Excerpt from The Chancellor of Egypt: A Dramatization of the Bible Story of Joseph and His Brethren, in Four Acts

Exterior of Jacob's house near Hebron. Zareda, a hand-maid of Leah, sitting absent-mindedly looking toward the country, with implements for carding wool upon her knees.

Oh, how fair are the fields and the sky to-day, and how beautiful are the northern hills. Would that I could see beyond them the home of my mother, and my brothers and sisters as they used to be in the old free life of my childhood. (A dove alights near her.) O dove, if Zareda had wings like thine, how soon would she fly away over those hills and beyond the great river. But then I fear that after all I should soon fly back again unless - unless Benjamin were in that country, too.

Enter Zephorah, a maid-servant coming from the Held.

Well, Mistress Idler, what art thou dreaming of? Is it not enough that thou sittest at home while we work in the field, but thou must lay thy hands upon thy knees and dream? Thou carriest thy head high, and vauntest thy gentle birth among the servants of thy master. Gentle birth, indeed! Thy mistress shall know, directly, how thou art idling thy time, and thy undone work shall be proof against thee.

O, Zephorah!

Oh, yes. Zephorah hath hurt thy feelings again, and thy mistress, as usual, will only pity thee.

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