Harvey Maitland Watts

“ The fete holds Potiphar, whose duties press And keep him captive till the set of sun; Whilst I, a-faint, the privilege of my sex, Await thee here, knowing thy daily round Had naught to stay it in the priestly show. For what, to thee, the mummified Gods of On? Art thou not servant to a mightier lord? Nor thyself art seen, nor offerings from thee grace The inner shrines. ”

“ The snake-charmers ply their trade, and the jugglers and traveling dancers divert the servants, and as the women rearrange the clothes-presses, jewel-caskets, chests for the garments of state, they indulge freely in idle gossip about their mistress, who is returning prematurely from the court, having feigned an illness. There is a soft light from latticed windows through which are heard the sounds of the outer world, while at the sound of the trumpets announcing the approach of the wife of Potiphar, the players and dancers retire hurriedly, being ordered out of the room by a servant. ”

“ THE WIFE OF POTIPHAR.—Art thou granite then, A being limned upon the templed walls; Some graven image, squat of trunk, in wood? No, no, my love, entice! Am I not fair? No sleek attendant with her gauzy robe Can e'en compare with these revealed charms. Many the years ere yet my beauty fades, And dried as Ramses in the tombs, men pass Nor turn to see the parchment of these breasts, The stiffened limbs, the glassy stare of eyes. ”

“ Ye faithful, loved and looser deities, Be with me and avenge me for this wrong, Dark desecration of the hearth and home The sanctuary of Lord Potiphar! Shall I the wife bear insult from a slave, That dareth, as vermin, when the sun is gone, To scurry forth and lift a loathsome head, To equal those the gods have set on high, To bandy words and seek with coarse! (Sardis suddenly enters and the wife of Potiphar, terrified, hides the scarf and cries out:) Ah, gods! ”

“ Shall I live loveless, though the many haunt My steps and oft in bold presumption force Attention for the favor of an hour, And find myself bereft, forsaken of all, Except my pampered oldlings, Sardis, Mnft? But, oh, ye gods! Their barbered beauty palls, Perfumed, familiar to the finger tips.
(The fierce desire returns. She rises up, crouching upon the mats and clutches the girdle fondly.) ”

“ For youth doth diadem thy shapely head, And bursts in beauty on thy darkened cheeks. Thy chin, decision; e'en thy stature tells Thy office, and, if countenance belie, The elder's place, what boots it sith it speaks Of pulsing health, of vigor—Ah, of love! ”

“ POTIPHAR; an middle-aged royal Egyptian official of high rank. (Out of action.) THE WIFE OF POTIPHAR; A very beautiful younger-looking Egyptian noblewoman in the full bloom of her youthful wifehood. SARDIS; an Assyrian, lover to the wife of Potiphar. JOSEPH; the chief of the household of POTIPHAR, a handsome young and muscular Hebrew boy. NEFERT; the chief tiring-woman to the wife of POTIPHAR, and a loyal confidante. In scene.—Eunuchs; Tiring-women; Slaves; Snake-charmers; Dancing girls ”