Woman on Her Own, False Gods and The Red Robe Part 41

RHEOU. Could I but realize the work my father dreamed of--and at the same stroke be avenged--avenged for all the humiliations--

MIERIS. Be silent--I hear--

_The singers and the dancers and all the women and servants come on gradually._

RHEOU [_going to the terrace_] The sun is not yet down upon the hill.

But look--upon the Nile--see, Yaouma! 'tis the galley that bears your betrothed.

YAOUMA. 'Tis there! 'Tis there!--See--it has stopped--they take the mallet, and drive in the stake. The boat's prow is aground. Now they have prayed--they disembark. Look, there is the strange scribe!

RHEOU [_looking_] A stranger--he--I do not think it.

YAOUMA. I thought, from his garments, perhaps--

_Pakh returns._

RHEOU. Did you not wait for your son?

PAKH [_terrified_] Master, on the road that leads to the Nile, I beheld two dead scarabs--

RHEOU. None, then, save the High Priest, may pa.s.s till the road be purified.

PAKH. I have warned the travellers they must go a long way round.

RHEOU. Did you not recognize your son?

PAKH. No, he will be among the last to land, perhaps.

YAOUMA. But look--look! Behold that man--the stranger who comes this way alone--Pakh! where were they, Pakh--the scarabs?

PAKH. Near to the fig tree.

YAOUMA [_terrified_] He is about to pa.s.s them--Oh! He does not know--[_Relieved_] Ah! at last, they warn him.

RHEOU. He stays.

YAOUMA. Near to the fig tree, said you! But he is going on--He moves--he comes--He is past them--[_To Mieris_] Come, mistress, come! Oh Ammon!

Ammon!

_Hiding her face she leads Mieris quickly away._

RHEOU. 'Tis to our gates he comes--he is here.

_Satni enters._

SATNI [_bowing before Rheou_] Rheou, I salute you!

RHEOU. What do I behold! Satni--'tis you--

PAKH. My son!

SATNI [_kneeling_] Father!

PAKH. 'Twas you!--you, who came that way, despite the scarabs?

SATNI. It was I.

PAKH. You know then some magic words, I do not doubt; but I--I who saw them--I must needs go purify myself before the prayer--to-day is the feast of the Nomination--did you know?

SATNI. I knew--and Yaouma?

PAKH. She is here--in a little you shall see her.

RHEOU. Satni!

SATNI. You called me?

RHEOU. Yes. Did not you see the two scarabs that lay upon your path?

SATNI. I saw them.

RHEOU. And you did not stop?

SATNI. No.

RHEOU. Why?

SATNI. I have learned many things in the countries whence I come.

RHEOU. You are a priest. Was not your duty to go unto the temple, even before you knelt at your father's feet?

SATNI. Never again shall I enter the temple.

_A long trumpet call is heard far off._

RHEOU. It is the signal for the prayer.

_He mounts the terrace and stretches his arms to the setting sun. Women play upon the harp and upon drums, and the double flute. Others clash cymbals and shake the sistrum. Dancers advance, slowly swaying their bodies. The rest mark the rhythm by the beating of hands._

_Music._

RHEOU. O Isis! Isis! Isis! Three times do I p.r.o.nounce thy name.

ALL [_murmuring_] O Isis! Isis! Isis! Three times do I p.r.o.nounce thy name.

RHEOU. O Isis! thou who preservest the grain from the destroying winds, and the bodies of our fathers from the ruinous work of time.

ALL [_murmuring_] O Isis! thou who preservest the grain from the destroying winds, and the bodies of our fathers from the ruinous work of time.