Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/126



JOSEPH: Friend! Friend!—when shall I see her?

ENENKHET: [Sulkily.] Thou art not thinking of me at all; but of this bit of a girl.

ASENATH'S VOICE: [Without being seen, standing at the right side, singing.] — In the desert places I sought my love, When I was alone with the night,

JOSEPH: Asenath! ASENATH: The frowning rocks cried, He seeth thee not— The waste of sand sighed, He heareth thee not— But I took no heed. Rocks, I answered, He heareth my voice— Desert, he knoweth I remember— And that shall gladden his heart!

JOSEPH: [Through her song.] She hath come—! Ah! But the locked door!—Ah! But the cruel wall!

ENENKHET: I knew she was coming!

JOSEPH: She is within arm's length—and I cannot reach out my hand to touch her—! I can say no word to comfort her!

ENENKHET: Thou can'st not go forth to her—but what if she came to thee?

JOSEPH: [Taking him by the shoulder; wildly excited.] Would'st thou do this?

ENENKHET: I am a fool, but I love thee. I believe thee guiltless. And, then, I was young once and I know how I should have felt, had I been locked from the girl I loved. Well, we're married, and there are fourteen children [During this speech he has unlocked the door, at the right side. He peers out.] Hist!—into the shadow—here cometh the guard!

[By this time night has fallen. The afterglow has crept to the summit of the cliff, and the leve