laved.

A MAN. We know you are paid to betray Egypt!

ALL. Yes, we know it! We know the price of your treason!

ANOTHER. You would sell Egypt, and 'tis to weaken us you would overthrow
our gods.

ALL. Traitor! Traitor!

SATNI. If I am a traitor, 'tis to my own cause! But a while ago I was
proud of my deed, thinking I had sacrificed myself to you. Alas! I only
sacrificed your future to my pity. I wept for you; to weep for
misfortune--what is that but an easy escape from the duty of fighting
its cause? I pitied you. Pity is but a weakness, a submission--To
perpetuate the falsehood of the miracle, and the life of atonement to
come is to drug misery to sleep.

A MAN. Misery!--can you give us anything to cure it?

_They laugh._

SATNI. They have implanted in you, the belief that misery is immortal,
invincible. By my falsehood, I too have seemed to admit this; and thus I
have helped those, in whose interest it is that misery should last for
ever.

A MAN. He insults the Pharaoh!

ANOTHER. Do not insult our priests!

SATNI. Had there been no miracle, you would have despaired--you would
have sorrowed. I ought to have faced that. I ought to have faced the
death of a few, to save the future of all. We go forward only by
destroying. What matter blood and pain! Pain and blood--never a child is
born without them! I would--

_An angry outburst._

A WOMAN. Kill him! Kill him! He says we must put our children to death!

SATNI. All are glorious who preach new efforts--

PEOPLE. Death! Death to the traitor!

SATNI. All are infamous who preach resignation--

PEOPLE. Enough! Kill him! Death!

SATNI. It is in this world that the wretched must find their paradise,
it is here that every one's good must be sought with a zeal that knows
no limit, save respect for the good of others.

_A burst of laughter._

PEOPLE. He is mad! He knows not what he says! He is mad!

_Yaouma is borne on right on a litter carried by young
girls. She is decked out like an idol; she stands erect,
half in ecstasy._

PEOPLE. Yaouma! The chosen of Ammon-Ra! Glory to her who goes to save
Egypt!

_With jubilant cries the procession goes slowly towards the
gates at the back, preceded and surrounded by musicians and
dancers._

SATNI. Yaouma! Yaouma! One word! One look of farewell! Yaouma! 'Tis I,
Satni! Look on me!

_The acclamations drown his voice. Yaouma is wrapped in her
soul's dre