"And God said: ""Let there be light""... ..and there was light." "And from this light God created life upon earth." "And man was given dominion over all things upon this earth   and the power to choose between good and evil." "But each sought to do his own will  because he knew not the light of God"s law." "Man took dominion over man." "The conquered were made to serve the conqueror." "The weak were made to serve the strong." "And freedom was gone from the world." "So did the Egyptians cause the children of Israel to serve with rigour." "And their lives were made bitter with hard bondage,   and their cry came up unto God." "And God heard them and cast into Egypt,   into the lowly hut of Amram and Yochabel,   the seed of a man upon whose mind and heart  would be written God"s law and God"s commandments." "One man to stand alone against an empire." "Divine One." "Last night our astrologers saw an evil star   enter into the House of Egypt." " Meaning what?" "From the frontiers of Sinai and Libya to the Cataracts of the Nile,   who dares draw the sword against us?" "The enemy to fear is in the heart of Egypt." "The Hebrew slaves in the land of Goshen." "I number my enemies by their swords,   not by their chains, High Priest." "Chains have been forged into swords before now." "These slaves have a prophecy of a deliverer   who will lead them out of bondage." "The star proclaims his birth." "Then let the Hebrews die!" "Slaves are wealth." "The more slaves we have, the more bricks we make." "I would still see fewer bricks made and fewer Hebrews in Goshen." "It is our eastern gate." "Since this Deliverer is among their newborn, only their newborn need die." "Every newborn Hebrew man-child shall die." "So let it be written." "So let it be done." "So speaks Rameses I." "No." "Where?" "Oh, no!" "Please." "Please!" "No!" "God of Abraham." "Take my child into Thy hands, that he may live to Thy service." "But Mother, we have not even given him a name." "God will give him a name." "Follow it, Miriam." "Watch it from the reeds." " See where the Lord will lead him." " Yes, Mother." " Why didn't you say no?" " She didn't think of it." "Here, throw!" " You're getting fat!" " Too many sesame cakes." "Catch a lotus, and you catch a wish!" "What will you wish for, Tuya, gold or a man?" "Gold, of course." "Then I can have any man." " Gold will never fill an empty heart." " Be quiet, you chattering geese." "Memnet, you're only happy when you're miserable." "You fools!" "Talk of empty hearts before the Pharaoh's daughter." "What is there in her heart   but the memory of a dead husband?" " We meant no harm." " Look, there's something here!" " Be sure it's not a crocodile!" "Bithiah can charm tears from a crocodile." "What is it, Bithiah?" "What did you find?" "Only a drifting basket." " Should we come and help?" " Memnet, send the girls away." "I'd rather be alone now." "Now see what you've done!" "Back to the palace, all of you." "Go on." "All of you." "Musicians, too." " Memnet, we wouldn't hurt Bithiah." " Bithiah is tired of you, so am I." " Off you go!" " You're tired of everything." "Off you go!" "Go on!" "Hurry up!" "You've hurt her enough." " What have you found?" " The answer to my prayers." "You prayed for a basket?" "No." "I prayed for a son." "Your husband is in the House of the Dead." "And he has asked the Nile God to bring me this beautiful boy." "Do you know the pattern of this cloth?" "If my son is covered in it..." "it is a royal robe!" "Royal!" "It is the Levite cloth of a Hebrew slave!" "This child was put upon the water to save its life from your father's edict." "I am the Pharaoh's daughter, and this is my son." "He shall be reared in my house as the prince of the two lands." "My mother and her mother before her were branded to the Pharaoh's service." "I will not see you make this son of slaves a prince of Egypt." "You will see it, Memnet." "You will see him walk with his head among the eagles." "And you will serve him as you serve me." "Fill the ark with water, sink it into silence." "Raise your hands, Memnet." "What you have buried in the Nile shall remain buried in your heart." " Swear it." " l will be silent." "The day you break that oath will be the last your eyes shall ever see." "You will be the glory of Egypt, my son." "Mighty in words and deeds." "Kings shall bow before you." "Your name will live when the pyramids are dust." "And... ..because I drew you from the water, you shall be called Moses." "Moses." "Moses." "He proclaims his coming from afar, does he not, my son?" "Such favour with the people can be dangerous, Great Sethi." "To whom, Rameses?" "To me, or to you?" "It will not be the first time fame has turned a prince against his Pharaoh." "Or that envy has turned a brother against his brother." " Envy is for the weak." " And beauty is for the strong." " That is what you have in mind?" " lf you mean Nefretiri." "Yes, my father." "is it the Princess' beauty that attracts you   or the fact that she must marry the man I choose to follow me?" "I am the son of your body, who else could be your heir?" "." "The man best able to rule Egypt will follow me." "I owe that to my fathers, not to my sons." " Then I shall follow you." " Shall you?" "Do not let ambition shave your prince's lock." "I sent Moses to destroy a city, he returns in triumph." "I sent you to build a city." "Where is it?" "It will rise when I have put fear   into the stiff-necked Hebrew slaves who build it." "But this I know, my father..." "..no pretended brother will ever have your crown,   or Nefretiri." "Indeed?" "Whoever I choose shall have my crown... ..and Nefretiri." "I think I see him, Memnet." "Moses." "Yes, I can see him!" "Moses!" "Listen, Memnet." "Listen." "The trumpets tell all the world he's come back to me." "Hear them." "And all their shouts are drowned by the beating of my heart." "You hear, Memnet." "The whole city calls his name." "I hear them, Nefretiri." "The Lord Moses, Prince of Egypt,   son of the Pharaoh's sister, beloved of the Nile God, " " Commander of the Southern Host." "Welcome home!" "The blessings of the god Amon-Ra be upon you, Great Prince." "He has brought down the pride of Ethiopia." "The old windbag!" "I agree with him." "..exalted on earth, O Conqueror, even as the sun is exalted in the heavens." "Welcome to my sister's son." "We have heard how you took ibis from the Nile   to destroy the venomous serpents used against you   when you laid siege to the city of Saba." "May my arms stay strong in your service, Great Sethi." "Who is this fair young god come into the house of Pharaoh?" "No need to tell you how I share herjoy to your return." "No need, my brother." "Great One, I bring you Ethiopia!" "Command them to kneel before Pharaoh." "Command what you have conquered, my brother." "I bring the Ethiopian king and his sister in friendship,   as an ally to guard our southern gates." "My son has dealt wisely with you, Ethiopia." "Welcome as a friend." "Great King, I will ask but one favour of your friendship." "This green stone from our mountains,   that I may give it to your Prince of Egypt,   for he is kind as well as wise." "It is pleasing to the gods to see a man honoured by his enemies." "And such a beautiful enemy." "See to their comfort." "Divine One, here is the full count of Ethiopia's tribute." "Bearers!" "I'm sending down the Nile 20 barges of such wealth as you see here." "Logs of ebony and trees of myrrh, all for your new treasure city." "A handsome tribute indeed, Moses." "Though, I have no new treasure city." "And you will have none." "The slaves die more willingly than bend their backs in your service." "Why?" "." "They believe a deliverer will lead them from bondage." "Deliverer!" "He's been foretold by every falling star since my father's time." " You blame your failure on him!" " l'm not one to make excuses." "If you doubt me, let Moses build the city." "No." "He's just trying to keep Moses away from you, Sethi." "Or you, perhaps." "I think our roosters would crow more softly on another roof." "Stand before me, both of you." "Would you please your Pharaoh, Moses?" " Your wish is my will." " Then you build my city." "Wise decision." "A noble task." "Rameses, do you believe this slave deliverer is a myth?" "What I believe is of no account." "What matters... is the slaves believe in him." "Of course, of course." "Then you, too, shall go to Goshen   and learn if this deliverer be a myth or a man." "If a myth, bring him to me in a bottle, if a man... ..bring him to me in chains." "So let it be written." "So let it be done." "Your fragrance is like the wine of Babylon. I could..." "But you are the Throne Princess,   and by the Pharaoh's law you can marry only a Pharaoh." "I shall marry a Pharaoh." "You." " Rameses might not agree with that." " But Sethi might!" "While you were gone, I kept your name on his lips, your praises in his ears." "But unless you succeed, you'll be the prince of a desert province,   and I'll be Rameses' wife." "Oh, Moses, build this city for him,   and Sethi will deny you nothing." "I will build this city for the love of Sethi, not for the throne of Egypt." "But I am Egypt." "Now the flame you lighted burns close to the throne." "Your tongue will dig your grave, Memnet." "A conqueror already conquered?" "The first face I looked for, and the last I find." "Mother." "I was thanking the gods for your safe return." "But I find you in grave danger here." "An intoxicating danger, Mother." "Marry her if you can, my son, but never fall in love with her." "I'll be less trouble to him than the Hebrew slaves of Goshen." "You've guzzled enough." "Bring those bricks up and get on!" "You, there's other swine to water." "Get those bricks back on." " Here, water lily!" " My name is Lilia!" "To me you are a lily, and I want water." "Joshua." "I thought you'd never come down." "Water before love, my girl." "Does it take the whole Nile to quench your thirst?" "No, just your lips." "Be careful, my love." "Dathan's eyes can see through stone." "Dathan is a vulture, feeding on the flesh of his own people." "When he looks at me, I'm afraid." "If he touches you, I'll strangle him with his whip." "And bring death to a thousand others!" "is life in bondage better than death?" "Joshua, we must have hope." "God will send us the Deliverer." "Hope!" "On the heels of every hope walks Dathan." "You are Dathan, the Hebrew overseer." "Chief Hebrew Overseer, Mighty One." "Baka, the Master Builder, has told me that I can rely on you." "I am warmed by his favour." "Rely on you to sell your own mother for a price." "And who am I to deny the word of the Master Builder?" "." "Where is this would-be Deliverer who would set the Hebrews free?" "Who can say, immortal Prince?" "They do not confide in me." " But it is possible to learn." " No doubt." "You have rat's ears and a ferret's nose." "To use in your service, son of Pharaoh." "Add to them the eyes of a weasel, and find me this Deliverer." "Old woman!" "Old woman!" "More grease under the centre stone." " Yochabel." " Help me!" "Stop the stone!" " Keep pulling up there!" " Yochabel is caught." "Stop the stone." " Pull!" " You'll kill her." "Stop the stone!" "We don't stop a moving block for an old woman!" "Lay on the lash!" "Keep it moving!" "Yochabel!" "Stop the stone!" "Halt!" "Hold all!" "Hold, on all ropes!" "Halt, poles!" "Down!" "Water!" " Let the old woman loose!" " She'll stay, and you'll meet the lions." " Joshua!" " No!" "Not to Joshua." " Run to the Prince and beg mercy." " Mercy from Rameses?" "No, the Prince Moses, there on the pavilion." "After her!" "After her!" "Stop her!" "Stop that girl!" "The water girl, stop her!" "Mercy, Prince Moses!" " Mercy, Prince Moses!" " Come here." " Mercy?" "." "What have you done?" " Not for myself, Lord Prince." "For a slave who saved old Yochabel and me from death   between the granite blocks." "A delicate flower to be pressed between walls of stone." " How?" "." " A stonecutter struck the Overseer." "There can be only one punishment for the stonecutter." "Blood makes poor mortar." "Come." "Prince Moses!" "Would you bury the old woman alive in a tomb of rock?" "." "Noble One, it caught." "I had not the strength to free myself." "Your shoulder should not bear a burden, old woman." "The Lord has renewed my strength and lightened my burdens." "He would have done better to remove them." "The old ones do the work of greasing the stones, Lord Prince." "If they are killed, it is no loss." "Are you a master builder or a master butcher?" "." "If we stopped stones for every grease woman who falls,   the city would never rise." "If the slaves are not driven, they won't work." "If their work lags, it's because they're not fed." " You seem strong enough." " l am a stonecutter." " Pharaohs like their images cut deep." " Hold your whip!" "You know it is death to strike an Egyptian?" " l know it." " Yet you struck him." " Why?" "." " To save the old woman." " What is she to you?" " An old woman." " Lord Prince, send him to his death." " The man has courage." " You do not speak like a slave." " God made men." "Men made slaves." " Which god?" " God of Abraham." "The Almighty God." "If your god is almighty, why does he leave you in bondage?" "He'll choose the hour of freedom, and the man who'll deliver us!" " Lord Prince, this man speaks treason." " lt is not treason to want freedom." "Release him." "Difficulty with the slaves, my brother?" "." "None that could not be cured with a ration of grain and a day of rest." "A day of rest?" "When your horses tire, they're rested." "When they hunger, they're fed." "Slaves draw stone and brick, my horses draw the next Pharaoh." "is there any grain stored here in Goshen?" "None that you would dare take, my brother." "Temple granaries are full!" "Bring the push-pole men and women with baskets." "I will..." "Great Prince." "I warn you, Moses." "The temple grain belongs to the gods." "What the gods can digest will not sour in the belly of a slave." " Push-pole men!" " Back where you belong." "I have the Prince's orders." "One and two poles up!" " Bring 100 woman with baskets!" " Elisheba, bring your basket women." "Push poles, follow me!" "Out of the way!" "Break open the bin!" "Stand back!" " Joshua did this!" " And Prince Moses!" "Well, well." "Divine One..." "There!" "My jackals have your hounds at bay." "Dogs at bay are dangerous." "When they walk upright and feed on temple grain." "You've been bringing petitions against Moses for months." "The city's being built, and I'm winning this game." " So don't interrupt us with trifles." " Before your city is finished,   these trifles will surprise you." "Life is full of surprises." "And today, I have one for you, my kitten." "Moses!" "And Rameses." "You crocodile." "There, triples." "You've lost." "I'll never let you win again." "You thought by losing to me, you'd win for Moses." "You know, crowns are sometimes lost by smiles and dimples." " And so is patience." " Yours?" "Are the plans for my jubilee complete?" "All but your proclamation for the marriage of Rameses to Nefretiri." " No!" " Are you quite sure it'll be Rameses?" "Who else could be your successor?" "." "Moses, of course." "Because of Moses there is no wheat in the temple granaries." "You don't look any leaner." "You're both very generous with your advice." " Will you take mine?" " No, I will choose my own successor!" "Did you lose your head, my sweet?" "I sent you to Goshen to bring me the head of the jackal who'd free my slaves." " Where is it?" " They do not need the Deliverer now." " They have Moses." " ls that a riddle?" "He gives them the priests' grain and one day in seven to rest." " They call it the day of Moses." " This man makes himself a god." " l prefer him as a man." " You would prefer him as Pharaoh." " Are you afraid of Moses?" " Yes." "He holds Ethiopia in his left hand, Goshen in his right   and you, Pharaoh, are in between them." "Do you imply that he would raise the slaves against me?" " l've been his father." " Ambition knows no father." "Moses could no more betray you than I could, Sethi." " He can tell me that when he arrives." " He will not be here, my father." "What?" "I sent for both of you." "His word is that he cannot attend you, being pressed by... other matters." "Did you hear that?" "Other matters!" "My escort." "I'll ride with you, my son, to see what rears itself in Goshen, the city   or treason." "You lying adder!" "You'll die of your own venom if you try to turn Sethi against Moses." "You would turn Sethi against me." "Remember, my sweet, that you must be wife to the next Pharaoh,   that you're going to be mine." "All mine, like my dog or my horse or my falcon, only I will love you more,   and trust you less." "You will never do the things to me you would have done to Moses." "I know you, my sweet." "You're a sharp-clawed, treacherous, little peacock." "But you are food for the gods, and I'm going to have all of you." "None of me." "Did you think my kiss was a promise of what you'll have?" "No, my pompous one, it was to let you know what you will not have." " l could never love you." " Does that matter?" "." "You will be my wife." "You will come to me whenever I call you." "And I will enjoy that very much." "Whether you enjoy it or not, is your own affair." "But I think you will." "That drop puts too much strain on the stone." "We need more sand." "I'm going to risk it, Baka." "There's little time till the Day of Jubilee." "If the stone cracks, you may crack with it." "Ready, blue signal." "Blue pennant." "Blue pennant!" "Snubbers ready!" " Snubbers ready." " Green pennant." "Mallet men, ready!" " Strain lines, stand by!" " Clear the main hawser!" "Mallet men, ready." " You're not pleased to see me here." " l am, Great Pharaoh." "But now I have important things to do." "Red pennants, stand by." "So Rameses tells me." "More important things than obeying my orders." "You ordered me to finish this city." "The strain in that stone is too great." "Red pennant!" "Red pennant!" "Strike!" " The stone will break." " There are 2,000 slaves on the ropes." "There is the obelisk of yourjubilee." "Baka, put 1 ,000 slaves to remove the sand till the stone settles to its base." " Pharaoh is pleased?" " With the obelisk, yes." "But not with certain accusations made against you." "By whom?" " You raided the temple granaries?" " Yes." " You gave the grain to the slaves?" " Yes." " Gave them one day in seven to rest?" " Yes." "Did you do all this to gain their favour?" "." "The city is made of bricks." "The strong make many, the starving make few." "The dead make none." "So much for accusations." "Now, judge the results." "The pylons commemorate your victory at Kadesh,   where you broke the Amorites." " Are there any higher in Egypt?" " None higher in the world." "With so many slaves you could build an army." "But I have built a city." "16 of these lions of Pharaoh will guard its gates." "And it shall be the city of Sethi's glory." "Are these slaves loyal to Sethi's glory, or to you, Moses?" "Slaves worship their god." "And I serve only you." "Let your own image proclaim my loyalty, for a thousand years." "Superb!" "Rameses." "And this you call treason?" "Who would take a throne by force that he has earned by deeds?" "For this and Ethiopia   your name shall be carved beside mine on every pylon." "Yours, Rameses, will be nowhere." "For in my judgement book you have accused your brother falsely." " Come." " Pharaoh, he is the son of your body." "I need no help, Moses, to hold what is mine." "I decide what is yours." "Come with me, Moses." "Will you lose the throne because Moses builds a city?" "." "The city that he builds shall bear my name." "The woman that he loves shall bear my child." "So it shall be written." "So it shall be done." "Yes, this is for the temple ceremony." "This..." "This... ..is for my wedding night." "You will never wear it." "Why not?" "I have brought you a cloth more revealing." "Send them away." "Go, then, while I hear what this puckered, old persimmon has to say." "Well, what croakings of doom have you today?" "." "You prepare for a marriage that will never be." "Have you been drinking honey wine?" "I shall not let the Pharaoh and Rameses be betrayed." "Why should a slave care which Pharaoh rules?" "For 30 years I have been silent." "Now, all the kings of Egypt cry out to me from their tombs:" ""Let no Hebrew sit upon our throne."" " What are you saying?" " Rameses has the blood of kings." " And Moses?" " He is lower than the dust." "Not one drop of royal blood floods through his veins." "He is the son of Hebrew slaves." "I'll have you torn into so many pieces even the vultures won't find them!" " Who hatched this lie?" "Rameses?" " Rameses does not know... yet." "You will repeat this to Bithiah!" "Who drew a slave child from the Nile, called him son and Prince of Egypt,   blinding herself to the truth and the pain of an empty womb." "Were you alone with Bithiah?" "A little girl led me to the Hebrew woman Yochabel,   that the child might be suckled by his true mother." "Take care, old frog!" "You croak too much against Moses." "Would you mingle the blood of slaves with your own?" "He will be my husband." "I shall have no other." "Then use this to wrap your first-born." "Torn from a Levite's robe." "It was Moses' swaddling cloth." "And your shroud!" " Do you think I care whose son he is?" " Rameses cares." "You won't live to tell him!" "Nefretiri." "Nefretiri." "Have you closed your doors to make a beggar of a prince?" "I'm the beggar, Moses, begging you to hold me in your arms." "Kiss me, just kiss me." "You're no beggar, my love." "You're a conqueror." "And I am your captive for life." "One lifetime will not be half enough." "You will be king of Egypt." "And I will be your footstool." "A man stupid enough to use you for a footstool   would not be wise enough to rule Egypt." "Princess, the raven has dropped a black feather at your door!" " Who can it...?" " No, Moses, leave the world outside." "Pardon." "Pardon, Royal One." " The old nurse Memnet..." " Go away." " l don't want to hear