THE BELOVED OF HATHOR AND THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK. ❦ BY FLORENCE FARR AND O. SHAKESPEAR. ❦ ❦ ALL COPYRIGHTS AND ACTING RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE AUTHORS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE BELOVED OF HATHOR, AND THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK. BY FLORENCE FARR, AUTHOR OF “THE DANCING FAUN,” &c., AND O. SHAKESPEAR, AUTHOR OF “RUPERT ARMSTRONG,” “LOVE ON A MORTAL LEASE,” &c. ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ------------------------------------------------ ❦ The action takes place in the first play on the roof of the Temple of Hathor, and in the second in a cave of Mount Bakhua, the home of the Metal-working Fire Magicians near Sinai. But the Authors wish the plays to be represented, not scenically but decoratively, with a simple white background or pale sienna hangings, so arranged that the figures of the actors, moving across the stage, may reproduce the effect of the ancient frescoes or illuminated papyri. _THE ARGUMENT OF THE BELOVED OF HATHOR._ ❦ The scene is in the Temple of Hathor, at the time of the expulsion of the Hyksos, about 1500 B.C. Aahmes, the beloved of Hathor, has for many years been watched over by her High Priestess, in order that through him the great spiritual kingdom of Egypt might be restored. His final choice is between this great destiny and the mere splendour of material victory. _CHARACTERS IN THE BELOVED OF HATHOR._ ❦ _Ranoutet_, the chief priestess of Hathor, and of royal blood, aged thirty-five. She wears a long black wig with a double fillet; a large square of cloth of gold is wound closely round her figure under the arms; she also wears a thin striped gauze overdress, an enamelled and beaded collar, sandals, and armlets. She puts on a vulture-crown during the war dance. ❦ _Nouferou_, the daughter of a man of noble rank and of a wandering woman, who deserted him after the birth of her child. Nouferou inherits the wild instincts of her mother. She is seventeen years old. Her dress is white and gold. The wig is short and surmounted by a cone and lily. ❦ _Aahmes_, a warrior chief of the Red Race, afterwards becomes king. He is in the prime of life. He wears an embroidered waistcloth over a thin cotton shirt, a cloth helmet, and carries a spear. ❦ _Ouny_, a child attendant of the Temple of Hathor. Dressed in white. ❦ The Chanters and Musicians do not appear. ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ _THE ARGUMENT OF THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK._