, the Sun
divine. O Isis, remember the cruel blow that did befall me! I had a
little child. Unto him sight was given, and when he first could speak,
it was life's sweetest joy, to hear him tell the color and the form of
things. He is dead, Isis! And I have never seen him--Take thou my
tears and my prayer, bid this perpetual night, wherein I scarce
can breathe, to cease--And if thou wilt not, deliver me to
death--She-who-loves-the-silence, and after the judgment I may go to
Amenti, and find my well-beloved child--find him, and there at last
behold his face. Isis, I give thee all these flowers. [_She rises_]
Come, Yaouma. [_As she is about to go, she stops, suddenly radiant_]
Stay--I hear--yes! Go, bring the ewer and the lustral water. It is the
master--He is here.

_Yaouma goes out, but returns quickly. Enter Rheou._

MIERIS. Be welcome unto your house, master!

_Yaouma pours water over the hands of Rheou and gives him a
towel._

RHEOU. Gladly I greet you once more in your house, mistress! [_Pakh
appears, returning to look for his hod_] [_To Pakh_] Well! potter, do
you not go to meet your son?

PAKH. I would fain go, master, but I looked upon the Nile a while ago;
there is nothing in sight.

RHEOU. The galley came last night at dusk, and, by order of the priests,
was kept at the bend of the river till now. Go!

PAKH. I thank you, master.

_He goes out._

RHEOU. Is all made ready for the solemn prayer to Isis? The Sun is
nearing the horizon.

MIERIS. Yaouma, go and warn them all.

YAOUMA [_kneeling in supplication_] Mistress--

MIERIS [_laying her hand on Yaouma's head_] What is it?

YAOUMA. The galley.

MIERIS. Well?--Ah, yes! you were betrothed to the potter's son--But
to-day you must not go forth. Who shall say you are not she whom the God
Ammon will choose?

YAOUMA. The God Ammon knows not me.

MIERIS. Did he choose you, he must know you.

YAOUMA. Me! Me! A poor handmaiden--Is it then possible--truly?

MIERIS. Truly--Yaouma, go.

YAOUMA [_to herself as she goes_] The God Ammon--the God of Gods--

MIERIS. Rheou, what ails you?

RHEOU [_angered_] It was a fresh insult that awaited me--

MIERIS. Insult?

RHEOU. When I came into the audience chamber I prostrated myself before
the Pharaoh. "What would you?" he cried in that hard voice of his. You
know 'tis the custom to make no reply, that one may seem half dead with
fear before his majesty--

MIERIS. Did you not so?