FIRST SCENE.
A desert place near Lampsacus. Outside Ephraim's cell. Ephraim is sitting. Abraham approaches him.
ABRAHAM. I say, Brother Ephraim, my fellow-hermit, could you manage to spare me a moment now for a talk, or would you rather I waited till you have finished your psalms?
EPHRAIM. All our talk should be a psalm in praise of Him who has promised that when two or three are gathered together in His name, there will He be in the midst of them.
AB. I have come to talk of nothing but what, I feel sure, is in accordance with God's will.
EPH. In that case, I would not put off our talk for a moment. I am entirely at your service.
AB. I have stirring in my mind a scheme of which I am most anxious to get your approval.
EPH. Well, we are bidden to be of one mind and one soul with one another; & so you and I are bound to have the same