Scene II Enter Idali and Amazili in Haste and Almost Breathless. They Both Speak Together
Idali and Amazili. Here we are already.
High-Priestess. Softly, softly, children!—Poor Bibi, are you frightened?—And so you are absolutely here already?
Idali. Oh yes, we have run all the way.
High-Priestess. Whence, then, do you come?
| Idali. From the garden. | } | (Both speaking together.) |
| Amazili. From the temple. | } |
High-Priestess. One of you must be guilty of a falsehood.
| Idali. It is I! | } | (Extremely terrified and speaking together.) |
| Amazili. It is I! | } |
High-Priestess. Why how now?—One of you have uttered an untruth again. What is at the bottom of all this?—Idali, do you remain where you are, and you, Amazili, come with me. (She leads her to the other side of the Stage, and speaks in a half whisper) Tell me truly, do you come from the temple?
Amazili. Yes.
High-Priestess. Now don’t stir. (She goes to Idali.) Amazili positively asserts that you come from the garden, I can scarcely believe her—tell me the real truth.
Idali. Oh yes, we come from the garden.
High-Priestess. So, so!—Some pretty trick has been playing here, and I must sift out the truth as well as I can. Idali, don’t stir from your corner.—And what is the meaning of all this winking, and nodding, and shaking of the head?—Keep your head still, and your eyes upon the ground. (She goes to Amazili) Have you found Cora?
Amazili. Yes.
High-Priestess. Where did you find her?
Amazili. She had fallen asleep under the large palm-tree that stands before the porch of the temple.
High-Priestess. Remain there, and don’t take your eyes from the ground. (She goes to Idali) Have you found Cora?
Idali. Yes.
High-Priestess. Where did you find her?
Idali. Sitting behind a pillar in the temple, fast asleep. We might have passed her twenty times without perceiving her.
High-Priestess. Admirable!—Now both of you come hither. (She takes a hand of each, and looks steadfastly first at one, then at the other) You have both uttered falsehoods! You say that Cora was asleep behind a pillar in the temple, and you that she was under the palm-tree in the court of the temple. (Idali and Amazili hem, and cough, and look terrified and embarrassed) Which am I to believe?
Idali. (To Amazili) Silly girl, you have forgotten every thing.
Amazili. No, it is you who have forgotten.
Idali. No, indeed it is you.
Amazili. I am sure that I was bid to say under the shade of the great palm-tree.
Idali. I am sure I was bid to say behind the pillar.
High-Priestess. I was bid! and, I was bid!—What may all this mean? (Idali and Amazili hesitate) If you will not please to recollect yourselves now, I shall soon find a way to assist your memories.
Idali. (To Amazili.) This is your fault.
Amazili. No, it is your’s.
Idali. I certainly did not mention him first.
High-Priestess. Him!—who?—who?——Oh you wicked girls, why you have not been among men I hope?—The gods defend us from so horrible a misfortune!
Idali and Amazili. Oh no!—no indeed!
High-Priestess. No?
Idali. They were not men.
Amazili. Only Spaniards.
High-Priestess. Spaniards!—how?—what?—Spaniards!—(She pauses and somewhat recovers herself.) Well, well, if they really were only Spaniards?—And how many might there be?
Amazili. (Growing pleased and communicative) Three. One for Cora, one for Idali, and one for me. Mine, had fine brown hair, and eyes just the same colour.
Idali. Mine had black curling hair, and such a sweet countenance.
Amazili. But mine was the handsomest.
Idali. No, mine was much handsomer.
High-Priestess. Well, well, this may be settled another time. Now tell me how came these Spaniards in the temple?
Idali. They were not in the temple.
High-Priestess. What, then; had they flown over the high walls into the garden?
Idali. They were not in the garden.
Amazili. But they might have come in, as easily as we got out.
High-Priestess. You got out of the garden?—and how could that be managed?
Idali. According to your orders we went to look for Cora. We ran hither and thither, and called her by her name, but to no purpose, till at last as we were looking about, and listening, we thought we heard voices on the other side of the wall, just by the arbour, where the little stream is lost in the wood. We followed the sound, and crept softly through the thick bushes, till at last we came to a great, great rent in the wall, from the top, quite to the bottom, and so broad that Amazili and I could easily go through it, and we had only to step over a few stones to get quite on the outside.
High-Priestess. And you did step over the stones and get on the outside?
Amazili. Else we should not have found Cora.
High-Priestess. Indeed!—What, she too had stepped over the stones?
Idali. Yes, and was talking with the Spaniards. At first we thought they were men, and were going to run away, but they entreated us very earnestly to stay; and as we found that they really were only Spaniards, we thought there could be no harm in complying with them.
Amazili. And they wanted us to promise that we would come again.
High-Priestess. Which promise you made?
Idali. We only half promised it.
High-Priestess. But you intend meeting them again?
Amazili. What do you say, Idali?
Idali. Perhaps so, if you are inclined, Amazili.
High-Priestess. Well, well, at present go and send Cora hither—then dress yourselves, prepare the bread of sacrifice, and dispose it in the baskets.
Idali. (Taking Amazili’s hand) Come, sister, I have such an inclination to dance.
Amazili. And I could laugh and sing. (Exeunt both.)
High-Priestess. (Alone) Dance, laugh, and sing, if you please, your simplicity protects you from my anger;—but you shall not find the breach in the wall again, that I promise you. As for this, Cora—can the shameless creature have been carrying on an intercourse with men?—Chaste Oello, look down with compassion upon thy servants, and avert from us this last of all calamities!—I have long observed, that she has hung down her head—that her ruddy cheeks have lost their colour—that she has appeared abstracted, full of thought, and seemed scarcely to know with whom she was speaking, or to hear when she was addressed.—All this indicates no good, does it Dudu?