SOKITI. We did wrong to tell you what we did, because you are not
pleased.

SATNI. 'Tis for your sake I am grieved.

NOURM. Then you have not told the truth; there is a hell, and there is
an island of souls.

SATNI. No.

NOURM. If the gods do not punish, and men, not having seen, do not
punish either--[_Pause_] Well--I shall give it back.

SOKITI. I, I shall not give back. Not stolen. Another, a servant of the
neighboring master stole the bracelet, not I!

STEWARD. Yet 'tis you who have it.

SOKITI. I took it from the other.

STEWARD. He let you do it?

SOKITI. Yes. Could not help it, he was wounded.

SATNI. You should have succored him.

SOKITI. I did not know him.

SATNI. He was a man like you.

SOKITI. There are plenty of them.

SATNI. We must do good to others.

SOKITI. What good will that do to me?

SATNI. You will be content with yourself.

SOKITI. I would rather have the bracelet--

SATNI. It is only by refraining from doing one another harm that mankind
may hope to gain happiness; nay more, only by lending one another aid.
Do you understand?

SOKITI [_gloomily_] Yes.

SATNI. And you, and you--

NOURM AND BITIOU [_in different tones_] Yes, yes.

STEWARD [_to Sokiti_] Repeat it then.

SOKITI. If men did not steal bracelets--

STEWARD. Well?

SOKITI. Bracelets--[_He laughs_].

SATNI [_to Nourm_] And you?

NOURM. He was wrong to take the bracelet.

SATNI. Why?

NOURM. Because you are not pleased.

SATNI. No, no, 'tis not for that.

SOKITI. I was not wrong--

NOURM. Yes! wait! I understand--If you steal, another may steal from
you. Likewise if you kill--

SATNI. Right. And why is it necessary to be good?

NOURM. Wait [_To Sokiti_] If you do good to one whom you know not,
another who knows you not, may do good to you.

STEWARD. Ah!--Do you understand, Sokiti?

SOKITI. I think so.

SATNI. Explain.

SOKITI [_after a great effort_] You do not want us to steal bracelets
from you--

SATNI. I do not want you to steal from any one--Do you understand?

SOKITI. No.

STEWARD [_to Bitiou, who listens open-mouthed_] And you?

BITIOU. I--I have a pain in my head--

_Satni comes to the Steward. Bitiou and Sokiti slip off._

STEWARD. Look at them--

SATNI. The tree that was bent from its birth, not in one day can you
make it straight?

STEWARD. We must leave it what it is, or tear it down?

SATNI. No, we must seek patiently to straighten it. [_With feeling_] A