Rheou. So be it. Enough that you declare yourself ready to repeat the miracle of yesterday.
Satni. I would not lie.
Rheou. If you would neither kill nor lie, you will never succeed in governing men.
Satni. I would fight the priests of Ammon, not imitate them.
Rheou. You will never triumph without doing so. Profit by events. Do not deny the power they believe to be yours. Men will not follow you, if you speak only to their reason. You are above the crowd by your learning; that gives you rights. You would lead them to the summits; to get there, one must blindfold those who suffer from dizziness.
Satni. I refuse.
Rheou. One would think you were afraid of victory!
Satni. Rheou, 'tis not the victory of my ideas you seek, 'tis your own vengeance, your own ambition.
Rheou. They wish to rush the people of Egypt into an unjust and useless war. They hesitate; they feel the people lacking zest, that is why they have delayed the going of the army till the feast of Prodigies. To-morrow they will make the goddess speak, and all those poor creatures will be led away. You can save thousands of lives by sacrificing a few.
Satni. I refuse. The truth will prevail without help from cruelty or falsehood.