ow to be true. You know that your gods protect you. You know they
are all-powerful, because, yesterday, you all did see how the stone
image of the goddess Isis did bow, to show you she protects you.

PEOPLE. To the war! To the war! To Ethiopia!

SATNI [_leaping up to the terrace_] I have been coward too long! [_To
the crowd_] The miracle of yesterday--'twas I--'twas I who worked it.

_General uproar._

HIGH PRIEST. I deliver this man to you, and I deliver you to him. You
will not let him deceive you twice.

_Execrations of the people, Satni cannot speak. The High
Priest is borne out on his throne accompanied by Rheou._

SATNI [_when the uproar subsides_] I was in the temple--

PEOPLE. That is a lie!

SATNI. It was I who made the head of the image bow.

PEOPLE. He blasphemes. Have done! Have done! Let him not blaspheme!

SATNI. It was I! And I ask your forgiveness.

A MAN. Why should you do it, if you despise our gods?

SATNI. I did it out of pity.

PEOPLE. We have no need of your pity.

SATNI. That is true. You have need only of my courage. And I failed you.
I was touched by your tears. I was weak, thinking to be kind.

A MAN. You are not kind. You would have handed us over to foreign gods.

PEOPLE. Yes! yes! that is true!

SATNI. I gave you the lie that you begged for. I wanted to lull your
sorrows to sleep.

A MAN. You have brought down on us the anger of the gods.

ANOTHER. The evils that crush us, 'tis you have let them loose on us.

ALL. Yes, yes! Liar! Curse you! Let him be accursed!

SATNI. Curse me. You are right. I am guilty. I had not the strength to
persevere; to lead you, in spite of your tears, to the summits I would
lead you to. To still a few sobs, to give hope to some who were
stricken, I worked the miracle; and, beholding that false miracle, you
made submission. I have confirmed, I have strengthened the empire of the
lie.

A MAN. 'Twas you who lied.

SATNI. I have given back your minds, for another age, to slavery and
debasement. I have given back to the priests their power that was
endangered. I have given them means to increase your burdens, to take
your daughters, to send you to a war, covetous, murderous, and unjust.

A MAN. You are a spy from Ethiopia!

ANOTHER. You are a traitor to your country!

ALL. Yes! a traitor! Death to the traitor!

SATNI. And to defend your tyrants, you will kill men as wretched as
yourselves, dupes like you, and like you ens