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[53]
Joseph, by saying this, and more, tried to restrain the violent passion
of the woman, and to reduce her affections within the rules of reason;
but she grew more ungovernable and earnest in the matter; and since she
despaired of persuading him, she laid her hands upon him, and had a mind
to force him. But as soon as Joseph had got away from her anger, leaving
also his garment with her, for he left that to her, and leaped out of her
chamber, she was greatly afraid lest he should discover her lewdness to
her husband, and greatly troubled at the affront he had offered her; so
she resolved to be beforehand with him, and to accuse Joseph falsely to
Potiphar, and by that means to revenge herself on him for his pride and
contempt of her; and she thought it a wise thing in itself, and also becoming
a woman, thus to prevent his accusation. Accordingly she sat sorrowful
and in confusion, framing herself so hypocritically and angrily, that the
sorrow, which was really for her being disappointed of her lust, might
appear to be for the attempt upon her chastity; so that when her husband
came home, and was disturbed at the sight of her and inquired what was
the cause of the disorder she was in, she began to accuse Joseph: and,
"O husband," said she, "mayst thou not live a day longer
if thou dost not punish the wicked slave who has desired to defile thy
bed; who has neither minded who he was when he came to our house, so as
to behave himself with modesty; nor has he been mindful of what favors
he had received from thy bounty (as he must be an ungrateful man indeed,
unless he, in every respect, carry himself in a manner agreeable to us):
this man, I say, laid a private design to abuse thy wife, and this at the
time of a festival, observing when thou wouldst be absent. So that it now
is clear that his modesty, as it appeared to be formerly, was only because
of the restraint he was in out of fear of thee, but that he was not really
of a good disposition. This has been occasioned by his being advanced to
honor beyond what he deserved, and what he hoped for; insomuch that he
concluded, that he who was deemed fit to be trusted with thy estate and
the government of thy family, and was preferred above thy eldest servants,
might be allowed to touch thy wife also." Thus when she had ended
her discourse, she showed him his garment, as if he then left it with her
when he attempted to force her. But Potiphar not being able to disbelieve
what his wife's tears showed, and what his wife said, and what he saw himself,
and being seduced by his love to his wife, did not set himself about the
examination of the truth; but taking it for granted that his wife was a
modest woman, and condemning Joseph as a wicked man, he threw him into
the malefactors' prison; and had a still higher opinion of his wife, and
bare her witness that she was a woman of a becoming modesty and chastity.
Flavius Josephus. The Works of Flavius Josephus. Translated by. William Whiston, A.M. Auburn and Buffalo. John E. Beardsley. 1895.
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- LSJ, προσκατα-λείπω
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