Joseph and His Brethren: A Pageant Play/Act III
ACT III
THE DREAMS
Genesis XXXIX; XL; XLI
SCENE I
IN THE PRISON
PERSONS
Enenkhet, the Captain of the Prison
Imhotep
Serseru
An Officer
A Soldier
Joseph
Zuleikha
Asenath
Soldiers
ACT III
Scene 1—The Yard of the Prison
It is an angular space, carved out of the face of a lofty sandstone cliff, the top of which is out of sight. The three cells are cut in the cliff itself and are closed by heavy bronze doors. On the right, where the cliff leaves off, the yard is protected by a lofty wall built out of the massive blocks of stone. In this is a lofty but very narrow door. Beyond the wall nothing but sky is visible. The whole face of the cliff has been carved with elaborate hieroglyphics. In the pavement of the yard there is a movable stone, the entrance to an underground dungeon.
It is toward sunset, and during the scene the light changes, creeping up the face of the cliff, through all the marvelous gradations of an Eastern afterglow, and merging ultimately into soft but brilliant moonlight.
At the rise of the curtain a soldier is leaning on his spear, crooning a love-song. The door in the wall opens and enter the Captain of the Prison, Enenkhet—a stout, good-natured person. He leaves the door open.
Enenkhet. Is all well with the prisoners?
Soldier. Ay, captain. Though the Lord Serseru hath howled all day like a dog.
Enenkhet. Ha! The Lord Chief Baker hath a soured and discontented nature. Soldier. The Lord Imhotep hath called on the names of his wife and children.
Enenkhet. Few men know when they're best off. How many there be who would gladly be shut away for a space from domestic plagues!—Well, and the Hebrew?
Soldier. He hath sung of the glory of his God.
Enenkhet. There's a man after my own heart. Get thee to the outer post: I will have speech with the prisoners.
Enenkhet. Sons of mischance, come forth! The hour is toward sunset. Come forth and breathe the cool of the evening.
Serseru. At last! At last!—Oh, the horror of that black hole!
Enenkhet. Thou art hard to please. Greater rogues than thou have lived in it—ay, and died in it.
Serseru. That is why it is full of disquieting dreams.
Enenkhet. Well, now, I should have thought they would have helped to pass the time.
IMHOTEP: Why will ye not let me die in peace?
ENENKHET: Here, my lord? Where none could be witness? Would you cheat the people of a holiday?
IMHOTEP: What have I done, that I should be torn from my wife and children and put away in this foul den?
ENENKHET: That is for the judge to say.
IMHOTEP: There was no poison in the cup I drank from.
ENENKHET: But when the Pharaoh handed the cup to his physician—having been warned….
SERSERU: Who warned him? Who warned him?
ENENKHET: Then the cup was full of poison.
IMHOTEP: [Furiously, to SERSERU.] Thou had'st the cup after me!
SERSERU: Thou liest! I touched it not. My sleeve brushed against it.
IMHOTEP: Thy sleeve was poisoned!
SERSERU: Would I could crush thee with these chains!
ENENKHET: Sirs, sirs, this is unseemly. What! Great lords wrangling! Fie, sirs, ye shall back to your cells.
SERSERU: [With abject horror.] Not to those dreams!
IMHOTEP: Not to that darkness! It is peopled with visions.
ENENKHET: [Cheerily.] Folks do say men see visions when they are about to die.
[The third cell opens, and JOSEPH appears on the threshold. He wears a tunic of camel's-hair, and he is girdled with a rope. He is not chained.]
JOSEPH: [With his uplifted arms.] I praise God for the light. I praise God for the sweet air. I praise God for His mercies!
ENENKHET: Now, that's talking! Why cannot ye be content as he is?
[SERSERU and IMHOTEP have sought remote parts of the yard and are sitting gloomily buried in thought.]
JOSEPH: I thank thee, good Captain, for thy merciful dealing.
ENENKHET: Heh! I have a tender heart.
JOSEPH: [To IMHOTEP.] Friend, look how the cliff is transfigured in the sunset!
IMHOTEP: Let me be.
JOSEPH: How is it with thee, Lord Serseru?
SERSERU: Curse thee for asking.
JOSEPH: [To ENENKHET.] What aileth them?
ENENKHET: Nothing. Bad dreams at the most.
JOSEPH: [To IMHOTEP, very gently.] Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day?
