The Plot

When Yusuf’s brothers, with hatred fired,
Against the innocent boy conspired,
Said one : “ Our hearts in our sorrow have bled,
And his blood should flow for the blood he has shed.
When the arm of the slayer is lifted to smite,
Can ye save your lives by a timely flight ?
Let him die the death, and our task is sped :
There comes no voice from the lip of the dead.”
“ Nay,” cried a second, “ ’tis not for us
To compass the death of the guiltless thus.
Though we check his folly, he may not bleed ;
We hold, remember, the one true creed.
We shall gain our end if we drive him hence
As well as by death-dealing violence.
Let us hide him far from our father’s eyes
'Where a wild and desolate valley lies ;
In a waste full of pitfalls, from help afar.
Where the ravenous wolves and the foxes are ;
His only water the tears of despair,
And his only bread the sun’s scorching glare ;
Where the night around him for shade shall spread,
And thorns be the pillow to rest his head.
He may linger awhile neath the lonely sky,
But soon of himself he will waste and die,
Not a stain of his blood on our swords, and we
From the sword of his guile and deceit shall be free.”
“ Nay, this, my brother,” a third broke in,
“ Wore the worst of murders and grievous sin.
Tis better to perish, if die we must.
Not of hunger and thirst, but a dagger’s thrust.
Tins is my counsel, which seems more fit,
To search near and far for a deep dark pit.
And therein, cast down from his place of pride,
In sorrow and darkness the youth to hide.
Some travelling merchants may pass that way,
And halt at the well at the close of day.
They may lower for water a bucket and cord,
And the boy to the air will he thus restored.
Some merchant who looks on the prize will be glad
To take for a son or a slave the lad,
Who, carried away to a distant place,
Will vex us no longer with pain and disgrace.”
Soon as he spoke of this living grave,
The brothers approved the counsel he gave.
Unheeding the pit of their murderous thought,
The pit of dishonour they wildly sought.
In their evil purpose they all agreed
The heart of their father to wound and mislead.
Then to their labour they turned, each one ;
And the morrow was fixed for the deed to be done.