He gazes straight before him with unseeing eyes. Judah is bent humbly before him, but Jacob takes no notice of him. The other Brothers are in a group, L. Judah rises and comes to them. Father Jacob! He will not speak. The food we brought out of Egypt is all spent. Asher [ Enters ] My children, and my children's children clamor for bread.
It is the curse of God for the evil we did unto Joseph. Now we must go down to Egypt a second time. Reuben [ Bitterly ] Ay, we, princes in Israel, on our knees, begging for food!
Needs must, when hunger drives. Not hunger only; we must redeem Simeon. Simeon, that was hottest for selling Joseph a slave, is now a slave himself ββ. And we are starving ββ. God is righteous. I dread the manβthe governorβhim they call the Revealer of Secrets.
Nay, he is our friend. Did he not restore to each man his money in his sack? Naphtali [ To Reuben's Slave ] I dread a trick. What if he say we stole the money, and slay Simeon? Yet to him we must go. In all the world there is no corn, but only in Egypt. Our father will not let us go. Remember the man's wordsβExcept ye bring Benjamin, ye shall not see my face. Zebulun [ Pointing off L. Oh, latest-born of Rachel, Benjamin, whom our father loveth, plead for us.
What would'st thou, Son of Leah? Plead with Jacob for us, that we may go down into Egypt once more. Father, my child crieth for food! My first-born! All [Veiling their faces. Child, our father's heart is turned to stone. I will entreat him ββ. Asher [ Pointing to Jacob ] Lo! Yet, Serah, take thy harp; sing to himβsing our griefβsing the death of our children ββ. How shall I sing, with a breaking heart? Put the heart-break into thy song.
