Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/120

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

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.

[The soldier exit, R. Enenkhet unbolts the doors of the cells, stands in the centre of the stage facing the cliff and cries]

Enenkhet. Sons of mischance, come forth! The hour is toward sunset. Come forth and breathe the cool of the evening.

[The door of one of the cells slides back, and Serseru emerges. He is a pitiable object. His flesh hangs loosely about him; his hair is long and tangled; his beard is wild; his clothes are in rags. He is heavily chained]

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.

[The next cell has opened and Imhotep issues. He, too, is in rags, but preserves his personal dignity. He, too, wears chains]

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