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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/23646.txt b/23646.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..003ecc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/23646.txt @@ -0,0 +1,32460 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pharaoh and the Priest, by Boleslaw Prus + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pharaoh and the Priest + An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt + +Author: Boleslaw Prus + +Translator: Jeremiah Curtin + +Release Date: November 28, 2007 [EBook #23646] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHARAOH AND THE PRIEST *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Klingman + + + + + + +THE PHARAOH +AND THE PRIEST + +AN HISTORICAL NOVEL +OF ANCIENT EGYPT + + + +The Pharaoh and the Priest + + + +THE PHARAOH +AND THE PRIEST + + + + +FROM THE ORIGINAL POLISH OF ALEXANDER GLOVATSKI + + + +BY + +JEREMIAH CURTIN + +TRANSLATOR OF "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE" +"QUO VADIS," ETC. + + + +WITH ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS + + + +BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN +AND COMPANY.1902 + + + + +CURTIN. + + + +All rights reserved. +Published September, 1902. + + + + + +UNIVERSITY PRESS JOHN WILSON AND SON CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. + + + + + + + +PREFATORY REMARKS + + + +The position of Ancient Egypt was unique, not in one, but in every +sense. To begin at the very foundation of life in that country, we find +that the soil was unlike any other on earth in its origin. Every acre +of fruitful land between the first cataract and the sea had been +brought from Inner Africa, and each year additions were made to it. Out +of this mud, borne down thousands of miles from the great fertile +uplands of Abyssinia by rivers, grew everything needed to feed and +clothe man and nourish animals. Out of it also was made the brick from +which walls, houses, and buildings of various uses and kinds were +constructed. Though this soil of the country was rich, it could be +utilized only by the unceasing co-ordinate efforts of a whole +population constrained and directed. To direct and constrain was the +task of the priests and the pharaohs. + +Never have men worked in company so long and successfully at tilling +the earth as the Egyptians, and never has the return been so continuous +and abundant from land as in their case. + +The Nile valley furnished grain to all markets accessible by water; +hence Rome, Greece, and Judaea ate the bread of Egypt. On this national +tillage was founded the greatness of the country, for from it came the +means to execute other works, and in it began that toil, training, and +skill indispensable in rearing the monuments and doing those things +which have made Egypt famous forever, and preserved to us a knowledge +of the language, religion, modes of living, and history of that +wonderful people who held the Nile valley. No civilized person who has +looked on the pyramid of Ghizeh, the temple of Karnak, and the tombs of +the pharaohs in the Theban region, can ever forget them. But in those +monuments are preserved things of far greater import than they +themselves are. In the tombs and temples of Egypt we see on stone and +papyrus how that immense work of making speech visible was +accomplished, that task of presenting language to the eye instead of +the ear, and preserving the spoken word so as to give it to eye or ear +afterwards. In other terms, we have the history of writing from its +earliest beginnings to the point at which we connect it with the system +used now by all civilized nations excepting the Chinese. In those +monuments are preserved the history of religion in Egypt, not from the +beginning of human endeavor to explain first what the world is and then +what we ourselves are and what we and the world mean together, but from +a time far beyond any recorded by man in other places. + +Egyptians had the genius which turned a narrow strip of Abyssinian mud +and a triangular patch of swamp at the end of it into the most fruitful +land of antiquity. They had also that genius which impels man to look +out over the horizon around him, see more than the material problems of +life, and gaze into the beyond, gaze intently and never cease gazing +till he finds what his mind seeks. It was the possession of these two +kinds of genius and the union of the two which made the position of +Egypt in history unique and unapproachable. + +The greatness of Egypt lay primarily in her ideas, and was achieved +through a perfect control over labor by intellect. While this control +was exerted even approximately in accordance with the nation's +historical calling, it was effectual and also unchallenged. But when +the exercise of power, with the blandishments and physical pleasures +which always attend it, had become dearer to the priesthood and to +pharaohs than aught else on earth or in their ideals, then began the +epoch of Egypt's final doom: foreign bondage and national ruin. + +The action presented in the volume before us relates to those days when +the guiding intellect of Egypt became irrevocably dual, and when +between the two parts of it, the priests and the pharaohs, opposition +appeared so clearly defined and incurable that the ruin of both sides +was evident in the future. + +The ruin of a pharaoh and the fall of his dynasty, with the rise of a +self-chosen sovereign and a new line of rulers, are the double +consummation in this novel. The book ends with that climax, but the +fall of the new priestly rulers is a matter of history, as is the +destruction wrought on Egypt by tyrants from Assyria and Persia. The +native pharaohs lost power through the priesthood, whose real interest +it was to support them; but fate found the priests later on, and +pronounced on them also the doom of extinction. + +Alexander Glovatski was born in 1847 in Mashov, a village of the +Government of Lublin. He finished his preliminary studies in the Lublin +Gymnasium, and was graduated from the University of Warsaw. He took +part in the uprising of 1863, but was captured, and liberated after +some mouths' detention. As a student he showed notable power, and was +exceptionally attracted by mathematics and science, to which he gives +much attention yet, though occupied mainly in literature. + +Glovatski's published works are in seventeen volumes. These books, with +the exception of "The Pharaoh and the Priest," are devoted to modern +characters, situations, and questions. His types are mainly from Polish +life. Very few of his characters are German or Russian; of Polish types +some are Jewish. + +Alexander Glovatski is a true man of letters, a real philosopher, +retiring, industrious, and modest. He spends all his winters in Warsaw, +and lives every summer in the country. He permits neither society nor +coteries, nor interests of any sort, to snatch away time from him, or +influence his convictions. He goes about as he chooses, whenever he +likes and wherever it suits him. When ready to work he sits down in his +own house, and tells the world carefully and with kindness, though not +without irony, what he sees in it. What he sees is exhibited in the +seventeen volumes, which contain great and vivid pictures of life at +the end of the recent century. Men and women of various beliefs, +occupations, and values, are shown there. + +Glovatski is entirely unknown to Americans. This book will present him. + +Excepting the view in the temple of Luxor the illustrations given in +this volume are from photographs taken by me in 1899, while I was +traveling in Egypt. + +The title of this volume has been changed from "The Pharaoh" to "The +Pharaoh and the Priest," at the wish of the author. + +JEREMIAH CURTIN. + +BRISTOL, VERMONT, U. S. A., +July 28, 1902. + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + +Alexander Glovatski Frontispiece + +Jeremiah Curtin at the Statue of Ramses the Great in the Temple of +Luxor + +Step Pyramid + +Village of Bedreshen on the site of Memphis + +Pyramid of Cheops + +The Great Sphinx + +Statue of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen + +General View of the Ruins of Karnak + +Tomb of a Pharaoh in the Libyan Hills + +Avenue of Sphinxes from the Temple of Karnak to the Nile + + + + +THE PHARAOH AND THE PRIEST + + + +INTRODUCTION + +In the northeastern corner of Africa lies Egypt, that land of most +ancient civilization. Three, four, and even five thousand years ago, +when the savages of Central Europe wore untanned skins for clothing and +were cave-dwellers, Egypt had a high social organization, agriculture, +crafts, and literature. Above all, it carried out engineering works and +reared immense buildings, the remnants of which rouse admiration in +specialists of our day. + +Egypt is that rich ravine between the Libyan sands and the Arabian +desert. Its depth is several hundred meters, its length six hundred and +fifty miles, its average width barely five. On the west the gently +sloping but naked Libyan hills, on the east the steep and broken cliffs +of Arabia form the sides of a corridor on the bottom of which flows the +river Nile. + +With the course of the river northward the walls of the corridor +decrease in height, while a hundred and twenty-five miles from the sea +they expand on a sudden, and the river, instead of flowing through a +narrow passage, spreads in various arms over a broad level plain which +is shaped like a triangle. This triangle, called the Delta of the Nile, +has for its base the shore of the Mediterranean; at its apex, where the +river issues from the corridor, stands the city of Cairo, and near by +are the ruins of Memphis, the ancient capital. + +Could a man rise one hundred miles in the air and gaze thence upon +Egypt, he would see the strange outlines of that country and the +peculiar changes in its color. From that elevation, on the background +of white and orange colored sands, Egypt would look like a serpent +pushing with energetic twists through a desert to the sea, iii which it +has dipped already its triangular head, which has two eyes, the left +Alexandria, the right Damietta. + +In October, when the Nile inundates Egypt, that long serpent would be +blue, like water. In February, when spring vegetation takes the place +of the decreasing river, the serpent would be green, with a blue line +along its body and a multitude of blue veins on its head; these are +canals which cut through the Delta. In March the blue line would be +narrower, and the body of the serpent, because of ripening grain, would +seem golden. Finally, in the first days of June the line of the Nile +would be very narrow and the serpent's body gray from dust and drought. +The chief climatic feature in Egypt is heat. During January it is 57 +above zero, in July sometimes the heat reaches 149 which answers to the +temperature of a Roman bath. Moreover, in the neighborhood of the +Mediterranean, on the Delta, rain falls barely ten times a year; in +Upper Egypt it falls once during ten years. + +In these conditions Egypt, instead of being the cradle of civilization, +would have been a desert ravine like one of those which compose the +Sahara, if the waters of the sacred Nile had not brought life to it +annually. From the last days of June till the end of September the Nile +swells and inundates almost all Egypt; from the end of October to the +last days in May the year following it falls and exposes gradually +lower and lower platforms of land. The waters of the river are so +permeated with mineral and organic matter that their color becomes +brownish; hence, as the waters decrease, on inundated lands is +deposited fruitful mud which takes the place of the best fertilizer. +Owing to this, mud and to heat, Egyptian earth tillers, fenced in +between deserts, have three harvests yearly and from one grain of seed +receive back about three hundred. + +Egypt, however, is not a flat plain, but a rolling country; some +portions of its laud drink the blessed waters during two or three +months only; others do not see it every year, as the overflow does not +reach certain points annually. Besides, seasons of scant water occur, +and then a part of Egypt fails to receive the enriching deposit. +Finally, because of heat the earth dries up quickly, and then man has +to irrigate out of vessels. + +In view of all these conditions people inhabiting the Nile valley had +to perish if they were weak, or regulate the water if they had genius. +The ancient Egyptians had genius, hence they created civilization. + +Six thousand years ago they observed that the Nile rose when the sun +appeared under Sirius, and began to fall when it neared the +constellation Libra. This impelled them to make astronomical +observations and to measure time. + +To preserve water for the whole year, they dug throughout their country +a network of canals many thousand miles in length. To guard against +excessive waste of water, they built mighty dams and dug reservoirs, +among which the artificial lake Moeris occupied three hundred square +kilometers of surface and was fifty-four meters deep. Finally, along +the Nile and the canals they set up a multitude of simple but practical +hydraulic works; through the aid of these they raised water and poured +it out upon the fields; these machines were placed one or two stories +higher than the water. To complete all, there was need to clear the +choked canals yearly, repair the dams and build lofty roads for the +army, which had to march at all seasons. + +These gigantic works demanded knowledge of astronomy, geometry, +mechanics, and architecture, besides a perfect organization. Whether +the task was the strengthening of dams or the clearing of canals, it +had to be done and finished within a certain period over a great area. +Hence arose the need of forming an army of laborers, tens of thousands +in number, acting with a definite purpose and under uniform direction, +an army which demanded many provisions, much means, and great auxiliary +forces. + +Egypt established such an army of laborers, and to them were due works +renowned during ages. It seems that Egyptian priests or sages created +this army and then drew out plans for it, while the kings, or pharaohs, +commanded. In consequence of this the Egyptians in the days of their +greatness formed as it were one person, in which the priestly order +performed the role of mind, the pharaoh was the will, the people formed +the body, and obedience gave cohesion. + +In this way nature, striving in Egypt for a work great, continuous, and +ordered, created the skeleton of a social organism for that country as +follows: the people labored, the pharaoh commanded, the priests made +the plans. While these three elements worked unitedly toward the +objects indicated by nature, society had strength to flourish and +complete immortal labors. + +The mild, gladsome, and by no means warlike Egyptians were divided into +two classes, earth-tillers and artisans. Among earth-tillers there must +have been owners of small bits of laud, but generally earth-tillers +were tenants on lands belonging to the pharaohs, the priests, and the +aristocracy. The artisans, the people who made clothing, furniture, +vessels, and tools, were independent; those who worked at great +edifices formed, as it were, an army. + +Each of those specialties, and particularly architecture, demanded +power of hauling and moving; some men had to draw water all day from +canals, or transport stones from the quarries to where they were +needed. These, the most arduous mechanical occupations, and above all +work in the quarries were carried on by criminals condemned by the +courts, or by prisoners seized in battle. + +The genuine Egyptians had a bronze-colored skin, of which they were +very proud, despising the black Ethiopian, the yellow Semite, and the +white European. This color of skin, which enabled them to distinguish +their own people from strangers, helped to keep up the nation's unity +more strictly than religion, which a man may accept, or language, which +he may appropriate. + +But in time, when the edifice of the state began to weaken, foreign +elements appeared in growing numbers. They lessened cohesion, they +split apart society, they flooded Egypt and absorbed the original +inhabitants. + +The pharaohs governed the state by the help of a standing army and a +militia or police, also by a multitude of officials, from whom was +formed by degrees an aristocracy of family. By his office the pharaoh +was lawgiver, supreme king, highest judge, chief priest; he was the son +of a god, a god himself even. He accepted divine honors, not only from +officials and the people, but sometimes he raised altars to his own +person, and burnt incense before images of himself. + +At the side of the pharaoh and very often above him were priests, an +order of sages who directed the destinies of the country. + +In our day it is almost impossible to imagine the extraordinary role +which the priests played in Egypt. They were instructors of rising +generations, also soothsayers, hence the advisers of mature people, +judges of the dead, to whom their will and their knowledge guaranteed +immortality. They not only performed the minute ceremonies of religion +for the gods and the pharaohs, but they healed the sick as physicians, +they influenced the course of public works as engineers, and also +politics as astrologers, but above all they knew their own country and +its neighbors. + +In Egyptian history the first place is occupied by the relations which +existed between the priests and the pharaohs. Most frequently the +pharaoh laid rich offerings before the gods and built temples. Then he +lived long, and his name, with his images cut out on monuments, passed +from generation to generation, full of glory. But many pharaohs reigned +for a short period only, and of some not merely the deeds, but the +names disappeared from record. A couple of times it happened that a +dynasty fell, and straightway the cap of the pharaohs, encircled with a +serpent, was taken by a priest. + +Egypt continued to develop while a people of one composition, energetic +kings, and wise priests co-operated for the common weal. But a time +came when the people, in consequence of wars, decreased in number and +lost their strength through oppression and extortion; the intrusion of +foreign elements at this period undermined Egyptian race unity. And +when the energy of pharaohs and the wisdom of priests sank in the flood +of Asiatic luxury, and these two powers began to struggle with each +other for undivided authority to plunder the toiling people, then Egypt +fell under foreign control, and the light of civilized life, which had +burnt on the Nile for millenniums, was extinguished. + +The following narrative relates to the eleventh century before Christ, +when the twentieth dynasty fell, and after the offspring of the sun, +the eternally living Ramses XIII, Sem-Amen-Herhor, the high priest of +Amon and ever-living offspring of the sun, forced his way to the throne +and adorned his head with the ureus. + + + +CHAPTER I + +In the thirty-third year of the happy reign of Ramses XII, Egypt +celebrated two festivals which filled all its faithful inhabitants with +pride and delight. + +In the month of Mechir that is, during January the god Khonsu returned +to Thebes covered with costly gifts. For three years and nine months he +had traveled in the country of Buchten, where he restored health to the +king's daughter, Bentres, and expelled an evil spirit not only from the +royal family, but even from the fortress. + +So in the month Farmuti (February) Mer-Amen-Ramses XII, the lord of +Upper and Lower Egypt, the ruler of Phoenicia and nine nations, after +consultation with the gods to whom he was equal, named as erpatr, or +heir to the throne, his son, aged twenty years, Cham-Sem Merer-Amen- +Ramses. + +This choice delighted the pious priests, the worthy nomarchs, the +valiant army, the faithful people, and every creature living in Egypt, +because the older sons of the pharaoh, who were born of a Hittite +princess, had been visited by an evil spirit through enchantments which +no one had the power to investigate. One son of twenty-seven years was +unable to walk after reaching maturity; the second opened his veins and +died; the third, through poisoned wine, which he would not cease +drinking, fell into madness, and believing himself a monkey, passed +whole days among tree branches. + +But the fourth son, Ramses, born of Queen Nikotris, daughter of the +priest Amenhotep, was as strong as the bull Apis, as brave as a lion, +and as wise as the priests. From childhood he surrounded himself with +warriors, and while still a common prince, used to say, + +"If the gods, instead of making me the youngest son of his holiness, +had made me a pharaoh, like Ramses the Great, I would conquer nine +nations, of which people in Egypt have never heard mention; I would +build a temple larger than all Thebes, and rear for myself a pyramid +near which the tomb of Cheops would be like a rosebush at the side of a +full-grown palm-tree." + +On receiving the much desired title of heir, the young prince begged +his father to be gracious and appoint him to command the army corps of +Memphis. To this his holiness, Ramses XII, after consultation with the +gods, to whom he was equal, answered that he would do so in case the +heir could give proof that he had skill to direct a mass of troops +arrayed for battle. + +A council was called under the presidency of the minister of war, Sem- +Amen-Herhor, high priest of the great sanctuary of Amon in Thebes. + +The council decided in this way: "The heir to the throne, in the middle +of the month Mesore, will take ten regiments, disposed along the line +which connects Memphis with the city of Pi-uto, situated on the Bay of +Sebenico. + +"With this corps of ten thousand men prepared for battle, provided with +a camp and with military engines, the heir will betake himself eastward +along the highroad from Memphis toward Hittite regions, which road lies +on the boundary between the land of Goshen and the wilderness. At this +time General Nitager, commander of the army which guards the gates of +Egypt from attacks of Asiatic people, will move from the Bitter Lakes +against the heir, Prince Ramses. + +"Both armies, the Asiatic and the Western, are to meet near Pi-Bailos, +but in the wilderness, so that industrious husbandmen in the land of +Goshen be not hindered in their labors. + +"The heir will be victorious if he does not let himself be surprised by +Nitager, that is, if he concentrates all his forces and succeeds in +putting them in order of battle to meet the enemy. + +"His worthiness Herhor, the minister of war, will be present in the +camp of Prince Ramses, and will report to the pharaoh." + +Two ways of communication formed the boundary between the land of +Goshen and the desert. One was the transport canal from Memphis to Lake +Timrah; the other was the highroad. The canal was in the laud of +Goshen, the highroad in the desert which both ways bounded with a half +circle. + +The canal was visible from almost every point upon the highroad. +Whatever artificial boundaries might be, these neighboring regions +differed in all regards. The land of Goshen, though a rolling country, +seemed a plain; the desert was composed of limestone hills and sandy +valleys. The land of Goshen seemed a gigantic chessboard the green and +yellow squares of which were indicated by the color of grain and by +palms growing on their boundaries; but on the ruddy sand of the desert +and its white hills a patch of green or a clump of trees and bushes +seemed like a lost traveler. + +On the fertile land of Goshen from each hill shot up a dark grove of +acacias, sycamores, and tamarinds which from a distance looked like our +lime-trees; among these were concealed villas with rows of short +columns, or the yellow mud huts of earth-tillers. Sometimes near the +grove was a white village with flat-roofed houses, or above the trees +rose the pyramidal gates of a temple, like double cliffs, many-colored +with strange characters. From the desert beyond the first row of hills, +which were a little green, stared naked elevations covered with blocks +of stone. It seemed as if the western region, sated with excess of +life, hurled with regal generosity to the other side flowers and +vegetables, but the desert in eternal hunger devoured them in the +following year and turned them into ashes. + +The stunted vegetation, exiled to cliffs and sands, clung to the lower +places until, by means of ditches made in the sides of the raised +highroad, men conducted water from the canals to it. In fact, hidden +oases between naked hills along that highway drank in the divine water. +In these oases grew wheat, barley, grapes, palms, and tamarinds. The +whole of such an oasis was sometimes occupied by one family, which when +it met another like itself at the market in Pi-Bailos might not even +know that they were neighbors in the desert. + +On the fifteenth of Mesore the concentration of troops was almost +finished. The regiments of Prince Ramses, which were to meet the +Asiatic forces of Nitager, had assembled on the road above the city of +Pi-Bailos with their camp and with some military engines. + +The heir himself directed all the movements. He had organized two +parties of scouts. Of these the first had to watch the enemy, the other +to guard its own army from attack, which was possible in a hilly region +with many ravines. Ramses, in the course of a week, rode around and +examined all the regiments, inarching by various roads, looking +carefully to see if the soldiers had good weapons and warm mantles for +the night hours, if in the camps there was dried bread in sufficiency +as well as meat and dried fish. He commanded, besides, that the wives, +children, and slaves of warriors marching to the eastern boundary +should be conveyed by canal; this diminished the number of chariots and +eased the movements of the army. + +The oldest generals admired the zeal, knowledge, and caution of the +heir, and, above all, his simplicity and love of labor. His court, +which was numerous, his splendid tent, chariots, and litters were left +in the capital, and, dressed as a simple officer, he hurried from +regiment to regiment on horseback, in Assyrian fashion, attended by two +adjutants. + +Thanks to this concentration, the corps itself went forward very +swiftly, and the army was near Pi-Bailos at the time appointed. + +It was different with the prince's staff, and the Greek regiment +accompanying it, and with some who moved military engines. + +The staff, collected in Memphis, had the shortest road to travel; hence +it moved latest, bringing an immense camp with it. Nearly every +officer, and they were young lords of great families, had a litter with +four negroes, a two-wheeled military chariot, a rich tent, and a +multitude of boxes with food and clothing, also jars full of beer and +wine. Besides, a numerous troop of singers and dancers, with music, had +betaken themselves to journey behind the officers; each woman must, in +the manner of a great lady, have a car drawn by one or two pair of +oxen, and must have also a litter. + +When this throng poured out of Memphis, it occupied more space on the +highway than the army of Prince Ramses. The march was so slow that the +military engines which were left at the rear moved twenty-four hours +later than was ordered. To complete every evil the female dancers and +singers, on seeing the desert, not at all dreadful in that place, were +terrified and fell to weeping. To calm these women it was necessary to +hasten with the night camp, pitch tents, arrange a spectacle, and a +feast afterward. + +The night amusement in the cool, under the starry sky, with wild nature +for a background, pleased dancers and singers exceedingly; they +declared that they would travel thenceforth only through the desert. +Meanwhile Prince Ramses sent an order to turn all women back to Memphis +at the earliest and urge the march forward. + +His dignity Herhor, minister of war, was with the staff, but only as a +spectator. He had not brought singers himself, but he made no remarks +to officers. He gave command to carry his litter at the head of the +column, and accommodating himself to its movements, advanced or rested +under the immense fan with which his adjutant shaded him. + +Herhor was a man of forty and some years of age, strongly built, +concentrated in character. He spoke rarely, and looked at people as +rarely from under his drooping eyelids. He went with arms and legs +bare, like every Egyptian, his breast exposed; he had sandals on his +feet, a short skirt about his hips, an apron with blue and white +stripes. As a priest, he shaved his beard and hair and wore a panther- +skin hanging from his left shoulder. As a soldier, he covered his head +with a small helmet of the guard; from under this helmet hung a +kerchief, also in blue and white stripes; this reached his shoulders. +Around his neck was a triple gold chain, and under his left arm a short +sword in a costly scabbard. His litter, borne by six black slaves, was +attended always by three persons: one carried his fan, another the mace +of the minister, and the third a box for papyrus. This third man was +Pentuer, a priest, and the secretary of Herhor. He was a lean ascetic +who in the greatest heat never covered his shaven head. He came of the +people, but in spite of low birth he occupied a high position in the +state; this was due to exceptional abilities. + +Though the minister with his officials preceded the staff and held +himself apart from its movements, it could not be said that he was +unconscious of what was happening behind him. Every hour, at times +every half hour, some one approached Herhor's litter, now a priest of +lower rank, an ordinary "servant of the gods," a marauding soldier, a +freedman, or a slave, who, passing as it were indifferently the silent +retinue of the minister, threw out a word. That word Pentuer recorded +sometimes, but more frequently he remembered it, for his memory was +amazing. + +No one in the noisy throng of the staff paid attention to these +details. The officers, sons of great lords, were too much occupied by +running, by noisy conversation, or by singing, to notice who approached +the minister; all the more since a multitude of people were pushing +along the highway. + +On the sixteenth of Mesore the staff of Prince Ramses, together with +his dignity the minister, passed the night under the open sky at the +distance of five miles from the regiments which were arranged in battle +order across the highway beyond the city of Pi-Bailos. + +In that early morning which precedes our six o'clock, the hills grew +violet, and from behind them came forth the sun. A rosy light flowed +over the land of Goshen. Villages, temples, palaces of magnates, and +huts of earth-tillers looked like sparks and flames which flashed up in +one moment from the midst of green spaces. Soon the western horizon was +flooded with a golden hue, and the green land of Goshen seemed melting +into gold, and the numberless canals seemed filled with molten silver. +But the desert hills grew still more marked with violet, and cast long +shadows on the sands, and darkness on the plant world. + +The guards who stood along that highway could see with the utmost +clearness fields, edged with palms, beyond the canal. Some fields were +green with flax, wheat, clover; others were gilded with ripening barley +of the second growth. Now earth-tillers began to come out to field +labor, from huts concealed among trees; they were naked and bronze- +hued; their whole dress was a short skirt and a cap. Some turned to +canals to clear them of mud, or to draw water. Others dispersing among +the trees gathered grapes and ripe figs. Many naked children stirred +about, and women were busy in white, yellow, or red shirts which were +sleeveless. + +There was great movement in that region. In the sky birds of prey from +the desert pursued pigeons and daws in the land of Goshen. Along the +canal squeaking sweeps moved up and down, with buckets of fertilizing +water; fruit-gatherers appeared and disappeared among the trees, like +colored butterflies. But in the desert, on the highway, swarmed the +army and its servants. A division of mounted lancers shot past. Behind +them marched bowmen in caps and petticoats; they had bows in their +hands, quivers on their shoulders, and broadswords at their right +sides. The archers were accompanied by slingers who carried bags with +missiles and were armed with short swords. + +A hundred yards behind them advanced two small divisions of footmen, +one division armed with darts, the other with spears. Both carried +rectangular shields; on their breasts they had thick coats, as it were +armor, and on their heads caps with kerchiefs behind to ward off the +sun-rays. The caps and coats had blue and white stripes or yellow and +black stripes, which made those soldiers seem immense hornets. + +Behind the advance guard, surrounded by a retinue of macebearers, +pushed on the litter of the minister, and behind it, with bronze +helmets and breastplates, the Greek companies, whose measured tread +called to mind blows of heavy hammers. In the rear was heard the +creaking of vehicles, and from the side of the highway slipped along +the bearded Phoenician merchant in his litter borne between two asses. +Above all this rose a cloud of golden dust, and heat also. + +Suddenly from the vanguard galloped up a mounted soldier and informed +Herhor that Prince Ramses, the heir to the throne, was approaching. His +worthiness descended from the litter, and at that moment appeared a +mounted party of men who halted and sprang from their horses. One man +of this party and the minister began to approach each other, halting +every few steps and bowing. + +"Be greeted, O son of the pharaoh; may he live through eternity!" said +the minister. + +"Be greeted and live long, O holy father!" answered Ramses; then he +added, + +"Ye advance as slowly as if your legs were sawn off, while Nitager will +stand before our division in two hours at the latest." + +"Thou hast told truth. Thy staff marches very slowly." + +"Eunana tells me also," here Ramses indicated an officer standing +behind him who was covered with amulets, "that ye have not sent scouts +to search ravines. But in case of real war an enemy might attack from +that side." + +"I am not the leader, I am only a judge," replied the minister, +quietly. + +"But what can Patrokles be doing?" + +"Patrokles is bringing up the military engines with his Greek +regiment." + +"But my relative and adjutant, Tutmosis?" + +"He is sleeping yet, I suppose." + +Ramses stamped impatiently, and was silent. He was a beautiful youth, +with a face almost feminine, to which anger and sunburn added charm. He +wore a close-fitting coat with blue and white stripes, a kerchief of +the same color behind his helmet, a gold chain around his neck, and a +costly sword beneath his left arm. + +"I see," said the prince, "that Thou alone, Eunana, art mindful of my +honor." + +The officer covered with amulets bent to the earth. + +"Tutmosis is indolent," said the heir. "Return to thy place, Eunana. +Let the vanguard at least have a leader." + +Then, looking at the suite which now surrounded him as if it had sprung +from under the earth on a sudden, he added, + +"Bring my litter. I am as tired as a quarryman." + +"Can the gods grow tired?" whispered Eunana, still standing behind him. + +"Go to thy place!" said Ramses. + +"But perhaps Thou wilt command me, O image of the moon, to search the +ravines?" asked the officer, in a low voice. "Command, I beg thee, for +wherever I am my heart is chasing after thee to divine thy will and +accomplish it." + +"I know that Thou art watchful," answered Ramses. "Go now and look +after everything." + +"Holy father," said Eunana, turning to the minister, "I commend my most +obedient service to thy worthiness." + +Barely had Eunana gone when at the end of the marching column rose a +still greater tumult. They looked for the heir's litter, but it was +gone. Then appeared, making his way through the Greek warriors, a youth +of strange exterior. He wore a muslin tunic, a richly embroidered +apron, and a golden scarf across his shoulder. But he was distinguished +above all by an immense wig with a multitude of tresses, and an +artificial beard like cats' tails. + +That was Tutmosis, the first exquisite in Memphis, who dressed and +perfumed himself even during marches. + +"Be greeted, Ramses!" exclaimed the exquisite, pushing aside officers +quickly. "Imagine thy litter is lost somewhere; Thou must sit in mine, +which really is not fit for thee, but it is not the worst." + +"Thou hast angered me," answered the prince. "Thou sleepest instead of +watching the army." + +The astonished exquisite stopped. + +"I sleep?" cried he. "May the man's tongue wither up who invented that +calumny! I, knowing that Thou wouldst come, have been ready this hour +past, and am preparing a bath for thee and perfumes." + +"While thus engaged, the regiment is without a commander." + +"Am I to command a detachment where his worthiness the minister of war +is, and such a leader is present as Patrokles?" + +Ramses was silent; meanwhile Tutmosis, approaching him, whispered, + +"In what a plight Thou art, O son of the pharaoh! Without a wig, thy +hair and dress full of dust, thy skin black and cracked, like the earth +in summer. The queen, most deserving of honor, would drive me from the +court were she to look at thy wretchedness." + +"I am only tired." + +"Then take a seat in my litter. In it are fresh garlands of roses, +roast birds, and a jug of wine from Cyprus. I have kept also hidden in +the camp," added he in a lower voice, "Senura." + +"Is she here?" asked the prince; and his eyes, glittering a moment +before, were now mist-covered. + +"Let the army move on," said Tutmosis; "we will wait here for her." + +Ramses recovered himself. + +"Leave me, tempter! The battle will come in two hours." + +"What! a battle?" + +"At least the decision as to my leadership." + +"Oh, laugh at it!" smiled the exquisite. "I would swear that the +minister of war sent a report of it yesterday, and with it the petition +to give thee the corps of Memphis." + +"No matter if he did. Today I have no thought for anything but the +army." + +"In thee this wish for war is dreadful, war during which a man does not +wash for a whole month, so as to die in--Brr! But if Thou couldst see +Senura, only glance at her. ." + +"For that very reason I shall not glance at her," answered Ramses, +decisively. + +At the moment when eight men were bringing from beyond the Greek ranks +the immense litter of Tutmosis for the use of Ramses, a horseman raced +in from the vanguard. He dropped from his horse and ran so quickly that +on his breast the images of the gods or the tablets with their names +rattled loudly. This was Eunana in great excitement. + +All turned to him, and this gave him pleasure apparently. + +"Erpatr, the loftiest lips," cried Eunana, bending before Ramses. +"When, in accordance with thy divine command, I rode at the head of a +detachment, looking carefully at all things, I noticed on the highroad +two beautiful scarabs. Each of these sacred beetles was rolling an +earth ball toward the sands near the roadside." + +"What of that?" interrupted Ramses. + +"Of course," continued Eunana, glancing toward Herhor, "I and my +people, as piety enjoins, rendered homage to the golden symbols of the +sun, and halted. That augury is of such import that no man of us would +make a step forward unless commanded." + +"I see that Thou art a pious Egyptian, though Thou hast the features of +a Hittite," answered the worthy Herhor; and turning to certain +dignitaries standing near, he added, + +"We will not advance farther by the highway, for we might crush the +sacred beetles. Pentuer, can we go around the road by that ravine on +the right?" + +"We can," answered the secretary. "That ravine is five miles long, and +comes out again almost in front of Pi-Bailos." + +"An immense loss of time!" interrupted Ramses, in anger. + +"I would swear that those are not scarabs, but the spirits of my +Phoenician usurers," said Tutmosis the exquisite. "Not being able, +because of their death, to receive money from me, they will force me +now to march through the desert in punishment!" + +The suite of the prince awaited the decision with fear; so Ramses +turned to Herhor, + +"What dost Thou think of this, holy father?" + +"Look at the officers," answered the priest, "and Thou wilt understand +that we must go by the ravine." + +Now Patrokles, leader of the Greeks, pushed forward and said to the +heir, + +"If the prince permit, my regiment will advance by the highway. My +soldiers have no fear of beetles!" + +"Your soldiers have no fear of royal tombs even," added the minister. +"Still it cannot be safe in them since no one has ever returned." + +The Greek pushed back to the suite confounded. + +"Confess, holy father," hissed the heir, with the greatest anger, "that +such a hindrance would not stop even an ass on his journey." + +"True, but no ass will ever be pharaoh," retorted the minister, calmly. + +"In that case thou, O minister, wilt lead the division through the +ravine!" exclaimed Ramses. "I am unacquainted with priestly tactics; +besides, I must rest. Come with me, cousin," said he to Tutmosis; and +he turned toward some naked hills. + +CHAPTER II + +Straightway his worthiness Herhor directed his adjutant who carried the +mace to take charge of the vanguard in place of Eunana. Then he +commanded that the military engines for hurling great stones leave the +road, and that the Greek soldiers facilitate passage for those engines +in difficult places. All vehicles and litters of staff-officers were to +move in the rear. + +When Herhor issued commands, the adjutant bearing the fan approached +Pentuer and asked, + +"Will it be possible to go by this highway again?" + +"Why not?" answered the young priest. "But since two sacred beetles +have barred the way now, we must not go farther; some misfortune might +happen." + +"As it is, a misfortune has happened. Or hast Thou not noticed that +Prince Ramses is angry at the minister? and our lord is not forgetful." + +"It is not the prince who is offended with our lord, but our lord with +the prince, and he has reproached him. He has done well; for it seems +to the young prince, at present, that he is to be a second Menes." + +"Or a Ramses the Great," put in the adjutant. + +"Ramses the Great obeyed the gods; for this cause there are +inscriptions praising him in all the temples. But Menes, the first +pharaoh of Egypt, was a destroyer of order, and thanks only to the +fatherly kindness of the priests that his name is still remembered, +though I would not give one brass uten on this, that the mummy of Menes +exists." + +"My Pentuer," added the adjutant, "Thou art a sage, hence knowest that +it is all one to us whether we have ten lords or eleven." + +"But it is not all one to the people whether they have to find every +year a mountain of gold for the priests, or two mountains of gold for +the priests and the pharaoh," answered Pentuer, while his eyes flashed. + +"Thou art thinking of dangerous things," said the adjutant, in a +whisper. + +"But how often hast Thou thyself grieved over the luxuries of the +pharaoh's court and of the nomarchs?" inquired the priest in +astonishment. + +"Quiet, quiet! We will talk of this, but not now." + +In spite of the sand the military engines, drawn each by two bullocks, +moved in the desert more speedily than along the highway. With the +first of them marched Eunana, anxiously. "Why has the minister deprived +me of leadership over the vanguard? Does he wish to give me a higher +position?" asked he in his own mind. + +Thinking out then a new career, and perhaps to dull the fears which +made his heart quiver, he seized a pole and, where the sands were +deeper, propped the balista, or urged on the Greeks with an outcry. + +They, however, paid slight attention to this officer. + +The retinue had pushed on a good half hour through a winding ravine +with steep naked walls, when the vanguard halted a second time. At this +point another ravine crossed the first; in the middle of it extended a +rather broad canal. + +The courier sent to the minister of war with notice of the obstacle +brought back a command to fill the canal immediately. + +About a hundred soldiers with pickaxes and shovels rushed to the work. +Some knocked out stones from the cliff; others threw them into the +ditch and covered them with sand. + +Meanwhile from the depth of the ravine came a man with a pickaxe shaped +like a stork's neck with the bill on it. He was an Egyptian slave, old +and entirely naked. He looked for a while with the utmost amazement at +the work of the soldiers; then, springing between them on a sudden, he +shouted, + +"What are ye doing, vile people? This is a canal." + +"But how darest Thou use evil words against the warriors of his +holiness?" asked Eunana, who stood there. + +"Thou must be an Egyptian and a great person, I see that," said the +slave; "so I answer thee that this canal belongs to a mighty lord; he +is the manager and secretary of one who bears the fan for his +worthiness the nomarch of Memphis. Be on thy guard or misfortune will +strike thee!" + +"Do your work," said Eunana, with a patronizing tone, to the Greek +soldiers who began to look at the slave. + +They did not understand his speech, but the tone of it arrested them. + +"They are filling in all the time!" said the slave, with rising fear. +"Woe to thee!" cried he, rushing at one of the Greeks with his pickaxe. + +The Greek pulled it from the man, struck him on the mouth, and brought +blood to his lips; then he threw sand into the canal again. + +The slave, stunned by the blow, lost courage and fell to imploring. + +"Lord," said he, "I dug this canal alone for ten years, in the night +time and during festivals! My master promised that if I should bring +water to this little valley he would make me a servant in it, give me +one fifth of the harvests, and grant me freedom do you hear? Freedom to +me and my three children! O gods!" + +He raised his hands and turned again to Eunana, + +"They do not understand me, these vagrants from beyond the sea, +descendants of dogs, brothers to Jews and Phoenicians! But listen, +lord, to me! For ten years, while other men went to fairs and dances or +sacred processions, I stole out into this dreary ravine. I did not go +to the grave of my mother, I only dug; I forgot the dead so as to give +freedom with laud to my children, and to myself even one free day +before death. Ye, O gods, be my witnesses how many times has night +found me here! how many times have I heard the wailing cries of hyenas +in this place, and seen the green eyes of wolves! But I did not flee, +for whither was I, the unfortunate, to flee, when at every path terror +was lurking, and in this canal freedom held me back by the feet? Once, +beyond that turn there, a lion came out against me, the pharaoh of +beasts. The pickaxe dropped from my hands, I knelt down before him, and +I, as ye see me, said these words: 'O lord! is it thy pleasure to eat +me? I am only a slave.' But the lion took pity, the wolf also passed +by; even the treacherous bats spared my poor head; but thou, O +Egyptian." + +The man stopped; he saw the retinue of Herhor approaching. By the fan +he knew him to be a great personage, and by the panther skin, a priest. +He ran to the litter, therefore, knelt down, and struck the sand with +his forehead. + +"What dost Thou wish, man?" asked the dignitary. + +"O light of the sun, listen to me!" cried the slave. "May there be no +groans in thy chamber, may no misfortune follow thee! May thy works +continue, and may the current not be interrupted when Thou shalt sail +by the Nile to the other shore." + +"I ask what thy wish is," repeated Herhor. + +"Kind lord," said the man, "leader without caprice, who conquerest the +false and createst the true, who art the father of the poor, the +husband of the widow, clothing for the motherless, permit me to spread +thy name as the equal of justice, most noble of the nobles." [Authentic +speech of a slave.] + +"He wishes that this canal be not filled in," said Eunana. + +Herhor shrugged his shoulders and pushed toward the place where they +were filling the canal. Then the despairing man seized his feet. + +"Away with this creature!" cried his worthiness, pushing back as before +the bite of a reptile. + +The secretary, Pentuer, turned his head; his lean face had a grayish +color. Eunana seized the man by the shoulders and pulled, but, unable +to drag him away from the minister's feet, he summoned warriors. After +a while Herhor, now liberated, passed to the other bank of the canal, +and the warriors tore away the earth-worker, almost carrying him to the +end of the detachment. There they gave the man some tens of blows of +fists, and subalterns who always carried canes gave him some tens of +blows of sticks, and at last threw him down at the entrance to the +ravine. + +Beaten, bloody, and above all terrified, the wretched slave sat on the +sand for a while, rubbed his eyes, then sprang up suddenly and ran +groaning toward the highway, + +"Swallow me, O earth! Cursed be the day in which I saw the light, and +the night in which it was said, 'A man is born!' In the mantle of +justice there is not the smallest shred for a slave. The gods +themselves regard not a creature whose hands are for labor, whose mouth +was made only for weeping, and whose back is for clubs. O death, rub my +body into ashes, so that there, beyond on the fields of Osiris, I be +not born into slavery a second time." + + + +CHAPTER III + +Panting with anger, Prince Ramses rushed up the hill, while behind him +followed Tutmosis. The wig of the exquisite had turned on his head, his +false beard had slipped down, and he carried it in his hand. In spite +of exertion he would have been pale had it not been for the layers of +rouge on his face. + +At last Ramses halted at the summit. From the ravine came the outcry of +warriors and the rattle of the onrolling balistas; before the two men +stretched the immense plain of Goshen, bathed continually in sun-rays. +That did not seem land, but a golden cloud, on which the mind painted a +landscape in colors of silver, ruby, pearl, and topaz. + +"Look," cried the heir to Tutmosis, stretching out his hand, "those are +to be my lands, and here is my army. Over there the loftiest edifices +are palaces of priests, and here the supreme chief of the troops is a +priest! Can anything like this be suffered?" + +"It has always been so," replied Tutmosis, glancing around with +timidity. + +"That is not true! I know the history of this country, which is hidden +to thee. The leaders of armies and the masters of officials were the +pharaohs alone, or at least the most energetic among them. Those rulers +did not pass their days in making offerings and prayers, but in +managing the state." + +"If it is the desire of his holiness to pass his days that way?" said +Tutmosis. + +"It is not my father's wish that nomarchs should govern as they please +in the capitals of provinces. Why, the governor of Ethiopia considered +himself as almost equal to the king of kings. And it cannot be my +father's wish that his army should inarch around two golden beetles +because the minister of war is a high priest." + +"He is a great warrior," whispered Tutmosis, with increasing timidity. + +"He a great warrior? Because he dispersed a handful of Libyan robbers +ready to flee at the mere sight of Egyptians. But see what our +neighbors are doing. Israel delays in paying tribute and pays less and +less of it. The cunning Phoenician steals a number of ships from our +fleet every year. On the east we are forced to keep up a great army +against the Hittites, while around Babylon and Nineveh there is such a +movement that it is felt throughout all Mesopotamia. + +"And what is the outcome of priestly management? This, that while my +great-grandfather had a hundred thousand talents of yearly income and +one hundred and sixty thousand troops, my father has barely fifty +thousand talents and one hundred and twenty thousand troops. + +"And what an army! Were it not for the Greek corps, which keeps them in +order as a dog watches sheep, the Egyptian soldiers today would obey +only priests and the pharaoh would sink to the level of a miserable +nomarch." + +"Whence hast Thou learned this?" asked Tutmosis, with astonishment. + +"Am I not of a priestly family? And besides, they taught me when I was +not heir to the throne. Oh, when I become pharaoh after my father, may +he live through eternity! I will put my bronze-sandaled foot on their +necks. But first of all I will seize their treasures, which have always +been bloated, but which from the time of Ramses the Great have begun to +swell out, and today are so swollen that the treasure of the pharaoh is +invisible because of them." + +"Woe to me and to thee!" sighed Tutmosis. "Thou hast plans under which +this hill would bend could it hear and understand them. And where are +thy forces, thy assistance, thy warriors? Against thee the whole people +will rise, led by a class of men with mighty influence. But who is on +thy rider?" + +Ramses listened and fell to thinking. At last he said, + +"The army." + +"A considerable part of it will follow the priests." + +"The Greek corps." + +"A barrel of water in the Nile." + +"The officials." + +"Half of them belong to the priests." + +The prince shook his head sadly, and was silent. + +From the summit they went down by a naked and stony slope to the +opposite base of the hill. Then Tutmosis, who had pushed ahead +somewhat, cried, + +"Has a charm fallen on my eyes? Look, Ramses! Why, a second Egypt is +concealed between these cliffs!" + +"That must be an estate of some priest who pays no taxes," replied the +prince, bitterly. + +In the depth before their feet lay a rich valley in the form of a fork +the tines of which were hidden between cliffs. At the juncture of the +tines a number of servants' huts were visible, and the beautiful little +villa of the owner or manager. Palmtrees grew there, grapes, olives, +figs with aerial roots, cypresses, even young baobabs. In the centre +flowed a rivulet, and at the source of it, some hundreds of yards +higher up, small gardens were visible. + +When they had gone down among grapevines covered with ripe clusters, +they heard a woman's voice which called, or rather sang in pensive +notes: + +"Where art Thou gone from me, where art thou, hen of mine? Thou hast +fled, Thou art gone from me. I give thee drink and clean grain; what I +give is so good that slaves envy thee. Where art Thou gone, my hen wilt +Thou not answer me? Night will come down on thee, think of that; Thou +wilt not reach thy home, where all are at work for thee. Come; if Thou +come not, a falcon will fly from the desert and tear the heart out of +thee. If he come Thou wilt call in vain, as I now call in vain to thee. +Give answer, or I shall be angry and leave this place. If I leave Thou +'It go home on thy own feet." + +The song came toward the two men. The songstress was a few yards from +them when Tutmosis thrust, his head from between the bushes, and said, + +"Just look, Ramses, but that is a beautiful maiden!" + +Instead of looking, the prince sprang into the path and stopped the +road before the songstress. She was really a beautiful maiden, with +Grecian features and a complexion like ivory. + +From under the veil on her head peeped forth an immense mass of dark +hair, wound in a knot. She wore a white trailing robe which she held on +one side with her hand; under the transparent covering were maiden +breasts shaped like apples. + +"Who art thou?" cried Ramses. + +The threatening furrows vanished from his forehead and his eyes +flashed. + +"O Jehovah! O Father!" cried she, frightened, halting motionless on the +path. + +But she grew calm by degrees, and her velvety eyes resumed their +expression of mild sadness. + +"Whence hast Thou come?" inquired she of Ramses, with a voice trembling +a little. "I see that Thou art a soldier, but it is not permitted +soldiers to come here." + +"Why is it not permitted?" + +"Because this is the land of a great lord named Sesofris." + +"Ho! ho!" laughed Ramses. + +"Laugh not, for Thou wilt grow pale soon. The lord Sesofris is +secretary to the lord Chaires, who carries his fan for the most worthy +nomarch of Memphis. My father has seen him and fallen on his face +before him." + +"Ho! ho! ho!" repeated Ramses, laughing continually. + +"Thy words are very insolent," said the maiden, frowning. "Were +kindness not looking from thy face, I should think thee a mercenary +from Greece or a bandit." + +"He is not a bandit yet, but some day he may become the greatest bandit +this laud has ever suffered," said Tutmosis the exquisite, arranging +his wig, + +"And Thou must be a dancer," answered the girl, grown courageous. "Oh! +I am even certain that I saw thee at the fair in Pi-Bailos, enchanting +serpents." + +The two young men fell into perfect humor. + +"But who art thou?" asked Ramses of the girl, taking her hand, which +she drew back. + +"Be not so bold. I am Sarah, the daughter of Gideon, the manager of +this estate." + +"A Jewess," said Ramses; and a shadow passed over his face. + +"What harm in that? what harm in that?" cried Tutmosis. + +"Dost think that Jewesses are less sweet than Egyptian girls? They are +only more modest and more difficult, which gives their love an uncommon +charm." + +"So ye are pagans," said Sarah, with dignity. "Rest, if ye are tired, +pluck some grapes for yourselves, and go with God. Our servants are not +glad to see guests like you." + +She wished to go, but Ramses detained her. + +"Stop! Thou hast pleased me, and may not leave us in this way." + +"The evil spirit has seized thee; no one in this valley would dare to +speak thus to me," said Sarah, now indignant. + +"Yes; for, seest thou," interrupted Tutmosis, "this young man is an +officer of the priestly regiment of Ptah, and a secretary of the +secretary of a lord who carries his fan over the fan-carrier of the +nomarch of Habu." + +"Surely he must be an officer," answered Sarah, looking with +thoughtfulness at Ramses. "Maybe he is a great lord himself?" added +she, putting her finger on her lips. + +"Whoever I am, thy beauty surpasses my dignity," answered he, suddenly. +"But tell me, is it true that the Jews eat pork?" + +Sarah looked at him offended; and Tutmosis added, + +"How evident it is that Thou knowest not Jewesses! I tell thee that a +Jew would rather die than eat pork, which, for my part, I do not +consider as the worst." + +"But do they eat cats?" insisted Ramses, pressing Sarah's hand and +looking into her eyes. + +"And that is a fable, a vile fable!" exclaimed Tutmosis. "Thou mightst +have asked me about those things instead of talking nonsense. I have +had three Jewish mistresses." + +"So far Thou hast told the truth, but now Thou art lying," called out +Sarah. "A Jewess would not be any man's mistress," added she, proudly. + +"Even the mistress of the secretary of a lord who carries the fan for +the nomarch of Memphis?" asked Tutmosis, jeeringly. + +"Even." + +"Even the mistress of the lord who carries the fan?" + +Sarah hesitated, but answered, + +"Even." + +"Then perhaps she would not become the mistress of the nomarch?" + +The girl's hands dropped. With astonishment she looked in turn at the +young men; her lips quivered, and her eyes filled with tears. + +"Who are ye?" inquired she, alarmed. "Ye have come down from the hills, +like travelers who wish bread and water, but ye speak to me as might +the greatest lords. Who are ye? Thy sword," said she, turning to +Ramses, "is set with emeralds, and on thy neck is a chain of such work +as even our lord, the great Sesofris, has not in his treasury." + +"Better tell me if I please thee," insisted Ramses, pressing her hand +and looking into her eyes tenderly. + +"Thou art beautiful, as beautiful as the angel Gabriel; but I fear +thee, for I know not who Thou art." + +Then from beyond the hilltop was heard the sound of a trumpet. + +"They are calling thee!" cried Tutmosis. + +"And if I were as great a lord as thy Sesofris?" asked Ramses. + +"Then maybe" answered Sarah. + +"And if I carried the fan of the nomarch of Memphis?" + +"Thou mayest be even as great as that." + +Somewhere beyond the hill was heard the second trumpet. + +"Come, Ramses!" insisted the frightened Tutmosis. + +"But if I were heir to the throne, wouldst Thou come to me?" cried the +prince. + +"O Jehovah!" exclaimed Sarah, dropping on her knees. + +From various points trumpets summoned, now urgently. + +"Let us run!" cried Tutmosis, in desperation. "Dost Thou not hear the +alarm in the camp?" + +Ramses took the chain from his neck quickly and threw it on Sarah. + +"Give this to thy father. I will buy thee from him. Be in health." + +He kissed her lips passionately, and she embraced-his knees. He tore +away, ran a couple of paces, turned again, and again fondled her +beautiful face and dark hair with kisses, as if he heard not those +impatient calls to the army. + +"In the name of his holiness the pharaoh, I summon thee, follow me!" +cried Tutmosis; and he seized the prince's hand. + +They ran toward the trumpet-calls. Ramses tottered at moments like a +drunken man, and turned his head. At last they were climbing the +opposite hill. + +"And this man," thought Tutmosis, "wants to battle with the +priesthood!" + + + +CHAPTER IV + +RAMSES and his comrade ran about a quarter of an hour along the rocky +ridge of the hill, drawing ever nearer to the trumpets, which sounded +more and more urgently. At last they reached a point where they took in +at a glance the whole region. Toward the left stretched the highway; +beyond that were seen clearly the city of Pi-Bailos, the regiments of +the heir drawn up behind it, and an immense cloud of dust which rose +above his opponent hastening forward from the east. + +On the right yawned a broad ravine, along the middle of which the Greek +regiment was dragging military engines. Not far from the road the +ravine was lost in another and a broader one which began in the depth +of the desert. + +At this point something uncommon was happening. The Greeks stood +unoccupied not far from the junction of the two ravines; but at the +juncture itself, and between the highway and the staff of Ramses, +marched out four dense lines of some other army, like four fences, +bristling with glittering darts. + +In spite of the steep road the prince rushed down at full speed to his +division, to the place where the minister of war stood surrounded by +officers. + +"What is happening?" called he, threateningly. "Why sound an alarm +instead of marching?" + +"We are cut off," said Herhor. + +"By whom?" + +"Our division by three regiments of Nitager, who has marched out of the +desert." + +"Then the enemy is there, near the highway?" + +"Yes, the invincible Nitager himself." + +It seemed in that moment that the heir to the throne had gone mad. His +lips were contorted, his eyes were starting out of their sockets. He +drew his sword, rushed to the Greeks, and cried, + +"Follow me against those who bar the road to us." + +"O heir, live forever!" cried Patrokles, who drew his sword also. +"Forward, descendants of Achilles!" said he, turning to his men. "We +will teach those Egyptian cowkeepers not to stop us!" + +Trumpets sounded the attack. Four short but erect Greek columns rushed +forward, a cloud of dust rose, and a shout in honor of Ramses. + +After a couple of minutes the Greeks found themselves in the presence +of the Egyptian regiments, and hesitated. + +"Forward!" cried the heir, rushing on, sword in hand. + +The Greeks lowered their spears. On the opposing side there was a +movement, a murmur flew along the ranks, and spears also were lowered. + +"Who are ye, madmen?" asked a mighty voice. + +"The heir to the throne!" shouted Patrokles. + +A moment of silence. + +"Open ranks!" commanded the same voice, mighty as before. + +The regiments of the eastern army opened slowly, like heavy folding- +doors, and the Greek division passed between them. + +Then a gray-haired warrior in golden helmet and armor approached Prince +Ramses and said with a low obeisance, + +"Erpatr, [Heir] Thou hast conquered. Only a great warrior could free +himself from difficulty in that way." + +"Thou art Nitager, the bravest of the brave!" cried the prince. + +At that moment Herhor approached. He had heard the conversation, and +said abruptly, + +"Had there been on your side such an awkward leader as the erpatr, how +could we have finished the maneuvers?" + +"Let the young warrior alone!" answered Nitager. "Is it not enough for +thee that he has shown the iron claws, as was proper for a son of the +pharaoh?" + +Tutmosis, noting the turn which the conversation had taken, asked +Nitager, + +"Whence hast Thou come, that thy main forces are in front of our army?" + +"I knew how incompetently the division was marching from Memphis, when +the heir was concentrating his regiments near Pi-Bailos, and for sport +I wished to capture you young lords. To my misfortune the heir was here +and spoiled my plans. Act that way always, Ramses, of course in +presence of real enemies." + +"But if, as today, he meets a force three times superior?" inquired +Herhor. + +"Daring keenness means more than strength," replied the old leader. "An +elephant is fifty times stronger than a man; still he yields to him, or +dies at his hands." + +Herhor listened in silence. + +The maneuvers were declared finished. Prince Ramses with the minister +and commanders went to the army near Pi-Bailos. There he greeted +Nitager's veterans, took farewell of his own regiments, commanded them +to march eastward, and wished success to them. + +Then, surrounded by a great suite, he returned by the highway to +Memphis amid crowds from the land of Goshen, who with green garlands +and in holiday robes congratulated the conqueror. + +When the highway turned toward the desert, the crowd became thinner, +and when they approached the place where the staff of the heir had +entered the ravine because of the scarabs, there was no one. + +Ramses nodded to Tutmosis, and pointing to the naked hill, whispered, + +"Thou wilt go to Sarah." + +"I understand." + +"Tell her father that I will give him land outside Memphis." + +"I understand. Thou wilt have her to-morrow." + +After this conversation Tutmosis withdrew to the troops marching behind +the suite, and vanished. + +Almost opposite the ravine along which the army had passed in the +morning, some tens of steps from the road, stood a tamarind-tree which, +though old, was not large. At this point a halt was mad by the guard +which had preceded the suite. + +"Shall we meet scarabs again?" asked Ramses, with a laugh. + +"We shall see," answered Herhor. + +They looked; on the slender tree a naked man was hanging. + +"What does this mean?" asked the heir, with emotion. + +Adjutants ran to the tree, and saw that the hanging man was that old +slave whose canal they had closed in the morning. + +"He did right to hang himself!" cried Eunana among the officers. "Could +ye believe it, that wretch dared to seize the feet of his holiness the +minister!" + +On hearing this, Ramses reined in his horse, dismounted, and walked up +to the ominous tree. + +The slave was hanging with his head stretched forward; his mouth was +opened widely, his hands turned toward the spectators, and terror was +in his eyes. He looked like a man who had wished to say something, but +whose voice had failed him. + +"The unfortunate!" sighed Ramses, with compassion. + +On returning to the retinue he gave command to relate to him the +history of the man, and then he rode a long time in silence. + +Before his eyes was the picture of the suicide, and in his heart was +the feeling that a great wrong had been done, such a wrong that even +he, the son and the heir of the pharaoh, might halt in face of it. + +The heat was unendurable, the dust dried up the water and pierced the +eyes of man and beast. The division was detained for a short rest, and +meanwhile Nitager finished his conversation with the minister. + +"My officers," said the old commander, "never look under their feet, +but always straight forward." + +"That is the reason, perhaps, why no enemy has ever surprised me." + +"Your worthiness reminds me, by these words, that I am to pay certain +debts," remarked Herhor; and he commanded the officers and soldiers who +were near by to assemble. + +"And now," said the minister, "summon for me Eunana." + +The officer covered with amulets was found as quickly as if he had been +waiting for this summons a long time. On his countenance was depicted +delight, which he restrained through humility, but with effort. + +Herhor, seeing Eunana before him, began, + +"By the will of his holiness, supreme command of the army comes into my +hands again with the ending of the maneuvers." + +Those present bowed their heads. + +"It is my duty to use this power first of all in meting out justice." + +The officers looked at one another. + +"Eunana," said the minister, "I know that Thou hast always been one of +the most diligent officers." + +"Truth speaks through thy lips, worthy lord," replied Eunana. "As a +palm waits for dew, so do I for the commands of superiors. And when I +do not receive them, I am like an orphan in the desert when looking for +a pathway." + +Nitager's scar-covered officers listened with astonishment to the ready +speech of Eunana, and thought, "He will be raised above others!" + +"Eunana," said the minister, "Thou art not only diligent, but pious; +not only pious, but watchful as an ibis over water. The gods have +poured out on thee every virtue: they have given thee serpent cunning, +with the eye of a falcon." + +"Pure truth flows from thy lips, worthiness," added Eunana. "Were it +not for my wonderful sight, I should not have seen the two scarabs." + +"Yes, and Thou wouldst not have saved our camp from sacrilege. For this +deed, worthy of the most pious Egyptian, I give thee." + +Here the minister took a gold ring from his finger. + +"I give thee this ring with the name of the goddess Mut, whose favor +and prudence will accompany thee to the end of thy worldly wandering, +if Thou deserve it." + +His worthiness delivered the ring to Eunana, and those present uttered +a great shout in honor of the pharaoh, and rattled their weapons. + +As Herhor did not move, Eunana stood and looked him in the eyes, like a +faithful dog which having received one morsel from his master is +wagging his tail and waiting. + +"And now," continued the minister, "confess, Eunana, why Thou didst not +tell whither the heir to the throne went when the army was marching +along the ravine with such difficulty. Thou didst an evil deed, for we +had to sound the alarm in the neighborhood of the enemy." + +"The gods are my witnesses that I know nothing of the most worthy +prince," replied the astonished Eunana. + +Herhor shook his head. + +"It cannot be that a man gifted with such sight, a man who at some tens +of yards away sees sacred scarabs in the sand, should not see so great +a personage as the heir to the throne is." + +"Indeed I did not see him!" explained Eunana, beating his breast. +"Moreover no one commanded me to watch Ramses." + +"Did I not free thee from leading the vanguard? Did I assign to thee an +office?" asked the minister. "Thou wert entirely free, just like a man +who is called to important deeds. And didst Thou accomplish thy task? +For such an error in time of war Thou shouldst suffer death surely." + +The ill-fated officer was pallid. + +"But I have a paternal heart for thee, Eunana," said Herhor, "and, +remembering the great service which Thou hast rendered by discovering +the scarabs, I, not as a stern minister, but as a mild priest, appoint +to thee a very small punishment. Thou wilt receive fifty blows of a +stick on thy body." + +"Worthiness!" + +"Eunana, Thou hast known how to be fortunate, now be manful and receive +this slight remembrance as becomes an officer in the army of his +holiness." + +Barely had the worthy Herhor finished when the officers oldest in rank +placed Eunana in a commodious position at the side of the highroad. +After that one of them sat on his neck, another on his feet, while a +third and a fourth counted out fifty blows of pliant reeds on his naked +body. + +The unterrified warrior uttered no groan; on the contrary, he hummed a +soldier song, and at the end of the ceremony wished to rise. But his +stiffened legs refused obedience, so he fell face downward on the sand; +they had to take him to Memphis on a two-wheeled vehicle. While lying +on this cart and smiling at the soldiers, Eunana considered that the +wind does not change so quickly in Lower Egypt as fortune in the life +of an inferior officer. + +When, after the brief halt, the retinue of the heir to the throne moved +on its farther journey, Herhor mounted his horse and riding at the side +of Nitager, spoke in an undertone about Asiatic nations and, above all, +about the awakening of Assyria. + +Then two servants of the minister, the adjutant carrying his fan and +the secretary Pentuer, began a conversation also. + +"What dost Thou think of Eunana's adventure?" asked the adjutant. + +"And what thinkest Thou of the slave who hanged himself?" + +"It seems to me that this was his best day, and the rope around his +neck the softest thing that has touched him in life. I think, too, that +Eunana from this time on will