were beating Joseph, saying: "What is your quarrel with
this man? Why do you inflict such evil upon him? Lies
my mother doth speak, and deceit is what her mouth uttereth.
This is the true tale of that which did happen," and the
child proceeded to tell all that had passed--how Zuleika had
tried first to persuade Joseph to act wickedly, and then had
tried to force him to do her will. The people listened in
great amazement. But the report finished, the child spake
no word, as before.

Abashed by the speech of his own infant son, Potiphar
commanded his bailiffs to leave off from chastising Joseph,
and the matter was brought into court, where priests sat as
judges. Joseph protested his innocence, and related all that
had happened according to the truth, but Potiphar repeated
the account his wife had given him. The judges ordered the
garment of Joseph to be brought which Zuleika had in her
possession, and they examined the tear therein. It turned
out to be on the front part of the mantle, and they came to
the conclusion that Zuleika had tried to hold him fast, and
had been foiled in her attempt by Joseph, against whom she
was now lodging a trumped up charge. They decided that
Joseph had not incurred the death penalty, but they condemned
him to incarceration, because he was the cause of a
stain upon Zuleika's fair name."[134]

Potiphar himself was convinced of Joseph's innocence,
and when he cast him into prison, he said to him, "I know
that thou art not guilty of so vile a crime, but I must put
thee in durance, lest a taint cling to my children."[135]