money, he was to be sure to buy the slave and bring him to
her. The eunuch gave the Ishmaelites eighty pieces of gold
for Joseph, telling his mistress, however, that he had paid
out a hundred pieces. Joseph noticed the deception, but he
kept silent, that the eunuch might not be put to shame.[99]

Thus Joseph became the slave of the idolatrous priest
Potiphar, or Poti-phera, as he was sometimes called.[100] He
had secured possession of the handsome youth for a lewd
purpose, but the angel Gabriel mutilated him in such manner
that he could not accomplish it.[101] His master soon had
occasion to notice that Joseph was as pious as he was beautiful,
for whenever he was occupied with his ministrations,
he would whisper a prayer: "O Lord of the world, Thou
art my trust, Thou art my protection. Let me find grace
and favor in Thy sight and in the sight of all that see me,
and in the sight of my master Potiphar." When Potiphar
noticed the movement of his lips, he said to Joseph, "Dost
thou purpose to cast a spell upon me?" "Nay," replied
the youth, "I am beseeching God to let me find favor in
thine eyes."

His prayer was heard. Potiphar convinced himself that
God was with Joseph. Sometimes he would make a test of
Joseph's miraculous powers. If he brought him a glass of
hippocras, he would say, "I would rather have wine mixed
with absinthe," and straightway the spiced wine was
changed into bitter wine. Whatever he desired, he could be
sure to get from Joseph, and he saw clearly that God fulfilled
the wishes of his slave. Therefore he put all the keys of