The Peasant Goes to Egypt
A Play by Ms. Rose's Class, based on an Egyptian Folktale
Characters
Sekhti
Sekhti's Wife
Sekhti's Children
The Donkey
Hemti
Hemti's Servant
The High Steward
The Pharaoh
Narrators
Scene One. Sekhti and his Wife are at home.
SEKHTI
Today I must go to the land of Egypt to sell some salt.
WIFE
I'll make you a loaf of bread for the journey.
Scene Two. On the road, near Hemti's house. Hemti and his Servant watch as Sekhti and his Donkey arrive.
NARRATOR 3
When he got to Egypt, he walked along a narrow path by the Nile River. The path was for all men to use.
NARRATOR 4
Growing alongside the path were fields of wheat. These belonged to a greedy man named Hemti.
NARRATOR 5
When Hemti saw Sekhti coming with his donkey and his salt, he had a wicked idea.
HEMTI
Servant, get a rug and spread it on the path that all men use.
NARRATOR 6
Hemti put his rug across the path that was for all men to use. It covered the whole path.
HEMTI
Watch out, peasant! Don't step on my beautiful rug!
NARRATOR 7
Sekhti tried not to step on the beautiful rug. But he had to take his donkey into Hemti's field of wheat. The hungry donkey ate some of the wheat.
HEMTI
Because your donkey ate my wheat, I shall take your donkey and your bags of salt.
SEKHTI
You told me not to walk on the rug. I had to take my donkey into the field. I can't help it if he ate a little wheat. Donkey's are like that.
HEMTI
Well, soooooo what? I'm still taking your donkey, ugly peasant.
NARRATOR 8
Hemti took away Sekhti's donkey and his bags of salt. When Sekhti complained, he even tried to beat him with a stick.
HEMTI
Get back here and fight like a peasant!
NARRATOR 9
Sekhti went to the house of the High Steward to demand justice. He spoke in very beautiful words.
Scene Three. The scene shifts to outside the house of the High Steward. Sekhti calls out to the High Steward.
VOICE OF SEKHTI
Oh, High Steward, I beg the Pharaoh's justice. That wonderful, wonderful Pharaoh. He does everything for everyone. The Pharaoh is the living god who makes the Nile flow and the crops grow. Our sacred, sacred Pharaoh. He is the King of everything! He makes me want to bring him some flowers and sugarcane! While the Pharaoh rules, each family will prosper for his greatness. I know the Pharaoh will grant me justice.
Scene Four. The Pharaoh's palace. The Pharaoh and the High Steward present.
PHARAOH
I've never heard such lavish language about me! Delay his case
until he's said everything he can possibly think of.
Scene Five. The house of the High Steward. The High Steward
and Sekhti present.
HIGH STEWARD
The Pharaoh wants to hear why Hemti has beaten you.
NARRATOR 13
Here is what Sekhti said to the High Steward.
VOICE OF SEKHTI
Oh, High Steward, I am very well pleased to speak words of kindness towards the Pharaoh. For if the Pharaoh did not rule, the Nile River would run dry, and houses would collapse. The Pharaoh is my idol. He is so kind that he makes me want to smile. If everyone were as kind, fair and powerful as the Pharaoh, Egypt would be like Heaven. If he weren't ruling the kingdom of Egypt, no one would live, and Egypt would never exist for eternity. Egypt would be nothing without him. If the Pharaoh did not rule, the birds would not chirp, and the rain would not fall, and Egypt wouldn't be anything at all.
NARRATOR 14
Finally the High Steward took Sekhti and Hemti before the Pharaoh.
Scene Six. The palace of the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh, the
High Steward, Sekhti and Hemti present.
THE END
The Peasant Goes to Egypt was written by Ms. Rose's 1997/98 Third-Grade class at The Haverford School, Haverford, PA, under the supervision of Drama teacher Matt Buchanan. It is based on an Egyptian folktale.