Japheth (appearing at window):

(Noah disappears within ark and returns, bearing dove and olive twig.)

Noah:

(He sends dove forth again.)

Noah's Wife (opening door):

Noah:

Noah's Wife:

First Son's Wife (beckoning others):

Second Son's Wife:

Third Son's Wife:

All Three Wives:

(The wives dance in a little circle and sing.)

Noah (scandalized, descends upon them):

(All gather about altar of stones.)

(Japheth brings a sacrifice; Noah lays it on altar. If the play be out of doors, they offer it up by fire. Enter the Messenger.)

Messenger:

(Here let a rainbow appear in the sky.)

(Blesses him; all kneel),

(Messenger goes.)

(The Prologue, or the Servant of Abraham (acting as Prologue), enters and bows low; then, drawing himself erect, points to imaginary scenery.)

Prologue: This is the tent of Abraham, the father of his people, where he lives with Sarai, his wife, and his son, Isaac, whom he loves above all else.

I am the servant of Abraham.

Lo, Abraham enters now with Isaac. (The Prologue goes.)

(Abraham enters, leaning on Isaac.)

Isaac (pointing): My father, behold the lambs yonder!

Abraham: Aye, my son, they are for the sacrifice. I offer them up to God for a thank-offering that he hath given thee to me, O my son. (Seats himself.)

Isaac (clinging close to him): Dost thou love me more than the little lambs?

Abraham (embracing him): I love thee more than all that is in heaven or earth.

Isaac (struggling): My father, let me go; I would go play with the lambs.

Abraham (releasing him): Then go, my son.

(Isaac runs out. Abraham remains seated; then suddenly he starts, rises, and stands with arms uplifted in prayer.)

Abraham: Here am I, Lord. (He listens with strong emotion.) O Lord, Lord, what is this thou dost require of me? Must I give up Isaac to thee, Isaac the joy of mine old age? (There is a pause while he prays silently; then he speaks humbly.) Nevertheless, not my will, O Lord, but thine be done. (There is another pause; then he calls.) Isaac! Isaac!

(Isaac runs in.)

Isaac: Here am I, father.

Abraham: Get ye wood for a burnt-offering, and saddle ye the ass, for I will go up upon the mount to sacrifice.

Isaac: Aye, father, and shall I go with thee?

Abraham: Thou shalt indeed go with me, thou and the servant. Get thee gone. (Isaac runs out.) Not my will, O Lord, but thine! O Lord, I will trust in thee.

(Isaac enters, carrying a bundle of fagots.)

Isaac: My father, all is ready. The ass is saddled, and I have here wood for the burnt-offering.

Abraham (placing his arm about him): Come, my son. (They go slowly out.)

(The Prologue or Servant enters.)

Prologue: Behold, now Abraham and Isaac approach the mountains of Moriah. I, the servant, follow after. (He follows them.)

(Abraham and Isaac, having made the circuit of the room, approach.)

Abraham: This is the mountain on which I shall sacrifice. (To servant.) Abide thou yonder with the ass. I and the lad will worship; then I will come again to thee. (The Servant bows and withdraws.)

Isaac: My father?

Abraham: Here am I, my son.

Isaac: My father, behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt-offering?

Abraham: O my son, God will provide the sacrifice. (Bends over him.) O my son, before thou wert born I longed for thee, and since thou wast a little lad I have loved thee with a greater love than I have given my God. Now I am punished. For the Lord hath commanded me, saying: "Take thou thine son, thine only son whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and offer him up for a burnt-offering upon the mountains." O my son, I shall do even as the Lord hath commanded me, for all his ways are perfect. Fare thee well. (He embraces him.)

Isaac (fearfully): Father—father—I—I fear—

Abraham: Kneel thou upon the wood.

(Isaac kneels; Abraham raises his knife to slay; a voice calls from distance.)

Voice of Messenger: Abraham! Abraham!

