Chapter X: Act II: Scene I

PLACE: The home of a Hebrew family.

CHARACTERS: Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam, Aaron.

[_The mother is singing to the baby in her lap._ AARON
_is playing on the floor._ MIRIAM _runs in._]

_Miriam:_ O mother! The king has commanded that all the boy
babies be thrown in the river! How can we save our baby?

_Mother:_ Where shall we take him? I have hidden him for
these three months, but he is so big now and his cries are
so loud that they will be sure to find him wherever we go.

_Miriam:_ Come quickly, mother; we will go to the river and
hide him nearby. Pharaoh cannot find him there, for he will
think that he has been thrown in the water.

_Mother:_ O my poor baby!

[_The three run out._]

SCENE II

PLACE: The river bank.

CHARACTERS: Moses, Mother of Moses, Miriam.

[_The mother appears with the baby in her arms._ MIRIAM
_follows._]

_Miriam:_ O mother! We can hide him in these tall grasses!

_Mother:_ But I must have something to put him in. Gather
these rushes and I will weave a little cradle for him.

[_They both pick bulrushes and the mother weaves the
basket._]

_Mother:_ How can I leave him here alone? My little
daughter, will you stay and watch and bring me word quickly
if anything happens? We will hide the baby in this basket
among the flags, here at the edge of the water.

_Miriam:_ Good! Mother, I will hide nearby and see that no
harm comes to our baby.

[_The mother kisses the baby and puts him in the basket,
then rises and turns away._]

_Mother:_ Keep watch until I return.

[_Exit mother;_ MIRIAM _hides._]

SCENE III

PLACE: The river bank.

CHARACTERS: The Princess, Her Maidens, Soldiers, Moses,
Mother of Moses, and Miriam.

[_Several soldiers walk across the stage. Enter_
PRINCESS _and her maids._]

PRINCESS [_looking around_]: What beautiful clear water for
my bath!

_First Maid:_ Yea, Princess. Will you bathe here?

[_A baby's cry is heard._]

_Princess:_ What is it I hear? It sounds like a baby crying!
Look about, maidens! Is there something here?

[_All look about._]

_Second Maid_ [_finds baby; all come running up to her_]:
See what is here!

_Princess:_ A baby hidden in a basket! Bring him to me!

[_Third maid hands basket to_ PRINCESS, _who takes the
baby out._]

_Princess:_ Oh, what a beautiful baby! He is mine, for I
have found him! A Hebrew baby! His mother has hidden him in
the bulrushes to save his life.

[MIRIAM _runs out._]

_Miriam:_ Lady, would you like a nurse for that baby?

_Princess:_ A nurse for him? Yes, I do need a nurse.

_Miriam:_ I can get you one very quickly.

_Princess:_ Go bring her, child; I will wait here.

[MIRIAM _goes away running._]

_Princess:_ He is my boy, and I will call him Moses, for I
drew him out of the water.

[_Enter the mother and_ MIRIAM.]

_Miriam:_ Here is the nurse, lady.

_Princess:_ Will you take good care of this baby for me
until he becomes a youth? I will pay you wages. I am the
Princess, King Pharaoh's daughter. I will see that he is
educated as a prince in my father's court.

[PRINCESS _and her maids go out._]

_Mother:_ My boy is saved! My boy is saved!