Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/156

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

Judah. God is righteous.

Dan. I dread the man—the governor—him they call the Revealer of Secrets.

Levi. Nay, he is our friend. Did he not restore to each man his money in his sack?

Naphtali [To Reuben's Slave] I dread a trick. What if he say we stole the money, and slay Simeon?

Reuben. Yet to him we must go. In all the world there is no corn, but only in Egypt.

Issachar. Our father will not let us go.

Reuben. We must persuade him.

Issachar. Remember the man's words—Except ye bring Benjamin, ye shall not see my face.

Zebulun [Pointing off L.] Lo! Benjamin.

[Enter Benjamin, a lad.]

Levi. Oh, latest-born of Rachel, Benjamin, whom our father loveth, plead for us.

Benjamin. What would'st thou, Son of Leah?

Levi. Plead with Jacob for us, that we may go down into Egypt once more.

Benjamin. That will I, gladly.

[Enter Serah, in wild distress. She hurries to Asher, and throws herself in his arms.]

Serah. Father, my child crieth for food! Father! Father! My first-born!

All [Veiling their faces.] Woe upon us all!

Asher. Child, our father's heart is turned to stone.

Serah. I will entreat him——

Asher [Pointing to Jacob] Lo! he looketh neither to the left nor to the right; his eyeballs have grown white with weeping. Yet, Serah, take thy harp; sing to him—sing our grief—sing the death of our children——