thou? Who art thou? [He tears the purple veil away— ZULEIKHA stands before him, menacing, terrible, clad in scarlet silk from head to foot, a golden serpent crowning her loose hair; he starts away with a cry of horror.] JOSEPH: Zuleikha!
ZULEIKHA: [Begins very quietly, but very intensely.] Fool! Did'st thou think a woman scorned was so easily appeased? Did'st thou think thy freedom, or thy life, was enough to atone? Thy life is nothing—thy freedom is nothing. Here thou shalt rot, knowing Asenath thinks thee a traitor, and knowing her misery. Here thou shalt eat thy heart out, knowing Asenath is the plaything of my hate! And when I choose to free thee, thou shalt come forth, a broken man, to find Asenath dead! JOSEPH: Thinkest thou the Living God hath given such power into thine hands? Thou can'st torture me today and tomorrow. Thou can'st torture Asenath today and tomorrow. [Terrible] But what of the next day? God is very patient; but when He moveth His finger thou shalt be withered as a leaf in the drought!— I scorn thee not; I fear thee not!—I—pity thee! ZULEIKHA: Ho! Guard!
[Enter ENENKHKT and the SOLDIERS]
ENENKHET: [Amazed] The lady Zuleikha—! [He throws himself at her feet] ZULEIKHA: [To the soldiers.] Lift the stone—! [Passing the two spears through the ring of the stone, the four SOLDIERS lift it with great difficulty.] ZULEIKHA: [To ENENKHET.] Who bade thee give the slave his freedom?—Into the nethermost pit with him or the Pharaoh shall hear of it!
[The two
