Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/143

 at the back are left open. The light outside is much softer.]

PHARAOH. Art thou strong enough?

JOSEPH. He will give me strength.

[The PHARAOH goes up to the throne; JOSEPH is left, a single weird figure, in the center of the stage.]

PHARAOH [Sitting, and speaking very solemnly, and as if he were now witnessing the visions he describes] In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river; and there came out of the water seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored; and they fed in a meadow; and, behold, seven other kine came up after them; poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: and the lean and the ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine; and when they had eaten them up it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I woke.

[Stir among the CROWD. Expression of varying emotions. The PRIESTS, MAGICIANS, AND SOOTHSAYERS, seem to repeat their interpretations to each other. JOSEPH stands perfectly still.]

PHARAOH. [Rising and speaking with greater intensity.] And I saw in my dream; and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east-wind, sprung up after them: and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears! [He sinks back on the throne.] And I told this unto the magician: but there was none that could declare it unto me. [He rests his chin on his hand and sinks into brooding thought.]