Yaouma. 'Tis the same, the priests are the voice of the Gods.
Satni. 'Tis they who say so. The Gods of Egypt exist only because men have invented them.
Yaouma. The peoples from whose lands you come have made you lose your reason. [With a smile of pity] Say that our Gods exist not! Think, Satni!
Satni. Neither the Gods, nor the happy fields, nor the world to come, nor hell.
Yaouma. Ah! Ah! I will prove you mad—you say there is no hell—But we know, we know that it exists, look there! [Pointing to the sunset] When the sun grows red at evening, is it not because the glow of hell is thrown upon it from below? You have but to open your eyes. [Laughing] The Gods not exist!
Satni. They do not. In the sanctuaries of our temples is nothing save beasts, unclean, absurd, and lifeless images; believe me, Yaouma—I love you—I will not see you die. Your sacrifice is useless. Not because you are offered up will the waters of the Nile rise! Refuse, hide yourself, the waters will still rise. Ah, to lose you for a lie! To lose you—you! How can I convince you?—I know! Yaouma, you saw me cross the dead scarabs on my path. And yet I live! Oh! it angers me to see my words move you not. Your reason, your reason! Awaken your reason—
Yaouma. I am listening to my heart.
Satni. I will save you in spite of you—I will keep you by force—
Yaouma. If you do, I shall hate you—
Satni. What matter I shall have saved you.