_With great effort and after many struggles he gains the mastery of himself, goes to the shrine and looks upon the goddess. The High Priest reappears touching him on the shoulder._
HIGH PRIEST. Terror does not move you. Let us see if you be proof against pity. Come--[_He leads him to the side of the shrine, presses a spring and a door opens, revealing in the interior of the shrine the machinery of the miracle, a lever and cordage_] Look! 'Tis by pressing this lever that one of ours, in a little while, will bring about the miracle. I leave you in his place. At my signal the doors of the sacred enclosure will open, and the people draw near the sanctuary. Listen to them. And if you are moved to pity by their prayers, you--_you_ shall give them the consoling lie for which they pray.
HIGH PRIEST. Watch and hear. [_He leaves Satni, who remains visible to the audience. The stones roll back over the shrine. The High Priest makes a sign, other priests appear_] All is ready?
_He whispers to him. The Priest bows and goes out. While the crowd comes in later, this priest is seen to enter the hiding-place right, where he stands watching Satni, dagger in hand._
_He makes a gesture and all disappear. A pitiable crowd bursts into the temple, bustling, running, filling all the empty spaces. Four men carry a litter on which is a beautiful young woman clothed in precious stuffs. Mieris, Yaouma, and all the characters of the play come on._
YOUNG WOMAN. Nearer, lay me nearer the goddess! She will drive forth the evil spirit that will not let me move my legs.
_Cripples, people on crutches, creatures with hands or feet wrapped in bandages crowd past her._
A BLIND GIRL [_to him who leads her_] When the stone rolls back and the goddess appears, watch well her face, to tell me if she will not give me back my sight.
_A paralytic drags himself in on his hands._
THE PARALYTIC. I would be quite near, quite near! In a little while I shall walk.
_Two sons lead in their mother, who is mad, striving to calm her. A mother, with her child in her arms, begs the crowd to let her get near. A man, whose head is bandaged, and whose eyes and mouth are mere holes, hustles his neighbors. Many blind, and people borne on chairs._