Chapter Joseph to Juan Fernandez of J by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Joseph to Juan Fernandez

Joseph, the old gardener at Shaw’s Castle.—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Joseph, a Jew of the noblest type; with unbounded benevolence and most excellent charity, He sets a splendid example of “Christian ethics” to those who despised him for not believing the “Christian creed.” Joseph the Jew was the good friend of the Christian minister of Mariendorpt.—Knowles: The Maid of Mariendorpt (1838). (See Sheva.)

Joseph (A), a young man not to be seduced from his continency by any temptation. The reference is to Joseph in Potiphar’s house (Gen. xxxix.).

Joseph (St.), of Arimathæa, said to have brought to Glastonbury in a mystic vessel some of the blood which trickled from the wounds of Christ at the Crucifixion, and some of the wine left at the Last Supper. This vessel plays a very prominent part in the Arthurian legends.

Next holy Joseph came …
The Saviour of mankind in sepulchre that laid;
That to the Britons was th’ apostle. In his aid
St. Duvian, and with him St. Fagan, both which were His scholars.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, xxiv. (1622).

(He also brought with him the spear of Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus.—Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 40 (1470). The famous Glastonbury thorn, says tradition, sprang from the staff which Joseph stuck into the ground. See Glastonbury, p. 428.)

N.B.—The “mystic vessel” brought by Joseph is sometimes called the San Graal; but by referring to the word Graal, it will be seen that the usual meaning of the term in Arthurian romance is very different.

Joseph the Patriarch. His wife’s name, according to tradition, was Zulieka; the Bible gives Asenath.

Josephine, wife of Werner, and mother of Ulric. Josephine was the daughter of a decayed Italian exile of noble blood.—Byron: Werner (1822).

Joshua (The book of), the sixth book of the Old Testament, which tells us how Joshua, after the death of Moses, led the Israelites into the promised land. It covers a period of about thirty years.

Josian, daughter of the king of Armenia, and wife of sir Bevis of Southampton. It was she who gave the hero his sword “Morglay” and his steed “Arundel.”—Drayton: Polyolbion, ii. (1612).

Josse (I syl), a jeweller. Lucinde, the daughter of Sganarelle, pined and fell away, and the anxious father asked his neighbours what they would advise him to do. Mon. Josse replied—

“Pour moi, je tiens que la braverie, que l’ajustement est la chose qui réjouit le plus les filles; et si j’étois que de vous, je lui achéterois dés aujourd’hui une bells garniture de diamants, ou de rubis, ou d’émeraudes.”

Sganarelle made answer—

“Vous êtes orfèvre, Monsieur Josse; et votre conseil sent son homme qui a envie de se défaire de sa marchandise.”—Molière: L’Amour Médecin, i. I (1665).

Vous êtes orfevre, Mon. Josse (“You are a jeweller, Mon. Josse, and are not disinterested in your advice”). (See above.)

Jotham, the person who uttered the parable of “The Trees choosing a King,” when the men of Shechem made Abimelech king. In Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel, it stands for George Saville, marquis of Halifax.

Jotham of piercing wit and pregnant thought,
Endued by nature, and by learning taught
To move assemblies … turned the balance too;
So much the weight of one brave man can do.
   —Dryden: Absalom and Achitophel,