_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!