watch the heir to the throne very +closely." + +"Thou art mistaken," answered Pentuer. "Eunana from this time on will +never see a scarab, even though it were as large as a bullock. As to +that slave, dost Thou not think that in every case it must have been +very evil for him very evil in this sacred land of Egypt?" + +"Thou knowest not slaves, hence speakest thus." + +"But who knows them better?" asked Pentuer, gloomily. "Have I not grown +up among them? Have I not seen my father watering land, clearing +canals, sowing, harvesting, and, above all, paying tribute? Oh, Thou +knowest not the lot of slaves in Egypt." + +"But if I do not, I know the lot of the foreigner. My great-grandfather +or great-great-grandfather was famous among the Hyksos, but he remained +here, for he grew attached to this country. And what wilt Thou say? Not +only was his property taken from him, but the stain of my origin rests +on me at present. Thou thyself knowest what I bear frequently from +Egyptians by race, though I have a considerable position. How, then, +can I take pity on the Egyptian earth-worker, who, seeing my yellow +complexion, mutters frequently, 'Pagan! foreigner!' The earth-worker is +neither a pagan nor a foreigner." + +"Only a slave," added Pentuer, "a slave whom they marry, divorce, beat, +sell, slay sometimes, and command always to work, with a promise +besides that in the world to come he will be a slave also." + +"Thou art a strange man, though so wise!" said the adjutant, shrugging +his shoulders. "Dost Thou not see that each man of us occupies some +position, low, less low, or very low, in which he must labor? But dost +Thou suffer because Thou art not pharaoh, and thy tomb will not be a +pyramid? Thou dost not ponder at all over this, for Thou knowest it to +be the world's condition. Each creature does its own duty: the ox +ploughs, the ass bears the traveler, I cool his worthiness, Thou +rememberest and thinkest for him, while the earth-worker tills land and +pays tribute. What is it to us that some bull is born Apis, to whom all +render homage, and some man a pharaoh or a nomarch?" + +"The ten years' toil of that man was destroyed," whispered Pentuer. + +"And does not the minister destroy thy toil?" asked the adjutant. "Who +knows that Thou art the manager of the state, not the worthy Herhor?" + +"Thou art mistaken. He manages really. He has power and will; I have +only knowledge. Moreover, they do not beat thee, nor me, like that +slave." + +"But they have beaten Eunana, and they may beat us also. Hence there is +need to be brave and make use of the position assigned us; all the more +since, as is known to thee, our spirit, the immortal Ka, in proportion +as it is purified rises to a higher plane, so that after thousands or +millions of years, in company with spirits of pharaohs and slaves, in +company with gods even, it will be merged into the nameless and all- +mighty father of existence." + +"Thou speakest like a priest," answered Pentuer, with bitterness. "I +ought rather to have this calm! But instead of it I have pain in my +soul, for I feel the wretchedness of millions." + +"Who tells it to thee?" + +"My eyes and my heart. My heart is like a valley between mountains +which never can be silent, when it hears a cry, but must answer with an +echo." + +"I say to thee, Pentuer, that Thou thinkest too much over dangerous +subjects. It is impossible to walk safely along precipices of the +eastern mountains, for Thou mayst fall at any moment; or to wander +through the western desert, where hungry lions are prowling, and where +the raging simoom springs up unexpectedly." + +Meanwhile the valiant Eunana moved on in the vehicle, which only added +to his pain. But to show that he was valiant he requested food and +drink; and when he had eaten a dry cake rubbed with garlic and had +drunk some beer from a thick-bellied pot, he begged the driver to take +a branch and drive the flies from his wounded body. + +Thus lying on the bags and packs in that squeaking car, with his face +toward the earth, the unfortunate Eunana sang with a groaning voice the +grievous lot of the inferior officer, + +"Why dost Thou say that the scribe's lot is worse than the officer's? +Come and see my blue stripes and swollen body; meanwhile I will tell +thee the tale of a downtrodden officer. + +"I was a boy when they brought me to the barracks. For breakfast I had +blows of fists in the belly, till I fainted; for dinner fists in the +eyes, till my mouth gaped; and for supper I had a head covered with +wounds and almost split open. + +"Goon! let me tell how I made the campaign to Syria. Food and drink I +had to carry on my back, I was bent down with weight as an ass is bent. +My neck became stiff, like an ass's neck, and the joints of my back +swelled. I drank rotten water, I was like a captive bird in the face of +the enemy. + +"I returned to Egypt, but here I am like a tree into which a worm is +boring always. For any trifle they put me on the ground and beat me +till I am breaking. I am sick and must lie at full length; they carry +me in a car, meanwhile serving men steal my mantle and escape with it. + +"So change thy mind, O scribe, about the happiness of officers." +[Authentic] + +Thus sang the brave Eunana; and his tearful song has outlived the +Egyptian kingdom. + + + +CHAPTER V + +AS the suite of the heir approached Memphis, the sun was near its +setting, while from countless canals and the distant sea came a wind +filled with cool moisture. The road descended again to the fertile +region, where on fields and among bushes continuous ranks of people +were working, a rosy gleam was falling on the desert, and the mountain +summits were in a blaze of sunlight. + +Ramses halted and turned his horse. His suite surrounded him quickly, +the higher officers approached with some leisure, while the marching +regiments drew nearer slowly and with even tread. In the purple rays of +the setting sun, the prince had the seeming of a divinity, the soldiers +gazed at him with affection and pride, the chiefs looked admiringly. + +He raised his hand. All were silent. + +"Worthy leaders," began he, "brave officers, obedient soldiers! Today +the gods have given me the pleasure of commanding you. Delight has +filled my heart. And since it is my will that leaders, officers, and +soldiers should share my happiness at all times, I assign one drachma +to each soldier of those who have gone to the east, and to those who +return with us from the eastern boundary; also one drachma each to the +Greek soldiers who today, under my command, opened a passage out of the +ravine; and one drachma to each man in the regiments of the worthy +Nitager who wished to cut off the way to us." + +There was a shout in the army. + +"Be well, our leader! Be well, successor of the pharaoh, may he live +eternally!" cried the soldiers; and the Greeks cried the loudest. + +The prince continued, + +"I assign five talents to be divided among the lower officers of my +army and that of the worthy Nitager. And finally I assign ten talents +to be divided between his worthiness the minister and the chief +leaders." + +"I yield ray part for the benefit of the army," answered Herhor. + +"Be well, O heir! be well, O minister!" cried the officers and the +soldiers. + +The ruddy circle of the sun had touched the sands of the western +desert. Ramses took farewell of the army and galloped towards Memphis; +but his worthiness Herhor, amid joyous shouts, took a seat in his +litter and commanded also to go in advance of the marching divisions. + +When they had gone so far that single voices were merged into one +immense murmur, like the sound of a cataract, the minister, bending +toward the secretary, asked of him, + +"Dost Thou remember everything?" + +"Yes, worthy lord." + +"Thy memory is like granite on which we write history, and thy wisdom +like the Nile, which covers all the country and enriches it," said +Herhor. "Besides, the gods have granted thee the greatest of virtues, +wise obedience." + +The secretary was silent. + +"Hence Thou mayest estimate more accurately than others the acts and +reasons of the heir, may he live through eternity!" + +The minister stopped awhile, and then added, + +"It has not been his custom to speak so much. Tell me then, Pentuer, +and record this: Is it proper that the heir to the throne should +express his will before the army? Only a pharaoh may act thus, or a +traitor, or a frivolous stripling, who with the same heedlessness will +do hasty deeds or belch forth words of blasphemy." + +The sun went down, and soon after a starry night appeared. Above the +countless canals of Lower Egypt a silvery mist began to thicken, a mist +which, borne to the desert by a gentle wind, freshened the wearied +warriors, and revived vegetation which had been dying through lack of +moisture. + +"Or tell me, Pentuer," continued the minister, "and inquire: whence +will the heir get his twenty talents to keep the promise which he made +this day to the army with such improvidence? Besides, it seems to me, +and certainly to thee, a dangerous step for an heir to make presents to +the army, especially now, when his holiness has nothing with which to +pay Nitager's regiments returning from the Orient. I do not ask what +thy opinions are, for I know them, as Thou knowest my most secret +thoughts. I only ask thee to the end that Thou remember what Thou hast +seen, so as to tell it to the priests in council." + +"Will they meet soon?" inquired Pentuer. + +"There is no reason yet to summon them. I shall try first to calm this +wild young bull through the fatherly hand of his holiness. It would be +a pity to lose the boy, for he has much ability and the energy of a +southern whirlwind. But if the whirlwind, instead of blowing away +Egypt's enemies, blows down its wheat and tears up its palm-trees!" + +The minister stopped conversation, and his retinue vanished in the dark +alley of trees which led to Memphis. + +Meanwhile Ramses reached the palace of the pharaoh. + +This edifice stood on an elevation in a park outside the city. Peculiar +trees grew there: baobabs from the south; pines, oaks, and cedars from +the north. Thanks to the art of gardeners, these trees lived some tens +of years and reached a considerable height. + +The shady alley led to a gate which was as high as a house of three +stories. From each side of the gate rose a solid building like a tower +in the form of a truncated pyramid, forty yards in width with the +height of five stories. In the night they seemed like two immense tents +made of sandstone. These peculiar buildings had on the ground and the +upper stories square windows, and the roofs were flat. From the top of +one of these pyramids without apex, a watch looked at the country; from +the other the priest on duty observed the stars. + +At the right and left of these towers, called pylons, extended walls, +or rather long structures of one story, with narrow windows and flat +roofs, on which sentries paced back and forth. On both sides of the +main gate were two sitting statues fifteen feet in height. In front of +these statues moved other sentries. + +When the prince, with a number of horsemen, approached the palace, the +sentry knew him in spite of the darkness. Soon an official of the court +ran out of the pylon. He was clothed in a white skirt and dark mantle, +and wore a wig as large as a headdress. + +"Is the palace closed already?" inquired the prince. + +"Thou art speaking truth, worthy lord," said the official. "His +holiness is preparing the god for sleep." + +"What will he do after that?" + +"He will be pleased to receive the war minister, Herhor." + +"Well, and later?" + +"Later his holiness will look at the ballet in the great hall, then he +will bathe and recite evening prayers." + +"Has he not commanded to receive me?" inquired Ramses. + +"Tomorrow morning after the military council." + +"What are the queens doing?" + +"The first queen is praying in the chamber of her dead son, and thy +worthy mother is receiving the Phoenician ambassador, who has brought +her gifts from the women of Tyre." + +"Did he bring maidens?" + +"A number of them. Each has on her person treasures to the value of ten +talents." + +"Who is moving about down there with torches?" asked the prince, +pointing to the lower park. + +"They are taking thy brother, worthiness, from a tree where he has been +sitting since midday." + +"Is he unwilling to come down?" + +"He will come down now, for the first queen's jester has gone for him, +and has promised to take him to the inn where dissectors are drinking." + +"And hast Thou heard anything of the maneuvers of today?" + +"They say that the staff was cut off from the corps." + +"And what more?" + +The official hesitated. + +"Tell what Thou hast heard." + +"We heard, moreover, that because of this five hundred blows of a stick +were given to a certain officer at thy command, worthiness." + +"It is all a lie!" said one of the adjutants of the heir in an +undertone. + +"The soldiers, too, say among themselves that it must be a lie," +returned the official, with growing confidence. + +Ramses turned his horse and rode to the lower part of the park where +his small palace was situated. It had a ground and an upper story and +was built of wood. Its form was that of an immense hexagon with two +porticos, an upper and a lower one which surrounded the building and +rested on a multitude of pillars. Lamps were burning in the interior; +hence it was possible to see that the walls were formed of planks +perforated like lace, and that these walls were protected from the wind +by curtains of various colors. The roof of the building was flat, +surrounded by a balustrade; on this roof stood a number of tents. + +Greeted heartily by half-naked servitors, some of whom ran out with +torches, while others prostrated themselves before him, the heir +entered his residence. On the ground floor he removed his dusty dress, +bathed in a stone basin, and put on a kind of great sheet which he +fastened at the neck and bound round his waist with a cord for a +girdle. On the first floor he ate a supper consisting of a wheaten +cake, dates, and a glass of light beer. Then he went to the terrace of +the building, and lying on a couch covered with a lion skin, commanded +the servants to withdraw and to bring up Tutmosis the moment he +appeared there. + +About midnight a litter stopped before the residence, and out of it +stepped the adjutant. When he walked along the terrace heavily yawning +as he went, the prince sprang up from the couch and cried, + +"Art Thou here? Well, what?" + +"Then art Thou not sleeping yet?" replied Tutmosis. "O gods, after so +many days of torture! I think that I should sleep until sunrise." + +"What of Sarah?" + +"She will be here the day after to-morrow, or Thou wilt be with her in +the house beyond the river." + +"Only after to-morrow!" + +"Only? I beg thee, Ramses, to sleep. Thou hast taken too much bad blood +to thy heart, fire will strike to thy head." + +"What about her father?" + +"He is honorable and wise. They call him Gideon. When I told him that +Thou hadst the wish to take his daughter, he fell on the ground and +tore his hair. Of course I waited till this outburst of fatherly +suffering was over; I ate a little, drank some wine, and at last +proceeded to bargaining. The weeping Gideon swore first of all that he +would rather see his daughter dead than the mistress of any man. Then I +told him that near Memphis, on the Nile, he would receive land which +gives two talents of yearly income and pays no taxes. He was indignant. +Then I stated that he might receive another talent yearly in gold and +silver. He sighed and declared that his daughter had spent three years +at school in Pi-Bailos; I added another talent. Then Gideon, still +disconsolate, remembered that he would lose his very good position of +manager for the lord Sesofris. I told him that he need not lose that +place, and added ten milch cows from thy stables. His forehead cleared +somewhat; then he confessed to me, as a profound secret, that a certain +very great lord, Chaires, who bears the fan of the nomarch of Memphis, +was turning attention toward Sarah. I promised then to add a young +bull, a medium chain of gold, and a large bracelet. In this way thy +Sarah will cost thee land, two talents yearly in money, ten cows, a +young bull, a chain and a gold bracelet, immediately. These Thou wilt +give to her father, the honest Gideon; to her Thou wilt give whatever +pleases thee." + +"What did Sarah say to this?" + +"While we were bargaining she walked among the trees. When we had +finished the matter and settled it by drinking good Hebrew wine, she +told her father dost Thou know what? that if he had not given her to +thee, she would have gone up the cliff and thrown herself down head +foremost. Now Thou mayst sleep quietly, I think," ended Tutmosis. + +"I doubt it," answered Ramses, leaning on the balustrade and looking +into the emptiest side of the park. "Dost Thou know that on the way +back we found a man hanging from a tree?" + +"Oh! that is worse than the scarabs!" + +"He hanged himself from despair because the warriors filled the canal +which he had been digging for ten years in the desert." + +"Well, that man is sleeping now quietly. So it is time for us." + +"That man was wronged," said the prince. "I must find his children, +ransom them, and rent a bit of laud to them." + +"But Thou must do this with great secrecy," remarked Tutmosis, "or all +slaves will begin to hang themselves, and no Phoenician will lend us, +their lords, a copper uten." + +"Jest not. Hadst Thou seen that man's face, sleep would be absent to- +night from thy eyes as it is from mine." + +Meanwhile from below, among the bushes, was heard a voice, not over +powerful, but clear, + +"May the One, the All-Powerful, bless thee, Ramses, He who has no name +in human speech, or statue in a temple." + +Both young men bent forward in astonishment. + +"Who art thou?" called out the prince. + +"I am the injured people of Egypt," replied the voice, slowly and with +calmness. + +Then all was silent. No motion, no rustle of branches betrayed human +presence in that place. + +At command of Ramses servants rushed out with torches, the dogs were +unchained, and every bush around the house was searched. But they found +no one. + +"Who could that have been, Tutmosis?" asked the prince, with emotion. +"Perhaps it was the ghost of that slave who hanged himself?" + +"I have never heard ghosts talking, though I have been on guard at +temples and tombs more than once. I should think, rather, that he who +has just called to us is some friend of thine." + +"Why should he hide?" + +"But what harm is that to thee? Each one of us has tens, if not +hundreds, of invisible enemies. Thank the gods, then, that Thou hast +even one invisible friend." + +"I shall not sleep to-night," whispered the excited prince. + +"Be calm. Instead of running along the terrace listen to me and lie +down. Thou wilt see Sleep that is a deliberate divinity, and it does +not befit him to chase after those who run with the pace of a deer. If +Thou wilt lie down on a comfortable couch, Sleep, who loves comfort, +will sit near thee and cover thee with his great mantle, which covers +not only men's eyes, but their memories." + +Thus speaking, Tutmosis placed Ramses on a couch; then he brought an +ivory pillow shaped like a crescent, and arranging the prince, placed +his head on this pillow. + +Then he let down the canvas walls of the tent, laid himself on the +floor, and both were asleep in some minutes. + +CHAPTER VI + +THE entrance to the pharaoh's palace at Memphis was through a gate +placed between two lofty towers or pylons. The external walls of these +buildings were of gray sandstone covered from foundation to summit with +bas reliefs. + +At the top of the gate rose the arms of the state, or its symbol: a +winged globe, from behind which appeared two serpents. Lower down sat a +series of gods to which the pharaohs were bringing offerings. On side +pillars images of the gods were cut out also in five rows, one above +the other, while below were hieroglyphic inscriptions. + +On the walls of each pylon the chief place was occupied by a flat +sculpture of Ramses the Great, who held in one hand an uplifted axe and +grasped in the other, by the hair of the head, a crowd of people tied +in a bundle, like parsley. Above the king stood or sat two rows of +gods; still higher, a line of people with offerings; at the very summit +of the pylons were winged serpents intertwined with scarabs. + +Those pylons with walls narrowing toward the top, the gate which +connected them, the flat sculptures in which order was mingled with +gloomy fantasy and piety with cruelty, produced a tremendous +impression. It seemed difficult to enter that place, impossible to go +out, and a burden to live there. + +From the gate, before which stood troops and a throng of small +officials, those who entered came into a court surrounded by porticos +resting on pillars. That was an ornamental garden, in which were +cultivated aloes, palms, pomegranates, and cedars in pots, all placed +in rows and selected according to size. In the middle shot up a +fountain; the paths were sprinkled with colored sand. + +Under the gallery sat or walked higher officials of the state, speaking +in low tones. + +From the court, through a high door, the visitor passed to a hall of +twelve lofty columns. The hall was large, but as the columns also were +large, the hall seemed diminutive. It was lighted by small windows in +the walls and through a rectangular opening in the roof. Coolness and +shade prevailed there; the shade was almost a gloom, which did not, +however, prevent him who entered from seeing the yellow walls and +pillars, covered with lines of paintings. At the top leaves and flowers +were represented; lower down, the gods; still lower, people who carried +their statues or brought them offerings; and between these groups were +lines of hieroglyphs. + +All this was painted in clear, almost glaring colors, green, red, and +blue. + +In this hall, with its varied mosaic pavement, stood in silence, white +robed and barefoot, the priests, the highest dignitaries of State, +Herhor, the minister of war, also the leaders Nitager and Patrokles, +who had been summoned to the presence of the pharaoh. + +His holiness Ramses XII, as usual before he held council, was placing +offerings before the gods in his chapel. This continued rather long. +Every moment some priest or official ran in from the more distant +chambers and communicated news touching the course of the service. + +"The lord has broken the seal to the chapel He is washing the sacred +divinity Now he is putting it away Now he has closed the door." + +On the faces of courtiers, notwithstanding their offices, concern and +humility were evident. But Herhor was indifferent, Patrokles impatient, +and Nitager now and then disturbed with his deep voice the solemn +silence. After every such impolite sound from the old leader, the +courtiers moved, like frightened sheep, and looked at one another, as +if saying, + +"This rustic has been hunting barbarians all his life, we may pardon +him." + +From remoter chambers were heard the sound of bells and the clatter of +weapons. Into the hall came in two ranks some tens of the guard in gilt +helmets, in breastplates, and with drawn swords, next two ranks of +priests, and at last appeared the pharaoh, carried in a litter, +surrounded by clouds of smoke and incense. + +The ruler of Egypt, Ramses XII, was nearly sixty years old. His face +was withered. He wore a white mantle; on his head was a red and white +cap with a golden serpent; in his hand he held a long staff. + +When the retinue showed itself, all present fell on their faces, except +Patrokles, who, as a barbarian, stopped at a low bow, while Nitager +knelt on one knee, but soon rose again. + +The litter stopped before a baldachin under which was an ebony throne +on an elevation. The pharaoh descended slowly from the litter, looked +awhile at those present, and then, taking his seat on the throne, gazed +fixedly at the cornice on which was painted a rose-colored globe with +blue wings and green serpents. + +On the right of the pharaoh stood the chief scribe, on the left a judge +with a staff; both wore immense wigs. + +At a sign from the judge all sat down or knelt on the pavement, while +the scribe said to the pharaoh, + +"Our lord and mighty ruler! Thy servant Nitager, the great guard on the +eastern boundary, has come to render thee homage, and has brought +tribute from conquered nations: a vase of green stone filled with gold, +three hundred oxen, a hundred horses, and the fragrant wood teshep." + +"That is a mean tribute, my lord," said Nitager. "Real treasures we can +find only on the Euphrates, where splendid kings, though weak so far, +need much to be reminded of Ramses the Great." + +"Answer my servant Nitager," said the pharaoh to the scribe, "that his +words will be taken under careful consideration. But now ask him what +he thinks of the military ability of my son and heir, whom he had the +honor of meeting near Pi-Bailos yesterday." + +"Our lord, the master of nine nations, asks thee, Nitager" began the +scribe. + +But the leader interrupted quickly, to the great dissatisfaction of the +courtiers, + +"I hear myself what my lord says. Only the heir to the throne could be +his mouth when he turns to me; not thou, chief scribe." + +The scribe looked with consternation at the daring leader, but the +pharaoh answered, + +"My faithful Nitager speaks truth." + +The minister of war bowed. + +Now the judge announced to all present to the priests, the officials, +and the guards that they might go to the palace courtyard; and he +himself, bowing to the throne, was the first to go thither. In the hall +remained only the pharaoh, Herhor, and the two leaders. + +"Incline thy ears, O sovereign, and listen to complaints," began +Nitager. "This morning the official priest, who came at thy command to +anoint my hair, told me that in going to thee I was to leave my sandals +in the entrance hall. Meanwhile it is known, not only in Upper and +Lower Egypt, but in the Hittite country, Libya, Phoenicia, and the land +of Punt, that twenty years ago Thou didst give me the right to stand +before thee in sandals." + +"Thou speakest truth," said the pharaoh. "Various disorders have crept +into the court ceremonial." + +"Only give command, O king, and my veterans will produce order +immediately," added Nitager. + +At a sign given by the minister of war, a number of officials ran in: +one brought sandals and put them on Nitager's feet; others put down +costly stools for the minister and leaders. + +When the three dignitaries were seated, Ramses XII said, + +"Tell me, Nitager, dost Thou think that my son will be a leader? But +tell pure truth." + +"By Amon of Thebes, by the glory of my ancestors in whom was blood +royal, I swear that thy heir, Prince Ramses, will be a great leader, if +the gods permit," replied Nitager. "He is a young man, a lad yet; still +he concentrated his regiments, eased their march, and provided for +them. He pleased me most of all by this, that he did not lose his head +when I cut off the road before him, but led his men to the attack. He +will be a leader, and will conquer the Assyrians, whom we must vanquish +today if they are not to be seen on the Nile by our grandchildren." + +"What dost Thou say to that?" inquired the pharaoh of Herhor. + +"As to the Assyrians, I think that the worthy Nitager is concerned +about them too early. We must strengthen ourselves well before we begin +a new war. As to the heir, Nitager says justly that the young man has +the qualities of a leader: he is as keen as a fox, and has the energy +of a lion. Still he made many blunders yesterday. + +"Who among us has not made them?" put in Patrokles, silent thus far. + +"The heir," continued the minister, "led the main corps wisely, but he +neglected his staff; through this neglect we marched so slowly and in +such disorder that Nitager was able to cut off the road before us." + +"Perhaps Ramses counted on your dignity," said Nitager. + +"In government and war we must count on no man: one unreckoned little +stone may overturn everything," said the minister. + +"If thou, worthiness," answered Patrokles, "had not pushed the columns +from the road because of those scarabs." + +"Thou, worthiness, art a foreigner and an unbeliever," retorted Herhor, +"hence this speech. But we Egyptians understand that when the people +and the soldiers cease to reverence the scarabs, their sons will cease +to fear the ureus (the serpent). From contempt of the gods is born +revolt against the pharaohs." + +"But what are axes for?" asked Nitager. "Whoso wishes to keep a head on +his shoulders let him listen to the supreme commander." + +"What then is your final opinion of the heir?" asked the pharaoh of +Herhor. + +"Living image of the sun, child of the gods," replied the minister. +"Command to anoint Ramses, give him a grand chain and ten talents, but +do not appoint him yet to command the corps in Memphis. The prince is +too young for that office, too passionate and inexperienced. Can we +recognize him as the equal of Patrokles, who has trampled the +Ethiopians and the Libyans in twenty battles? Or can we place him at +the side of Nitager, whose name alone brings pallor to our northern and +eastern enemies?" + +The pharaoh rested his head on his hand, meditated, and said, + +"Depart with my favor and in peace. I will do what is indicated by +wisdom and justice." + +The dignitaries bowed low, and Ramses XII, without waiting for his +suite, passed to remoter chambers. + +When the two leaders found themselves alone in the entrance hall, +Nitager said to Patrokles, + +"Here priests rule as in their own house. I see that. But what a leader +that Herhor is! He vanquished us before we spoke; he does not grant a +corps to the heir." + +"He praised me so that I dared not utter a word," said Patrokles. + +"He is far seeing, and does not tell all he thinks. In the wake of the +heir various young lords who go to war taking singers would have shoved +themselves into the corps, and they would occupy the highest places. +Naturally old officers would fall into idleness from anger, because +promotion had missed them; the exquisites would be idle for the sake of +amusement, and the corps would break up without even meeting an enemy. +Oh, Herhor is a sage!" + +"May his wisdom not cost thee more than the inexperience of Ramses," +whispered Patrokles. + +Through a series of chambers filled with columns and adorned with +paintings, where at each door priests and palace officials gave low +obeisances before him, the pharaoh passed to his cabinet. That was a +lofty hall with alabaster walls on which in gold and bright colors were +depicted the most famous events in the reign of Ramses XII, therefore +homage given him by the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, the embassy from +the King of Buchten, and the triumphal journey of the god Khonsu +through the land of that potentate. + +In this hall was the malachite statue of the bird-headed Horus, adorned +with gold and jewels. In front of the statue was an altar shaped as a +truncated pyramid, the king's armor, costly armchairs and stools, also +tables covered with trifles and small objects. + +When the pharaoh appeared, one of the priests burnt incense before him, +and one of the officials announced Prince Ramses, who soon entered and +bowed low before his father. On the expressive face of the prince +feverish disquiet was evident. + +"Erpatr, I rejoice," said the pharaoh, "that Thou hast returned in good +health from a difficult journey." + +"Mayst Thou live through eternity, holiness, and thy affairs fill the +two worlds!" replied Ramses. + +"My military advisers have just informed me of thy labor and prudence." + +The heir's face quivered and changed. He fixed great eyes on the +pharaoh and listened. + +"Thy deeds will not remain without reward. Thou wilt receive ten +talents, a great chain, and two Greek regiments with which Thou wilt +exercise." + +Ramses was amazed, but after a while he asked with a stifled voice, + +"But the corps in Memphis?" + +"In a year we will repeat the maneuvers, and if Thou make no mistake in +leading the army Thou wilt get the corps." + +"I know that Herhor did this!" cried the prince, hardly restraining his +anger. + +He looked around, and added, "lean never be alone with thee, my father; +strangers are always between us." + +The pharaoh moved his brows slightly, and his suite vanished, like a +crowd of shadows. + +"What hast Thou to tell me?" + +"Only one thing, father. Herhor is my enemy. He accused me to thee and +exposed me to this shame!" + +In spite of his posture of obedience the prince gnawed his lips and +balled his fists. + +"Herhor is thy friend and my faithful servant. It was his persuasion +that made thee heir to the throne. But I will not confide a corps to a +youthful leader who lets himself be cut off from his army." + +"I joined it," answered the crushed heir; "but Herhor commanded to +march around two beetles." + +"Dost Thou wish that a priest should make light of religion in the +presence of the army?" + +"My father," whispered Ramses, with quivering voice, "to avoid spoiling +the journey of the beetles a canal was destroyed, and a man was +killed." + +"That man raised his own hands on himself." + +"But that was the fault of Herhor." + +"In the regiments which them didst concentrate near Pi-Bailos thirty +men died from over-exertion, and several hundred are sick." + +The prince dropped his head. + +"Ramses," continued the pharaoh, "through thy lips is speaking not a +dignitary of the state who is thinking of the soundness of canals and +the lives of laborers, but an angry person. Anger does not accord with +justice any more than a falcon with a dove." + +"Oh, my father," burst out the heir, "if anger carries me away, it is +because I feel the ill-will of the priests and of Herhor." + +"But Thou art thyself the grandson of a high priest; the priests taught +thee. Thou hast learned more of their secrets than any other prince +ever has." + +"I have learned their insatiable pride, and greed of power. And because +I will abridge it they are my enemies. Herhor is not willing to give me +even a corps, for he wishes to manage the whole army." + +When he had thrown out these incautious words, the heir was frightened. +But the ruler raised his clear glance, and answered quietly, + +"I manage the state and the army. From me flow all commands and +decisions. In this world I am the balance of Osiris, and I myself weigh +the services of my servants, be they the heir, a minister, or the +people. Imprudent would he be who should think that all intrigues are +not known to me." + +"But, father, if Thou hadst seen with thy own eyes the course of the +maneuvers + +"I might have seen a leader," interrupted the pharaoh, "who in the +decisive moment was chasing through the bushes after an Israelite +maiden. But I do not wish to observe such stupidity." + +The prince fell at his father's feet, and whispered, + +"Did Tutmosis speak to thee of that, lord?" + +"Tutmosis is a child, just as Thou art. He piles up debts as chief of +staff in the corps of Memphis, and thinks in his heart that the eyes of +the pharaoh cannot reach to his deeds in the desert." + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Some days later Prince Ramses was summoned before the face of his most +worthy mother, Nikotris, who was the second wife of the pharaoh, but +now the greatest lady in Egypt. The gods were not mistaken when they +called her to be the mother of a pharaoh. She was a tall person, of +rather full habit, and in spite of forty years was still beautiful. +There was in her eyes, face, and whole form such majesty that even when +she went unattended, in the modest garb of a priestess, people bowed +their heads to her. + +The worthy lady received Ramses in her cabinet, which was paved with +porcelain tiles. She sat on an inlaid armchair under a palm-tree. At +her feet, on a small stool, lay a little dog; on the other side knelt a +black slave woman with a fan. The pharaoh's wife wore a muslin robe +embroidered with gold, and on her wig a circlet in the form of a lotus, +ornamented with jewels. + +When the prince had bowed low, the little dog sniffed him, then lay +down again; while the lady, nodding her head, made inquiry, "For what +reason, O Ramses, hast Thou desired an interview?" + +"Two days ago, mother." + +"I knew that Thou wert occupied. But today we both have time, and I can +listen." + +"Thy speech, mother, acts on me as a strong wind of the desert, and I +have no longer courage to present my petition." + +"Then surely it is a question of money." + +Ramses dropped his head; he was confused. + +"But dost Thou need much money?" + +"Fifteen talents." + +"O gods!" cried the lady, "but a couple of days ago ten talents were +paid thee from the treasury. Go, girl, into the garden; Thou must be +tired," said she to the black slave; and when alone with her son she +asked, + +"But is thy Jewess so demanding?" + +Ramses blushed, but raised his head. + +"Thou knowest, mother, that she is not. But I promised a reward to the +army, and I am unable to pay it." + +The queen looked at him with calm loftiness. + +"How evil it is," said she, after a while, "when a son makes decisions +without consulting his mother. Just now I, remembering thy age, wished +to give thee a Phoenician slave maiden sent me by Tyre with ten talents +for dowry. But Thou hast preferred a Jewess." + +"She pleased me. There is not such a beauty among thy serving maidens, +mother, nor even among the wives of his holiness." + +"But she is a Jewess!" + +"Be not prejudiced, mother, I beg of thee. It is untrue that Jews eat +pork and kill cats." + +The worthy lady laughed. + +"Thou art speaking like some boy from a primary school," answered she, +shrugging her shoulders, "and hast forgotten the words of Ramses the +Great: 'The yellow people are more numerous than we and they are +richer; let us act against them, lest they grow too powerful, but let +us act carefully.' I do not think, therefore, that a girl of that +people is the one to be first mistress of the heir to the throne." + +"Can the words of Ramses the Great apply to the daughter of a poor +tenant?" asked the prince. "Besides, where are the Jews? Three +centuries ago they left Egypt, and today they form a little state, +ridiculous and priest-governed." + +"I see," answered the worthy lady, frowning slightly, "that thy +mistress is not losing time. Be careful, Ramses; remember, that their +leader was Messu (Moses), that traitor priest whom we curse to this day +in our temples. Remember that the Jews bore away out of Egypt more +treasures than the labor of their few generations was worth to us; they +took with them not only gold, but the faith in one god, and our sacred +laws, which they give out today as their own faith and laws. Last of +all, know this," added she, with great emphasis, "that the daughters of +that people prefer death to the bed of a foreigner. And if they give +themselves even to hostile leaders, it is to use them for their policy +or to kill them." + +"Believe me, mother, that it is our priests who spread all these +reports. They will not admit to the footstool of the throne people of +another faith lest those people might serve the pharaoh in opposition +to their order." + +The queen rose from the armchair, and crossing her arms on her breast, +gazed at her son with amazement. + +"What they tell me is true then, Thou art an enemy of our priests. +Thou, their favorite pupil!" + +"I must have the traces of their canes to this day on my shoulders," +said Ramses. + +"But thy grandfather and my father, Amenhotep, was a high priest, and +possessed extensive power in this country." + +"Just because my grandfather was a pharaoh, and my father is a pharaoh +also, I cannot endure the rule of Herhor." + +"He was brought to his position by thy grandfather, the holy +Amenhotep." + +"And I will cast him down from it." + +The mother shrugged her shoulders. + +"And it is thou," answered she, with sadness, "who wishest to lead a +corps? But Thou art a spoiled girl, not a man and a leader." + +"How is that?" interrupted the prince, restraining himself with +difficulty from an outburst. + +"I cannot recognize my own son. I do not see in thee the future lord of +Egypt. The dynasty in thy person will be like a Nile boat without a +rudder. Thou wilt drive the priests from the court, but who will remain +with thee? Who will be thy eye in the Lower and the Upper Country, who +in foreign lands? But the pharaoh must see everything, whatever it be, +on which fall the divine rays of Osiris." + +"The priests will be my servants, not my ministers." + +"They are the most faithful servants. Thanks to their prayers thy +father reigns thirty-three years, and avoids war which might be fatal." + +"To the priests?" + +"To the pharaoh and the state!" interrupted the lady. "Knowest Thou +what takes place in our treasury, from which in one day Thou takest ten +talents and desirest fifteen more? Knowest Thou that were it not for +the liberality of the priests, who on behalf of the treasury even take +real jewels from the gods and put false ones in their places, the +property of the pharaoh would be now in the hands of Phoenicians?" + +"One fortunate war would overflow our treasury as the increase of the +Nile does our fields." + +"No. Thou, Ramses, art such a child yet that we may not even reckon thy +godless words as sinful. Occupy thyself, I beg, with thy Greek +regiments, get rid of the Jew girl as quickly as may be, and leave +politics to us." + +"Why must I put away Sarah?" + +"Shouldst Thou have a son from her, complications might rise in the +State, which is troubled enough as matters now are. Thou mayst be angry +with the priests," added she, "if Thou wilt not offend them in public. +They know that it is necessary to overlook much in an heir to the +throne, especially when he has such a stormy character. But time +pacifies everything to the glory of the dynasty and the profit of +Egypt." + +The prince meditated; then he said suddenly, + +"I cannot count, therefore, on money from the treasury." + +"Thou canst not in any case. The grand secretary would have been forced +to stop payment today had I not given him fourteen talents sent from +Tyre to me." + +"And what shall I do with the army?" asked the prince, rubbing his +forehead impatiently. + +"Put away the Jewess, and beg the priests. Perhaps they will make a +loan to thee." + +"Never! I prefer a loan from Phoenicians." + +The lady shook her head. + +"Thou art erpatr, act as may please thee. But I say that Thou must give +great security, and the Phoenicians, when once thy creditors, will not +let thee go. They surpass the Jews in treachery." + +"A part of my income will suffice to cover such debts." + +"We shall see. I wish sincerely to help thee, but I have not the +means," said the lady, sadly. "Do, then, as Thou art able, but remember +that the Phoenicians in our state are like rats in a granary; when one +pushes in through a crevice, others follow." + +Ramses loitered in leave-taking. + +"Hast Thou something more to tell me?" inquired the queen. + +"I should like to ask My heart divines that thou, mother, hast some +plans regarding me. What are they?" + +She stroked his face. + +"Not now not yet. Thou art free today, like every young noble in the +country; then make use of thy freedom. But, Ramses, the time is coming +when Thou wilt have to take a wife whose children will be princes of +the blood royal and whose son will be thy heir. I am thinking of that +time." + +"And what?" + +"Nothing defined yet. In every case political wisdom suggests to me +that thy wife should be a priest's daughter." + +"Perhaps Herhor's?" said the prince, with a laugh. + +"What would there be blamable in that? Herhor will be high priest in +Thebes very soon, and his daughter is only fourteen years of age." + +"And would she consent to occupy the place of the Jewess?" asked +Ramses, ironically. + +"Thou shouldst try to have people forget thy present error." + +"I kiss thy feet, mother, and I go," said the prince, seizing his own +head. "I hear so many marvelous things here that I begin to fear lest +the Nile may flow up toward the cataract, or the pyramids pass over to +the eastern desert." + +"Blaspheme not, my child," whispered the lady, gazing with fear at +Ramses. "In this land most wonderful miracles are seen." + +"Are not they this, that the walls of the palace listen to their +owners?" asked her son, with a bitter smile. + +"Men have witnessed the death of pharaohs who had reigned a few months +only, and the fall of dynasties which had governed nine nations." + +"Yes, for those pharaohs forgot the sword for the distaff," retorted +Ramses. + +He bowed and went out. + +In proportion as the sound of Ramses' steps grew less in the immense +antechamber, the face of the worthy lady changed; the place of majesty +was taken by pain and fear, while tears were glistening in her great +eyes. + +She ran to the statue of the goddess, knelt, and sprinkling incense +from India on the coals, began to pray, + +"O Isis, Isis, Isis! three times do I pronounce thy name. O Isis, who +givest birth to serpents, crocodiles, and ostriches, may thy name be +thrice praised. O Isis, who preservest grains of wheat from robber +whirlwinds, and the bodies of our fathers from the destructive toil of +time, Isis, take pity on my son and preserve him! Thrice be thy name +repeated and here and there and beyond, today and forever, and for the +ages of ages, as long as the temples of our gods shall gaze on +themselves in the waters of the Nile." + +Thus praying and sobbing, the queen bowed down and touched the pavement +with her forehead. Above her at that moment a low whisper was audible, + +"The voice of the just is heard always." + +The worthy lady sprang up, and full of astonishment looked around. But +there was no one in the chamber. Only the painted flowers gazed at her +from the walls, and from above the altar the statue of the goddess full +of super-terrestrial calm. + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The prince returned to his villa full of care, and summoned Tutmosis. + +"Thou must," said Ramses, "teach me how to find money." + +"Ha!" laughed the exquisite; "that is a kind of wisdom not taught in +the highest school of the priests, but wisdom in which I might be a +prophet." + +"In those schools they explain that a man should not borrow money," +said Ramses. + +"If I did not fear that blasphemy might stain my lips, I should say +that some priests waste their time. They are wretched, though holy! +They eat no meat, they are satisfied with one wife, or avoid women +altogether, and they know not what it is to borrow. I am satisfied, +Ramses," continued the exquisite, "that Thou wilt know this kind of +wisdom through my counsels. Today Thou wilt learn what a source of +sensations lack of money is. A man in need of money has no appetite, he +springs up in sleep, he looks at women with astonishment, as if to ask, +'Why were they created?' Fire flashes in his face in the coolest +temple. In the middle of a desert shivers of cold pass through him +during the greatest heat. He looks like a madman; he does not hear what +people say to him. Very often he walks along with his wig awry and +forgets to sprinkle it with perfume. His only comfort is a pitcher of +strong wine, and that for a brief moment. Barely has the poor man's +thoughts come back when again he feels as though the earth were opening +under him. + +"I see," continued the exquisite, "that at present Thou art passing +through despair from lack of money. But soon Thou wilt know other +feelings which will be as if a great sphinx were removed from thy +bosom. Then Thou wilt yield to the sweet condition of forgetting thy +previous trouble and present creditors, and then Ah, happy Ramses, +unusual surprises will await thee! For the term will pass, and thy +creditors will begin to visit thee under pretence of paying homage. +Thou wilt be like a deer hunted by dogs, or an Egyptian girl who, while +raising water from the river, sees the knotty back of a crocodile." + +"All this seems very gladsome," interrupted Ramses, smiling; "but it +brings not one drachma." + +"Never mind," continued Tutmosis. "I will go this moment to Dagon, the +Phoenician banker, and in the evening Thou wilt find peace, though he +may not have given thee money." + +He hastened out, took his seat in a small litter, and surrounded by +servants vanished in the alleys of the park. + +Before sunset Dagon, a Phoenician, the most noted banker in Memphis, +came to the house of Ramses. He was a man in the full bloom of life, +yellow, lean, but well built. He wore a blue tunic and over it a white +robe of thin texture. He had immense hair of his own, confined by a +gold circlet, and a great black beard, his own also. This rich growth +looked imposing in comparison with the wigs and false beards of +Egyptian exquisites. + +The dwelling of the heir to the throne was swarming with youth of the +aristocracy. Some on the ground floor were bathing and anointing +themselves, others were playing chess and checkers on the first story, +others in company with dancing girls were drinking under tents on the +terrace. Ramses neither drank, played, nor talked with women; he walked +along one side of the terrace awaiting the Phoenician impatiently. When +he saw him emerge from an alley in a litter on two asses, he went to +the first story, where there was an unoccupied chamber. + +After awhile Dagon appeared in the door. He knelt on the threshold and +exclaimed, + +"I greet thee, new sun of Egypt! Mayst Thou live through eternity, and +may thy glory reach those distant shores which are visited by the ships +of Phoenicia." + +At command of the prince, he rose and said with violent gesticulations, + +"When the worthy Tutmosis descended before my mud hut my house is a mud +hut in comparison with thy palaces, erpatr such was the gleam from his +face that I cried at once to my wife, 'Tamara, the worthy Tutmosis has +come not from himself, but from one as much higher than he as the +Lebanon is higher than the sand of the seashore.' 'Whence dost Thou +know, my lord, that the worthy Tutmosis has not come for himself?' +'Because he could not come with money, since he has none, and he could +not come for money, because I have none.' At that moment we bowed down +both of us to the worthy Tutmosis. But when he told us that it was +thou, most worthy lord, who desirest fifteen talents from thy slave, I +asked my wife, 'Tamara, did my heart teach me badly?' 'Dagon, Thou art +so wise that Thou shouldst be an adviser to the heir,' replied my +Tamara." + +Ramses was boiling with impatience, but he listened to the banker, he, +Ramses, who stormed in the presence of his own mother and the pharaoh. + +"When we, lord, stopped and understood that Thou wert desirous of my +services, such delight entered my house that I ordered to give the +servants ten pitchers of beer, and my wife Tamara commanded me to buy +her new earrings. My joy was increased so that when coming hither I did +not let my driver beat the asses. And when my unworthy feet touched thy +floor, O prince, I took out a gold ring, greater than that which the +worthy Herhor gave Eunana, and presented it to thy slave who poured +water on my fingers. With permission, worthiness, whence came that +silver pitcher from which they poured the water?" + +"Azarias, the son of Gaber, sold it to me for two talents." + +"A Jew? Erpatr, dost Thou deal with Jews? But what will the gods say?" + +"Azarias is a merchant, as Thou art," answered Ramses. + +When Dagon heard this, he caught his head with both hands, he spat and +groaned, + +"O Baal Tammuz! O Baaleth! O Astoreth! Azarias, the son of Gaber, a +Jew, to be such a merchant as I am. Oh, my legs, why did ye bring me +hither? Oh, my heart, why dost Thou suffer such pain and palpitation? +Most worthy prince," cried the Phoenician, "slay me, cut off my hand if +I counterfeit gold, but say not that a Jew can be a merchant. Sooner +will Tyre fall to the earth, sooner will sand occupy the site of Sidon +than a Jew be a merchant. They will milk their lean goats, or mix clay +with straw under blows of Egyptian sticks, but they will never sell +merchandise. Tfu! tfu! Vile nation of slaves! Thieves, robbers!" + +Anger boiled up in the prince, it is unknown why, but he calmed himself +quickly. This seemed strange to Ramses himself, who up to that hour had +not thought self-restraint needed in his case in presence of any one. + +"And then," said the heir on a sudden, "wilt thou, worthy Dagon, loan +me fifteen talents?" + +"O Astoreth! Fifteen talents? That is such a great weight that I should +have to sit down to think of it properly." + +"Sit down then." + +"For a talent," said Dagon, sitting in an armchair comfortably, "a man +can have twelve gold chains, or sixty beautiful milch cows, or ten +slaves for labor, or one slave to play on the flute or paint, and maybe +even to cure. A talent is tremendous property." + +The prince's eyes flashed, + +"Then Thou hast not fifteen talents?" + +The terrified Phoenician slipped suddenly from the chair to the floor. + +"Who in the city," cried he, "has not money at thy command, O child of +the sun? It is true that I am a wretch whose gold, precious stones, and +whole property is not worth one glance of thine, O prince, but if I go +around among our merchants and say who sent me, I shall get fifteen +talents even from beneath the earth. Erpatr, if Thou shouldst stand +before a withered fig-tree and say 'Give money!' the fig-tree would pay +thee a ransom. But do not look at me in that way, O son of Horus, for I +feel a pain in the pit of my heart and my mind is growing blunted," +finished the Phoenician, in tones of entreaty. + +"Well, sit in the chair, sit in the chair," said the prince, laughing. + +Dagon rose from the floor and disposed himself still more agreeably in +the armchair. + +"For how long a time does the prince wish fifteen talents?" + +"Certainly for a year." + +"Let us say at once three years. Only his holiness might give back +fifteen talents in the course of a year, but not the youthful heir, who +must receive young pleasant nobles and beautiful women. Ah, those +women! Is it true, with thy permission, that Thou hast taken to thyself +Sarah the daughter of Gideon?" + +"But what per cent dost Thou wish?" interrupted Ramses. + +"A trifle, which thy sacred lips need not mention. For fifteen talents +the prince will give five talents yearly, and in the course of three +years I will take back all myself, so that thou, worthiness, wilt not +even know." + +"Thou wilt give me today fifteen talents, and during three years take +back thirty?" + +"Egyptian law permits percentage to equal the loan," answered Dagon, +confusedly. + +"But is that not too much?" + +"Too much?" cried out Dagon. "Every great lord has a great court, a +great property, and pays no per cent save a great one. I should be +ashamed to take less from the heir to the throne; if I did the prince +himself might command to beat me with sticks and to drive me out of his +presence." + +"When wilt Thou bring the money?" + +"Bring it? O gods, one man would not have strength to bring so much. I +will do better: I will make all payments for the prince, so that, +worthiness, Thou wilt not need to think of such a wretched matter." + +"Then dost Thou know my debts?" + +"I know them a little," answered Dagon, carelessly. + +"The prince wishes to send six talents to the Eastern army; that will +be done by our bankers. Three talents to the worthy Nitager and three +to the worthy Patrokles; that will be done here immediately. Sarah and +her father I can pay through that mangy Azarias even better to pay them +thus, for they would cheat the prince in reckoning." + +Ramses began to walk through the room impatiently. + +"Then am I to give a note for thirty talents?" + +"What note? why a note? what good would a note be to me? The prince +will rent me for three years lands in the provinces of Takens, Ses, +Neha-Meut, Neha-Pechu, in Sebt-Het, in Habu." + +"Rent them?" said the prince. "That does not please me." + +"Whence then am I to get back my money, my thirty talents?" + +"Wait! I must ask the inspector of my granaries how much these +properties bring me in yearly." + +"Why so much trouble, worthiness? What does the inspector know? He +knows nothing; as I am an honest Phoenician, he knows nothing. Each +year the harvest is different, and the income different also. I may +lose in this business, and the inspector would make no return to me." + +"But seest thou, Dagon, it seems to me that those lands bring far more +than ten talents yearly." + +"The prince is unwilling to trust me? Well, at command of the heir I +will drop out the land of Ses. The prince is not sure of my heart yet? +Well, I will yield Sebt-Het also. But what use for an inspector here? +Will he teach the prince wisdom? O Astoreth! I should lose sleep and +appetite if such an overseer, subject and slave, dared to correct my +gracious lord. Here is needed only a scribe who will write down that my +most worthy lord gives me as tenant for three years lands in such and +such a province. And sixteen witnesses will be needed to testify that +such an honor from the prince has come to me. But why should servants +know that their lord borrows money from Dagon?" + +The wearied heir shrugged his shoulders. + +"Tomorrow," said he, "Thou wilt bring the money, and bring a scribe and +witnesses. I do not wish to think of it." + +"Oh, what wise words!" cried the Phoenician. "Mayst Thou live, +worthiest lord, through eternity!" + + + +CHAPTER IX + +ON the right bank of the Nile, on the edge of the northern suburb of +Memphis, was that laud which the heir to 'the throne had given as place +of residence to Sarah the daughter of Gideon. + +That was a possession thirty-five acres in area, forming a quadrangle +which was seen from the house-top as something on the palm of the hand. +The land was on a hill and was divided into four elevations. The two +lowest and widest, which the Nile always flooded, were intended for +grain and for vegetables. The third, which at times was untouched by +the overflow, produced palms, figs, and other fruit-trees. On the +fourth, the highest, was a garden planted with olives, grapes, nuts, +and sweet chestnuts; in the middle garden stood the dwelling. + +This dwelling was of wood, one story, as usual, with a flat roof on +which was a tent made of canvas. On the ground dwelt the prince's black +slave; above Sarah with her relative and serving-woman Tafet. The place +was surrounded by a wall of partially burnt brick, beyond which at a +certain distance were houses for cattle, workmen, and overseers. + +Sarah's chambers were not large, but they were elegant. On the floor +were divans, at the doors and windows were curtains with stripes of +various colors. There were armchairs and a carved bed, inlaid boxes for +clothing, three-legged and one-legged tables on which were pots with +flowers, a slender pitcher for wine, boxes and bottles of perfume, +golden and silver cups and goblets, porcelain vases and dishes, bronze +candlesticks. Even the smallest furniture or vessel was ornamented with +carving or with a colored drawing; every piece of clothing with lace or +bordering. + +Sarah had dwelt ten days in this retreat, hiding herself before people +from fear and shame, so that almost no one of the servants had seen +her. In the curtained chamber she sewed, wove linen on a small loom, or +twined garlands of living flowers for Ramses. Sometimes she went out on +the terrace, pushed apart the sides of the tent with care, and looked +at the Nile covered with boats in which oarsmen were singing songs +joyfully. On raising her eyes she looked with fear at the gray pylons +of the pharaoh's palace, which towered silent and gloomy above the +other bank of the river. Then she ran again to her work and called +Tafet. + +"Sit here, mother," said she; "what art Thou doing down there?" + +"The gardener has brought fruit, and they have sent bread, wine, and +game from the city; I must take them." + +"Sit here and talk, for fear seizes me." + +"Thou art a foolish child," said Tafet, smiling. "Fear looked at me too +the first day from every corner; but when I went out beyond the wall, +there was no more of it. Whom have I to fear here? All fall on their +knees before me. Before thee they would stand on their heads even! Go +to the garden; it is as beautiful as paradise. Look out at the field, +see the wheat harvest; sit down in the carved boat the owner of which +is withering from anxiety to see thee and take thee out of the river." + +"I am afraid." + +"Of what?" + +"Do I know? While I am sewing, I think that T am in our valley and that +my father will come right away; but when the wind pushes the curtain +aside from the window and I look on this great country it seems to me, +knowest what? that some mighty vulture has caught and borne me to his +nest on a mountain, whence I have no power to save myself." + +"Ah, Thou thou! If Thou hadst seen what a bathtub the prince sent this +morning, a bronze one; and what a tripod for the fire, what pots and +spits! And if Thou knew that today I have put two hens to set, and +before long we shall have little chicks here." + +Sarah was more daring after sunset, when no one could see her. She went +out on the roof and looked at the river. And when from afar a boat +appeared, flaming with torches, which formed fiery and bloody lines +along the dark water, she pressed with both hands her poor heart, which +quivered like a bird caught that instant. Ramses was coming, and she +could not tell what had seized her, delight because that beautiful +youth was approaching whom she had seen in the valley, or dread because +she would see again a great lord and ruler who made her timid. + +One Sabbath evening her father came for the first time since she had +settled in that villa. Sarah rushed to him with weeping; she washed his +feet herself, poured perfumes on his head, and covered him with kisses. +Gideon was an old man of stern features. He wore a long robe reaching +his feet and edged at the bottom with colored embroidery; over this he +wore a yellow sleeveless kaftan. A kind of cape covered his breast and +shoulders. On his head was a smallish cap, growing narrow toward the +top. + +"Thou art here! Thou art here!" exclaimed Sarah; and she kissed his +head again. + +"I am astonished myself at being here," said Gideon, sadly. "I stole to +the garden like a criminal; I thought, along the whole way from +Memphis, that all the Egyptians were pointing me out with their fingers +and that each Jew was spitting." + +"But Thou didst give me thyself to the prince, father." + +"I did, for what could I do? Of course it only seems to me that they +point and spit. Of Egyptians, whoever knows me bows the lower the +higher he is himself. Since Thou art here our lord Sesoforis has said +that he must enlarge my house; Chaires gave me a jar of the best wine, +and our most worthy nomarch himself has sent a trusty servant to ask if +Thou art well, and if I will not become his manager." + +"But the Jews?" inquired Sarah. + +"What of the Jews! They know that I did not yield of my own will. Every +one of them would wish to be constrained in like manner. Let the Lord +God judge us all. Better tell how Thou art feeling." + +"In Abraham's bosom she will not have more comfort," said Tafet. "Every +day they bring us fruit, wine, bread, meat, and whatever the soul +wishes. And such baths as we have, all bronze, and such kitchen +utensils!" + +"Three days ago," interrupted Sarah, "the Phoenician Dagon was here. I +did not wish to see him, but he insisted." + +"He gave me a gold ring," added Tafet. + +"He told me," continued Sarah, "that he was a tenant of my lord; he +gave me two anklets, pearl earrings, and a box of perfumes from the +land of Punt." + +"Why did he give them to thee?" asked her father. + +"For nothing. He simply begged that I would think well of him, and tell +my lord sometimes that Dagon was his most faithful servant." + +"Very soon Thou wilt have a whole box of earrings and bracelets," said +Gideon, smiling. But after a moment he added: "Gather up a great +property quickly and let us flee back to our own land, for here there +is misery at all times, misery when we are in trouble, and still more +of it when we are prosperous." + +"And what would my lord say?" asked Sarah, with sadness. + +Her father shook his head. + +"Before a year passes thy lord will cast thee aside, and others will +help him. Wert Thou an Egyptian, he would take thee to his palace; but +a Jewess." + +"He will cast aside?" said Sarah, sighing. + +"Why torment one's self with days to come, which are in the hand of +God? I am here to pass the Sabbath with thee." + +"I have splendid fish, meat, cakes, and wine of the Jews," put in +Tafet, quickly. "I have bought also, in Memphis, a seven-branched +candlestick and wax tapers. We shall have a better supper than has Lord +Chaires." + +Gideon went out on the flat roof with his daughter. + +"Tafet tells me," said he, when they were alone, "that Thou art always +in the house. Why is this? Thou shouldst look at least on the garden." + +"I am afraid," whispered Sarah. + +"Why be afraid of thy own garden? Here Thou art mistress, a great +lady." + +"Once I went out in the daytime. People of some sort stared at me, and +said to one another, 'Look! that is the heir's Jewess; she delays the +overflow.'