IMHOTEP: I have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.
JOSEPH: Do not the interpretations belong to God? Tell me thy dream, I pray thee.
IMHOTEP: In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; and in the vine were the three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth the ripe grapes: and the Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into the Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into the Pharaoh's hand.
ENENKHET: [To JOSEPH.] Make what thou can'st of that!
[JOSEPH stands a moment in the attitude of prayer. Then a shudder seems to shake him, and he speaks as one in a trance.]
JOSEPH: This is the interpretation of it: The branches are three days: yet within three days shall the Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver the Pharaoh's cup into his hand after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
IMHOTEP: [Falling at JOSEPH'S feet.] Oh, friend, thou hast filled my heart with joy!
JOSEPH: But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto the Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
IMHOTEP: By thy God and my gods I swear, not a day shall pass, but I will have thee forth with great honor.
JOSEPH: [Gravely.] Remember that.
ENENKHET: [To JOSEPH.] I shall grieve for the loss of thee. [SERSERU has listened intently and has crept up to JOSEPH. He plucks JOSEPH'S tunic, and speaks with a unctuous humility.] SERSERU: My lord—the interpretation was good—I also have dreamed—give me comfort. JOSEPH: [Sternly] Conscience alone can give comfort; but speak. SERSERU: I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head; and in the uppermost basket there was all manner of the bakemeats for the Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
[ENENKHET is about to speak, but JOSEPH restrains him with a stern gesture.]
JOSEPH: [Gravely.] This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days. Yet within three days shall the Pharaoh lift up thine head from off thee, and he shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
SERSERU: [Furious, foaming at the mouth, tries to strike JOSEPH with his manacles.] Base Hebrew, thou liest!
ENENKHET: [Seizing him.] Hold! Hold!
JOSEPH: Let be!—He knoweth well I speak truth.
SERSERU: [With a wild laugh.] Why should I heed his idle talk? What knoweth he, more than I know?
JOSEPH: [Sternly.] Is not that enough?
SERSERU: We shall see!—We shall see! [With his fists close to JOSEPH'S face.] And when I am restored to my place, it is thou shalt hang!
[A trumpet sounds without, at the right side.]
ENENKHET: Hark—!
[The door at the right side opens. Enter the SOLDIERS, led by an OFFICER, who brings a clay letter which he hands to ENENKHET.]
OFFICER: From the King of Kings!
ENENKHET: [Saluting.] May the King live forever. [He glances at the letter and points to IMHOTEP and SERSERU.] These must be the twain.
IMHOTEP:Captain, what is't?
ENENKHET: Ye go to the King's palace for your trial.
IMHOTEP: [With joy.] At last! The truth shall shine forth! SERSERU: [Wildly.] I will not go! I will die here!— I will die! [He rushes into his cell and tries to close the door.]
ENENKHET: Drag him forth, and away with him!
JOSEPH: [To ENENKHET.] Is there no word for me?
ENENKHET: Nay, I thank the gods thou art left to me. [To IMHOTEP, who is being led off.] Farewell. Good fortune attend thee.
JOSEPH: [At the door, to IMHOTEP.] Remember—!
IMHOTEP: [Embracing him] If I forget, then may the gods do so to me, and more also!
[The soldiers take him out, at the right side. The door is closed.]
JOSEPH: [Looking after them.] So they go—the one to freedom, and high honor; the other to a shameful death!—and I almost wish I were either of them!
ENENKHET: No thought of me, as usual. Do not I love thee? Have I not been a kind taskmaster? Yea! Beyond my duty. For I was bidden to throw thee into our nethermost dungeon—[Stamps on the stone.] here! And daily the Lady Zuleikha cometh to ask whether thou be dead. But I have kept thee warm, and dry, and fed thee, and loved thee, and all the thanks I get.
JOSEPH: [Putting his arm around ENENKHET'S shoulder.] Forgive me, friend. What thou could'st thou hast done. And I will do so to thee and more also when I am freed. But thou can'st not give me freedom nor the sight of my love.
ENENKHET: Who knoweth? If thou wert not so ungrateful, who knoweth what I might do?
JOSEPH: [Eagerly.] Thou would'st let me see Asenath? Speak with her?
ENENKHET: I said not I would. I said, who knoweth—
JOSEPH: [Excitedly; coaxing ENENKHET.] Thou golden gaoler—! Thou—what shall I call thee?
