MOSES
Scene I.: Outside a college in Thebes. Egyptian students pass by. Moses alone in meditation.
[Enter Messenger.]
Messenger
[Handing papyrus.] Pharaoh's desires.
Moses
[Reads.] To our beloved son, greeting. Add to our thoughts of you, if possible to add, but a little, and you are more than old heroes—not to bemean your genius, who might cry "Was that all!" We pile barriers everywhere: we give you idiots for tools, tree stumps for swords, skin sacks for souls. The sixteenth pyramid remains to be built: we give you the last draft of slaves. Move! Forget not the edict. Pharaoh.
Moses
[To Messenger.] What is the edict?
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