anything." " What about Memnet?" "She's dead." "She must have fallen from the balcony." "I will not hear unhappy things tonight." "Go away!" "Old Memnet must have walked that balcony a thousand times." " What is the death of one slave to us?" " She was a faithful servant to you." "Can one so rich in love be so poor in pity?" "." "What kind of a woman holds me captive?" "One who loves you and will not lose you." "One who will be your wife." "Nothing in the world can change that." "Neither Rameses' princely plots nor Memnet's evil lies!" "You've heard her grumbling all your life, why should it upset you now?" "." "She grumbled against you." "Oh, let her threats be buried with her." "Look!" "The night's a crown of stars   and the darkness a robe of forgetfulness." "Come, love, let's share them." "We'll use the moon for a sceptre." " A piece of Hebrew cloth!" " Memnet may have dropped it." "Memnet was not a Hebrew, why would she bring this here?" " l don't know." " Yes, you do." "Tell me." "She was taking it to Rameses..." "to destroy you!" "How could Rameses destroy me with a piece of cloth?" "Oh, Moses, why do you question me, why do you care?" "Yes!" "I killed her." "What does it matter?" "." "A hundred slaves die every day." "What's done is forgotten." "It is not forgotten!" "What has this cloth to do with me?" "Tell me." " lt'll make no difference between us." " How could it make a difference?" " A child was wrapped in it." " What child?" "Bithiah took him from the river." "Memnet was with her." " Who was this child?" " Memnet is dead." "No one need know who you are." "I love you, I killed for you." "I'll kill anyone that comes between us." "Why did you kill for me, Nefretiri?" "If you love me, do not lie." "Who was the child?" "Hold me in your arms." "Hold me." "Close." "You were not born Prince of Egypt, Moses." "The son of Hebrew slaves." "You believe that?" "I believe anything you want me to believe." "Say you are not, I believe you are not." "Love cannot drown truth, Nefretiri." "You do believe it, or you would not have killed Memnet." "I love you, that's the only truth I know." "Did this child of the Nile have a mother?" "." "Memnet called her Yochabel." "I will ask Bithiah." "How could you doubt me?" "You did not doubt me when I held you as you took your first step." "It's a wicked lie spun by Rameses." "Mother, did Rameses spin this?" "The word of your mother against a piece of cloth found by Memnet?" "How did you know it was Memnet?" "Who else?" "Memnet nursed Rameses." "She should pay for spreading his lies." " She has paid." " She's dead?" "At the hand of Nefretiri." "Put away any fears or suspicions that may remain with you, my son." "Your will will be law in Egypt   when you are crowned and sceptred as her king." "Memnet spoke of a Hebrew woman named Yochabel." "Did you ever know her?" "." "No." "Yours was the face I saw above my cradle." "The only mother I have ever known." "Wherever I am led, or whatever I must do,   l will always love you." "My chariot!" "I will drive to Goshen!" "A chariot, here in Goshen?" " You know who I am?" " lt has been many years, Great One." " Who are they?" "." " All that remain of my children." "I will speak to you alone!" "Why have you...?" " Why have you come here?" " Because Moses will come here!" " My son?" " No!" "My son." "And that's all that he must know." "My lips might deny him, Great One, my eyes never could." "You shall leave Goshen, you and your family, tonight!" "We are Levites, shepherds of Israel." "We cannot leave our people." "Would you take from Moses all that I have given him?" "Would you undo all I have done for him?" "I have put the throne of Egypt within his reach." " What can you give him in its place?" " l gave him life." "I gave him love." "Was it your hand that dried his tears?" " Did your heart ache for him?" " Yes!" "My heart ached for him." "And my arms ached to hold him." "But I dared not even touch the hem of his garment." "His heritage from me could only have been misery,   poverty and the lash." "No, I will not take from him the glory and riches you have given him." "For this you shall be well cared for." "You and your family shall be taken from Goshen tonight." "No matter where you send me... ..if the God of Abraham has a purpose for my son,   he will come to know it and fulfil it." "Come!" "Gather your things quickly." "I shall see you want for nothing!" "You and your children shall be given freedom!" "Has my mother forgotten?" "Only the Pharaoh can free a slave." "Moses, do not enter." "There is only sorrow here." "Are you comforting it, my mother?" "." "I followed you here to find this woman Yochabel..." "You were the woman who was caught between the stones." " Until you came." " My son, if you love me, you will... I love you, my mother." "But am I your son?" "Or yours?" "No, you are not my son." "If you believe men and women are cattle, to be driven under the lash,   if you can bow before idols of stone and golden images of beasts,   you are not my son." "My son... would be a slave." "His hands would be gnarled and broken from the brick pits." "His back scarred from the taskmaster's whip." "But in his heart would burn the spirit of the living God." "Does he demand a scarred back and broken hands as price of his favour?" "." "This desert god is the hope of the hopeless." "Your place is in the palace halls." "You have mounted to the sun on golden wings." "You belong to me, to Nefretiri, to Sethi, to all those who love you!" "Do they love less who have no hope?" "Will you swear in the name of this god that you are not my mother?" "." "We do not even know His name." "Then look into my eyes and tell me you are not my mother." "Oh, Moses, Moses. I cannot, I cannot." "I am your brother Aaron." "I am Miriam, your sister." " l am your brother Moses." " No!" "Get ready to leave." "Hurry!" "They're going away, the secret's going with them." " No one need know the shame I..." " Shame?" "What change is there in me?" "Egyptian or Hebrew, I'm still Moses." "These are the same hands, the same arms,   the same face that were mine a moment ago." "A moment ago you were her son, the strength of Egypt." "Now you are mine, a slave of Egypt." "You find no shame in this?" "If there's no shame in me, how can I feel shame   for the woman who bore me,   or the race that bred me?" " Oh, God of my fathers!" "Moses, what will you do?" "This is the binding tie." "And here I will stay to find the meaning of what I am." "Why a Hebrew or any man must be a slave." "Put back your things." "You're not leaving." "Moses." "Has she done more for you than I?" "Will the life she gave you be more useful in the black pits of slavery?" "." "Cannot justice and truth be served better upon a throne... ..where all men may benefit from your goodness and strength?" "I do not know what power shapes my way." "But my feet are set upon a road that I must follow." "God of our fathers,   who has appointed an end to the bondage of Israel." "Blessed am I among all mothers in the land,   for my eyes have beheld Thy deliverer!" "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn,   making straw for the bricks of Egypt." "Nor spare the arms that endlessly winnow the grain in the wind   to separate the wheat from the chaff." "Wheat borne stolidly on the backs of countless slaves." "From the heavy-laden Nile boats to the teeming shore,   