_Princess:_ Oh, what a beautiful baby! He is mine, for I have found him! A Hebrew baby! His mother has hidden him in the bulrushes to save his life. [MIRIAM _runs out._] _Miriam:_ Lady, would you like a nurse for that baby? _Princess:_ A nurse for him? Yes, I do need a nurse. _Miriam:_ I can get you one very quickly. _Princess:_ Go bring her, child; I will wait here. [MIRIAM _goes away running._] _Princess:_ He is my boy, and I will call him Moses, for I drew him out of the water. [_Enter the mother and_ MIRIAM.] _Miriam:_ Here is the nurse, lady. _Princess:_ Will you take good care of this baby for me until he becomes a youth? I will pay you wages. I am the Princess, King Pharaoh's daughter. I will see that he is educated as a prince in my father's court. [PRINCESS _and her maids go out._] _Mother:_ My boy is saved! My boy is saved! ACT III SCENE I PLACE: Pharaoh's palace. CHARACTERS: King Pharaoh, Princess, Maids, Soldiers, Wise Men, Mother of Moses, Moses, Miriam, Aaron. [_King sits on his throne, wise men and soldiers around. Enter messenger._] _Messenger:_ O King, the Princess awaits without and would have speech with thee. _King:_ Bid her enter. [_Enter_ PRINCESS _and a few attendants._] _Princess:_ O gracious King and father, I have a request, and I beg that you grant it. _King:_ Speak, my Princess; do I not always grant what you ask? _Princess:_ Yes, father, and I know that you will grant me this. Several years ago I adopted a son and I ask that you allow him to be educated in your palace. _King:_ Adopted a son! What can be the meaning of this? I never heard of this! Where did you get the boy? _Princess:_ I found him, a little baby, hidden among the rushes by the river bank. _King:_ Why was he hidden? That is strange! _Princess:_ He is a Hebrew boy, O father. _King:_ A Hebrew boy! Did I not command that every Hebrew boy should be killed? _Princess:_ I must take the blame; I had his life spared. Will you not let him be brought here? _King:_ No, I will not! No Hebrew boy shall be brought here! _Princess:_ If you would only see him, he is so beautiful, you would love him as I do. He is without; permit me to show him to you. _King:_ Bring him in. [_Maid goes to get_ MOSES. MOSES _enters with his mother_, MIRIAM, _and_ AARON. PRINCESS _leads him to the_ KING.] _Princess:_ This is my son. Is he not a wonderful boy? _King:_ He is fair to look upon, but yet he is a Hebrew. _Princess:_ O my father, forget that he is a Hebrew and remember only that he is my son.