Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/146

 moan of sympathy. Hands are stretched out towards the PHARAOH. Suddenly a joyful flourish of trumpets cuts through the sounds of mourning. The PHARAOH shudders, and cries out.]

PHARAOH. The trumpets! Silence the trumpets!

[A second PHYSICIAN hurries in] 2ND PHYSICIAN. [Prostrating himself before PHARAOH] Rejoice, O King! A man-child is born unto thee!

PHARAOH. [Eagerly.] The Queen?

2ND PHYSICIAN. The Queen liveth and is well. [The PHARAOH sinks back on the throne, covers his face with his hands, and is shaken with sobs of joy. The CROWD is bewildered; its murmurs increase, and it is just going to break into a shout of joy, when suddenly TEHUTI shouted to them.] TEHUTI. [Advancing.] Break up the court! Leave the King to his mourning and to his joy. PHARAOH. [Rising.] Not so!—Our joys and sorrows are private, but this matter of the dream is for the land! Joseph, what would'st thou have me do? JOSEPH. Let the Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt; and let him gather all the food of those good years that come, and let them keep food in the cities. And that shall be for a store against the seven years of famine; that the land perish not through the famine. PHARAOH. [To the NOBLES and OFFICERS near his throne.] What say ye all? Is this wisdom?

TEHUTI. O King, it is good.

CROWD. It is good! It is good!

PHARAOH. Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?