Page:Joseph and His Brethren A Pageant Play.djvu/53

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

[Heru turns to Simeon]

Heru. Thou—come apart with me, and let us reason.

Simeon. Alas! my lord will get the advantage. In my lord's hands I am but an innocent babe.

Heru. The gods shield me from many such!

[They move out of sight, bargaining]

[Slaves pack the wares]

Joseph's Voice [From the pit in a sort of chant]

The Lord my God; the Almighty God,
He shall lift me out of the mire.

Judah [Starting] What is that?

Dan. It is Joseph! He is alive!

Issachar. If the strangers hear him—!

Joseph's Voice—

They digged a pit for me and cast me in,
But I shall arise and confound them,
For my God is the only God,
The gods of the strangers are stocks and stones:
But my God is Almighty!

[The curtains of the basourah are violently agitated]

Zuleika's Voice [Angrily] Who mocketh at my gods? Who singeth of a God that is greater than mine?

Ani [Who has come to the dried well and he is peering into it] There is one in the well—

Zuleika's Voice. Have him forth!

Ani. He standeth among serpents—

Zuleika's Voice. [As if fascinated] He standeth among the serpents?—Have him brought forth quickly!

[Under the direction of Ani, the two slaves bring ropes which they lower into the well. Re-enter Simeon and Heru]

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