Mother, open your grave to me and welcome me into your tomb; let this resting place serve as one bed for us both. Receive, O Rachel, your child, that he may not meet a violent end; accept me, O mother, who has lost Jacob as suddenly as I lost you in my childhood. Hear my heart's lament, and take me into your grave; for my eyes can no longer shed tears, nor can my soul bear to weep. Rachel, Rachel, do you not hear your son Joseph's cries? They are dragging me away against my will; will you not take me in? I called out to Jacob, but he did not heed my voice; now I call upon you, do you not hear me? When the Ishmaelites who had captured Joseph saw him prostrate before Rachel’s tomb, they spoke among themselves, saying: "This young man seeks to enchant us, striving to disappear from our view. Therefore, let us restrain him, lest he evade us completely." Approaching him, they threatened, "At last, rise up and cease this sorcery, or we shall strike you upon the tomb, and we will lose the money we paid for you." When he did rise, all beheld the traces of deep sorrow etched upon his face, prompting them to ask condescendingly, "What troubles you so deeply, since you have only just encountered this grave on your journey through the hippodrome? Speak plainly to us; set aside your fear: what is your trade, and for what price have you been sold? Those shepherds who turned you over to us cautioned us to keep you from escaping; we are not accountable for this, as they warned us beforehand. Therefore, tell us in detail, to whom do you belong? Are you a servant of those shepherds, or of some other free man? And explain to us, why have you collapsed upon the grave with such fervor? We have purchased you, and you are now our responsibility; reveal to us your story. If you withhold it from us, to whom can you share it? You are our servant, and do you believe, as the shepherds informed us, that you could flee from us the moment we release our watch over you? But regain your composure, and be straightforward with us: what is it that you do? You strike us as one of noble birth; we will regard you not merely as a slave, but as a brother and cherished son. For we see in your demeanor much independence and wisdom. Indeed, young man, you are worthy to stand before kings and be honored among the nobles; for your beauty will soon elevate you to great honor and power, and you will be our friend and companion wherever we take you, that you may dwell in joy. For who could fail to love such a splendid young man, so graceful in appearance, noble, and wise?" Sighing, Joseph responded, "I am neither a servant nor a sorcerer, nor was I sold to you due to any misdeeds; rather, I was my father’s favored son, and my mother’s beloved child. Those same shepherds are my brothers; my father sent me to inquire about their well-being, for he cherished them dearly, having delayed their return from the mountains for some time. Instead, they seized me out of jealousy, selling me to you and tearing me away from my father, unable to endure the love he bore me. This coffin here is that of my mother; my father passed this way on his return from Harran, and during the journey, my mother died and was laid to rest in this burial site you see." Upon hearing this, they wept for him and said, "Do not fear, young man; for you are destined for great honor in Egypt; your features reveal your noble heritage. Rather, rejoice that you have been liberated from the envy and malice of the brothers who betrayed you."
THEOSIS