with my telescope I can see everything as it is. Clear and sharp,
precisely as it is.

LADY. What do you know of things, my son? You can never see the thing
itself, only its picture; and the picture is illusion and not the thing.
So you argue about pictures and illusions.

TEMPTER. Listen to her! A little philosopher in skirts. By Jupiter
Chronos, such a disputation in this giant amphitheatre of the mountains
demands a proper audience. Hullo!

LADY. I have mine here: my friend, my husband, my child! If he'll only
listen to me, good; all will be well with me, and him. Come to me,
my friend, for this is the way. This is the mountain Gerizim, where
blessings are given. And that is Ebal, where they curse.

TEMPTER. Yes, this is Ebal, where they curse. 'Cursed be the earth,
woman, for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children; and thy
desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.' And then
to the man this: 'Cursed is the ground for thy sake, thorns and thistle
shall it bring forth to thee, and in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou
labour!' So spoke the Lord, not I!

LADY. 'And God blessed the first pair; and He blessed the seventh day,
on which He had completed His work--and the work was good.' But you, and
we, have made it something evil, and that is why.... But he who obeys
the commandments of the Lord dwells on Gerizim, where blessings are
given. Thus saith the Lord. 'Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and
blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy
store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed when thou
goest out. And the Lord shall give rain unto thy land in his season
to increase thy harvest, and thy children shall flourish. And the Lord
shall make thee plenteous in goods, to lend to the peoples, and never to
borrow. And the Lord will bless all the work of thy hand, if thou shalt
keep the commandments of the Lord thy God!' (Pause.) So come, my friend,
and lay your hand in mine. (She falls on her knees with clasped hands.)
I beg you, by the love that once united us, by the memory of the
child that drew us together; by the strength of a mother's love--a
mother's--for so have I loved you, erring child, whom I've sought in the
dark places of the wood and whom at last I've found, hungry and withered
for want of love! Come back to me, prodigal one; and bury your tired
head on my heart, where you rested before ever you saw the light of the
sun. (A change