ENENKHET: Call me friend.
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 l of the stage is almost pitch dark. JOSEPH gets into the remotest corner. As ENENKHET opens the door, on the right, wide, the SOLDIER appears without.]
SOLDIER: Is all well?
ENENKHET: All is well. Pass on. [The soldier passes on. ENENKHET turns to JOSEPH.] Lie close! She cometh. I leave the door ajar. [He slips out.]
ASENATH'S VOICE: [Singing.] — Beloved, what though I seek in vain, Thou knowest
[The VOICE ceases abruptly. The figure of a WOMAN, covered from head to foot in a purple veil, appears in the doorway. The scene is flooded with soft moonlight, so that it is nearly as light as day.]
JOSEPH: [Coming slowly forward.] Thou—! Thou—! Asenath! I dare scarce move, lest the vision vanish—! Is it thou?—Dare I think it?—Thou knowest me guiltless? Speak! Speak! [She stretches her arms out towards him; he hurries to her and sinks at her feet. At the same moment another figure, swathed in a black veil, appears within the door.] I love thee! I worship thee! What other woman could have power over me? I clasp thy knees! I have longed for thee, day and night! Ah! Touch me! Draw me up to thee! [She does so.] Nearer to thy heart! Nearer to thy lips! The lips I have thirsted for!
THE FIGURE IN THE DOOR: [With a wailing cry.] Oh me—! [She vanishes.]
JOSEPH: [Startled, holding the figure at an arm's length.] Who spoke?—Asenath's voice—not thine!—What double vision is this? [With a horrible suspicion.] Who art thou? Who art thou? [He tears the purple veil away— ZULEIKHA stands before him, menacing, terrible, clad in scarlet silk from head to foot, a golden serpent crowning her loose hair; he starts away with a cry of horror.] JOSEPH: Zuleikha!
ZULEIKHA: [Begins very quietly, but very intensely.] Fool! Did'st thou think a woman scorned was so easily appeased? Did'st thou think thy freedom, or thy life, was enough to atone? Thy life is nothing—thy freedom is nothing. Here thou shalt rot, knowing Asenath thinks thee a traitor, and knowing her misery. Here thou shalt eat thy heart out, knowing Asenath is the plaything of my hate! And when I choose to free thee, thou shalt come forth, a broken man, to find Asenath dead! JOSEPH: Thinkest thou the Living God hath given such power into thine hands? Thou can'st torture me today and tomorrow. Thou can'st torture Asenath today and tomorrow. [Terrible] But what of the next day? God is very patient; but when He moveth His finger thou shalt be withered as a leaf in the drought!— I scorn thee not; I fear thee not!—I—pity thee! ZULEIKHA: Ho! Guard!
[Enter ENENKHKT and the SOLDIERS]
ENENKHET: [Amazed] The lady Zuleikha—! [He throws himself at her feet] ZULEIKHA: [To the soldiers.] Lift the stone—! [Passing the two spears through the ring of the stone, the four SOLDIERS lift it with great difficulty.] ZULEIKHA: [To ENENKHET.] Who bade thee give the slave his freedom?—Into the nethermost pit with him or the Pharaoh shall hear of it!
[The two soldiers seize JOSEPH and lead him towards the hole.]
ZULEIKHA: Hah! Joseph! Call upon thy God!
JOSEPH: He is with me!
THE SCENE CHANGES.
SCENE II
IN THE PALACE
PERSONS:
The Pharaoh (Usertesen I.) 1st Physician
Imhotep 2nd Physician
Tehuti Pesbes, a Court Dwarf
Enenkhet Joseph
Menthu Zuleikha
Dedefre, a Nobleman Asenath
Atha Shepset
Iri, a Soothsayer Ansu, a Magician
Khenen
Nobles, Warriors, Priests, Soothsayers, Magicians, Ladies, Procession of Maidens, People, Slaves.
SCENE II—The Great Hall in the Pharaoh's Palace
A forest of huge columns, lotus-shaped, and towering almost out of sight, supports the roof, which is made of mighty slabs of stone laid flat from column to column. The central aisle is open at the back, and beyond it is a long avenue of sphinxes facing each other, and ending in a great temple. The side aisles seem protracted endlessly, and the light under them gets dimmer as the distance increases, until it finally becomes a greenish mystery.
