Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/125



ENENKHET: Drag him forth, and away with him!

JOSEPH: [To ENENKHET.] Is there no word for me?

ENENKHET: Nay, I thank the gods thou art left to me. [To IMHOTEP, who is being led off.] Farewell. Good fortune attend thee.

JOSEPH: [At the door, to IMHOTEP.] Remember—!

IMHOTEP: [Embracing him] If I forget, then may the gods do so to me, and more also!

[The soldiers take him out, at the right side. The door is closed.]

JOSEPH: [Looking after them.] So they go—the one to freedom, and high honor; the other to a shameful death!—and I almost wish I were either of them!

ENENKHET: No thought of me, as usual. Do not I love thee? Have I not been a kind taskmaster? Yea! Beyond my duty. For I was bidden to throw thee into our nethermost dungeon—[Stamps on the stone.] here! And daily the Lady Zuleikha cometh to ask whether thou be dead. But I have kept thee warm, and dry, and fed thee, and loved thee, and all the thanks I get.

JOSEPH: [Putting his arm around ENENKHET'S shoulder.] Forgive me, friend. What thou could'st thou hast done. And I will do so to thee and more also when I am freed. But thou can'st not give me freedom nor the sight of my love.

ENENKHET: Who knoweth? If thou wert not so ungrateful, who knoweth what I might do?

JOSEPH: [Eagerly.] Thou would'st let me see Asenath? Speak with her?

ENENKHET: I said not I would. I said, who knoweth—

JOSEPH: [Excitedly; coaxing ENENKHET.] Thou golden gaoler—! Thou—what shall I call thee?

ENENKHET: Call me friend.