Kurt Weill
Act II, Moses, Scene 17: Egypt at the Time of Moses’ Birth
[RABBI]
Joseph died and all his brethren and their whole generation
And the children of Israel multiplied mightily
And all the land was filled with them
And after that a Pharaoh came to rule in Egypt
Who knew not of Joseph
And he said to his people:
"Israel multiplies, they have grown mighty
So come, let us take council
Lest they become too strong for us"
And he set taskmasters over them
Pharaoh commanded all his servants:
"All firstborn sons of Israel shall yе throw into the Nile"
[ISRAELITE WOMEN]
Woe, woе, woe
Woe, woe
[Scene change: Egypt, years later.]
[MIRIAM]
The princess beheld in the rushes below
The basket of branches and willows
And bending her down she heard, tiny and low
A wailing borne over the billows
The babe was dainty as woven of light
The princess had found her heart's delight
My brother is high in the councils of Egypt
My brother is mighty in Egypt
[MOSES]
A stranger am I in a stranger's land
A stranger among the Egyptians
[MIRIAM]
His place in the court is as high as a star
He sits next to the sun god gleaming
He looks on our burdens as though from afar
On Israel's wounds that are streaming
He walks with staff and diadem proud
Through his folk that moaning to earth is bowed
My brother is high in the councils of Egypt
My brother is mighty in Egypt
[MOSES]
A stranger am I in a stranger's land
A stranger among the Egyptians
[ISRAELITE SLAVES]
Brother! Brother!
Hear us, O Brother!
See us, O Brother!
Brother!
[RABBI]
And Moses cut down the Egyptian
And covered him with sand