Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/148



MENTHU. It is my daughter, on her way to the temple of Neith—

JOSEPH. [Vaguely.] Thy daughter—? How is she called?

MENTHU. Asenath.

JOSEPH. [Transfigured.] Asenath!—Ah! Let me see her!

1ST PHYSICIAN. My lord is very weak.

PHARAOH. [To JOSEPH.] Dost thou love her?

JOSEPH. Ah, God—

PHARAOH. [He mounts the throne.] Bring her hither!

[TEHUTI, who has gone up to the entrance, turns the procession into the hall. The MAIDENS who were in front of ASENATH come down, at the left side; those who were coming behind her, at the right side. She walks alone down the center, half-dazed and half-frightened. JOSEPH is kneeling, at the right side in front, with his arms outstretched yearningly. She only sees a wonderful creature, as it were, appealing for pity. A look of wonder comes into her face, a puzzled look of struggling remembrance, a look of dawning hope.]

JOSEPH. Asenath!

[She stops short, with a little gasp of amazement, and then she timidly and falteringly comes towards him. At this moment ZULEIKHA enters from the right side, followed by WAKARA and her LADIES. ZULEIKHA and ASENATH face each other for an instant. The joy dies out of ASENATH'S face. She utters a moan, draws the veil she is wearing over her face, and totters, gropingly, to her father, who catches her to his breasts and hurriedly leads her off, at the left side. JOSEPH has risen. ZULEIKHA, with a little mocking laugh at him, and a deep obeisance to the