be rent from behind, then she lies and he is of the truth tellers."
And when he saw his shirt rent from behind, he said, "This is one of your tricks, verily your tricks are mighty! Joseph, turn aside from this. And do thou, woman, ask pardon for thy fault; verily, thou wert of the sinners."
And women in the city said, "The wife of the prince desires her young man for his person; he has infatuated her with love; verily we see her in obvious error." And when she heard of their craftiness, she sent to them and prepared for them a banquet, and gave each of them a knife; and she said, "Come forth to them!" And when they saw him, they cried: "Great God!" and cut their hands accidentally and said, "God forbid! This is no mortal, this is nothing but an honorable angel." Said she, "This is he concerning whom ye blamed me. I did desire him for his person, but he was too continent. But if he do not what I bid him, he shall surely be imprisoned and shall surely be among the small."
Said he, "My Lord! Prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do; and unless Thou turn from me their craftiness, I shall feel a passion for them and shall be among the ignorant!" And his Lord answered him and turned from him their craftiness; verily. He both hears and knows.
Then it appeared good to them, even after they had seen the signs, to imprison him until a time.
And there entered the prison with him two young men. Said one of them, "Verily, I see