." + +"They are fools!" interrupted Gideon. "Is this the first time that the +Nile is late in its overflow? But go out in the evening." + +Sarah shook her head with greater vigor. + +"I do not wish, I do not wish. Another time I went out in the evening. +All at once two women pushed out from a side path. I was frightened and +wished to flee, when one of them, the younger and smaller, seized my +hands, saying, 'Do not flee, we must look at thee;' the second, the +elder and taller, stood some steps in front and looked me in the eyes +directly. Ah, father, I thought that I should turn into stone. What a +look, what a woman!" + +"Who could she be?" asked Gideon. + +"The elder woman looked like a priestess." + +"And did she say anything?" + +"Nothing. But when going and they were hidden behind trees, I heard +surely the voice of the elder say these words: 'Indeed she is +beautiful!" + +Gideon fell to thinking. + +"Maybe they were great ladies from the court." + +The sun went down, and on both banks of the Nile dense crowds of people +collected waiting impatiently for the signal of the overflow, which in +fact was belated. For two days the wind had been blowing from the sea +and the river was green; the sun had passed the star Sothis already, +but in the well of the priest in Memphis the water had not risen even +the breadth of a finger. The people were alarmed, all the more since in +Upper Egypt, according to signals, the overflow proceeded with regular +increase and even promised to be perfect. + +"What detains it at Memphis then?" asked the anxious earth-tillers +waiting for the signal in disquiet. + +When the stars had appeared in the sky, Tafet spread a white cloth on +the table, placed on it the candlestick with seven lighted torches, +pushed up three armchairs, and announced that the Sabbath supper would +be served immediately. + +Gideon covered his head then, and raising both hands above the table, +said with his eyes looking heavenward, + +"God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Thou who didst lead our people out +of Egypt, who didst give a country to the slave and exile, who didst +make with the sons of Judah an eternal covenant, O Jehovah, O Adonai, +permit us to enjoy without sin the fruits of the enemies' country. +Bring us out of sorrow and fear in which we are buried, and restore us +to the banks of the Jordan, which we left for Thy glory." + +At the moment a voice was heard from beyond the wall, + +"His worthiness Tutmosis, the most faithful servant of his holiness and +of his son Prince Ramses!" + +"May he live through eternity!" called a number of voices from the +garden. + +"His worthiness," said a single voice again, "sends greeting to the +most beautiful rose of Lebanon." + +When the voice ceased, the sound of harps and flutes was heard. + +"That is music!" exclaimed Tafet, clapping her hands. "We shall pass +the Sabbath with music." + +Sarah and her father, frightened at first, began to laugh, and sat down +again at the table. + +"Let them play," said Gideon; "their music is not bad for the +appetite." + +The flute and harp played, then a tenor voice sang, + +"Thou art more beautiful than all the maidens who look at themselves in +the Nile. Thy hair is blacker than the feathers of a raven, thy eyes +have a milder glance than the eyes of a deer which is yearning for its +fawn. Thy stature is the stature of a palm, and the lotus envies thee +thy charm. Thy bosoms are like grape clusters with the juice of which +kings delight themselves." + +Again the flute and harp were heard, and next a song, + +"Come and repose in the garden. The servants which belong to thee will +bring various vessels and beer of all kinds. Come, let us celebrate +this night and the dawn which will follow it. In my shadow, in the +shadow of the fig, giving sweet fruit, thy lover will rest at thy right +hand; and Thou wilt give him to drink and consent to all his wishes." + +Next came the flutes and harps, and after them a new song, + +"I am of a silent disposition, I never tell what I see, I spoil not the +sweetness of my fruits with vain tattling." [Authentic.] + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE song ceased, drowned by an uproar and by a noise as of many people +running. + +"Unbelievers! Enemies of Egypt!" cried some one. "Ye are singing when +we are sunk in suffering, and ye are praising the Jewess who stops the +flow of the Nile with her witchcraft." + +"Woe to you!" cried another. "Ye are trampling the land of Prince +Ramses. Death will fall on you and your children." + +"We will go, but let the Jewess come out so that we may tell our wrongs +to her." + +"Let us flee!" screamed Tafet. + +"Whither?" inquired Gideon. + +"Never!" said Sarah, on whose mild face appeared a flush of anger. "Do +I not belong to the heir, before whose face those people all prostrate +themselves?" + +And before her father and the old woman had regained their senses, she, +all in white, had run out on the roof and called to the throng beyond +the wall, + +"Here I am! What do ye want of me?" + +The uproar was stilled for a moment, but again threatening voices were +raised, + +"Be accursed, Thou strange woman whose sin stops the Nile in its +overflow!" + +A number of stones hurled at random whistled through the air; one of +them struck Sarah's forehead. + +"Father!" cried she, seizing her head. + +Gideon caught her in his arms and bore her from the terrace. In the +night were visible people, in white caps and skirts, who climbed over +the wall below. + +Tafet screamed in a heaven-piercing voice, the black slave seized an +axe, took his place in the doorway, and declared that he would split +the head of any man daring to enter. + +"Stone that Nubian dog!" cried men from the wall to the crowd of +people. + +But the people became silent all at once, for from the depth of the +garden came a man with shaven head; from this man's shoulders depended +a panther skin. + +"A prophet! A holy father!" murmured some in the crowd. Those sitting +on the wall began now to spring down from it. + +"People of Egypt," said the priest, calmly, "with what right do ye +raise hands on the property of the erpatr?" + +"The unclean Jewess dwells here, who stops the rise of the Nile. Woe to +us! misery and famine are hanging over Lower Egypt." + +"People of weak mind or of evil faith," said the priest, "where have ye +heard that one woman could stop the will of the gods? Every year in the +month Thoth the Nile begins to increase and rises till the mouth peak. +Has it ever happened otherwise, though our land has been full at all +times of strangers, sometimes foreign priests and princes, who groaning +in captivity and grievous labor might utter the most dreadful curses +through sorrow and anger? They would have brought on our heads all +kinds of misfortune, and more than one of them would have given their +lives if only the sun would not rise over Egypt in the morning, or if +the Nile would not rise when the year began. And what came of their +prayers? Either they were not heard in the heavens, or foreign gods had +no power in presence of the gods of Egypt. How then is a woman who +lives pleasantly among us to cause a misfortune which is beyond the +power of our mightiest enemies?" + +"The holy father speaks truth. Wise are the words of the prophet!" said +people among the multitude. + +"But Messu (Moses), the Jewish leader, brought darkness and death into +Egypt!" said one voice. + +"Let the man who said that step forth," cried the priest. "I challenge +him, let him come forward, unless he is an enemy of the Egyptian +people." + +The crowd murmured like a wind from afar blowing between trees, but no +man came forward, + +"I speak truth," continued the priest; "evil men are moving among you +like hyenas in a sheepfold. They have no pity on your misery, they +urged you to destroy the house of the heir and to rebel against the +pharaoh. If their vile plan had succeeded and blood had begun to flow +from your bosoms, they would have hidden before spears as they hide now +before my challenge." + +"Listen to the prophet! Praise to thee, man of God!" cried the people, +inclining their foreheads. + +The most pious fell to the earth. + +"Hear me, Egyptian people. In return for your faith in the words of a +priest, for your obedience to the pharaoh and the heir, for the honor +which ye give to a servant of the god, a favor will be shown you. Go to +your houses in peace, and even before ye have left this hill the Nile +will be rising." + +"Oh, may it rise!" + +"Go! The greater your faith and piety the more quickly will ye see the +sign of favor." + +"Let us go! Let us go! Be blessed, O prophet, Thou son of prophets!" + +They began to separate, kissing the robe of the priest. With that some +one shouted, + +"The miracle, the miracle is accomplished." + +On the tower in Memphis a light flamed up. + +"The Nile is rising! See, more and more lights! Indeed a mighty saint +spoke to us. May he live through eternity!" + +They turned toward the priest, but he had vanished among shadows. + +The throng raging a little while earlier, amazed and filled now with +gratitude, forgot both its anger and the wonder-working priest. It was +mastered by a wild delight; men rushed to the bank of the river, on +which many lights were burning and where a great hymn was rising from +the assembled people, + +"Be greeted, Nile, sacred river, which appearest on this country! Thou +comest in peace, to give life to Egypt. O hidden deity who scatterest +darkness, who moistenest the fields, to bring food to dumb animals, O +Thou the precious one, descending from heaven to give drink to the +earth, O friend of bread, Thou who gladdenest our cottages! Thou art +the master of fishes; when Thou art in our fields no bird dares touch +the harvest. Thou art the creator of grain and the parent of barley; +Thou givest rest to the hands of millions of the unfortunate and for +ages Thou securest the sanctuary." [Authentic] + +At this time the illuminated boat of Ramses sailed from the shore +opposite amid songs and outcries. Those very persons who half an hour +earlier wished to burst into his villa were falling now on their faces +before him, or hurling themselves into the water to kiss the oars and +the sides of the boat which was bearing the son of their ruler. + +Gladsome, surrounded by torches, Ramses, in company with Tutmosis, +approached Sarah's dwelling. At sight of him Gideon said to Tafet, + +"Great is my alarm for my daughter, but still greater my wish to avoid +Prince Ramses." + +He sprang over the wall, and amid darkness through gardens and fields +he held on in the direction of Memphis. + +"Be greeted, O beauteous Sarah!" cried Tutmosis in the courtyard. "I +hope that Thou wilt receive us well for the music which I sent to +thee." + +Sarah appeared, with bandaged head on the threshold, leaning on the +black slave and her female attendant. + +"What is the meaning of this?" cried the astonished Ramses. + +"Terrible things!" called out Tafet. "Unbelievers attacked thy house; +one hurled a stone and struck Sarah." + +"What unbelievers?" + +"But those the Egyptians!" explained Tafet. + +The prince cast a contemptuous glance at her, but rage mastered him +straightway. + +"Who struck Sarah? Who threw the stone?" shouted he, seizing the arm of +the black man. + +"Those from beyond the river," answered the slave. + +"Hei, watchman!" cried the prince, foaming at the mouth, "arm all the +men in this place for me and follow that rabble!" + +The black slave seized his axe again, the overseers fell to summoning +workmen from the buildings, some soldiers of the prince's suite grasped +their sword-hilts mechanically. + +"By the mercy of Jehovah, what art Thou doing?" whispered Sarah, as she +hung on the neck of Ramses. + +"I wish to avenge thee," answered he; "whoso strikes at that which is +mine strikes at me." + +Tutmosis grew pale, and shook his head. + +"Hear me, lord," said he; "wilt Thou discover in the night and in a +multitude the men who committed the crime?" + +"All one to me. The rabble did it, and the rabble must give answer." + +"No judge will say that," reflected Tutmosis. "But Thou art to be the +highest judge." + +The prince became thoughtful. Tutmosis continued, + +"Stop! what would the pharaoh our lord say to-morrow? And what delight +would reign among our foes in the east and the west, if they heard that +the heir to the throne, almost at the royal palace, was attacked in the +night by his own people?" + +"Oh, if my father would give me even half the army, our enemies on all +sides of the world would be silent forever!" said the prince, stamping +on the pavement. + +"Finally, remember that man who hanged himself; Thou wert sorry when an +innocent man lost his life. But today is it possible that Thou art +willing thyself to slay innocent people?" + +"Enough!" interrupted Ramses, in a deep voice. "My anger is like a +water-jar. Woe to him on whom it falls! Let us enter." + +The frightened Tutmosis drew back. The prince took Sarah by the hand +and went to the terrace. He seated her near the table on which was the +unfinished supper, and approaching the light drew the bandage from her +forehead. + +"Ah!" cried he, "this is not even a wound, it is only a blue spot." + +He looked at Sarah attentively. + +"I never-thought," said he, "that Thou wouldst have a blue spot. This +changed thy face considerably." + +"Then I please thee no longer?" whispered Sarah, raising on him great +eyes full of fear. + +"Oh, no! this will pass quickly." + +Then he called Tutmosis and the black, and commanded to tell him what +had happened that evening. + +"He defended us," said Sarah. "He stood, with an axe, in the doorway." + +"Didst Thou do that?" asked the prince, looking quickly into the eyes +of the Nubian. + +"Was I to let strange people break into thy house, lord?" + +Ramses patted him on the curly head. + +"Thou hast acted," said he, "like a brave man. I give thee freedom. +Tomorrow Thou wilt receive a reward and mayst return to thy own +people." + +The black tottered and rubbed his eyes, the whites of which were +shining. Suddenly he dropped on his knees, and cried as he struck the +floor with his forehead, + +"Do not put me away, lord." + +"Well," replied Ramses, "remain with me, but as a free warrior. I need +just such men," said he, turning to Tutmosis. "He cannot talk like the +overseer of the house of books, but he is ready for battle." + +And again he inquired for details of the attack, when the Nubian told +how a priest had approached, and when he related his miracles the +prince seized his own head, exclaiming, + +"I am the most hapless man in all Egypt! Very soon I shall find a +priest in my bed even. Whence did he come? Who was he?" + +The black servitor could not explain this, but he said that the +priest's action toward the prince and toward Sarah was very friendly; +that the attack was directed not by Egyptians, but by people who, the +priest said, were enemies of Egypt, and whom he challenged to step +forward, but they would not. + +"Wonders! wonders!" said Ramses, meditating, and throwing himself on a +couch. "My black slave is a valiant warrior and a man full of judgment. +A priest defends a Jewess, because she is mine. What a strange priest +he is! The Egyptian people who kneel down before the pharaoh's dogs +attack the house of the erpatr under direction of unknown enemies of +Egypt. I myself must look into this." + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The month Thoth has ended and the month Paofi (the second half of July) +has begun. The water of the Nile, from being greenish and then white, +has become ruddy and is rising continually. The royal indicator in +Memphis is filled to the height of two men almost, and the Nile rises +two hands daily. The lowest land is inundated; from higher ground +people are removing hastily flax, grapes, and cotton of a certain +species. Over places which were dry in the early morning, waves plash +as evening approaches. A mighty, unseen whirlwind seems to blow in the +depth of the Nile. This wind ploughs up broad spaces on the river, +fills the furrows with foam, then smoothes for a moment the surface, +and after a time twists it into deep eddies. Again the hidden wind +ploughs, again it smoothes out, whirls, pushes forward new hills of +water, new rows of foam, and raises the rustling river, wins without +ceasing new platforms of land. Sometimes the water, after reaching a +certain boundary, leaps across in a twinkle, pours into a low place, +and makes a shining pond where a moment earlier withered grass was +breaking up into dust heaps. + +Though the rise of the river has reached barely one third of its +height, the whole region near the banks is under water. Every hour some +little height takes on the semblance of an island, divided from others +by a narrow channel, which widens gradually and cuts off the house more +and more from its neighbors. Very often he who walked out to work comes +home in a boat from his labor. + +Boats and rafts appear more and more frequently on the river. From some +of them men are catching fish in nets; on others they bring the harvest +to granaries, or bellowing cattle to their stables. With other boats +visits are made to acquaintances to inform them amid shouts and +laughter that the river is rising. Sometimes boats gather in one place, +like a flock of daws, and then shoot apart on all sides before a broad +raft bearing down from Upper Egypt immense blocks of stone hewn out in +quarries near the river. + +In the air, as far as the ear can hear, extend the roar of the rising +water, the cries of frightened birds, and the gladsome songs of people. +The Nile is rising, there will be bread in abundance. + +During a whole month investigation continued in the affair of the +attack on the house of Ramses. Each morning a boat with officials and +warriors came to some small estate. People were snatched from their +labor, overwhelmed with treacherous questions, beaten with sticks. +Toward evening two boats returned to Memphis: one brought officials, +the other brought prisoners. + +In this way some hundreds of men were caught, of whom one half knew +nothing, the other half were threatened by imprisonment or toil for a +number of years in the quarries. But nothing was learned of those who +led the attack, or of that priest who had persuaded the people to leave +the place. Prince Ramses had qualities which were uncommonly +contradictory. He was as impetuous as a lion and as stubborn as a +bullock, but he had a keen understanding and a deep sense of justice. + +Seeing that this investigation by officials gave no result whatever, he +sailed on a certain day to Memphis and commanded to open the prison. + +The prison was built on an eminence surrounded by a lofty wall, and was +composed of a great number of stone, brick, and wooden buildings. These +buildings for the main part were merely the dwellings of overseers. +Prisoners were placed in subterranean dens hewn out in a cliff of +limestone. + +When Prince Ramses passed the gate, he saw a crowd of women washing and +feeding some prisoner. This naked man, who resembled a skeleton, was +sitting on the ground, having his hands and feet in four openings of a +square plank which took the place of fetters. + +"Has this man suffered long in this way?" asked Ramses. + +"Two months," said the overseer. + +"And must he sit here much longer?" + +"A month." + +"What did he do?" + +"He was insolent to a tax gatherer." + +The prince turned and saw another crowd, composed of women and +children. Among them was an old man. + +"Are these prisoners?" + +"No, most worthy lord. That is a family waiting for the body of a +criminal who is to be strangled oh, they are taking him already to the +chamber," said the overseer. + +Then, turning to the crowd, he said, + +"Be patient a short time, dear people. Ye will get the body soon." + +"We thank thee greatly, worthy lord," answered an old man, doubtless +the father of the delinquent. "We left home yesterday evening, our flax +is in the field, and the river is rising." + +The prince grew pale, and halted. + +"Dost Thou know," asked he of the overseer, "that I have the right of +pardon?" + +"Erpatr, Thou hast that right," answered the overseer, bowing; and then +he added: "The law declares, O child of the sun, that in memory of thy +presence men condemned for offences against the state and religion, but +who conduct themselves properly, should receive some abatement. A list +of such persons will be placed at thy feet within a month." + +"But he who is to be strangled this moment, has he not the right to my +grace?" + +The overseer opened his arms, and bent forward in silence. + +They moved from place to place, and passed a number of courts. In +wooden cases on the bare ground were crowded men sentenced to +imprisonment. In one building were heard awful screams; they were +clubbing prisoners to force confession. + +"I wish to see those accused of attacking my house," said the heir, +deeply moved. + +"Of those there are more than three hundred," said the overseer. + +"Select according to thy own judgment the most guilty, and question +them in my presence. I do not wish, though, to be known to them." + +They opened to Ramses a chamber in which the investigating official was +occupied. The prince commanded him to take his usual place, but sat +himself behind a pillar. + +The accused appeared one by one. All were lean; much hair had grown out +on them, and their eyes had the expression of settled bewilderment. + +"Dutmoses," said the official, "tell how ye attacked the house of the +most worthy erpatr." + +"I will tell truth, as at the judgment seat of Osiris. It was the +evening of that day when the Nile was to begin rising. My wife said to +me, 'Come, father, let us go up on the hills, where we can have an +earlier sight of the signal in Memphis.' Then we went up where we could +see the signal in Memphis more easily. Some warrior came to my wife and +said, 'Come with me into that garden. We will find grapes there, and +something else also.' Then my wife went into the garden with that +warrior. I fell into great rage, and I looked at them through the wall. +But whether stones were thrown at the prince's house or not I cannot +tell, for because of the trees and darkness I could not see anything." + +"But how couldst Thou let thy wife go with a warrior?" asked the +official. + +"With permission, worthiness, what was I to do? I am only an earth +worker, and he is a warrior and soldier of his holiness." + +"But didst Thou see the priest who spoke to you?" + +"That was not a priest," said the man, with conviction. "That must have +been the god Num himself, for he came out of a fig-tree and he had a +ram's head on him." + +"But didst Thou see that he had a ram's head?" + +"With permission I do not remember well whether I saw myself or whether +people told me. My eyes were affected by anxiety for my wife." + +"Didst Thou throw stones at the garden?" + +"Why should I throw stones, lord of life and death? If I had hit my +wife, I should have made trouble for a week. If I had hit the warrior, +I should have got a blow of a fist in the belly that would have made my +tongue stick out, for I am nothing but an earth-worker, and he is a +warrior of our lord who lives through eternity." + +The heir leaned out from behind the column. They led away Dutmoses, and +brought in Anup. He was a short fellow. On his shoulders were scars +from club-strokes. + +"Tell me, Anup," began the official again, "how was it about that +attack on the garden of the heir to the throne?" + +"Eye of the sun," said the man, "vessel of wisdom, Thou knowest best of +all that I did not make the attack, only a neighbor comes to me and +says he, 'Anup, come up, for the Nile is rising.' And I say to him, 'Is +it rising?' And he says to me, 'Thou art duller than an ass, for an ass +would hear music on a hill, and Thou dost not hear it.' 'But,' says I, +'I am dull, for I did not learn writing; but with permission music is +one thing and the rise of the river is another.' 'If there were not a +rise,' says he, 'people would not have anything to be glad about and +play and sing.' So I say to thy justice, we went to the hill, and they +had driven away the music there and were throwing stones at the +garden." + +"Who threw stones?" + +"I could not tell. The men did not look like earth-workers, but more +like unclean dissectors who open dead bodies for embalming." + +"And didst Thou see the priest?" + +"With thy permission, O watchfulness, that was not a priest, but some +spirit that guards the house of the erpatr may he live through +eternity!" + +"Why a spirit?" + +"For at moments I saw him and at moments he went somewhere." + +"Perhaps he was behind the people?" + +"Indeed the people sometimes were in front of him. But at one time he +was higher and at another time lower." + +"Maybe he went up on the hill and came down from it?" + +"He must have gone up and come down, but maybe he stretched and +shortened himself, for he was a great wonderworker. Barely had he said, +'The Nile will rise,' and that minute the Nile began to rise." + +"And didst Thou throw stones, Anup?" + +"How should I dare to throw stones into the garden of the erpatr? I am +a simple fellow, my hand would wither to the elbow for such sacrilege." + +The prince gave command to stop the examination, and when they had led +away the accused, he asked the official, + +"Are these of the most guilty?" + +"Thou hast said it, lord," answered the official. + +"In that case all must be liberated today. We should not imprison +people because they wished to convince themselves that the holy Nile +was rising or for listening to music." + +"The highest wisdom is speaking through thy lips, erpatr," said the +official. "I was commanded to find the most guilty, hence I have +summoned those whom I have found so; but it is not in my power to +return them liberty." + +"Why?" + +"Look, most worthy, on that box. It is full of papyruses on which are +written the details of the case. A judge in Memphis receives a report +on the progress of the case daily, and reports to his holiness. What +would become of the labor of so many learned scribes and great men if +the accused were set free?" + +"But they are innocent!" cried the prince. + +"There was an attack, therefore an offence. Where there is an offence +there must be offenders. Whoever has fallen once into the hands of +power, and is described in acts, cannot get free without some result. +In an inn a man drinks and pays; at a fair he sells something and +receives; in a field he sows and harvests; at graves he receives +blessings from his deceased ancestors. How, then, could any one after +he has come to a court return with nothing, like a traveler stopping +half-way on his journey and turning back his steps homeward without +attaining his object?" + +"Thou speakest wisely," answered the heir. "But tell me, has not his +holiness the right to free these people?" + +The official crossed his arms on his breast and bent his head, + +"He is equal to the gods, he can do what he wishes; liberate accused, +nay, condemned men, and destroy even the documents of a case, things +which if done by a common man would be sacrilege." + +The prince took farewell of the official, and said to the overseer, +"Give the accused better food at my expense." Then he sailed, greatly +irritated, to the other bank, stretching forth his hands toward the +palace continually, as if begging the pharaoh to destroy the case. + +But that day his holiness had many religious ceremonies and a counsel +with the ministers, hence the heir could not see him. The prince went +immediately to the grand secretary, who next to the minister of war had +most significance at the court of the pharaoh. That ancient official, a +priest at one of the temples in Memphis, received the prince politely +but coldly, and when he had heard him he answered, + +"It is a marvel to me that Thou wishest, worthiness, to disturb our +lord with such questions. It is as if Thou wert to beg him not to +destroy locusts which devour what is on the fields." + +"But they are innocent people." + +"We, worthy lord, cannot know that, for law and the courts decide as to +guilt and innocence. One thing is clear to me, the state cannot suffer +an attack on any one's garden, and especially cannot suffer that hands +should be raised against property of the erpatr." + +"Thou speakest justly, but where are the guilty?" answered Ramses. + +"Where there are no guilty there must at least be men who are punished. +Not the guilt of a man, but the punishment which follows a crime, +teaches others that they are not to commit the crime in question." + +"I see," interrupted the heir, "that your worthiness will not support +my prayer." + +"Wisdom flows from thy lips, erpatr," answered the priest. "Never shall +I give my lord a counsel which would expose the dignity of power to a +blow." + +The prince returned home pained and astonished. He felt that an injury +had been done to some hundreds of people, and he saw that he could not +save them any more than he could rescue a man on whom an obelisk or the +column of a temple had fallen. + +"My hands are too weak to rear this edifice," thought the prince, with +anguish of spirit. + +For the first time he felt that there was a power infinitely greater +than his will, the interest of the state, which even the all-powerful +pharaoh acknowledges and before which he the erpatr must bend himself. + +Night had fallen. Ramses commanded his servants to admit no one, and +walked in loneliness on the terrace of his villa, thinking, + +"A wonderful thing! Down there at Pi-Bailos the invincible regiments of +Nitager opened before me, while in Memphis an overseer of prisons, an +investigating official, and a scribe bar the way to me. What are they? +Mere servants of my father, may he live through eternity! who can cast +them down to the rank of slaves at any moment and send them to the +quarries. But why should not my father pardon the innocent? The state +does not wish him to do so. And what is the state? Does it eat? where +does it sleep? where are its hands and its sword, of which all are in +terror?" + +He looked into the garden, and among the trees on the summit of an +eminence he saw two immense silhouettes of pylons, on which sentry +lights were burning. The thought came to him that that watch never +slept, those pylons never ate, but still they existed. Those pylons had +existed for ages, mighty, like Ramses the Great, that potentate who had +reared them. + +Could he lift those edifices and hundreds of similar grandeur; could he +escape those guards and thousands of others who watch over the safety +of Egypt; could he disobey laws established by Ramses the Great and +other preceding pharaohs still greater, laws which twenty dynasties had +consecrated by their reverence? + +In the soul of the prince for the first time in life a certain idea, +dim but gigantic, began to fix itself in outline, the idea of the +state. The state is something more magnificent than the temple in +Thebes, something grander than the pyramid of Cheops, something more +ancient than the subterranean temple of the Sphinx, something more +enduring than granite in that immense though invisible edifice people +are like ants in some cranny of a cliff, and the pharaoh a mere +traveling architect who is barely able to lay one stone in the wall of +the edifice and then go on farther. But the walls increase from +generation to generation and the edifice continues. + +He, the son of the pharaoh, had never felt yet his littleness as in +that moment, when his glance in the midst of the night was wandering +beyond the Nile among pylons of the pharaoh's palace, and the +indefinite but imposing outlines of the Memphis temples. + +At that moment from among the trees whose branches touched the terrace, +he heard a voice. + +"I know thy anxiety and I bless thee. The court will not free the +prisoners. But the case will drop, and they may return to their houses +if the overseer of thy land does not support the complaint of attack." + +"Then did my overseer make the charge?" asked the astonished prince. + +"Thou hast spoken truth. He made the charge in thy name. But if he does +not go to the court, there will be no injured person; and there is no +offence if there is no injured person." + +The thicket rustled. + +"Stop!" cried Ramses; "who art thou?" + +No one gave answer. But it seemed to the prince that in a streak of +light from a torch burning on the lower floor a naked head was visible +for an instant, and also a panther skin. + +"A priest," whispered the heir. "Why does he hide himself?" + +But at that moment it occurred to him that the priest might answer +grievously for giving counsel which stopped the dispensation of +justice. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +RAMSES passed most of the night in feverish imaginings. Once the vision +of the state appeared to him as an immense labyrinth with strong walls +through which no one could force a way, then again he saw the shadow of +a priest who with one wise opinion had indicated to him the method of +escape from that labyrinth. And now appeared unexpectedly before him +two powers, the interest of the state, which he had not felt thus far, +though he was heir to the throne; and the priesthood, which he wished +to debase and then make his servant. + +That was a burdensome night. The prince turned on his bed repeatedly, +and asked himself whether he had not been blind, and if he had not +received sight that day for the first time in order to convince himself +of his folly and nothingness. How differently during those night hours +did the warnings of his mother appear to him, and the restraint of his +father in enouncing the supreme will, and even the stern conduct of the +minister, Herhor. + +"The state and the priesthood!" repeated the prince, half asleep, and +covered with cold perspiration. + +The heavenly deities alone know what would have happened had there been +time to develop and ripen those thoughts which were circling that night +in the soul of Ramses. Perhaps if he had become pharaoh he would have +been one of the most fortunate and longest-lived rulers. Perhaps his +name, carved in temples above ground and underground, would have come +down to posterity surrounded with the highest glory. Perhaps he and his +dynasty would not have lost the throne, and Egypt would have avoided +great disturbance and the bitterest days of her history. + +But the serenity of morning scattered the visions which circled above +the heated head of the heir, and the succeeding days changed greatly +his ideas of the inflexible interests of Egypt. + +The visit of the prince to the prison was not fruitless. The +investigating official made a report to the supreme judge immediately, +the judge looked over the case again, examined some of the accused +himself, and in the course of some days liberated the greater number; +the remainder he brought to trial as quickly as possible. + +When he who had complained of the damage done the prince's property did +not appear, though summoned in the hall of the court and on the market- +place, the case was dropped, and the rest of the accused were set at +liberty. + +One of the judges remarked, it is true, that according to law the +prince's overseer should be prosecuted for false complaint, and, in +case of conviction, suffer the punishment which threatened the +defendants. This question too they passed over in silence. + +The overseer disappeared from the eyes of justice, he was sent by the +heir to the province of Takeus, and soon the whole box of documents in +the case vanished it was unknown whither. + +On hearing this, Prince Ramses went to the grand secretary and asked +with a smile, + +"Well, worthy lord, the innocent are liberated, the documents +concerning them have been destroyed sacrilegiously, and still the +dignity of the government has not been exposed to danger." + +"My prince," answered the grand secretary, with his usual coolness, "I +did not understand that Thou offerest complaints with one hand and +wishest to withdraw them with the other. Worthiness, Thou wert offended +by the rabble; hence it was thy affair to punish it. If Thou hast +forgiven it, the state has nothing to answer." + +"The state! the state!" repeated the prince. "We are the state," added +he, blinking. + +"Yes, the state is the pharaoh and his most faithful servants," added +the secretary. + +This conversation with such a high official sufficed to obliterate in +the prince's soul those ideas of state dignity which were growing and +powerful, though indistinct yet. "The state, then, is not that +immovable, ancient edifice to which each pharaoh is bound to add one +stone of glory, but rather a sand-heap, which each ruler reshapes as he +pleases. In the state there are no narrow doors, known as laws, in +passing through which each must bow his head, whoever he be, erpatr or +earth-worker. In this edifice are various entrances and exits, narrow +for the weak and small, very wide, nay, commodious for the powerful." + +"If this be so," thought the prince, as the idea flashed on him, "I +will make the order which shall please me." + +At that moment Ramses remembered two people, the liberated black who +without waiting for command had been ready to die for him, and that +unknown priest. + +"If I had more like them, my will would have meaning in Egypt and +beyond it," said he to himself, and he felt an inextinguishable desire +to find that priest. + +"He is, in all likelihood, the man who restrained the crowd from +attacking my house. On the one hand he knows law to perfection, on the +other he knows how to manage multitudes." + +"A man beyond price! I must have him." + +From that time Ramses, in a small boat managed by one oarsman, began to +visit the cottages in the neighborhood of his villa. Dressed in a tunic +and a great wig, in his hand a staff on which a measure was cut out, +the prince looked like an engineer studying the Nile and its overflows. + +Earth-tillers gave him willingly all explanations concerning changes in +the form of land because of inundations, and at the same time they +begged that the government might think out some easier way of raising +water than by sweeps and buckets. They told too of the attack on the +house of Prince Ramses, and said that they knew not who threw the +stones. Finally they mentioned the priest who had sent the crowd away +so successfully; but who he was they knew not. + +"There is," said one man, "a priest in our neighborhood who cures sore +eyes; there is one who heals wounds and sets broken arms and legs. +There are some priests who teach reading and writing; there is one who +plays on a double flute, and plays even beautifully. But that one who +was in the garden of the heir is not among them, and they know nothing +of him. Surely he must be the god Num, or some spirit watching over the +prince, may he live through eternity and always have appetite!" + +"Maybe it is really some spirit," thought Ramses. + +In Egypt good or evil spirits always came more easily than rain. + +The water of the Nile from being ruddy became brownish, and in August, +the month of Hator, it reached one half its height. The sluices were +opened on the banks of the river, and the water began to fill the +canals quickly, and also the gigantic artificial lake, Moeris, in the +province Fayum, celebrated for the beauty of its roses. Lower Egypt +looked like an arm of the sea thickly dotted with hills on which were +houses and gardens. Communication by land ceased altogether, and such a +multitude of boats circled around on the water boats white, yellow, +red, dark that they seemed like leaves in autumn. On the highest points +of land people had finished harvesting the peculiar cotton of the +country, and for the second time had cut clover and begun to gather in +olives and tamarinds. + +On a certain day, while sailing along over inundated lands, the prince +saw an unusual movement. On one of the temporary mounds was heard among +the trees the loud cry of a woman. + +"Surely some one is dead," thought Ramses. + +From a second mound were sailing away in small boats supplies of wheat +and some cattle, while people standing at buildings on the land +threatened and abused people in the boats. + +"Some quarrel among neighbors," said the prince to himself. + +In remoter places there was quiet, and people instead of working or +singing were sitting on the ground in silence. + +"They must have finished work and are resting." + +But from a third mound a boat moved away with a number of crying +children, while a woman wading in the water to her waist shook her fist +and threatened. + +"They are taking children to school," thought Ramses. + +These happenings began to interest him. + +On a fourth mound he heard a fresh cry. He shaded his eyes and saw a +man lying on the ground; a negro was beating him. + +"What is happening there?" asked Ramses of the boatman. + +"Does not my lord see that they are beating a wretched earth-tiller?" +answered the boatman, smiling. "He must have done something, so pain is +traveling through his bones." + +"But who art thou?" + +"I?" replied the boatman, proudly. "I am a free fisherman. If I give a +certain share of my catch to his holiness, I may sail the Nile from the +sea to the cataract. A fisherman is like a fish or a wild goose; but an +earth-tiller is like a tree which nourishes lords with its fruit and +can never escape but only squeaks when overseers spoil the bark on it." + +"Oho! ho! but look there!" cried the fisherman, pleased again. "Hei! +father, don't drink up all the water, or there will be a bad harvest." + +This humorous exclamation referred to a group of persons who were +displaying a very original activity. A number of naked laborers were +holding a man by the legs and plunging him head first in the water to +his neck, to his breast, and at last to his waist. Near them stood an +overseer with a cane; he wore a stained tunic and a wig made of +sheepskin. + +A little farther on some men held a woman by the arms, while she +screamed in a voice which was heaven-piercing. + +Beating with a stick was as general in the happy kingdom of the pharaoh +as eating and sleeping. They beat children and grown people, earth- +tillers, artisans, warriors, officers, and officials. All living +persons were caned save only priests and the highest officials there +was no one to cane them. Hence the prince looked calmly enough on an +earth-worker beaten with a cane; but to plunge a man into water roused +his attention. + +"Ho! ho!" laughed the boatman, meanwhile, "but are they giving him +drink! He will grow so thick that his wife must lengthen his belt for +him." + +The prince commanded to row to the mound. Meanwhile they had taken the +man from the river, let him cough out water, and seized him a second +time by the legs, in spite of the unearthly screams of his wife, who +fell to biting the men who had seized her. + +"Stop!" cried Ramses to those who were dragging the earth-tiller. + +"Do your duty!" cried he of the sheepskin wig, in nasal tones. "Who art +thou, insolent, who darest." + +At that moment the prince gave him a blow on the forehead with his +cane, which luckily was light. Still the owner of the stained tunic +dropped to the earth, and feeling his wig and head, looked with misty +eyes at the attacker. + +"I divine," said he in a natural voice, "that I have the honor to +converse with a notable person. May good humor always accompany thee, +lord, and bile never spread through thy bones." + +"What art Thou doing to this man?" interrupted Ramses. + +"Thou inquirest," returned the man, speaking again in nasal tones, +"like a foreigner unacquainted with the customs of the country and the +people, to whom he speaks too freely. Know, then, that I am the +collector of his worthiness Dagon, the first banker in Memphis. And if +Thou hast not grown pale yet, know that the worthy Dagon is the agent +and the friend of the erpatr, may he live through eternity! and that +Thou hast committed violence on the lands of Prince Ramses; to this my +people will testify." + +"Then know this," interrupted the prince; but he stopped suddenly. "By +what right art Thou torturing in this way one of the prince's earth- +tillers?" + +"Because he will not pay his rent, and the treasury of the heir is in +need of it." + +The servants of the official, in view of the catastrophe which had come +on their master, dropped their victim and stood as helpless as the +members of a body from which its head has been severed. The liberated +man began to spit again and shake the water out of his ears, but his +wife rushed up to the rescuer. + +"Whoever Thou art," groaned she, clasping her hands before Ramses, "a +god, or even a messenger of the pharaoh, listen to the tale of our +sufferings. We are earth-tillers of the heir to the throne, may he live +through eternity! and we have paid all our dues: in millet, in wheat, +in flowers, and in skins of cattle. But in the last ten days this man +here has come and commands us again to give seven measures of wheat to +him. 'By what right?' asks my husband; 'the rents are paid, all of +them.' But he throws my husband on the ground, stamps, and says, 'By +this right, that the worthy Dagon has commanded.' 'Whence shall I get +wheat,' asks my husband, 'when we have none and for a month past we +have eaten only seeds, or roots of lotus, which are harder and harder +to get, for great lords like to amuse themselves with flowers of the +lotus?'" + +She lost breath and fell to weeping. The prince waited patiently till +she calmed herself, but the man who had been plunged into the water +grumbled. + +"This woman will bring misfortune with her talk. I have said that I do +not like to see women meddle." + +Meanwhile the official, pushing up to the boatman, asked in an +undertone, indicating Ramses, + +"Who is this?" + +"Ah, may thy tongue wither!" answered the boatman. "Dost Thou not see +that he must be a great lord: he pays well and strikes heavily." + +"I saw at once," answered the official, "that he must be some great +person. My youth passed at feasts with noted persons." + +"Aha! the sauces have stuck to thy dress after those feasts," blurted +out the boatman. + +The woman, after crying, continued, + +"Today this scribe came with his people, and said to my husband, 'If +Thou hast not money, give thy two sons. The worthy Dagon will not only +forgive thee the rent, but will pay thee a drachma a year for each +boy.'" + +"Woe to me because of thee!" roared the half-drowned husband; "Thou +wilt destroy us all with thy babbling. Do not listen to her," continued +he, turning to Ramses. "As a cow thinks that she frightens off flies +with her tail, so it seems to a woman that she can drive away +collectors with her tongue; and neither cow nor woman knows that she is +stupid." + +"Thou art stupid!" said the woman. "Sun-like lord with the form of a +pharaoh." + +"I call to witness that this woman blasphemes," said the official to +his people in a low voice. + +"Odorous flower, whose voice is like a flute, listen to me!" implored +the woman of Ramses. "Then my husband answered this official, 'I would +rather lose two bulls, if I had them, than give my boys away, though +Thou wert to give me four drachmas; for when a boy leaves home for +service no one ever sees him after that.'." + +"Would that I were choked! would that fish were eating my body in the +bottom of the Nile!" groaned the earth-tiller. "Thou wilt destroy all +our house with thy complaints, woman." + +The official, seeing that he had the support of the side mainly +interested, stepped forth and began, in nasal tones, a second time, + +"Since the sun rises beyond the palace of the pharaoh and sets over the +pyramids, various wonders have happened in this country. In the days of +the Pharaoh Sememphes marvelous things appeared near the pyramid of +Kochom, and a plague fell on Egypt. In the time of Boetus the ground +opened near Bubastis and swallowed many people. In the reign of +Neferches the waters of the Nile for eleven days were as sweet as +honey. Men saw these and many other things of which I know, for I am +full of wisdom. But never has it been seen that some unknown man came +up out of the water and stopped the collection of rent in the lands of +the heir to the throne of Egypt." + +"Be silent," shouted Ramses, "and be off out of this place! No one will +take thy children," said he to the woman. + +"It is easy for me to go away," said the collector, "for I have a swift +boat and five rowers. But, worthiness, give me some sign for my lord +Dagon." + +"Take off thy wig and show him the sign on thy forehead," said Ramses. +"And tell Dagon that I will put marks of the same kind all over his +body." + +"Listen to that blasphemy!" whispered the collector to his men, drawing +back toward the bank with low bows. + +He sat down in the boat, and when his assistants had moved off and +pushed away some tens of yards, he stretched out his hand and shouted, + +"May gripe seize thy intestines, blasphemer, rebel! From here I will go +straight to Prince Ramses and tell him what is happening on his lands." + +Then he took his cane and belabored his men because they had not taken +part with him. + +"So it will be with thee!" cried he to Ramses. + +The prince sprang into his boat and in a rage commanded the boatman to +pursue the insolent servant of the usurer. But he of the sheepskin wig +threw down the cane, took an oar himself, and his men helped him so +well that pursuit became impossible. + +"Sooner could an owl overtake a lark than we overtake them, my +beautiful lord," cried the prince's boatman, laughing. "But who art +thou? Thou art not a surveyor, but an officer, maybe even an officer of +the guard of his holiness. Thou dost strike right always on the +forehead! I know about this; I was five years in the army. I always +struck on the forehead or the belly, and I had not the worst time in +the world. But if any one struck me, I understood right away that he +must be a great person. In our Egypt may the gods never leave the land! +it is terribly crowded; town is near town, house is near house, man is +near man. Whoso wishes to turn in this throng must strike in the +forehead." + +"Art Thou married?" asked the prince. + +"Pfu! when I have a woman and place for a person and a half, I am +married; but for the rest of the time I am single. I have been in the +army, and I know that a woman is good, though not at all times. She is +in the way often." + +"Perhaps Thou wouldst come to me for service? Who knows, wouldst Thou +be sorry to work for me?" + +"With permission, worthiness, I noticed that Thou couldst lead a +regiment in spite of thy young face. But I enter the service of no man. +I am a free fisherman; my grandfather was, with permission, a shepherd +in Lower Egypt, our family comes of the Hyksos people. It is true that +dull Egyptian earth-tillers revile us, but I laugh at them. The earth- +tillers and the Hyksos, I say, worthiness, are like an ox and a bull. +The earth-tiller may go behind the plough or before it, but the Hyksos +will not serve any man, unless in the army of his holiness, that is +warrior life." + +The boatman was in the vein and talked continually, but the prince +heard no longer. In his soul very painful questions grew louder and +louder, for they were new altogether. Were those mounds, then, around +which he had been sailing, on his property? A marvelous thing, he knew +not at all where his lands were nor what they looked like. So in his +name Dagon had imposed new rents on the people, and the active movement +on which he had been looking while moving along the shores was the +extortion of rents. It was clear that the man whom they had been +beating on the shore had nothing to pay with. The children who were +crying bitterly in the boat were sold at a drachma per head for a +twelvemonth, and that woman who was wading in the water to her waist +and weeping was their mother. + +"Women are very unquiet," said the prince to himself. "Sarah is the +quietest woman; but others love to talk much, to cry and raise an +uproar." + +He remembered the man who was pacifying his wife's excitement. They had +been plunging him into the water and he was not angry; they did nothing +to her, and still she made an uproar. + +"Women are very unquiet!" repeated be. "Yes, even my mother, who is +worthy of honor. What a difference between her and my father! His +holiness does not wish to know at all that I left the army for a girl, +but the queen likes to occupy herself even with this, that I took into +my house a Jewess. Sarah is the quietest of women whom I know; but +Tafet cries and makes an uproar for four persons." + +Then the prince recalled the words of the man's wife, that for a month +they had not eaten wheat, only seeds and roots of lotus. Lotus and +poppy seeds are similar; the roots are poor. He could not eat them for +three days in succession. Moreover, the priests who were occupied in +medicine advised change of diet. While in school they told him that a +man ought to eat flesh with fish, dates with wheat bread, figs with +barley. But for a whole month to live on lotus seeds! Well, cows and +horses? Cows and horses like hay, but barley straw must be shoved into +their throats by force. Surely then earth-workers prefer lotus seeds as +food, while wheat or barley cakes, fish and flesh they do not relish. +For that matter, the most pious priests, wonderworkers, never touch +flesh or fish. Evidently magnates and king's sons need flesh, just as +lions and eagles do; but earth-tillers grass, like an ox. + +"Only that plunging into the water to pay rent. Ei! but didn't he once +in bathing with his comrades put them under water, and even dive +himself? What laughing they had in those days! Diving was fun. And as +to beating with a cane, how many times had they beaten him in school? +It is painful, but evidently not for every creature. A beaten dog howls +and bites; a beaten ox does not even look around. So beating may pain a +great lord, but a common man cries only so as to cry when the chance +comes. Not all cry; soldiers and officers sing while belabored." + +But these wise reflections could not drown the small but annoying +disquiet in the heart of Ramses. So his tenant Dagon had imposed an +unjust rent which the tenants could not pay! + +At this moment the prince was not concerned about the tenants, but his +mother. His mother must know of this Phoenician management. What would +she say about it to her son? How she would look at him! How sneeringly +she would laugh! And she would not be a woman if she did not speak to +him as follows: "I told thee, Ramses, that Phoenicians would desolate +thy property." + +"If those traitorous priests," thought the prince, "would give me +twenty talents today, I would drive out that Dagon in the morning, my +tenants would not be plunged under water, would not suffer blows, and +my mother would not jeer at me. A tenth, a hundredth part of that +wealth which is lying in the temples and feeding the greedy eyes of +those bare heads would make me independent for years of Phoenicians." + +Just then an idea which was strange enough flashed up in the soul of +Ramses, that between priests and earth-tillers there existed a certain +opposition. + +"Through Herhor," thought he, "that man hanged himself on the edge of +the desert. To maintain priests and temples about two million Egyptian +men toil grievously. If the property of the priests belonged to the +pharaoh's treasury, I should not have to borrow fifteen talents and my +people would not be oppressed so terribly. There is the source of +misfortunes for Egypt and of weakness for its pharaohs!" + +The prince felt that a wrong was done the people; therefore he +experienced no small solace in discovering that priests were the +authors of this evil. It did not occur to him that his judgment might +be unjust and faulty. Besides, he did not judge, he was only indignant. +The anger of a man never turns against himself, just as a hungry +panther never eats its own body; it twirls its tail and moves its ears +while looking for a victim. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +The expedition of the heir to the throne, undertaken with the object of +discovering the priest who had saved Sarah and had given him legal +advice, had a result that was unexpected. + +The priest was not discovered, but among Egyptian earth-tillers legends +began to circulate which concerned Ramses. + +Some mysterious man sailed about from village to village and told the +people that the heir to the throne freed the men who were in danger of +condemnation to the quarries for attacking his dwelling. Besides, he +had beaten down an official who was extorting unjust rent from tenants. +Finally, the unknown person added that Prince Ramses was under the +special guardianship of Amon, who was his father. + +Simple people listened to these tidings eagerly, first, because they +agreed with facts, second, because the man who told the story was +himself like a spirit it was not known whence he came nor whither he +had vanished. + +Prince Ramses made no mention whatever of his tenants to Dagon; he did +not even summon him. He felt ashamed in presence of the Phoenician from +whom he had taken money and might require money yet more than one time. + +But a few days after the adventure with Dagon's scribe the banker came +himself to the heir, holding in his hand some covered object. + +On entering the prince's chamber he bent down, untied a white kerchief, +and drew forth from it a very beautiful gold goblet; the goblet was set +with stones of various colors, and covered with carving in relief which +on the lower part represented the gathering and pressing out of grapes +and on the cup part a feast. + +"Accept this goblet, worthy lord, from thy slave," said the banker, +"and use it for a hundred, a thousand years, to the end of ages." + +The prince understood what the Phoenician wanted; so, without touching +the golden gift, he said with a stern expression, + +"Dost Thou see, Dagon, that purple reflection inside the goblet?" + +"I do, indeed," replied the banker; "why should I not see that which +shows the goblet to be the purest gold?" + +"But I declare that to be the blood of children seized away from their +parents," said the heir, angrily. + +And he turned and went to an interior chamber. + +"O Astoreth!" groaned the Phoenician. + +His lips grew blue, and his hands trembled so that he was hardly able +to wrap up the goblet. + +A couple of days later Dagon sailed down with his goblet to Sarah's +house. He was arrayed in robes interwoven with gold; in his thick beard +were glass globulets from which issued perfumes, and he had fastened +two plumes to his head. + +"Beautiful Sarah," began he, "may Jehovah pour on thy family as many +blessings as there are waters in the Nile at present! We Phoenicians +and ye Jews are brethren and neighbors. I am inflamed with such ardor +of love for thee that didst Thou not belong to our most worthy lord I +would give Gideon ten talents for thee, and would take thee for my +lawful wife. So enamored am I." + +"May God preserve me," answered Sarah, "from wanting another lord +beyond the one who is mine at this moment. But whence, worthy Dagon, +did the desire come to thee today of visiting our lord's servant?" + +"I will tell thee the truth, as if Thou wert Tamara, my wife, who, a +real daughter of Sidon, though she brought me a large dowry, is old now +and not worthy to take off thy sandals." + +"In the honey flowing from thy lips there is much wormwood," put in +Sarah. + +"Let the honey," replied Dagon, sitting down, "be for thee and let the +wormwood poison my heart. Our lord Prince Ramses may he live through +eternity! has the mouth of a lion and the keenness of a vulture. He has +seen fit to rent his estate to me. This has filled my stomach with +delight; but he does not trust me, so I lay awake whole nights from +anxiety, I only sigh and cover my bed with tears, in which bed would +that Thou wert resting with me, O Sarah, instead of my wife Tamara, who +cannot rouse desire in me any longer." + +"That is not what Thou wishest to say," interrupted the blushing Sarah. + +"I know not what I wish to say, since I have looked on thee, and since +our lord, examining my activity on his estates, struck with a cane and +took health from my scribe who was collecting dues there from tenants. +And these dues were not for me. Sarah, but for our lord. It is not I +who will eat the figs and wheaten bread from those lands, but Thou and +our lord. I have given money to our lord and jewels to thee. Why then +should the low Egyptian rabble impoverish our lord and thee, Sarah? To +show how greatly Thou rousest my desire and that from these estates I +wish nothing but reserve all for thee and our lord, I give this goblet +of pure gold set with jewels and covered with carving at which the gods +themselves would be astonished." + +Then Dagon drew forth from the cloth the goblet refused by Prince +Ramses. + +"I do not even wish that Thou shouldst have the goblet in the house and +give the prince to drink from it. Give this goblet of pure gold to +Gideon, whom I love as my own brother. And thou, Sarah, tell thy father +these words: 'Thy twin brother Dagon, the unfortunate tenant on the +lands of Prince Ramses, is ruined. Drink then, my father, from this +goblet, think of thy twin brother, and beg Jehovah that our lord, +Prince Ramses, may not beat his scribes, and bring to revolt tenants +who even now have no wish to pay tribute? And know this, Sarah, that if +Thou wouldst admit me to confidence I would give thee two talents, and +thy father one talent, and, besides, I should be ashamed of giving thee +so little, for Thou deservest that the pharaoh himself should fondle +thee, and the heir of the throne, and the worthy minister Herhor, and +the most valiant Nitager, and the richest bankers of the Phoenicians. +There is such a taste in thee that I grow faint when I gaze at thee, +and when I see thee not, I close my eyes and lick my lips. Thou art +sweeter than figs, more fragrant than roses. I would give thee five +talents. Take this goblet, Sarah." + +Sarah drew back with drooping eyes. + +"I will not take the goblet," answered she; "my lord forbade me to take +gifts from any one." + +Dagon was astonished, and looked with widely opened eyes at her. + +"Then it must be that Thou knowest not, Sarah, the value of this +goblet. But I give it to thy father, who is my brother." + +"I cannot take it," whispered Sarah. + +"Oh!" cried Dagon. "Then thou, Sarah, wilt pay me for this goblet in +another way, without speaking to thy lord. But a woman as beautiful as +Thou must have gold and jewels, and should have her own banker to bring +her money when she pleases, not alone when her lord likes." + +"I cannot!" whispered Sarah, without concealing her repulsion for the +banker. + +The Phoenician changed his tone in the twinkle of an eye, and said +laughing, + +"Very good, Sarah! I only wished to convince myself that Thou art +faithful to our lord. I see that Thou art faithful, though foolish, as +people say." + +"What?" burst out Sarah, rushing at Dagon with clinched fist. + +"Ha! ha!" laughed the Phoenician. "What a pity that our lord could not +hear and see thee this moment! But I will tell him, when he is in good +humor, that Thou art not only as faithful as a dog to him, but even +that Thou wouldst not accept a gold goblet because he has not permitted +thee to take presents. And this goblet, believe me, Sarah, has tempted +more than one woman, and women who were not of small importance." + +Dagon sat awhile admiring the virtue and obedience of Sarah; at last he +took farewell of her with much feeling, sat down in his tented boat, +and sailed away toward Memphis. When the boat had pushed off from the +country house, the smile vanished from the banker's face, and an +expression of anger came out thereon. When Sarah's house was hidden +behind the trees, Dagon stood up and raised his hands. + +"O Baal of Sidon, O Astoreth!" said he, "avenge my insult on this +cursed daughter of a Jew. Let her treacherous beauty perish as a drop +of rain in the desert! May disease devour her body, and madness bind +her soul! May her lord hunt her out of his house like a mangy swine! +And as today she pushed my goblet aside, may the hour come when people +will push her withered hand aside, when in thirst she begs them for a +cup of dirty water." + +Then he spat and muttered words with hidden and dreadful meaning; a +black cloud covered the sun for a while, and the water near the side of +the boat began to grow muddy and rise in a mighty wave. When he +finished, the sun had grown bright again; but the river was disturbed, +as if a new inundation were moving it. + +Dagon's rowers were frightened, and ceased their singing; but separated +from their master by the side of the boat, they could not see his +ceremonies. + +Thenceforth the Phoenician did not appear before Prince Ramses. But on +a certain day when the prince came to his residence, he found in his +bedchamber a beautiful Phoenician dancer, sixteen years of age, whose +entire dress was a golden circlet on her head, and a shawl, as delicate +as spider webs, thrown across her shoulders. + +"Who art thou?" asked the prince. + +"I am a priestess, and thy servant; the lord Dagon has sent me to +frighten away thy auger against him." + +"How wilt Thou do that?" + +"Oh, in this way sit down there," said she, seating him in an armchair. +"I will stand on tiptoe, so as to grow taller than thy anger, and with +this shawl, which is sacred, I will drive evil spirits from thee. A +kish! a kish!" whispered she, dancing in a circle. "Ramses, let my +hands remove gloom from thy hair, let my kisses bring back to thy eyes +their bright glances. Let the beating of my heart fill thy ears with +music, lord of Egypt. A kish! a kish! he is not yours, but mine. Love +demands such silence that in its presence even anger must grow still." + +While dancing, she played with the prince's hair, put her arms around +his neck, kissed him on the eyes. At last she sat down wearied at his +feet, and, resting her head on his knees, turned her face toward him +quickly, panting with parted lips. + +"Thou art no longer angry with thy servant Dagon?" whispered she, +stroking his face. + +Ramses wished to kiss her on the lips, but she sprang away from his +knees, crying, + +"Oh, that is not possible!" + +"Why so?" + +"I am a virgin and priestess of the great goddess Astoreth. Thou +wouldst have to love my guardian goddess greatly, and honor her before +Thou couldst kiss me." + +"But is it permitted thee?" + +"All things are permitted me, for I am a priestess, and have sworn to +preserve my virginity." + +"Why hast Thou come hither, then?" + +"To drive out thy anger. I have done so, I depart. Be well and kind +always," added she, with a piercing glance. + +"Where dost Thou dwell? What is thy name?" asked Ramses. + +"My name is Fondling, and I dwell Ei, why should I tell? Thou wilt not +come soon to me." + +She waved her hand and vanished. The prince, as if stunned, did not +move from his chair. When after a while he looked through the window, +he saw a rich litter which four Nubians bore toward the Nile swiftly. + +Ramses was not sorry for the departing woman; she astonished, but did +not attract him. + +"Sarah is calmer," thought he, "and more beautiful. Moreover, it seems +to me that that Phoenician must be cold, and her fondlings are +studied." + +But from that time the prince ceased to be angry at Dagon, all the more +since on a day when he was at Sarah's earth-tillers came to him, and +thanking him for protection declared that the Phoenician forced them to +pay new rents no longer. + +That was the case close to Memphis, but on other lands the prince's +tenants made good Dagon's losses. + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +In the month of Choeak (from the middle of September to the middle of +October), the waters of the Nile were highest, and began to fall +slightly. In the gardens people gathered tamarinds, dates, olives; and +trees blossomed a second time. + +At this juncture his holiness Ramses XII left his sun-bright palace in +Memphis, and with a grand suite on some tens of stately barges sailed +to Thebes, to thank the gods there for the bounteous inundation, and +also to place offerings oil the tombs of his eternally living +ancestors. + +The most worthy ruler took farewell of his heir very graciously; but +the direction of state affairs during his absence he left with Herhor. + +Ramses felt this proof of want of confidence so greatly that for three +days he took no food and did not leave his villa; he only wept. Later +he ceased to shave, and transferred himself to Sarah's house, so as not +to meet Herhor or annoy his own mother, whom he considered the cause of +his failures. + +On the following day Tutmosis visited him in this retreat, bringing two +boats filled with musicians and dancers, and a third containing baskets +of food and flowers, with pitchers of wine. But the prince commanded +the musicians and dancers to depart, and taking Tutmosis to the garden, +he said, + +"Of course my mother may she live through eternity! sent thee to +separate me from the Jewess? Tell her worthiness that were Herhor to +become not merely viceroy, but the son of my father, I should do that +which pleases me. I know how to do it. Today they wish to deprive me of +Sarah, and to-morrow they would take my power from me; I will show them +that I shall not renounce anything." + +The prince was irritated. Tutmosis shrugged his shoulders, and remarked +finally, + +"As a whirlwind sweeps a bird into a desert, so does anger cast a man +on the shores of injustice. How canst Thou wonder if the priests are +displeased because the heir to the throne has connected his life with a +woman of another country and a strange religion? Sarah does not please +them, especially since Thou hast her alone. Hadst Thou a number of +various women, like all noble youths, they would not mind the Jewess. +But have they done her harm? No. On the contrary, even some priest +defended her against a raging crowd which it pleased thee to liberate +from imprisonment." + +"But my mother?" + +Tutmosis laughed. + +"Thy worthy mother loves thee as her own eyes and heart. Of course +Sarah does not please her, either, but dost Thou know what her +worthiness said once to me? This, that I should entice Sarah from thee. +What a jest on her part! To this I answered with a second jest: 'Ramses +has given me a brace of hunting dogs and two Syrian horses because he +has grown tired of them; perhaps some day he will give me his mistress +too, of course I shall have to take her with other things.'." + +"Do not think of it. I would not give Sarah to any man, were it only +for this, because of her my father has not appointed me viceroy." + +Tutmosis shook his head. + +"Thou art greatly mistaken," answered he, "so much mistaken that I am +terrified. Dost Thou not really understand the causes of the disfavor? +Every enlightened Egyptian knows them." + +"I know nothing." + +"So much the worse," said the anxious Tutmosis. "Thou dost not know, +then, that warriors, since the maneuvers, especially Greek warriors, +drink thy health in every dramshop." + +"They got money to do so." + +"True; but not to cry out, with all the voice that is in them, that +when Thou shalt succeed to his holiness may he live through eternity! +Thou wilt begin a great war, after which there will be changes in +Egypt." + +"What changes? And who is the man who during the life of the pharaoh +may dare to speak of the plans of his successor?" + +Now the prince grew gloomy. + +"That is one thing, but I will tell thee another," said, Tutmosis, "for +misfortunes, like hyenas, never come singly. Dost Thou know that the +lowest people sing songs about thee, sing how Thou didst free the +attackers from prison, and what is worse, they repeat again, that, when +Thou shalt succeed his holiness, rents will be abolished. It must be +added that when common people speak of injustice and rents, +disturbances follow; and either a foreign enemy attacks our weakened +state, or Egypt is divided into as many parts as there are nomarchs. +Finally, judge for thyself, is it proper that any man's name should be +mentioned oftener than the pharaoh's, and that any man should stand +between the people and our lord? If Thou permit, I will tell how +priests look on this matter." + +"Of course, speak." + +"Well, a very wise priest who from the summit of the temple of Amon +examines celestial movements, has thought out this statement: 'The +pharaoh is the sun, the heir to the throne the moon. When the moon +follows the god of light from afar, we have brightness in the daytime +and clearness at night. When the moon wishes to be too near the sun, it +disappears itself and the nights are dark. But if the moon stands +before the sun there is an eclipse, and in the world great terror '." + +"And all this babble," interrupted Ramses, "goes to the ears of his +holiness. Misfortune on my head! Would that I had never been the son of +a pharaoh!" + +"The pharaoh, as a god upon earth, knows everything; but he is too +mighty to care for the drunken shouts of soldiers or the whispers of +earth tillers. He understands that every Egyptian would die for him, +and Thou first of all." + +"Thou hast spoken truth!" answered the anxious prince. "But in all this +I see new vileness and deceit of the priests," added he, rousing +himself. "It is I, then, who hide the majesty of our lord, because I +free the innocent from prison, or do not let my tenant torture earth- +workers with unjust tribute. But when his worthiness Herhor manages the +army, appoints leaders, negotiates with foreign princes, and directs my +father to spend his time in prayers." + +Tutmosis covered his ears, and, stamping, cried, "Be silent! be silent! +every word of thine is blasphemy. His holiness alone directs the state, +and whatever is done on earth proceeds from his will. Herhor is a +servant of the pharaoh and does what his lord enjoins on him. If Thou +wilt convince thyself oh, that my words be not ill understood." + +The prince grew so gloomy that Tutmosis broke off the conversation and +took farewell of his friend at the earliest. When he sat down in his +boat, which was furnished with a baldachin and curtains, he drew a deep +breath and draining a large goblet of wine, thought, + +"Brr! I thank the gods for not giving me such a character as that which +Ramses has. He is a most unhappy man in the happiest conditions. He +might have the most beautiful women in Memphis, but he sticks to one to +annoy his mother. Meanwhile it is not his mother that he annoys, but +all the virtuous virgins and faithful wives who are withering from +sadness that the heir to the throne, and moreover a youth of great +comeliness, does not snatch from them virtue or force them to +unfaithfulness. He might not only drink but even swim in the best wine; +meanwhile he prefers the wretched camp beer, and bread rubbed with +garlic. Whence came these low inclinations? I cannot imagine. Or was it +that the worthy Nikotris in her critical period looked at workmen while +they were eating? + +"He might do nothing from daylight till darkness. If he wished, the +most famous lords, with their wives, sisters, and daughters, would +serve food to him. He not only stretches forth his own hands to take +food, but, to the torment of our noble youths, he washes himself, +dresses himself, and his barber spends whole days in snaring birds and +thus wastes his abilities. + +"O Ramses, Ramses!" sighed the exquisite. "Is it possible that fashion +should be developed in the time of such a prince? We wear the same +aprons from one year to another, and we retain wigs, only thanks to +court dignitaries, for Ramses will not wear any wig. This is a great +offence to the whole order of nobles. And all brought about by cursed +politics, brr! Oh, how happy I am that I need not divine what they are +thinking of in Tyre or Nineveh; break my head over wages for the army; +calculate how many people have been added to Egypt or taken from it, +and what rents must be collected. It is a terrible thing to say to +one's self, 'My tenant does not pay what I need and expend, but what +the increase of the Nile permits.'