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Read Ebook: King Arthur's Socks and Other Village Plays by Dell Floyd
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Ebook has 1946 lines and 41673 words, and 39 pages
MADAM POTIPHAR. It's nice to see you again, dear Asenath. We haven't seen each other since we were little girls. Do you remember how we played together in the date-orchard? And the long, long talks we had?
ASENATH. Don't let's be sentimental about our childhood! MADAM POTIPHAR. Do you remember how we talked about being married? We hated all men, as I remember.
ASENATH. I was eight years old then. . . . Who is that handsome young man I see out there?
MADAM POTIPHAR. In the garden?
ASENATH. Yes.
MADAM POTIPHAR. That--that is the slave we were speaking of. . . .
MADAM POTIPHAR. Well--and what if it were?
ASENATH. He was really a very interesting young man. . . .
MADAM POTIPHAR. If you are so anxious to find out, why don't you go and talk to him?
ASENATH. I think I shall.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Asenath! You, a daughter of the High Priest of Heliopolis--
ASENATH. As such, I am quite accustomed to doing as I please.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Silly little thing! There's no doubt of it! Joseph did come from Heliopolis last year. But what have I to be afraid of? --Joseph!
POTIPHAR. Oh, here's where you are! I was looking everywhere for you. But where's your cousin?
MADAM POTIPHAR. She will be back in a moment. I brought her here to show her the educated slave of whom you are so proud, at work. But he is away somewhere, as usual.
POTIPHAR. He has other duties.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Oh, yes, no doubt!
POTIPHAR. What's the matter now?
MADAM POTIPHAR. Nothing new. You know what I think about this Joseph of yours.
POTIPHAR. Now, if you are going to bring that subject up again--! Well, I tell you flatly, I won't do it.
MADAM POTIPHAR. You'd better take my advice!
POTIPHAR. It's the most unreasonable thing I ever heard of! For the first time in my life I get an efficient secretary--and you want me to get rid of him. It's ridiculous. What have you against Joseph, anyway?
MADAM POTIPHAR. I--I don't think he's honest.
POTIPHAR. Honest! Who expects the secretary of a government official to be honest? I don't want an honest man in charge of my affairs--all I want is a capable one. Besides, how would I know whether he is honest or not? I can't bother to go over his accounts, and I couldn't understand them if I did. Mathematics, my dear, is not an art that high-class Egyptians excel in. It takes slaves and Hebrews for that.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Well, just because he is able to add up a row of figures is no reason why he should be so high-handed with everybody. One would think he was the master here, instead of a slave.
POTIPHAR. A private secretary, my dear, is different from an ordinary slave. You mustn't expect him to behave like a doorkeeper. I remember now, he complained that you kept wanting him to run errands for you.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Yes, and he refused--in the most insolent manner. He is a proud and scheming man, I tell you. I am sure he is plotting some villainy against you.
POTIPHAR. Yes, you have said that before.
MADAM POTIPHAR. I say it again. Joseph is a scoundrel.
POTIPHAR. You'll have to do more than say it, my dear. What proof have you of his villainy?
MADAM POTIPHAR. I think you might trust to my womanly intuition.
POTIPHAR. Bah! Joseph is going to stay! Do you understand?
MADAM POTIPHAR. Well, you needn't create a domestic scene. Asenath may return at any moment.
POTIPHAR. I believe I'm to take her out in the chariot.
MADAM POTIPHAR. You don't begrudge my guest that much of your attention, do you? You know I cannot bear to ride behind those wild horses of yours. And she said she wanted to see the city.
POTIPHAR. Oh--I'll go. But I must see to my chariot. Send Joseph here at once.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Now you know what it is to have your slave off attending to some business of his own when you want him.
POTIPHAR. Where can he be?
JOSEPH. Here I am, sir.
POTIPHAR. Have my chariot made ready for me, will you?
JOSEPH. It will give me great pleasure to do so, sir.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Did you notice his insolence?
POTIPHAR. There you go again! He said he was glad to do it for me. What more do you want?
MADAM POTIPHAR. You are the stupidest man in Egypt.
POTIPHAR. Thank you, my dear.
POTIPHAR. Is the chariot ready so soon, Joseph?
JOSEPH. The chariot is quite ready.
POTIPHAR. Very well. And are those accounts finished yet, Joseph?
JOSEPH. The accounts are quite finished. And I would like to suggest, if I may--
ASENATH. What a lovely garden you have!
MADAM POTIPHAR. Yes!
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