Isaac: Hark, O my father! A voice calls, "Abraham."

Abraham (with knife still raised): Here am I, Lord!

(The Messenger enters and stays Abraham's hand.)

Messenger: O Abraham, thus saith the Lord: "Because thou hast put thy trust in me, therefore will I deliver thee. Lay not thine hand upon the lad, for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me."

Abraham (raising arms to heaven): O Lord, blessed be the man that trusteth in thee.

Isaac (jumping up): Lo, father, a ram is there, caught in the thicket. Lo, I shall fetch the ram for sacrifice. (He runs out.)

Messenger: Moreover, thus saith the Lord God: "In blessing, I will bless thee, and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, for I have PROVED thee." (The Messenger goes out.)

(Isaac runs in with great excitement.)

Isaac: My father, the ram is caught; I will carry the wood yonder. (Runs out.)

Abraham: O God, thou hast tried me and known me. O see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Goes with arms upraised.)

(The Servant or Epilogue advances.)

Epilogue: Mark the perfect man, and behold the up-right: for the end of that man is peace. (He goes out.)

(The Prologue advances. She unfolds the curtain of reeds as she speaks.)

Prologue: This is Egypt. The wicked Pharaoh holds the children of Israel in bondage; but they are grown so many that he fears them. Therefore he has commanded that all boy babies be taken from their mothers' arms and put to death.

But the mothers seek to hide their babies.

Look and behold the marshy waters of the River Nile; tall reeds grow here; it is the hiding place one mother has chosen. See, she and the sister of the babe come now to hide him from the soldiers of Pharaoh. (She raises the curtain of reeds above her head, or passes out.)

(Enter the little Sister bearing the ark of bulrushes. She looks this way and that way; then she calls softly.)

Sister: Mother, this way! The wicked soldiers will not find him here.

(The Mother enters bearing the Baby.)

Mother: Is there no one in sight? (She looks anxiously about.)

Sister: No one!

Mother (embracing the child): O my son, the cruel Pharaoh would slay thee, but the Lord is gracious; he will save.

Sister: Here is the ark of bulrushes; I have daubed it well with pitch. Shall I lay it among the flags at the river's brink?

(The Mother nods. The Sister arranges the coverings in the basket. The Mother hugs the child.)

Mother: O my baby! (She places child in basket.)

Sister (peering into distance): Mother, sh-h-h! I see the daughter of Pharaoh in the distance; she cometh to bathe in the river. Oh—if she should discover us!

Mother (looking up anxiously): God's will be done!

Sister (still peering out): One of her maidens is a child of Israel, but the other is a proud Egyptian. See, now they stop to bathe.

Mother (rising from her knees): I must return lest I be missed at home when the soldiers make the daily search for children; but do thou watch beside the child, and in the nighttime I will return with food.

Sister: That will I, mother. I will hide in the tall reeds yonder. (The Mother moves away; Sister runs after her.) But, mother, if they discover the babe, what must I do?

Mother (earnestly): Surely God will teach thee. Pray. (She goes.)

Sister (crouching beside ark): O God, let no one hurt my little brother! O God, I pray thee. (She sings a lullaby.)

(The Sister looks up, startled, then flees behind the reeds as the Daughter of Pharaoh approaches, followed by Slaves bearing fans.)

Daughter of Pharaoh: Come, maidens, we will rest by the river's brink, where the flag flowers grow. (She approaches nearer.) But what is that, floating upon the water?

Egyptian Slave: Lady, it is a babe.

Daughter of Pharaoh: Go fetch it, girl. No doubt it is one of the Hebrew children.

Egyptian Slave: A Hebrew brat? I will not touch it, I!

(The Daughter of Pharaoh raises her hand and strikes the saucy maid, as the other slave, the Maid of Israel, brings the babe.) (Or kneels beside it.)

Slave of Israel: O lady, see how beautiful!

Egyptian Slave: Let it die, even as Pharaoh commanded.