." + +Thus meditated the exquisite Tutmosis, while he strengthened his +anxious soul with golden wine. Before the boat had sailed up to +Memphis, heavy sleep had mastered him in such wise that his slaves had +to carry their lord to the litter. + +After the departure of Tutmosis, which resembled a flight, the heir +fell to thinking deeply; he even felt fear. + +Ramses was a skeptic. As a pupil of the priests, and a member of the +highest aristocracy, he knew that when certain priests had fasted many +months and mortified their senses they summoned spirits, while others +spoke of spirits as a fancy, a deception. He had seen, too, that Apis, +the sacred bull before which all Egypt fell prostrate, received at +times heavy blows of a cane from inferior priests, who gave the beast +food and brought cows to him. + +He understood, finally, that his father, Ramses XII, who for the common +crowd was a god who lived through eternity, and the all-commanding lord +of this world, was really just such a person as others, only a little +more weakly than ordinary old men, and very much limited in power by +the priestly order. + +The prince saw all this, and jeered in his soul and even la public at +many things. But all his infidelity fell before the actual truth, that +no one was permitted to trifle with the titles of the pharaoh. + +Ramses knew the history of his country, and he remembered that in Egypt +many things were forgiven the mighty. A great lord might ruin a canal, +kill a man in secret, revile the gods privately, take presents from +ambassadors of foreign states, but two sins were not forgiven, the +betrayal of priestly secrets, and treason to the pharaoh. A man who +committed one or the other disappeared, sometimes after a year, from +among his friends and servants. But where he had been put or what had +been done with him, no one even dared to mention. + +Ramses felt that he was on an incline of this sort from the time that +the army and the people began to mention his name and speak of certain +plans of his, changes in the state, future wars. Thinking of this, the +prince felt as if a nameless crowd of rebels and unfortunates were +pushing him violently to the point of the highest obelisk, from which +he must tumble down and be crushed into jelly. + +Later on, when, after the longest life of his father possible, he +became pharaoh, he would have the right and the means to accomplish +many deeds of which no one in Egypt could even think without terror. +But today he must in truth have a care, lest they declare him a traitor +and a rebel against the fundamental laws of Egypt. In that state there +was one visible ruler, the pharaoh. He governed, he desired, he thought +for all, and woe to the man who dared to doubt audibly the all-might of +the sovereign, or mention plans of his own, or even changes in general. + +Plans were made in one place alone, in that hall where the pharaoh +listened to advice from his aiding council, and expressed to it his own +opinions. No changes could come save from that place. There burned the +only visible lamp of political wisdom, the light of which illuminated +Egypt. But touching that light, it was safer to be silent. + +All these considerations flew through the prince's head with the +swiftness of a whirlwind while he was sitting on the stone bench under +the chestnut-tree in Sarah's garden, and looking at the landscape there +around him. + +The water of the Nile had fallen a little, and had begun to grow as +transparent as a crystal. But the whole country looked yet like an arm +of the sea thickly dotted with islands on which rose buildings, +gardens, and orchards, while here and there groups of great trees +served as ornament. + +Around all these islands were well-sweeps, with buckets by which +bronze-hued naked men with dirty breech clouts raised water from the +Nile and poured it into higher reservoirs. One such place was in the +prince's mind especially. That was a steep eminence on the side of +which three men were working at three well-sweeps. One poured water +from the river into the lowest well; another drew from the lowest and +raised water two yards higher to a middle place; the third raised water +from the middle to the highest place. There some people, also naked, +drew water in buckets, and irrigated beds of vegetables, or watered +trees from sprinkling-pots. + +The movement of the sweeps going down and rising, the turn of the +buckets, the gushing of the pots was so rhythmic that the men who +caused it might be thought automatons. No one of them spoke to his +neighbor, no man changed place or looked about him; he merely bent and +rose in one single method from daylight until evening, from one month +to another, and doubtless he had worked thus from childhood and would +so work till death took him. + +"And creatures such as these," thought the prince, as he looked at +their toil, "desire me to realize their imaginings. What change in the +state can they wish? Is it that he who draws from the lowest well +should go to the highest, or instead of pouring from a bucket should +sprinkle trees with a watering pot?" + +Anger rose to his head, and humiliation crushed him because he, the +heir to the throne, thanks to the fables of creatures like those who +nodded all their lives over wells of dirty water, was not now the vice- +pharaoh. + +At that moment he heard a low rustle among the trees, and delicate +hands rested on his shoulder. + +"Well, Sarah?" asked the prince, without turning his head. + +"Thou art sad, my lord. Moses was not so delighted at sight of the +promised land as I was at those words of thine: + +"I am coming to live with thee. But Thou art a day and a night here, +and I have not seen thy smile yet. Thou dost not even speak to me, but +goest about in gloom, and at night Thou dost not fondle me, but only +sighest." + +"I have trouble." + +"Tell me what it is. Grief is like a treasure given to be guarded. As +long as we guard it ourselves even sleep flees away, and we find relief +only when we put some one else to watch for us." + +Ramses embraced Sarah, and seated her on the bench at his side. + +"When an earth-tiller," said he, smiling, "is unable to bring in all +his crops from the field before the overflow, his wife helps him. She +helps him to milk cows too, she takes out food to the field for him, +she washes the man on his return from labor. Hence the belief has come +that woman can lighten man's troubles." + +"Dost Thou not believe this, lord?" + +"The cares of a prince," answered Ramses, "cannot be lightened by a +woman, even by one as wise and powerful as my mother." + +"In God's name, what are thy troubles? Tell me," insisted Sarah, +drawing up to the shoulder of Prince Ramses. "According to our +traditions, Adam left Paradise for Eve; and he was surely the greatest +king in the most beautiful kingdom." + +The prince became thoughtful. + +"Our sages also teach," said he, "that man has often abandoned +dignities for woman, but it has not been heard that any man ever +achieved something great through a woman; unless he was a leader to +whom a pharaoh gave his daughter, with a great dowry and high office. +But a woman cannot help a man to reach a higher place or even help him +out of troubles." + +"This may be because she does not love as I do," whispered Sarah. + +"Thy love for me is wonderful, I know that. Never hast Thou asked for +gifts, or favored those who do not hesitate to seek success even under +the beds of princes' favorites. Thou art milder than a lamb, and as +calm as a night on the Nile. Thy kisses are like perfume from the land +of Punt, and thy embrace as sweet as the sleep of a wearied laborer. I +have no measure for thy beauty, or words for thy attractions. Thou art +a marvel among women; women's lips are rich in trouble and their love +is very costly. But with all thy perfection how canst Thou ease my +troubles? Canst Thou cause his holiness to order a great expedition to +the East and name me to command it? Canst Thou give me the army corps +in Memphis, for which I asked, or wilt thou, in the pharaoh's name, +make me governor of Lower Egypt? Or canst Thou bring all subjects of +his holiness to think and feel as I, his most devoted subject?" Sarah +dropped her hands on her knees, and whispered sadly, "True, I cannot do +those things I can do nothing." + +"Thou canst do much. Thou canst cheer me," replied Ramses, smiling. "I +know that Thou hast learned to dance and sing. Take off those long +robes, therefore, which become priestesses guarding fire, and array +thyself in transparent muslin, as Phoenician dancers do. And so dance +and fondle me as they." + +Sarah seized his hands and cried with flaming eyes, + +"Hast Thou to do with outcasts such as these? Tell me let me know my +wretchedness; send me then to my father, send me to our valley in the +desert. Oh, that I had never seen thee in it!" + +"Well, well, calm thyself," said the prince, toying with her hair. "I +must of course see dancers, if not at feasts, at royal festivals, or +during services in temples. But all of them together do not concern me +as much as Thou alone; moreover, who among them could equal thee? Thy +body is like a statue of Isis, cut out of ivory, and each of those +dancers has some defect. Some are too thick; others have thin legs or +ugly hands; still others have false hair. Who of them is like thee? If +Thou wert an Egyptian, all our temples would strive to possess thee as +the leader of their chorus. What do I say? Wert Thou to appear now in +Memphis in transparent robes, the priests would be glad if Thou wouldst +take part in processions." + +"It is not permitted us daughters of Judah to wear immodest garments." + +"Nor to dance or sing? Why didst Thou learn, then?" + +"Our women dance, and our virgins sing by themselves for the glory of +the Lord, but not for the purpose of sowing fiery seeds of desire in +men's hearts. But we sing. Wait, my lord, I will sing to thee." + +She rose from the bench and went toward the house. Soon she returned +followed by a young girl with black, frightened eyes, who was bearing a +harp. + +"Who is this maiden?" asked the prince. "But wait I have seen that look +somewhere. Ah! when I was here the last time a frightened girl looked +from the bushes at me.'" + +"This is Esther, my relative and servant," answered Sarah. "She has +lived with me a mouth now, but she fears thee, lord, so she runs away +always. Perhaps she looked at thee sometime from out the bushes." + +"Thou mayst go, my child," said the prince to the maiden, who seemed +petrified, and when she had hidden behind the bushes, he asked, + +"Is she a Jewess too? And this guard of thy house, who looks at me as a +sheep at a crocodile?" + +"That is Samuel the son of Esdras; he also is a relative. I took him in +place of the black man to whom Thou hast given freedom. But hast Thou +not permitted me to choose my servants?" + +"That is true. And so also the overseer of the workmen is a Jew, for he +has a yellow complexion and looks with a lowliness which no Egyptian +could imitate." + +"That," answered Sarah, "is Ezechiel, the son of Reuben, a relative of +my father. Does he not please thee, my lord? These are all thy very +faithful servants." + +"Does he please me," said the prince, dissatisfied, drumming with his +fingers on the bench. "He is not here to please me, but to guard thy +property. For that matter, these people do not concern me. Sing, +Sarah." + +Sarah knelt on the grass at the prince's feet, and playing a few notes +as accompaniment, began, + +"Where is he who has no care? Who is he who in lying down to slumber +has the right to say: This is a day that I have spent without sorrow? +Where is the man who lying down for the grave, can say: My life has +passed without pain, without fear, like a calm evening on the Jordan. + +"But how many are there who moisten their bread with tears daily, and +whose houses are filled with sighing. + +"A wail is man's earliest speech on this earth, and a groan his +farewell to it. Full of suffering does he come into life, full of +sorrow does he go to his resting-place, and no one asks him where he +would like to be. + +"Where is that offspring of man who has not tasted the bitterness of +being? Is it the child which death has snatched from its mother, or is +it the babe whose mother's breast was drained by hunger ere the little +one could place lips to it? + +"Where is the man who is sure of his fate, the man who can look with +unfailing eye at the morrow? Does he who toils on the field know that +rain is not under his power, and that not he shows its way to the +locust swarm? Does the merchant who gives his wealth to the winds, +which come he knows not whence, and his life to the waves on that abyss +which swallows all, and returns nothing? + +"Where is the man without dread in his spirit? Is it the hunter who +chases the nimble deer and on the road meets a lion which mocks at his +arrows? Is it the warrior who goes forth to gain glory with toiling, +and meets a forest of sharp lances and bronze swords which are +thirsting for his life blood? Is it the great king who under his purple +puts on heavy armor, who spies out with sleepless eye the treachery of +overpowering neighbors, and seizes with his ear the rustle of the +curtain lest treason overturn him in his own tent? + +"For this reason men's hearts in all places and at all times are +overflowing with sadness. In the desert the lion and the scorpion are +his danger, in the cave lurks the dragon, among flowers the poisonous +serpent. In the sunshine a greedy neighbor is thinking how to decrease +his land, in the night the active thief is breaking through the door to +his granary. In childhood he is incompetent, in old age stripped of +strength. When full of power, he is surrounded by perils, as a whale is +surrounded by abysses of water. + +"Therefore, O Lord, my Creator, to Thee the tortured human soul turns +itself. Thou hast brought it into a world full of ambushes, Thou hast +grafted into it the terror of extinction. Thou hast barred before it +all roads of peace, save the one road which leads to Thee. And as a +child which cannot walk grasps its mother's skirt lest it fall, so +wretched man stretches forth his hands toward Thy tenderness, and +struggles out of uncertainty." + +Sarah was silent; the prince fell into meditation, and then said, + +"Ye Jews are a gloomy nation. If men in Egypt believed as thy song +teaches, no one would laugh on the banks of the Nile. The wealthy would +hide in underground temples through terror, and the people, instead of +working, would flee to caves, look out and wait for mercy which would +never come to them. + +"Our world is different: in it a man may have everything, but he +himself must do everything. Our gods help no idleness. They come to the +earth only when a hero dares a deed which is superhuman and when he +exhausts every power present. Such was the case with Ramses the Great +when he rushed among two thousand five hundred hostile chariots, each +of which carried three warriors. Only then did Amon the eternal father +reach his hand down and end the battle with victory. But if instead of +fighting he had waited for the aid of your God, long ago would the +Egyptians have been moving along the Nile, each of them bearing a brick +and a bucket, while the vile Hittites would be masters going around +with clubs and papyruses. + +"Therefore, Sarah, thy charms will scatter my sorrows sooner than thy +song. If I had acted as your Jewish song teaches, and waited for divine +assistance, wine would have flowed away from my lips, and women would +have fled from my household. + +"Above all, I could not be the pharaoh's heir any more than my +brothers, one of whom does not leave his room without leaning on two +slaves, while the other climbs along tree trunks." + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE next day Ramses sent his black men with commands to Memphis, and +about midday came a great boat toward Sarah's house from the direction +of the city. The boat was filled with Greek soldiers in lofty helmets +and gleaming breastplates. + +At command sixteen men armed with shields and short darts landed and +stood in two ranks. They were ready to march to the house, when a +second messenger from the prince detained them. He commanded the +soldiers to remain at the shore, and summoned only their leader, +Patrokles. + +They halted and stood without movement, like two rows of columns +covered with glittering armor. After the messenger went, Patrokles in a +helmet with plumes, wearing a purple tunic over which he had gilded +armor ornamented on the breast with the picture of a woman's head +bristling with serpents instead of hair. + +The prince received the famous general at the garden gate. He did not +smile as usual, did not even answer the low bow of Patrokles, but said +coldly, + +"Worthiness, tell the Greek warriors that I will not review them until +their lord, his holiness, appoints me leader a second time. They have +lost that honor by uttering in dramshops shouts worthy of drunkards. +These shouts offend me. I call attention also to this, worthiness, that +the Greek regiments do not show sufficient discipline. In public places +the soldiers of this corps discuss politics and a certain possible war. +This looks like treason to the state. Only the pharaoh and members of +his supreme council may speak of such matters. But we, soldiers and +servants of our lord, whatever position we occupy, may only execute the +commands of our most gracious ruler, and be silent at all times. I beg +thee to communicate these considerations to my regiments, and I wish +all success to thee, worthiness." + +"It will be as commanded, worthiness," answered the Greek. + +He turned on his heel, and standing erect moved with a rattle toward +the boat. He knew about these discussions of the soldiers in the +dramshops, and understood straightway that something disagreeable had +happened to the heir, whom the troops worshipped. Therefore, when he +had reached the handful of armed men on the bank, he assumed a very +angry mien, and, waving his hands with rage, cried, + +"Valiant Greek soldiers! mangy dogs, may the leprosy consume you! If, +from this time on, any Greek mentions the name of the heir to the +throne in a dramshop, I will break a pitcher on his head, cram the +pieces down his throat, and then drive him out of the regiment! One and +another of you will herd swine for Egyptian earth-workers, and hens +will lay eggs in your helmets. Such is the fate waiting for stupid +soldiers who know not how to keep their tongues quiet. And now to the +left! to the rear! turn! and march to the boat, may the plague strike +you! A soldier of his holiness should drink first of all to the health +of the pharaoh and the prosperity of the worthy minister of war, +Herhor, may they live through eternity!" + +"May they live through eternity!" repeated the soldiers. + +All took their places in the boat, looking gloomy. But when near +Memphis Patrokles smoothed out his wrinkled forehead and commanded them +to sing the song of that priest's daughter who so loved soldiers that +she put a doll in her bed and passed the whole night in the booth of +the sentries. Keeping time to this song, they always marched best, and +moved the oars with most nimbleness. + +In the evening another boat approached Sarah's dwelling, out of which +came the chief steward of the prince's property. + +Ramses received this official at the garden gate also. Perhaps he did +this through sternness, or perhaps not to constrain the man to enter +the house of his mistress and a Jewess. + +"I wished," said the heir, "to see thee and to say that among my people +certain improper conversations circulate concerning decrease of rent, +or something of that kind. I wish those people to know that I will not +decrease rents. But should any man in spite of warnings persist in his +folly and talk about rents, he will receive blows of canes." + +"Perhaps it would be better if he paid a fine, an uten or a drachma, +whatever is commanded, worthiness," said the chief steward. + +"Yes; but the worst offender might be beaten." + +"I make bold to offer a remark, worthiness," said the steward in a low +tone, inclining continually, "that the earth-workers, roused by some +unknown person, really did talk for a time about decrease of rent. But +some days ago they ceased on a sudden." + +"In that case we might withhold the blows of canes," said Ramses. + +"Unless as preventive means," put in the steward. + +"Would it not be too bad to spoil the canes?" + +"We shall never lack articles of that sort." + +"But with moderation in every case. I do not wish it to go to his +holiness that I torture men without need. For rebellious conversation +we must beat and take fines in money, but when there is no cause for +punishment we may be magnanimous." + +"I understand," answered the steward, looking into the eyes of Ramses. + +"Let them cry out as much as they like if they do not whisper +blasphemy." + +These talks with Patrokles and the steward were reported throughout +Egypt. + +After the steward's departure, the prince yawned and looking around +with a tired glance, he said to himself, + +"I have done all I could, but now, if I can, I will do nothing." + +At that moment, from the direction of the outhouses, low groans and the +sound of frequent blows reached the prince. Ramses turned his head, and +saw that the overseer of the workmen, Ezekiel, son of Reuben, was +beating some subordinate with a cane, pacifying him meanwhile, + +"Be quiet! be silent, low beast!" + +The beaten workman, lying on the ground, closed his mouth with his hand +so as not to cry. + +At first the prince rushed like a panther toward the outhouses. +Suddenly he halted. + +"What am I to do?" whispered he. "This is Sarah's place, and the Jew is +her relative." + +He bit his lips, and disappeared among the trees, the more readily +since the flogging was finished. + +"Is this the management of the humble Jews?" thought Ramses. "Is this +the way? That man looks at me as a frightened dog might, but he beats +the workmen. Are the Hebrews all like him?" + +And for the first time the thought was roused in the prince's soul, +that under the guise of kindness Sarah, too, might conceal falsehood. + +Certain changes had indeed taken place in Sarah; above all, moral +changes. + +From the moment when she met Ramses in the valley of the desert he had +pleased her, but that feeling grew silent immediately beneath the +influence of the stunning news that the shapely youth was a son of the +pharaoh and heir to the throne of Egypt. When Tutmosis bargained with +Gideon to take her to the prince's house, Sarah fell into a state of +bewilderment. + +She would not renounce Ramses for any treasure, nor at the cost of +life, but one could not say that she loved him at that time. Love +demands freedom and time to give forth its most beautiful blossoms; +neither freedom nor time had been left to her. She made the +acquaintance of the prince on a certain day; the following day they +took her away almost without consulting her wishes, and bore her to +that villa opposite Memphis. In a couple of days she became the +prince's favorite, astonished, frightened, not understanding what had +taken place with her. + +Moreover, before she could make herself used to the new impressions, +the Jewess was disturbed by ill-will from surrounding people; then the +visit of unknown ladies; finally, that attack on the villa. + +Then, because Ramses took her part and wished to rush on the rioters, +she was still more terrified. She lost presence of mind at the thought +that she was in the hands of a man of such power and so violent, who, +if it suited him, had the right to shed blood, to slay people. + +Sarah fell into despair for the moment: it seemed to her that she would +go mad. She heard the terrible commands of the prince who summoned the +servants to arms. But at that very moment a slight thing took place, +one little word was heard which sobered Sarah, and gave a new turn to +her feelings. + +The prince, thinking that she was wounded, drew the bandage from her +head; but when he saw the bruise, he cried, + +"That is only a blue spot! How that blue spot changes the face!" + +At these words Sarah forgot pain and fear. New alarm seized her: so she +had changed to such a degree that it astonished the prince, but he was +only astonished. + +The blue spot disappeared in a couple of days, but feelings unknown up +to that time remained in Sarah's soul and increased there. She began to +be jealous of the prince, and to fear that he would reject her. + +And still another anxiety tortured the Jewess. She felt herself a +servant, a slave in respect to Ramses. She was and wished to be his +faithful servant, his devoted slave, as inseparable as his shadow, but +at the same time she desired that he, at least when he fondled her, +should not treat her as though he were lord and master. + +She was his indeed, but he was hers also. Why does he not show, then, +that he belonged to her, even in some degree? But with every word and +motion he makes her understand that a certain gulf is between them. +What kind of gulf? Has she not held him in her embraces? Has he not +kissed her lips and bosom? + +A certain day the prince came to her with a dog. He stayed only a +couple of hours; but during that entire interval the dog lay at his +feet in Sarah's place, and when she wished to sit there the dog +growled. And the prince laughed and thrust his fingers into the hair of +that unclean creature, as he had into her hair. And the dog looked into +the prince's eyes just as she had, with this difference, perhaps, that +he looked with more confidence. + +She could not pacify herself, and she hated the clever beast which was +taking a part of the tenderness due to her, paying no attention +whatever to her, and bearing itself with an intimacy towards its lord +that she did not dare to claim. She would have been unable to have such +an indifferent mien, or to look in another direction if the prince's +hand had rested on her head. + +Not long before this incident the prince mentioned dancers a second +time. Then Sarah burst out angrily, + +"How did he permit himself to be familiar with those naked, shameless +women? And Jehovah looking down from high heaven did not hurl His +thunders at those monstrous creatures!" + +It is true that Ramses told her that she was dearer than all else to +him, but these words did not pacify Sarah; they only produced this +effect, that she determined not to think of aught beyond her love. + +What would come on the morrow? Never mind. And when at the feet of the +prince she sang that hymn about those sufferings which pursue mankind +from the cradle to the grave, she described in it the state of her own +soul, and her last hope, which was Jehovah. + +That day Ramses was with her; hence she had enough, she had all the +happiness which life could give. But just there began for Sarah the +greatest bitterness. + +The prince lived under one roof with her, he walked with her in the +garden, and sometimes went out on the Nile in a boat with her. But he +was not more accessible by the width of one hair than when he was on +the other side of the river, within the limits of the pharaoh's palace. + +He was with her, but his mind was in some other place, Sarah could not +even divine where. He embraced her, or toyed with her hair, but he +looked toward the city, at those immense many-colored pylons of the +pharaoh's palace, or at some unknown object. + +At times he did not even answer her questions, or he looked at her +suddenly as if roused from sleep, or as if he wondered that he saw her +there beside him. + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THUS seemed those moments of approach between Sarah and her princely +lover, which were rare enough withal. For after he had given those +commands to-Patrokles and the steward, Ramses spent the greater part of +the day away from the villa, generally in a boat or sailing on the +Nile. He caught with a net fish which swam in thousands in the blessed +river, or he went into swamps, and hidden among lofty lotus stems +brought down with arrows wild birds, which circling in noisy flocks +were as numerous as flies are. But even at those times ambitious +thoughts did not desert him; so he turned the hunting into a kind of +predicting or soothsaying. More than once, when he saw a flock of +yellow geese upon the water, he drew his bow and said, "If I hit I +shall be like Ramses the Great." + +The arrow made a low whistle, and the stricken bird, fluttering its +wings, gave out cries so painful that there was a movement in the whole +swampy region. Clouds of geese, ducks, and storks rose in the air, and +making a great circle above their dying comrade, dropped down to other +places. + +When there was silence again, the prince pushed his boat farther, with +caution guiding himself by the movement of reeds or the broken calls of +birds, and when in the green growth he saw a spot of clear water and a +new flock, he drew his bow again, and said, + +"If I hit I shall be pharaoh; if I miss." + +This time the arrow struck the water, and bounding a number of times +along its surface, disappeared among lotuses. The excited prince sent +more and more arrows, killing birds or only frightening flocks of them. +From the villa they knew where he was by the noisy cloud of birds which +rose from time to time and circled above the boat in which he was +sailing. + +When toward evening he returned to the villa wearied, Sarah waited on +the threshold with a bronze basin, a pitcher of light wine, and a +garland of roses. The prince smiled at her, stroked her face, but +looking into her eyes, which were full of tenderness, he thought, + +"Would she beat Egyptian people, like her relatives who look frightened +all the time? Oh, my mother is right not to trust Jews, though Sarah +may be different from others." + +Once, returning unexpectedly, he saw in the space before the villa a +crowd of naked children playing joyously. All were yellow, and at sight +of him they vanished with cries like wild geese from a swampy meadow. +Before he reached the terrace they were gone, not a trace was left. + +"Who are those little things," asked he, "who rushed away from me?" + +"Those are children of my servants," replied Sarah. + +"Of Jews?" + +"Of my brothers." + +"Gods, what a numerous people!" laughed Ramses. "And who is that +again?" added he, pointing to a man who looked timidly from beyond the +wall. + +"That is Aod, son of Barak, my relative. He wants to serve thee, lord. +May I take him?" + +The prince shrugged his shoulders. + +"This is thy place," answered he; "take those who please thee. But if +these people increase so, they will soon master Memphis." + +"Thou canst not endure my brethren," whispered Sarah, as she dropped to +his feet frightened. + +The prince looked at her with astonishment. + +"I do not even think of them," answered he, proudly. + +These little happenings, which fell on Sarah's soul like drops of fire, +did not change Ramses with regard to her. He was kind and as fond as he +had been, though his eyes turned more frequently to the other bank of +the river, and rested on the mighty pylons of his father's palace. + +Soon he discovered that others were yearning because he was in a +banishment of his own choosing. A certain day from the opposite shore a +stately royal barge pushed out into the river; it crossed the Nile from +Memphis, and then circled near the prince's villa, so near that Ramses +could recognize the persons in it. In fact he recognized beneath the +purple baldachin his mother among court ladies, and opposite, on a low +stool, the vice-pharaoh, Herhor. They did not look toward the villa, it +is true, but the prince divined that they saw him. + +"Ha! ha!" thought he. "My worthy mother and his worthiness the minister +would be glad to entice me hence before his holiness returns to +Memphis." + +The mouth Tobi (the end of October and beginning of November) came. The +Nile had fallen a distance equaling the stature of a man, and one-half +in addition, uncovering daily new strips of black clammy earth. +Wherever the water withdrew a narrow plough appeared drawn by two oxen. +Behind the plough went a naked ploughman, at the side of he oxen a +driver with a short club, and behind him a sower, who, wading to his +ankles in earth, carried wheat in an apron, and scattered it almost in +handfuls. + +The most beautiful season of the year was beginning in Egypt, the +winter. Heat did not go beyond 70 Fahrenheit; the earth was covered +quickly with emerald green, from out which sprang narcissus and +violets. The odor of them came forth oftener and oftener amid the odor +of earth and water. + +A number of times the barge bearing the worthy lady Nikotris and the +vice-pharaoh Herhor appeared near Sarah's dwelling. Each time the +prince saw his mother conversing with the minister joyously, and +convinced himself that they refrained ostentatiously from looking +toward him, as if to show indifference. + +"Wait!" whispered he, in anger, "I will show you that life does not +annoy me, either." + +So when one day, shortly before sunset, the queen's gilded barge +appeared with a purple tent having ostrich plumes on each of its four +comers, Ramses gave command to prepare a boat for two persons, and told +Sarah that he would sail with her. + +"O Jehovah!" cried she, clasping her hands. "But thy mother is there, +and the viceroy!" + +"But in this boat will be the heir to the throne. Take thy harp, +Sarah." + +"And the harp, too?" cried Sarah. "But if her worthiness were to speak +to thee! I should throw myself into the river." + +"Be not a child," replied Ramses, laughing. "My mother and his +worthiness love songs immensely. Thou mayest even win their favor if +Thou sing some splendid song of the Hebrews. Let there be love in it." + +"I know no song of that kind," answered Sarah, in whom the prince's +words had roused hope of some sort. Her song might please those +powerful rulers, and then what? + +On the royal barge they saw that the heir to the throne was sitting in +a simple boat and rowing. + +"Dost Thou see, worthiness," whispered the queen to the minister, "that +he is rowing toward us with his Jewess?" + +"The heir has borne himself with such correctness toward his warriors +and his people, and has shown so much compunction in withdrawing from +the limits of the palace, that his mother may forgive small errors," +answered Herhor. + +"Oh, if he were not sitting in that boat, I would give command to break +it!" said the worthy lady. + +"For what reason?" asked the minister. "The prince would be no +descendant of high priests and pharaohs if he did not break through +restraints which the law, alas, puts on him, or perhaps our mistaken +customs. He has given proof in every case that in serious junctures he +is able to command himself. He is even able to recognize his errors, a +rare power and priceless in an heir to the throne of Egypt. The very +fact that the prince wishes to rouse our curiosity with his favorite +shows that the position in which he finds himself pains him; besides, +his reasons are among the noblest." + +"But the Jewess!" whispered the lady, crushing her feather fan between +her fingers. + +"At present I am quite at rest regarding her," continued Herhor. "She +is shapely, but dull; she never thinks of using influence on the +prince, nor could she do so. Shut up in a cage which is not over- +costly, she takes no gifts, and will not even see any one. In time, +perhaps, she might learn to make use of her position even to the extent +of decreasing the heir's treasury by some talents. Before that day +comes, however, Ramses will be tired of her." + +"May the all-knowing Amon speak through thy mouth," said the lady. + +"The prince, I am sure of this, has not grown wild over a favorite, as +happens often to young lords in Egypt. One keen, intriguing woman may +strip a man of property and health, nay, bring him to the hall of +judgment. The prince is amused with her as a grown-up man might be +amused with a slave girl. And Sarah is pregnant." + +"Is that true?" cried the queen. "How dost Thou know?" + +"It is not known to his worthiness the heir, or even to Sarah," said +Herhor, smiling. "We must know everything. This secret, however, was +not difficult to get at. With Sarah is her relative Tafet, an +incomparable gossip." + +"Have they summoned a physician already?" + +"Sarah knows nothing of this, I repeat, but the worthy Tafet, from fear +lest the prince might grow indifferent to her foster child, would be +glad to twist the neck of this secret. But we do not let her. That will +be the prince's child also." + +"But if it is a son? Thou knowest that he may make trouble," put in the +lady. + +"All is foreseen," replied Herhor. "If the child is a daughter, we will +give her a dowry and the education proper for young ladies of high +station. If a son, he will become a Jew." + +"Oh, my grandson, a Jew!" + +"Do not take thy heart too soon from him. Our envoys declare that the +people of Israel are beginning to desire a king. Before the child +matures their desires will ripen, and then we may give them a ruler, +and of good blood indeed." + +"Thou art like an eagle which takes in East and West at a glance," said +the queen, eying the minister with amazement. "I feel that my repulsion +for this maiden begins to grow weaker." + +"The least drop of the pharaoh's blood should raise itself above +nations, like a star above the earth," added Herhor. + +At that moment the heir's boat moved at a few tens of paces from the +royal barge, and the queen, shielded by her fan, looked at Sarah +through its feathers. + +"In truth the girl is shapely," whispered Queen Nikotris. + +"Thou art saying those words for the second time, worthy lady." + +"So Thou hast noted that?" laughed her worthiness. + +Herhor dropped his eyes. + +In the boat was heard a harp, and Sarah began a hymn, with trembling +voice, + +"How great is Jehovah, O Israel! how great is Jehovah, thy God." + +"A most beautiful voice," whispered the queen. + +The high priest listened with attention. + +"His days have no beginning," sang Sarah, "and His dwelling has no +limit. The eternal heavens change beneath His eye, like a garment which +a man puts on his body and then casts away from him. The stars flash +up, and are quenched, like sparks from fuel, and the earth is like a +brick which a traveler touches once with his foot while going ever +farther. + +"How great is thy Lord, O Israel! There is no being who can say to Him, +'Do this!' there is no womb which could have given birth to Him. He +created the bottomless deeps above which He moves when He wishes. He +brings light out of darkness, and from the dust of the earth He creates +living things which have voices. + +"For Him savage lions are as locusts, the immense elephant He looks on +as nothing, before Him the whale is as weak as an infant. + +"His tricolored bow divides the heavens into two parts and rests on the +ends of the earth plain. Where are the gates which could equal Him in +loftiness? Nations are in terror at the thunder of His chariot, and +there is naught beneath the sun which could stand His flashing arrows. + +"His breath is the north wind at midnight, which freshens trees when +withering, His anger is like the chamsin which burns what it touches. + +"When He stretches His hands above the waters, they are petrified. He +pours the sea into new places, as a woman pours out leaven. He rends +the earth as if it were old linen, and clothes in silvery snow the +naked tops of mountains. + +"In a grain of wheat He hides one hundred other grains, and causes +birds to incubate. From the drowsy chrysalis He leads to life a golden +butterfly, and makes men's bodies wait in tombs until the day of +resurrection." + +The rowers, absorbed in the song, raised their oars, and the purple +barge dropped slowly down with the sweep of the river. All at once +Herhor rose, and commanded, + +"Turn now toward Memphis!" + +The oars fell; the barge turned where it stood, and raised the water +with noise. After it followed Sarah's hymn decreasing gradually, + +"He sees the movement of hearts, the silent hidden ways on which pass +the innermost thoughts in men's breasts. But no man can gaze into His +heart and spy out His purposes. + +"Before the gleam of His garments mighty spirits hide their faces. +Before His glance the gods of great cities and nations turn aside and +shrink like withering leaves. + +"He is power, He is life, He is wisdom. He is thy Lord, thy God, O +Israel!" + +"Why command, worthiness, to turn away our barge?" asked the worthy +Nikotris. + +"Lady, dost Thou know that hymn?" asked Herhor, in a language +understood by priests alone. "That stupid girl is singing in the middle +of the Nile a prayer permitted only in the most secret recesses of our +temples." + +"Is that blasphemy then?" + +"There is no priest in the barge except me," replied the minister. "I +have not heard the hymn, and if I had I should forget it. Still I am +afraid that the gods will lay hands on that girl yet." + +"But whence does she know that awful prayer, for Ramses could not have +taught it to her?" + +"The prince is not to blame. But forget not, lady, that the Jews have +taken from our Egypt many such treasures. That is why, among all +nations on earth, we consider them alone as sacrilegious." + +The queen seized the hand of the high priest. + +"But my son will no evil strike him?" whispered she, looking into his +eyes. + +"I say, worthiness, that no evil will happen to any one. I heard not +the hymn, and I know nothing. The prince must be separated from that +Jewess." + +"But separated mildly; is that not the way?" asked the mother. + +"In the mildest way possible and the simplest, but separation is +imperative. It seemed to me," continued the high priest, as if to +himself, "that I foresaw everything. Everything save an action for +blasphemy, which threatens the heir while he is with that strange +woman." + +Herhor thought awhile, and added, + +"Yes, worthy lady! It is possible to laugh at many of our prejudices; +still the son of a pharaoh should not be connected with a Jewess." + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SINCE the evening when Sarah sang in the boat, the royal barge had not +appeared on the Nile, and Prince Ramses was annoyed in real earnest. + +The month Mechir (December) was approaching. The waters decreased, the +land extended more widely each day, the grass became higher and +thicker, and in the grass flashed up flowers of the most varied hues +and of incomparable odor. Like islands in a green sea appeared, in the +course of a single day, flowery places, as it were white, azure, +yellow, rosy, or many colored carpets from which rose an intoxicating +odor. Still the prince was wearied, and even feared something. From the +day of his father's departure he had not been in the palace, and no one +from the palace had come to him, save Tutmosis, who since the last +conversation had vanished like a snake in the grass. "Whether they +respected the prince's seclusion, or desired to annoy him, or simply +feared to pay him a visit because he had been touched by disfavor, +Ramses had no means of knowing. + +"My father may exclude me from the throne, as he has my elder +brothers," thought the heir sometimes; and sweat came out on his +forehead, while his feet became cold. + +"What would he do in that case?" + +Moreover Sarah was ill, thin, pale, her great eyes sank; at times she +complained of faintness which attacked her in the morning. + +"Surely some one has bewitched the poor thing," groaned the cunning +Tafet, whom the prince could not endure for her chattering and very bad +management. + +A couple of times, for instance, the heir noticed that in the evening +Tafet sent off to Memphis immense baskets with food, linen, even +vessels. Next day she complained in heaven-piercing accents that flour, +wine, and even vessels were lacking. Since the heir had come to the +villa ten times more of various products had been used there than +formerly. + +"I am certain," thought Ramses, "that that chattering termagant robs me +for her Jews, who vanish in the daytime but are prowling around in the +night, like rats in the nastiest comers!" + +The prince's only amusement in these days was to look at the date +harvest. A naked man took his place at the foot of a high palm without +side branches, surrounded the trunk and himself with a circular rope +which resembled the hoop of a barrel. Then he raised himself on the +tree by his heels, his whole body bent backward, but the hoop-like rope +held him by squeezing his body to the tree. Next he shoved the flexible +hoop up the trunk some inches, raised himself by his heels again, then +shoved the rope up. In this way he climbed, exposed meanwhile to the +peril of breaking his neck, till he reached the top, where grew a crown +of great leaves and dates. + +The prince was not alone when he saw these gymnastics; Jewish children +also were spectators. At first there was no trace of them. Then among +bushes and from beyond the wall curly heads and black gleaming eyes +appeared. Afterward, when they saw that the prince did not drive them +away, these children came out each from a hiding-place and approached +the tree gradually. The most daring among the girls picked up a +beautiful date which she brought to Ramses. One of the boys ate the +smallest date, and then the children began to eat and to give the +prince fruit. At first they brought him the best, then inferior dates, +finally some that were spoilt altogether. + +The future ruler of the world fell to thinking, and said to himself, + +"They crawl in at all points, and will treat me always in this way: +they will give the good as a bait, and what is spoiled out of +gratitude." + +He rose and walked away gloomily; but the children of Israel rushed, +like a flock of birds, at the labor of the Egyptian, who high above +their heads was singing unmindful of his bones and of this, that he was +harvesting not for his own use. + +Sarah's undiscovered disease, her frequent tears, her vanishing charms, +and above all the Jews, who, ceasing to hide, managed the place with +increasing tumult, disgusted Ramses to the utmost degree with that +beautiful comer. He sailed no more in a boat, he neither hunted nor +watched the date harvest, but wandered gloomily through the garden, or +looked from his roof at the palace. He would never go back to that +palace unless summoned, and now he thought of a trip to his lands near +the sea, in Lower Egypt. + +In such a state of mind was he found by Tutmosis, who on a certain day +came in a ceremonial barge to the heir with a summons from the pharaoh. + +"His holiness is returning from Thebes, and wishes the heir to go forth +and meet him." + +The prince trembled, he grew pale and crimson, when he read the +gracious letter of his lord and ruler. He was so moved that he did not +notice his adjutant's new immense wig, which gave out fifteen different +perfumes, he did not see his tunic and mantle, more delicate than mist, +nor his sandals with gold rings as ornaments. + +After some time Ramses recovered, and inquired without looking at +Tutmosis, + +"Why hast Thou not been here for such a period? Did the disfavor into +which I have fallen alarm thee?" + +"Gods!" cried the exquisite. "When wert Thou in disfavor, and in whose? +Every courier of his holiness inquired for thy health; the worthy lady, +Nikotris, and his worthiness Herhor have sailed toward this villa +repeatedly, thinking that Thou wouldst make a hundred steps toward them +after they had made a couple of thousand toward thee. I say nothing of +the troops. In time of review the warriors of thy regiments are as +silent as palm-trees, and do not go from the barracks. As to the worthy +Patrokles, he drinks and curses all day from vexation." + +So the prince had not been in disfavor, or if he had been the disfavor +was ended. This thought acted on Ramses like a goblet of good wine. He +took a bath quickly, anointed his body, put on fresh linen, a new +kaftan, a helmet with plumes, and then went to Sarah. + +Sarah screamed when she saw the prince arrayed thus. She rose up, and +seizing him around the neck, whispered, + +"Thou art going, my lord! Thou wilt not come back to me." + +"Why not?" wondered the heir. "Have I not gone away often and returned +afterward?" + +"I remember thee dressed in just this way over there in our valley," +said Sarah. "Oh, where are those hours! So quickly have they passed, +and so long is it since they vanished." + +"But I will return and bring the most famous physician." + +"What for?" inquired Tafet. "She is well, my dear chick she needs only +rest. But Egyptian physicians would bring real sickness." + +The prince did not look at the talkative woman. + +"This was my pleasantest month with thee," said Sarah, nestling up to +Ramses, "but it has not brought happiness." + +The trumpets sounded on the royal barge, repeating a signal given +higher up on the river. + +Sarah started. + +"Dost Thou hear, lord, that terrible outburst? Thou hearest and +smilest, and, woe to me, Thou art tearing away from my embraces. When +trumpets call nothing can hold thee, least of all thy slave, Sarah." + +"Wouldst them have me listen forever to the cackling of hens in the +country?" interrupted the prince, now impatient. "Be well, and wait for +me joyously." + +Sarah let him go from her grasp, but she had such a mournful expression +that Ramses grew mild and stroked her. + +"Only be calm. Thou fearest the sound of our trumpets. But were they +ill-omened the first day?" + +"My lord," answered Sarah, "I know that over there they will keep thee, +so grant me this one, this last favor. I will give thee," continued +she, sobbing, "a cage of pigeons. They were hatched out and reared +here; hence, as often as Thou rememberest thy servant, open the cage +and set one of them free; it will bring me tidings of thee, and I will +kiss and fondle it as as But go now!" + +The prince embraced her and went to the barge, telling his black +attendant to wait for the pigeons. + +At sight of the heir, drums and fifes sounded, and the garrison raised +a loud shout of welcome. When he found himself among warriors, the +prince drew a deep breath, and stretched out his arms, like a man +liberated from bondage. + +"Well," said he to Tutmosis, "women have tormented me, and those Jews O +Cyrus! command to roast me on a slow fire at once, but put me not in +the country a second time." + +"So it is," confirmed Tutmosis; "love is like honey. It must be taken +by sips, a man must not swim in it. Brr! shudders pass over me when I +think that Thou hast passed nearly two months fed on kisses in the +evening, dates in the morning, and asses' milk at midday." + +"Sarah is a very good girl," said Ramses. + +"I do not speak of her, but of those Jews who have settled down at that +villa like papyrus in swamp land. Dost Thou see, they are looking out +at thee yet, and perhaps are sending greetings," said the flatterer. + +The prince turned to another side with displeasure, and Tutmosis winked +joyfully at the officers, as if to tell them that Ramses would not +leave their society very soon this time. + +The higher they ascended the Nile the denser on both banks were +spectators, the more numerous were boats on the river, and the more did +flowers, garlands, and bouquets float down; these had been thrown at +the barge of the pharaoh. + +About five miles above Memphis there were multitudes of people with +banners, with statues of gods, and with music; an immense roar was +heard, like the sound of a tempest. + +"There is his holiness!" cried Tutmosis, delighted. + +One spectacle was presented to the eyes of the onlookers: in the middle +of a broad bend in the river sailed the great barge of the pharaoh, +rising in front like the breast of a swan. At the right and left sides +of it, like two giant wings, pushed forward the countless boats of his +subjects, and in the rear, like a rich fan, stretched the retinue of +the ruler of Egypt. + +Every one living shouted, sang, clapped hands, and threw flowers at the +feet of the lord whom no one even saw. It was enough that under that +gilded canopy and those ostrich plumes waved a ruddy blue flag, +denoting that the pharaoh was present. + +The people in the boats were as if drunk, the people on the shore as if +mad. Every moment some boat struck or overturned a boat and some man +fell into the water, out of which luckily the crocodiles had fled, +frightened by the unparalleled uproar. On the banks men ran into one +another, for no one paid heed to his neighbor, his father, or his +child, but fixed his wild eyes on the gilded beak of the barge and the +tent of the pharaoh. Even people who were trampled, whose ribs the wild +crowd broke stupidly, and whose joints they put out, had no cry save +this, + +"May he live through eternity, O our ruler! Shine on, Thou the sun of +Egypt!" + +The madness of greeting spread to the barge of Ramses: officers, +soldiers, and oarsmen pressed into one throng and strove to outshout +one another. Tutmosis, forgetting the heir to the throne, clambered up +on the prow, and almost flew into the water. + +Meanwhile a trumpet sounded from the pharaoh's barge, and soon after +one answered from the barge of Ramses. A second signal, and the barge +of the heir touched the great barge of the pharaoh. + +Some official called to Ramses. From barge to barge they extended a +gangway of cedar with carved railings, and the prince found himself +next in the embrace of his father. + +The presence of the pharaoh, or the storm of shouts roaring about him, +so stunned Prince Ramses that he could not utter a syllable. He fell at +his father's feet, and the lord of the world pressed the heir to his +sacred bosom. + +A moment later the side walls of the tent rose, and all the people on +both banks of the Nile saw their ruler on a throne, and on the high +step of it Ramses kneeling, with his head on the breast of his father. + +Such silence followed that the rustling of banners on the barges was +audible. Then on a sudden burst forth one immense roar, greater than +all which had preceded. With this the Egyptian people honored the +reconciliation of son and father; they greeted their present, and +saluted their future ruler. + +If any man had reckoned on dissensions in the sacred family of the +pharaoh, he might convince himself then that the new royal branch held +to its parent trunk firmly. + +His holiness looked very ill. After the tender greeting of his son, he +commanded him to sit at the side of the throne. + +"My soul was rushing forth toward thee, Ramses," said he, "and all the +more ardently the better were the tidings which I had of thee. Today I +see not only that Thou hast the heart of a lion, but that Thou art a +man full of prudence, who knows how to estimate his own acts, who is +able to restrain himself, and who feels for the interests of Egypt." + +When the prince, filled with emotion, was silent and kissed his +father's feet, the pharaoh continued, + +"Thou hast done well to renounce command of the Greek regiments, +because from this day the corps in Memphis is thine, Thou art its +commander." + +"My father!" whispered the heir, trembling. + +"Besides, in Lower Egypt, which is open on three sides to attacks of +hostile nations, I need a wise, active man, who will watch all things +round him, weigh them well in his heart, and act promptly. For this +reason I appoint thee my lieutenant in that half of the kingdom." + +Abundant tears flowed from the prince's eyes. With those tears he bade +farewell to his youth; be greeted power, to which his soul had turned +for years with uncertainty and longing. + +"I am now weak and wearied," said the ruler, "and were it not for +anxiety touching thy youth and the future of Egypt, I would this day +beg my deathless ancestors to call me to their glory. Each day is for +me more difficult, and therefore, Ramses, Thou wilt begin to share the +burden of rule with me. As a hen teaches her chicks to search out +grains of corn and hide before the hawk, so I will teach thee that +toilsome art of ruling a state and watching the devices of enemies. May +Thou fall on them in time, like an eagle on timid partridges." + +The pharaoh's barge and its well-ordered retinue had descended to a +point opposite the palace. The wearied ruler took a seat in his litter, +and at that moment Herhor approached Ramses. + +"Permit me, worthy prince," said he, "to be the earliest among those +who are delighted with thy elevation. May Thou lead the army with as +much success as Thou shalt govern the most important part of the state +to the glory of Egypt." + +Ramses pressed his hand firmly. + +"Didst Thou do this, O Herhor?" asked he. + +"It belonged to thee," replied the minister. + +"Thou hast my gratitude, and wilt see that it is of value." + +"Thou hast rewarded me already in speaking thus," replied Herhor. + +The prince wished to depart; Herhor detained him. + +"A brief word. Be careful, O heir, that one of thy women, Sarah, does +not sing religious hymns." + +When Ramses looked at him with astonishment, he added, + +"During our sail on the Nile that maiden sang our most sacred hymn, a +hymn to which only the pharaoh and high priests have the right to +listen. Poor child! she might have suffered for her skill and for her +ignorance of what she was singing." + +"Then has she committed sacrilege?" inquired Ramses, in confusion. + +"Yes, unconsciously," answered Herhor. "It is lucky that I was the only +man who understood it, and my decision is that between that song and +our hymn the resemblance is remote. In every case let her never repeat +it." + +"Well, and should she purify herself?" asked the prince. "Will it +suffice her, as a foreign woman, if she gives thirty cows to the temple +of Isis?" + +"Yes, let her give them," replied Herhor, with a slight grimace. "The +gods are not offended by gifts." + +"Do thou, noble lord," said Ramses, "be pleased to accept this +miraculous shield, which I received from my sacred grandfather." + +"I? the shield of Amenhotep?" exclaimed the minister, with emotion. "Am +I worthy of it?" + +"By thy wisdom Thou art equal to my grandfather, and Thou wilt equal +him in position." + +Herhor made a low bow in silence. That golden shield set with precious +stones, besides its great value in money, had moreover the virtue of an +amulet; hence it was a regal present. + +But the prince's words might have the loftier meaning that Herhor would +equal Amenhotep in position. Amenhotep had been the father-in-law of a +pharaoh. Had the heir decided already to marry Herhor's daughter? + +That was the fond dream of Queen Nikotris and the minister. But it must +be acknowledged that Ramses in speaking of the future dignities of +Herhor had not thought in the least of marrying his daughter, but of +giving him new offices, of which there was a multitude at the court and +in the temples. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +FROM the day that he became viceroy of Lower Egypt a life unparalleled +in troubles set in for Ramses, such a life as he had not even imagined, +though born and reared in the pharaoh's palace. + +People simply tortured him; his torturers were persons who had +interests of various kinds and who were of various social classes. + +On the very first day, at sight of the throngs of people, who crowded +and pushed one another with eagerness, trampled his lawns, broke his +trees, and injured even the wall which enclosed his villa, the heir +demanded a guard for protection. But on the third day he was forced to +flee from his own dwelling to the precincts of the palace proper, +where, because of numerous sentries and above all because of high +walls, access to him was made difficult. + +During the ten days which preceded his departure, representatives of +all Egypt, if not of the whole world of that period, passed before the +eyes of the new viceroy. + +First of all were admitted great personages. Hence to congratulate him +came the high priests of temples, ministers, ambassadors, Phoenician, +Greek, Hebrew, Assyrian, Nubian, men whose dresses even he could not +remember. Next came the chiefs of neighboring provinces, judges, +secretaries, the higher officers of the army corps in Memphis, and +landowners. + +These people desired nothing, they simply expressed their delight at +honor shown him. But the prince, while listening to these persons from +morning till midday and from midday till evening, felt confusion in his +head, and a quivering in all his members. + +After these came representatives of the lower classes with gifts: +merchants bringing gold, foreign stuffs, amber, fruits, and perfumes. +Then bankers and men who loaned money for interest. Further, architects +with plans for new buildings, sculptors with projects for statues and +carvings in relief, masons, potters, makers of ordinary and ornamental +furniture, blacksmiths, founders, tanners, wine-merchants, weavers, +even dissectors who opened the bodies of the departed. + +The procession of those men rendering homage had not finished when an +army of petitioners approached the viceroy. Invalids, widows, and +orphans of officers requested pensions; noble lords required court +offices for their sons. Engineers presented new methods of irrigating +Egypt; physicians offered means against diseases of all sorts; +soothsayers offered horoscopes. Relatives of prisoners petitioned to +lessen punishments; those condemned to death begged for life; the sick +implored the heir to touch them, or to bestow on them his spittle. + +Finally, beautiful women announced themselves, the mothers of stately +daughters begging the heir humbly but insistently to receive them into +his mansion. Some indicated the amount of the pension demanded, +praising their virginity and their talents. + +After ten days of looking every moment at new persons and faces, and +hearing petitions which only the possession of a world and divine power +to dispense it could satisfy, Prince Ramses was exhausted. He could not +sleep; he was so excited that the buzz of a fly pained his nerves, and +at moments he did not understand what people said when they talked to +him. + +In this position Herhor came again to assist the viceroy. He commanded +to inform the wealthy that the prince would not receive any more +persons on questions of interest; and against common people, who, in +spite of repeated invitations to disperse, were still waiting, he sent +a company of Numidians with clubs. These succeeded with incomparably +more ease than Ramses in meeting popular wishes, for before an hour had +passed the petitioners had vanished from the square, like mist, while +one and another of them for a couple of succeeding days poured water on +their heads, or other bruised parts of their bodies. + +After this trial of supreme power the prince felt profound contempt for +men and became apathetic. He lay two days on a couch with his hands +beneath his head gazing vacantly at the ceiling. He did not wonder that +his sacred father passed his time at the altars of the gods, but he +could not understand how Herhor was able to manage the avalanche of +business, which, like a storm, not only surpassed the strength of a +man, but might even crush him. + +"How carry out plans in this case when a throng of petitions fetter our +will, devour our thoughts, drink our blood? At the end of ten days I am +sick, at the end of a year I should be an idiot. In this office it is +impossible to carry out any plan; a man can just defend himself from +madness." + +He was so alarmed by his weakness in the position of ruler that he +summoned Herhor, and with a complaining voice told of his suffering. + +The statesman listened with a smile to the complaints of the young +steersman of the ship of state, and at last said in answer, + +"Knowest thou, lord, that this immense palace in which we dwell was +reared by one architect, named Senebi, who moreover died before it was +finished? And to a certainty Thou wilt understand how this famous +architect could carry out his plan without weariness and be always in a +cheerful temper." + +"I am curious." + +"Well, he did not do everything himself; he did not hew the beams or +cut the stones, he did not make the bricks, he did not carry them to +the scaffolding. He did not lay them into the wall and fasten them +together. He only drew the plan, and moreover he had assistants. But +thou, prince, hadst the wish to do all things thyself, to listen in +person and transact every business. That goes beyond human strength." + +"How should I do otherwise if among petitioners there are some who have +suffered without cause, or if there is unrewarded service? Of course +the foundation of the state is justice." + +"How many canst Thou hear in a day without weariness?" asked Herhor. + +"Well, twenty." + +"Thou art happy. I hear at the most six or ten, but they are not +interested in the petitions, they are chief secretaries, overseers, and +ministers. These men report to me no details, only the most important +things that are done in the army, on the estates of the pharaoh, in +questions of religion, in the courts, in the provinces, and touching +movements of the Nile. Therefore they report no trivial matter, because +each man before he comes to me must hear ten inferior secretaries. Each +inferior secretary and overseer collected information from ten sub- +secretaries and sub-inspectors, and they in their turn have heard +reports from ten officials who are under them. In this manner I and his +holiness speaking with only ten people daily know all that is most +important in a hundred thousand points of Egypt and the world beyond +it. + +"The watchman in charge of one part of a street in Memphis sees only a +few houses. A decurion of ten policemen knows the whole street, a +centurion a division of the city, the chief knows all the city. The +pharaoh stands above them all, as if he were standing on the highest +pylon of the temple of Ptah, and sees not only Memphis, but the cities, +Sochem, On, Cheran, Turra, Tetani, with their suburbs, and a portion of +the western desert. + +"From that height his holiness is unable, it is true, to see the people +who are wronged, or those who are unrewarded, but he is able to see the +crowd of laborers who have collected without work. He cannot see +warriors in the dramshops, but he can know what regiment is exercising. +He cannot see what a given earth-tiller or citizen is preparing for +dinner, but he can see a fire beginning in a given quarter of the city. + +"This order in the state," continued Herhor, with growing animation, +"is our strength and glory. Snofru, a pharaoh of the first dynasty, +asked a certain priest what monument he should rear to himself. + +"'Draw on the earth, O lord,' replied the priest, 'a square, and put on +it six million unhewn stones; they will represent the people. On that +foundation place sixty thousand hewn stones; they will be the lower +officials. On them place six thousand polished stones; they will be thy +higher officials. On these put sixty covered with carvings; those will +be thy most intimate counselors and chief leaders, and on the summit +place one monolith with its pedestal and the golden image of the sun; +that will be thyself.' + +"The Pharaoh Snofru followed that advice. Thus rose the oldest pyramid, +the step pyramid, a tangible image of our state; from that pyramid all +others had their origin. Those are immovable buildings, from the +summits of which the rim of the world is visible, and they will be a +marvel to the remotest generations. + +"In this system resides our superiority over all neighbors. The +Ethiopians were as numerous as we, but their king himself took care of +his own cattle, and beat his own subjects with a club; he knew not how +many subjects he had, nor was he able to collect them when our troops +invaded his country. There was not a united Ethiopia, but a great crowd +of unorganized people. For that reason they are our vassals at present. + +"The Prince of Libya judges all disputes himself, especially among the +wealthy, and gives so much time to them that he cannot attend to his +own business. So at his side whole bands of robbers rise up; these we +exterminate. + +"Were there in Phoenicia a single ruler who knew what was happening and +who commanded in all parts, that country would not pay us one uten of +tribute. But what a happiness for us that the kings of Nineveh and +Babylon have each only one minister, and are tormented with the onrush +of business as Thou art this day. They wish to see, judge, and command +everything; hence the affairs of their states are entangled for a +century to come. But were some insignificant scribe to go from Egypt to +those kings, explain their errors of management, and give them our +official system, our pyramid, in a year's time Judaea and Phoenicia +would fall into the hands of the Assyrians, and in a few tens of years +powerful armies, coming from the East and the North by laud and by sea, +would hurl themselves on us, armies which we might not be able to +vanquish." + +"Therefore let us fall on them today and take advantage of their want +of order," cried Ramses. + +"We are not cured yet of previous victories," answered Herhor, coldly; +and he began to take leave of the viceroy. + +"Have victories weakened us?" burst out the heir. "Or have we not +brought home treasures?" + +"But does not the axe with which we cut wood become blunted?" inquired +Herhor; and he went out. + +The prince understood that the great minister wished peace at all +costs, in spite of the fact that he was chief of the armies. + +"We shall see," whispered Ramses to himself. + +A couple of days before his departure Ramses was summoned to his +holiness. The pharaoh was sitting in an armchair in a marble hall; no +other person was present, and the four entrances were guarded by Nubian +sentries. + +At the side of the royal armchair was a stool for the prince, and a +small table covered with documents written on papyrus. On the walls +were colored bas-reliefs showing the occupations of field-workers, and +in the comers of the hall were ungraceful statues of Osiris smiling +pensively. + +When the prince at command of his father sat down, his holiness spoke +to him, + +"Here, my son, are thy documents as leader and viceroy. Well, have the +first days of power wearied thee?" + +"In thy service, holiness, I shall find strength." + +"Flatterer!" said the pharaoh, smiling. "Remember that I do not require +overwork on thy part. Amuse thyself; youth needs recreation. This does +not mean, however, that Thou art not to have important affairs to +manage." + +"I am ready." + +"First I will disclose my cares to thee. Our treasury has a bad aspect; +the inflow of revenue decreases yearly, especially in Lower Egypt, and +expenditures are rising." + +The pharaoh fell to thinking. + +"Those women those women, Ramses, they swallow up the wealth, not of +mortal men only, but my wealth. I have some hundreds of them, and each +woman wishes to have as many maids as possible, as many dressmakers, +barbers, slaves, slaves for her litter, slaves for her chamber, horses, +oarsmen, even her own favorites and their children Little children! +When I was returning from Thebes one of those ladies, whom I do not +even remember, ran into my road and, showing a sturdy boy of three +years, desired that I should designate for him a property, since he +was, as she said, a son of mine. My son, and three years of age. Canst +Thou understand this? The affair was simple. I could not argue with a +woman, besides, in such a delicate question. But for a man of noble +birth it is easier to be polite than find money for every fancy of that +sort." + +He shook his head and continued, + +"Meanwhile incomes since the beginning of my reign have decreased one- +half, especially in Lower Egypt. I ask what this means. They answer: +people have grown poor, many citizens have disappeared, the sea has +covered a certain extent of land on the north, and the desert on the +east, we have had a number of bad harvests; in a word, tale follows +tale while the treasury becomes poorer and poorer. Therefore I beg thee +to explain this matter. Look about, learn to know well-informed men who +are truthful, and form of them an examining commission. When they begin +to report, trust not over-much to papyrus, but verify here and there in +person. I hear that Thou hast the eye of a leader; if that be true, one +glance will tell thee how accurate the statements of the commission +are. But hasten not in giving thy opinion, and above all, do not herald +it. Note down every weighty conclusion which conies to thy head on a +given day, and when a few days have passed reexamine that question and +note it down a second time. This will teach thee caution in judgment +and accuracy in grasping subjects." + +"It will be as Thou commandest," replied the prince. + +"Another mission which Thou must accomplish is truly difficult. +Something is happening in Assyria which begins to alarm my government. +Our priests declare that beyond the Northern sea stands a pyramidal +mountain covered with green at its base and with snow on the summit. +This mountain has marvelous qualities. After many years of quiet it +begins all at once to smoke, roar, and tremble, and then it hurls out +as much liquid fire as there is water in the Nile. This fire, which +flows down its sides in various directions and over an immense stretch +of country, ruins the labor of earth-tillers. + +"Well, Assyria is a mountain of that sort. For whole ages calm and +quiet reign in that region, till all on a sudden a tempest bursts out +there, great armies pour forth from it and annihilate peaceful +neighbors. At present around Nineveh and Babylon seething is audible: +the mountain is smoking. Thou must learn therefore how far that smoke +indicates an outburst, and think out means of precaution." + +"Shall I be able to do so?" asked the prince, in a low voice. + +"Thou must learn to observe. If Thou hast the wish to learn anything +well, be not satisfied with the witness of thy own eyes, but strengthen +thyself with the aid of a number of others. Confine not thyself to the +judgment of Egyptians alone, for each people, each man has a special +way of looking at subjects, and neither one grasps the whole truth in +any question. Listen therefore to what the Phoenicians, the Hebrews, +the Hittites, and the Egyptians think of the Assyrians, and weigh in +thy own heart with care all that agrees in their judgments concerning +Assyria. If all tell thee that danger is coming from that point, Thou +wilt know that it is coming; but if different men speak variously, be +on thy guard also, for wisdom commands us to look for less good and +more evil." + +"Thy speech is like that of the gods," whispered the heir of Egypt, + +"I am old, and from the height of the throne things are seen of which +mortal men have not even a suspicion. Wert Thou to inquire of the sun +what he thinks of this world's affairs, he would tell thee things still +more curious." + +"Among the people from whom I am to gain knowledge of Assyria, Thou +hast not mentioned the Greeks, O father," put in Ramses. + +The pharaoh nodded, and said with a kindly smile, + +"The Greeks! oh, the Greeks! A great future is in store for that +people. In comparison with us they are in childhood, but what a spirit +is in them! + +"Dost remember my statue made by a Greek sculptor? That is my second +self, a living person! I kept it a month in the palace, but at last I +gave it to the temple in Thebes. Wilt Thou believe, fear seized me lest +that stone should rise from its seat and claim one-half of the +government. What a disorder would rise then in Egypt! + +"The Greeks! Hast Thou seen the vases which they make, the palaces +which they build? From that clay out there and from stone something +comes that delights my old age and forbids me to think of my +feebleness. + +"And their language! O gods, it is music and sculpture and painting. In +truth, I say that if Egypt could ever die as a man dies, the Greeks +would take all its property. Nay more, they would persuade the world +that everything done by us was their work, and that we never existed. +And still they are only the pupils of our primary schools, for, as Thou +knowest, we have no right to communicate the highest knowledge to +foreigners." + +"Still, father, it seems that Thou hast no trust in the Greeks." + +"No, for they are peculiar; one can trust neither Greek nor Phoenician. +The Phoenician, when he wishes, sees and will tell thee genuine truth +of Egypt, but Thou wilt never know when he is telling it. The Greek, as +simple as a child, would tell the truth always, but he is never able. + +"The Greeks look at the world in a manner different altogether from our +way. In their wonderful eyes everything glitters, assumes colors and +changes, as the sky and the water of Egypt. How then could we rely on +their judgment? + +"In the days of the Theban dynasty, far away toward the north, was the +little town of Troy. We have in Egypt twenty thousand as large as it. +Various Greek vagrants laid siege to that hamlet, and so annoyed its +few inhabitants that after ten years of trouble they burned their +little fortress and moved to other places. An every-day robber +narrative! Meanwhile just see what songs the Greeks sing of the Trojan +combats. We laugh at those wonders and heroisms, for our government had +accurate information of events there. We see the lies which strike any +one, but still we listen to those songs, as a child does to tales which +its nurse tells, and we cannot tear ourselves free from them. + +"Such are the Greeks: born liars, but fascinating; yes, and valiant. +Every man of them would rather die than tell truth. They do not lie for +profit, as do the Phoenicians, but because their mind constrains them." + +"Well, what am I to think of the Phoenicians?" + +"They are wise people of mighty industry and daring, but hucksters: for +them life means profit, be it great or the greatest. The Phoenicians +are like water: they bring much with them, but bear away much, and push +in at all points. One must give them the least possible, and above all +watch that they enter not through hidden crannies into Egypt. If Thou +pay them well and offer hope of still greater profit, they will be +excellent assistants. What we know today of secret movements in Assyria +we know through Phoenicians." + +"And the Jews?" asked the prince, dropping his eyes. + +"A quick people, but gloomy fanatics and born enemies of Egypt. Only +when they feel on their necks the iron-shod sandal of the Assyrian, +will they turn to us. May that time not come too late to them! It is +possible to use their services, not here, of course, but in Nineveh and +Babylon." + +The pharaoh was wearied now. Hence the prince fell on his face before +him, and when he had received the paternal embrace he went to his +mother. + +The lady, sitting in her study, was weaving delicate linen to make +garments