Chapter IX: Act I

CHARACTERS: King, Wise Man, Chief Adviser, Queen,
Maids, and Soldiers.

_King:_ Behold, the people of the children of Israel are
more and mightier than we. Come, let us do wisely with them
lest they rise up and make war against us.

_Chief Adviser:_ What more can we do than we have already
done? We have made their lives bitter with hard service, and
we have made them carry our brick and mortar and work in our
fields.

_Wise Man:_ O King Pharaoh, I beg thee to let me speak.

_King:_ Speak, Wise Man.

_Wise Man:_ O King, I pray thee to be kind to these people.
When these Hebrews first came down from the land of Canaan,
a young man named Joseph saved our land from great famine.
These Israelites are his children's children and we should
treat them kindly.

_King:_ Treat them kindly! We have been kind to them long
enough; we must destroy them. I will command that every
Hebrew boy baby be killed!

[_Exeunt_ KING _and courtiers followed by soldiers._]

_Princess:_ O most gracious father, have mercy upon them.