_Miriam:_ Good! Mother, I will hide nearby and see that no harm comes to our baby.
[_The mother kisses the baby and puts him in the basket, then rises and turns away._]
_Mother:_ Keep watch until I return.
[_Exit mother;_ MIRIAM _hides._]
SCENE III
PLACE: The river bank.
CHARACTERS: The Princess, Her Maidens, Soldiers, Moses, Mother of Moses, and Miriam.
[_Several soldiers walk across the stage. Enter_ PRINCESS _and her maids._]
PRINCESS [_looking around_]: What beautiful clear water for my bath!
_First Maid:_ Yea, Princess. Will you bathe here?
[_A baby"s cry is heard._]
_Princess:_ What is it I hear? It sounds like a baby crying!
Look about, maidens! Is there something here?
[_All look about._]
_Second Maid_ [_finds baby; all come running up to her_]: See what is here!
_Princess:_ A baby hidden in a basket! Bring him to me!
[_Third maid hands basket to_ PRINCESS, _who takes the baby out._]
_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!