MOTHER: O my baby! (_She places child in basket._) SISTER (_peering into distance_): Mother, sh-h-h! I see the daughter of Pharaoh in the distance; she cometh to bathe in the river. Oh--if she should discover us! MOTHER (_looking up anxiously_): God's will be done! SISTER (_still peering out_): One of her maidens is a child of Israel, but the other is a proud Egyptian. See, now they stop to bathe. MOTHER (_rising from her knees_): I must return lest I be missed at home when the soldiers make the daily search for children; but do thou watch beside the child, and in the nighttime I will return with food. SISTER: That will I, mother. I will hide in the tall reeds yonder. (_The_ MOTHER _moves away_; SISTER _runs after her._) But, mother, if they discover the babe, what must I do? MOTHER (_earnestly_): Surely God will teach thee. Pray. (_She goes._) SISTER (_crouching beside ark_): O God, let no one hurt my little brother! O God, I pray thee. (_She sings a lullaby._) _Lullaby_, "Coventry Carol" _Slowly_ [Song: "Lul-lay, thou lit-tle, tin-y Child; By, by, lul-ly, lul-lay.... Lul-lay, thou lit-tle, tin-y Child; By, by, lul-ly, lul-lay." ] (_The_ SISTER _looks up, startled, then flees behind the reeds as the_ DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH _approaches, followed by_ SLAVES _bearing fans._) DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH: Come, maidens, we will rest by the river's brink, where the flag flowers grow. (_She approaches nearer._) But what is that, floating upon the water? EGYPTIAN SLAVE: Lady, it is a babe. DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH: Go fetch it, girl. No doubt it is one of the Hebrew children. EGYPTIAN SLAVE: A Hebrew brat? I will not touch it, I! (_The_ DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH _raises her hand and strikes the saucy maid, as the other slave, the_ MAID OF ISRAEL, _brings the babe._) (_Or kneels beside it._) SLAVE OF ISRAEL: O lady, see how beautiful! EGYPTIAN SLAVE: Let it die, even as Pharaoh commanded. [Illustration: THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH NAMES MOSES] SLAVE OF ISRAEL: O lady, let it live! Think how the mother loved it. See how cunningly the ark is daubed with pitch and hidden here, 'midst the flag-flowers. EGYPTIAN SLAVE: If you let it live, you let live one more enemy to Pharaoh. DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH: Hold thy tongue, girl. (_She looks doubtfully at child._) EGYPTIAN SLAVE (_exultingly_): Here come the guard of Pharaoh; they will see the babe and slay it. (_She points to distance. All look._) DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH: What to do? Think, girl, use thy wits. (_To_ SLAVE OF ISRAEL.) (_The little_ SISTER _rushes from reeds and kneels._) SISTER: O lady, lady, shall I go and call a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH: Go--go quickly. (_She looks apprehensively about._) EGYPTIAN SLAVE: The soldiers cross the river. (_The little Sister returns, followed by the_ MOTHER.) SISTER (_panting_): Lady, I have brought a nurse.