Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/123



JOSEPH: This is the interpretation of it: The branches are three days: yet within three days shall the Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver the Pharaoh's cup into his hand after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

IMHOTEP: [Falling at JOSEPH'S feet.] Oh, friend, thou hast filled my heart with joy!

JOSEPH: But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto the Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

IMHOTEP: By thy God and my gods I swear, not a day shall pass, but I will have thee forth with great honor.

JOSEPH: [Gravely.] Remember that.

ENENKHET: [To JOSEPH.] I shall grieve for the loss of thee. [SERSERU has listened intently and has crept up to JOSEPH. He plucks JOSEPH'S tunic, and speaks with a unctuous humility.] SERSERU: My lord—the interpretation was good—I also have dreamed—give me comfort. JOSEPH: [Sternly] Conscience alone can give comfort; but speak. SERSERU: I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head; and in the uppermost basket there was all manner of the bakemeats for the Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

[ENENKHET is about to speak, but JOSEPH restrains him with a stern gesture.]