On the left, in front, the Pharaoh's throne is raised upon a platform to which seven steps ascend.
The columns are covered with hieroglyphics in bright colors. The floor is hidden under rich carpets and rugs. There are incense-burners at the foot of every pillar.
The light at the back, outside the hall, is dazzling white. The central aisle is full of rich amber sunlight; the side aisles are in shadow. Outside the hall there is a constant passing to and fro of the traffic of a city. Now a noble rides up on a charger, followed by his slaves, who help him to dismount, and he enters the hall; then a richly clad LADY is led on in a chariot drawn by horses, and as she descends an admiring CROWD gathers round her. Presently a procession of PRIESTS moves by, chanting. A CHIEFTAIN from a distant province rides up on a camel, followed by his bodyguard of armed RETAINERS.
Within the hall NOBLES and LADIES are assembled. Some are moving about; some seated on low chairs; some are playing dice; some are obviously flirting.
There is a continuous sound of vague music throughout the act.
SHEPSET. How fareth great Usertesen, the Pharaoh, today?
DEDEFRE. His brow hangeth heavy.
SHEPSET. Shall we see him?
DEDEFRE. Ay, anon. He cometh to receive the interpretation of his dreams from the priests.
KHENEN. How fareth the King's little son?
DEDEFRE. I know not; but the Queen, they say, is nigh her hour.
ATHA. The gods have turned their faces from Egypt.
SHEPSET: [Seeing PRIESTS passing in procession at the back.] The priests—! Are they about to offer sacrifices for the Queen?
ATHA. Nay, lady Shepset; know ye not? Today is solemn festival yonder [Pointing to the temple at the back.] in the temple of Neith.
SHEPSET. What festival?
ATHA. Asenath, the high-priest's daughter, enters the sisterhood of the goddess.
KHENEN. Ay—ay—I heard she had some disappointment in love.
DEDEFRE. She was to have wed Serseru.
ATHA. But he was hanged.
DEDEFRE. Ay, but that was not the disappointment.
KHENEN [Striking him with her fan.] What then, thou malicious gossip?
ATHA. She was in love with some stranger—they do say he was a slave.
SHEPSET. Fie! Fie!
ATHA. But he died in prison.
KHENEN [With a sneer.] Poor Asenath is not fortunate in her lovers.
SHEPSET. I suppose we get the lovers we deserve.
KHENEN. Is that brawny Ethiopian still of thy household?
SHEPSET. Ay. Would'st thou buy him?
[Meanwhile the hall has gradually filled with the PRIESTS, MAGICIANS, SOOTHSAYERS, NOBLES and LADIES.]
[Enter TEHUTI, at the right side, in the robes of state, preceded by the four TRUMPETERS.]
DEDEFRE. Lo! Tehuti! The Pharaoh approacheth.
[As the TRUMPETERS reach the inner aisle, they blow a long flourish. [In unison] The CROWD fall into a sort of rough order.]
TEHUTI. Behold, Usertesen, the Pharaoh, King of the South, King of the North, King of Kings, draweth near. On your faces all! Hail the King!
[Meanwhile a band of SOLDIERS has marched across the stage in quick time and taken up a position behind the throne]
[Now the PHARAOH enters; an imposing, awe-striking figure. NOBLES follow him; two with great palm-fans. He strides majestically up the steps of the throne, taking no notice of the CROWD. He sits on the throne. His hands rest on his knees; his face is set; he looks straight before him. Meanwhile the crowd murmurs with a sort of subdued awe]
CROWD. Long life to the Pharaoh! Hail, Pharaoh!— May the King live forever!
[As soon as the PHARAOH is seated the CROWD rises, and quietly sorts itself out into its component parts, so that for a moment the stage is a bewildering kaleidoscope. Then the PRIESTS, the MAGICIANS, the SOOTHSAYERS, the SOLDIERS, the NOBLES, AND the LADIES, etc., are in separate groups. PESBES, the DWARF, comes and sits on the lowest step of the throne. The NOBLES who came in with the PHARAOH are in a small knot immediately on the left of the throne. Among these is IMHOTEP. Behind him are the four young SLAVES, one with a basket of grapes, one with a golden cup, one with a golden dish, and one with a napkin.]
[Great painted curtains are drawn at the back so that the hall is enclosed.]