endlessly they plod beneath the sheaves of wheat,   and endlessly return for more." "A golden harvest to the threshers." "A grain safe to feed the master." "Bitterness to feed the slaves." "And to feed the brick pits, straw   carried on the bowed backs of women,   down into the never-ending valley of toil and agony,   stretching mile after mile." "An inferno of mud-soaked bodies,  where the treaders"feet churn clay and straw   into the mixture for the Pharaoh"s bricks." "And everywhere the lash of watchful taskmasters,   ready to sting the backs of the weary." "Blades chopping straw." "Mattocks chopping clay,   a ceaseless cycle of unending drudgery." "From the mixing feet of treaders   to the pouring hands of brick-moulders,   moves the constant stream of mud, the lowly seed of tall cities,   day after day, year after year, century after century." "Bondage without rest, toil without reward." "These are the children of misery,   the afflicted, the hopeless, the oppressed." "And he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burden." "Water, girl." "Here." "Here's water." "It's a hard dance you do, old man." "We've been dancing it for 400 years..." "to grim music." "The only deliverer that has come to us is death." "Back to work, you braying mules." "You're strange to the pits, your back is unscarred." "You bring a warm smile with your cool water." "My smile is for a stonecutter, the water is for you." " l thank you." " Your voice is not strange." " You are...?" " One of many who thirst." "You there!" "Come here." " That is Baka, the Master Builder." " Does he call me or you?" "You, water girl, I'm thirsty." "He does not thirst for water." "Beauty is but a curse to our women." " Water, Noble One?" " No, wine." "The wine of beauty." "What beauty can my lord find in these mud pits?" "A lotus flower blooms in the Nile's grey mud." "Dathan, she'll do well as a house slave." "Do not take me from my people!" "There would be danger." "Danger from such lovely hands?" "There are other hands, strong enough to kill." "Our mud flower has a thorn." "Oh, please, Lord Baka, I beg you!" "Tears?" "When you have been bathed in scented water,   when your limbs have been caressed by sweet oils   and your hair combed with sandalwood,   there will be no time for tears." "She is not worthy of your magnificence." "Let my eyes..." "Your eyes had best find the Deliverer, or you'll have no eyes." "Bring the girl." "May the hand of God strike him." "Dance, you mud turtles." "Dance!" "You rot our bodies, steal hope from our souls!" "Must you also shame and defile our women?" "Dance, you squealing goat!" "We are not animals, we are men, made in the image of God." "This will change your image!" "Dance, you." "Get that straw cutter." "Leave him or you'll be murdered with him." "I won't leave a man to die in the mud." "Thank you, my son." "But death is better than bondage,   for my days are ended, and my prayer unanswered." "What prayer, old man?" "That before death closed my eyes,   l might behold the Deliverer,   who will lead all men to freedom." "What deliverer could break the power of Pharaoh?" "Clay-carriers, throw this carrion to the vultures." "You, take his place." "And dance this straw into the mud, you dogs." "Clear a path!" "Come on, get back!" " Out of the way!" " Keep your eyes on the ground." "I need another oarsman for my barge, a strong slave." " Your word is our will, Great Lady." " The large man, there." " You, come up here." " No, not that one, the very dirty one." "Yes, that one." " He may serve my purpose." " You." "You!" "Out of the pit." "Back to work!" "Clear a path!" "Clear a path!" "Stand aside, mules!" "Back to work!" "First Friend of the Pharaoh, Keeper of the Royal Seal, " " Prince of On, Prince of Memphis, Prince of Thebes, " " Beloved of the Nile god, Conqueror of Ethiopia, " " General of generals, Commander of the Egyptian Host." "A man of mud." "is that what you want?" "To be a slave?" "Then why aren't you kneeling at the feet of a princess?" "I'm afraid the mud pits have stiffened my knees, Royal One." " Shall I call back the guards?" " Do you think they could bend them?" "Oh, Moses, you stubborn, splendid, adorable fool." "I'm not kneeling to a princess." "No, you're kneeling to a woman   who's been worried day and night since you disappeared." "What's in these muddy slave pits that could keep you from my arms?" "My people." "Your people, maybe, but do you have to wallow with them, smell like them?" "If they are stained, it's with the mud of slavery." "If they reek, it's with the stench of injustice." "If you want to help your people, come back to the palace." "And hide the truth from Sethi that I am Hebrew and a slave?" "The truth would break his dear heart and send Bithiah into exile or death." "Think of us, and stop hearing your people's cries." "Their god does not hear their cry." "Will Rameses hear it if he is Pharaoh?" "No." "He would grind them into the clay they mould, double their labours." "What about me?" "Think of me as his wife." "Do you want to see me in Rameses arms?" " No." " Then come back with me." "Oh, Moses, the gods have fashioned you for greatness,   the splendour of your name will last beyond the pyramids." "As Pharaoh you can free your people, worship whatever gods you please." "So long as I can worship you." "I will come to you at the palace on the day of Sethi's jubilee." "No, come with me now." "No, my love." "First, I have a call to make on the Master Builder." "No, no, no, no." "Not red with a summer gown." "My eyes can best be used elsewhere, Lord Baka." "Before you go, let them look upon what you thought unworthy." "You would let beauty such as this go unseen." "You would let such a flower go ungathered." "Dathan, you can see only mud,   so pick up her muddy clothes and go." "Go, all of you!" "Did you know that this golden web was spun from the beards of shellfish?" " Please let me go to my home." " You are at home." "Here, taste this." "The blood of Thracian grapes, the wine of love." "No wine can change my love." "Then your love shall be my wine." "There's fire in the chariot house!" "The chariot house." "Guards!" "You women, take water to the roof!" "Dathan, take charge." "Guards, after him." "Pull it out of the shed!" "Take it clear of the house!" "No, your wings must not be singed, my dove." "At least not by that fire." " Joshua!" " Run, Lilia, the way is clear." "The Master Builder will not follow." "Neither will you, stonecutter." "Bind him between the columns." "See that his arms are tightly stretched." "You'll die on your feet, stonecutter." "He'll cut him to pieces." "Now, go after the girl!" "Don't come back without her!" "You foolish, stupid man." "I would have kept her only a short while." "She would have returned to you, shall we say, more worthy." "Now, to whom shall I return Lilia?" "You will not be there, Joshua." "You've seen me drive my chariot." "I can flick a fly from my horse's ear   without breaking the rhythm of its stride." "You've seen me use my whip." "You make no outcry, Joshua,   but you will." "You will cry for the mercy of death." "One day you will listen to the cry of slaves." "This is not that day, Joshua." "You hold your tongue almost as well as I hold my temper." "It's a pity to kill so strong a stonecutter!" " Death will bring death, Baka." " Who are you?" "One who asks what right