Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/184

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man's face except our youngest brother be with us. And thy servant my father said, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since. And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now, therefore, when I come to my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servant shall bring down the grey hairs of thy servant my father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father forever. Now, therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord: and let the lad go up with his brethren. [With an extreme agony] For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come to my father.

[Judah falls prone, with outstretched arms before Joseph. The Brethren also are prostrate, all but Simeon, who remains standing, fingering his knife. Asenath makes a gesture of appeal]
[Simeon suddenly bursts through the knot of the Brethren, brandishing his knife]

Simeon. Vengeance! Vengeance!

Brethren. [With horror] Simeon!

[They hold him. Uproar]

Joseph [On the step, removing his cloak from his face, which is now radiant, and speaking with the utmost simplicity] Peace!—I am Joseph!