flocks, and
my jewels and precious stones--tell him we know him for a living
god--but I would be healed. I would be healed! I would see! See! [_With
anger_] Ah! you know not the worth of the light, you whose eyes are
filled with it! You cannot picture my misery, you who suffer it not! You
grieve for me, I doubt not, but you think you have done enough, having
given me pity!--No, no, I am wrong--I am unjust. But forgive me; this
thought that I might be healed has made me mad. Rheou!--Think, Rheou,
what it means to be blind, to have been so always, and to know that
beside one are those who see--who see!--The humblest of our shepherds,
the most wretched of the women at our looms, I envy them. And when, at
times, I hear them complain, I curb myself lest I should strike them,
wretches that know not their good fortune. I feel that all you, you who
see, should never cease from songs of joy, and hymns of thanksgiving to
the gods--[_With an outburst_] I speak of sight! Think, Rheou, I have
not even a clear idea of what it means "to see." To recognize without
touch, to know without need to listen. To perceive the sun another way
than by the heat of its rays!--They say the flowers are so beautiful!--I
would see _you_, my well-beloved. Oh! the day when I shall see your
eyes!--I would see, that you may show me some likeness of the little
child we lost. You shall point out, among the rest, those that are most
like to him. This misery--O my beloved!--I do not often speak of it--but
I suffer it! I suffer it! [_She is in his arms_] They have taken from me
the hope that our gods will heal me, if they give me nothing in its
place, know you what I shall do?--I shall go away, alone, one night,
touching the walls, and the trees--and the trees, with my arms
outstretched; I shall go down as far as the Nile and there, gently, I
shall glide away to death.

RHEOU. Peace, O my best beloved!

MIERIS [_listening_] I hear him--he comes. I leave you with him! Lead
him to my door--love me--save me!

_She attempts to go out, he leads her. Satni enters followed
by Nourm, Sokiti, and Bitiou._

NOURM. Yes! Thou who art mighty!--Yes! Yes! Make me rich--I have had
blows of the stick so long! I would be rich to be able to give them in
my turn!--You have but to speak the magic words.

SATNI [_somewhat brutally_] Leave me! I am no magician.

SOKITI. I, I do not ask for money. Listen not to him; he is bad. I, I
only ask that you make Khames die;