THE MARRIAGE OF JOSEPH

The appearance and the speech of Joseph made so deep
an impression upon Asenath that no sooner had she reached
her apartment than she divested herself of her robes of state
and took off her jewels, and put on sackcloth instead,
strewed ashes upon her head, and supplicated God amid
tears to grant her pardon for her sins. In this manner she
spent seven days and seven nights in her chamber. Not
even her seven attendants were permitted to enter her presence
during the time of her penance. The morning of the
eighth day an angel appeared unto her, and bade her put
away her sackcloth and ashes and array herself in state, for
this day she had been born anew, he said, to eat the blessed
bread of life, to drink of the cup of life immortal, and anoint