[When the CROWD is in order, there is a moment of solemn pause, while all eyes are turned on the PHARAOH.]
PHARAOH: [Without moving] Tehuti.
[TEHUTI steps forward and prostrates himself.]
PHARAOH. My soul is heavy. [Movement among the CROWD] Are the priests and sages here as I commanded?
TEHUTI. O, King, they await thy word.
PHARAOH. Let the priests send their spokesman.
[TEHUTI crosses slowly to the group of PRIESTS] PHARAOH. I thirst
[IMHOTEP steps forward. The four young SLAVES follow him and kneel. Standing in front of the throne, IMHOTEP takes a large bunch of grapes in both hands and presses its juice into the golden cup, which the other slave holds aloft. IMHOTEP throws the skins into a golden dish brought by the third slave, and dries his hands on the napkin brought by the fourth slave. The SLAVES retire. IMHOTEP takes the cup in both hands, faces the PHARAOH, and sets the cup to his lips. Then he goes up the steps and places the cup in the PHARAOH'S hands. The PHARAOH drinks, hands the cup back to IMHOTEP, who retires, backward, to his place, where he returns the cup to the cup-bearer.]
TEHUTI. Will it please the King to hear Menthu, the high-priest of Neith?
[THE PHARAOH makes a gesture of assent. MENTHU steps forward.]
PHARAOH. Thou, too, art in sorrow today, for thou losest thy daughter, Asenath.
MENTHU. The great goddess, Neith, will reward me tenfold.
PHARAOH [With a touch of contempt.] Well—! Thou and the others, have ye besought the gods? Have ye searched your books? Have ye prayed and offered sacrifice?
MENTHU. All these things have we done.
PHARAOH. My dreams, then? What is 
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[The CROWD instinctively presses forward almost imperceptibly to hear.]
MENTHU. This is the interpretation. Seven Kings shall arise over Egypt, and seven princes shall destroy the seven Kings.
[While he is speaking a murmur goes up from the MAGICIANS and SOOTHSAYERS, implying that MENTHU'S interpretation is hopelessly wrong.]
PHARAOH. Wherefore do ye murmur? Ansu, the magician, speak!
[ANSU comes forward. He carries a long wand.]
MENTHU: [Furious.] Am I dismissed, O King?
PHARAOH. I think Pesbes, the dwarf, would have spoken better sense.
PESBES: [With a cackling laugh.] Or had the sense to hold my peace!
[MENTHU goes back among the PRIESTS, in a rage.]
ANSU. The priest of Neith is wise; but in this matter his wisdom is clouded.
[Angry murmur from the PRIESTS.]
PHARAOH. How dost thou read the dream?
ANSU: [Draws cabalistic signs on the floor with his wand; a circle, and, within it, two triangles] O King, live forever. In the days to come thou shalt marry seven queens, and they shall die while thou livest. And thou shalt beget fourteen children.
[The PHARAOH sinks back in disgust. The PRIESTS and SOOTHSAYERS break into subdued laughter.]
PESBES. Thou must indeed live forever, O King!
[The CROWD laughs—respectfully. IRI, the SOOTHSAYER, strides forward.]
IRI. Is it given to me to speak, O King?
PHARAOH. Speak, Iri, the Soothsayer.
IRI. The foolishness of Ansu is greater than the foolishness of Menthu.
[ANSU retires, with a gesture of disgust.]
IRI. Behold! We only know the true answer.
PHARAOH. If it be no better than theirs, thou dies with them.
[The PRIESTS and MAGICIANS are petrified with fear: PESBES, delighted.]
IRI. We have consulted the stars. It is declared that no man hath ever dreamed such dreams as thine. Wherefore there is no interpretation of them, and to seek it is blasphemy.
[The PHARAOH leaps upright. Movement of the CROWD]
PHARAOH. Are ye here to mock me? By Sneffu and Set, ye shall all to prison and death.
PRIESTS, MAGICIANS, AND SOOTHSAYERS: [Prostrating themselves.] Mercy, great King!
PHARAOH. What mercy do ye show me? Ye know my soul is in heavy trouble. My little son is sick unto death, and the Queen is belike on her death-bed. Perchance these dreams were sent for my comfort, and ye turn them to folly!
MENTHU. Ours is the right interpretation!
ANSU: [Violently.] Nay, but ours!
