GANEM (claps his hands in sudden anger). Come, take her out! Here is a shrieking woman, I scarcely know her, says she weeps for me. Her father fain would wed her to the merchant, The wealthy one, but she perverts the whole, And says her husband is a similar pander, But he's no more than fool, for aught I see. (He steps close to her, mockingly sympathetic.) O ye, too credulous by far. But then, Your nature's more to blame than skill of ours. No, get thee up. I will no more torment thee. SOBEIDE (raises herself up. Her voice is hard). Then naught was true, and back of all is naught. From this I cannot cleanse myself again: What came into my soul today, remaineth. Another might dispel it: I'm too weary. (Stands up.) Away! I know my course, but now away From here! [The old slave has gone slowly down the stairs.] GANEM. I will not hold thee. Yet the road-- How wilt thou find it? Still, thou foundst it once. SOBEIDE. The road, the self-same road! (She shudders.) Yon aged man Shall go with me. I have no fear, but still I would not be alone: until the dawn-- [GANEM goes up stage to fetch the slave.] SOBEIDE. Meseems I wear a robe to which the pest And horrid traces of wild drunkenness And wilder nights are clinging, and I cannot Put off the robe, but all my flesh goes too. Now I must die, and all will then be well. But speedily, before this shadow-thinking About my father gathers blood again: Else 'twill grow stronger, drag me back to life, And I must travel onward in this body. GANEM (slowly leads the old slave forward). Give heed. This is rich Chorab's wife, the merchant. Hast understood? OLD SLAVE (nods). The rich one. GANEM. Aye, thou shalt Escort her. OLD SLAVE. What? GANEM. I say, thou art to lead her Back to her house. (OLD SLAVE nods.) SOBEIDE. Just to the garden wall. From there I only know how I must go. Will he do that? I thank thee. That is good, Most good. Come, aged man, I go with thee. GANEM. Go out this door, the old man knows the path. SOBEIDE. He knows it, that is good, most good. We go. [They go out through the door at the right. GANEM turns to mount the stairs.] SCENE III