Asenath. Are the sheep-folds in Dothan forgotten?
Joseph. Nay, for then I were less happy.
Asenath. Rede me that riddle.
Joseph. I am of a race which never forgets. With us the ties of blood are stronger than death.
Asenath. Stronger than love?
Joseph [Smiling] Is there no such tie between us? Art thou not the mother of my children? Art thou happy, Asenath?
Asenath. Ay—save when I remember Zuleika.
Joseph. What is Zuleika to us?
Asenath. I fear her. They say she fareth every night yonder [Pointing to the Pyramids] to Cheops' tomb; and there she weaveth spells and breweth philters. They say many men have come to a miserable end by her craft. Oh, remember how she hateth thee, and beware!
Joseph. Be comforted. She shall hurt neither thee nor me. [To Enenkhet, who enters L.] What now?
Enenkhet. Great lord, here be certain nobles of the land, humbly crave speech of thee.
Joseph. [To Asenath, leading her towards the entrance of the house] Go in, beloved, and be of good cheer. Drink courage in the eyes of our sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Asenath. I have drunk courage in thine. But beware!
Joseph. [To the Steward] Well—have the nobles hither. Wait. How fareth our guest: Simeon, the son of Jacob?
Enenkhet. He hath his freedom, to go and come, as my lord bade.