for the gods, and her ladies in waiting were sewing and +embroidering robes or making bouquets. A young priest was burning +incense before the statue of Isis. + +"I come," said the prince, "to thank thee, my mother, and take +farewell." + +The queen rose and putting her arms around her son's neck, said to him +tearfully, + +"Hast Thou changed so much? Thou art a man now! I meet thee so rarely +that I might forget thy features did I not see them in my heart every +moment. Thou art unkind. How many times have I gone with the first +dignitary of the state toward thy villa, thinking that at last Thou +wouldst cease to be offended, but Thou didst bring out thy favorite in +my presence." + +"I beg thy pardon I beg thy pardon!" said Ramses, kissing his mother. + +She conducted him to a garden in which peculiar flowers grew, and when +they were without witnesses, she said, + +"I am a woman, so a woman and a mother has interest for me. Dost Thou +wish to take that girl with thee on thy journey? Remember that the +tumult and the movement which will surround thee may harm her, for in +her condition calm and quiet are needed." + +"Art Thou speaking of Sarah?" inquired Ramses, astonished. "She has +said nothing to me of that condition." + +"She may be ashamed; perhaps she does not herself know," replied the +queen. "In every case the journey." + +"I have no intention of taking her!" exclaimed Ramses. "But why does +she hide this from me as if the child were not mine?" + +"Be not suspicious," chided the lady. "This is the usual timidity of +young women. Moreover, she may be hiding her condition from fear lest +Thou cast her away from thee." + +"For that matter, I shall not take her to my court!" broke out the +prince, so impatiently that the queen's eyes were smiling, but she +covered them with their long lashes. + +"It is not well to be over-harsh with a woman who loved thee. I know +that Thou hast given an assured support to her. We will give her +something also. And a child of the royal blood must be reared well, and +have property." + +"Naturally," answered Ramses. "My first son, though without princely +rights, must be so placed that I may not be ashamed of him, and he must +not regret separation from me." + +After parting with the queen, Ramses wished to go to Sarah, and with +that object returned to his chambers. + +Two feelings were roused in him, anger at Sarah for hiding the cause of +her weakness, and pride that he was going to be a father. + +He a father! This title gave him an importance which, as it were, +supported his titles of commander and viceroy. Father! that did not +mean a stripling who must look perforce with reverence on older people. + +He was roused and enraptured. He wished to see Sarah, to scold, then +embrace her and give her presents. + +But when he returned to his part of the palace he found there two +nomarchs from Lower Egypt who had come to report on their provinces, +and when he had heard them out, he was wearied. Besides, he was to hold +an evening reception and did not wish to be late in beginning. + +"And again I shall not be with her," thought he. "Poor girl! for twenty +days she has not seen me." + +He summoned the negro. + +"Hast Thou that cage which Sarah gave thee when we went to greet his +holiness?" + +"I have." + +"Take a pigeon from it, and let the bird loose." + +"The pigeons are eaten." + +"Who ate them?" + +"Thou. I told the cook that those birds came from the Lady Sarah; so he +made a roast and pies out of them for thee, worthiness." + +"May the crocodiles eat you both!" cried the prince, in anger. + +He sent for Tutmosis and dispatched him immediately to Sarah. He +explained to him the history of the pigeons, and said, + +"Give her emerald earrings, bracelets, anklets, and two talents. Say +that I am angry because she concealed her condition, but that I will +forgive her if the child is healthy and handsome. Should she have a +boy, I will give her another place," finished he, with a smile. "But +but persuade her to put away even a few Jews, and to take even a few +Egyptian men and women. I do not wish my son to be born into such +company; besides, he might play with Jew children. They would teach him +to give his father the worst dates of the harvest." + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE foreign quarter in Memphis lay on the northeastern extremity of the +city near the river. There were several hundred houses in that place +and many thousand people, Assyrians, Greeks, Jews, most of all, +Phoenicians. + +That was a wealthy quarter. A street thirty paces in width formed its +leading artery. This street was rather straight, and paved with flat +stones. On both sides were houses of sandstone, brick, or limestone, +varying in height from three to five stories. In the cellars were +stores of raw materials; on the ground floors were arched rooms; on the +first stories dwellings of wealthy people; higher were the workshops of +weavers, tailors, jewelers; highest of all, the crowded dwellings of +laborers. + +The buildings of this quarter, like those in the whole city, were +mainly white; but one might see stone houses as green as a meadow, as +yellow as a wheat-field, as blue as the sky. or as red as blood. + +The front walls of many houses were ornamented with pictures +representing the occupations of people who dwelt in them. On the house +of a jeweler long rows of pictures announced that its owner sold to +foreign kings chains and bracelets of his own making which roused their +amazement. The immense palace of a merchant was covered with pictures +representing the labors and perils of a trafficker: on the sea dreadful +monsters with fish tails were seizing the man; in the desert winged +dragons breathing fire were grasping after him, and on distant islands +he was tormented by a giant whose sandals were larger than any ship of +the Phoenicians. + +A physician on the wall of his office represented persons who, thanks +to his aid, had recovered lost hands and feet, even teeth and +youthfulness. On a building occupied by a government administrator of +the quarter were to be seen a keg into which people were throwing gold +rings; a scribe into whose ears some one was whispering; an offender, +stretched on the ground, whom two other men were beating. + +The street was full. Along the walls stood litter-bearers, men with +fans, messengers and laborers, ready to offer their services. In the +middle of the street moved an unbroken line of merchants' wares carried +by men, asses, or oxen attached to vehicles. On the sidewalks pushed +forward noisy sellers of fresh water, grapes, dates, dried fish, and +among them hucksters, flower-girls, musicians, and tricksters of +various descriptions. + +In this torrent of people which flowed forward and separated, in which +men bought and sold, crying out in various tones, policemen were +prominent. Each had a brownish tunic reaching to his knees, bare legs, +an apron with blue and red stripes, a short sword at his side, and a +strong stick in his hand. This official walked along on the sidewalk; +sometimes he conversed with a colleague; most frequently, however, he +stood on a stone at the edge of the street, so as to take in more +accurately the crowd which flowed past in front of him. + +In view of such watchfulness street thieves had to do their work +cleverly. Usually two began to fight, and when a crowd had gathered +around them and the police clubbed both spectators and quarrelers, +other confederates in the art did the stealing. + +About half-way between the two ends of the street stood the inn of +Asarhadon, a Phoenician from Tyre. In this inn, for easier control, all +were forced to dwell who came from beyond the boundaries of Egypt. It +was a large quadrangular building which on each side had a number of +tens of windows, and was not connected with other houses; hence men +could go around the place and watch it from all points. Over the +principal gate hung the model of a ship; on the front wall were +pictures representing his holiness Ramses XII placing offerings before +the gods, or extending his protection to foreigners, among whom the +Phoenicians were distinguished by a sturdy stature and very ruddy +faces. + +The windows were narrow, always open, and only in case of need shaded +by curtains of linen or by colored slats. The chambers of the innkeeper +and of travelers occupied three stories; the ground floor was devoted +to a wine shop and an eating-place. Sailors, carriers, handicraftsmen, +and in general the poorer class of travelers ate and drank in a +courtyard which had a mosaic pavement and a linen roof resting on +columns, so that all guests might be under inspection. The wealthier +and better born ate in a gallery which surrounded the courtyard. In the +courtyard the men sat on the pavement near stones which were used +instead of tables; in the galleries, which were cooler, there were +tables, stools, and armchairs, even low couches, with cushions, on +which guests might slumber. + +In each gallery there was a great table on which were bread, meat, +fish, and fruits, also jugs holding several quarts of beer, wine, and +water. Negroes, men and women, bore around food to the guests, removed +empty vessels, and brought from the cellars full pitchers, while +scribes watching scrupulously over the tables noted down carefully each +piece of bread, bulb of garlic, and flagon of water. In the courtyard +two inspectors stood on an elevation with sticks in their grasp; these +men kept their eyes on the servants and the scribes on the one hand, +and on the other by the aid of the sticks they settled quarrels between +the poorer guests of various nations. Thanks to this arrangement thefts +and battles happened rarely; they were more frequent in the galleries +than the courtyard. + +The Phoenician innkeeper himself, the noted Asarhadon, a man beyond +fifty, dressed in a long tunic and a muslin cape, walked among the +guests to see if each received what he had ordered. + +"Eat and drink, my sons!" said he to the Greek sailors, "for such pork +and beer there is not in all the world as I have. I hear that a storm +struck your ship about Rafia? Ye should give a bounteous offering to +the gods for preserving you. In Memphis a man might not see a storm all +his life, but at sea it is easier to meet lightning than a copper uten. +I have mead, flour, incense for holy sacrifices, and here, in the +corner, stand the gods of all nations. In my inn a man may still his +hunger and be pious for very slight charges." + +He turned and went to the gallery among the merchants. "Eat and drink, +worthy lords," incited he, making obeisance. "The times are good. The +most worthy heir may he live for ever! is going to Pi-Bast with an +enormous retinue, but from the upper kingdom a transport of gold has +come, of which more than one of you will win a good portion. I have +partridges, young goslings, fish direct from the river, perfect roast +venison. And what wine they have sent me from Cyprus! May I be turned +into a Jew if a goblet of that luxury is not worth two drachmas, but to +you, my benefactors and fathers, I will give it today for one drachma, +only today, to make a beginning." + +"Give it for half a drachma a goblet, and we will taste it," said one +of the merchants. + +"Half a drachma!" repeated the host. "Sooner will the Nile flow upward +toward Thebes than I give such sweetness for half a drachma, unless I +do it for thee, Lord Belezis, who art the pearl of Sidon. Hei, slaves! +bring to our benefactors the largest pitcher of wine from Cyprus." + +When the innkeeper had walked on, the merchant named Belezis said to +his companions, + +"May my hand wither if that wine is worth half a drachma! But never +mind! We shall have less trouble with the police hereafter." + +Conversation with guests of all nations and conditions did not prevent +the host from looking at the scribes who noted down food and drink, at +the watchman who stared at the scribes and the servants, and above all +at a traveler who had seated himself on cushions in the front gallery, +with his feet under him, and who was dozing over a handful of dates and +a goblet of pure water. That traveler was about forty years old, he had +abundant hair and beard of raven color, thoughtful eyes, and +wonderfully noble features which seemed never to have been wrinkled by +anger or distorted by fear. + +"That is a dangerous rat!" thought the innkeeper, frowning. "He has the +look of a priest, but he wears a dark coat. He has left gold and jewels +with me to the value of a talent, and he neither eats meat nor drinks +wine. He must be a great prophet or a very great criminal." + +Two naked serpent tamers came into the courtyard bearing a basket full +of poisonous reptiles, and began their exhibition. The younger one +played on a flute, while the elder wound around his body snakes big and +little, any one of which would have sufficed to drive away guests from +the inn "Under the Ship." + +The flute-player gave out shriller and shriller notes; the serpent- +tamer squirmed, foamed at the mouth, quivered convulsively, and +irritated the reptiles till one of them bit him on the hand, another on +the face, while he swallowed alive a third one, the smallest. + +The guests and the servants looked at the exhibition of the serpent- +tamer with alarm. They trembled when he irritated the reptiles, they +closed their eyes when they bit him; but when the performer swallowed +one of the snakes, they howled with delight and wonder. + +The traveler in the front gallery, however, did not leave his cushions, +he did not deign even to look at the exhibition. But when the tamer +approached for pay, he threw to the pavement two copper utens, giving a +sign with his hand not to come nearer. + +The exhibition lasted half an hour perhaps. When the performers left +the courtyard, a negro attending to the chambers of the inn rushed up +to the host and whispered something anxiously. After that, it was +unknown whence, a decurion of the police appeared, and when he had +conducted Asarhadon to a remote window, he conversed long with him. The +worthy owner of the inn beat his breast, clasped his hands, or seized +his head. At last he kicked the black man in the belly, and commanded +him to give the police official a roast goose and a pitcher of Cyprus +wine; then he approached the guest in the front gallery, who seemed to +doze there un brokenly, though his eyes were open. + +"I have evil news for thee, worthy lord," said the host, sitting at the +side of the traveler. + +"The gods send rain and sadness on people whenever it pleases them," +replied the guest, with indifference. + +"While we were looking at the snake-tamers," continued the host, +pulling at his parti-colored beard, "thieves reached the second story +and stole thy effects, three bags and a casket, of course very +precious." + +"Thou must inform the court of my loss." + +"Wherefore the court?" whispered the host. "With us thieves have a +guild of their own. We will send for their elder, and value the +effects; Thou wilt pay him twenty per cent of the value and all will be +found again. I can assist thee." + +"In my country," replied the guest, "no man compounds with thieves, and +I will not. I lodge with thee, I trusted thee with my property, and +Thou wilt answer." + +The worthy Asarhadon began to scratch his shoulder-blades. + +"Man of a distant region," continued he, in a lower voice, "ye Hittites +and we Phoenicians are brothers, hence I advise thee sincerely not to +turn to an Egyptian court, for it has only one door, that by which a +man enters, but none by which he goes out." + +"The gods can conduct an innocent man through a wall," said the +Hittite. + +"Innocent! Who of us in the land of bondage is innocent?" whispered the +host. "Look in that direction; over there that commander of ten +policemen is finishing a goose, an excellent young goose, which I +myself would have eaten gladly. But dost Thou know why, taking it from +my own mouth, I gave that goose to him?" + +"It was because the man came to inquire about thee." + +When he said this, the Phoenician looked askance at the traveler, who +did not lose calmness for an instant. + +"He asked me," continued the host, "that master of ten policemen asked, +'What sort of man is that black one who sits two hours over a handful +of dates?' I replied: 'A very honorable man, the lord Phut.' 'Whence +comes he?' 'From the country of the Hittites, from the city of Harran; +he has a good house there of three stories, and much land.' 'Why has he +come hither?' 'He has come,' I replied, 'to receive five talents from a +certain priest, talents lent by his father.' + +"And dost Thou know, worthy lord," continued the innkeeper, "what that +decurion answered? 'Asarhadon,' said he, 'I know that Thou art a +faithful servant of his holiness, Thou hast good food and pure wines; +for this reason I warn thee, look to thyself. Have a care of foreigners +who make no acquaintances, who avoid wine and every amusement, and are +silent. That Phut of Harran may be an Assyrian spy.' The heart died in +the when I heard this. But these words do not affect thee," said he, +indignantly, when he saw that the terrible suspicion of espionage did +not disturb the calm face of the Hittite. + +"Asarhadon," said the guest, after a while, "I confided to thee myself +and my property. See to it, therefore, that my bags and my casket are +returned to me, for in the opposite case I shall complain of thee to +that same chief of tea who is eating the goose which was intended for +thee." + +"Well, but permit me to pay the thieves only fifteen per cent of the +value of the things," cried the host. + +"Thou hast no right to pay." + +"Give them even thirty drachmas." + +"Not an uten." + +"Give the poor fellows even ten drachmas." + +"Go in peace, Asarhadon, and beg the gods to return thee thy reason," +answered the traveler, with the same unchanging calmness. + +The host sprang up, panting from anger. + +"The reptile!" thought he. "He has not come for a debt simply. He is +doing some business here. My heart tells me that he is a rich merchant, +or maybe an innkeeper who, in company with priests and judges, will +open another inn somewhere near this one. May the first fire of heaven +burn thee! May the leprosy devour thee! Miser, deceiver, criminal from +whom an honest man can make nothing." + +The worthy Asarhadon had not succeeded yet in calming himself when the +sounds of a flute and a drum were heard on the street, and after a +while four dancers, almost naked, rushed into the courtyard. The +carriers and sailors greeted them with shouts of delight, and even +important merchants in the galleries looked at them with curiosity and +made remarks on their beauty. The dancers with motions of the hands and +with smiles greeted all the company. One began to play on a double +flute, another accompanied with a drum, and the two others danced +around the court in such fashion that there was hardly a guest whom +their muslin shawls did not strike as they whirled. + +Those who were drinking began to sing, shout, and call to the dancers, +while among the common herd a quarrel sprang up which the inspectors +settled with canes. A certain Libyan, angered at sight of the canes, +drew a knife, but two black men seized his arms, took from him some +bronze rings as pay for food, and hurled him out to the street. +Meanwhile one of the dancers remained with the sailors, two went among +the merchants who offered them wine and cakes, and the oldest passed +among the tables to make a collection. + +"By the sanctuary of the divine Isis!" cried she, "pious strangers, +give offerings to the goddess who guards all creation. The more you +give the more happiness and blessing will come to you. For the +sanctuary of Mother Isis!" + +They threw onto her drum coils of copper wire, sometimes a grain of +gold. One merchant asked if it were permitted to visit her, to which +she nodded with a smile. + +When she entered the front gallery, Phut of Harran reached for his +leather bag and took out a gold ring, saying, + +"Is tar is a great and good goddess; take this for her sanctuary." + +The priestess looked quickly at him and whispered, + +"Anael, Sachiel." + +"Amabiel, Abalidot," answered the traveler, in the same low tone. + +"I see that Thou lovest Mother Isis," said the priestess, aloud. "Thou +must be wealthy and art bountiful, so it is worth while to soothsay for +thee." + +She sat down near him, ate a couple of dates, and looking at his hand +began, + +"Thou art from a distant region, from Bretor and Hagit. [The spirits of +the northern and eastern parts of the world.]Thou hast had a pleasant +journey. For some days the Phoenicians are watching thee," added she, +in a lower voice. + +"Thou hast come for money, though Thou art not a merchant. Visit me +this day after sunset. Thy wishes will be accomplished," said she, +aloud. "They should be accomplished. I live on the Street of Tombs in +the house of the Green Star," whispered she. "But beware of thieves who +are watching for thy property," finished she, seeing that the worthy +Asarhadon was listening. + +"There are no thieves in my house!" burst out the Phoenician. "None +steal except those who come from the street." + +"Be not angry, old man," replied the priestess, jeeringly, "or a red +line will come out oil thy neck right away; that means an unlucky +death." + +When he heard this, Asarhadon spat three times, and in a low voice +repeated a charm against evil predictions. When he had moved away to +the depth of the gallery, the priestess began to coquet with the Harran +man. She gave him a rose from her crown, embraced him at parting, and +went to the other tables. + +The traveler beckoned to the host. + +"I wish," said he, "that woman to come to me. Give command to conduct +her to my chamber." + +Asarhadon looked into his eyes, clapped his hands, and burst out +laughing. + +"Typhon has possessed thee, O man of Harran!" cried he. "If anything of +that sort happened in my house with an Egyptian priestess, they would +drive me out of the city. Here it is permissible to receive only +foreign women." + +"In that case I will go to her," answered Phut, "for she is a wise and +devout person, and has told me of many happenings. After sunset Thou +wilt give me a guide, so that I may not go astray." + +"All the evil spirits have entered thy heart," said Asarhadon. "Dost +Thou know that this acquaintance will cost thee two hundred drachmas, +perhaps three hundred, not counting that which Thou must give the +servants and the sanctuary. For such a sum, or say five hundred +drachmas, Thou mayst make the acquaintance of a young and virtuous +woman, my daughter, who is now fourteen years of age, and like a +prudent girl is collecting for herself a dowry. Do not wander in the +night through a strange city, for Thou wilt fall into the hands of the +police or of thieves, but make use of that which the gods give thee at +home. Dost Thou wish?" + +"But will thy daughter go with me to Harran?" inquired Phut. + +The innkeeper looked at him with astonishment. All at once he struck +his forehead, as if he had divined a secret, and seizing the traveler +by the hand, he drew him to a quieter place at the window. + +"I know all," whispered he, excitedly. "Thou art dealing in women. But +remember that for taking away one Egyptian woman Thou mayst lose thy +property and go to the quarries. But perhaps Thou wilt take me into thy +company, for here I know every road." + +"In that case show me the road to the priestess," said Phut. "Remember +that after sunset Thou art to have a guide for me, and to-morrow my +bags and casket, otherwise I shall complain to the court." + +Then Phut left the gallery and went to his chamber on a higher story. + +Asarhadon with anger approached a table at which Phoenician merchants +were drinking, and called aside one of them named Kush. + +"Thou bringest beautiful guests to me!" said he, unable to restrain the +quivering of his voice. "That Phut eats almost nothing, and now, as if +to insult my house, he is going out to an Egyptian dancer instead of +giving presents to my women." + +"What wonder in that?" answered Kush, smiling. "He could find a +Phoenician woman in Sidon, but here he prefers an Egyptian. A fool is +he who in Cyprus does not taste Cyprus wine, but Tyrian beer." + +"But I say," broke in the host, "that that man is dangerous. He seems +to be a citizen, though he looks like a priest." + +"Thou, Asarhadon, hast the look of a high priest, though Thou art only +an innkeeper. A bench does not cease to be a bench, though it has a +lion's skin on it." + +"But why does he go to priestesses? I would swear that that is a +pretence, and that this churlish Hittite, instead of going to a feast +with women, is going to some meeting of conspirators." + +"Anger and greed have darkened thy reason," answered Kush, with +impatience. "Thou art like a man who looking for melons on a fig-tree +sees not the figs on it. It is clear to any merchant that if Phut is to +collect five talents from a priest he must win favors from all who go +around in the sanctuaries. But Thou hast no understanding." + +"My heart tells me that this must be an Assyrian ambassador watching to +destroy his holiness." + +Kush looked with contempt on Asarhadon. + +"Watch him, then; follow every step of his. If Thou discover anything, +perhaps Thou wilt get some part of his property." + +"Oh, now them hast given wise counsel," said the host. "Let that rat go +to the priestesses, and from them to places unknown to me. But I will +send after him my vision, from which nothing will be secret." + + + +CHAPTER XX + +About nine in the evening Phut left the inn "Under the Ship" in company +with a negro who carried a torch. Half an hour earlier Asarhadon sent +out a confidential servant, commanding him to observe carefully if the +guest from Harran left the house of the "Green Star," and if so to +follow him. + +A second confidential servant went at a certain distance behind Phut; +in the narrower streets he hid among the houses, on the broader ones he +feigned drunkenness. + +The streets were empty; carriers and hucksters were sleeping. There was +light only in the houses of artisans who were at work, or in those of +rich people who were feasting on the terraces. In various houses were +heard the sounds of harps and flutes, songs, laughter, the blows of +hammers, the sound of saws in the hands of cabinet makers; at times the +cry of a drunken man, or a call for assistance. + +The streets along which Phut and the slave passed were narrow for the +greater part, crooked and full of holes. As they approached the end of +the journey, the stone houses were lower and lower, those of one story +more frequent, and there were more gardens, or rather palms, fig-trees, +and stunted acacias, which, inclining out from between the walls, +seemed to have the intention to escape from their places. On the Street +of Tombs the view changed on a sudden. In place of stone buildings +there were broad gardens, and in the middle of them splendid villas. +The negro stopped before one of the gates and quenched his torch. + +"Here is the 'Green Star,'" said he, and, making a low bow to Phut, he +turned homeward. + +The man of Harran knocked at the gate. After a while the gatekeeper +appeared. He looked attentively at the stranger, and muttered, + +"Anael, Sachiel." + +"Amabiel, Abalidot," answered Phut. + +"Be greeted," said the gatekeeper; and he opened quickly to the +visitor. + +When he had passed some tens of steps between trees, Phut found himself +in the antechamber of the villa, where the priestess whom he knew +greeted him. Farther in stood some man with black beard and hair; so +much like the man of Harran was he, that Phut could not hide his +astonishment. + +"He will take thy place in the eyes of those who are spying thee," said +the priestess, smiling. + +The man who was disguised as Phut put a garland of roses on his head, +and in company with the priestess went to the first story, where the +sound of flutes and the clatter of goblets were heard soon after. +Meanwhile two inferior priests conducted Phut to a bath in the garden. +After the bath they curled his hair and put white robes on him. + +From the bath all three went out again among the trees, passed a number +of gardens, and found themselves in an empty space finally. + +"There," said one of the priests, "are the ancient tombs; on that side +is the city, and here the temple. Go whithersoever Thou wishest. May +wisdom point out the road to thee, and sacred words guard thee from +perils." + +The two priests went back to the garden, and Phut was in solitude. The +moonless night was rather clear. From afar, covered with mist, +glittered the Nile; higher up gleamed the seven stars of the Great +Bear. Over the head of the stranger was Orion, and above the dark +pylons flamed the star Sirius. + +"The stars shine in our land more brightly," thought Phut. + +He began to whisper prayers in an unknown tongue, and turned toward the +temple. + +When he had gone a number of steps, from one of the gardens a man +pushed out and followed him. But almost at that very moment such a +thick fog fell on the place that it was quite impossible to see aught +save the roofs of the temple. + +After a certain time the man of Harran came to a high wall. He looked +up at the sky and began to go westward. From moment to moment night +birds and great bats flew above him. + +The mist had become so dense that he was forced to touch the wall so as +not to lose it. The journey had lasted rather long when all at once +Phut found himself before a low door with a multitude of bronze nail +heads. He fell to counting these from the left side on the top; at the +same time he pressed some of them powerfully, others he turned. + +When he had pressed the last nail at the bottom, the door opened. The +man of Harran advanced a few steps, and found himself in a narrow niche +where there was utter darkness. + +He tried the ground carefully with his foot till he struck upon +something like the brink of a well from which issued coolness. He sat +down then and slipped fearlessly into the abyss, though he found +himself in that place and in Egypt for the first time. + +The opening was not deep. Phut stood erect on a sloping pavement, and +began to descend along a narrow corridor with as much confidence as if +he had known the passage for a lifetime. + +At the end of the corridor was a door. By groping the stranger found a +knocker, and struck three times with it. In answer came a voice, it was +unknown from what direction. + +"Hast thou, who art disturbing in a night hour the peace of a holy +place, the right to enter?" + +"I have done no wrong to man, child, or woman. Blood has not stained my +hands. I have eaten no unclean food. I have not taken another's +property. I have not lied. I have not betrayed the great secret," +answered the man of Harran, calmly. + +"Art Thou he for whom we are waiting, or he who in public Thou +declarest thyself to be?" inquired the voice, after a while. + +"I am he who was to come from brethren in the East; but that other name +is mine also, and in the northern city I possess a house and land, as I +have told other persons." + +The door opened, and Phut walked into a spacious cellar which was +lighted by a lamp burning on a small table before a purple curtain. On +the curtain was embroidered in gold a winged globe with two serpents. + +At one side stood an Egyptian priest in a white robe. + +"Dost them who hast entered," asked the priest, pointing at Phut, "know +what this sign on the curtain signifies?" + +"The globe," answered the stranger, "is an image of the world on which +we live; the wings indicate that it is borne through space like an +eagle." + +"And the serpents?" asked the priest. + +"The two serpents remind him who is wise that whoso betrays the great +secret will die a double death, he will die soul and body." + +After a moment of silence the priest continued, + +"If Thou art in real fact Beroes" (here he inclined his head), "the +great prophet of Chaldea" (he inclined his head a second time), "for +whom there is no secret in heaven or on earth, be pleased to inform thy +servant which star is the most wonderful." + +"Wonderful is Hor-set, [Jupiter] which encircles heaven in the course +of twelve years; for four smaller stars go around it. But the most +wonderful is Horka, [Saturn] which encircles heaven in thirty years; +for it has subject to it not only stars, but a great ring which +vanishes sometimes." + +On hearing this, the Egyptian priest prostrated himself before the +Chaldean. Then he gave him a purple scarf and a muslin veil, indicated +where the incense was, and left the cave with low obeisances. + +The Chaldean remained alone. He put the scarf on his right shoulder, +covered his face with the veil, and, taking a golden spoon sprinkled +into it incense, which he lighted at the lamp before the curtain. +Whispering, he turned three times in a circle, and the smoke of the +incense surrounded him with a triple ring, as it were. + +During this time a wonderful disturbance prevailed in the cave. It +seemed as if the top were rising and the sides spreading out. The t +purple curtain at the altar quivered, as if moved by hidden fingers. +The air began to move in waves, as if flocks of unseen birds were +flying through it. + +The Chaldean opened the robe on his bosom, and drew forth a gold medal +covered with mysterious characters. The cave trembled, the sacred +curtain moved with violence, and little flames appeared in space at +various points. + +Then the seer raised his hands and began, + +"Heavenly Father, gracious and merciful, purify my spirit. Send down on +Thy unworthy servant a blessing, and extend Thy almighty arm against +rebellious spirits, so that I may manifest Thy power. + +"Here is the sign which I touch in thy presence. Here I am I, leaning +on the assistance of that God, the foreseeing and the fearless. I am +mighty, and summon and conjure thee. Come hither with obedience in the +name of Aye, Saraye, Aye Saraye!" + +At that moment from various sides were heard voices as of distant +trumpets. Near the lamp some bird flew past, then a robe of ruddy +color, afterward a man with a tail, finally a crowned cock which stood +on the table before the curtain. + +The Chaldean spoke again, f + +"In the name of the Almighty and Eternal Amorul, Tanecha, Rabur, +Latisten." + +Distant sounds of trumpets were heard for a second time. + +"In the name of the just and ever-living Eloy, Archima, Rabu, I conjure +and summon thee. In the name of the star, which is the sun, by this its +sign, by the glorious and awful name of the living God." + +The trumpets sounded again, and stopped on a sudden. Before the altar +appeared a crowned vision with a scepter in its hand, and sitting on a +lion. + +"Beroes! Beroes!" cried the vision, with a restrained voice. "Why dost +Thou summon me?" + +"I wish my brethren of this temple to receive me with sincere hearts, +and incline their ears to the words which I bring them from brethren in +Babylon," said the Chaldean. + +"Be it so," said the vision, and vanished. + +The Chaldean stood as motionless as a statue, with his head thrown +back, with hands lifted upward. He stood thus half an hour in a +position impossible for an ordinary person. + +During this time a part of the wall which formed one side of the cave +pushed back, and three Egyptian priests entered. At sight of the +Chaldean, who seemed to lie in the air, resting his shoulders on an +invisible support, the priests looked at one another with amazement. +The eldest said, + +"Long ago there were men like this among us, but no one has such power +in our day." + +They walked around him on all sides, touched his stiffened members, and +looked with fear at his face, which was bloodless and sallow, like that +of a corpse. + +"Is he dead?" asked the youngest. + +After these words the body of the Chaldean, which had been bent +backward, returned to a perpendicular position. On his face appeared a +slight flush, and his upraised hands dropped. He sighed, rubbed his +eyes like a man roused from sleep, looked at the priests, and said +after a while, turning to the eldest, + +"Thou art Mefres, high priest of the temple of Ptah in Memphis. Thou +art Herhor, high priest of Amon in Thebes, the first dignity in this +state after the pharaoh. Thou," he indicated the youngest, "art +Pentuer, the second prophet in the temple of Amon, and the adviser of +Herhor." + +"Thou art undoubtedly Beroes, the high priest and sage of Babylon, +whose coming was announced to us a year ago," answered Mefres. + +"Thou hast told truth," said the Chaldean. + +He embraced them in turn, and they inclined before him. + +"I bring you great words from our common fatherland, which is Wisdom," +said Beroes. "Be pleased to listen and act as is needful." + +At a sign from Herhor, Pentuer withdrew to the rear of the cave and +brought out three armchairs of light wood for his superiors, and a low +stool for his own use. He seated himself near the lamp, and took from +his bosom a small dagger and wax-covered tablets. + +When all three had occupied their chairs, the Chaldean began, + +"Mefres, the highest college of priests in Babylon addresses thee: 'The +sacred order of priests in Egypt is falling. Many priests collect money +and women, and pass their lives amid pleasure. Wisdom is neglected. Ye +have no power over the world, which is invisible. Ye have no power over +your own souls. Some of you have lost the highest faith, and the future +is concealed from you. Things worse than this even happen; for many +priests, feeling that their spiritual power is exhausted, have entered +the way of falsehood and deceive simple people by cunning devices.' + +"The highest college says this: 'If ye wish to return to the good road, +Beroes will remain some years with you, so as to rouse true light on +the Nile by the aid of a spark brought from the high altar of +Babylon.'." + +"All is as Thou sayest," answered Mefres, confused. "Remain with us +therefore a number of years, so that the youth growing up at present +may remember thy wisdom." + +"And now, Herhor, to thee come words from the highest college." + +Herhor inclined his head. + +"Because ye neglect the great secrets, your priests have not noted that +evil years are approaching Egypt. Ye are threatened by internal +disasters from which only virtue and wisdom can save you. But the worst +is that if in the course of the coming decade ye begin war with +Assyria, she will defeat your forces. Her armies will come to the Nile +and destroy all that has existed here for ages. + +"Such an ominous juncture of stars as is now weighing on Egypt happened +first during the XIV. dynasty, when the Hyksos kings captured and +plundered this country. It will come for the third time in five or six +hundred years from Assyria and the people of Paras, who dwell to the +east of Chaldea." + +The priests listened in terror. Herhor was pale; the tablets fell from +Pentuer's fingers; Mefres held the amulet hanging on his breast, and +prayed while his lips were parching. + +"Be on your guard then against Assyria," continued the Chaldean, "for +her hour is the present. The Assyrians are a dreadful people! They +despise labor, they live by war. They conquer, they impale on stakes or +flay living people, they destroy captured cities and lead away their +inhabitants to bondage. For them to kill savage beasts is repose; to +pierce prisoners with arrows or scoop out their eyes is amusement. +Temples they turn into ruins, the vessels of the gods they use at their +banquets, and make buffoons of priests and sages. They adorn their +walls with skins torn from living people, and their tables with the +blood-stained skulls of their enemies." + +When the Chaldean ceased speaking, the worthy Mefres answered, + +"Great prophet, Thou hast cast fear on our souls, and dost not indicate +a remedy. It may be true, and to a certainty is so, since Thou hast +said it, that the fates for a certain time will be against us, but how +avoid this predicament? In the Nile there are dangerous places through +which no boat can pass safely; so the wisdom of the helmsmen avoids +deadly whirlpools. It is the same with misfortunes of nations. A nation +is a boat, and an epoch is the river, which at certain periods has +whirlpools. If the frail boat of a fisherman can avoid peril, why +should not millions of people escape under similar conditions?" + +"Thy words are wise," replied Beroes, "but I can answer in part only." + +"Dost Thou not know all that will happen?" asked Herhor. + +"Ask me not touching that which I know, but which I may not disclose at +this moment. Most important in your case is to keep peace for ten years +with Assyria. Ye have power to do that. Assyria still dreads you; she +knows not the juncture of evil fates above Egypt, and desires to wage +war with northern and eastern nations who live near the seacoast. Ye +might, therefore, conclude a treaty today with Assyria." + +"On what conditions?" asked Herhor. + +"On very good ones. Assyria will yield to you the land of Israel as far +as the city of Akko, and the land of Edom to the city of Elath. So your +boundaries will be advanced ten days march toward the north without +war, and ten days toward the east also." + +"But Phoenicia?" inquired Herhor. + +"Approach not temptation!" exclaimed Beroes. "If the pharaoh were to +stretch his hand today toward Phoenicia, in a month Assyrian armies +intended for the north and east would turn southward, and a year hence +or earlier their horses would be swimming in your sacred river." + +"Egypt cannot renounce influence over Phoenicia," interrupted Herhor, +with an outburst. + +"Should she not renounce she would prepare her own ruin," said the +Chaldean. "Moreover, I repeat the words of the highest college: 'Tell +Egypt,' declared the brothers in Babylon, 'to cower to the earth for +ten years, like a partridge, for the falcon of evil fate is watching +her. Tell her that we Chaldeans hate Assyria more than do the +Egyptians, for we endure the burden of its rule; but still we recommend +to the Egyptians peace with that bloodthirsty nation. Ten years is a +short period; after that not only can ye regain your ancient place, but +ye can save us.'." + +"That is true!" added Mefres. + +"Only consider," continued the Chaldean, "should Assyria begin war with +you, she would involve also Babylon, which hates warfare. War will +exhaust our wealth and stop the labor of wisdom. Even were ye not +defeated your country would be ruined for a long period. Ye would lose +not only people, but the fertile soil, which would be buried by sand in +the absence of earth-tillers." + +"We understand that," replied Herhor; "hence we have no thought of +attacking Assyria. But Phoenicia." + +"What harm will it be to you," asked Beroes, "if the Assyrian robber +squeezes the Phoenician thief? Your merchants and ours will gain by +such action. But if ye want Phoenicians, let them settle on your +shores. I am sure that the richest and most adroit of them would flee +from Assyrian conquest." + +"What would happen to our fleet, if the Assyrians settled in +Phoenicia?" inquired Herhor. + +"That is not your fleet, but the Phoenician," replied Beroes. "When +Tyrian and Sidonian ships are lost to you, ye will build your own, and +exercise Egyptians in navigation. If ye have mind and a practical +character, ye will drive out Phoenician commerce from western regions." + +Herhor waved his hand. + +"I have told that which was commanded me," said Beroes, "and do ye that +which pleaseth you. But remember that ten evil years are impending." + +"It seems to me, holy father," said Pentuer, "that Thou didst speak of +internal troubles which threaten Egypt in the future. What will they +be, if it please thee to answer thy servant?" + +"Do not ask. Those are things which ye ought to know better than I, who +am a stranger. Clear sight will discover the disease, and experience +will give the remedy." + +"Our working people are terribly oppressed by the great," whispered +Pentuer. + +"Devotion has decreased," added Mefres. + +"There are many who sigh for a foreign war," began Herhor. "I have seen +this long time that we cannot carry on one, unless ten years hence." + +"Then will ye conclude a treaty with Assyria?" inquired the Chaldean. + +"Amon, who knows my heart," answered Herhor, "knows how repugnant that +treaty is to me. It is not so long since those vile Assyrians paid us +tribute. But if thou, holy father, and the highest college say that the +fates are against us, we must make the treaty." + +"We must indeed," added Mefres. + +"In that case inform the priests in Babylon of your decision, and they +will arrange that King Assar shall send an embassy to Egypt. This +treaty, believe me, is of great advantage; without war ye will increase +your possessions. Indeed our priesthood have given deep thought to this +question." + +"May all blessings fall on you, wealth, power, and wisdom," said +Mefres. "Yes, we must raise our priestly order, and do thou, holy +Beroes, assist us." + +"There is need, above all, to assuage the suffering of the people." put +in Pentuer. + +"The priests! the people!" said Herhor, as if to himself. "Above all, +it is needful in this case to restrain those who wish war. It is true +that his holiness the pharaoh is with me, and I think I have gained +influence over the heir, may he live through eternity! But Nitager, to +whom war is as water to a fish; but the leaders of our mercenary +forces, who only in war have significance; but our aristocracy, who +think that war will pay Phoenician debts and give them property." + +"Meanwhile earth-tillers are fainting beneath an avalanche of labor, +and public workmen are revolting against demands of overseers," added +Pentuer. + +"He is always expressing his thought!" said Herhor, in meditation. +"Think thou, Pentuer, of earth-tillers and laborers; thou, Mefres, of +the priests. I know not what ye will effect, but I swear that if my own +son favored war I would bind and destroy him." + +"Act in this way," said Beroes, "let him carry on war who wishes, but +not in those regions where he can meet Assyria." + +With this the session ended. The Chaldean put his scarf on his shoulder +and the veil on his face; Mefres and Herhor, one on each side of him, +and behind him Pentuer, all turned toward the altar. + +When Beroes had crossed his hands on his breast, he whispered, and +again subterranean disturbance set in, and they heard as it were a +distant uproar, which astonished the assistants. + +"Baralanensis, Baldachiensis, Paumachiae," said the seer, aloud, "I +summon thee to witness our stipulations and support our wishes." + +The sound of trumpets was heard so distinctly that Mefres bowed to the +earth, Herhor looked around in astonishment, while Pentuer knelt, fell +to trembling, and covered his ears. + +The purple curtain at the altar shook, and its folds took such a form +as if a man were behind who wished to pass through it. + +"Be witnesses," cried the Chaldean, in a changed voice, "ye powers +above and ye powers beneath! And cursed be he who observes not this +treaty or betrays its secret." + +"Cursed!" repeated some voice. + +"And destroyed!" + +"And destroyed." + +"In this visible and in that invisible life. By the ineffable name of +Jehovah, at the sound of which the earth trembles, the sea draws back, +fire quenches, and the elements of nature become evident." + +A real tempest rose in the cave. The sound of trumpets was mingled with +voices, as it were, of distant thunders. + +The curtain of the altar rose almost horizontally, and behind it, amid +glittering lightning, appeared wonderful creatures, half human, half +plant and animal, crowded and mingled together. + +Suddenly all was silent, and Beroes rose slowly in the air, higher than +the heads of the priests there attending. + +At eight o'clock next morning Phut of Harran returned to the Phoenician +inn "Under the Ship" to which his bags and casket stolen by thieves had +been returned safely. A few minutes later came Asarhadon's confidential +servant, whom the innkeeper took to the cellar and examined briefly, + +"Well?" + +"I was all night on the square where the temple of Set is," answered +the servant. "At ten in the evening out of the garden which lies about +four places farther than the house of the 'Green Star,' came three +priests. One of them, with black beard and hair, turned his steps +through the square toward the temple of Set. I ran after him, but mist +fell, and he vanished from my eyes. Whether he returned to the 'Green +Star' or when, I know not." + +The innkeeper, when he had heard this account, struck his forehead and +muttered to himself, + +"So my man from Harran, if he dresses as a priest and goes to a temple, +must be a priest; and if he wears beard and hair, he must be a Chaldean +priest. But if he meets priests here in secret, there must be some +rogue's tricks. I will not tell the police, for I might be caught. But +I will inform some great man from Sidon, for there may be profit in +this, if not for me, for our people." + +Soon the other messenger returned. Asarhadon went down to the cellar +with this one also, and heard the following narrative, + +"I stood all night in front of the 'Green Star.' The man of Harran was +there; he got drunk and raised such shouts that the policeman warned +the doorkeeper." + +"Did he?" inquired the innkeeper. "The man of Harran was at the 'Green +Star' all night, and Thou didst see him?" + +"Not only I, but the policeman." + +Asarhadon brought down the first servant, and commanded each to repeat +his story. They repeated the stories faithfully, with the utmost +conviction. It appeared then that Phut of Harran had remained all night +at the "Green Star" without leaving the place for a moment; at the same +time he went to the temple of Set, and did not return from it. + +"Oh," muttered Asarhadon, "in all this there is some very great +villainy. I must inform the elders of the Phoenician society, as +quickly as possible, that this Hittite knows how to be in two places at +once. I shall also beg him to move out of my inn. I do not take people +who have two forms, one their own, the other in supply. For a man of +that kind is a great criminal, a wizard, or a conspirator." + +Asarhadon was afraid of such things; so he secured himself against +enchantment by prayers to all the gods which adorned his inn. Then he +hurried to the city, where he notified the elder of the Phoenician +society and the elder of the guild of thieves of what had happened. +Then, returning home, he summoned the decurion of police, and informed +him that Phut might be a dangerous person. Finally he asked the man of +Harran to leave the inn, to which he brought no profit, nothing but +loss and suspicion. + +Phut agreed to the proposition willingly, and informed the innkeeper +that he intended to sail for Thebes that same evening. + +"May Thou never return!" thought the hospitable host. "May Thou rot in +the quarries, or fall into the river to be eaten by crocodiles." + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Prince Ramses began his journey in the most beautiful season of the +year, during the month Phamenoth (end of December and beginning of +January). The river had fallen to half its height, laying bare new +strips of land day by day. From Thebes many barges with wheat were +sailing down toward the sea; in Lower Egypt clover and beans had been +harvested. Orange and pomegranate trees were covered with blossoms; in +the fields earth tillers had sown lupines, flax, barley, and had +planted various beans, cucumbers, and other garden products. + +Escorted to the landing of Memphis by priests, the highest dignitaries +of the state, the guards of his holiness the pharaoh, the heir entered +a gilded barge about ten in the morning. Under the bridge, on which +were costly tents, twenty soldiers worked the oars, at the mast and at +both ends of the boat the best naval engineers had taken their places. +Some looked after the sails, others commanded the rowers, while still +others steered the vessel. + +Ramses had invited to his boat the most worthy high priest Mefres and +the holy father Mentezufis, who were to be with him on the journey and +in governing. The prince had invited also the worthy nomarch of +Memphis, who conducted him to the boundary of his province. + +Some hundreds of yards in front of the viceroy sailed the beautiful +boat of the worthy Otoes, nomarch of Aa, a province adjoining the +capital. Behind the prince came countless barges occupied by the court, +by priests, by officials and officers. + +Provisions and servants had been dispatched earlier. + +The Nile flows to Memphis between two lines of mountains. Farther the +mountains turn eastward and westward, and the river divides into a +number of arms in which the water flows through a broad plain to the +Mediterranean. + +When the barge had pushed away from the landing, the prince wished to +converse with Mefres, the high priest. But at that moment such a shout +broke forth that he was forced to leave his tent and show himself to +the people. + +The uproar grew greater, however, instead of subsiding. On both shores +stood and increased every moment throngs of half naked laborers, or +people of the city dressed in holiday garments. Very many had garlands +on their heads, almost all held green branches in their hands. Some +groups sang; among others were heard the beating of drums and the sound +of flutes. + +Well-sweeps planted thickly along the river with buckets stood idle, +but on the Nile circled a swarm of small boats, the occupants of which +cast flowers at the barge of the viceroy. Some of them sprang into the +water and swam after the vessel. + +"They greet me as they would his holiness," thought the viceroy. + +And great pride possessed his heart at sight of so many stately barges +which he could detain at one sweep of the hand, and those thousands who +had left their occupations and ran the risk even of death just to see +his divine countenance. + +Ramses was delighted, especially by that immense shout which rose from +the people without ceasing for an instant. That shout filled his +breast, rose to his head, exalted him. It seemed to the prince that if +he should spring from the barge he would not touch water, for the +enthusiasm of the multitude would seize him and bear him aloft above +the earth, as a bird is borne in flying. + +The barge approached the left bank somewhat; the forms of people were +outlined more clearly, and the prince saw something which he had not +expected. While persons in the first ranks were clapping their hands +and singing, in farther ones clubs were visible falling thickly and +swiftly on backs that were hidden. + +The astonished heir turned to the nomarch of Memphis. + +"But look, worthiness, sticks are at work there." + +The nomarch shaded his eyes with his hand, his neck became red. +"Pardon, most worthy prince, but I see badly." + +"They are beating surely they are beating!" + +"That is possible," answered the nomarch. "Undoubtedly the priests have +caught a band of thieves there." + +Not over-pleased with this conversation, the heir went toward the stern +to the engineers, who turned the barge suddenly toward the middle of +the river, and from that point he looked back at Memphis. + +Both banks higher up the Nile were almost deserted, the boats had +disappeared, the well-sweeps were moving as if nothing had happened. + +"Is the solemnity over?" inquired the prince of an engineer, pointing +to a higher place on the river. + +"It is. The people have returned to their work," said the engineer. + +"Very quickly." + +"They must recover lost time," said the engineer, incautiously. + +The heir quivered, and looked at the man sharply. But he calmed himself +soon and returned to the tent. For him shouts were of no further +interest. He was gloomy and silent. After an outburst of pride, he felt +contempt for that throng which passed so promptly from enthusiasm to +well-sweeps and baling up muddy water. + +At that point the Nile begins to separate into branches. The barge of +the chief of Aa turned toward the west, sailed an hour, and stopped at +the river bank. The crowds were still greater than at Memphis. A +multitude of pillars had been set up with banners and triumphal arches +entwined with green garlands. Among the people foreign faces and +garments were more and more frequent. + +When the prince landed, the priests approached with a baldachin, and +the worthy nomarch Otoes began, + +"Be greeted, viceroy of the divine pharaoh, within the borders of Aa. +As a sign of thy favor, which for us is as heavenly dew, be pleased to +make an offering to the god Ptah, who is our patron, and take under thy +protection and control this province, with its temples, officials, +people, cattle, grain, and all that is here existent." + +Then he presented a group of young exquisites, fragrant, rouged, +arrayed in gold-embroidered garments. Those were the remoter and nearer +relatives of the nomarch, the local aristocracy. + +Ramses looked at them with attention. + +"Aha!" said he. "It seemed to me that these gentlemen lacked something, +and now I see what it is, they have no wigs." + +"Because thou, most worthy prince, dost not wear wigs, our young men +have vowed not to wear them," replied the nomarch. + +After this explanation one of the young men stood behind the prince +with a fan, another with a shield, a third with a dart, and the +procession began. The heir walked under the baldachin, before him a +priest with a tube in which incense was burning; there were maidens +also who scattered roses on the path over which the prince was to +travel. + +The people in holiday garments, with branches in their hands, formed a +line and shouted; they sang songs, or prostrated themselves before the +lieutenant of the pharaoh. But the prince saw that in spite of the loud +sounds of joy their faces were unenlivened and anxious. He saw also +that the crowd was divided into groups which people of some sort were +directing, and that the rejoicing took place by command. And again he +felt in his heart a chill of contempt for that throng which knew not +how to rejoice even. + +Gradually the retinue approached the walled column which indicated the +boundary between Aa and Memphis. On three sides of the column were +inscriptions describing the extent of the province, its population, and +the number of its cities; on the fourth side was a statue of Ptah, +surrounded from foot to breast with an envelope; he had the usual cap +on his head and a staff in his hand. + +One of the priests gave the prince a golden spoon with burning incense. +The heir uttered prescribed prayers, whirled the censer to the height +of the divinity's head, and bowed low a number of times in succession. + +The shouts of the people and of the priests rose ever higher, though +among youthful exquisites smiles and jests were observable. Since his +reconciliation with Herhor the prince had shown great respect for gods +and priests; so he frowned somewhat. In one moment the young men +changed their bearing. All became serious, while some fell on their +faces before the column. + +"Indeed," thought the prince, "people of noble birth are better than +that rabble. Whatever nobles do they do it with spirit, not like those +who make an uproar in my honor but are glad to hurry back to their +workshops and stables." + +Now he measured better than ever the distance between him and the +lowest people, and he understood that the aristocracy was the only +class to which he was bound by a community of feeling. If suddenly they +should vanish, those stately young men and beautiful women whose +flashing glances followed every one of his movements, so as to serve +him straightway and carry out his orders, if they should vanish, the +prince would feel more alone among the countless throngs of people than +in a desert. + +Eight negroes brought a litter adorned above the baldachin with ostrich +feathers; the prince took his place in it, and advanced to the capital +of Sochem, where he dwelt in a government palace. + +The prince's stay in that province, which was only a few miles from +Memphis, lasted a month. All this time he passed in receiving +petitions, in accepting homage, in official receptions, and at feasts. + +The feasts were of two kinds, one in the palace, at which the +aristocracy were present; the other in the outer court, where whole +oxen were roasted, loaves of bread were eaten by the hundred, and +hundreds of pitchers of beer drunk. At these appeared servants of the +prince and the lower officials of the province. + +Ramses admired the munificence of the nomarch, and the affection of the +great lords around him, alert to every beck of his and ready to carry +out his orders. + +Wearied at last by amusements, Ramses declared to the worthy Otoes that +he wished to become more nearly acquainted with the management of the +province, for he had received a command from his holiness the pharaoh +to study it. + +His desire was satisfied. The nomarch requested the prince to sit in a +litter borne by only two men, and with a great retinue escorted him to +the temple of Hator. There the retinue remained in the antechamber, but +the nomarch commanded the bearers to carry the prince to the summit of +a pylon, which he himself ascended. + +From the summit of a tower, ninety feet high, whence priests observed +the sky and communicated through colored flags with the neighboring +temples in Memphis, Atribis, and Ann, the eye surveyed in the radius of +some miles almost a whole province. + +From that place, too, the worthy Otoes showed Ramses the fields and +vineyards of the pharaoh; he showed what canal they were clearing, what +sluice they were repairing; he showed furnaces for smelting copper; he +showed where the royal granaries' stood, where the lotus and papyrus +swamps were, what fields were covered with sand, and so on till he had +finished. + +Ramses was charmed with the beautiful view, and thanked Otoes warmly +for the pleasure which he experienced. But when he returned to the +palace, and, according to the advice of the pharaoh, noted impressions, +he convinced himself that his knowledge of the economic conditions of +Aa had not widened. + +After some days he asked explanations again of Otoes touching the +administration of the province. The worthy lord commanded all the +officials to assemble and pass before the prince, who sat in the main +court on an elevation. + +Before the viceroy moved great and petty treasurers; scribes of grain, +wine, cattle, woolen stuffs; chief masons, ditch-diggers, naval and +land engineers, healers of various diseases, officers over regiments of +laborers, police scribes, judges, inspectors of prisons, even +executioners and dissectors. After them the worthy nomarch presented +the prince's own officials in that province to him. Ramses learned +therefore, with no small astonishment, that in Aa and in the city of +Sochem he had his own personal charioteer, torch-bearer, shield-bearer, +dart-bearer, mace-bearer, some tens of litter-bearers, a number of +cooks, cup-bearers, barbers, and many other servitors distinguished for +attachment and faithfulness, though he had not even heard their names +and did not know them. + +Tortured and tired by a barren review of officials, the prince's +courage fell. He was terrified by the thought that he understood +nothing, hence was unfitted to rule; but he feared to confess this even +to himself. + +If Ramses could not rule Egypt, and others were able to rule it, what +remained to him? Nothing but death. Without the throne he could have no +happiness. He felt that for him life would be impossible unless he had +power. + +But when he had rested a few days, in so far as rest was attainable in +that chaos of court life, he summoned Otoes, and said to him, + +"Worthiness, I have begged thee to acquaint me with the secret of +governing Aa. Thou hast done so, Thou hast shown me the country and the +officials, but still I know nothing. On the contrary, I am like a man +in the underground divisions of a temple who sees so many passages +about him that he is unable at last to find his way out into daylight." + +The nomarch was confused. + +"What am I to do?" asked he. "What dost Thou wish of me, O ruler? Only +say the word and I will yield to thee office, property, even life." + +And, seeing that the prince received this assurance with graciousness, +he continued, + +"During thy journey Thou hast seen the people of this province. Thou +wilt say that all were not present. Agreed. I will command all to +assemble, and they are, men, women, old men, and children, about two +hundred thousand. From the summit of the pylon Thou wert pleased to +survey our whole province. But if it be thy wish, we can examine from +near by every field, every village, and every street of the city of +Sochem. Finally I have shown thee the officials; it is true, the very +lowest were absent. But command and all will stand before thee to- +morrow and fall on their faces. What am I to do more? Tell me, most +worthy lord." + +"I believe that Thou art most faithful," answered Ramses. "Therefore +explain to me two things: first, why has the income of his holiness +diminished? second, what art Thou doing thyself in the province?" + +Otoes was confused, and the prince added quickly, + +"I wish to know what Thou art doing here, and by what methods, since I +am young and only commencing to govern." + +"Thou hast the wisdom of a century," whispered the nomarch. + +"Therefore it is proper," continued the prince, "that I should ask men +of experience and that Thou shouldst give me knowledge." + +"I will show thee all, and give every explanation," said Otoes. "But we +should go to a place where there is no uproar." + +In fact, in the palace which the prince occupied as many people +thronged in the inner and outer court as at a fair. They ate, drank, +sang, raced or rested, and all this to enhance the glory of the viceroy +whom they were serving. + +About three in the afternoon, the nomarch gave command to bring two +horses, and with the prince he rode forth from the city westward. The +court remained in the palace and amused itself with still greater +gladness. + +The day was beautiful, cool; the earth was covered with plants and +flowers. Over the beads of the horsemen were heard the songs of birds, +the air was full of fragrance. + +"How pleasant it is here!" exclaimed Ramses. "Now I am able to collect +ray thoughts for the first time in a month. I had begun to think that a +whole regiment of chariots had assembled in my head, and that from +morning till evening reviews were held there." + +"Such is the fate of a ruler in this world," said the nomarch. + +They halted on an eminence. At their feet lay an immense meadow, cut +through by a blue stream. On the north and on the south were white +walls of towns; beyond the meadow on the rim of the horizon extended +the reddish sands of the western desert, from which came an occasional +breath of heated air, as if from a furnace. + +On the meadow were countless herds of animals, horned and hornless +oxen, sheep, goats, asses, antelopes, even rhinoceroses. + +Here and there were visible swampy places covered with water plants and +reeds in which were teeming wild geese, ducks, doves, storks, pelicans, +and ibises. + +"Behold, lord," said Otoes, "a picture of our country, Quench, Egypt. +Osiris fell in love with this strip of laud in the midst of deserts; he +covered it with plants and living creatures, so as to have from them +profit. Then the kindly god took a human form and became the first +pharaoh. When he felt that his body was withering, he left it and +entered into his son, and later on into his son's son. + +"Thus Osiris lives among us, since the beginning of ages, as pharaoh, +and he gains profit from Egypt and its wealth which he himself created. +The lord has extended like a mighty tree. All the pharaohs are his +roots, the nomarchs and priests his larger branches, the nobles the +smaller branches. The visible god sits on the throne of the earth and +receives the income which belongs to him from Egypt; the invisible god +receives offerings in the temples, and declares his will through the +lips of the priesthood." + +"Thou utterest truth," said the viceroy. "Thus is it written." + +"Since Osiris the pharaoh," continued the nomarch, "cannot himself be +occupied in the management of the country, he has appointed us +nomarchs, who come of his blood, to watch over his property." + +"That is true," said Ramses. "Sometimes even the sun god becomes +incarnate in a nomarch and begins a new dynasty. Thus rose the +dynasties of Memphis, Elephantina, Thebes, and Ksoi." + +"Thou hast said it," continued Otoes. "But now I will answer that which +Thou hast asked of me. + +"Thou hast asked what I do in this province? I guard the property of +Osiris, the pharaoh, and my own part in it. Look at those flocks; Thou +seest various animals. Some give milk, others flesh, others wool and +skins. The people of Egypt give wheat, wine, woolen stuffs, vessels, +houses. My affair is to take from each what he should give, and lay it +down at the feet of the pharaoh." + +"In watching over the numerous herds I could not succeed alone; so I +have chosen watchful dogs and wise shepherds. Some of my servants milk +animals, shear them, remove their skins; others watch them so that +thieves may not steal or the plunderer injure. So with the province. I +could not collect all the taxes and guard men from evil; hence I have +officials who do what is proper, and render account of their action." + +"All this is true," interrupted the prince. "I know and understand what +Thou sayest. But I cannot comprehend why the income of his holiness +decreases, though guarded well, as Thou hast told me." + +"Be pleased to remember," continued the nomarch, "that Set, though a +full brother of the radiant Osiris, hates that god, wars with him, and +deforms all his labors. He sends deadly diseases on beasts and on men; +he causes the overflow of the Nile to be scant or over-violent, and he +hurls clouds of sand in time of heat upon Egypt. + +"When a year is good, the Nile reaches the desert; when it is bad, the +desert comes down to the Nile, and then the royal income decreases. + +"Look!" continued he, pointing at the meadow. "The flocks there are +numerous, but in my youth they were greater in number. But who is the +cause of this? No other than Set, whom human power cannot vanquish. +This meadow, great today, was once greater, and from this spot they +could not see the desert, which now is a terror. + +"When the gods are battling, men can do nothing; where Set conquers +Osiris, who can bar the way to him?" + +The worthy Otoes finished; the prince hung his head. In school he had +heard not a little about the love of Osiris and the malice of Set, and +while still a child he was angry that no one had forced Set to a final +reckoning. + +"When I grow up," thought he at that time, "and carry a javelin, I will +seek out Set and we will make a trial." + +And he was looking now at that measureless sand space, that kingdom of +the ominous godhead which was decreasing the income of Egypt; but he +had no thought to do battle with Set. For how can man fight with the +desert? Man can only avoid it or perish. + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +HIS stay in Aa had so wearied Ramses that to seek rest and rally his +thoughts he commanded to stop all solemnities in his honor, and +directed that during his journey people should never come forth to +greet him. + +The prince's retinue were astonished, even somewhat offended; but they +carried out the command, and Ramses again found some quiet. He had time +to review his troops, which was his most agreeable occupation, and he +could collect his scattered thoughts in some measure. + +Shut up in the remotest corner of the palace, the prince began to +consider how far he had carried out the commands of the pharaoh his +father. + +He had surveyed Aa with his own eyes, its fields, towns, population, +officials. He had verified the fact that the eastern edge of the +province was yielding to the advance of the desert. He had observed +that laborers were indifferent and stupid; that they did only what was +commanded, and that with unwillingness. Finally, he had convinced +himself that really faithful and loving subjects were to be found only +among the aristocracy, for they were related to the family of the +pharaohs, or were of the noble order, and were grandsons of the men who +had fought under the great Ramses. + +In every case those people rallied to the dynasty heartily, and were +ready to serve it with genuine readiness; not like the low people, who +when they had shouted a greeting ran back with all speed to their pigs +and their oxen. + +But the chief object of his mission was not explained yet. Ramses not +only did not see clearly causes for the decrease of the royal income, +but he did not know how to formulate this question: Why is there evil, +and how can we correct it? He only felt that the legendary war of the +god Set with Osiris furnished no true explanation, and gave no means of +cure whatever. + +But the prince, as the coming pharaoh, wished to have a great income, +like that of former rulers in Egypt. He was boiling with anger at the +very thought that when he had mounted the throne he would be as poor as +his father and perhaps even poorer. + +"Never!" cried the prince, balling his fists. + +To increase the royal property he was ready to rush sword in hand +against Set and hew that god into pieces, as Set had hewn his own +brother Osiris. But instead of the cruel divinity and his legions he +saw around him ignorance, the desert, and silence. + +Under the influence of these struggles with his own thoughts, he seized +once the high priest Mefres. + +"Tell me, holy father, to whom all wisdom is familiar, why does the +income of the state decrease, and in what manner can we add to it?" + +Mefres raised his hands. + +"May the spirit be blessed, worthy lord," cried the priest, "which +whispered such thoughts to thee. Oh, mayest Thou follow in the steps of +mighty pharaohs who built temples in all parts of Egypt, and through +canals and sluices increased the area of fertile land in this country." + +The old man was so moved that he fell to weeping. + +"First of all," said the prince, "answer what I ask; for how think of +temples and canals when the treasury is empty? The greatest misfortune +has befallen Egypt: its rulers are threatened with indigence. We must +examine this, first of all, and cure it; after that the rest will come +easily." + +"This, prince, Thou wilt learn only in temples, at the foot of the +altar," said the high priest. "There alone can thy noble curiosity be +pacified." + +Ramses started up with impatience. + +"Before thy eyes, worthy father, the temple hides the whole country, +even the treasury of the pharaoh. I am, for that matter, a priestly +pupil. I was reared in the shadow of a temple, I know the secret of the +spectacles in which the malice of Set is represented, with the death +and re-birth of Osiris, and what does that profit me? When my father +asks how to replenish the treasury, I can give him no answer. Should I +persuade him to pray longer and oftener than he does at the present?" + +"Prince, Thou art blaspheming, Thou knowest not the high ceremonies of +religion. If Thou knew them Thou couldst answer many questions which +torment thee; and hadst Thou seen that which I have, Thou wouldst know +that the highest interest of Egypt is to support priests and temples." + +"Men in old age become children," thought Ramses; and he stopped the +conversation. + +Mefres had been very pious at all times, but he had then grown +eccentric. + +"I should end well," thought Ramses, "if I yielded to priests and +assisted at puerile ceremonies. Perhaps Mefres would even command me to +stand for whole hours at an altar, as he himself does, beyond doubt, +while expecting a miracle." + +In the month Pharmuthi (end of January and beginning of February) the +prince took leave of Otoes, before starting for Hak, the next province. +He thanked the nomarchs and lords for their splendid reception, but at +heart he was sad, for he knew that he had not mastered the problem put +forth by his father. + +Escorted by the family and court of Otoes, the prince with his retinue +crossed to the right bank of the river, where he was greeted by +Ranuzer, the worthy nomarch, together with the lords and the priests of +his province. + +When the prince reached the land of Hak, the priests raised a statue of +Atmu, patron god of the province, and the officials fell prostrate; +then the nomarch brought a golden sickle to Ramses, and begged him to +open the harvest as viceroy of the pharaoh, that being the time to +gather in barley. + +Ramses took the sickle, cut a couple of handfuls of ears, and burnt +them with incense before the god the guardian of the boundaries. After +him the nomarch and the great lords cut barley also, and at last +harvesters fell to reaping. They cut only ears, which they packed into +bags; the straw remained on the field behind them. + +When he had heard a tedious service before the god, the prince mounted +a two-wheeled car, a division of the army moved on, and the priests +followed. Two lords led the horses of the heir by the bridles. After +the heir, on a second car, rode the nomarch, and next an immense train +of lords and court servitors. The people, agreeable to the will of +Ramses, did not present themselves, but laborers in the fields, at +sight of the procession, fell on their faces. + +In this manner when he had passed a number of pontoon bridges thrown +over arms of the Nile and canals, the prince reached toward evening the +city of Anu, the capital. + +For some days feasts of greeting continued; they rendered homage to the +heir, and presented officials. At last Ramses begged to interrupt the +festivities, and requested the nomarch to acquaint him with the wealth +of the province. + +Next morning the review began, and lasted a fortnight. Every day in the +court of that palace where the heir had his residence appeared various +guilds of craftsmen. These came under command of guild officers, to +exhibit their productions. In turn came armorers and swordsmiths, +makers of spears and axes, manufacturers of musical instruments, fifes, +trumpets, drums, harps. After these came the great guild of +cabinetmakers, who exhibited armchairs, tables, couches, litters, and +carriages, ornamented with rich drawings, made of various wood, mother- +of-pearl, and ivory; then they brought kitchen utensils, things for the +fire, spits, two-eared pots, and flat pans with covers; jewelers +rivaled one another with gold rings of wonderful beauty, amber +bracelets and anklets, or chains made of gold mixed with silver. All +these were carved with artistic skill, and inlaid with precious stones +or enamel of various colors. + +The procession was closed by potters who carried more than a hundred +kinds of earthen vessels. They brought vases, pots, plates, pitchers, +and jugs of the most varied forms and sizes, covered with paintings +ornamented with beast and bird heads. + +Each guild made an offering to the prince of its most beautiful +productions. These filled a large hall, though among them no two things +were similar. + +At the end of the curious but interesting exhibition, his worthiness +Ranuzer asked the prince if he was satisfied. + +The heir thought awhile. + +"More beautiful things I have not seen except in the temples or in the +palaces of my father. But since only rich people can buy them, I do not +see how the state treasury can have much profit from those objects." + +The nomarch was astonished at the young lord's indifference, and was +alarmed by his anxiety about income; but wishing to satisfy Ramses, he +began then to conduct him through the royal factories. + +One day they went to buildings where slaves were grinding flour in many +hundred hand-mills and in mortars. They went to bakeries where men were +baking bread and rusks to feed the army, and to places where preserved +fish and meat were in course of preparation. They examined great +tanneries, and shops where sandals were made, foundries where copper +was cast into arms and utensils. After that, brickyards, guilds of +weavers and tailors. + +These establishments were situated in the eastern part of the city. +Ramses at first looked at them with interest, but very soon he was +disgusted with the sight of laborers who were timid, lean, sickly in +complexion, and who had scars left by sticks on their shoulders. +Thenceforth he stopped only briefly at factories. He preferred to look +at the environs of the city of Anu. Far to the east he could see the +desert where a year earlier the maneuvers had taken place between his +corps and Nitager's. He saw, like a thing on the palm of his hand, the +road by which his regiments had marched, the place where because of the +beetles the military engines had to turn to the desert, and perhaps +even the tree on which the canal digger had hanged himself. + +From that elevation over there in company with Tutmosis he had looked +at the blooming land of Goshen and cursed the priesthood. And there +among the hills he had met Sarah, toward whom his heart had flamed up +on a sudden. + +Today what changes! He had ceased to hate the priests from the hour +that by the influence of Herhor he had received the army corps and the +office of viceroy. He had become indifferent to Sarah, but that child +whose mother she would be grew to him more and more important. + +"What is she doing there?" thought the prince. "I have not had news +from her this long time." + +While he was looking on those eastern hills in this way, and thinking +of the recent past, Ranuzer at the head of his escort felt certain that +the prince had observed abuses in the factories and was meditating over +means of punishment. + +"I am curious to know what he discovered," thought the worthy nomarch. +"Is it that half the bricks are sold to the Phoenicians, or that ten +thousand sandals are lacking in the factory, or perhaps some low wretch +has whispered to him about the foundries?" + +And the nomarch's heart was anxious. + +Suddenly the prince turned toward the escort and called Tutmosis, who +was bound to be at all times near his person. + +Tutmosis ran up. The heir went to one side with him. + +"Hear me," said he, pointing toward the desert. "Dost Thou see those +hills?" + +"We were there last year," sighed the courtier. + +"I remember Sarah." + +"I will burn incense to the gods at once," cried Tutmosis, "for I +thought that your worthiness had forgotten faithful servants since +becoming viceroy." + +The prince looked at him and shrugged his shoulders. + +"Select," said he, "from the gifts brought me, some of the most +beautiful vessels, utensils, stuffs, and, above all, chains and +bracelets, and take them to Sarah." + +"Live through eternity, O Ramses!" exclaimed the exquisite, "for Thou +art high-minded." + +"Tell her," continued the prince, "that for her my heart is always full +of favor. Say that I wish her to care for her health. Tell Sarah that +when the time of freedom comes and I have carried out the commands of +my father, she will come to me and live in my house. I cannot endure +that the mother of my child should be grieving in loneliness. Go, do as +I have said, and return with pleasant tidings." + +Tutmosis prostrated himself before the noble ruler, and took the road +straightway. The retinue of Ramses, unable to divine the conversation, +envied Tutmosis the favor of the viceroy, while the worthy Ranuzer felt +alarm rising in his soul. + +"Oh," said he, anxiously, "may I not need to raise hands on myself and +leave my house in the bloom of my years! Why did I, the unfortunate, +when taking the pharaoh's goods, not think of the hour of trial?" + +His face became yellow, and his legs tottered under him. But the +prince, mastered by a wave of reminiscences, took no note of this +change in the nomarch. