_He makes a gesture and all disappear. A pitiable crowd bursts into the temple, bustling, running, filling all the empty spaces. Four men carry a litter on which is a beautiful young woman clothed in precious stuffs. Mieris, Yaouma, and all the characters of the play come on._ YOUNG WOMAN. Nearer, lay me nearer the goddess! She will drive forth the evil spirit that will not let me move my legs. _Cripples, people on crutches, creatures with hands or feet wrapped in bandages crowd past her._ A BLIND GIRL [_to him who leads her_] When the stone rolls back and the goddess appears, watch well her face, to tell me if she will not give me back my sight. _A paralytic drags himself in on his hands._ THE PARALYTIC. I would be quite near, quite near! In a little while I shall walk. _Two sons lead in their mother, who is mad, striving to calm her. A mother, with her child in her arms, begs the crowd to let her get near. A man, whose head is bandaged, and whose eyes and mouth are mere holes, hustles his neighbors. Many blind, and people borne on chairs._ A WOMAN. She will speak, she will say "yes." She will reveal herself again as protectress of Egypt. ANOTHER. They say not. They say that great calamities are in store for us. ANOTHER. If she answer not? ANOTHER. Silence! _Music. The Pharaoh's procession enters. He is conducted down left where he remains invisible to the spectators. The High Priest mounts his throne. The people prostrate themselves._ HIGH PRIEST. Ammon is great! _A pause._ THE PEOPLE. Ammon is great! HIGH PRIEST. The sanctuary is about to open. VOICES. The stones will roll back! I am afraid! The goddess will appear! We shall behold her! Hush! Hush! _The High Priest lifts his hands to heaven._ A PRIEST [_in the recess, to some men ready to work the ropes, in a low voice_] Now! _The men pull the ropes, the stones roll back. The crowd bow themselves flat on the ground. Those who cannot, hide their faces on their arms._ HIGH PRIEST. Rise! Behold and pray! [_A smothered cry of terror rises, women mad with terror are seized with nervous fits. They are carried out_] O goddess! Thy people adore thee, and humble themselves before thee! ALL. Isis, we adore thee! HIGH PRIEST. This year, once more, show to us by that miraculous sign of thy divine head, that still thou art our protectress. [_The people repeat the incantation in a murmur_] O goddess, if thou hast pity on those who suffer, thou wilt bend thy head. Pity! Pity! we suffer! The evil spirits torment us. THE PEOPLE. We suffer! Drive forth the evil spirits! HIGH PRIEST. Neith! Mother of the Universe! The evil spirits torment us! Neith! Virgin genetrix! Isis, sacred earth of Egypt, bend thy head! Sati, queen of the heavens! Bend thy head!