“Are ye all traitors, weaklings? Seize them both, and tear them limb from limb. Ha! I feel my strength,” and he half rose from his seat.
Urged by him, they began to advance, but Thoth eyed them with scorn, and, accustomed to obedience from their childhood, they paused.
The monarch hissed with rage, and cried, “Advance! seize them!”
Again Thoth said, “Revered king, listen to the voice of reason.” He was answered by a louder cry than before, as the multitude of those who had slept rose at last from their seats, and painfully and slowly began to advance. The king himself in a moment seemed to recover, and tried to seize Thoth. But Thoth easily eluded his feeble grasp, and saying—
“Once more, wilt thou hear reason? for I, as well as thou, have will and wisdom. One step more, and I plunge all of you once more in sleep.”
“Thou darest not—thou canst not,” cried the king; and, inspirited by his example, all advanced against Thoth and Daphne.
“Thus,” said Thoth, “I dare and thus I do!”—and he dashed to the ground a vessel that at once broke in a thousand fragments.
In an instant every one except Thoth and Daphne fell to the earth, speechless, senseless, motionless.
Thoth seized Daphne by the hand. “All is over. Come.”
They passed again through the corridors, and the doors clanged behind them. At last they reached the open air and sunlight.