you have to kill a slave." "The right of a master to kill you or any slave." " To kill me, master butcher!" " Moses!" "Why have you done this?" " Where is the girl, Lilia?" " Gone." "Why are you dressed as a slave?" "Why does a Prince of Egypt kill the Master Builder to save a Hebrew?" "." "I am Hebrew." "God of Abraham, 400 hundred years we have waited." "Pharaoh's soldiers won't wait so long." "The Almighty has heard our cries from bondage." "You are the chosen one." " l know nothing of your god." " He knows you, Moses." "He has brought you to us." "You cannot turn your back upon us." "You will deliver us." "The finger of God points the way to you." " Where was his body found?" " Buried in the sand, Royal One." "This is Baka's knife." "But there was no wound on the body." "Baka was a powerful man. lt would take strong hands to break him." "The slave Joshua is a stonecutter." "Go and find me this Joshua." "Joshua's strength didn't kill the Master Builder." "Now speaks the rat that would be my ears." "Too many ears tie a rat's tongue." "Go, all of you." "Well... who killed him?" "I'm a poor man, Generous One." "What I bring is worth much." "I have paid you much." "You've brought me nothing." "Now I bring you the world, true son of Pharaoh." "You offer me the world when you cannot even bring me the Deliverer." " Who killed Baka?" " The Deliverer." " Would you play at words with me?" " No, Lord Prince." "The murderer has now fled to a distant land?" "No, Lord Prince." "Name him." "One who made himself a prince and judge over us." "If he knew I were here, he would kill me as he killed the Egyptian." "I will hang you myself if you tire me further." "There are those who would pay much for what my eyes have seen." "Do you haggle with me like a seller of melons?" "No, I will not haggle, Great Prince." "Here's your money." "But for ten talents of fine gold, I'll give you the wealth of Egypt." "Give me my freedom, and I'll give you the sceptre." "Give me Lilia, and I'll give you the princess your heart desires." "Give me this house of Baka, and I'll give you the throne." "Give me all that I ask..." "or give me leave to go." "I will give you more than leave to go." "I will send you where you belong!" "I belong in your service, Glorious One." "Very well." "I will bargain with you." "If what you say pleases me, I will give you your price, all of it." "If not, you'll get this blade through your lying throat." " Agreed?" " Agreed." "The Deliverer is Moses." "Tell me why Moses, or any other Egyptian,   would deliver the Hebrews." "Moses is not Egyptian, he's Hebrew." "The son of slaves." "I will pay your price." " Where is Prince Moses?" " No Moses?" "I'm told, my tiger lily, they're wagering against me." "Two golden debans to one." "Yes, I wagered five myself." "You'll lose if Moses keeps me waiting any longer." "I'll double the wager. I'll watch for Moses, you watch the dance." "While you wait to honour Moses, I will honour Sethi's jubilee... ..with a gift." "Strange gift." "You said if the Deliverer were a myth, to bring him in a bottle." " The bottle is empty." " lt's empty because he's not a myth." " You have found such a man?" " Yes, my father." "I've found him in the midst of treachery and treason,   with the blood of your Master Builder red upon his hands." "Shall I summon him to Pharaoh's justice?" "Summon him!" " Bring the Hebrew in." " Bring the Hebrew in!" "Moses?" "Great Pharaoh." "I stand in the shadow of yourjustice." "Whose work is this?" "I warned you of his treason, my father." "Judge now if I spoke truly." "The evil star foretold him as the Destroyer of Egypt   and Deliverer of slaves." "It is not possible!" "A Prince of Egypt?" "He is not a Prince of Egypt." "He's not the son of your sister." "He is the son of Hebrew slaves." "Speak... ..my son." "I am the son of Amram and Yochabel, Hebrew slaves." "My brother, it was I who deceived you, not Moses." " He was only a child." " Leave me." "I shall not see your face again." "Moses." "Come to me." "I do not care who you are, what you are or what they may say about you." "But... I want to hear from you own lips that you are not a traitor." "That you would not lead these people in revolt against me." "Tell me, Moses, I will believe you." "I am not this Deliverer you fear." "It would take more than a man to lead these slaves from bondage." "It would take a god." "But if I could free them, I would." "What has turned you against me?" "Ever since you came, I've loved you, reared you, set you before my son,   because I saw in you a worth   and a greatness above other men." "No son could have more love for you than I." "Then why are you forcing me to destroy you?" "What evil has done this to you?" "The evil that men should turn their brothers into beasts of burden,   to slave and suffer in dumb anguish,   to be stripped of spirit and hope and faith,   only because they are of another race, another creed." "If there is a god, he did not mean this to be so." "What I have done, I was compelled to do." "So be it." "What I do now, I am compelled to do." "No, no." "Rameses, Egypt shall be yours." "Hear what I say, Rameses." "When I cross the River of Death, you will be Pharaoh in Egypt." "Harden yourself against subordinates." "Put no faith in a brother." "Have no friend." "And trust no woman." "I protected the helpless, I nourished the orphan." "Great One." "But he who ate my bread and called me father... ..would make rebellion against me." "What manner of death do you decree for him?" "I cannot speak it." "Let it be as you will." "I will not live if you must die." "The feet of a Hebrew slave is no place for the next Queen of Egypt." "Take him away." "Do not look upon him." "A traitor." "Let the name of Moses   be stricken from every book and tablet..." "..stricken from all pylons and obelisks,   stricken from every monument of Egypt." "Let the name of..." "Moses... ..be unheard and unspoken... ..erased from the memory of men..." "..for all time." "No, Moses." "It is I who will possess all of her." "Do you think when you're in my arms, it'll be his face you'll see, not mine?" "Yes, only his face." "I defeated you in life, you shall not defeat me by your death." "The dead are not scorched in the desert of desire." "They do not suffer from the thirst of passion   or stagger blindly towards some mirage of lost love." "But you, Hebrew, will suffer all these things..." " ..by living." " You will let him live!" "I will not make him a martyr for you to cherish." "No phantom will come between you and me in the night." "Yes, my sweet. I will let him live." "Dead, you alone would possess him." "From where l send him there is no returning." "You will never know   if he has found forgetfulness within another woman's arms." "Now, look upon each other for the last time." "Now, look for the first time, Abiram, upon the Governor of Goshen." "Dathan, my brother, you have the favour of the Lord." "I prefer the gratitude of the Prince." "Nearer." "Yes, very lovely." "Not that purplish flower." "The purity of white will cool the blush of your cheek." "Leave us, all of you." "Yes, you, too, my brother." "Continue your playing, but in the house." "Yes, that's better." "A flower behind a flower." "Dathan, if you fear God, let me go." "I am here because I put no trust in a desert god and his mud-pit prophet." "I prospered because I bowed low