Slave of Israel: O lady, let it live! Think how the mother loved it. See how cunningly the ark is daubed with pitch and hidden here, 'midst the flag-flowers.

Egyptian Slave: If you let it live, you let live one more enemy to Pharaoh.

Daughter of Pharaoh: Hold thy tongue, girl. (She looks doubtfully at child.)

Egyptian Slave (exultingly): Here come the guard of Pharaoh; they will see the babe and slay it. (She points to distance. All look.)

Daughter of Pharaoh: What to do? Think, girl, use thy wits. (To Slave of Israel.)

(The little Sister rushes from reeds and kneels.)

Sister: O lady, lady, shall I go and call a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Daughter of Pharaoh: Go—go quickly. (She looks apprehensively about.)

Egyptian Slave: The soldiers cross the river.

(The little Sister returns, followed by the Mother.)

Sister (panting): Lady, I have brought a nurse.

Daughter of Pharaoh: Woman, take thou this child and nurse it for me, and I will give thee wages. (Gives a piece of gold.)

Mother (taking child): Daughter of Pharaoh, may the God of Israel bless thee.

Daughter of Pharaoh (turning to go): Fare thee well.

Egyptian Slave (cries): The soldiers!

Daughter of Pharaoh (turning back): Fear ye not.

(All huddle behind her. She faces the Soldiers as they enter and salute.)

First Soldier: Daughter of Pharaoh, we make search for Hebrew children. One hath escaped us.

Daughter of Pharaoh (haughtily): Who art thou to question me? Pass on.

Second Soldier: But—the babe yonder? (Points.)

Daughter of Pharaoh: Is the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter. Pass ye by. (She waves them away. They salute and go. She takes the child in her arms and embraces him.) I love the child. (She gives the Child to his Mother and turns to go; then she turns back.) Call the child "Moses," for that means, "Drawn up out of the water," and remember he is dear to me for that I have saved him. (She goes out followed by her maids.)

(The Mother and Sister kneel with the Child.)

Mother (prays): O God of Israel, bless thou this child, and as thou hast drawn him up out of the water, grant that he may be the means, through thee, to lift his people out of slavery. (They rise and go.)

(The Epilogue folds curtain, advances to front of stage, and holds up hand.)

Epilogue:

(The Epilogue goes.)

(Enter Pharaoh, followed by Soldiers carrying the litter of his dead Son. The Egyptians follow, then Moses and Aaron.)

First Egyptian (bowing low): O Pharaoh, let the children of Israel go. Lo, there is mourning in the land of Egypt because thou keepest them in bondage. (He points to the Son of Pharaoh.)

Egyptians: Woe, woe, woe! Yea, the god of Israel is a jealous god!

Pharaoh: O Moses and Aaron, evil have ye wrought in the land of Egypt, and accursed is the land while the children of Israel remain.

Rise ye, get ye forth from my people, lest your god smite us, and we be all dead men. (He passes out followed by Soldiers carrying litter.)

Moses (to Children of Israel or Class): Ho, men of Israel! (They stand.) Pharaoh commands, "Cease ye the burden of Egypt!"

Children of Israel (shout): To God the glory! (They rush into aisle.)

Aaron: Assemble ye your wives and little ones, your camels and your asses. God leads us to a land of milk and honey. On now to Canaan, to the promised land!

Children of Israel (shout): The promised land!

(Aaron leads; the Children of Israel follow; Moses brings up the rear. They march toward the back of the room singing.)

(The Egyptians watch with interest.)

First Egyptian: A mighty army!

Second Egyptian: Six hundred thousand strong!

Third Egyptian: Pharaoh will rue the day when he let these slaves escape from the land of Egypt.

First Egyptian: There he cometh in mad haste.

(Pharaoh enters followed by Page and Soldiers.)

Pharaoh: Lo, it repents me that I have let Israel go. Let my soldiers go after them and scourge them back. On the Red Sea shore we will come up with them. On, my men, on!

