The History of Joseph, Title page – To the reader
THE HISTORY OF IOSEPH. A POEM
Written by DANIEL CUDMORE, Gent.
Say not, my hand this work to end hath brought,
Nor this my vertue hath attained to:
Say rather thus, this God by me hath wrought;
God's th' Authour of the little good I do.
Du Bart. in Quadrians of Pabr.
LONDON, Printed by T. Warren for the uſe of the Author, 1652.
To his much reſpected Vncle Mr. ZACHARY CUDMORE all health and happineſs.
SIR,
PRomiſes are due debt; you were pleaſed not long ſince, ſo far to encourage my endevours as to claim this Poem; which I (having nothing which I might truly arrogate to my ſelf, but you might juſtly challenge yours, as purchas'd by your favours) thankfully promiſed; and now at length, like Pharaohs Butler, on the conſideration of your manifold Curteſies, being check'd to a remembrance of my promiſe, humbly tender, and with it (like the poor Spaniard, who when a Father of the Inquiſition deſired but the Fruit, preſented him the Tree) preſent my ſelf; accept this with the like candour of mind, as I devote it with it really, and I ſhall eſteem my hopes anchor'd in a happy Bay. If any upbraid me, being a Poet, with the fatall name of a begger, I anſwer with the ſweet Singer of Iſrael Adhuc & vilior fiam, ſo I may but herein do God the leaſt ſervice, and ſo render my ſelf gracious to your acceptance; nor doubt I but time may ſo midwife it, that hereafter I may tender ſome thing which may (if not redeem ſome of my engagements) yet induce your courteſie to forbear the debts wherein ſtands obliged
Your obſervant Nephew, DAN. CUD.
To the Reader.
Courteous Reader,
I Here preſent thee with the Hiſtory of Joſeph, which as I could ſeldome paſs over without tears, ſo I could not but digeſt them into matter through the Lymbeck of my Quill, though into ſuch a form as my moſe eaſie Genius lead me; 'tis a ſubject, I confeſs, which ſeems to claim both a more elaborate Brain, and a more accurate Pen than mine, yet ſhall I neither eſteem my labour loſt, nor my time ill-beſtow'd, if I may herein prove but the Foyl of thoſe who have writ more gravely on the ſame matter, that in my weakneſs may the more clearly appear their worth. If thou object, that in the p…ſſage between Joſeph and his wanton Miſtris, I have rendred my ſelf. Pathick than Pathetick, I may anſwer firſt, that I have deſcribed her Paſſion in as grave a Wantonneſt as the tenour of her broad expreſſions would permit; Secondly, for the frequency of it, the Text tells me that it was her daily practice; Thirdly, I have an example from Solomon himſelf, who, (doubtleſs guided by Gods Spirit) ſets forth a Harlot thus in her courteous vanities; In the laſt place, I hope His modeſt anſwers which ſtruck, for the preſent, the impatient opponent dumb, will take off a judicious cenſure from reply. What I here preſent thee, is mine own, what thou haſt here is no Crambes bis cocta, no Page, furtivis ornata coloribus, nor can my fancy upbraid my Pen, as 'tis to be fear'd, God will one day our new compounded faſhions, Hoc non eſt opus meum, imago mea.
Farewell.