MOSES
A steel to break his manacles: hard for us
Moses has made him overseer. O, his slits
Pry—pry.... For what?... To sell to Imra....
[Abinoah is seen approaching.]
Sh! The thin-lipped abomination!
Zig-zagging haschish tours in a fine style:
It were delightful labour making bricks,
Knowing they would kiss friendly with his head.
Abinoah
[Who has been taking haschish; and who has one obsession, hatred of Jews.]
Dirt-draggled mongrels, circumcised slaves,
You puddle with your lousy gibberish
The holy air, Pharaoh's own tributary:
Filthy manure for Pharaoh's flourishing,
I'll circumcise and make holy your tongues,
And stop one outlet to your profanation.
[To the Old Hebrew.]
I’ve never seen one beg so for a blow;
Too soft am I to resist such entreaty.
[Beats him.]
Your howling holds the earnest energies
You cheat from Pharaoh when you make his bricks.
69