Setismiledandanswered：
　　“Andthehigh-priestsaysthatitwouldbepresumptuousofhimtopushsofartheprerogativeofahighofficewhichheneversought。“
　　“YourHighness，“brokeinMerapiinherhoneyed，pleadingvoice，“I
　　prayyoutobegracioustome，andtosuffermetomakethistrial，whichIhavesought，Iknownotwhy。WordssuchasIhavespokencannotberecalled。AlreadytheyareregisteredinthebooksofEternity，andsoonorlate，inthiswayorinthat，mustbefulfilled。
　　Mylifeisstaked，andIdesiretolearnatonceifitbeforfeit。“
　　NowevenUsertilookedonherwithadmiration，butansweredonly：
　　“Ofatruth，Israelite，ItrustthatthiscouragewillnotforsakeyouwhenyouarehandedovertothemerciesofKi，theSacrificerofAmon，andthepriests，inthevaultsofthetempleyouwouldprofane。“
　　“Ialsotrustthatitwillnot，yourHighness，ifsuchshouldbemyfate。Yourword，PrinceofEgypt。“
　　Setilookedatherstandingbeforehimsocalmlywithbowedhead，andhandscrosseduponherbreast。ThenhelookedatUserti，whoworeamockingsmileuponherface。ShereadthemeaningofthatsmileasI
　　did。Itwasthatshedidnotbelievethathewouldallowthisbeautifulwoman，whohadsavedhislife，toriskherlifeforthesakeofanyorallthepowersofheavenorhell。Foralittlewhilehewalkedtoandfroaboutthechamber，thenhestoppedandsaidsuddenlyaddressing，notMerapi，butUserti：
　　“Haveyourwill，rememberingthatifthisbravewomanfailsanddies，herbloodisonyourhands，andthatifshetriumphsandlives，I
　　shallholdhertobeoneofthenoblestofhersex，andshallmakestudyofallthismatterofreligion。MoonofIsrael，astitularhigh-
　　priestofAmon-Ra，Iacceptyourchallengeonbehalfofthegod，thoughwhetherhewilltakenoteofitIdonotknow。Thetrialshallbemadeto-morrownightinthesanctuaryofthetemple，atanhourthatwillbecommunicatedtoyou。Ishallbepresenttomakesurethatyoumeetwithjustice，aswillsomeothers。Registermycommands，ScribeAna，andletthehead-priestofAmon，Roi，andthesacrificertoAmon，KitheMagician，besummoned，thatImayspeakwiththem。
　　Farewell，Lady。“
　　Shewent，butatthedoorturnedandsaid：
　　“Ithankyou，Prince，onmyownbehalf，andonthatofmypeople。
　　Whateverchances，IbeseechyoudonotforgettheprayerthatIhavemadetoyoutosavethem，beinginnocent，fromthesword。NowIaskthatImaybeleftquitealonetillIamsummonedtothetemple，whomustmakesuchpreparationasIcantomeetmyfate，whateveritmaybe。“
　　Usertidepartedalsowithoutaword。
　　“Oh!friend，whathaveIdone？“saidSeti。“Arethereanygods？Tellme，arethereanygods？“
　　“Perhapsweshalllearnto-morrownight，Prince，“Ianswered。“AtleastMerapithinksthatthereisagod，anddoubtlesshasbeencommandedtoputherfaithtoproof。This，asIbelieve，wastherealmessagethatJabezherunclehasbroughttoher。“
　　Itwasthehourbeforethedawn，justwhenthenightisdarkest。WestoodinthesanctuaryoftheancienttempleofAmon-Ra，thatwaslitwithmanylamps。Itwasanawfulplace。Oneithersidethegreatcolumnstoweredtothemassiveroof。AttheheadofthesanctuarysatthestatueofAmon-Ra，thricethesizeofaman。Onhisbrow，risingfromthecrown，weretwotallfeathersofstone，andinhishandsheheldtheScourgeofRuleandthesymbolsofPowerandEverlastingness。
　　Thelamplightflickereduponhissternandterriblefacestaringtowardstheeast。TohisrightwasthestatueofMut，theMotherofallthings。OnherheadwasthedoublecrownofEgyptandtheur？uscrest，andinherhandtheloopedcross，thesignofLifeeternal。TohisleftsatKhonsu，thehawk-headedgodofthemoon。Onhisheadwasthecrescentoftheyoungmooncarryingthediscofthefullmoon；inhisrighthandhealsoheldtheloopedcross，thesignofLifeeternal，andinhislefttheStaffofStrength。Suchwasthismightytriad，butofthesethegreatestwasAmon-Ra，towhomtheshrinewasdedicated。Fearfultheystoodtoweringaboveusagainstthebackgroundofblackness。
