Joseph and Aseneth

Historical English source page 63

xx] PENTEPHRES RETURNS 59 name for ever, for that the Lord God hath laid the foundations of thy walls, and the sons of the living God shall dwell in thy city of refuge, and the Lord God shall reign over them for ever. For that man came ^from heaven ^ to me to-day and said these words to me concerning thee. And now come hither to me, thou virgin and pure, and wherefore standest thou afar off ? " Then Joseph stretched out his hands and ^embraced Asenath, and Asenath Joseph, and they kissed one another for a long time,* and both lived again in their spirit.' And Joseph kissed Asenath and gave her the spirit of life, then the second time he gave her the spirit of wisdom, and the third time he kissed her tenderly and gave her the spirit of truth. Pentephres returns and wishes to betroth Asenath to Joseph, but Joseph resolves to ask her hand from Pharaoh. XX. And, when they had clasped one another round for a long time and intertwined the chains of their hands, Asenath said to Joseph : " Come hither, lord, and enter our house, for that on my part I have prepared our house and a great dinner." And she took hold of his right hand and led him into her house and seated him on "■ Lat. Syr. Arm. om. ^ Syr. "by the beckoning of his eyes called A., and A. also stretched out her hands and ran to J. and fell on his neck and embraced him"; Lat. "embraced A. and they kissed one another" (om. ff. to 1. 22); Arm. "called A. and she came to J. and fell on his neck." ' Syr. Arm. ins. " and were joined to one another."