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +IN the city of Anu a series of feasts and amusements now followed. The +worthy nomarch brought the choicest wines from his cellars; from the +three neighboring provinces came the most beautiful dancers, the most +famous musicians, the adroitest of jugglers. The prince's time was +occupied thoroughly, every morning reviews of troops and receptions; +later feasts, spectacles, hunting, and feasts again. + +But just when Ranuzer felt certain that the viceroy was tired of +questions of administration and economy, the latter summoned him, and +asked, + +"Thy province, worthiness, is among the richest in Egypt, is it not?" + +"Yes, though we have had a number of hard years," replied Ranuzer; and +again his heart sank and his legs began to tremble. + +"But this astonishes me," said the prince, "that year after year the +income of his holiness decreases. Canst Thou not explain to me the +cause of this?" + +"Lord," said the nomarch, bending his head to the earth, "I see that my +enemies have sown distrust in thy soul; whatever I might say, +therefore, would not convince thee. Permit me not to speak. Better let +scribes come with documents, which Thou canst touch with thy hand and +verify." + +The prince was somewhat astonished at the unexpected outburst, but he +accepted the offer; nay, he was glad of it. He thought, of course, that +the report of these scribes would explain to him the secret of +government. + +The next day, therefore, came the chief scribe of Hak, and with him his +assistants. They brought from ten to twenty rolls of papyrus written on +both sides. When unwound, they formed a strip three spans of a great +hand in width and in length sixty paces. For the first time the prince +saw so gigantic a document, containing an inventory of one province +only and that for one year. + +The chief scribe sat on the floor with his legs doubled under him, and +began, + +"In the thirty-third year of the reign of his holiness Meramen-Ramses +the Nile was late in its overflow. Earth-tillers, ascribing this +misfortune to the black art of foreigners resident in the province of +Hak, fell to wrecking the houses of Hittites, Jews, and Phoenicians, +during which time a number of persons were slain by them. At command of +his worthiness the nomarch, those guilty were brought to the court; +twenty-five earth-tillers, two masons, and five sandal-makers were +condemned to the quarries, one boatman was strangled." + +"What is that document?" interrupted the prince. + +"It is the report of the court intended for the feet of his holiness." + +"Put it aside, and read about the income of the treasury." + +The assistants of the chief scribe folded the rejected document, and +gave him others. Again the official began, + +"On the fifth day of the month Thoth six hundred measures of wheat were +brought to the granaries of the pharaoh; for these a receipt was issued +by the chief overseer. + +"On the seventh day of Thoth the chief scribe discovered and verified a +statement that from the supply of the previous year one hundred and +forty-eight measures of wheat had vanished. + +"During the verification two laborers stole a measure of grain and hid +it among bricks. When this was proven they were brought to judgment and +sent to the quarries for raising their hands to the property of his +holiness." + +"But the hundred and forty-eight measures?" asked the heir. + +"The mice ate them," replied the scribe, and read on. + +"On the eighth day of Thoth twenty cows and eighty-four sheep were sent +to the slaughter; these, at command of the overseer of oxen, were +issued to the Sparrow-Hawk regiment." + +In this manner the viceroy learned day after day how much wheat, +barley, beans, and lotus seed were weighed into the granaries, how much +given out to the mills, how much stolen, and how many laborers were +condemned to the quarries for stealing. The report was so wearisome and +chaotic that in the middle of the month Paophi the prince gave command +to stop reading. + +"Tell me, chief scribe," said Ramses, "what dost Thou understand from +this? What dost Thou learn from it?" + +"Everything which thy worthiness commands." + +And he began again at the beginning, but from memory, + +"On the fifth of the month Thoth they brought to the granaries of the +pharaoh." + +"Enough!" cried the enraged prince; and he commanded the man to depart. + +The scribes fell on their faces, gathered up their papyruses quickly, +and bore them away in a twinkle. + +The prince summoned the nomarch. He came with crossed hands, but with a +calm face, for he had learned from the scribes that the viceroy could +understand nothing from reports, and that he did not give ear to them. + +"Tell me, worthiness," began the heir, "do they read reports to thee?" + +"Every day." + +"And dost Thou understand them?" + +"Pardon, most worthy lord, but could I manage a province if I did not +understand?" + +The prince was confused and fell to thinking. Could it be really that +he, Ramses, was the only incompetent? But in this case what would +become of his power? + +"Sit down," said he, after a while, indicating a chair to the nomarch. +"Sit down and tell me how Thou governest the province." + +The dignitary grew pale, and the whites of his eyes turned upward. +Ramses noticed this, and began explaining, + +"Do not think that I have not trust in thy wisdom. On the contrary, I +know no man who could manage better. But I am young and curious to know +the art of government, so I beg thee to deal out to me crumbs of thy +knowledge. Thou art ruling the province I know that. Now explain to me +the process." + +The nomarch drew breath and began, + +"I will relate, worthiness, the whole course of my life, so Thou shalt +know how weighty my work is. + +"In the morning I bathe, then I give offerings to the god Amut; next I +summon the treasurer, and ask him whether the taxes for his holiness +are collected properly. When he answers yes, I praise him; when he says +that these and those people have not paid, I issue an order to imprison +the disobedient. Then I summon the overseers of the royal granaries, to +learn how much grain has been delivered. If much, I praise them; if +little, I issue an order to inflict stripes on the guilty. + +"Later comes the chief scribe, and tells me which of the estates of his +holiness needs troops, officials, and laborers, and I command to send +them in return for a receipt. When he gives out less, I praise him; +when more, I commence an investigation. + +"In the afternoon come Phoenician merchants, to whom I sell wheat and +bring money to the treasury of the pharaoh. Afterward I pray and +confirm the sentences of the court; toward evening the police inform me +of what has happened. No longer ago than the day before yesterday +people from my province fell upon the territory Ka and desecrated a +statue of the god Sebak. I was delighted in heart, for that god is not +our patron; still I condemned some of the guilty to strangulation, some +of them to the quarries, and all to receive stripes. + +"Hence peace and good habits prevail in my province, and the taxes flow +in daily." + +"Though the income of the pharaoh has decreased here also," added +Ramses. + +"Thou speakest truth, lord," sighed the worthy nomarch. "The priests +say that the gods are angry with Egypt because of the influx of +foreigners; but I see that even the gods do not contemn gold and +precious stones brought by Phoenicians." + +At that moment the priest Mentezufis, preceded by an officer in +waiting, entered the hall to beg the prince and the nomarch to a public +devotion. Both dignitaries consented, and the nomarch exhibited so much +piety that the prince was astonished. When Ranuzer left the company +with obeisances, Ramses said to the priest, + +"Since with me, holy prophet, Thou takest the place of the most +venerable Herhor, I beg thee to explain one thing which fills my heart +with anxiety ." + +"Shall I be able to explain?" asked the prophet. + +"Thou wilt answer me, for Thou art filled with wisdom, of which Thou +art the servant. But consider what I say Thou knowest why his holiness +sent me hither." + +"He sent thee, prince, to become familiar with the wealth of the +country and its institutions," said Mentezufis. + +"I am obeying. I examine the nomarchs, I look at the country and the +people. I listen to reports of scribes, but I understand nothing; this +poisons my life and astounds me. + +"When I have to do with the army, I know everything, how many soldiers +there are, how many horses, chariots, which officers drink or neglect +their service, and which do their duty, I know, too, what to do with an +army. When on a plain there is a hostile corps, I must take two corps +to beat it. If the enemy is in a defensive position, I should not move +without three corps. When the enemy is undisciplined and fights in +unordered crowds against a thousand, I send five hundred of our +soldiers and beat him. When the opposing side has a thousand men with +axes, and I a thousand, I rush at them and finish those troops, if I +have a hundred men with slings in addition. + +"In the army, holy father," continued Ramses, "everything is as visible +as the fingers on my hand, and to every question an answer is ready +which my mind comprehends. Meanwhile in the management of a province I +not only see nothing, but there is such confusion in my head that more +than once I forget the object of my journey. + +"Answer me, therefore, sincerely, as a priest and an officer: What does +this mean? Are the nomarchs deceiving me, or am I incompetent?" + +The holy prophet fell to thinking. + +"Whether they attempt to deceive thee, worthiness," answered he, "I +know not, for I have not examined their acts. It seems to me, however, +that they explain nothing, because they themselves comprehend nothing. +The nomarchs and their scribes," continued the priest, "are like +decurions in an army; each one knows his ten men and reports on them. +Each commands those under him. But the decurion knows not the general +plan made by leaders of the army. The nomarchs and the scribes write +down everything that happens in their province, and lay those reports +at the feet of the pharaoh. But only the supreme council extracts from +them the honey of wisdom." + +"But that honey is just what I need," said the prince. "Why do I not +get it?" + +Mentezufis shook his head. + +"Wisdom of the state," said he, "belongs to the priesthood; therefore +only the man who is devoted to the gods can obtain it. Meanwhile, +worthiness, though reared by priests, Thou pushest thyself away from +the temples decisively." + +"How is that? Then, if I do not become a priest, will ye not explain to +me?" + +"There are things, worthiness, which Thou mayest know even now, as +erpatr, there are others which Thou wilt know when Thou art the +pharaoh. There are still others which only a high priest may know." + +"Every pharaoh is a high priest," interrupted the prince. + +"Not every pharaoh. Besides, even among high priests there are grades +of difference." + +"Then," cried the enraged heir, "ye hide the order of the state from +me, and I shall not be able to carry out the commands of my father?" + +"What the prince needs may be known," answered Mentezufis, quietly, +"for Thou hast the inferior priestly consecration. Those things, +however, are hidden behind the veil in temples, which no one will dare +to draw aside without due preparation." + +"I will draw it." + +"May the gods defend Egypt from such a misfortune!" replied the priest, +as he raised both his hands. "Dost Thou not know, worthiness, that a +thunderbolt would kill any man who without the needed ceremonies should +touch the veil? Were the prince to take to the temple any slave or +condemned criminal and let him stretch out his hand, the man would die +that same instant." + +"For ye would kill him." + +"Each one of us would die just like an ordinary criminal were he to +approach the altar sacrilegiously. In presence of the gods, my prince, +a pharaoh or a priest means as little as a slave." + +"What am I to do, then?" asked Ramses. + +"Seek an answer to thy trouble in the temple, after Thou hast purified +thyself by prayers and fasting," answered the priest. "While Egypt is +Egypt, no ruler has gained wisdom of state in another way." + +"I will meditate over this," said the prince. "Though I see from thy +words that the most venerable Mefres, and thou, holy prophet, wish to +involve me in ceremonies as ye have involved my father." + +"Not at all. Worthiness, if Thou as pharaoh would limit thyself to +commanding the army, Thou mightst take part in ceremonies a few times a +year merely, for on other occasions the high priest would be thy +substitute. But if Thou wish to learn the secrets of temples, Thou must +honor the gods, for they are the fountain of wisdom." + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +RAMSES saw now that either he would not carry out the commands of the +pharaoh or that he must yield to the will of the priesthood; this +filled him with dislike and anger. Hence he did not hurry toward the +secrets hidden in temples. He had time yet for fasting and devotional +exercises; so he took part all the more zealously in feasts which were +given in his honor. + +Tutmosis, a master in every amusement, had just returned, and brought +the prince pleasant news from Sarah. She was in good health and looked +well, which concerned Ramses less at that time. But the priests gave +such a horoscope to the coming child that the prince was delighted. + +They assured him that the child would be a son, greatly gifted by the +gods, and if his father loved him he would during life obtain high +honor. + +The prince laughed at the second part of this prediction. "Their wisdom +is wonderful," said he to Tutmosis. "They know that it will be a son, +while I, its father, do not know; and they doubt whether I shall love +it, though it is easy to divine that I shall love the child even should +it be a daughter. And as to honor for it, let them be at rest; I will +occupy myself with that question." + +In the month Pachons (January, February) the heir passed through the +province of Ka, where he was received by the nomarch Sofra. The city of +Anu lay about seven hours of a foot journey from Atribis, but the +prince was three days on this journey. At thought of the fasts and +prayers which were awaiting him during initiation into temple secrets, +Ramses felt a growing wish for amusements. His retinue divined this; +hence pleasure followed pleasure. + +Again, on the road over which he traveled to Atribis, appeared throngs +of people with shouts, flowers, and music. The enthusiasm reached its +height at the city. It even happened that a certain gigantic laborer +threw himself under the chariot of the viceroy. But when Ramses held in +the horses, a number of young women stepped forth from the crowd and +wreathed the whole chariot with flowers. + +"Still they love me!" thought the prince. + +In the province of Ka he did not ask the nomarch about the income of +the pharaoh, he did not visit factories, he did not command to read +reports to him; he knew that he would understand nothing, so he +deferred those occupations till the time of his initiation. But once, +when he saw that the temple of the god Sebak stood on a lofty eminence, +he desired to ascend the pylon and examine the surrounding country. + +The worthy Sofra accomplished at once the will of the heir, who, when +he found himself on the summit of the pylon, passed a couple of hours +with great delight there. + +The province of Ka was a fertile plain. A number of canals and branches +of the Nile passed through it in every direction, like a network of +silver and lapis lazuli. Melons and wheat sown in November were +ripening. On the fields were crowds of naked people who were gathering +cucumbers or planting cotton. The land was covered with small buildings +which at points were close together and formed villages. + +Most of the dwellings, especially those in the fields, were mud huts +covered with straw and palm leaves. In the towns the houses were +walled, had flat roofs, and looked like white cubes with holes in +places where there were doors and windows. Very often on such a cube +was another somewhat smaller, and on that a third still smaller, and +each story was painted a different color. Under the fiery sun of Egypt +those houses looked like great pearls, sapphires, and rubies, scattered +about on the green of the fields, and surrounded by palms and acacias. + +From that place Ramses saw a phenomenon which arrested his attention. +Near the temples the houses were more beautiful, and more people were +moving in the fields about them. + +"The lands of the priests are the most valuable," thought he; and once +again he ran over with his eyes the temples great and small, of which +he saw between ten and twenty from the pylon. + +But since he had agreed with Herhor, and needed the services of the +priesthood, he did not care to occupy himself longer with that problem. + +In the course of the following days the worthy Sofra arranged a series +of hunts for Ramses, setting out toward the east from Atribis. Around +the canals they shot birds with arrows; some they snared in an immense +net trap which took in a number of tens of them, or they let out +falcons against those which were flying at freedom. When the prince's +retinue entered the eastern desert, great hunts began with dogs and +panthers against wild beasts. Of these they killed and seized, in the +course of some days, a couple of hundred. + +When the worthy Sofra noticed that the prince had had enough of +amusement in the open air and of company intents, he ceased hunting and +brought his guest by the shortest road to Atribis. + +They arrived about four hours after midday, and the nomarch invited all +to a feast in his palace. + +He conducted the prince to a bath, he assisted at the bathing, and +brought out from his own chest perfumes wherewith to anoint Ramses. +Then he oversaw the barber who arranged the viceroy's hair; next he +kneeled down on the pavement and implored the prince to accept new +robes from him. + +These were a newly woven tunic covered with embroidery, a skirt worked +with pearls, and a mantle interwoven with gold very thickly, but so +delicate that it could be held between a man's ten fingers. + +The heir accepted this graciously, declaring that he had never received +a gift of such beauty. + +The sun set, and the nomarch conducted the prince to the hall of +entertainment. + +It was a large court surrounded by columns and paved with mosaic. All +the walls were covered with paintings representing scenes in the lives +of the ancestors of Sofra; hence expeditions by sea, hunts, and +battles. Over the space, instead of a roof, was a giant butterfly with +many-colored wings which were moved by hidden slaves to freshen the +atmosphere. In bronze holders fastened to the columns blazed bright +tapers which gave out smoke with fragrance. + +The hall was divided into two parts: one was empty, the other filled +with chairs and small tables for guests. Aside in the second part rose +a platform on which, under a costly tent with raised sides, was a table +and a couch for Ramses. + +At each small table were great vases with palms, acacias, and fig- +trees. The table of the heir was surrounded with plants having needle- +like leaves; these filled the space round about with the odor of +balsam. + +The assembled guests greeted the prince with a joyful shout, and when +Ramses occupied his place beneath a baldachin whence there was a view +of the court, his retinue sat down at the tables. + +Harps sounded, and ladies entered in rich muslin robes with open +bosoms; precious stones were glittering upon their persons. Four of the +most beautiful surrounded Ramses; the others sat near the dignitaries +of his retinue. + +In the air was the fragrance of roses, lilies of the valley, and +violets; the prince felt the throbbing of his temples. + +Slaves, male and female, in white, rose-colored, and blue tunics, +brought in cakes, roasted birds, and game, fish, wine, fruits, also +garlands of flowers with which the guests crowned themselves. The +immense butterfly moved its wings more and more quickly, and in the +unoccupied part of the court was a spectacle. In turn appeared dancers, +gymnasts, buffoons, performers of tricks, swordsmen; when any one gave +an unusual proof of dexterity, the spectators threw to him gold rings +or flowers from their garlands. + +The feast lasted some hours, interspersedwith shouts of guests wishing +happiness to the prince, and to the nomarch and his family. + +Ramses, who was in a reclining position on a couch covered with a +lion's skin which had golden claws, was served by four ladies. One +fanned him; another changed the garland on his head; the other two +offered food to him. Toward the end of the feast the one with whom the +prince talked with most willingness brought a goblet of wine. Ramses +drank half, and gave the remainder to the woman; when she had drunk +that half, he kissed her lips. + +Slaves quenched the torches then quickly, the butterfly ceased to move +its wings, there was night in the court, and silence interrupted by the +nervous laughter of women. + +All on a sudden the quick tramping of people was heard and a terrible +shouting. + +"Let me in!" cried a hoarse voice. "Where is the heir? Where is the +viceroy?" + +There was a dreadful disturbance in the hall. Women were terrified; men +called out, + +"What is it? An attack on the heir! Hei, guards!" + +The sound of broken dishes was heard, and the rattle of chairs. + +"Where is the heir?" bellowed the stranger. + +"Guards! Defend the life of the heir!" shouted men in the courtyard. + +"Light the torches!" called the youthful voice of the heir. "Who is +looking for me? Here I am!" + +Torches were brought. In the hall were piles of overturned and broken +furniture behind which guests were in hiding. On the platform the +prince tore away from the women, who screamed while they held to his +legs and arms firmly. Near the prince was Tutmosis, his wig torn, a +bronze pitcher in his hand with which he was ready to open the head of +any one who dared to go nearer the viceroy. At the door of the hall +appeared warriors with swords drawn for action. + +"What is this? Who is here?" cried the terrified nomarch. + +At last they beheld the author of the disturbance, a gigantic man, +naked, and mud-covered. He had bloody stripes on his shoulders; he was +kneeling on the steps of the platform and stretching his hands toward +Ramses. + +"This is the murderer," shouted the nomarch. "Seize him!" + +Tutmosis raised his pitcher; soldiers rushed up from the door. The +wounded man fell with his face to the steps, crying, + +"Have mercy, sun of Egypt!" + +The soldiers were ready to seize him when Ramses pulled himself free of +the women and approached the unfortunate giant. + +"Touch him not!" cried Ramses to the warriors. "What dost Thou wish, +man?" + +"I wish, lord, to tell thee of the wrongs which we suffer." + +At that moment the nomarch stepped up to the viceroy and whispered, + +"This is a Hyksos. Look, worthiness, at his shaggy hair and his beard. +But the insolence with which he burst in proves that the criminal is +not a genuine Egyptian." + +"Who art thou?" asked Ramses. + +"I am Bakura, a laborer in the regiment of diggers in Sochem. We have +no work now, so the nomarch Otoes commanded us." + +"He is a drunkard and a madman!" whispered the excited Sofra. "How +dares he speak to thee, lord." + +The prince gave such a look to the nomarch that he bent double and +moved backward. + +"What did the worthy Otoes command you the workers?" asked the viceroy +of Bakura. + +"He commanded us, lord, to go along the bank of the Nile, swim in the +river, stand at the roads, make an uproar in thy honor, and he promised +to give us what was proper for doing so. For two months before that, +we, O lord, received nothing, neither barley cakes, nor fish, nor olive +oil for our bodies." + +"What is thy answer to this, worthy lord?" asked the prince of the +nomarch. + +"He is a dangerous drunkard, a foul liar," answered Sofra. + +"What noise didst Thou make in my honor?" + +"That which was commanded," said the giant. "My wife and daughter cried +with the others, 'May he live through eternity!' I sprang into the +water and threw a garland at thy barge, worthiness; for this they +promised an uten. When Thou wert pleased graciously to enter the city +of Atribis, I approached to throw myself under the horses and stop thy +chariot." + +The prince laughed. + +"As I live," said he, "I did not think that we should end the feast +with such joyousness. But how much did they pay thee for falling under +the chariot?" + +"They promised three utens, but have paid nothing to me or my wife or +my daughter. Nothing has been given to the whole regiment of diggers to +eat for two months past." + +"On what do ye live then?" + +"On begging, or on that which we earn from some earthworker. In this +sore distress we revolted three times, and desired to go home. But the +officers and scribes either promised to give something or commanded to +beat us." + +"For the noise made in my honor?" put in the prince, laughing. + +"Thy worthiness speaks truth. Yesterday the revolt was greatest, for +which the worthy nomarch Sofra gave command to take the tenth man. +Every tenth man was clubbed, and I got the most, for I am big and have +three mouths to feed, my own, my wife's, and my daughter's. When I was +clubbed I broke away from them to fall down, O lord, in thy presence, +and tell thee our sorrows. Beat us if we are guilty, but let the +scribes give us that which is due, for we are dying of hunger, we, our +wives, and our children." + +"This man is possessed!" exclaimed Sofra. "Be pleased, lord, to see the +damage he has wrought here. I would not take ten talents for those +dishes, pitchers, and tables." + +Among the guests, who now were recovering their senses, a muttering +began. + +"This is a bandit!" said they. "Look at him, really a Hyksos. Boiling +up in him is the cursed blood of his ancestors, the men who invaded and +ruined Egypt. Such costly furniture, such splendid vessels, broken into +fragments!" + +"The loss caused the state by one rebellion of unpaid laborers is +greater than the value of these vessels," said Ramses. + +"Sacred words! They should be written on monuments," said some among +the guests. "Rebellion takes people from their labor and grieves the +heart of his holiness. It is not proper that laborers should be unpaid +for two months in succession." + +The prince looked with contempt on those courtiers, changeable as +clouds; he turned then to the nomarch. + +"I give thee," said he, threateningly, "this punished man. I am certain +that a hair of his head will not fall from him. Tomorrow morning I wish +to see the regiment to which he belongs and learn whether he speaks +truth or falsehood." + +After these words Ramses went out, leaving the nomarch and the guests +in vexation. + +Next morning the prince, while dressing with the aid of Tutmosis, asked +him, + +"Have the laborers come?" + +"They have, lord; they have been waiting for thy commands since +daybreak." + +"And is that man Bakura among them?" + +Tutmosis made a wry face and answered, + +"A marvelous thing has happened. The worthy Sofra gave command to shut +the fellow up in an empty cellar of the palace. Well, the disorderly +rascal, a very strong man, broke the door to another place where there +is wine; he overturned a number of pots of very costly wine, and got so +drunk that." + +"That what?" asked the prince. + +"That he perished." + +The prince sprang up from his chair. + +"And dost them believe that he drank himself to death?" + +"I must believe, for I have no proof that they killed him." + +"But if I look for proof?" burst out the prince. + +He ran through the room, and snorted like an angry lion. When he was +somewhat quieted, Tutmosis added, + +"Seek not for proof where it is not to be discovered, for Thou wilt not +find even witnesses. If any man strangled that laborer at command of +the nomarch, he will not confess; the laborer himself is dead, and will +not say anything; besides, what would his complaint against the nomarch +amount to? In these conditions no court would begin to investigate." + +"But if I command?" asked the viceroy. + +"In that case they will investigate and prove the innocence of Sofra. +Then Thou wilt be put to shame, and all the nomarchs with their +relatives and servants will become thy enemies." + +The prince stood in the middle of the chamber and pondered. + +"Finally," said Tutmosis, "everything seems to show this, that the +unfortunate Bakura was a drunkard or a maniac, and, above all, a man of +foreign blood. If a genuine Egyptian in his senses were to go without +pay for a year, and be clubbed twice as much as this man, would he dare +to break into the palace of the nomarch and appeal to thee with such an +outcry?" + +Ramses bent his head, and seeing that there were nobles in the next +chamber, he said in a voice somewhat lowered, + +"Knowest thou, Tutmosis, since I set out on this journey Egypt begins +to appear somehow strange to me? At times I ask my own self if I am not +in some foreign region. Then again my heart is disturbed, as if I had a +curtain before me, behind which all kinds of villainy are practiced, +but which I myself cannot see with my own eyes." + +"Then do not look at them; for if Thou do, it will seem at last to thee +that we should all be sent to the quarries," said Tutmosis, smiling. +"Remember that the nomarchs and officials are the shepherds of thy +flock. If one of them takes a measure of milk for himself, or kills a +little sheep, of course Thou wilt not kill him or drive the man away. +Thou hast many sheep, and it is not easy to find shepherds." + +The viceroy, now dressed, passed into the hall of waiting, where his +suite stood assembled, priests, officers, and officials. Then he left +the palace with them, and went to the outer courtyard. + +That was a broad space, planted with acacias, under the shade of which +the laborers were waiting for the viceroy. At the sound of a trumpet +the whole crowd sprang up, and stood in five ranks before him. + +Ramses, attended by a glittering retinue of dignitaries, halted +suddenly, wishing, first of all, to look at the regiment from a +distance. The men were naked, each with a white cap on his head, and +girt about the hips with stuff like that of which the cap was made. In +the ranks Ramses could distinguish easily the brown Egyptian, the +negro, the yellow Asiatic, the white inhabitants of Libya, and also the +Mediterranean islands. + +In the first rank stood workers with pickaxes, in the second those with +mattocks, in the third those with shovels. The fourth rank was composed +of carriers, of whom each had a pole and two buckets; the fifth was +also of carriers, but with large boxes borne by two men. These last +carried earth freshly dug. + +In front of the ranks, some yards distant, stood the overseers; each +held a long stick in his hand, and either a large wooden circle or a +square measure. + +When the prince approached them, they cried in a chorus, + +"Live Thou through eternity!" and kneeling, they struck the earth with +their foreheads. The heir commanded them to rise, and surveyed them +again with attention. + +They were healthy, strong persons, not looking in the least like men +who had lived two months on begging. + +Sofra with his retinue approached the prince. But Ramses, feigning not +to see him, turned to one of the overseers, + +"Are ye earth-tillers from Sochem?" inquired he. + +The overseer fell at full length with his face to the earth. + +The prince shrugged his shoulders, and called out to the laborers, + +"Are ye from Sochem?" + +"We are earth workers from Sochem," answered they, in chorus. + +"Have ye received pay?" + +"We have received pay; we are sated and happy servants of his +holiness," answered the chorus, giving out each word with emphasis. + +"Turn around!" commanded the prince. + +They turned. It is true that each had frequent and deep scars from the +club, but no fresh stripes on their bodies. + +"They are deceiving me," thought the heir. + +He commanded the laborers to go to their barracks, and, without +greeting the nomarch or taking leave of him, he returned to the palace. + +"Wilt thou, too, tell me," said he to Tutmosis on the road, "that those +men are laborers from Sochem?" + +"But they say that they are, they themselves give answer," replied the +courtier. + +Ramses gave command to bring his horse, and he rode to the army +encamped beyond the city. He reviewed the regiments all day. About +noon, on the field of exercise, appeared, at command of the nomarch, +some tens of carriers with food and wine, tents and furniture. But the +prince sent them back to Atribis; and when the hour came for army food, +he commanded to serve that to him; so he ate dried meat with oat cakes. + +These were the mercenary regiments of Libya. When the prince ordered +them to lay aside arms in the evening, and took farewell of the men, it +seemed as though the soldiers and officers had yielded to madness. +Shouting "May he live through eternity!" they kissed his hands and +feet, made a litter of their spears and mantles, and bore him to the +city, disputing on the way with one another for the honor of carrying +the heir on their shoulders. + +The nomarch and the officials of the province were frightened, when +they saw the enthusiasm of the Libyans, and the favor which the heir +showed barbarians. + +"Here is a ruler!" whispered the chief secretary to Sofra. "If he +wished, those people would kill us and our children." + +The troubled nomarch sighed to the gods, and commended himself to their +gracious protection. + +Late at night Ramses found himself in his own palace, and there the +servants told him that another bedchamber had been given him. + +"Why is this?" + +"Because in the first chamber people saw a poisonous serpent, which +hid, and no one could find it." + +In a wing near the house of the nomarch was a new sleeping chamber, a +four-cornered room, surrounded by columns on all sides. Its walls were +of alabaster, covered with painted bas-reliefs; below were plants in +vases; higher up garlands of olive and laurel. + +Almost in the centre of the room stood a great bed inlaid with ebony, +gold, and ivory. The chamber was lighted by two fragrant tapers; under +the colonnade were small tables with wine, food, and garlands of roses. +In the ceiling was a large quadrangular opening covered with linen. + +The prince bathed and lay on the soft bed; his servants went to remote +chambers. The tapers were burning out; cool air filled with the odor of +flowers moved in the chamber. At the same time low music from harps was +heard above him. + +Ramses raised his head. The linen canopy of the chamber slipped to one +side, and through the opening he saw the constellation Leo, and in it +the brilliant star Regulus. The music of harps became louder. + +"Are the gods preparing to make me a visit?" thought the viceroy, with +a smile. + +In the opening of the ceiling shone a broad streak of light; it was +powerful but tempered. A moment later a litter appeared in the form of +a golden boat, bearing a small arbor with flowers in it; the pillars of +the arbor were entwined with garlands of roses, the top of it covered +with lotuses and violets. + +On ropes, entwined with green, the golden boat descended to the chamber +in silence. It stopped on the pavement, and from beneath the flowers +came forth a naked maiden of unparalleled beauty. Her body had the +smoothness of marble; from her amber-like waves of hair came an +intoxicating odor. + +The maiden stepped from the litter and knelt before Ramses. + +"Art Thou the daughter of Sofra?" asked he. + +"Thou speakest truth, Lord Ramses." + +"And still Thou hast come to me!" + +"To implore thee to pardon my father. He is unhappy; since midday he +has been shedding tears and covering his head with ashes." + +"And if I would not forgive him, wouldst Thou leave me?" + +"No," whispered she. + +Ramses drew her toward him and kissed her with passion. His eyes +flashed. + +"For this I forgive him." + +"Oh, how good Thou art!" cried she, nestling up to Ramses; then she +added with sweetness, + +"Wilt Thou command a reward for the damages done by that mad laborer?" + +"I will command." + +"And wilt Thou take me to thy household?" + +Ramses looked at her. + +"I will take thee, for Thou art a beauty." + +"Really?" asked she, putting her arm around his neck. "Look at me +better. Among the beauties of Egypt I hold only the fourth place." + +"What does that mean?" + +"In Memphis, or near there, dwells thy first; happily she is only a +Jewess! In Sochem is the second." + +"I know nothing of that one," interrupted Ramses. + +"Oh, Thou dove! Then surely Thou knowest nothing of the third one in +Ami." + +"Does she too belong to my household?" + +"Ungrateful!" cried the girl, striking him with a lotus flower. "Thou +wouldst be ready to say the same of me a month hence. But I will not +let myself be injured." + +"Like thy father." + +"Hast Thou not forgotten him yet? Remember that I will go-" + +"Stay, stay!" + +Next day the viceroy was pleased to receive homage and a feast from +Sofra. He praised in public the nomarch's government of the province, +and to reward him for the damages caused by the drunken laborer, Ramses +presented him with one-half of the furniture and vessels presented in +Anu. + +The second half of those gifts was taken by the beautiful Abeb, +daughter of the nomarch, as lady of the court. Besides, she commanded +that five talents be given her from the treasury of the viceroy, for +clothes, slaves, and horses. + +In the evening the prince, while yawning, spoke thus to Tutmosis, + +"His holiness my father gave me a great lesson when he said that women +are very costly." + +"The position is worse when there are no women," replied the exquisite. + +"But I have four, and I do not even know clearly how. I might give thee +two of them." + +"And Sarah?" + +"Not her, especially if she has a son." + +"If Thou wilt assign a good dowry, husbands will be found for those +charmers most easily." + +The prince yawned a second time. + +"I do not like to hear of dowries," said he. "Aaa! What luck, that I +shall tear away from thee and settle among the priests!" + +"Wilt Thou indeed?" + +"I must. At last I shall learn of them why the pharaohs are growing +poorer. Well, I shall sleep." + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THAT same day, in Memphis, Dagon the Phoenician, the viceroy's worthy +banker, lay on a couch under the veranda of his mansion. Around him +were fragrant potted bushes with needle-like leaves. Two black slaves +cooled the rich man with fans, and he, while playing with a young ape, +was listening to accounts read by his scribe to him. + +At that moment a slave with a sword, helmet, dart, and shield (the +banker loved military dress), announced the worthy Rabsun, a Phoenician +merchant then settled in Memphis. + +The guest entered, bowed profoundly, and dropped his eyelids in such +fashion that Dagon commanded the scribe and the slaves to withdraw from +the veranda. Then, as a man of foresight, he surveyed every corner, and +said to the visitor, + +"We may talk." + +Rabsun began without prelude, + +"Dost thou know, worthiness, that Prince Hiram has come from Tyre?" + +Dagon sprang up from the couch. + +"May the leprosy seize him and his princeship!" shouted the banker. + +"He has just reminded me," continued the guest, calmly, "that there is +a misunderstanding between him and thee." + +"What misunderstanding?" cried Dagon. "That thief has robbed, +destroyed, ruined me. When I sent my ships after other Tyrian vessels +to the west for silver, the helmsmen of that thief Hiram cast fire on +them, tried to push them into a shallow. Well, my ships came back +empty, burnt, and shattered. May the fire of heaven burn him!" +concluded the raging banker. + +"But if Hiram has for thee a profitable business?" inquired the guest, +stolidly. + +The storm raging in Dagon's breast ceased on a sudden. + +"What business can he offer me?" asked the banker, with a voice now +calmed completely. + +"He will tell this himself, but first he must see thee." + +"Well, let him come to me." + +"He thinks that Thou shouldst go to him. He, as is known to thee, is a +member of the chief council of Tyre." + +"He will perish before I go to him," cried the banker, enraged a second +time. + +The guest drew an armchair to the couch, and slapped Dagon's thigh. + +"Dagon," said he, "have sense." + +"Why have I not sense, and why dost thou, Rabsun, not say to me +worthiness?" + +"Dagon, be not foolish!" answered the guest. "If Thou wilt not go to +him and he will not come to thee, how will ye do business?" + +"Thou art foolish, Rabsun!" burst out Dagon again. "Before I go to +Hiram let my hand wither; with that politeness I should lose half the +profit." + +The guest thought awhile. + +"Now Thou hast uttered a wise word," said he; "so I will tell thee +something. Come to me and Hiram will come also; ye can talk of that +business in my house." + +Dagon bent his head, and half closing his eyes, inquired roguishly, + +"Ei, Rabsun! Tell outright how much did he give thee?" + +"For what?" + +"For this, that I should come to thy house and transact business with +him, the mangy scoundrel." + +"This business interests all Phoenicia, so I need no profit on it," +replied the indignant Rabsun. + +"That is as true as that all thy debtors will pay thee." + +"May they fail to pay me if I make anything in this! Only let not +Phoenicia lose!" cried Rabsun, in anger. + +They took farewell of each other. + +Toward evening the worthy Dagon seated himself in a litter carried by +six slaves. He was preceded by two outrunners with staffs, and two with +torches; behind the litter went four men armed from head to foot. Not +for security, but because for a certain time Dagon loved to surround +himself with armed men, like a noble. + +He came out of the litter with great importance, supported by two men; +a third carried a parasol over him. He entered Rabsun's house. + +"Where is that Hiram?" inquired he, haughtily. + +"He is not here?" + +"How is this? Must I wait for him, then?" + +"He is not in this room, but he is in the third one talking with my +wife," answered the host. "He is making a visit to my wife." + +"I will not go there!" said the banker, sitting down on a couch. + +"Thou wilt go to the next chamber, and he will enter it at the same +time with thee." + +After a short resistance Dagon yielded, and a moment later, at a sign +from the master of the house, he entered the second chamber. At the +same time from distant apartments appeared a man, not of tall stature, +with gray beard, dressed in a gold-embroidered toga, and with a gold +band on his head. + +"This is," said the host, standing in the middle of the room, "his +grace Prince Hiram, a member of the supreme council of Tyre. This is +the worthy Dagon, banker of the heir to the throne, and viceroy of +Lower Egypt." + +The two dignitaries bowed, each with his hand on his breast, and both +sat down on stools in the middle of the chamber. Hiram pushed aside his +toga somewhat in order to show the great gold medal on his breast; in +answer to this Dagon began to toy with a large gold chain which he had +received from Prince Ramses. + +"I, Hiram," said the old man, "congratulate thee, Lord Dagon. I wish +thee much property, and success in thy business." + +"I, Dagon, congratulate thee, Lord Hiram, and I wish thee the same as +Thou wishest me." + +"Dost Thou desire to dispute?" interrupted Hiram, irritated. + +"How dispute? Rabsun, say if I am disputing." + +"Better talk of business, your worthinesses," replied the host. + +After a moment of thought Hiram proceeded, + +"Thy friends in Tyre congratulate thee greatly through me." + +"Is that all they have sent me?" asked Dagon, in reviling accents. + +"What didst Thou wish?" inquired Hiram, raising his voice. + +"Quiet! Concord!" put in the host. + +Hiram sighed a number of times deeply, and said, + +"It is true that we need concord. Evil times are approaching +Phoenicia." + +"Has the sea flooded Tyre and Sidon?" asked Dagon, smiling. + +Hiram spat, and inquired, + +"Why art Thou so ill-tempered today?" + +"I am always ill-tempered when men do not call me worthiness." + +"But why dost Thou not say grace to me? I am a prince." + +"Perhaps in Phoenicia. But in Assyria Thou wouldst wait three days in +the forecourt of any satrap for an audience, and when he deigned to +receive thee Thou wouldst be lying on thy belly, like any Phoenician +merchant." + +"But what couldst Thou do in presence of a wild man who would perhaps +impale thee on a stake?" inquired Hiram. + +"What I would do, I know not. But in Egypt I sit on one sofa with the +heir to the throne, who today is viceroy." + +"Concord, worthiness! Concord, grace!" said the host. + +"Concord! concord, because this man is a common Phoenician merchant, +and is unwilling to render me respect," cried out Dagon. + +"I have a hundred ships!" shouted Hiram. + +"And his holiness has twenty thousand cities, towns, and villages." + +"Your worthinesses are destroying this business and all Phoenicia," +said Rabsun, with a voice which was loud now. + +Hiram balled his fists, but was silent. + +"Thou must confess, worthiness," said he, after a while, "that of those +twenty thousand towns his holiness owns few in reality." + +"Thou wishest to say, grace," answered Dagon, "that seven thousand +belong to the temples, and seven thousand to great lords. Still six +thousand belong clearly to his holiness." + +"Not altogether! For when Thou takest, worthiness, about three thousand +which are mortgaged to the priests, and two thousand which are rented +to our Phoenicians." + +"Thou speakest the truth, grace," said Dagon. "But there remain always +to his holiness about two thousand very rich cities." + +"Has Typhon possessed thee?" roared Rabsun, in his turn. "Wilt Thou go +now to counting the cities of the pharaoh, may he." + +"Pst!" whispered Dagon, springing up. + +"When misfortune is hanging over Phoenicia" finished Rabsun. + +"Let me but know what the misfortune is," interrupted Dagon. + +"Then let Hiram speak and Thou wilt know." + +"Let him speak." + +"Dost Thou know, worthiness, what happened in the inn 'Under the Ship' +to our brother Asarhadon?" began Hiram. + +"I have no brothers among innkeepers," interrupted Dagon, sneeringly. + +"Be silent!" screamed Rabsun, in anger; and he grasped the hilt of his +dagger. "Thou art as dull as a dog barking in sleep." + +"Why is he angry, that that dealer in bones?" inquired Dagon; and he +reached for his knife also. + +"Quiet! Concord!" said the gray-headed prince; and he dropped his lean +hand to his girdle. + +For a while the nostrils of all three men were quivering and their eyes +flashing. At last Hiram, who calmed himself first, began again, as if +nothing had happened. + +"A couple of months ago, in Asarhadon's inn, lodged a certain Phut from +the city of Harran." + +"He had to receive five talents from some priest," interrupted Dagon. + +"What further?" asked Hiram. + +"Nothing. He found favor with a certain priestess, and at her advice +went to seek his debtor in Thebes." + +"Thou hast the mind of a child and the talkativeness of a woman," said +Hiram. "This Harran man is not from Harran at all. He is a Chaldean, +and his name is not Phut, but Beroes." + +"Beroes? Beroes?" repeated Dagon, trying to remember. "I have heard +that name in some place." + +"Thou hast heard it!" repeated Hiram, with contempt. "Beroes is the +wisest priest in Babylon, the counselor of Assyrian princes and of the +king himself." + +"Let him be counselor; if he is not the pharaoh, what do I care?" said +the banker. + +Rabsun rose from his chair, and threatening Dagon with his fist under +the nose, cried, + +"Thou wild boar, fatted on the pharaoh's swill, Phoenicia concerns thee +as much as Egypt concerns me. Thou wouldst sell thy country for a +drachma hadst Thou the chance, leprous cur that Thou art!" + +Dagon grew pale and answered with a calm voice, + +"What is that huckster saying? In Tyre my sons are learning navigation; +in Sidon lives my daughter with her husband. I have lent half my +property to the supreme council, though I do not receive even ten per +cent for it. And this huckster says that Phoenicia does not concern +me!" + +"Rabsun, listen to me," added he, after a while. "I wish thy wife and +children and the shades of thy fathers to be as much thought of by thee +as each Phoenician ship is by me, or each stone of Tyre and Sidon, or +even of Zarpath and Achsibu." + +"Dagon, tell truth," put in Hiram. + +"I not care for Phoenicia!" continued the banker, growing excited. "How +many Phoenicians have I brought here to make property, and what do I +gain from having done so! I not care? Hiram ruined two ships of mine +and deprived me of great profit; still, when Phoenicia is in question, +I sit in one room with him." + +"For Thou didst think to talk with him of cheating some one," said +Rabsun. + +"As much as Thou didst think of dying, fool!" retorted Dagon. "Am I a +child? do I not understand that when Hiram comes to Memphis he need not +come for traffic? O Thou Rabsun! Thou shouldst clean my stables a +couple of years." + +"Enough of this!" cried Hiram, striking the table with his fist. + +"We never shall finish with this Chaldean priest," muttered Rabsun, +with as much calmness as if he had not been insulted a moment before. + +Hiram coughed, and said, + +"That man has a house and land really in Harran, and he is called Phut +there. He got letters from Hittite merchants to merchants in Sidon, so +our caravans took him for the journey. He speaks Phoenician well, he +pays liberally. He made no demands in particular; so our people came to +like him, even much. + +"But," continued Hiram, stroking his beard, "when a lion covers himself +with an ox skin, even a little of his tail will stick out. This Phut +was wonderfully wise and self-confident; so the chief of the caravan +examined his effects in secret, and found nothing save a medal of the +goddess Astaroth. This medal pricked the heart of the leader of the +caravan: 'How could a Hittite have a Phoenician medal?' + +"So when they came to Sidon he reported straightway to the elders, and +thenceforth our secret police kept this Phut in view. + +"Meanwhile he is such a sage that when he had remained some days all +came to like him. He prayed and offered sacrifices to the goddess +Astaroth, paid in gold, borrowed no money, associated only with +Phoenicians. And he so befogged all that watchfulness touching him was +weakened, and he went in peace to Memphis. + +"In this place again our elders began to watch him, but discovered +nothing; they divined simply that he must be a great lord, not a simple +man of Harran. But Asarhadon discovered by chance, and did not even +discover, he only came on traces, that this pretended Phut passed a +whole night in the ancient temple of Set, which here is greatly +venerated. + +"Only high priests enter it for important counsels," interrupted Dagon. + +"And that alone would mean nothing," said Hiram. "But one of our +merchants returned a month ago from Babylon with wonderful tidings. In +return for a great present a certain attendant of the Satrap of Babylon +informed him that misfortune was threatening Phoenicia. + +"Assyria will take you," said the attendant, "and Egypt will take +Israel. On that business the Chaldean high priest Beroes has gone to +the priests of Thebes, and with them he will make a treaty." + +"Ye must know," continued Hiram, "that Chaldean priests consider the +priests in Egypt as their brothers, and that Beroes enjoys great esteem +in the Court of King Assar, so reports concerning that treaty may be +very truthful." + +"Why does Assyria want Phoenicia?" inquired Dagon, as he bit his +finger-nails. + +"Why does a thief want another man's granary?" replied Hiram. + +"What good is a treaty made by Beroes with Egyptian priests?" put in +Rabsun, thinking deeply. + +"Thou art dull!" answered Dagon. "Pharaoh does nothing except what the +priests ordain." + +"There will be a treaty with the pharaoh, never fear!" interrupted +Hiram. "We know to a certainty in Tyre that the Assyrian ambassador +Sargon is coming to Egypt with gifts and with a great retinue. He +pretends that it is to see Egypt and agree with 'ministers, not to +inscribe in Egyptian acts that Assyria pays tribute to the pharaohs. +But in fact he is coming to conclude a treaty about dividing the +countries which lie between our sea and the Euphrates River." + +"May the earth swallow them!" imprecated Rabsun. + +"What dost Thou think of this Dagon?" inquired Hiram. + +"But what would ye do if Assar attacked you really?" + +Hiram shook his head with anger. + +"What? We should go on board of ships with our families and treasures +and leave to those dogs the ruins of cities and the rotting corpses of +slaves. Do we not know greater and more beautiful countries than +Phoenicia, where we can begin a new and richer fatherland?" + +"May the gods guard us from such a thing," said Dagon. + +"This is just the question, to save the present Phoenicia from +destruction," said Hiram. "And thou, Dagon, art able to do much in this +matter." + +"What can I do?" + +"Thou mayst learn from the priests whether Beroes met them, and whether +he and they made an agreement." + +"A terribly difficult thing," whispered Dagon. "But I may find a priest +who will tell me." + +"Thou canst prevent at the court of the pharaoh a treaty with Sargon," +continued Hiram. + +"It is very difficult. I could not do that unassisted." + +"I will be with thee, and Phoenicia will find the gold. A tax is in +course of collection at present." + +"I have given two talents!" whispered Rabsun. + +"I will give ten," added Dagon. "But what shall I get for my labor?" + +"What? Well, ten ships," answered Hiram. + +"And how much wilt Thou gain?" inquired Dagon. + +"Is ten not enough? Thou wilt get fifteen." + +"I ask, what wilt Thou get?" insisted Dagon. + +"We will give twenty ships. Does that suffice thee?" + +"Let it be so. But will ye show my ships the road to the country of +silver?" + +"We will show it." + +"And the place where ye get tin? Well." + +"And the place where amber is found?" continued Dagon. + +"May Thou perish at once!" answered the gracious Prince Hiram, +extending his hand. "But Thou wilt not keep up a malignant heart toward +me because of those two little flat boats?" + +Dagon sighed. + +"I will work to forget. But what a property I should have now if Thou +hadst not driven them off at that time!" + +"Enough!" interrupted Rabsun; "talk of Phoenicia." + +"Through whom wilt Thou learn of Beroes and the treaty?" asked Hiram of +Dagon. + +"Let that drop. It is dangerous to speak of it, for priests will be +involved in the matter." + +"And through whom couldst Thou ruin the treaty?" + +"I think I think that perhaps through the heir to the throne. I have +many notes of his." + +Hiram raised his hand, and replied, + +"The heir very well, for he will be pharaoh, perhaps even soon." + +"Pst!" interrupted Dagon, striking the table with his fist. "May Thou +lose speech for such language!" + +"Here is a wild boar for thee!" cried Rabsun, threatening the banker's +nose. + +"And Thou art a dull huckster," answered Dagon, with a reviling laugh. +"Thou, Rabsun, shouldst sell dried fish and water on the streets, but +not mix up in questions between states. An ox hoof rubbed in Egyptian +mud has more sense than thou, though Thou 'art living five years in the +capital of light! Oh that pigs might devour thee!" + +"Quiet! quiet!" called Hiram. "Ye do not let me finish." + +"Speak, for Thou art wise and my heart understands thee," said Rabsun. + +"If thou, Dagon, hast influence over the heir, that is well," continued +Hiram. "For if the heir wishes to have a treaty with Assyria there will +be a treaty, and besides one written with our blood on our own skins. +But if the heir wishes war with Assyria, he will make war, though the +priests were to summon all the gods against him." + +H + +"Pst!" interrupted Dagon. "If the priests wish greatly, there will be a +treaty. But perhaps they will not wish." + +"Therefore, Dagon, we must have all the military leaders with us," said +Hiram. + +"We can." + +"And the nomarchs." + +"We can have them too." + +"And the heir," continued Hiram. + +"But if Thou alone urge him to war with Assyria, that is nothing. A +man, like a harp, has many strings, and to play on them fingers are +needed, while thou, Dagon, art only one finger." + +"But I cannot tear myself into ten parts." + +"Thou mayst be like one hand which has five fingers. Thou must so act +that no one may suspect that Thou art for war, but every cook in the +heir's kitchen must want war, every barber of his must want war, all +the bath men, and litter-bearers, scribes, officers, charioteers must +want war with Assyria; the heir should hear war from morning till +night, and even when he is sleeping." + +"That will be done." + +"But dost Thou know his mistresses?" asked Hiram. + +Dagon waved his hand. + +"Stupid girls!" said he. "They think only about dressing, painting, and +perfuming themselves; but whence these perfumes come, and who brings +them to Egypt, they know not." + +"We must give him a favorite who will know." + +"Where shall we find her?" asked Dagon. "Ah, I have it!" cried he, +stroking his forehead. "Dost Thou know Kama, the priestess of +Astaroth?" + +"What?" interrupted Rabsun, astounded. "The priestess of the holy +goddess Astaroth to be a favorite of an Egyptian?" + +"Thou wouldst prefer that she were thine," sneered Dagon. "She can even +cease to be high priestess when it is necessary to bring her near the +court." + +"Thou speakest truth," said Hiram. + +"But that is sacrilege!" said Rabsun, indignantly. + +"And the priestess who commits it is to die," said the gray-haired +Hiram. + +"If only that Jewess, Sarah, does not hinder," added Dagon, after a +moment of silence. "She is waiting for a child to which the prince is +attached already. If a son is born, all our plans may be thwarted." + +"We shall have money for Sarah too," added Hiram. + +"She will take nothing!" burst out Dagon. "That pitiful creature has +refused gold and a precious goblet, which I carried to her." + +"She did, for she thought that Thou hadst the wish to deceive her," +remarked Rabsun. + +Hiram nodded. + +"There is no cause for trouble," said he. "Where gold has not power, +then the father, the mother, or the mistress may have it. And if the +mistress is powerless, there is still." + +"The knife," hissed Rabsun. + +"Poison," whispered Dagon. + +"A knife is a very rude weapon," concluded Hiram. + +He stroked his beard, thought awhile; at last he rose, took from his +bosom a purple ribbon on which were fastened three golden amulets with +a portrait of the goddess Astaroth. He drew from his girdle a knife, +cut the ribbon into three parts, and gave two of these with the amulets +to Dagon and Rabsun. + +Then all three went to the middle of the room to the corner where stood +a winged statue of the goddess; they put their hands on the statue, and +Hiram repeated in a low voice, but clearly, + +"To thee, Mother of Life, we swear faithfully to observe our +agreements, and not to rest till the sacred places be secure from +enemies, may they be destroyed by hunger, fire, and pestilence. + +"And should one of us fail in his obligations, or betray a secret, may +all calamities and disgrace fall on him! May hunger twist his entrails, +and sleep flee from his bloodshot eyes! May the hand of the man wither +who hastens to him with rescue and pities him in his misery! May the +bread on his table turn into rottenness, and the wine into stinking +juice! May his children die out, and his house be filled with bastards +who will spit on him and expel him! May he die groaning through many +days in loneliness, and may neither earth nor water receive his vile +carcass, may no fire burn it, no wild beasts devour it!" + +"Thus let it be!" + +After this terrible oath, which Hiram began, and the second half of +which all shouted forth in voices trembling from rage, the three +panting Phoenicians rested. After that Rabsun conducted them to a feast +where with wine, music, and dancers they forgot for a time the work +awaiting them. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Not far from the city of Pi-Bast stood the temple of the goddess Hator. + +In the month Paoni (March-April), on the day of the vernal equinox, +about nine in the evening, when the star Sirius inclined toward its +setting, two wayfaring priests and one penitent stopped in the gateway. +The penitent, who was barefoot, had ashes on his head, and was covered +with a coarse cloth which concealed his visage. + +Though the air was clear, it was impossible to distinguish the faces of +those wayfarers. They stood in the shadow of two immense statues of the +cow-headed divinity which guarded the entrance to the temple and with +kindly eyes protected the province of Habu from pestilence, southern +winds, and bad overflows. + +When he had rested somewhat, the penitent fell with his face to the +earth and prayed long in that position. Then he rose, took a copper +knocker, and struck a blow. A deep metallic sound went through all the +courts, reverberated from the thick walls of the temple, and flew over +the wheat-fields, above the mud cottages of earth-tillers, over the +silvery waters of the Nile, where the faint cry of wakened birds +answered it. + +After a long time a murmur was heard inside, and the question, + +"Who rouses us?" + +"Ramses, a slave of the divinity," said the penitent. + +"For what hast Thou come?" + +"For the light of wisdom." + +"What right hast Thou to ask for it?" + +"I received the inferior consecration, and in great processions within +the temple I carry a torch." + +The gates opened widely. In the centre stood a priest in a white robe; +he stretched forth his hand, and said slowly and distinctly, + +"Enter. When Thou crossest this threshold, may divine peace dwell in +thy soul, and may that be accomplished for which Thou implorest +humbly." + +When the penitent had fallen at his feet, the priest, making some signs +above his head, whispered, + +"In the name of Him who is, who has been, and who will be, who created +everything, whose breath fills the visible and the invisible world, and +who is life eternal." + +When the gate had closed, the priest took Ramses by the hand, and in +the gloom amid the immense columns of the forecourt he led him to the +dwelling assigned to him. It was a small cell lighted by a lamp. On the +stone pavement lay a bundle of dry grass; in a corner stood a pitcher +of water, and near it was a barley cake. + +"I see that here I shall have rest indeed after my occupations with the +nomarchs," said Ramses, joyously. + +"Think of eternity," replied the priest; and he withdrew. + +This answer struck Ramses disagreeably. Though he was hungry, he did +not wish to eat a cake or drink water. He sat on the grass, and looking +at his feet wounded from the journey, asked himself why he had come, +why he had put himself voluntarily out of his office. + +Seeing the walls of the cell and its poverty, he recalled the years of +his boyhood passed at a priests' school. How many blows of sticks he +had received there, how many nights he had passed on a stone floor as +punishment! Even then Ramses felt the hatred and fear which he had felt +before toward that harsh priest who to all his prayers and questions +answered only with, "Think of eternity." + +After some months of uproar to drop into such silence, to exchange the +court of a prince for obscurity and loneliness, and instead of feasts, +women, and music, to feel around and above him the weight of walls! "I +have gone mad! I have gone mad!" muttered Ramses. + +There was a moment when he wished to leave the temple at once; but +afterward he thought that they might not open the gate to him. The +sight of his dirty legs, of the ashes falling out of his hair, the +roughness of his penitential rags, all this disgusted him. If he had +had his sword even! But would he, dressed as he was in that place, dare +to use it? + +He felt an overpowering dread, and that sobered him. He remembered that +the gods in temples send down fear on men, and that this fear must be +the beginning of wisdom. + +"Moreover, I am the viceroy and the heir of the pharaoh," thought he; +"who will harm me in this temple?" + +He rose and went out of the cell. He found himself in a broad court +surrounded by columns. The stars were shining brightly; hence he saw at +one end of the court an immense pylon, at the other an open entrance to +the temple. + +He went thither. At the door there was gloom, and somewhere far off +flamed a number of lamps, as if in the air and unsupported. Looking +more attentively, he saw standing closely together between the entrance +and the lamps a forest of columns, the tops of which were lost in +darkness. At a distance, perhaps two hundred yards from him, he saw +indistinctly the gigantic legs of a sitting goddess with her hands +resting on her knees, from which the lamplight was reflected dimly. + +All at once he heard a sound from afar. From a side passage a row of +white figures pushed forth, moving in couples. This was a night +procession of priests, who, singing in two choruses, gave homage to the +statue of the goddess: Chorus I. "I am He who created heaven and earth +and made all things contained in them." Chorus II. "I am He who created +the waters and the great overflow, He who made for the bull his mother +whose parent he himself is." Chorus I "I am He who made heaven and the +secrets of its horizon; as to the gods I it was who placed their souls +in them." Chorus II. "I am He who when he opens his eyes there is light +in the world and when he closes them darkness is present." Chorus I. +"The waters of the Nile flow when he commands." Chorus II. "But the +gods do not know what his name is." [Authentic.]. + +The voices, indistinct at first, grew stronger, so that each word was +audible, and when the procession disappeared the words scattered among +the columns, growing ever fainter. At last every sound ceased. + +"And still those people," thought Ramses, "not only eat, drink, and +gather wealth they really perform religious services even in the night- +time; though, how is that to affect the statue?" + +The prince had seen more than once the statues of boundary divinities +bespattered with mud by the inhabitants of another province, or shot at +from bows or slings by mercenary soldiers. "If gods are not offended by +insult, they must also care little for prayers and processions. +Besides, who has seen gods?" said the prince to himself. + +The immensity of the temple, its countless columns, the lamps burning +in front of the statue, all this attracted Ramses. He wished to look +around in that mysterious immensity, and he went forward. Then it +seemed to him that some hand from behind touched his head tenderly. He +looked around. No one was there; so he went farther. + +This time the two hands of some person seized him by the head, and a +third, a great hand, rested on his shoulder. + +"Who is here?" cried he prince; and he rushed in among the columns. But +he stumbled and almost fell: some one caught him by the feet. Again +terror mastered Ramses more than in the cell. He fled distracted, +knocking against columns which seemed to bar the way to him, and +darkness closed around the man on all sides. + +"Oh, save, holy goddess, save me!" whispered he. + +At this moment he stopped: some yards in front of him was the great +door of a temple through which the starry sky was visible. He turned +his head. Amid the forest of gigantic columns lamps were burning, and +the gleam of them was reflected faintly from the bronze knees of the +holy Hator. + +The prince returned to his cell, crushed and excited; his heart +throbbed like that of a bird caught in a net. For the first time in +many years he fell with his face to the earth and prayed ardently for +favor and forgiveness. + +"Thou wilt be heard," answered a sweet voice above him. + +Ramses raised his head quickly, but there was no one in the cell: the +door was closed, the walls were thick. He prayed on therefore more +ardently, and fell asleep in that position, with his face on the stones +and his arms extended. + +When he woke next morning, he was another man: he had experienced the +might of the gods, and favor had been promised. + +From that time through a long series of days he gave himself to +devotional exercises with faith and alacrity. In his cell he spent long +hours over prayers, he had his head shaven, and put on priestly +garments, and four times in twenty-four hours he took part in a chorus +of the youngest priests. + +His past life, taken up with amusements, roused in him aversion, and +the disbelief which he had acquired amid foreigners and dissolute youth +filled him with dread in that interval. And if that day the choice had +been given him to take either the throne or the priestly office, he +would have hesitated. + +A certain day the great prophet of the temple summoned the prince, and +reminded him that he had not entered for prayers exclusively, but to +learn wisdom. The prophet praised his devotion, declared that he was +purified then from worldly foulness, and commanded him to become +acquainted with the schools connected with that temple. + +Rather through obedience than curiosity, the prince went directly from +him to the interior court, where the department of reading and writing +was situated. + +That was a great hall, lighted through an opening in the roof. On mats +some tens of naked pupils were seated holding wax tablets in their +hands. One wall was of smooth alabaster; before it stood a teacher who +wrote characters with chalks of various colors. + +When the prince entered, the pupils, almost all of the same age that he +was, fell on their faces. The teacher bowed, and stopped his actual +labor to explain to the youths the great meaning of knowledge. + +"My beloved," said he, "a man who has no heart for wisdom must occupy +himself with handwork and torment his eyesight. But he who understands +the worth of knowledge and forms himself accordingly may gain all kinds +of power and every court office. Remember this. [Authentic] + +"Look at the wretched fate of men unacquainted with writing. A smith is +black and grimy, his hands are full of lumps, and he toils night and +day all his lifetime. The quarryman pulls his arms out to satisfy his +stomach. The mason while forming a capital in lotus shape is hurled off +by wind from the scaffold. A weaver has bent knees, a maker of weapons +is ever traveling: barely does he come to his house in the evening when +he must leave it. The fingers of a wall painter smell disagreeably, and +his time passes in trimming up trifles. The courier when taking +farewell of his family must leave a will, for he may have to meet wild +beasts or Asiatics. + +"I have shown you the lot of men of various labors, for I wish you to +love writing, which is your mother, and now I will present to you its +beauties. It is not an empty word on earth, it is the most important of +all occupations. He who makes use of writing is respected from +childhood; he accomplishes every great mission. But he who takes no +part in it lives on in wretchedness. School sciences are as difficult +as mountains, but one day of them lasts through eternity. So learn +quickly and you will love them. The scribe has a princely position; his +pen and his book win him wealth and acceptance." + +After a sounding discourse on the dignity of knowledge, a discourse +which Egyptian pupils had heard without change for three millenniums, +the master took chalk and on the alabaster wall began to write the +alphabet. Each letter was expressed through a number of hieroglyphs, or +a number of demotic characters. The picture of an eye, a bird, or a +panther signified A, a sheep or a pot B, a man standing or a boat T, a +serpent R, a man sitting or a star S. The abundance of signs expressing +each sound made the art of reading or writing extremely laborious. + +Ramses was wearied by mere listening, during which the only relief was +when the teacher commanded some pupil to draw, or to name some letter, +and beat him with a cane when he failed in his effort. + +Taking farewell of the teacher and the pupils, the prince from the +school of scribes passed to the school of surveyors. There they taught +youth to draw plans of fields which were for the most part rectangular, +also to take the elevation of land by means of two laths and a square. +In this department also they explained the art of writing numbers no +less involved in hieroglyphic or demotic characters. But pure +arithmetical problems formed a higher course, and were solved by means +of bullets. + +Ramses had enough of this, and only after some days would he visit the +school of medicine. + +This was also a hospital, or rather great garden containing a multitude +of fragrant plants and trees. Patients passed whole days in the open +air and in sunlight, on beds where strips of stretched canvas took the +place of mattresses. + +The greatest activity reigned when the prince entered. Some patients +were bathing in a pond of running water; attendants were rubbing one +man with fragrant ointments, and burning perfumes before another. There +were some whom they had put to sleep by looking at them and by +stretching out their bodies; one patient was groaning while they were +setting his sprained ankle. + +To a certain woman who was grievously sick the priest was giving some +mixture from a goblet, while uttering an enchantment which had power in +connection with this remedy, + +"Go, cure, go, drive that out of my heart, out of my members." +[Authentic] + +Then the prince in company with a great leech went to the pharmacy, +where one of the priests was preparing cures from plants, honey, olive +oil, from the skins of serpents and lizards, from the bones and fat of +beasts. When Ramses questioned him, the man did not take his eyes from +the work. He looked continually, and ground the materials, uttering a +prayer as he did so, + +"Thou hast cured Isis, Thou hast cured Isis, Thou hast cured Horus O +Isis, great enchantress, make me well, free me from all evil, from +harmful red things, from fever of the god, from fever of the goddess!" + +"O Shauagat, eenagate, synie! Erukate! Kauaruchagate! Paparauka +paparaka paparura." + +"What is he saying?" asked the prince. + +"A secret," answered the leech, putting his finger on his lips. + +When they came out to an empty court, Ramses said to the great leech, + +"Tell me, holy father, what is the art of curing, and what are its +methods. For I have heard that sickness is an evil spirit which settles +in a man and torments him, because it is hungry, until it receives the +food that it wishes. And that one evil spirit or sickness feeds on +honey, another on olive oil, and a third on the excreta of animals. A +leech, therefore, should know first what spirit has settled in the sick +man, and then what kind of nourishment is required by that spirit, so +that it should not torture the patient." + +The priest thought awhile and then answered, + +"What sickness is and in what way it falls on the human body, I cannot +tell, O Ramses. But to thee I will explain, for Thou hast been +purified, how we govern ourselves in giving medicine. + +"Suppose a given man to be sick in the liver. We priests know that the +liver is under the star Peneter-Deva, [Planet Venus] that the cure must +depend on that star. + +"But here the sages are divided into two schools. Some assert that it +is necessary to give the man who is sick in his liver things over which +Peneter-Deva has influence, therefore copper, lapis lazuli, extract of +flowers, above all verbena and valerian, finally, various parts of the +body of the turtle-dove and the goat. Other leeches consider that when +the liver is diseased it is necessary to cure it with just the opposite +remedies, and the opponent of Peneter-Deva being Sebek, [Planet +Mercury] to give quicksilver, emerald, and agate, hazel-wood and +coltsfoot, also parts of the body of a toad and an owl rubbed into +powder. + +"But this is not all, for it is necessary to think of the day, the +month, and the hour of the day, for each of these spaces of time are +under the influence of a star which must support or weaken the action +of the medicine. Besides, it is needful to remember what star and what +sign of the Zodiac rules the sick person. Only when the leech considers +all these can he prescribe an infallible remedy." + +"And do ye help all sick people in the temple?" + +The priest shook his head. + +"No. The mind of man, which should take in all these details of which I +have spoken, makes mistakes very easily. And what is worse, envious +spirits, the geniuses of other temples, jealous of their fame, +frequently hinder the leech and destroy the effect of his medicines. +The result, therefore, may be that one patient will return to perfect +health, another simply grows better, while a third remains without +change, though there happen some who become still sicker, or even die +This is as the gods will!" + +The prince listened with attention, but confessed in soul that he did +not understand greatly. All at once he recalled the object of his visit +to the temple, and inquired of the great leech unexpectedly, + +"Ye were to show me, holy father, the secret of the treasure of the +pharaoh. Was it those things which we have seen?" + +"By no means. We know nothing of state affairs. But when the great seer +comes, the holy priest Pentuer, he will remove from thy eyes the +curtain." + +Ramses took leave of the leech with increased curiosity as to what they +were to show him. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE temple received Pentuer with great honor, and the inferior priests +went out half an hour's journey to greet him. From all the wonderful +places of Lower Egypt many prophets had assembled with the intent to +hear words of wisdom. A couple of days later came the high priest +Mefres and the prophet Mentezufis. These two rendered honor to Pentuer, +not only because he was a counselor of Herhor and notwithstanding his +youth a member of the supreme college, but because this priest enjoyed +favor throughout Egypt. The gods had given him a memory which seemed +more than human; they had given him eloquence, and above all a +marvelous gift of clear vision. In every affair he saw points hidden +from others, and was able to explain them in a way understood by all +listeners. + +More than one nomarch, or high official of the pharaoh, on learning +that Pentuer was to celebrate a religious solemnity in the temple of +Hator, envied the humblest priest, since he would hear a man inspired +by divinities. + +The priests who went forth to greet Pentuer felt sure that that +dignitary would show himself in a court chariot, or in a litter borne +by eight slaves. What was their amazement at beholding a lean ascetic, +bareheaded, wearing a coarse garment, riding on a she ass, and +unattended! He greeted them with great humility, and when they +conducted him to the temple he made an offering to the divinity and +went straightway to examine the place of the coming festival. + +Thenceforth no one saw Pentuer, but in the temple and the adjoining +courts there was an uncommon activity. Men brought costly furniture, +grain, garments. A number of hundreds of pupils and workmen were freed +from their employments; with these Pentuer shut himself up in the court +and worked at preparations. + +After eight days of hard labor he informed the high priest of Hator +that all things were ready. + +During this time Prince Ramses, who was hidden in his cell, gave +himself up to prayer and fasting. At last on a certain date about three +hours after midday a number of priests, arrayed in two ranks, came and +invited him to the solemnity. + +In the vestibule of the temple the high priest greeted the prince, and +with him burned incense before the great statue of Hator. Then they +turned to a low, narrow corridor, at the end of which a fire was +burning. The air of the corridor was filled with the odor of pitch +which was boiling in a kettle. Near the kettle, through an opening in +the pavement, rose dreadful groans and curses. + +"What does that mean?" inquired Ramses of a priest among those +attending him. + +The priest gave no answer; on the faces as far as could be seen emotion +and terror were evident. At this moment the high priest Mefres seized a +great ladle, took boiling pitch from the kettle, and said in loud +accents, + +"May all perish thus who divulge temple secrets!" + +Next he poured pitch into the opening in the pavement, and from below +came a roar, + +"Ye are killing me. Oh, if ye have in your hearts even a trace of +compassion," groaned a voice, + +"May the worms gnaw thy body," said Mentezufis, as he poured melted +pitch into the opening. + +"Dogs jackals!" groaned the voice. + +"May thy heart be consumed by fire and its ashes be hurled into the +desert," said the next priest, repeating the ceremony. + +"O gods! is it possible to suffer as I do?" was the answer from beneath +the pavement. + +"May thy soul, with the image of its shame and its crime, wander onward +through places where live happy people," said a second priest; and he +poured another ladle of burning pitch into the aperture. + +"Oh, may the earth devour you! mercy! let me breathe!" + +Before the turn came to Ramses the voice underground was silent. + +"So do the gods punish traitors," said the high priest of the temple to +the viceroy. + +The prince halted, and fixed on him eyes full of anger. It seemed to +Ramses that he would burst out with indignation, and leave that +assembly of executioners; but he felt a fear of the gods and advanced +behind others in silence. + +The haughty heir understood now that there was a power before which the +pharaohs incline. He was seized by despair almost; he wished to flee, +to renounce the throne. Meanwhile he held silence and walked on, +surrounded by priests chanting prayers. + +"Now I know," thought he, "where people go who are unpleasant to the +servants of divinity." But this thought did not decrease his horror. + +Leaving the narrow corridor full of smoke, the procession found itself +on an elevation beneath the open sky. Below was an immense court +surrounded on three sides by low buildings instead of a wall. From the +place where the priests halted was a kind of amphitheatre with five +broad platforms by which it was possible to pass along the whole court +or to descend to the bottom. + +In the court no one was present, but certain people were looking out of +buildings. + +The high priest Mefres, as chief dignitary in the assembly, presented +Pentuer to the viceroy. The mild face of the ascetic did not harmonize +with the horrors which had taken place in the corridor; so the prince +wondered. To say something, he said to Pentuer, + +"It seems to me that I have met thee somewhere, pious father?" + +"The past year at the maneuvers near Pi-Bailos. I was there with his +worthiness Herhor." + +The resonant and calm voice of Pentuer arrested the prince. He had +heard that voice on some uncommon occasion. But where and when had he +heard it? + +In every case the priest made an agreeable impression. If he could only +forget the cries of that man whom they had covered with boiling pitch! + +"We may begin," said Mefres. + +Pentuer went to the middle of the amphitheatre and clapped his hands. +From the low buildings a crowd of female dancers issued forth, and +priests came out with music, also with a small statue of the goddess +Hator. The musicians preceded, the dancers followed, performing a +sacred dance; finally the statue moved on surrounded by the smoke of +censers. In this way they went around the court and stopping after +every few steps, implored the divinity for a blessing, and asked evil +spirits to leave the enclosure, where there was to be a solemnity full +of secrets. + +When the procession had returned to the buildings, Pentuer stepped +forward. Dignitaries present to the number of two or three hundred +gathered round him. + +"By the will of his holiness the pharaoh," began Pentuer, "and with +consent of the supreme priestly power, we are to initiate the heir to +the throne, Ramses, into some details of life in Egypt, details known +only to the divinities who govern the country and the temples. I know, +worthy fathers, that each of you would enlighten the young prince +better in these things than I can; ye are full of wisdom, and the +goddess Mut speaks through you. But since the duty has fallen on me, +who in presence of you am but dust and a pupil, permit me to accomplish +it under your worthy inspection and guidance." + +A murmur of satisfaction was heard among the learned priests at this +manner. Pentuer turned to the viceroy. + +"For some months, O servant of the gods, Ramses, as a traveler lost in +the desert seeks a road, so Thou art seeking an answer to the question: +Why has the income of the holy pharaoh diminished, and why is it +decreasing? Thou hast asked the nomarchs, and though they explained +according to their power, Thou wert not satisfied, though the highest +human wisdom belongs to those dignitaries. Thou didst turn to the chief +scribes, but in spite of their efforts these men were like birds in a +net, unable to free themselves without assistance, for the reason of +man, though trained in the school of scribes, is not in a position to +take in the immensity of these questions. At last, wearied by barren +explanations, Thou didst examine the lands of the provinces, their +people, the works of their hands, but didst arrive at nothing. For +there are things of which people are silent as stones, but concerning +which even stones will give answer if light from the gods only falls on +them. + +"When in this manner all these earthly powers and wisdoms disappointed +thee, Thou didst turn to the gods. Barefoot, thy head sprinkled with +ashes, Thou didst come in the guise of a penitent to this great +sanctuary, where by means of suffering and prayer Thou hast purified +thy body and strengthened thy spirit. The gods but especially the +mighty Hator listened to thy prayers, and through my unworthy lips give +an answer, and mayst Thou write it down in thy heart profoundly." + +"Whence does he know," thought the prince, meanwhile, "that I asked the +scribes and nomarchs? Aha! Mefres and Mentezufis told him. For that +matter, they know everything." + +"Listen," continued Pentuer, "and I will discover to thee, with +permission of these dignitaries, what Egypt was four hundred years ago +in the reign of the most glorious and pious nineteenth Theban dynasty, +and what it is at present. + +"When the first pharaoh of that dynasty, Ramen-Pehuti-Ramessu, assumed +power over the country, the income of the treasury in wheat, cattle, +beer, skins, vessels, and various articles rose to a hundred and thirty +thousand talents. If a people had existed who could exchange gold for +all these goods, the pharaoh would have had yearly one hundred and +thirty-three thousand minas of gold. [Mina equals one and a half +kilograms.] And since one warrior can carry on his shoulders the weight +of twenty-six minas, about five thousand warriors would have been +needed to carry that treasure." + +The priests whispered to one another without hiding their wonder. Even +the prince forgot the man tortured to death beneath the pavement. + +"Today," said Pentuer, "the yearly income of his holiness for all +products of his land is worth only ninety-eight thousand talents. For +these it would be possible to obtain as much gold as four thousand +warriors could carry." + +"That the income of the state has decreased greatly, I know," said +Ramses, "but what is the cause of this?" + +"Be patient, O servant of the gods," replied Pentuer. "It is not the +income of his holiness alone that is subject to decrease. During the +nineteenth dynasty Egypt had under arms one hundred and eighty thousand +warriors. If by the action of the gods every soldier of that time had +been turned into a pebble the size of a grape." + +"That cannot be!" said Ramses. + +"The gods can do anything," answered Mefres, the high priest, severely. + +"But better," continued Pentuer, "if each soldier were to place on the +ground one pebble, there would be one hundred and eighty thousand +pebbles; and, look, worthy fathers, these pebbles would occupy so much +space." He pointed to a quadrangle of reddish color to the court. "In +this figure the pebbles deposited by warriors of the time of Ramses I. +would find their places. This figure is nine yards long and about five +wide. This figure is ruddy; it has the color of Egyptian bodies, for in +those days all our warriors were Egyptian exclusively." + +The priests began to whisper a second time. The prince frowned, for +that seemed to him a reprimand, since he loved foreign soldiers. + +"Today," said Pentuer, "we assemble one hundred and twenty thousand +warriors with great difficulty. If each one of those cast his pebble on +the ground, they would form a figure of this sort. Look this way, +worthiness." At the side of the first quadrangle lay a second of the +same width, but considerably shorter; its color was not uniform either, +but was composed of a number of colors. "This figure," said Pentuer, +"is about five yards wide, but is only six yards in length. An immense +number of men is now lacking, our army has lost one-third of its +warriors." + +"Wisdom of men like thee, O prophet, will bring more good to the state +than an army," interrupted the high priest. + +Pentuer bent before him and continued, + +"In this new figure which represents the present army of the pharaoh ye +see, worthy men, besides the ruddy color which designates Egyptians by +blood, three other stripes, black, white, and yellow. They represent +mercenary divisions, Ethiopians, Asiatics, Greeks, and Libyans. There +are thirty thousand of them altogether, but they cost as much as fifty +thousand Egyptians." + +"We must do away with foreign regiments at the earliest," said Me f +res. "They are costly, unsuitable, and teach our people infidelity and +insolence. At present there are many Egyptians who do not fall on their +faces before the priests; more, some of them have gone so far as to +steal from graves and temples." + +"Therefore away with the mercenaries!" said Mefres, passionately. "The +country has received from them nothing save harm, and our neighbors +suspect us of hostile ideas." + +"Away with mercenaries! Dismiss these unruly infidels!" cried the +priests. + +"When in years to come, O Ramses, Thou wilt ascend the throne," added +Mefres, "Thou wilt fulfill this sacred duty to the gods and to Egypt." + +"Yes, fulfill it! free thy people from unbelievers!" cried the priests. + +Ramses bent his head, and was silent. The blood flew to his heart. He +felt that the ground was trembling under him. + +He was to dismiss the best part of the army, he, who would like to have +twice as great an army and four times as many mercenary warriors. + +"They are pitiless with me," thought Ramses. + +"Speak on, O Pentuer, sent down from heaven to us," said Mefres. + +"So then, holy men," continued Pentuer, "we have learned of two +misfortunes, the pharaoh's income has decreased, and his army is +diminished." + +"What need of an army?" grumbled the high priest, shaking his head +contemptuously. + +"And now, with the favor of the gods and your permission, I will +explain why it has happened thus, why the treasury will decrease +further, and troops be still fewer in the future." + +The prince raised his head and looked at the speaker. He thought no +longer now of the man put to death beneath the corridor. + +Pentuer passed a number of steps along the amphitheatre, and after him +the dignitaries. + +"Do ye see at your feet that long, narrow strip of green with a broad +triangular space at the end of it? On both sides of the strip lie +limestone, granite, and, behind these, sandy places. In the middle of +the green flows a stream, which in the triangular space is divided into +a number of branches." + +"That is the Nile! That is Egypt!" cried the priests. + +"But look," interrupted Mefres, with emotion. "I will discover the +river. Do ye see those two blue veins running from the elbow to the +hand? Is not that the Nile and its canals, which begins opposite the +Alabaster mountains and flows to Fayum? And look at the back of my +hand: there are as many veins there as the sacred river has branches +below Memphis. And do not my fingers remind you of the number of +branches through which the Nile sends its waters to the sea?" + +"A great truth!" exclaimed the priests, looking at their hands. + +"Here, I tell you," continued the excited high priest, "that Egypt is +the trace of the arm of Osiris. Here on this land the great god rested +his arm: in Thebes lay his divine elbow, his fingers reached the sea, +and the Nile is his veins. What wonder that we call this country +blessed!" + +"Evidently," said the priest, "Egypt is the express imprint of the arm +of Osiris." + +"Has Osiris seven fingers on his hand," interrupted the prince, "for +the Nile has seven branches falling into the sea?" + +Deep silence followed. + +"Young man," retorted Mefres, with kindly irony, "dost suppose that +Osiris could not have seven fingers if it pleased him?" + +"Of course he could!" said the other priests. + +"Speak on, renowned Pentuer," said Mentezufis. + +"Ye are right, worthy fathers," began Pentuer: "this stream with its +branches is a picture of the Nile; the narrow strip of green bounded by +stones and sand is Upper Egypt, and that triangular space, cut with +veins, is a picture of Lower Egypt, the most extensive and richest part +of the country. + +"Well, in the beginning of the nineteenth dynasty, all Egypt, from the +cataract to the sea, included five hundred thousand measures of land. +On every measure lived sixteen persons: men, women, and children. But +during four hundred succeeding years almost with each generation a +piece of fertile soil was lost to Egypt." + +The speaker made a sign. A number of young priests ran out of the +building and sprinkled sand on various parts of the green area. + +"During each generation," continued the priest, "fertile land +diminished, and the narrow strip of it became much narrower. At present +our country instead of five hundred thousand measures has only four +hundred thousand or during two dynasties Egypt has lost laud which +supported two millions of people." + +In the assembly again rose a murmur of horror. + +"And dost Thou know, O Ramses, servant of the gods, whither those +spaces have vanished where on a time were fields of wheat and barley, +or where flocks and herds pastured? Thou knowest that sands of the +desert have covered them. But has any one told thee why this came to +pass? It came to pass because there was a lack of men who with buckets +and ploughs fight the desert from morning till evening. Finally, dost +Thou know why these toilers of the gods disappeared? Whither did they +go? What swept them out of the country? Foreign wars did it. Our nobles +conquered enemies, our pharaohs immortalized their worthy names as far +away as the Euphrates River, but like beasts of burden our common men +carried food for them, they carried water, they carried other weights, +and died along the road by thousands. + +"To avenge those bones scattered now throughout eastern deserts, the +western sands have swallowed our fields, and it would require immense +toil and many generations to win back that dark Egyptian earth from the +sand grave which covers it." + +"Listen! listen!" cried Mefres, "some god is speaking through the lips +of Pentuer. It is true that our victorious wars are the grave of +Egypt." + +Ramses could not collect his thoughts. It seemed to him that mountains +of sand were falling on his head at that moment. + +"I have said," continued Pentuer, "that great labor would be needed to +dig out Egypt and restore the old-time wealth devoured by warfare. But +have we the power to carry out that project?" + +Again he advanced some steps, and after him the excited listeners. +Since Egypt became Egypt, no one had displayed so searchingly the +disasters of the country, though all men knew that they had happened. + +"During the nineteenth dynasty Egypt had eight millions of inhabitants. +If every man, woman, old man, and child had put down in this place one +bean, the grains would make a figure of this kind." + +He indicated with his hand a court where one by the side of another lay +eight great quadrangles covered with red beans. + +"That figure is sixty yards long, thirty yards wide, and as ye see, +pious fathers, the grains composing it are of the same kind, for the +people of that time were from Egyptian grandfathers and great- +grandfathers. But look now." + +He went farther, and indicated another group of quadrangles of various +colors. + +"Ye see this figure which is thirty yards wide, but only forty-five +yards in length. Why is this? Because there are in it only six +quadrangles, for at present Egypt has not eight, but only six millions +of inhabitants. Consider, besides, that as the former figure was +composed exclusively of red Egyptian beans in the present one are +immense strips of black, yellow, and white beans. For in our army and +among the people there are now very many foreigners: black Ethiopians, +yellow Syrians and Phoenicians, white Greeks and Libyans." + +They interrupted him. The priests who listened began to embrace him; +Mefres was weeping. + +"Never yet has there been such a prophet. One cannot imagine when he +could make such calculations," said the best mathematician in the +temple of Hator. + +"Fathers," said Pentuer, "do not overestimate my services. Long years +ago in our temples the condition of the state was represented in this +manner. I have only disinterred that which later generations had in +some degree forgotten." + +"But the reckoning?" asked the mathematician. + +"The reckonings are continued unbrokenly in all the provinces and +temples," replied Pentuer. "The general amounts are found in the palace +of his holiness." + +"But the figures?" exclaimed the mathematician. + +"Our fields are arranged in just such figures, and the geometers of the +state study them at school." + +"We know not what to admire most in this priest, his wisdom or his +humility," said Mefres. "Since we have such a man, the gods have not +forgotten us." + +At that moment the guard watching on the pylons of the temple summoned +those present to prayer. + +"In the evening I will finish the explanations," said Pentuer; "now I +will say a few words in addition. + +"Ye inquire, worthy fathers, why I use beans for these pictures. I do +so because a grain put in the ground brings a harvest to the husbandmen +yearly; so a man brings tribute every year to the treasury. + +"If in any province two million less beans are sown than in past years, +the following harvest will be notably less, and the earth-tillers will +have a poorer income. In the state also, when two millions of +population are gone, the inflow of taxes must diminish." + +Ramses listened with attention, and walked away in silence. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +WHEN the priests and the heir to the throne returned to the courtyard +in the evening, several hundred torches were gleaming so brightly that +it was as clear there as in the daytime. + +At a sign from Mefres there came out again a procession of musicians, +dancers, and minor priests carrying a statue of the cow-headed Hator; +and when they had driven away evil sprits, Pentuer began to explain +again. + +"Ye see, worthy fathers," said he, "that since the time of the +nineteenth dynasty a hundred thousand measures of land and two million +people have vanished out of Egypt. This explains why the income of the +state has decreased thirty-two thousand talents; that it has decreased +is known to all of us. + +"But this is only the beginning of misfortunes to the state and the +treasury. Ninety-eight thousand talents of income apparently remain to +his holiness. But do ye think that the pharaoh receives all this +income? + +"I will tell you what his worthiness Herhor discovered in the province +of the Hare. + +"During the nineteenth dynasty twenty thousand people dwelt in that +province; they paid three hundred and fifty talents of yearly taxes. To +day there are hardly fifteen thousand, and these, of course, pay the +treasury only two hundred and seventy talents. Meanwhile the pharaoh, +instead of receiving two hundred and seventy talents, receives one +hundred and seventy. + +"'Why is that?' inquired Herhor; and this is what an investigation +discovered: During the nineteenth dynasty there were in the district +about one hundred officials, and these received each one thousand +drachmas yearly salary. Today in that same district, though the people +have decreased, there are more than two hundred officials who receive +two thousand five hundred drachmas yearly. + +"It is unknown to his worthiness Herhor if this is the case in every +district. But this much is certain, that the treasury of the pharaoh, +instead of ninety-eight thousand talents annually, has only seventy- +four thousand." + +"Say, worthy father, fifty thousand," interrupted Ramses. + +"I will explain that too," replied Pentuer. "In every case remember, +prince, that the pharaoh's treasury pays today twenty-four thousand +talents to officials, while it gave only ten thousand during the +nineteenth dynasty." + +Deep silence reigned among the dignitaries, for more than one of them +had a relative in office, well paid moreover. But Pentuer was +unterrified. + +"Now," continued he, "I will show thee, O heir, the manner of life +among officials, and the lot of common people in those old times and in +our day." + +"Will it not take too much time? Besides, every man can see for +himself," murmured the priests, very promptly. + +"I wish to know this," said the prince, with decision. + +The murmur ceased. Pentuer went down along the steps of the +amphitheatre to the court, and after him went the prince, the high +priests, Mefres and the others. + +They halted before a long curtain of mats, forming as it were a +palisade. At a sign from Pentuer some tens of minor priests hastened up +with blazing torches. Another sign, and a portion of the curtain fell. + +From the lips of those present came a shout of admiration. They had +before them a brightly illuminated tableau in which about one hundred +persons were the characters. + +The tableau was divided into three stories; on the lower story stood +earth-tillers, on a higher were officials, and on the highest was the +golden throne of the pharaoh resting on two lions whose heads were the +arms of the throne. + +"It was in this way," said Pentuer, "during the nineteenth dynasty. +Look at the earth-tillers. At their ploughs ye see sometimes oxen, +sometimes asses; their picks, spades, and shovels are bronze, and hence +are lasting. See what stalwart men they are! Today one could find such +only in the guard of his holiness. Their hands and feet are strong, +their breasts full, their faces smiling. All are bathed and anointed +with olive oil. Their wives are occupied in preparing food and clothing +or in washing house utensils; the children are at school or are +playing. + +"The laborer of that time, as ye see, ate wheaten bread, beans, flesh, +fish, and fruit; he drank beer or wine, and see how beautiful were the +plates and pitchers. Look at the caps, aprons, and capes of the men: +all adorned with various-colored needlework. Still more beautifully +embroidered were the skirts of women. And note how carefully they +combed their hair, what brooches, earrings, and bracelets they had. +Those ornaments were made of bronze and colored enamel; even gold was +found among them, though only in the form of wire. + +"Raise now your eyes to officials. They wore mantles, but every laborer +wore just such a dress on holidays. They lived exactly as did laborers, +that is, in sufficiency, but modestly. Their furniture was ornamented +somewhat more than that of laborers, and gold rings were found oftener +in their caskets. They made journeys on asses, or in cars drawn by +oxen." + +Pentuer clapped his hands and on the stage there was movement. The +laborers gave the officials baskets of grapes, bags of barley, peas and +wheat, jugs of wine, beer, milk and honey, game and stuffs, many pieces +white or colored. The officials took these products, kept a portion for +themselves, but the choicest and most costly they put up higher, for +the throne. The platform where stood the symbol of the pharaoh's power +was covered with products which formed as it were a small mountain. + +"Ye see, worthy men," said Pentuer, "that in those times, when earth- +tillers were satisfied and wealthy, the treasury of his holiness could +hardly find place for the gifts of his subjects. But see what is +happening in our day." + +At a new signal a second part of the curtain fell, and another tableau +appeared, similar to the preceding in general outline. + +"Here are our laborers of the present," said Pentuer, and in his voice +indignation was evident. "Their bodies are skin and bones, they look +like sick persons, they are filthy and have forgotten to anoint +themselves with olive oil, but their backs are wounded from beating. + +"Neither oxen nor asses are near them, for what need is there of those +beasts if ploughs are drawn by women and children? Picks and shovels +are wooden, they spoil easily and that increases men's labor. They have +no clothes whatever; only women wear coarse shirts, and not even in a +dream do they look at embroidery, though their grandfathers and +grandmothers wore it." + +"Look now at the food of the earth-tillers. At times barley and dried +fish, lotus seed always, rarely a wheat cake, never flesh, beer, or +wine. + +"Ask them where their utensils and furniture are. They have none, +unless a pitcher for water; nothing could find room in the dens which +they inhabit. + +"Pardon me now for that to which I turn your attention: Over there a +number of children are lying on the ground; that means that they are +dead. It is wonderful how many children of laborers die from toil and +hunger. And those that die are the happiest, for they who survive go +under the club of the overseer, or are sold to the Phoenician as lambs +to the slaughter." + +Emotion stopped his voice; he rested awhile, and then continued amid +the angry silence of the priesthood, + +"And now look at the officials, how animated they are in rouge, how +beautiful their clothes are! Their wives wear gold bracelets and +earrings, and such fine garments that princes might envy them. Among +laborers not an ox or an ass is now visible, but to make up officials +journey on horseback or in litters. They drink only wine, and that of +good quality." + +He clapped his hands, and again there was movement. The laborers gave +the officials bags of wheat, baskets of fruit, wine, game. These +objects the officials as before placed near the throne, but in +quantities considerably smaller. On the pharaoh's platform there was no +longer a mountain of products, but the platform of the officials was +covered. + +"This is the Egypt of our day," continued Pentuer. "Laborers are in +indigence, scribes are wealthy, the treasury is not so full as it once +was. But now." + +He gave a sign, and a thing unexpected took place there before them. + +Certain hands seized grain, fruit, stuffs from the platforms of the +pharaoh and the officials; and when the amount of the goods had +decreased greatly, those same hands began to seize and lead away +laborers, their wives and children. + +The spectators looked with amazement at the peculiar methods of those +mysterious persons. Suddenly some one cried out, + +"Those are Phoenicians! They plunder us in that way." + +"That is it, holy fathers," said Pentuer. "Those are the hands of +Phoenicians concealed in the midst of us; they plunder the pharaoh and +the scribes, and lead away laborers captive when there is nothing to +drag from them." + +"Yes! They are jackals! A curse on Phoenicians! Expel them, the +wretches!" cried the priests. "It is they who inflict the greatest +damage on Egypt." + +Not all, however, shouted in that way. + +When there was silence, Pentuer commanded to take the torches to the +other side of the court, and thither he conducted his hearers. There +were no tableaux there, but a kind of industrial exhibition. + +"Be pleased to look," said he. "During the nineteenth dynasty +foreigners sent us these things: we received perfumes from Punt; gold, +iron weapons, and chariots of war came from Syria. That is all. + +"But Egypt manufactured in those days. Look at these immense pitchers, +how many forms, and what a variety of colors. + +"Or the furniture: that armchair was made of ten thousand pieces of +gold, mother-of-pearl, and woods of various hues. Look at the robes of +that period: what embroidery, what delicacy of material, how many +colors! And the bronze swords, the brooches, bracelets, earrings and +implements of tillage and crafts of various descriptions. All these +were made in this country during the nineteenth dynasty." + +He passed to the next group of objects. + +"But today, look: the pitchers are small and almost without ornament, +the furniture is simple, the stuffs coarse and devoid of variety. Not +one thing made today can we compare as to shape, durability, or beauty +with those of former ages. Why has this happened?" + +He advanced a number of steps again, surrounded by torches. + +"Here is a great number of things," said he, "which the Phoenicians +bring us from various regions. Some tens of kinds of incense, colored +glass, furniture, vessels, woven stuffs, chariots, ornaments, all these +come from Asia and are bought by us. + +"Do ye understand now, worthy fathers, why the Phoenicians tear away +grain, fruit, and cattle from the scribes and the pharaoh? In pay for +those foreign goods which have destroyed our artisans as locusts +destroy vegetation. + +"Among things obtained through Phoenicians for his holiness, the +nomarchs, and the scribes, gold has the first place. + +"This kind of commerce is the most accurate picture of calamities +inflicted on Egypt by Asia. + +"When a man borrows gold to the amount of one talent, he is obliged in +three years to return two talents. But most frequently the Phoenicians, +under pretext of decreasing trouble for the debtor, assure payment in +their own way: that is, debtors for each talent borrowed give them as +tenants for three years two measures of land and thirty-two people. + +"See there, worthy fathers," said he, pointing to a part of the court +which was better lighted. "That square of land one hundred and ten +yards in length and as wide signifies two measures; the men, women, and +children of that crowd mean eight families. All that together: people +and land pass for three years into dreadful captivity. During that time +their owner, the pharaoh or a nomarch, has no profit at all from them; +at the end of that term he receives the land back exhausted, and of the +people, twenty in number at the very highest, the rest have died under +torture!" + +Those present shuddered with horror. + +"I have said that the Phoenician takes two measures of land and thirty- +two people for three years in exchange for one talent. See what a space +of laud and what a crowd of people; look now at my hand. + +"This piece of gold which I grasp here, this lump, less than a hen's +egg in size, is a talent. + +"Can you estimate the complete insignificance of the Phoenicians in +this commerce? This small lump of gold has no real value: it is yellow, +it is heavy, a man cannot eat it, and that is the end of the matter. A +man does not clothe himself with gold and he cannot stop his hunger or +thirst with it. If he had a lump of gold as big as the pyramid, he +would be as poor at the foot of it as a Libyan wandering through the +western desert where there is neither a date nor a drop of water. + +"And see, for a piece of this barren metal a Phoenician takes a piece +of land which suffices to feed and clothe thirty-two people, and +besides that he takes the people. For three years he exercises power +over beings who know how to cultivate land, gather in grain, make flour +and beer, weave garments, build houses, and make furniture. + +"At the same time the pharaoh or the nomarch is deprived for three +years of the services of those people. They pay him no tribute, they +carry no burdens for the army, but they toil to give income to the +greedy Phoenician. + +"Ye know, worthy fathers, that at present there is not a year during +which in this or that province an insurrection does not break out among +laborers exhausted by hunger, borne down by toil, or beaten with +sticks. And some of those men perish, others are sent to the quarries, +while the country is depopulated more and more for this reason only, +that the Phoenician gave a lump of gold to some land-owner! Is it +possible to imagine greater misery? And is Egypt not to lose land and +people yearly under such conditions? Victorious wars undermined Egypt, +but Phoenician gold-dealers are finishing it." + +On the faces of the priests satisfaction was depicted; they were more +willing to hear of the guile of Phoenicians than the excesses of +scribes throughout Egypt. + +Pentuer rested awhile, then he turned to the viceroy. + +"For some months," said he, "Ramses, O servant of the gods, Thou hast +been inquiring why the income of his holiness is diminished. The wisdom +of the gods has shown thee that not only the treasure has decreased but +also the army, and that both those sources of royal power will decrease +still further. And the end will be utter ruin for this country, unless +heaven sends down a ruler who will stop the inundation of misery which +for some hundreds of years is overwhelming Egypt. + +"The treasury of the pharaohs was full when we had more land and +people. We must win back from the desert the fertile lands which it has +swallowed, and remove from the people those burdens which weaken and +kill them." + +The priests were alarmed again, lest Pentuer might mention scribes for +the second time. + +"Thou hast seen, prince, with thy own eyes and before witnesses, that +in the epoch when people were well nourished, stalwart, and satisfied, +the treasury of the pharaoh was full. But when people began to look +wretched, when they were forced to plough with their wives and +children, when lotus seed took the place of wheat and flesh, the +treasury grew needy. If Thou wish therefore to bring the state to that +power which it had before the wars of the nineteenth dynasty, if Thou +desire that the pharaoh, his scribes, and his army should live in +plenty, assure long peace to the land and prosperity to the people. Let +grown persona eat flesh again and dress in embroidered garments, and +let children, instead of groaning and dying under blows, play, or go to +school. + +"Remember, finally, that Egypt bears within its bosom a deadly +serpent." + +Those present listened with fear and curiosity. + +"That serpent which is sucking at the blood of the people, the property +of the nomarchs, and the power of the pharaoh is the Phoenician!" + +"Away with the Phoenicians!" cried the priests. "Blot out all debts to +them. Admit not their ships and merchants." + +Silence was enforced by the high priest Mefres, who with tears in his +eyes turned to Pentuer. + +"I doubt not," said he, "that the holy Hator is speaking through thy +lips to us. Not only because no man could be so wise and all-knowing as +Thou art, but besides I have seen two flames, as horns, above thy +forehead. I thank thee for the great words with which Thou hast +dispelled our ignorance. I bless thee, and I pray the gods when I am +summoned before them to make thee my advocate." + +An unbroken shout from the rest of the assembly supported the blessing +of the highest dignitary. The priests were the better satisfied, since +alarm had hung over them lest Pentuer might refer to the scribes a +second time. But the sage knew how to restrain himself: he indicated +the internal wound of the state, but he did not inflame it, and +therefore his triumph was perfect. + +Prince Ramses did not thank Pentuer, he only dropped his head to his +own bosom. No one doubted, however, that the discourse of the prophet +had shaken the soul of the heir, and that it was a seed from which +prosperity and glory might spring up for Egypt. + +Next morning Pentuer, without taking farewell of any, left the temple +at sunrise and journeyed away in the direction of Memphis. + +For a number of days Prince Ramses held converse with no man, he +meditated; he sat in his cell, or walked up and down the shady +corridors. Work in his soul was progressing. + +In reality Pentuer had declared no new truth; all had been complaining +of the decrease of laud and people in Egypt, of the misery of workmen, +the abuses of scribes, and the extortion of Phoenicians. But the +discourse of the prophet had given them tangible forms, and illustrated +facts very clearly. + +The Phoenicians terrified the prince; he had not estimated till that +time the enormity of the misfortunes brought on people of Egypt by +those merchants. His horror was all the more vivid, since he had rented +out his own subjects to Dagon, and was himself witness of the way in +which the banker collected his dues from them. + +But his entanglement in the business of Phoenicians produced strange +results in Ramses. He did not wish to think of Phoenicians, and +whenever anger flamed up in his mind against those strangers the +feeling of shame was destroyed in him. He was in a certain sense their +confederate. Meanwhile he understood perfectly how serious the decrease +was in land and in people, and on this he placed the main emphasis in +his lonely meditation. + +"If we had," said he to himself, "those two millions of people lost by +Egypt, we might through help from them win back those fertile lands +from the desert, we might even extend those lands. And then in spite of +Phoenicians our laborers would be in a better condition, and there +would be also increase in the income of Egypt. But where can we find +men?" + +Chance gave the answer. + +On a certain evening the prince, while walking through the gardens of +the temple, met a crowd of captives whom Nitager had seized on the +eastern boundary and sent to the goddess Hator. Those people were +perfectly built, they did more work than Egyptians, and they did it +because they were properly nourished, hence even satisfied with their +position. + +When he saw them, his mind was cleared as if by a lightning flash. He +almost lost presence of mind from emotion. The country needs men, many +men, hundreds of thousands, even a million, two millions. And here are +men! The only need was to turn to Asia, seize all whom they might meet +on the road, and send them to Egypt. War must continue till so many +were taken that every earth-tiller from the cataract to the sea might +have his own bondman. + +Thus rose a plan, colossal and simple, thanks to which Egypt would find +population, the earth-tillers aid in their labor, and the treasury of +the pharaoh an endless source of income. + +The prince was enchanted, though next day a new doubt sprang up in him. + +Pentuer had announced with great emphasis, while Herhor had asserted +still earlier, that victorious wars were the source of misfortune for +the country. From this it resulted that to raise Egypt by a new war was +impossible. + +"Pentuer is a great sage, and so is Herhor," thought Ramses. "If they +consider war harmful, if the high priest Mefres and other priests judge +in the same way, then perhaps war is in fact dangerous. It must be +dangerous, if so many holy and wise men insist thus." + +Ramses was deeply disappointed. He had thought out a simple method of +elevating Egypt, but the priests maintained that that was the true way +to ruin it. The priests are most holy, and they are wise men. + +But something happened which cooled the faith of the prince somewhat in +the truthful speech of the priests, or rather it roused his previous +distrust of them. + +Once he was going with a certain leech to the library. The way lay +through a dark and narrow corridor from which the heir drew back with +repulsion. + +"I will not go by this way," said he. + +"Why not?" inquired the leech, with astonishment. + +"Dost Thou not remember, holy father, that at the end of that corridor +is an opening in which a certain traitor was tortured to death without +pity." + +"Aha!" answered the leech. "There is an opening there into which we +poured boiling pitch at command of Pentuer." + +"And ye killed a man." + +The leech smiled. He was a kindly, gladsome person. So, observing the +indignation of the prince, he said after some meditation, + +"It is not permitted to betray temple secrets. Of course, before each +of the greater solemnities, we bring this to the mind of younger +candidates." + +His tone was so peculiar that Ramses required explanation. + +"I cannot betray secrets," replied the leech; "but promise, worthiness, +to hide a story in thy breast, and I will tell thee one." + +Ramses promised. The leech gave this narrative: + +"A certain Egyptian priest, while visiting temples in the unbelieving +land of Aram, met at one of them a man who seemed to him in good flesh +and satisfied, though he wore wretched garments. 'Explain to me,' said +the priest to the gladsome poor man, 'how it is that, though Thou art +indigent, thy body looks as though Thou wert chief of this temple.' + +"That man looked around then to see if any one were listening, and +answered, + +"'I am fat, because my voice is very woeful; hence I am a martyr at +this temple. When people come to service here, I crawl into an opening +and groan with all the strength that is in my body; for this they give +me food abundantly throughout the year, and a large jug of beer every +day when I am tortured.' + +"Thus do they manage in the unbelieving land of Aram," said the leech, +as he raised a finger to his lips, and added, "Remember, prince, what +Thou hast promised, and of boiling pitch in this place think whatever +suits thee." + +This story roused the prince anew; he felt relief because a man had not +been killed in the temple, but all his earlier distrust of priests +sprang into life again. + +That they deluded simple people, he knew. He remembered the priests' +procession with the sacred bull Apis, while he was in their school. The +people were convinced that Apis led the priests, while every student +saw that the divine beast went in whatever direction priests drove him. + +Who could tell, therefore, that Pentuer's discourse was not intended +for him, as that procession of Apis for the people? For that matter, it +was easy to put on the ground beans of red or other colors, and also it +was not difficult to arrange tableaux. How much more splendid were +those exhibitions which he had seen, even the struggles of Set with +Osiris, in which a number of hundreds of persons assisted. But in that +case, too, did not the priests deceive people? That was given as a +battle of the gods: meanwhile it was carried on by men in disguise. In +it Osiris perished, but the priest who represented Osiris came out as +sound as a rhinoceros. What wonders did they not exhibit there! Water +rose; there were peals of thunder; the earth trembled and vomited fire. +And that was all deception. Why should the exhibition made by Pentuer +be true? Besides, the prince had discovered strong indications that +they wished to deceive him. The man groaning underground and covered, +as it were, with boiling pitch by the priests was deception. But let +that pass. The prince had convinced himself frequently that Herhor did +not want war; Mefres also did not want it. Pentuer was the assistant of +one of them, and the favorite of the other. + +Such a struggle was taking place in the prince that it seemed to him at +one time that he understood everything, at another that he was +surrounded by darkness; now he was full of hope, and now he doubted +everything. From hour to hour, from day to day, his soul rose and fell +like the waters of the Nile in the course of its yearly changes. + +Gradually, however, the prince recovered his balance, and when the time +came to leave the temple, he had formulated certain views of the +problem. + +First of all, he understood clearly that Egypt needed more land and +more people. Second, he believed that the simplest way to find men was +a war with Asia. But Pentuer had proved to him that war could only +heighten the disaster. A new question rose then, did Pentuer speak the +truth, or was he lying? If he spoke the truth, he plunged the prince in +despair, for Ramses saw no means to raise the state except war. Unless +war were made, Egypt would lose population yearly, and the treasury of +the pharaoh would increase its debts till the whole process would end +in some ghastly overthrow, perhaps even in the reign of the coming +pharaoh. + +"But if Pentuer lied? Why should he lie? Evidently because Herhor, +Mefres, and the whole priestly corporation had persuaded him to act +thus. + +"But why did priests oppose war? What interests had they in opposing? +Every war brought immense profit to them and the pharaoh. + +"But would the priests deceive him in an affair so far reaching? It is +true that they deceived very often, but in small matters, not when it +was a question of the future and the existence of the state. It was not +possible to assert that they deceived always. Besides, they were the +servants of the gods, and the guardians of great secrets." Spirits +resided in their temples; of this Ramses convinced himself on the first +night after he had come to that temple of Hator. + +"But if the gods did not permit the uninitiated to approach their +altars, if they watched so carefully over temples, why did they not +watch over Egypt, which is the greatest of all temples?" + +When some days later Ramses, after a solemn religious service, left the +temple of Hator amid the blessings of the priests, two questions were +agitating him, + +Could war with Asia really harm Egypt? Could the priests in this +question be deceiving him, the heir to the throne? + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE prince journeyed on horseback in company with a number of officers +to Pi-Bast, the famous capital of the province of Habu. + +The month Paoni had passed, Epiphi was beginning (April and May). The +sun stood high, heralding the most violent season of heat for Egypt. A +mighty wind from the desert had blown in repeatedly; men and beasts +fell because of heat, and on fields and trees a gray dust had begun to +settle under which vegetation was dying. + +Roses had been harvested and turned into oil; wheat had been gathered +as well as the second crop of clover. The sweeps and buckets moved with +double energy, irrigating the earth with dirty water to fit it for new +seed. Men had begun to gather grapes and figs. The Nile had fallen, +water in canals was low and of evil odor. Above the whole country a +fine dust was borne along in a deluge of burning sun-rays. + +In spite of this Prince Ramses rode on and felt gladsome. The life of a +penitent in the temple had grown irksome; he yearned for feasts, +uproar, and women. + +Meanwhile the country, intersected with a net of canals, though flat +and monotonous, was pleasing. In the province of Habu lived people of +another origin: not the old Egyptians, but descendants of the valiant +Hyksos, who on a time had conquered Egypt and governed that laud for a +number of generations. + +The old Egyptians despised this remnant of a conquering race expelled +from power afterward, but Ramses looked on them with satisfaction. They +were large and strong, their bearing was proud, and there was manly +energy in their faces. They did not fall prostrate before the prince +and his officers, like Egyptians, but looked at him without dislike, +but also without timidity. Neither were their shoulders covered with +scars from beating; the scribes respected them because they knew that +if a Hyksos were beaten he would return the blows, and might kill the +man who gave them. Moreover the Hyksos enjoyed the pharaoh's favor, for +their people furnished the choicest warriors. + +As the retinue of the heir approached Pi-Bast, whose temples and +palaces were visible through the haze of dust, as through a veil of +muslin, the neighborhood grew more active. Along the broad highway and +the canals men were taking to market cattle, wheat, fruit, wine, +flowers, bread, and a multitude of other articles of daily consumption. +The torrent of people and goods moving toward the city was as noisy and +dense as that outside Memphis in the holiday season. Around Pi-Bast +reigned throughout the whole year the uproar of a market-day, which +ceased only in the night time. + +The cause of this was simple. In that city stood the renowned and +ancient temple of Astarte. This temple was revered throughout Western +Asia and attracted throngs of pilgrims. It could be said without +exaggeration that outside Pi-Bast thirty thousand strangers camped +daily, Arabs, Phoenicians, Jews, Philistines, Hittites, Assyrians, and +others. The Egyptian government bore itself kindly toward these +pilgrims, who brought it a considerable income; the priests endured +them, and the people of neighboring provinces carried on an active +trade with them. + +For the space of an hour's journey from Pi-Bast the mud huts and tents +of strangers covered the open country. As one neared the city, those +huts increased in number and transient inhabitants swarmed more and +more densely around them. Some were preparing food under the open sky, +others were purchasing provisions which came in continually, still +others were going in procession to the temple. Here and there were +large crowds before places of amusement, where beast-tamers, serpent- +charmers, athletes, female dancers, and jugglers exhibited their +adroitness. + +Above all this multitude of people were heat and uproar. + +Before the gate of the city Ramses was greeted by his court and by the +nomarch of Habu surrounded by his officials. But the greeting, despite +cordiality, was so cold that the astonished viceroy, whispered to +Tutmosis, + +"What does this mean, that he looks on me as if I had come to measure +out punishment?" + +"Because Thou hast the face of a man who has been associating with +divinity." + +He spoke truth. Whether because of ascetic life, or the society of +priests, or of long meditation, the prince had changed greatly. He had +grown thin, his complexion had darkened, and in his face and bearing +much dignity was evident. In the course of weeks he had grown some +years older. + +On one of the main streets of the city there was such a dense throng of +people that the police had to open a way for the heir and his retinue. +But these people did not greet the prince; they had merely gathered +around a small palace as if waiting for some person. + +"What is this?" asked Ramses of the nomarch, for this indifference of +the throng touched the prince disagreeably. + +"Here dwells Hiram," answered the nomarch, "a prince of Tyre, a man of +great charity. Every day he distributes bountiful alms, therefore poor +people rush to him." + +Ramses turned on his horse, looked, and said, + +"I see there laborers of the pharaoh. So they too go for alms to the +rich Phoenician?" + +The nomarch was silent. Happily they approached the official palace, +and the prince forgot Hiram. + +Feasts in honor of the viceroy continued a number of days in +succession, but they did not please him. Gladness was lacking and +disagreeable incidents happened. + +One day a favorite of the prince was dancing before him; she burst into +tears. Ramses seized her in his arms, and asked what her trouble was. + +At first she hesitated, but emboldened by the kindness of her lord, she +answered, shedding tears in still greater abundance, + +"We are thy women, O ruler, we come from great families, and respect is +due to us." + +"Thou speakest truth," said Ramses. + +"Meanwhile thy treasurer stints us in allowance, and would deprive us +of serving-maids, without whom we cannot bathe or dress our hair." + +Ramses summoned his treasurer, and commanded sternly that his women +should have all that belonged to their birth and position. The +treasurer fell on his face before the prince, and promised to carry out +all commands of the women. A couple of days later, a rebellion broke +out among the court slaves, who complained that their wine had been +taken. The heir ordered to give them wine. But during a review two days +later a deputation from the regiments came to the viceroy with a most +humble complaint, that their rations of meat and bread were diminished. +The prince commanded that those petitioners be satisfied. + +Still, two days later a great uproar at the palace roused him in the +morning. Ramses inquired what the cause was; the officer on duty +explained that the pharaoh's laborers had assembled and asked for +arrears due them. + +They summoned the treasurer, whom the prince attacked in great anger. + +"What is going on here?" cried he. "Since my return there is no day +without complaints of injustice. If anything like this is repeated, I +shall order an inquiry and put an end to thy management." + +The trembling treasurer fell on his face again, and groaned, + +"Slay me, lord! But what am I to do when thy treasury, thy granaries, +and thy storehouses are empty?" + +In spite of his anger the prince thought that the treasurer might be +innocent. He commanded him to withdraw, and then summoned Tutmosis. + +"Listen to me," said Ramses to the favorite, "things are done here +which I do not understand, and to which I am not accustomed. My women, +the slaves, the army, the pharaoh's workmen do not receive what is due +them, or their supplies are curtailed. When I asked the treasurer what +this means, he answered that the treasury and the storehouses are +empty." + +"He told truth." + +"How is that?" burst out the prince. "For my journey his holiness +assigned two hundred talents in gold and goods. Can it be that all this +is expended?" + +"Yes," answered Tutmosis. + +"How is that?" cried the viceroy. "Did not the nomarchs entertain us +all the way?" + +"Yes, but we paid them for doing so." + +"Then they are rogues and robbers if they receive us as guests and then +plunder us." + +"Be not angry, and I will explain." + +"Sit down." + +Tutmosis took a seat. + +"Dost Thou know," asked he, "that for a month past I have eaten food +from thy kitchen, drunk wine from thy pitchers, and dressed from thy +wardrobe?" + +"Thou hast a right to that privilege." + +"But I have never acted thus hitherto. I have lived, dressed, and +amused myself at my own expense, so as not to burden thy treasury. It +is true that Thou hast paid my debts more than once, but that was only +a part of my outlay." + +"Never mind the debts!" + +"In a similar condition," continued Tutmosis, "are some tens of noble +youths of thy court. They maintained themselves so as to uphold the +splendor of the government; but now, like myself, they live at thy +expense, for they have nothing to pay with." + +"Sometime I will reward them." + +"Now," continued Tutmosis, "we take from thy treasury, for want is +oppressing us; the nomarchs do the same. If they had means they would +give feasts and receptions at their own cost; but as they have not the +means they receive recompense. Wilt Thou call them rogues now?" + +"I condemned them too harshly. Anger, like smoke, covered my eyes," +said Ramses. "I am ashamed of my words; none the less I wish that +neither courtiers, soldiers, nor working men should suffer injustice. +But since my means are exhausted it will be necessary to borrow. Would +a hundred talents suffice? What thinkest thou?" + +"I think that no one would lend us a hundred talents," whispered +Tutmosis. + +The viceroy looked at him haughtily. + +"Is that a fit answer to the son of a pharaoh?" asked he. + +"Dismiss me from thy presence," said Tutmosis, sadly, "but I have told +the truth. At present no one will make us a loan, for there is no one +to do so." + +"What is Dagon for?" wondered the prince. "He is not near my court; is +he dead?" + +"Dagon is in Pi-Bast, but he spends whole days with other Phoenician +merchants in the temple of Astarte in prayer and penance." + +"Why such devotion? Is it because that I was in a temple that my banker +thinks he too should take counsel of the gods?" + +Tutmosis turned on the stool. + +"The