_Aahmes._ No matter—I came drawn by some desire—I would speak to you, I know not why. _Nouferou_ (_puts out brazier_). Come rest a little, you cannot start till dawn. Your senses wander for want of sleep. Sit here. (_Business. She presently walks round him, humming the air of the incantation softly, and moving her arms as in the dance._) Sleep, Aahmes, sleep and dream. (_He sleeps._) Dream, Aahmes, dream and love. (_He gazes at her._) (_She kneels on the end of the couch._) Love, Aahmes, love and live. (_He holds out his arms._) Live, Aahmes, live and dream. (_She flings herself into his arms._) _Aahmes_ (_embracing her_). Nouferou! (_Men-at-arms chanting: the sound of marching troops._) Gather the men-at-arms! the battle breaks, The weary waiting days are over. Let each man rush to battle as a lover. The dawn with clarion note awakes. Crowned with her radiance on our earth we stand, Tried warriors of a sacred land, Which trampling thunder shakes. (_Ranoutet enters; goes towards the altar; sees Aahmes and Nouferou on the couch._) _Ranoutet_ (_in a loud voice_). Aahmes! the dawn! the dawn! _Aahmes._ What is the dawn to me? My life is here. _Ranoutet._ Egypt is crying to her son! _Aahmes._ Egypt is here. (_Ranoutet wrings her hands._) _Nouferou._ I am the dawn, and I am Egypt! Beyond the circle of my arms lies the night. I am the dawn, and I am Egypt! When I speak with my beloved the voices of all the world are hushed, and he hears me only. _Ranoutet._ O Hathor, look upon this image which I hold in the flames, that the spell may fall from him in whose semblance it is made, and he may be undefiled before thee. (_The chant continues._) Drums batter, cymbals clash, our hearts and feet Responding to one splendid measure, Wrapt with the glory of our mighty pleasure! Standards on high our enemies to greet! Answering the dawn’s light with our eyes aglow, Serene and proud and passionate we go, Treading the pasture sweet. _Ranoutet._ The banners are unfurled, standards are raised on high. _Aahmes._ Who is it that cries in the night? _Nouferou._ Listen to my voice, O my beloved! _Ranoutet._ O Hathor, let the spells woven by this woman dissolve before thee, thou flaming eye of Heru. Let them fall from thy servant, that he may stand upright and cast them away as the soul casts away mortality. (_She reverses the dance. The chant continues_:)