❦ The scene is in a cave on Mount Bakhua, near Sinai, about 4000 B.C. Gebuel, the Magician of Fire and Metals, makes a talisman to Heru in the form of a Golden Hawk, in the hope of overwhelming the power of Zozer, King of Egypt, builder of the Step-pyramid at Sakkara. Zozer finds this out, and sends his daughter, who is skilled in the sombre mysteries of Isis, to win for Egypt the Golden Hawk, giver of exultation of heart. _CHARACTERS IN THE SHRINE OF THE GOLDEN HAWK._ ❦ _Gebuel_, a magician who has earned a great reputation for power in the brotherhood. He wears a richly decorated robe of red and gold, sandals, and a conical headdress with hawks’ eyes on either side of it. His age is forty-five. ❦ _The Priest of the Floods and Storms_ wears a robe and symbolic headdress of blue and green. ❦ _The Priest of the Harvests and Famines_ is also dressed symbolically. ❦ _Nectoris_, daughter of Zozer, King of Egypt, is dressed as a member of a religious order; her undergarment and wig are of the ancient Egyptian pattern, but she is completely veiled in a thick gauze drapery. She is twenty-six years old. ❦ _The Ka_ has the same kind of dress. She is the double or other self of Nectoris. The Ka is frequently represented on ancient frescoes as a smaller figure walking behind the king or queen. It represents the subtle body, and supports and strengthens the more material body. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE BELOVED OF HATHOR ❦ _The play is to be acted against a plain white backcloth with pale brown hangings on either side, striped to resemble the decoration of a papyrus roll._ ❦ _Ranoutet is lying on a couch with lions’ heads. L., an altar with cauldron, crown, and incense spoon. A long fan in corner. Ranoutet holds some lotuses in Egyptian fashion._ ❦ _Ouny enters with a festival basket on her head containing lotuses and conical loaves._ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ ❦ _Ouny._ Here are the offerings to the setting sun. (_She places offerings on altar and comes forward._) It is the last many brave men will see. _Ranoutet._ Has news arrived? Has the great Aahmes carried out his plan? Has our mighty leader drawn the foes of Egypt into his net? _Ouny._ Lady of wisdom, it is so. They have bidden me tell you that victory comes with the dawn. The Hyksos, hateful in our land, know nought of our armed men, who lie in wait for them, by order of great Aahmes, along the road which they will follow to reach our city. With the dawn the soldiers of Egypt will rise from their hiding places and slay the Hyksos, and they shall be swept from our land. This is the message of Aahmes to you, O lady of wisdom. (_Ouny kneels and touches the earth with her head. Ranoutet rises and blesses her._)