Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/170

Simeon. Woman! Woman! Thou pourest poison into my veins!

Zuleika. Set the Pharaoh free; redeem thy brother! Deliver Egypt; slay the man I hate——

Simeon [Quickly] Why dost thou hatest him?

Zuleika [In a wild outburst of passion] Because I love him! Because he spurned me! Ah, gods! Shall I ever forget! Twice I destroyed him, and twice he sprang up refreshed! Ah! Slay him! Slay him! And ask what reward thou wilt!

Simeon. They have stripped me of my weapons.

Zuleika [Handing him a jeweled dagger] Here!—Here! Hide this under thy cloak. Beware! A scratch is death—'tis poisoned!

Simeon. I am alone—if I make to touch him, his servants will fall upon me——

Zuleika. Oh, faint heart! Wait till thy brethren be at thy side——

Simeon [Eagerly] And then—Zuleika?

Zuleika. Begone—swiftly! My bearers come.

[Simeon hurries out, L. She watches him off. With a triumphant gesture, she turns, to find herself face to face with Potiphar, who has come out of the shadow. Tamai has slipped out, R.]

Zuleika [Quite calm] Eavesdropping, my lord?

Potiphar [Cold and stern] Thy name shall be a byword of shame.

Zuleika. And thine a by-word of mockery.

Potiphar. No word of repentance?

Zuleika. Ay, I repent me that I have failed.

Potiphar. [More sternly] But—to me!