before the Egyptians,   now the Egyptians bow low before me." "Joshua wanted you." "Baka wanted you." "But you belong to me." "A gift from Rameses to His Excellency." "I will bow before you, Dathan." "I will work my hands raw for you." "But please, please do not shame me before my Lord." " Your lord is the Governor of Goshen." " What difference to my shame!" "No difference to you, my dove of Canaan." "But to a condemned slave like Joshua   it could make the difference between death on the spikes   and life, in the copper mines of Sinai." "What would you do to influence His Excellency's clemency?" "." "Anything, Dathan." "Anything." "Joshua will always be grateful to you." "My little mud-flower." "His fate is better than the one that waits for Moses." "The slave who would be king." "Captain, the robe of state." "His Hebrew mother brought it to the prison before she died." "I'd rather this were your armour." "You will have need of a sceptre." "Give me this binding pole." "Here is your king's sceptre." "And here is your kingdom." "With the scorpion, the cobra and the lizard for subjects." "Free them if you will." "Leave the Hebrews to me." "Give this prince of Israel one day's ration of bread and water." "It will take many days to cross this wilderness. lf he can cross at all." "I commend you to your Hebrew god, who has no name." "If you die, it will be by his hand, not by mine." "Farewell, my one-time brother." "into the blistering wilderness of Shur,  the man who walked with kings now walks alone." "Torn from the pinnacle of royal power,  stripped of all rank and earthly wealth." "A forsaken man, without a country, without a hope." "His soul in turmoil, like the hot winds and raging sand   that lash him with the fury of a taskmaster"s whip." "He is driven forward, always forward,   by a god unknown, toward a land unseen." "into the molten wilderness of Sin,   where granite sentinels stand as towers of living death to bar his way." "Each night brings the black embrace of loneliness." "In the mocking whisper of the wind  he hears the echoing voices of the dark." "His tortured mind wondering if they call the memory of past triumphs   or wail foreboding of disasters yet to come,   or whether the desert"s hot breath has melted his reason into madness." "He cannot cool the burning kiss of thirst upon his lips   nor shade the scorching fury of the sun." "All about is desolation." "He can neither bless nor curse the power that moves him,   for he does not know from where it comes." "Learning that it can be more terrible to live than die,   he is driven onward, through the burning crucible of desert,  where holy men and prophets are cleansed and purged   for God"s great purpose." "Until, at last, at the end of human strength,  beaten into the dust from which he came,   the metal is ready for the Maker"s hand." "And he found strength from a fruit-laden palm tree   and life-giving water flowing from the well of Midian." " lf only sheep were men." " Unmarried men." " Can you think of nothing else?" " l don't know, I've never tried." "You need not have painted your nails, there's no man out here." " What do you see, Sephora?" " What are you looking at?" " A man." " What?" "A man?" "is he handsome?" " Look at his sandals." " Egyptian." " His robe is not Egyptian." " Who cares, he's a man." " Yes!" " He's eaten a whole bunch of dates!" " Could he be dangerous?" " ls he alive?" " ls he married?" " Look, there's real trouble!" "Amalekites!" " l'll talk to them." " Talk to them?" "Get stones!" " We drew this water!" " Put it away, girl." "This is the well of Jethro, our father." "You have no right here!" " Our gods don't know your father." " Jethro's mark is on the well." " They can't read, either." " Nor can we!" "He is the Sheikh of Midian!" "Then let him breed sons to guard it, not daughters!" "Let them be first whose hands have drawn the water." "The stranger is wise, and strong." "Drive back your goats until the sheep are watered!" "All right." "We should draw water for you and wash the desert dust from your feet." " Here's fresh water." " l have soapweed." "Let me first remove his sandals!" "Never did a lost sheep have so many shepherds." " We have no towels." " My veil will serve." "Here, let me pour the water." " Am I to be bathed or drowned?" " l'll hold it for you." "is it true that Egyptian girls paint their eyes?" "Yes, but very few have eyes as beautiful as yours." "And who... is the brave one who stood against the Amalekites?" "That's Sephora, she's the oldest." "Since you have already divided the stranger among you,   l will ask a welcome for him in our father's tent." " Our father's Jethro." " He's Sheikh of Midian." "Strength to you, stranger." "I am Moses, son of Amram and Yochabel." "Health, prosperity, life to you, Jethro of Midian." "Sephora has told me of your kindness." "Let us break bread while my daughter brings meat." "You have come far." "From Egypt." "Across the desert?" "On foot?" "He who has no name surely guarded your steps." "No name." "You Bedouins know the God of Abraham?" "Abraham is the father of many nations." "We are the children of Ishmael, his first-born." "We are the obedient of God." "My people look to him for deliverance." "But they are still in bondage." "Tomorrow we leave for the high pastures beneath God's holy mountain." "My tent would be favoured if you joined us." "I am a stranger in a strange land." "I have no wealth, no skill as a shepherd." "And it is death to give sanctuary to a runaway slave." "Not among our people." "You have wisdom, you need nothing more." "And there are seven here to teach you the tasks of a shepherd." "Sephora is the eldest." "You can learn best from her." "I will dwell in this land." " Today He sleeps." " Who sleeps?" "He who has no name." "Does your god live on this mountain?" "Sinai is His high place, His temple." "If this god is God, he would live on every mountain, in every valley." "He would not be only the God of Israel or Ishmael alone, but of all men." "It is said he created all men in his image." "Then he would dwell in every heart, in every mind, in every soul." "I do not know about such things." "But I do know that the mountain rumbles when God is there,   and the earth trembles." "And the cloud is red with fire." "At such a time, has any man ever gone to see him face to face?" "No man has ever set foot on the forbidden slopes of Sinai." " Why do you want to see Him, Moses?" " To know that He is." "If He is, to know why He hasn't heard the cries of slaves in bondage." "Moses, it would be death to look upon His face." "How many of my people have died because He has turned away His face?" "Can a man judge God?" "No, Moses." "We cannot see His whole purpose." "Even Ishmael did not know that God drove him into the desert   to be the father of a nation." "is it not enough to know that He has saved you from the Pharaoh's anger?" "." "How do you know that?" "You walk like a prince, and you fight like a warrior." "There is word in the caravans of a Great One   who was driven out of Egypt." "This is not the sceptre of a prince, but the staff of a wanderer." "Then rest from wandering." "My father has many flocks and no son to tend them." "There would be peace of spirit for you, Moses, in our tents,   beneath the holy mountain." "You have strong faith in this god, Sephora." "But for me there is no peace