JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN
Potiphar. Strip him!
[Heru and Ani tear off Joseph's robe. He is dressed in a long, white gown]
[Potipha comes up to him, wrenches the chain from his neck, and, with the broken ends, lashes him across the face. Shudder among the Crowd. Tamai gives a great cry, and she sinks sobbing to her knees. Joseph stands quite passive. Zuleika watches with a smile]
Potiphar. Away with the cur! Lest I defile my hands!
[Joseph is hurried out; the men in the crowd spit on him as he passes]
Potiphar. [To Zuleika, but without looking at her; in a voice of horrible anticipation] Thou—thou—is there more?
Zuleika [With a magnificent gesture, displaying the dagger in her hand] Should I be on life?
Potiphar. [With a great cry of joy] Zuleika! [He falls at her feet, and kisses the hem of her gown]
Curtain
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