　　GatheredtherewereSetithePrince，clothedinapriest’swhiterobe，andwearingalinenheaddress，butnoornaments，andUsertithePrincess，high-priestessofHathor，LadyoftheWest，GoddessofLoveandNature。SheworeHathor’svultureheaddress，andonitthediscofthemoonfashionedofsilver。AlsowerepresentRoithehead-priest，cladinhissacerdotalrobes，anoldandwizenedmanwithastrong，fierceface，KitheSacrificerandMagician，Bakenkhonsutheancient，myself，andacompanyofthepriestsofAmon-Ra，Mut，andKhonsu。Frombehindthestatuescamethesoundofsolemnsinging，thoughwhosangwecouldnotsee。
　　Presentlyfromoutofthedarknessthatlaybeyondthelampsappearedawoman，ledbytwopriestessesandwrappedinalongcloak。TheybroughthertoanopenplaceinfrontofthestatueofAmon，tookfromherthecloakanddeparted，glancingbackatherwitheyesofhateandfear。TherebeforeusstoodMerapi，cladinwhite，withasimplewimpleaboutherheadmadefastbeneathherchinwiththatscarab？usclaspwhichSetihadgiventoherinthecityofGoshen，onespotofbrightestblueamidacloudofwhite。Shelookedneithertorightnorleftofher。Onceonlysheglancedatthetoweringstatueofthegodthatfrownedabove，thenwithalittleshiver，fixedhereyesuponthepatternofthefloor。
　　“Whatdoesshelooklike？“whisperedBakenkhonsutome。
　　“Acorpsemadereadyfortheembalmers，“Ianswered。
　　Heshookhisgreathead。
　　“Thenabridemadereadyforherhusband。“
　　Againheshookhishead。
　　“ThenapriestessabouttoreadfromtherollofMysteries。“
　　“Nowyouhaveit，Ana，andtounderstandwhatshereads，whichfewpriestesseseverdo。Alsoallthreeanswerswereright，forinthiswomanIseemtoseedoomthatisDeath，lifethatisLove，andspiritthatisPower。ShehasasoulwhichbothHeavenandEarthhavekissed。“
　　“Aye，butwhichofthemwillclaimherintheend？“
　　“Thatwemaylearnbeforethedawn，Ana。Hush!thefightbegins。“
　　Thehead-priest，Roi，advancedand，standingbeforethegod，sprinkledhisfeetwithwaterandwithperfume。Thenhestretchedouthishands，whereonallpresentprostratedthemselves，saveMerapionly，whostoodaloneinthatgreatplacelikethesurvivorofabattle。
　　“Hailtothee，Amon-Ra，“hebegan，“LordofHeaven，Establisherofallthings，Makerofthegods，whounrolledtheskiesandbuiltthefoundationsoftheEarth。Ogodofgods，appearsbeforetheethiswomanMerapi，daughterofNathan，achildoftheHebrewracethatownstheenot。Thiswomanblasphemesthymight；thiswomandefiesthee；
　　thiswomansetsuphergodabovethee。Isitnotso，woman？“
　　“Itisso，“answeredMerapiinalowvoice。
　　“Thusdoesshedefythee，thouOnlyOneofmanyForms，saying’ifthegodAmonoftheEgyptiansbeagreatergodthanmygod，lethimsnatchmeoutofthearmsofmygodandhereinthistheshrineofAmontakethebreathfromoutmylipsandleavemeathingofclay。’Arethesethywords，Owoman？“
　　“Theyaremywords，“shesaidinthesamelowvoice，andoh!I
　　shiveredasIheard。
　　Thepriestwenton。
　　“OLordofTime，LordofLife，LordofSpiritsandtheDivinitiesofHeaven，LordofTerror，comeforthnowinthymajestyandsmitethisblasphemertothedust。“
　　RoiwithdrewandSetistoodforward。
　　“Know，OgodAmon，“hesaid，addressingthestatueasthoughheweespeakingtoalivingman，“fromthelipsofme，thyhigh-priest，bybirththePrinceandHeirofEgypt，thatgreatthingshanguponthismatterhereintheLandofEgypt，mayhapevenwhoshallsituponthethronethatthougivesttoitskings。ThiswomanofIsraeldarestheetothyface，sayingthatthereisagreatergodthanthouartandthatthoucanstnotharmherthroughthebucklerofhisstrength。Shesays，moreover，thatshewillcalluponhergodtoworkasignandawonderuponthee。Lastly，shesaysthatifthoudostnotharmherandifhergodworksnosignuponthee，thensheisreadytobehandedovertothypriestsanddiethedeathofablasphemer。Thyhonourissetagainstherlife，OgreatGodofEgypt，andwe，thyworshippers，watchtoseethebalanceturn。“
　　“Wellandjustlyput，“mutteredBakenkhonsutome。“NowifAmonfailsus，whatwillyouthinkofAmon，Ana？“
　　“Ishalllearnthehigh-priest’smindandthinkwhatthehigh-priestthinks，“Ianswereddarkly，thoughinmyheartIwasterriblyafraidforMerapi，and，tospeaktruth，formyselfalso，becauseofthedoubtswhicharoseinmeandwouldnotbequenched。
　　Setiwithdrew，takinghisstandbyUserti，andKistoodforwardandsaid：