(Pharaoh, the Egyptians and Soldiers rush down aisle after the Children of Israel. They, in the meantime, have made the circuit of the room, or church, and re-enter the stage, or chancel, singing.)

Song: Same Music as before.

Chorus: As before.

Aaron: Men of Israel, before us stretches the Red Sea water; here we will make our camp.

Miriam (clutching his arm): O Aaron, look! Behind us see the shining spears! Behind us cometh Pharaoh and his hosts. Where now is Moses?

An Israelite: And before, stretches the Red Sea water. How may we cross? Where now is Moses?

Another Israelite: We shall be brought to Egypt again as slaves. Where now is Moses?

(Moses pushes his way through the people.)

Aaron and Others: O Moses, why hast thou thus dealt with us?

Another Israelite: It were better for us to serve in the land of Egypt, than that we die here in the wilderness.

Moses: Fear ye not. Stand still and see the salvation of your God. For the Egyptians which ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them no more forever. (He stretches out his rod.)

Miriam (exultingly): The Red Sea parts! The waves do mount on either side like giant cliffs, upheld by a monster hand. See how the waves do lash and foam! See! See!

Moses: Forward, ye men of Israel!

(They pass down the central aisle, singing.)

Song: Same Music as before.

Chorus: As before.

(Pharaoh and his men, having pursued the Children of Israel around the room, appear on the stage.)

First Egyptian: O Pharaoh, thy soldiers have them in a trap. Before stretches the Red Sea water, and behind, behold thy shining spears!

Pharaoh: On, my men, on!

(The Egyptians and the Soldiers rush after the Children of Israel. Pharaoh and his Page remain.)

Page: See, see, the Red Sea parts! The children of Israel walk on it dryshod. Verily, their god is God.

Pharaoh (loudly): Is their god more than I? Who is Jehovah? On, my men, on!

Page: Thy soldiers obey; thy army follows after through the sea. (A pause of ten seconds while they peer into distance.) The high waves tremble—O let thy soldiers haste! (A pause of ten seconds. Then he cries, trembling and hiding his eyes.) O lord, the waves! The waves!

Pharaoh: Waves, stand ye back! I, Pharaoh, bid ye stay!

Page (looking up): They fall; they crush! Thy army, the waves go over them.

Pharaoh (stretching out his arms): O god of Moses, drive the sea apart!

Page (promptly): The god of Moses will not hear thy prayer.

Pharaoh: The Israelites exult.

Children of Israel (in distance):

Miriam (with a clash of cymbals):

Children of Israel:

Pharaoh (shaking his clinched fist): Mocked at by god and man!

I will raise me a mightier army and follow after.

I will pray to the gods of Egypt. (He passes hastily out.)

Page (stretches out his arms to the departing Israelites): O God of Moses, I will pray to thee. (He goes slowly after Pharaoh.)

(Enter the Prologue.)

Prologue: This is the story of the call of Samuel. The scene is Shiloh, before the door of the tabernacle. Lo, there entereth Eli, priest of Israel. (Prologue withdraws.)

(Eli, the old priest, enters, and stands praying.) Eli: O Lord God, turn thou my sons, I pray thee, from their evil ways. Lo, they come yonder, full of wine and drink, a disgrace to mine old age.

(Hophni and Phinehas come swaggering in, arm in arm. One has a jug of wine; he drinks and hands it to the other. Eli raises a trembling hand toward them.)

Hophni: Hi there, old man, art going to chide again?

Phinehas (mockingly): Do not show anger, for anger doth not become a man of God.

Eli: My sons, why will ye tempt the Lord your God? Turn from your evil ways and pray. (Lays a hand on Hophni.)

Hophni (jerking away): I pray not, I! Thou hast ever said the Lord was slow to anger.

Eli: Yea, but the cup of your iniquity is full; and I—I suffer in your fall.