Not knowing what is in your troubled heart! Not hearing from your own lips if we shall meet again! _Menophis_ (_Sees RAMES approaching._) You should know all. If not from my lips, then from---- _Nefertiti_ (_Sees RAMES too._) Rames, the great Priest! I understand. He would steal you from me for his dismal Temple, steal you away from life. _Menophis_ He is among the wisest and noblest of our land, the Great One of Vision, Aton’s servant. _Nefertiti_ (_Pouting, alarmed._) Aton! _Menophis_ Hush! Be careful! Even if Aton takes me, the chain of lives _must_ bring us again together. It were but a brief separation--a sacrifice of pain and joy we both may offer as one being. And when, in our next life, we meet again, what ecstasy of strengthened, purified love would be ours--to know each had been faithful to the other--for His sake. _Nefertiti_ (_Roused._) Me grow old in loneliness while you satisfy your soul with selfish worship! _Our_ sacrifice! _Menophis_ In dreams we still---- _Nefertiti_ We should never meet; a dream’s a dream. No children would come to me. _Menophis_ You would not pine. It would be, for both of us, a preparation for our meeting in a future life---- _Nefertiti_ (_Playing on his feelings._) You are right, Menophis. I should not pine, for I should marry and know joy. Your sacrifice, if you choose it, you may bear alone, for Nefertiti will not certainly be lonely. There is no lack of those who offer life to her in place of the dream that Rames sets before you---- _Menophis_ Others! Is there another? Nefertiti----! (_Approaches._) _Nefertiti_ (_Withdraws._) Rames is coming. I hear his cautious step. Make your choice with him. I will not influence you. You wished to be alone; I’ll leave you. (_Makes to move away._) _Menophis_ (_With passion and regret._) One moment more. Will you not say farewell? And if--and if--until you hear from my own lips---- _Nefertiti_ (_Softly._) If you decide to leave me, Menophis, you will not quite forget---- _Menophis_ Little Child, you know. Always I shall think of you---- _Nefertiti_ (_Mocking._) As happy and light-hearted--with another. I am no “dream” to Sethos. _Menophis_ Your beauty tortures me. _Nefertiti_ You do not torture _me_; you cannot. If you loved me you could not give me up so lightly. You may think of me--of _us_--walking along this river bank at sunset with laughter and without regret, talking maybe of Menophis, and his passing dream. The echo of our laughter may reach into your little cell. _Menophis_ (_Advancing._) Unsay those haunting words. _Nefertiti_ It is but impulse that betrays you. You have a “greater love” than me. I have one too! Farewell. I shall not come again unless you call me. [_Exit._ [_MENOPHIS paces to and fro, hides his face in his hands, sighs, looks after the girl, pauses, then bows his head and waits while RAMES comes up to him._ _Rames_