JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN
[Now the sound of barbaric music is heard from the R. back. It increses rapidly. Prsently a gorgeous caravan heaves in sight. First a runner on foot, showing the nay; then the slaves bearing heavy burdens, and tents, etc. Then the warriors mounted on their horses or camels, and armed to the teeth. [Spears, swords, bows and arrows, etc.] Then camels with women closely veiled; then another camel magnificently caparisoned, with a curtained basourah on its back, in which the figure of a woman is dimly perceptible. Lastly, more mounted and unmounted warriors. The caravan halts, and all but the women dismount; but all except the captain of the caravan remain at the back of the stage. The camel bearing the basourah stands near the dried well]
Levi. Trumpets and shawms! It is the strange woman with her train.
Gad. If they see your wonderful countenances, they'll think the plague is amongst us.
Judah. I will not meet them with my heart so heavy.
Levi. What is done is done. [To the captain of the caravan—Heru—who has dismounted and advances] O strangers, are ye come in peace?
Heru. We are come in peace. Do ye greet us peacefully?
Levi. Peacefully we greet you.
Heru. Here will we abide, then, till the sun bend westward, and water our cattle.
Simeon. [Stepping forward, cringingly] Alas, the water faileth. Lo, there is barely enough for our own beasts.
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