Brethren. [In a horrified whisper among themselves] Benjamin!
Joseph. And as for you—get ye up in peace unto your father
Brethren [As above] To Jacob—without Benjamin—!
Egyptians. Too merciful! Slay them all!
[At a sign from Joseph the Egyptians leave the hall and the curtains are closed]
[Judah brings Benjamin forward. He begins very quietly, very humbly; but as he goes on, he is carried away by the pathos of his own words. Towards the middle of his speech, Joseph veils his face. Asenath weeps silently]
Judah. Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant, for thou art even as the Pharaoh.—My lord asked his servant saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. And thou said'st unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, so that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said, The lad cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father his father would die. And thou said'st unto thy servant, Except thy younger brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. Also thou heldest Simeon as a hostage. And when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy a little food. And we said, We cannot go down; if our younger brother be with us, then will we go down; for we may not see the
