IMHOTEP. Set him over us, O King!
CROWD. Joseph! Joseph!
PHARAOH. Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. [He rises.] Joseph art thou no more, but I will call thee Zaphenath Paneah, the prince of the days to be. [He comes down from the throne to JOSEPH, who is standing dazed. He draws off his signet-ring and places it on JOSEPH'S finger.] See! I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [To the CROWD.] Bow on thy knee!
ALL. Hail, prince of life!
[JOSEPH suddenly sinks into ENENKHET'S arms. The PHARAOH has turned away. The CROWD gasps.]
ENENKHET. The glory is too great—he swooneth.
1ST PHYSICIAN. [Who has hurried up] O King, the man is dying—
PHARAOH. Now the gods forbid!
[The CROWD has closed in] ENENKHET. His heart is breaking—
PHARAOH. Make way! Give air!
[The CROWD opens. At the back, outside the hall, the music sounds and the voices of the MAIDENS begin chanting. A procession of young MAIDENS passes slowly from the left to the right and, in their midst, ASENATH, in white, crowned with white flowers.]
JOSEPH. [Faintly.] What—is—that—music?
1ST PHYSICIAN. He speaketh!
JOSEPH. [Rising eagerly.] What—is—that—singing?