IRI. The stars cannot lie!
[Uproar.]
PHARAOH. Silence! [Dead silence.] Is there in all Egypt no reader of dreams? [To IMHOTEP.] What seekest thou?
[IMHOTEP has suddenly come forward and thrown himself on the steps of the throne.]
IMHOTEP. Live forever, O King! If it be the King's pleasure, I can tell him a thing to his help.
PHARAOH. [Sinking back on the throne.] Speak, then; but mock me not.
IMHOTEP. I do remember my faults this day. The Pharaoh was wroth with his servants and put me in ward, both me and the Chief Baker. And we dreamed one night, I and he. And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, and he interpreted to us our dreams. And it came to pass, as he interpreted, so it was. Me thou hast restored to mine office, and the Chief Baker is hanged.
[Movement in the CROWD. All was attentive. The PHAHAOH leans forward.]
IMHOTEP. Behold, this slave is still in prison. I promised to remember him, but I forgat. Let him therefore be sent for, and he will interpret the King's dream aright.
PHARAOH. Have him hither swiftly!
[TEHUTI and four SOLDIERS march out in quick time, at the back.]
MENTHU: [Stepping forward.] The King cannot hearken to this slave!
ANSU. He boweth not to our gods.
IRI. What knoweth he of the stars?
PHARAOH: [Leans down towards the dwarf.] Can'st thou silence these chatterers?
PESBES. I can drown their voices. [He beckons.]
[Enter the MINSTRELS and SINGING-GIRLS, wildly breaking their way through the crowd. A dance.]
[The PHARAOH does not watch the dance; he is lost in gloomy thoughts. Re-enter TEHCTI, bringing on ENENKHET. The dancers disperse, but remain on the stage. TEHUTI and ENENKHET stand before the PHARAOH.]
PHARAOH. [Standing up.] Is he come?
ENENKHET. He is -without, great King, but I dare not bring him before thee.
PHARAOH. Why not?
ENENKHET. Two years he hath lain in his dungeon; the sight of him would offend the King's eyes.
PHARAOH. Bring him!
[TEHUTI goes out.]
ENENKHET. He is very weak.
PHARAOH. Can he speak?
ENENKHET. Ay.
PHARAOH. Why was he thrown into prison?
ENENKHET. He was a slave to Potiphar, great King; the lady Zuleikha accused him—
[Movement in the CROWD.]
PHARAOH. The lady Zuleikha?
ENENKHET. O King, he is a holy man! The lady Zuleikha hath persecuted him. She bade me thrust him into the dungeon; and daily she cometh to listen for his groans. But he ever singeth praises to his God.
PHARAOH. If an injustice have been done, the gods pity the doer.
[The curtains at the back are opened. Enter the four SOLDIERS and TEHUTI, supporting JOSEPH. The CROWD make way for them, falling back among the pillars of the side aisles, and an "Oh!" of amazement and pity issues from it. JOSEPH is, indeed, a pitiable figure. His camel-hair garment is in rags; his hair is long and wild; his face is pinched and drawn; his eyes are sunken. His frame is wasted away to skin and bone and he is shaken with fever and ague, so that he can hardly stand. He looks around half fiercely and half frightened, like a captured beast. The PHARAOH has risen at JOSEPH'S entrance.]
TEHUTI [To JOSEPH] Fear nought; come!
[JOSEPH sees the PHARAOH.]
JOSEPH. [Scarcely articulate.] The Pharaoh!
[He stretches his skeleton of a hand towards the PHARAOH in appeal, and advances, with his great, glowing eyes fixed on him.]
PHARAOH. Alas—! Nay, I will come down to thee!
[The CROWD murmurs its wonder at this. The PHARAOH comes down three steps. JOSEPH has reached the throne and makes as if to kneel.]
PHARAOH. Let him not kneel.
[The SOLDIERS keep JOSEPH up.]
PHARAOH. Set meat before him—give him to drink.
[The SERVANTS are about to fulfil this order, but JOSEPH has spoken first.]
JOSEPH. [With an effort.] Nay—nay! I lack nothing—God was with me in the prison.
PHARAOH. [Still standing.] Can'st thou hear me?
JOSEPH. Oh, very well, great King!
PHARAOH. What is thy name?
JOSEPH. [Radiantly carrying his memory back.] When I led my father's flocks to pasture, my name was Joseph.
