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?