High Priest. And what will be your reward? Know you not that victory will be yours, because the god is with you. And if some fall in battle, should we not all envy their fate, since they leave this world to go towards Osiris. The arrows of your foes will fall harmless at your feet, like wounded birds. Their swords shall bend on your invulnerable bodies. The fire they light against you will become as perfumed water. All this you know 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!