Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/51



SIMEON: [Seeing a slave going towards the dry well.] [Hastily.] Not this one, my lord! This one is dried up, and the venomous serpents swarm in it.

HERU: The rogue still hath shreds of honesty. [Pointing to the brothers.] Who are these?

SIMEON: We are brethren, my lord: sons of one father. This morning we were eleven; but now one is not, and our hearts are heavy.

HERU: All men are mortal—save Pharaoh.

LEVI: Will not my lord sit in the shade?

JUDAH: My lord's wife, and her handmaidens must be weary.

HERU: Not my wife. We are bringing the lady Zuleikha to be the wife to the Pharaoh's general, the Lord Potiphar.

JUDAH: The lady Zuleikha—I have heard strange tales of her beauty—and her wisdom.

HERU: As to her beauty, it is past telling. As to her wisdom, it is past comprehension.

JUDAH: May we not set our eyes on her?

HERU: [Threateningly.] On thy life!

DAN: [Pointing to the wares set out.] Yet she would have liked to see these.

SIMEON: [Laughing.] Brother, thou speakest almost as if these were for sale.

HERU: Why else are they here?

SIMEON: These are the gifts we meant for our brother, Joseph—but Joseph is dead, and we rend our garments.

HERU: [Examining the wares.] Rich gifts. Joseph must have been very dear to you.

SIMEON. Alas! Who shall tell how we loved him?

ANI: [To HERU.] There will be some things here to gladden Zuleikha, my lord; and the others fit for the Pharaoh's treasury.