to the spectators. The
High Priest mounts his throne. The people prostrate
themselves._

HIGH PRIEST. Ammon is great!

_A pause._

THE PEOPLE. Ammon is great!

HIGH PRIEST. The sanctuary is about to open.

VOICES. The stones will roll back! I am afraid! The goddess will appear!
We shall behold her! Hush! Hush!

_The High Priest lifts his hands to heaven._

A PRIEST [_in the recess, to some men ready to work the ropes, in a low
voice_] Now!

_The men pull the ropes, the stones roll back. The crowd bow
themselves flat on the ground. Those who cannot, hide their
faces on their arms._

HIGH PRIEST. Rise! Behold and pray! [_A smothered cry of terror rises,
women mad with terror are seized with nervous fits. They are carried
out_] O goddess! Thy people adore thee, and humble themselves before
thee!

ALL. Isis, we adore thee!

HIGH PRIEST. This year, once more, show to us by that miraculous sign of
thy divine head, that still thou art our protectress. [_The people
repeat the incantation in a murmur_] O goddess, if thou hast pity on
those who suffer, thou wilt bend thy head. Pity! Pity! we suffer! The
evil spirits torment us.

THE PEOPLE. We suffer! Drive forth the evil spirits!

HIGH PRIEST. Neith! Mother of the Universe! The evil spirits torment us!
Neith! Virgin genetrix! Isis, sacred earth of Egypt, bend thy head!
Sati, queen of the heavens! Bend thy head!

THE MOTHER. The soul of a dead man has entered the body of my child, O
Isis! And he is dying. I hold him towards thee, Isis. Behold how he is
fair, behold how he suffers. Look, he is so little. Let me keep him!
Isis! Isis! Let me keep him!

ALL. Pity! Pity!

HIGH PRIEST. Show us that thou dost consent to hear us! Isis, bend thy
head!

BLIND GIRL. Open my eyes! Ever since I was born a demon held them
closed. Let me see the skies of whose splendor they tell me. I am
unhappy, Isis! He whom I love, he who loves me, I have not looked upon
his countenance! I am unhappy, Isis!

ALL. Pity! Pity!

HIGH PRIEST. Anouke! Soul of the Universe! Pity! We are before thee like
little children who are lost.

THE PEOPLE. Yes! Yes! like little children who are lost!

THE SON. For my father who is blind, Isis, I implore thee!

ALL. Isis! Father! Pity!

HIGH PRIEST. Thmei, Queen of Justice! Mirror of truth! Bend thy head!

THE YOUNG PARALYTIC. I have offered up ten lambs to thee. Let me get up
and walk!

THE MAN [_with th