of spirit until I hear the word of God... ..from God himself." "I wish every day was a shearing festival." "I know, and all the men following you like sheep to be sheared." " One would be enough for me." " lf he were Moses." "Never before has our wool brought so rich a payment." "Because Moses has sold the whole shearing, of all the tribes,   in one piece at one price to Lugal here." "His words are truth, his trading is just." "Peace be with you, sheikhs of Sinai." "Why are you dressed like that?" "Aren't you going to dance with us?" "No, I am not going to dance before the sheikhs." "Here." "And I'm not going to be displayed like a caravan's wares   before Moses or any other man." "Tonight, I tend the sheep." "You need not laugh." "Moses may not choose you, either!" "Moses shall no longer be a stranger among us." " We should give him of our flocks." " And let him choose." "I shall give him choice of my seven daughters for wife." " Seven to choose from." " A happy union." "The shadow of my wisdom has fled." "Can a man choose from among the stars of the sky?" "." "Consider them as they dance." "Cohath, strike your bow." " A pleasant task!" " indeed." "A bride, a shawl." "Choose one, not all." "One shawl, one wife, your choice for life!" "Pearls of great price." "Which, Moses?" " Make your choice, Moses." " There's a garden of many flowers." "I wish you had my years, and I had your choice." "In the tent of Jethro there is dignity, honour, freedom and beauty." "All that a man could ask of life." "But my heart is still a prisoner of the past, I cannot choose now." " Strength to you, sheikhs of Sinai." " May God guide your heart." "Tonight, He is awake." "Which of my sisters did you choose?" "I made no choice, Sephora." "She was very beautiful, wasn't she?" "This woman of Egypt who left her scar upon your heart." "Her skin was white as curd?" "Her eyes green as the cedars of Lebanon?" "Her lips tamarisk honey?" "." "Like the breast of a dove her arms were soft?" "And the wine of desire was in her veins?" "Yes, she was beautiful... ..as a jewel." "Ajewel has brilliant fire, but it gives no warmth." "Our hands are not so soft, but they can serve." "Our bodies not so white, but they are strong." "Our lips are not perfumed... ..but they speak the truth." "Love is not an art to us, it's life to us." "We are not dressed in gold and fine linen." "Strength and honour are our clothing." "Our tents are not the columned halls of Egypt." "But our children play happily before them." "We can offer you little." "But we offer all we have." "I have not little, Sephora." "I have nothing." "Nothing from some, is more than gold from others." "You would fill the emptiness of my heart." "I could never fill all of it, Moses." "But I shall not be jealous of a memory." "May the gods bless you   as you go to join them   in the Land of the Dead." "The old windbag." "What an infernal fuss!" "After all, dying is only a part of living." "You won't die, old crocodile." "You'll cheat Death the way you cheat me at Hounds and Jackals." "I'm afraid he won't let me cheat the way you do." "You'll be Pharaoh by sunset, Rameses." "I hope you are content... at last." "I'm content to be your son." "You have restored Egypt to her greatness." "I shall make her greatness feared among nations." "No doubt you can overcome anything..." "but your own arrogance." "Don't exhaust yourself, Great One." "Dear, Great One." "Why not, kitten?" "You are the only thing I regret leaving." "You have been my joy." " And you my only love." " Ah..." "Now, you're cheating." " There was another." " Yes." "I know." "I love him, too." "With my last breath I'll break my own law   and speak the name of..." "..Moses." "The Royal Falcon has flown into the sun." "Did the little boy die in the desert, my father?" "." "No, God brought Ishmael and his mother Hagar into a good land." "The same god who lives on the mountain?" " lt may be, my son." " Moses!" "Your mother is calling." "Here!" "Moses, there is a man among the sheep!" "You stay..." "Keep sounding the alarm, Gershom, but stay here till your mother comes." "In the cleft, behind the rock." "Your eyes are sharp as they are beautiful." "Turfa!" "Khataf, back!" "Back, Khataf." "Come down!" "Moses." "Down, Turfa!" "Praise God, I have found you." "Joshua, we thought you were dead." "In the copper mines of Geba, the living are dead." "Sephora!" "Bring water!" "How did you find me?" "A merchant buying copper saw you in the tent of Jethro." "Here you, too, will find peace." "Peace?" "How can you find peace or want it?" "When Rameses builds cities mortared with the blood of our people?" "You must lead them out of Egypt." "God made a covenant with Abraham that He would deliver the people." "Am I the hand of God?" " Sephora, give him water." " Water." "Bless you." "The desert sun has set fire to his mind." "His name is Joshua." "I once killed that he might live." "They told me you were condemned." "But I knew you were chosen to take the sword of God in your hand." "I am not the man!" "I am a shepherd with flocks..." "That light on the mountain side." " Do you see that strange fire?" " A bush that burns?" "It is on fire, but the bush does not burn." "Sephora, take him." "Serve him food in our tent." "I will turn aside and see this great sight." "Moses." "I am here." "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet." "For the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." "I am the God of thy father." "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." "Lord..." "Lord, why do you not hear the cries of their children in the bondage of Egypt?" "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt." "And I have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters." "For I know their sorrows." "Therefore, I will send thee, Moses, unto Pharaoh." "That thou mayest bring my people out of Egypt." "Who am I, Lord, that You should send me?" "How can I lead this people out of bondage?" "What words can I speak that they will heed?" "I will teach thee what thou wilt say." "When thou hast brought forth the people,   they shall serve me upon this mountain." "I will put my laws into their hearts   and in their minds will I write them." "Now, therefore, go, and I will be with thee." "But if I say to Your children the God of thy fathers have sent me,   they will ask, 'What is His name?", and how shall I answer them?" "I am that I am." "Thou shalt say:" """"l am"hath sent me unto you""." "is the holy mountain forbidden to men?" "Yes, and I am afraid for him." "And he is more than man, for look!" "Look at his face." "He has seen God." "Moses, your hair." "Your sandals." "I stood upon holy ground." " Can you tell us, Moses?" " My eyes could not look upon Him." " Did He speak?" "." " He revealed His word to my mind." "And the word was God." " Did He speak as a man?" " He is not flesh, but spirit." "The light of eternal mind." "And I know that His light is in every man." "Did He ask something of you?" "That I go to Egypt." "You are God's messenger." "He has set the day of deliverance." "I'll get water and bread that we may leave at once!" " But Egypt holds death for you." " lf it be His will." "Where He sends you, I shall go." "Your god is my god." "I'll lead men against the armoury to get swords." "It is not by the sword He will deliver His people,   but by the staff of a shepherd."