne of one father: one is not liuing, the yongest is with our father in the Land of Chanaan. 33Who said to vs: Thus shal I trie that you be men of peace: Leaue one of your brethren with me, and take ye prouision necessarie for your houses, and goe your wayes, 34and bring your yongest brother to me, that I may know you are not spies: and you may receiue this felow againe, that is kept in prison: and afterwards my haue licence to buy what things you wil. 35This being said, when they powred out their corne, euerie man found his money tied in the mouth of the sackes: and al being astonished together, 36their father Iacob said: You haue made me to be without children, Ioseph is not liuing, Simeon is kept in bonds, and Beniamin you wil take away: al these euils are fallen vpon me. 37To whom Ruben answered: Kil my two sonnes, if I bring him not againe to thee: deliuer him into my hand, and I wil restore him vnto thee. 38But he said: My sonne shal not go downe with you: his brother is dead, and he alone is remayning: if any aduersitie shal chance to him in the land to the which you goe, you shal bring downe [1] my hoare haires with sorow ″ vnto hel.
- ↑ Myne old age, or, me an old man. S. Aug. q. 142.
