Satni. It was I! And I ask your forgiveness.

A Man. Why should you do it, if you despise our gods?

Satni. I did it out of pity.

People. We have no need of your pity.

Satni. That is true. You have need only of my courage. And I failed you. I was touched by your tears. I was weak, thinking to be kind.

A Man. You are not kind. You would have handed us over to foreign gods.

People. Yes! yes! that is true!

Satni. I gave you the lie that you begged for. I wanted to lull your sorrows to sleep.

A Man. You have brought down on us the anger of the gods.

Another. The evils that crush us, 'tis you have let them loose on us.