PHARAOH. I have heard say of thee that thou can'st understand a dream to interpret it.
JOSEPH. It is not in me.—God shall give the Pharaoh an answer of peace.
[The CROWD has closed in again, but the curtains 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.]
[The CROWD stir. The idea among the PRIESTS, etc., is "What will JOSEPH make of that?"]
[JOSEPH stands with his hands tightly interlocked and pressed close against his breast, his face turned upward and his eyes wildly staring. Just as the murmur of the CROWD behind him begins to assert itself, his voice rings clear above it. He speaks in a sort of ecstasy and the words pour forth rapidly as if he had no control over them.]
JOSEPH. The dream of the Pharaoh is one.
[The CROWD is arrested, and listens eagerly.]
JOSEPH. [Quietly but rapidly] God hath shewed the Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill-favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the wind shall be seven years of famine. [Horror of the CROWD.] This is the thing which I have spoken unto the Pharaoh: What God is about to do He sheweth unto the Pharaoh. [With increased dignity and intensity.] Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout the land of Egypt—[The CROWD gives a silent "Ah!" of joy; JOSEPH continues, sternly.] And then shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; and the plenty shall not be remembered in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. [The CROWD in distress. JOSEPH proceeds with impressive and authoritative power.] And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice [He turns and faces the PHARAOH, who is leaning forward with breathless attention.] it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass!
PHARAOH. [Sternly.] Is there more wisdom in thee than in all the wise men of Egypt?
JOSEPH. [With humble dignity.] It is not in me. It is God.
MENTHU. [Stepping forward.] O King, wilt thou believe him so lightly?
ANSU. Bid him show thee a sign and a token.
IRI. Thou shalt see his God is powerless!
PHARAOH. [Gravely.] Ay!—Joseph, how shall I know thy words are true? [The CROWD eager.] JOSEPH. While I speak, behold, a great sorrow falleth upon the King, and still while I speak, cometh a great joy.
[The CROWD turned to each other in amazement.]
MENTHU [Triumphant] Behold, O King—!
[Suddenly a great wail of mourning women is heard off the right.]
[T PHARAOH leaps to his feet. The CROWD, at the right, rushed across to the left in fear. The PRIESTS, etc., come down to the right at the front. JOSEPH stands still.]
PHARAOH. What is that wailing of women?
[Enter a physician, at the right side, and throws himself at the PHARAOH'S feet.]
PHARAOH. Speak! Speak!
PHYSICIAN. Great Pharaoh, thy little son is dead.
[The PHARAOH quivers, but stands firm. The CROWD gives a great cry of horror, which merges into a 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?
IMHOTEP. Set him over us, O King!
CROWD. Joseph! Joseph!
PHARAOH. Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. [He rises.] Joseph art thou no more, but I will call thee Zaphenath Paneah, the prince of the days to be. [He comes down from the throne to JOSEPH, who is standing dazed. He draws off his signet-ring and places it on JOSEPH'S finger.] See! I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [To the CROWD.] Bow on thy knee!
ALL. Hail, prince of life!
[JOSEPH suddenly sinks into ENENKHET'S arms. The PHARAOH has turned away. The CROWD gasps.]
ENENKHET. The glory is too great—he swooneth.
1ST PHYSICIAN. [Who has hurried up] O King, the man is dying—
PHARAOH. Now the gods forbid!
[The CROWD has closed in] ENENKHET. His heart is breaking—
PHARAOH. Make way! Give air!
[The CROWD opens. At the back, outside the hall, the music sounds and the voices of the MAIDENS begin chanting. A procession of young MAIDENS passes slowly from the left to the right and, in their midst, ASENATH, in white, crowned with white flowers.]
JOSEPH. [Faintly.] What—is—that—music?
1ST PHYSICIAN. He speaketh!
JOSEPH. [Rising eagerly.] What—is—that—singing?
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 Pharaoh, sweeps out magnificently. Confusion among the Crowd]
Pharaoh. [Angrily] Summon the maiden back!
Joseph. Oh, King, I pray thee let the maiden go in peace, for she is in the power of the liar. And as for me, I will do thy bidding, and I will serve Egypt, and save it. [Drawing himself up to his full height] And I will live until the liar be put to confusion!
All. Hail, Prince of Life!
Curtain