University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

To Joseph, Simeon.
Sim.
I tremble at his Presence.

Jos.
Thou Impostor!
Com'st thou before me, but to dare my Fury?
Where are thy Brethren—Brother-Traitors? Ha!
Did I not say it? Did I not foresee it?
Ye Serpent-Spies! under Pretext of Famine
Ye came to see the Nakedness of Egypt.
One Year has run its Course—not yet return'd!
Where is their Faith? Impostor, thou shalt pay
The Forfeit of their Guilt.

Sim.
My gracious Lord,
Our Testimony's true—By Famine driv'n,
We hither fled for Succour—We're Twelve Brethren,
Sons of one Father in the Land of Canaan.
Ten thou hast seen, and one is not; the youngest
Was to the Care of his old Father left.

Jos.
The Sight of him might dissipate my Doubts—
But where's your Promise?—Why is he not come?

Sim.
Paternal Love, my Lord, alone detains him.
What Anguish must it give the good old Sire,
To have this only Hope torn from his Bosom,
The Prop and Comfort of his falling Years?
How would it shake his poor old tott'ring Frame?
How wring his bleeding Heart!

Jos.
Peace, Nature, Peace!

[Aside.
Sim.
Grief for the Loss of his beloved Joseph,
Already reigns too cruel in his Heart;
No Sun or sets, or rises on the Earth,
That doth not find, and leave him too in Tears.

Jos.
[Aside.]
Great God sustain my Fortitude!— [To Sim.]
This Joseph,
How died he?

Sim.
A wild Beast, my Lord, devour'd him.

Jos.
Devour'd by a wild Beast! Have, have a care!
Didst thou then see his bleeding Arteries?
His mangled Limbs? Now, by the Life of Pharaoh,
I spy some Treachery—There are Men on Earth
More cruel, Simeon, than the wildest Beast.

Sim.
Dreadful Discourse!

[Aside.
Jos.
He trembles!

[Aside.
Sim.
Thy Suspicion—

Jos.
—Is just—know you not yet I can divine,
And view the dark Recesses of the Soul?
In vain from me you'd hide the Truth, Impostor!
[Ex. Jos.

AIR.
Sim.

[Exit.