Phoenicians," said he, "are alarmed; they are even crushed by the +news." + +"About what?" + +"Some one has spread the report, worthiness, that when Thou shalt mount +the throne all Phoenicians will be expelled and their property +confiscated." + +"Well, they have time enough before that," laughed Ramses. + +Tutmosis hesitated further. "They say," continued he, in a lowered +voice, "that in recent days the health of his holiness may he live +through eternity! has failed notably." + +"That is untrue!" interrupted the prince, in alarm. "I should know of +it." + +"But the priests are performing religious services in secret for the +return of health to the pharaoh. I know this to a certainty.'"' + +The prince was astonished. + +"How! my father seriously ill, the priests are praying for him, but +tell me nothing?" + +"They say that the illness of his holiness may last a year." + +"Oh, Thou hearest fables and art disturbing me. Better tell me about +the Phoenicians." + +"I have heard," said Tutmosis, "only what every one has heard, that +while in the temple Thou wert convinced of the harm done by +Phoenicians, and didst bind thyself to expel them." + +"In the temple?" repeated the heir. "But who knows what that is of +which I convinced myself in the temple, and what I decided to do?" + +Tutmosis shrugged his shoulders, and was silent. + +"Was there treason, too, in the temple?" thought the prince. "Summon +Dagon in every case," said he, aloud. "I must know the source of these +lies, and by the gods, I will end them." + +"Thou wilt do well, for all Egypt is frightened. Even today there is no +one to lend money, and if those reports continue all commerce will +cease. Our aristocracy have fallen into trouble from which none see the +issue, and even thy court is in want. A month hence the same thing may +happen in the palace of his holiness." + +"Silence!" interrupted the prince, "and call Dagon this moment." + +Tutmosis ran out, but the banker appeared no earlier than evening. +Around a white mantle he wore a black belt. + +"Hast Thou gone mad?" cried the heir, at sight of this. "I will drive +off thy sadness immediately. I need a hundred talents at once. Go, and +show thyself not till Thou bring them." + +The banker covered his face and wept. + +"What does this mean?" asked the prince, quickly. + +"Lord," exclaimed Dagon, as he fell on his knees, "seize all my +property, sell me and my family. Take everything, even our lives but a +hundred talents where could I find wealth like that? Neither in Egypt +nor Phoenicia," continued he, sobbing. + +"Set has seized thee, O Dagon," laughed the heir. "Couldst Thou believe +that I thought of expelling thy Phoenicians?" + +The banker fell at the prince's feet a second time. + +"I know nothing I am a common merchant, and thy slave as many days as +there are between the new and the full moon would suffice to make dust +of me and spittle of my property." + +"But explain what this means," said the prince, again impatient. + +"I cannot explain anything, and even were I able I have a great seal on +my lips. I do nothing now but pray and lament." + +"Do the Phoenicians pray also?" thought the prince. + +"Unable to render any service," continued Dagon, "I will give good +counsel at least. There is here in Pi-Bast a renowned Syrian, Prince +Hiram, an old man, wise and tremendously wealthy. Summon him, Erpatr, +ask of him a hundred talents; perhaps he will be able to gratify thee." + +Since Ramses could get no explanations from the banker, he dismissed +him, and promised to send an embassy to Hiram. + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +NEXT day Tutmosis, with a great suite of officers and attendants, paid +a visit to the Phoenician prince, and invited him to the viceroy. + +In the afternoon Hiram appeared before the palace in a simple litter +borne by eight poor Egyptians to whom he gave alms. He was surrounded +by the most notable Phoenician merchants, and that same throng of +people who stood before his house daily. + +Ramses greeted with a certain astonishment the old man out of whose +eyes wisdom was gazing and in whose whole bearing there was dignity. He +bowed gravely before the viceroy, and raising his hands above his head, +pronounced a short blessing. Those present were deeply affected. + +When the viceroy indicated an armchair and commanded his courtiers to +withdraw, Hiram said, + +"Yesterday thy servant Dagon informed me that the prince needs a +hundred talents. I sent out my couriers at once to Sabne-Chetam, +Sethroe, Pi-Uto, and other cities where there are Phoenician ships, +asking them to land all their goods. I think that in a day or two Thou +wilt receive this small sum." + +"Small!" interrupted Ramses, with a smile. "Thou art happy if Thou call +a hundred talents a small sum." + +Hiram nodded. + +"Thy grandfather, worthiness," said he, after a while, "the eternally +living Ramses-sa-Ptah, honored me with his friendship; I know also his +holiness, thy father may he live through eternity! and I will even try +to lay before him my homage, if I be permitted." + +"Whence could a doubt arise?" interrupted the prince. + +"There are persons," replied the guest, "who admit some to the face of +the pharaoh and refuse others but never mind them. Thou art not to +blame for this; hence I venture to lay before thee one question, as an +old friend of thy father and his father." + +"I am listening." + +"What means it," asked Hiram, slowly, "that the heir to the throne and +a viceroy must borrow a hundred talents when more than a hundred +thousand are due Egypt?" + +"Whence?" cried Ramses. + +"From the tribute of Asiatic peoples. Phoenicia owes five thousand; +well, Phoenicia will pay, I guarantee that, unless some events happen. +But, besides, Israel owes three thousand, the Philistines and the +Moabites each two thousand, the Hittites thirty thousand. Finally, I do +not remember details, but I know that the total reaches a hundred and +three or a hundred and five thousand talents." + +Ramses gnawed his lips, but on his vivacious countenance helpless anger +was evident. He dropped his eyes and was silent. + +"It is true," said Hiram, on a sudden, and looking sharply at the +viceroy. "Poor Phoenicia but also Egypt." + +"What dost Thou say?" asked the prince, frowning. "I understand not thy +questions." + +"Prince, Thou knowest what it is of which I speak, since Thou dost not +answer my question," replied Hiram; and he rose as if to withdraw. +"Still, I withdraw not my promise. Thou wilt receive a hundred +talents." + +He made a low bow, but the viceroy forced him to sit down again. + +"Thou art hiding something," said Ramses, in a voice in which offence +was evident. "I would hear thee explain what danger threatens Egypt or +Phoenicia." + +"Hast Thou not heard?" asked Hiram, with hesitation. + +"I know nothing. I have passed more than a month in the temple." + +"That is just the place in which to learn everything." + +"Tell me, worthiness," said the viceroy, striking the table with his +fist. "I am not pleased when men are amused at my expense." + +"Give a great promise not to betray me to any one and I will tell, +though I cannot believe that they have not informed the heir of this." + +"Dost Thou not trust me?" asked the astonished prince. + +"In this affair I should require a promise from the pharaoh himself," +answered Hiram, with decision. + +"If I swear on my sword, and the standards of my troops, that I will +tell no man." + +"Enough," said Hiram. + +"I am listening." + +"Does the prince know what is happening at this moment in Phoenicia?" + +"I know nothing of that, even," interrupted the irritated viceroy. + +"Our ships," whispered Hiram, "are coming home from all parts of the +earth to convey at the first signal our people and treasures to some +place beyond the sea to the west." + +"Why?" asked the astounded viceroy. + +"Because Assyria is to take us under her dominion." + +"Thou hast gone mad, worthy man!" exclaimed Ramses. "Assyria to take +Phoenicia! But we? Egypt what would we say to that?" + +"Egypt has consented already." + +Blood rushed to the prince's head. + +"The heat has disturbed thy mind, aged man," said he, in a calm voice. +"Thou hast forgotten, even, that such an affair could not take place +without the pharaoh's permission and mine." + +"That will follow. Meanwhile the priests have concluded a treaty." + +"With whom? What priests?" + +"With Beroes, the high priest of Chaldea, at commission of King Assar," +said Hiram. "And who from your side? I will not state to a certainty. +But it seems to me that his worthiness Herhor, his worthiness Mefres, +and the holy prophet Pentuer." + +The prince became pale. + +"Consider, Phoenician," said he, "that Thou art accusing of treason the +highest dignitaries of Egypt." + +"Thou art mistaken, prince, this is no treason: the high priest of +Egypt and the minister of his holiness have the right to make treaties +with neighboring states. Besides, how dost Thou know, worthiness, that +all this is not done with consent of the pharaoh?" + +Ramses was obliged to confess in his soul that such a treaty would not +be treason, but disregard toward him, the erpatr. + +So then the priests treated him in this way, him who might be the +pharaoh a year hence? That is why Pentuer criticized war, and Mefres +supported him. + +"When could that have happened, and where?" asked the prince. + +"Very likely they concluded the treaty at night in the temple of Set at +Memphis," answered Hiram. "And when? I know not exactly, but it seems +to me that it took place when Thou wert setting out from Memphis." + +"The wretches!" thought the viceroy. "That is how they respect my +position! Some kind god made me doubt in the temple of Hator." + +After a time of internal conflict he added, + +"Impossible! I shall not believe till proof be given." + +"Proof there will be," replied Hiram. "One of these days a great lord +will come to Pi-Bast from Assyria, Sargon, the friend of King Assar. He +will come under pretext of a pilgrimage to the temple of Astaroth, he +will bring gifts to thee and to his holiness; then he will make a +treaty. Ye will in fact put seals to that which the priests have +determined to the ruin of Phoenicia, and perhaps to your own great +misfortune." + +"Never! What return could Assyria give Egypt?" + +"That speech is worthy of a pharaoh. What return would Egypt get? Every +treaty is good for a state if only something be gained through it. I am +astonished specially by this," continued Hiram, "that Egypt should +conclude a bad transaction: besides Phoenicia, Assyria will take almost +all Asia, and to you will be left, in the form of a favor, the +Israelites, the Philistines, and the peninsula of Sinai. In that case +the tributes belonging to Egypt will be lost, and the pharaoh will +never receive those hundred and five thousand talents." + +The viceroy shook his head. + +"Thou dost not know Egyptian priests," said he; "not one of them would +accept such a treaty." + +"Why not? The Phoenician proverb says: 'Better barley in the granary +than gold in the desert.' Should Egypt feel very weak she might prefer +Sinai and Palestine to a war with Assyria. But this is what sets me to +thinking: Not Egypt, but Assyria, is easy to conquer. Assyria has a +quarrel on the northwest; Assyria has few troops, and those of poor +quality. Were Egypt to attack she would destroy Assyria, seize immense +treasures in Babylon and Nineveh, and establish her authority in Asia +at once and securely." + +"Such a treaty cannot exist, as Thou seest," interrupted Ramses. + +"In one case alone could I understand such a treaty," continued Hiram. +"If 'tis the plan of the priests to set aside kingly power in Egypt; +and toward this, O prince, they have been striving since the days of +thy grandfather." + +"Thou art speaking aside from the question," said Ramses, but he felt +alarm in his heart. + +"Perhaps I am mistaken," answered Hiram, looking into his eyes quickly. +"But hear me out, worthiness." + +He moved up his armchair to the prince, and said in a lowered voice, + +"If the pharaoh should make war on Assyria, he would have a great army +attached to his person; a hundred thousand talents of tribute in +arrears, about two hundred thousand talents from Nineveh and Babylon, +finally about a hundred thousand talents yearly from conquered +countries. Such immense wealth would enable him to redeem the property +mortgaged to the priests, and put an end at once and forever to their +meddling." + +The prince's eyes glittered, and Hiram continued, + +"Today the army depends on Herhor, and therefore on the priests; remove +the foreign regiments, and the pharaoh, in case of war, could not +depend on his warriors. + +"Besides, the royal treasury is empty, and the greater part of the +pharaoh's property belongs to the temples. He must contract new debts +yearly even to maintain his household; and since there will be no +Phoenicians among you, ye must borrow of the temples. In this way, when +ten years have passed, his holiness may he live through eternity! will +lose what is left of his property, and then what?" + +On the forehead of Ramses perspiration came out in drops. + +"Thou seest then, worthy lord," continued Hiram, "the priests might and +even would be forced in one case to accept the most disgraceful treaty +with Assyria: if they are working to lower and destroy the power of the +pharaoh well, there may be another case: if Egypt were so weak as to +need peace at any price." + +The prince sprang up. + +"Silence!" cried he. "I should prefer treason on the part of my most +faithful servants, to such weakness in the country. Egypt yield to +Assyria why, a year later Egypt herself would fall under the yoke of +Assyria, for by subscribing to such infamy she would confess her own +helplessness." + +He walked up and down the room, with indignation, while Hiram looked at +him with compassion or with sympathy. + +All at once Ramses halted before the Phoenician, + +"This is false! Some adroit villain has deceived thee, O Hiram, with +the semblance of truth, and Thou hast believed him. If such a treaty +existed, they would have kept it in the closest secrecy. In the present +case one of the four priests whom Thou hast mentioned is a traitor, not +only to his own sovereign, but to his co-conspirators." + +"There might have been some fifth man who overheard them," interrupted +Hiram. + +"And who sold the secret to thee?" + +"It is a wonder to me," said Hiram, "that the prince has not discovered +the power of gold." + +"But stop, worthiness, our priests have more gold than thou, though +Thou art wealthy beyond the wealthy!" + +"Still I am not angry when a drachma comes to me. Why should others +refuse a talent?" + +"They would because they are servants of the gods," said the prince, +passionately; "they would fear divine punishment." + +The Phoenician laughed. + +"I have seen," said he, "many temples of various nations, and in those +temples great and small statues, of wood, stone, and gold even. But +gods I have never met." + +"Blasphemer!" exclaimed Ramses. "I have seen a divinity, I have felt +its hand on my person, I have heard its voice." + +"In what place?" + +"In the temple of Hator, in its hall of entrance, and in my cell." + +"In the daytime?" + +"In the night," replied the prince; and he stopped. + +"At night the prince heard speeches of the gods, and felt their hands," +replied the Phoenician, emphasizing word after word. "At night it is +possible to see many things. What happened?" + +"In the temple I was seized by the head, by the shoulders, by the legs; +and I swear + +"Phst!" interrupted Hiram, with a smile. "It is not proper to swear in +vain." + +He looked fixedly at Ramses with his quick and wise eyes, and seeing +that doubt was rising in the young man, he continued, + +"I will tell thee something, lord. Thou art inexperienced, though +surrounded by a net of intrigues, but I have been the friend of thy +grandfather and thy father. Now I will render thee a service: Come in +the night to the temple of Astaroth, but bind thyself to keep the +secret. Come alone, and Thou wilt be convinced as to who the gods are +who speak in the temples and touch us." + +"I will come," said Ramses, after some meditation. + +"Forewarn me, prince, on the morning of the day, and I will give thee +the evening password; Thou wilt be admitted. Only betray neither me nor +thyself," said the Phoenician, with a kindly smile. "Men never pardon +betrayal of their secrets, though gods pardon sometimes." He bowed, +raised his eyes and hands, while he whispered a blessing. + +"Deceivers!" cried the prince. "Thou prayest to gods, and dost not +believe in them." + +Hiram finished the blessing, and said, + +"It is true that I have no belief in Egyptian or Assyrian, or even in +Phoenician gods, but I believe in One who dwells not in temples and +whose name is unknown to us." + +"Our priests believe also in One," said Ramses. + +"So do the Chaldeans, but they and your priests have conspired against +us. There is no truth in this world, prince." + +After Hiram's departure the heir shut himself up in the most remote +chamber under pretext of reading sacred papyruses. + +Almost in the twinkle of an eye the information received recently +arranged itself in the fiery imagination of Ramses, and he formed a +plan. First of all, he understood that a secret battle for life and +death was raging between the priests and the Phoenicians. About what? +Naturally about wealth and influence. Hiram said truly, that should the +Phoenicians be expelled from Egypt, all the estates of the pharaoh, and +even of the nomarchs and the entire aristocracy, would pass into +possession of the temples. + +Ramses had never liked the priests, and he had known and seen for a +long time that the greater part of Egypt belonged to them, that their +cities were the richest, their fields the best tilled, their people +satisfied. He understood too that one-half the treasures which belonged +to the temples would suffice to rescue the pharaoh from ceaseless +troubles and give back power to him. + +The prince knew this, and more than once he had said so with +bitterness. But when through the influence of Herhor he became viceroy +and received the corps in Memphis, he grew reconciled with the priests +and stifled his previous dislike of them. + +All that dislike had revived again. + +Not only had the priests not told him of their negotiations with +Assyria, they had not even forewarned him of the embassy of Sargon. +This question might indeed be the great secret of the state and the +temples. But why did they conceal the amount of tributes from various +Asiatic nations, unpaid thus far? One hundred thousand talents why, +that was a sum which might restore immediately the financial status of +the pharaoh! Why had they concealed from him that which even a prince +of Tyre knew, a man who was of the council in that city .' + +What a shame for him, the heir to the throne, and the viceroy, that his +eyes were first opened by foreigners! But there was something worse +still: Pentuer and Mef res had proved to him in every way that Egypt +must avoid war. In the temple of Hator that emphasis had seemed to him +suspicious, since a war might obtain for the state thousands of legions +of slaves, and raise the general prosperity of the country. Today this +seemed the more necessary since Egypt ought to receive unpaid sums and +gain still more tribute. + +The prince rested his arms on the table and calculated, + +"We," thought he, "should receive a hundred thousand talents. Hiram +calculates that the plunder of Nineveh and Babylon would give about two +hundred thousand; together, three hundred thousand. With such a sum we +might cover the cost of the mightiest war, and there would remain +besides several hundred thousand as profit, and captives and a hundred +thousand yearly tribute from newly conquered regions. After that," +concluded the prince, "we could reckon with the priesthood!" + +Ramses was excited. Still reflection came to him, + +"But if Egypt was unable to wage a victorious war against Assyria?" His +blood boiled at this question. "How Egypt? Why should Egypt not trample +Assyria, when he appeared at the head of its armies, he a descendant of +Ramses the Great, who had hurled himself single-handed on the Hittite +war chariots and scattered them." + +The prince could understand everything save this, that man might +conquer him and that he could not snatch victory from the greatest +enemy. He felt in himself endless daring, and he would have been +astounded if any enemy whatever had not fled at sight of his steeds in +full onrush. Did not the gods themselves stand on the war-chariot of +the pharaoh to defend his shield and smite with heavenly bolts his +enemies? + +"But what did this Hiram say to me about gods?" thought the prince. +"And what will he show me in the temple of Astaroth? We shall see." + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE old man kept his promise. Every day to the prince's palace in Pi- +Bast came crowds of slaves and long rows of asses bearing wheat, +barley, dried meat, woven stuffs, and wine. Phoenician merchants +brought gold and precious stones under inspection of Hiram's +assistants. + +In this manner the heir received in the course of five days the hundred +talents promised. Hiram accounted a lower per cent to himself, one +talent for four, in a year. He asked no pledge, but was satisfied with +the receipt of the prince, certified before a tribunal. + +The needs of the court were satisfied bountifully. Three favorites of +the viceroy received new robes, a number of special perfumes, and +female slaves of various colors. The servants had abundance of food and +wine, the pharaoh's laborers received arrears of pay, unusual rations +were issued to the army. + +The court was delighted, the more since Tutmosis and other noble +youths, at the command of Hiram, received rather large loans, while the +nomarch of Habu and his higher officials received costly presents. + +So feast followed feast and amusement amusement, though the heat +increased always. Seeing this general delight, the viceroy was +satisfied. He was troubled, however, by the bearing of Mefres and other +priests. Ramses thought that those dignitaries would reproach him for +having become so indebted to Hiram in spite of those lessons which he +had received in the temple. Meanwhile the holy fathers were silent and +did not even show themselves. + +"What does this mean?" asked the prince one day of Tutmosis; "the +priests do not reproach us? We have never indulged in such excesses +before. Music is sounding from morning till evening; we drink, +beginning with sunrise, and we fall asleep with women in our arms or +pitchers at our heads." + +"Why should they reproach us?" answered the indignant Tutmosis. "Are we +not sojourning in the city of Astarte, [Astaroth] for whom amusement is +the most pleasing service, and love the most coveted sacrifice? +Moreover the priests understand that after such privations and fasts +rest is due thee." + +"Have they said anything?" asked the prince, with disquiet. + +"Yes, more than once. Only yesterday the holy Mefres smiled, and said +that amusement attracted a young man like thee more than religion or +the labor of ruling a state." + +Ramses fell to thinking, + +"So the priests looked on him as a frivolous stripling, though he, +thanks to Sarah, would become a father today or to-morrow. But they +would have a surprise when he spoke to them in his own manner." + +In truth the prince reproached himself somewhat. From the time that he +left the temple of Hator he had not occupied himself one day with the +affairs of Habu. The priests might suppose that he was either entirely +satisfied with Pentuer's explanations, or that he was tired of +interfering in government. + +"So much the better!" whispered he. "So much the better!" + +Under the influence of the endless intrigues of those around him, or +suspicious of those intrigues, the instinct to deceive began in his +young spirit to rouse itself. Ramses felt that the priests did not +divine the subject of his conversation with Hiram, nor the plans which +were forming in his head. It sufficed those blinded persons, that he +was amusing himself; from this they inferred that the management of the +state would remain in their hands forever. + +"Have the gods so darkened their minds," thought Ramses, "that they do +not even ask themselves why Hiram gave me a loan so considerable? And +perhaps that crafty Tyrian has been able to lull their suspicious +hearts? So much the better! So much the better!" + +He had a marvelously agreeable feeling when he thought that the priests +had blundered. He determined to keep them in that blunder for the +future; hence he amused himself madly. + +Indeed the priests were mistaken, both in Ramses and Hiram. The artful +Tyrian gave himself out before them as very proud of his relations with +Ramses, and the prince with no less success played the role of a +riotous stripling. + +Mefres was even convinced that the prince was thinking seriously of +expelling the Phoenicians, that meanwhile he and his courtiers were +contracting debts and would never pay them. + +But the temple of Astaroth with its numerous courts and gardens was +filled with devotees all the time. Every day, if not every hour, though +the heat was excessive, some company of pilgrims to the great goddess +arrived from the depth of Asia. + +Those were strange pilgrims. Wearied, streaming with perspiration, +covered with dust, they advanced with music, and dancing, and songs +sometimes of a very lewd character. The day passed for them in +unbridled license in honor of the goddess. It was possible not only to +recognize every such company from afar, but to catch its odor, since +those people always brought immense bouquets of fresh flowers in their +hands, and in bundles all the male cats that had died in the course of +the current year. The devotees gave these cats to dissectors in Pi-Bast +to be stuffed or embalmed, and bore them home later on as valued +relics. + +On the first day of the month Mesori (May-June), Prince Hiram informed +Ramses that he might appear at the temple of Astaroth that evening. +When it had grown dark on the streets after sunset, the viceroy girded +a short sword to his side, put on a mantle with a hood, and unobserved +by any servant, slipped away to the house of Hiram. + +The old magnate was waiting for the viceroy. + +"Well," said he, with a smile, "art Thou not afraid, prince, to enter a +Phoenician temple where cruelty sits on the altar and perversity +ministers?" + +"Fear?" repeated Ramses, looking at him almost contemptuously. +"Astaroth is not Baal, nor am I a child which they might throw into +your god's red-hot belly." + +"But does the prince believe this story?" + +Ramses shrugged his shoulders. + +"An eyewitness and a trustworthy person," answered he, "told me how ye +sacrifice children. Once a storm wrecked a number of tens of your +vessels. Immediately the Tyrian priests announced a religious ceremony +at which throngs of people collected." The prince spoke with evident +indignation. "Before the temple of Baal situated on a lofty place was +an immense bronze statue with the head of a bull. Its belly was red +hot. At command of your priests the foolish Phoenician mothers put +their most beautiful children at the feet of this cruel divinity." + +"Only boys," interrupted Hiram. + +"Only boys," continued Ramses. "The priests sprinkled each boy with +perfumes, decked him with flowers, and then the statue seized him with +bronze hands, opened its jaws, and devoured the child, whose screams +meanwhile were heaven piercing. Flames burst each time from the mouth +of the deity." + +Hiram laughed in silence. + +"And dost Thou believe this, worthiness?" + +"I repeat what a man told me who has never lied." + +"He told what he saw. But did it not surprise him that no mother whose +children they burned was weeping?" + +"He was astonished, indeed, at such indifference in women, since they +are always ready to shed tears even over a dead hen. But it shows great +cruelty in your people." + +The old Phoenician nodded. + +"Was that long ago?" asked he. + +"A few years." + +"Well," said Hiram, deliberately, "shouldst Thou wish to visit Tyre +some day, I shall have the honor to show thee a solemnity like that +one." + +"I have no wish to see it." + +"After the ceremony we shall go to another court of the temple, where +the prince will see a very fine school, and in it, healthy and +gladsome, those very same boys who were burnt a few years ago." + +"How is that?" exclaimed Ramses; "then did they not perish?" + +"They are living, and growing up to be sturdy mariners. When Thou shalt +be pharaoh, mayst Thou live through eternity! perhaps more than one of +them will be sailing thy ships." + +"Then ye deceive your people?" laughed the prince. + +"We deceive no one," answered the Tyrian, with dignity. "Each man +deceives himself when he does not seek the explanation of a solemnity +which he does not understand." + +"I am curious," said Ramses. + +"In fact," continued Hiram, "we have a custom that indigent mothers +wishing to assure their sons a good career give them to the service of +the state. In reality, those children are taken across the statue of +Baal, in which there is a heated stove. This ceremony does not mean +that the children are really burnt, but that they have been given to +the temple, and so are as much lost to their mothers as if they had +fallen into fire. + +"In truth, however, they do not go to the stove, but to nurses and +women who rear them for some years. When they have grown up +sufficiently, the school of priests of Baal receives and educates them. +The most competent become priests or officials; the less gifted go to +the navy and obtain great wealth frequently. Now I think the prince +will not wonder that Tyrian mothers do not mourn for their children. I +will say more: Thou wilt understand, lord, why there is no punishment +for parents who kill their children, as there is in Egypt." + +"Wretches are found in all lands," replied the prince. + +"But there is no child murder in our country," continued Hiram, "for +with us children, when their mothers are unable to support them, are +taken to the temple by the state." + +The prince fell to thinking; suddenly he embraced Hiram, and said with +emotion, + +"Ye are much better than those who tell tales of you. I am greatly +rejoiced at this." + +"Among us, too, there is no little evil," answered Hiram; "but we are +all ready to be thy faithful servants shouldst Thou call us." + +"Is this true?" asked the prince, looking him in the eyes. + +The old man put his hand on his heart. + +"I swear to thee, O heir to the throne of Egypt and future pharaoh, +that if Thou begin at any time a struggle with our common enemy, +Phoenicia will hasten as one man to assist thee. But receive this as a +reminder of our conversation." + +He drew from beneath his robe a gold medal covered with mysterious +characters, and, muttering a prayer, hung it on the neck of Prince +Ramses. + +"With this amulet," continued Hiram, "Thou mayst travel the whole world +through, and if Thou meet a Phoenician he will serve thee with advice, +with gold, with his sword even. But now let us go." + +Some hours had passed since sunset, but the night was clear, for the +moon had risen. The terrible heat of the day had yielded to coolness. +In the pure air was floating no longer that gray dust which bit the +eyes and poisoned respiration. In the blue sky here and there twinkled +stars which were lost in the deluge of moonbeams. + +Movement had stopped on the streets, but the roofs of all the houses +were filled with people occupied in amusement. Pi-Bast seemed from edge +to edge to be one hall filled with music, singing, laughter, and the +sound of goblets. + +The prince and the Phoenician went speedily to the suburbs, choosing +the less lighted sides of the streets. Still, people feasting on +terraces saw them at intervals, and invited them up, or cast flowers +down on their heads. + +"Hei, ye strollers!" cried they, from the roofs. "If ye are not thieves +called out by the night to snatch booty, come hither, come up to us. We +have good wine and gladsome women." + +The two wanderers made no answer to those hospitable invitations; they +hurried on in their own way. At last they came to a quarter where the +houses were fewer, the gardens more frequent, the trees, thanks to damp +sea-breezes, more luxuriant and higher than in the southern provinces +of Egypt. + +"It is not far now," said Hiram. + +The prince raised his eyes, and over the dense green of trees he saw a +square tower of blue color; on it a more slender tower, which was +white. This was the temple of Astaroth. Soon they entered the garden, +whence they could take in at a glance the whole building. + +It was composed of a number of stories. The top of the lowest was a +square platform with sides four hundred yards long; its walls were a +few meters high, and all of black color. At the eastern side was a +projection to which came two wide stairways. Along the other three +sides of this first story were small towers, ten on each side; between +each pair of towers were five windows. + +More or less in the centre of this lowest platform rose a quadrangular +building with sides two hundred yards long. This had a single stairway, +towers at the comers, and was purple. On the top of this building was +another of golden color, and above it, one upon the other, two towers +one blue, the other white. + +The whole building looked as if some power had placed on the earth one +enormous black dice, on it a smaller one of purple, on that a golden +one, on that a blue, and, highest of all, a silver dice. To each of +these elevations stairs led, either double flights along the sides or +single front stairs, always on the eastern walls. + +At the sides of the stairs and doors stood, alternately, great Egyptian +sphinxes, or winged Assyrian human-headed bulls. + +The viceroy looked with delight at this edifice, which in the moonlight +and against the background of rich vegetation had an aspect of +marvelous beauty. It was built in Chaldean style, and differed +essentially from the temples of Egypt, first, by the system of stories, +second, by the perpendicular walls. + +Among the Egyptians every great building had sloping sides receding +inward as they rose. + +The garden was not empty. At various points small villas and houses +were visible, lights were flashing, songs and music were heard. From +time to time among trees appeared shadows of loving couples. + +All at once an old priest approached them, exchanged a few words with +Hiram, and said to the prince with a low obeisance, + +"Be pleased, lord, to come with me." + +"And may the gods watch over thee, worthiness," added Hiram, as he left +him. + +Ramses followed the priest. Somewhat aside from the temple, in the +thickest of the grove, was a stone bench, and perhaps a hundred rods +from it a villa of no great size at which was heard singing. + +"Are people praying there?" asked the prince. + +"No," answered the priest, without concealing his dislike; "at that +house assemble the worshippers of Kama, our priestess who guards the +fire before the altar of Astaroth." + +"Whom does she receive today?" + +"No one at any time," answered the guide, offended. "Were the priestess +of the fire not to observe her vow of chastity she would have to die." + +"A cruel law," observed Ramses. + +"Be pleased, lord, to wait at this bench," said the Phoenician priest, +coldly; "but on hearing three blows against the bronze plate, go to the +temple, ascend to the first platform, and thence to the purple story." + +"Alone?" + +"Yes." + +The prince sat down on the bench, in the shadow of an olive tree, and +heard the laughter of women in the villa. + +"Kama," thought he, "is a pretty name. She must be young, and perhaps +beautiful, and those dull Phoenicians threaten her with death. Do they +wish in this way to assure themselves even a few virgins in the whole +country?" + +He laughed, but was sad. It was uncertain why he pitied that unknown +woman for whom love would be a passage to the grave. + +"I can imagine to myself Tutmosis if he were appointed priestess of +Astaroth," thought Ramses. "He would have to die, poor fellow, before +he could light one lamp before the face of the goddess." + +At that moment a flute was heard in the villa, and some one played a +plaintive air, which was accompanied by female singers, "Aha-a! aha-a!" +as in the lullaby of infants. + +The flute stopped, the women were silent, and a splendid male voice was +heard, in the Greek language: + +"When thy robe gleams on the terrace, the stars pale and the +nightingales cease to sing, but in my heart there is stillness like +that which is on earth when the clear dawn salutes it." + +"Aha-a! aha-a!" continued the women. The flute played again. + +"When Thou goest to the temple, violets surround thee in a cloud of +fragrance, butterflies circle near thy lips, palms bend their heads to +thy beauty." + +"aha-a! aha-a!" + +"When Thou art not before me, I look to the skies to recall the sweet +calm of thy features. Vain labor! The heavens have no calm like thine, +and their heat is cold when compared with the flame which is turning my +heart into ashes." + +"Aha-a! aha-a!" + +"One day I stood among roses, which the gleam of thy glances clothe in +white, gold, and scarlet. Each leaf of them reminded me of one hour, +each blossom of one month passed at thy feet. The drops of dew are my +tears, which are drunk by the merciless wind of the desert. + +"Give a sign; I will seize thee, I will bear thee away to my +birthplace, beloved. The sea will divide us from pursuers, myrtle +groves will conceal our fondling, and gods, more compassionate toward +lovers, will watch over our happiness." + +"Aha-a! aha-a!" + +The prince dropped his eyelids and imagined. Through his drooping +lashes he could not see the garden, he saw only the flood of moonlight +in which were mingled shadows and the song of the unknown man to the +unknown woman. At instants that song seized him to such a degree, and +forced itself into his spirit so deeply, that Ramses wished to ask: "Am +I not the singer myself? nay, am I not that love song?" + +At this moment his title, his power, the burdensome problems of state, +all seemed to him mean, insignificant in comparison with that moonlight +and those calls of a heart which is enamored. If the choice had been +given him to take the whole power of the pharaoh, or that spiritual +condition in which he then found himself, he would have preferred that +dreaming, in which the whole world, he himself, even time, disappeared, +leaving nothing behind but desire, which was now rushing forth to +infinity borne on the wings of song and of music. + +Meanwhile the prince recovered, the song had ended, the lights in the +villa had vanished, the white walls, the dark vacant windows were +sharply outlined. One might have thought that no person had ever been +in that house there. The garden was deserted and silent, even the +slight breath of air stirred the leaves no longer. + +One! two! three! From the temple were heard three mighty sounds from +bronze. + +"Ah! I must go," thought the prince, not knowing well whither he was to +go or for what purpose. + +He turned, however, in the direction of the temple, the silver tower of +which rose above the trees as if summoning him. + +He went as in a trance, filled with strange wishes. Among the trees it +was narrow for him; he wished to ascend to the top of that tower, to +draw breath, to take in with his glance some wider horizon. Again he +remembered that it was the month Mesori, that a year had passed since +the maneuvers; he felt a yearning for the desert. How gladly would he +mount his light chariot drawn by two horses, and fly away to some place +where it was not so stifling, and trees did not hide the horizon! + +He was at the steps of the temple, so he mounted to the platform. It +was quiet and empty there, as if all had died; but from afar the water +of a fountain was murmuring. At the second stairway he threw aside his +burnous and sword; once more he looked at the garden, as if he were +sorry to leave the moonlight behind, and entered the temple. There were +three stories above him. + +The bronze doors were open; at both sides of the entrance stood winged +figures of bulls with human heads; on the faces of these was dignified +calmness. + +"Those are kings of Assyria," thought the prince, looking at their +beards plaited in tiny tresses. + +The interior of the temple was as black as night when 't is blackest. +The darkness was intensified more by white streaks of moonlight falling +in through narrow high windows. + +In the depth of the temple two lamps were burning before the statue of +Astaroth. Some strange illumination from above caused the statue to be +perfectly visible. Ramses gazed at it. That was a gigantic woman with +the wings of an ostrich. She wore a long robe in folds; on her head was +a pointed cap, in her right hand she held a pair of doves. On her +beautiful face and in her downcast eyes was an expression of such +sweetness and innocence that astonishment seized the prince, for she +was the patroness of revenge and of license the most unbridled. + +"Phoenicia has shown me one more of her secrets. A strange people," +thought Ramses. "Their man-eating gods do not eat, and their lewdness +is guarded by virgin priestesses and by a goddess with an innocent +face." + +Thereupon he felt that something had slipped across his feet quickly, +as it were a great serpent. Ramses drew back and stood in the streak of +moonlight. + +"A vision!" said he to himself. + +Almost at that moment he heard a whisper, + +"Ramses! Ramses!" + +It was impossible to discover whether that was a man's or a woman's +voice, or whence it issued. + +"Ramses! Ramses!" was heard a whisper, as if from the ceiling. + +The prince went to an un-illuminated place and, while looking, bent +down. + +All at once he felt two delicate hands on his head. + +He sprang up to grasp them, but caught only air. + +"Ramses!" was whispered from above. + +He raised his head, and felt on his lips a lotus flower; and when he +stretched his hands to it some one leaned on his arm lightly. + +"Ramses!" called a voice from the altar. + +The prince turned and was astounded. In the streak of light, a couple +of steps distant, stood a most beautiful man, absolutely like the heir +to the throne of Egypt. The same face, eyes, youthful stature, the same +posture, movements, and dress. + +The prince thought for a while that he was before some great mirror, +such a mirror as even the pharaoh could not have. But soon he convinced +himself that his second was a living man, not a picture. + +At that moment he felt a kiss on his neck. Again he turned, but there +was no one; meanwhile his second self vanished. + +"Who is here? I wish to know!" cried the angry prince. + +"It is I 'Kama," answered a sweet voice. + +And in the strip of light appeared a most beautiful woman, naked, with +a golden girdle around her waist. + +Ramses ran up and seized her by the hands. She did not flee. + +"Art Thou Kama? No, Thou art Yes, Dagon sent thee on a time, but then +Thou didst call thyself Fondling." + +"But I am Fondling, too," replied she, naively. + +"Is it Thou who hast touched me with thy hands?" + +UJ + +"How?" + +"Ao! in this way," answered she, throwing her arms around his neck, and +kissing him. + +Ramses seized her in his arms, but she tore herself free with a force +which no one could have suspected in such a slight figure. + +"Art Thou then the priestess Kama? Was it to thee that that Greek sang +to-night?" asked the prince, pressing her hands passionately. "What +sort of man is that singer?" + +Kama shrugged her shoulders contemptuously. + +"He is attached to our temple," was the answer. + +Ramses' eyes flamed, his nostrils dilated, there was a roaring in his +head. That same woman a few months before had made on him only a slight +impression; but today he was ready to commit some mad deed because of +her. He envied the Greek, and felt also indescribable sorrow at the +thought that if she became his she must perish. + +"How beautiful Thou art," said he. "Where dost Thou dwell? Ah, I know; +in that villa. Is it possible to visit thee? Of course it is. If Thou +receive singers, Thou must receive me. Art Thou really the priestess +guarding the fire of this temple?" + +"I am." + +"And are the laws so severe that they do not permit thee to love? Ei, +those are threats! For me Thou wilt make exception." + +"All Phoenicia would curse me; the gods would take vengeance," replied +she, with a smile. + +Ramses drew her again toward him; again she tore herself free. + +"Have a care, prince," said she, with a challenging look. "Phoenicia is +mighty, and her gods." + +"What care I for thy gods or Phoenicia? Were a hair to fall from thy +head, I would trample Phoenicia as I might a foul reptile." + +"Kama! Kama!" called a voice from the statue. + +She was frightened. + +"Thou seest they call me. They may have heard thy blaspheming." + +"They may have heard my anger." + +"The anger of the gods is more terrible." + +She tore away and vanished in the darkness of the temple. Ramses rushed +after her, but was pushed back on a sudden. The whole temple between +him and the altar was filled with an immense bloody flame, in which +monstrous figures appeared, huge bats, reptiles with human heads, +shades. + +The flame advanced toward him directly across the whole width of the +building; and, amazed by this sight, which was new to him, the prince +retreated. All at once fresh air was around him. He turned his head he +was outside the temple, and that instant the bronze doors closed with a +crash behind. + +He rubbed his eyes, he looked around. The moon from the highest point +in the heavens had lowered toward the west. At the side of the column +Ramses found his sword and burnous. He raised them, and moved down the +steps like a drunken man. + +When he returned to his palace at a late hour, Tutmosis, on seeing his +pale face and troubled look, cried with alarm, + +"By the gods! where hast Thou been, Erpatr? Thy whole court is alarmed +and sleepless." + +"I was looking at the city. The night is beautiful." + +"Dost Thou know," added Tutmosis, hurriedly, as if fearing that some +one else might anticipate him, "that Sarah has given thee a son?" + +"Indeed? I wish no one in the retinue to be alarmed when I go out to +walk." + +"Alone?" + +"If I could not go out alone when it pleases me, I should be the most +wretched slave in Egypt," said Ramses, bitterly. + +He gave his sword and burnous to Tutmosis, and went to his bedroom +without calling any one. Yesterday the birth of a son would have filled +him with gladness; but at that moment he received the news with +indifference. His whole soul was occupied with the thought of that +evening, the most wonderful in all his life experience. He still saw +the light of the moon; in his ears the song of the Greek was still +sounding. But that temple of Astaroth! + +He could not sleep till morning. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +Next day the prince rose late, bathed himself and dressed, then +summoned Tutmosis. + +The exquisite appeared at once, dressed carefully and perfumed. He +looked sharply at the prince to learn in what humor he was, and to fix +his own features correspondingly. But on the face of Ramses was only +weariness. + +"Well," asked the prince, yawning, "art Thou sure that a Bon is born to +me?" + +"I have that news from the holy Mefres." + +"Oho! How long is it since the prophets are occupied with my +household?" + +"Since the time that Thou hast shown them thy favor, worthiness." + +"Is that true?" asked the prince, and he fell to thinking. + +He recalled the scene of the previous night in the temple of Astaroth, +and compared it with a similar spectacle in the temple of Hator. + +"They called my name," said he to himself, "both here and there. But +there my cell was very narrow, and the walls were thick; here the +person calling, namely, Kama, could hide herself behind a column and +whisper. But here it was terribly dark, while in my cell it was clear." +At last he said to Tutmosis, + +"When did that happen?" + +"When was thy worthy son born? About ten days ago. The mother and child +are well; they seem perfectly healthy. At the birth were present Menes +himself, thy worthy mother's physician, and his worthiness Herhor." + +"Well well," said the prince, and again he fell to thinking: "They +touched me here and there, with a band in both cases. Was there such a +difference? It seems to me that there was, maybe for the reason that +here I was, and there I was not, prepared to see a miracle. But here +they showed me another myself, which they did not succeed in doing +there. Very clever are the priests! I am curious to know who +represented me so well, a god or a man? Oh, the priests are very +clever, and I do not know even whom to trust more, our priests or the +Phoenicians? + +"Hear me, Tutmosis," said he, aloud. "They must come hither; I must see +my son. At last no one will have the right to consider himself better +than I." + +"Is the worthy Sarah to come immediately with her son?" + +"Let them come at the earliest, if their health permit. Within the +palace bounds are many convenient buildings. It is necessary to choose +a place among the trees, quiet, and, when the time of heat comes, cool. +Let me, too, show the world my son." + +Again he was thoughtful; this disquieted Tutmosis. + +"Yes, they are clever!" thought Ramses. "That they deceive the common +people, even by rude methods, I knew. Poor sacred Apis! how many prods +he got during processions when people lay prostrate before him! But to +deceive me, I should not have believed that, voices of gods, invisible +hands, a man covered with pitch; these were accessories! Then came +Pentuer's song about the decrease of land and population, the +officials, the Phoenicians, and all that to disgust me with war." + +Tutmosis said suddenly, + +"I fall on my face before thee." + +"I must bring hither, gradually, regiments from cities near the sea. I +wish to have a review and reward them for loyalty." + +"But we, the nobles, are we not loyal to thee?" inquired Tutmosis, +confused. + +"The nobles and the army are one." + +"But the nomarchs and the officials?" + +"Even the officials are loyal," answered the prince. "What do I say? +The Phoenicians even are so, though in many other points they are +deceivers." + +"By the gods! speak in a lower voice," whispered Tutmosis; and he +looked toward the other room timidly. + +"Oho!" laughed the prince, "why this alarm? So for thee, too, it is no +secret that we have traitors?" + +"I know of whom Thou art speaking, worthiness, for Thou wert always +prejudiced against." + +"Against whom?" + +"Against whom I divine. But I thought that after the agreement with +Herhor, after a long stay in the temple." + +"What of the temple? In the temple, and in the whole country, for that +matter, I have convinced myself of one thing, that the very best lands, +the most active population, and immense wealth are not the property of +the pharaoh." + +"Quieter! quieter!" whispered Tutmosis. + +"But I am quiet always; I have a calm face at all times, so let me +speak even here; besides, I should have the right to say, even in the +supreme council, that in this Egypt, which belongs entirely to my +father, I, his heir and viceroy, had to borrow a hundred talents from a +petty prince of Tyre. Is this not a shame?" + +"But how did this come to thy mind today?" asked Tutmosis, wishing to +put an end to the perilous conversation as quickly as possible. + +"How?" answered the prince; and he grew silent, to sink again into +meditation. + +"It would not mean so much," thought he, "if they deceived me alone; I +am only heir to the pharaoh, and not admitted to all secrets. But who +will assure me that they have not acted in the same way with my worthy +father? He has trusted them entirely during thirty and some years; he +has bowed down before miracles, given abundant offerings to the gods, +for this result, that his property and power should pass into the hands +of ambitious tricksters! And no one has opened his eyes. For the +pharaoh cannot, like me, enter Phoenician temples at night, and +absolutely no one has admission to his holiness. + +"But who will assure me today that the priests are not striving to +overthrow the throne, as Hiram said? Even my father informed me that +the Phoenicians are most truthful wherever they have an interest to be +so. Assuredly it is their interest not to be expelled from Egypt, and +not to fall under the power of Assyria. The Assyrians are a herd of +raging lions! Wherever they pass through a country nothing is left +except ruins and dead bodies, as after a fire." + +All at once Ramses raised his head; from a distance came the sound of +flutes and horns. + +"What does this mean?" inquired he of Tutmosis. + +"Great news!" replied the courtier, with a smile. "The Asiatics are +welcoming a famous pilgrim from Babylon." + +"From Baby Ion? Who is he?" + +"His name is Sargon." + +"Sargon?" repeated the prince. "Sargon? Ha! ha!" laughed the prince. +"What is he?" + +"He must be a great dignitary at the court of King Assar. He brings +with him ten elephants, a herd of most beautiful steeds of the desert, +crowds of slaves and servants." + +"But why has he come?" + +"To bow down before the wonderful goddess Astaroth, who is honored by +all Asia," answered Tutmosis. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the prince, recalling what Hiram had said of the +coming of the Assyrian ambassador, Sargon. "Ha! ha! ha! Sargon, a +relative of King Assar, has become all at once such a devotee that for +whole months he goes on a difficult journey only to do honor in Pi-Bast +to the goddess Astaroth. But in Nineveh he could have found greater +gods and more learned priests. Ha! ha! ha!" + +Tutmosis looked at the prince with astonishment. + +"What has happened to thee, Erpatr?" asked he. + +"Here is a miracle not described, I think, in the chronicles of any +temple. But think, Tutmosis: When Thou art most occupied with the +problem of catching the thief who is always plundering thee, that same +thief puts his hand again into thy casket before thy eyes, in presence +of a thousand witnesses. Ha! ha! ha! Sargon, a pious pilgrim!" + +"I understand nothing," whispered Tutmosis, in anxiety. + +"And Thou hast no need to understand," replied the viceroy. "Remember +only that Sargon has come hither for devotional purposes." + +"It seems to me that everything of which Thou art speaking," said +Tutmosis, lowering his voice, "is very dangerous." + +"Then do not mention it to any one." + +"I will not; but art Thou sure that Thou thyself, prince, wilt not +betray the secret? Thou art as quick as lightning." + +The prince placed his hand on the courtier's shoulder. + +"Be at rest," said he, looking him in the eyes. "If ye will only be +loyal to me, ye, the nobles, and the army, ye will see wonderful +things, and, as regards you, evil times will be ended." + +"Thou knowest that we are ready to die at thy command," said Tutmosis, +placing his hand on his breast. + +There was such uncommon seriousness on the adjutant's face that the +prince understood, moreover not for the first time, that there was +concealed in that riotous exquisite a valiant man, on whose sword and +understanding he could put reliance. + +From that time the prince had no more such strange conversations with +Tutmosis. But that faithful friend and servant divined that connected +with the arrival of Sargon were some great hidden interests of state +which the priests alone had decided. + +For a certain time all the Egyptian aristocracy, nomarchs, higher +officials, and leaders had been whispering among themselves very +quietly, yes, very quietly, that important events were approaching. For +the Phoenicians under an oath to keep the secret had told them of +certain treaties with Assyria, according to which Phoenicia would be +lost, and Egypt be covered with disgrace and become even tributary. + +Indignation among the aristocracy was immense, but no one betrayed +himself; on the contrary, as well at the court of Ramses as at the +courts of the nomarchs of Lower Egypt, people amused themselves +perfectly. It might have been thought that with the weather had fallen +on men a rage not only for amusements but for riot. There was no day +without spectacles, feasts, and triumphal festivals; there was no night +without illuminations and uproar. Not only in Pi-Bast but in every city +it had become the fashion to run through the streets with torches, +music, and, above all, with full pitchers. They broke into houses and +dragged out sleeping dwellers to drinking-bouts; and since the +Egyptians were inclined toward festivities every man living amused +himself. + +During Ramses' stay in the temple of Hator the Phoenicians, seized by a +panic, passed their days in prayer and refused credit to every man. But +after Hiram's interview with the viceroy caution deserted the +Phoenicians, and they began to make loans to Egyptian lords more +liberally than at any time earlier. + +Such abundance of gold and goods as there was in Lower Egypt, and, +above all, such small per cent the oldest men could not remember. + +The severe and wise priests turned attention to the madness of the +upper classes; but they were mistaken in estimating the cause of it, +and the holy Mentezufis, who sent a report every few days to Herhor. +stated that the heir, wearied by religious practices in the temple, was +amusing himself to madness, and with him the entire aristocracy. + +The worthy minister did not even answer these statements, which showed +that he considered the rioting of the prince as quite natural and +perhaps even useful. + +With such mental conditions around him Ramses enjoyed much freedom. +Almost every evening when his attendants had drunk too much wine and +had begun to lose consciousness, the prince slipped out of the palace. +Hidden by the dark burnous of an officer, he hurried through the empty +streets and out beyond the city to the gardens of the temple of +Astaroth. There he found the bench before that small villa, and, hidden +among the trees, listened to the song of Kama's worshipper, and dreamed +of the priestess. + +The moon rose later and later, drawing near its renewal. The nights +were dark, the effects of light were gone; but in spite of this Ramses +continued to see that brightness of the first night, and he heard the +passionate strophes of the Greek singer. + +More than once he rose from his bench to go directly to Kama's +dwelling, but shame seized him. He felt that it did not become the heir +of Egypt to show himself in the house of a priestess who was visited by +any pilgrim who gave a bountiful offering to the temple. What was more +striking, he feared lest the sight of Kama surrounded by pitchers and +unsuccessful admirers might extinguish the wonderful picture in the +moonlight. + +When Dagon had sent her to turn away the prince's wrath, Kama seemed +attractive, but not a maiden for whom a man might lose his head +straightway. But when he, a leader of armies and a viceroy, was forced +for the first time in life to sit outside the house of a woman, when +the night roused him to imaginings, and when he heard the adroit +declarations of another, a strange feeling rose in him, a mixture of +sadness, desire, and jealousy. + +If he could have had Kama at every call, she would have become +repulsive quickly, and perhaps he would have fled from her. But Death, +standing on the threshold of her bedchamber, an enamored singer, and, +finally, that humiliating position of the highest dignitary before a +priestess, all this created a condition which for Ramses was unknown +till that time, hence enticing. + +And this was why he had appeared almost every evening of ten successive +days in the gardens of the goddess Astaroth, shielding his face from +all who passed him. + +Once, when he had drunk much wine at a feast in his palace, Ramses +slipped out with a settled purpose. + +"To-night," said he to himself, "I will enter Kama's dwelling; as to +her adorers let them sing at her windows." + +He passed through the city quickly; but in the gardens of the temple he +lessened his steps, for again he was shamefaced. + +"Has it ever been heard," thought he, "that the heir of a pharaoh ran +after women like a poor scribe who cannot borrow ten drachmas anywhere? +All women come to me, so should this one." + +And he was ready then to turn back to his palace. + +"But she cannot come," said he to himself, "for they would kill her." + +He stopped and hesitated. + +"Who would kill her, Hiram, who believes in nothing, or Dagon, who +knows not himself what he is? True, but there is a multitude of other +Phoenicians in Egypt, and hundreds of thousands of wild and fanatical +pilgrims are prowling around here. In the eyes of those idiots Kama +would commit sacrilege were she to visit me." + +So he went toward the villa. He did not even think that danger might +threaten him there, him, who without drawing his sword might by a mere +look bring the whole world to his feet; he, Ramses, and danger! + +When the prince came out from among trees, he saw that Kama's house was +more brightly lighted and more noisy than usual. In fact, the terrace +and the rooms were filled with guests, and around the villa were +throngs of people. + +"What band is this?" thought Ramses. + +It was an uncommon assemblage. Not far from the house was an immense +elephant, bearing on his back a gilded litter with purple curtains. At +the side of the elephant, neighing and squealing, and, in general, +acting impatiently, were horses with large necks and legs, with tails +plaited, and with something on their heads like metal helmets. + +Among these restless, almost wild animals, some tens of men were +busied, men such as Ramses had never seen elsewhere. They had shaggy +hair, great beards, pointed caps with ear-laps; some wore long robes of +coarse cloth reaching to their heels; others wore short coats and +skirts, and some had boots on their feet. All carried swords, bows, and +darts. + +At sight of these foreigners, stalwart, awkward, laughing vulgarly, +smelling of tallow, and speaking an unknown and harsh language, the +prince was indignant. As a lion, though not hungry, prepares to spring +when he sees a common animal, so Ramses, though they had offended him +in no way, felt a terrible hatred toward those strangers. He was +irritated by their language, their dress, the odor from their bodies, +even their horses. The blood rushed to his head, and he reached for his +sword to attack those men slay them and their beasts also. But soon he +recovered his senses. + +"Set has cast a spell on me," thought Ramses. + +At that moment a naked Egyptian, with a cap on his head and a girdle +around his waist, passed along the path slowly. The prince felt that +the man was near to him, even precious at that moment, for he was an +Egyptian. He took from his purse a gold ring worth from ten to twenty +drachmas, and gave it to the bondman. + +"Listen," said he; "who are those people?" + +"Assyrians," whispered the Egyptian; and hatred glittered in his eyes +as he answered. + +"Assyrians," repeated the prince. "Are those Assyrians, then? And what +are they doing here?" + +"Their lord, Sargon, is paying court to the priestess, the sacred Kama, +and they are guarding him. May leprosy devour them, the wretches, the +swine sons!" + +"Thou mayst go." + +The naked man made a low obeisance and ran, surely to some kitchen. + +"Are those Assyrians?" thought the prince, as he looked at their +strange figures and heard their hated, though un-understood language. +"So already Assyrians are on the Nile, to become brothers to us, or to +deceive us, and their dignitary, Sargon, is courting Kama?" + +He returned home. His imaginings died before the light of a passion +felt then for the first time. He, a man mild and noble, felt a deadly +hatred toward the ancient enemies of Egypt, whom he had never met till +that evening. + +When leaving the temple of Hator, and after his interview with Hiram, +he began to think of war with Asia; that was merely thinking that Egypt +needed population, and the pharaoh needed treasure; and since war gave +the easiest means to win them, and since, besides, it agreed with his +need of glory, Ramses conceived the plan of warfare. But now he was +concerned neither with slaves, nor treasures, nor glory, for in him was +sounding at that moment a voice mightier than every other, the voice of +hatred. The pharaohs had struggled so long with the Assyrians, both +sides had shed so much blood, the struggle had fixed its roots in their +hearts so profoundly, that the prince grasped for his sword at the very +sight of Assyrian warriors. It seemed that the spirits of all the slain +Egyptians, their toils and sufferings, had risen in the soul of this +descendant of pharaohs and cried for retribution. + +When Ramses reached the palace, he summoned Tutmosis. One of them had +drunk too much, the other was raging. + +"Dost Thou know what I have seen just now?" asked the prince of his +favorite. + +"One of the priests, perhaps." + +"I have seen Assyrians. O ye gods! what I felt! What a low people! +Their bodies from head to foot are covered with wool, as wild beasts +are; the stench of old tallow comes from them; and what speech, what +beard, what hair!" + +The prince walked up and down the room quickly, panting, excited. + +"I thought," said he, "that I despised the robberies of scribes, the +deceit of nomarchs, that I hated the cunning and ambition of priests; I +felt repulsion for Jews, and I feared the Phoenicians; but I convinced +myself to-night that those were all amusements. I know now, for the +first time, what hate is, after I have seen and heard Assyrians. I +understand now-why a dog tears the cat which has crossed his path." + +"Thou art accustomed to Jews and Phoenicians, worthiness, Thou hast met +Assyrians now for the first time," put in Tutmosis. + +"Stupidity! the Phoenicians!" continued the prince, as if to himself. +"The Phoenicians, the Philistines, the Arabs, the Libyans, even the +Ethiopians seem, as it were, members of our own family. When they fail +to pay tribute, we are angry; when they pay, we forget our feeling. + +"But the Assyrians are something strange, something inimical, so that I +shall not be happy till I can count one hundred thousand of their hands +cut off by us." + +Never had Tutmosis seen the prince in such a state of feeling. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +A COUPLE of days later Ramses sent his favorite with a summons to Kama. +She appeared soon in a tightly closed litter. + +Ramses received her in a separate chamber. + +"I was," said he, "outside thy house one evening." + +"Oh, Astaroth!" cried the priestess. "To what must I attribute this +high favor? And what hindered thee, worthy lord, from deigning to +summon thy slave?" + +"Some beasts were there, Assyrians, I suppose." + +"Then Thou didst take the trouble, worthiness, in the evening? Never +could I have dared to suppose that our ruler was under the open sky, a +few steps from me." + +The prince blushed. How she would be astounded could she know that he +had passed ten evenings near her windows! + +But perhaps she knew it, judging by her half-smiling lips and her eyes +cast down deceitfully. + +"So, then, Kama," said the prince, "Thou receivest Assyrians at thy +villa?" + +"That man is a great magnate, Sargon, a relative of King Assar," +answered Kama; "he has brought five talents to our goddess." + +"And them wilt repay him, Kama?" jeered the heir. "And since he is such +a bountiful magnate, the Phoenician gods will not send thee death in +punishment." + +"What dost Thou say, lord?" exclaimed Kama, clasping her hands. "Dost +Thou not know that if an Asiatic found me in the desert he would not +lay hands on me, even were I myself to yield to him? They fear the +gods." + +"Why, then, does he come to thee, this malodorous no this pious +Asiatic?" + +"Because he wants to persuade me to go to the temple of Astaroth in +Babylon." + +"And wilt Thou go?" + +"I will go if Thou command me, lord," said Kama, concealing her face +with her veil. + +The prince took her hands in silence. His lips quivered. + +"Do not touch me, lord," whispered she, with emotion. "Thou art my +sovereign, my support, the support of all Phoenicians in this country +but have compassion." + +The viceroy let her go, and walked up and down through the chamber. + +"The day is hot, is it not?" asked he. "There are countries where in +the month of Mechir white down falls from the sky, it is said; this +down in the fire turns to water, and makes the air cold. Oh, Kama, beg +thy gods to send me a little of that down, though what do I say? If +they should cover Egypt with it, all that down might be turned into +water and not cool the heart in me." + +"For Thou art like the divine Amon; Thou art the sun concealed in human +form," replied Kama. "Darkness flees from that place whither Thou +turnest thy countenance, and under the gleam of thy glances flowers +blossom." + +The prince turned again to her. + +"But be compassionate," whispered she. "Moreover, Thou art a kind god, +hence Thou canst not be unjust to thy priestess." + +The prince turned away again, and shook as if wishing to cast down a +burden. Kama looked from beneath her drooping lids at him, and smiled +slightly. + +When silence had endured too long, she said, + +"Thou hast commanded to summon me, Sovereign. Here I am, to hear what +thy will is." + +"Aha!" said the prince, recovering. "But tell me, O, priestess, aha! +who was that who resembled me so closely, the man whom I saw that night +in the temple?" + +Kama placed a finger on her lips. + +"A sacred mystery," whispered she. + +"One thing is a mystery, another is not permitted," replied Ramses. +"Let me know at least whether it was a man or a spirit?" + +"A spirit." + +"But still that spirit sang under thy window." + +Kama laughed. + +"I do not wish to violate the secrets of the temple." + +"Thou hast promised that to Prince Hiram," put in the priestess. + +"Well, well," interrupted the irritated viceroy; "for this cause I +shall not speak with Hiram or any other man about this miracle, only +with thee. Now, Kama, tell this spirit or man who is so like me to +leave Egypt at the earliest, and not to show himself to any one. For, +seest thou, in no state can there be two heirs to the throne." + +All at once he tapped his forehead. Up to that instant he had spoken so +as to trouble Kama, but now an idea altogether serious came to him. + +"I am curious," said he, looking sharply at Kama, "to know why thy +compatriots showed me my own living picture. Do they wish to forewarn +me that they have a man to supplant me? Indeed, their act is +astounding." + +Kama fell at his feet. + +"O lord!" whispered she, "Thou who bearest on thy breast our highest +talisman, canst Thou suppose that the Phoenicians would do aught to +injure thee? But only think if danger threatened thee, or if Thou hadst +the wish to mystify enemies, would not such a man be of service? The +Phoenician only wished to show thee this in the temple." + +The prince meditated a moment, and shrugged his shoulders. + +"So," thought he, "if I needed any one's assistance! But do the +Phoenicians think that I need assistance? If I do they have chosen a +poor protector." + +"Lord!" whispered Kama, "is it not known to thee that Ramses the Great +had, in addition to his own person, two others to show enemies? Those +two shadows of the pharaoh perished, but he survived." + +"Well, enough of this," interrupted the prince. "But that the people of +Asia may know that I am gracious, I designate Kama five talents for +games, in honor of Astaroth, and a costly goblet for her temple. This +gift will be received today by thee." + +He dismissed the priestess with a motion of his head. + +After her departure a new wave of thought mastered him. + +"Indeed, the Phoenicians are clever. If this, my living picture, is a +man, they can make of him a great present to me, and I shall perform at +times miracles such, perhaps, as have never been heard of in Egypt. The +pharaoh dwells in Memphis, and at the same time he shows himself in +Thebes or in Tanis. The pharaoh is marching on Babylon with an army, +the Assyrians assemble their main forces there, and simultaneously the +pharaoh, with another army, captures Nineveh, I judge that the +Assyrians would be greatly astounded by an event of that sort." + +And again deep hatred was roused in him against the strong Asiatics; +again he saw his conquering chariot sweeping over a battlefield covered +with Assyrian corpses, and whole baskets of severed hands stood before +him. + +For his soul war had become now as great a need as bread is for the +body. For not only could he enrich Egypt by it, fill the treasury, and +win glory to last through ages, but, besides, he might satisfy the +instinct hitherto unknown, but roused mightily at that moment, to +destroy Assyria. + +Until he had seen those warriors with shaggy beards he had not thought +of them. That day they had met him and made the world seem so small +that one side must give way, r they or he. + +What role had Hiram and Kama played in creating his present frame of +mind? Of this he had made no estimate. He felt only that he must have +war with Assyria, just as a bird of passage feels that in the mouth +Pachons it must go northward. + +A passion for war seized the prince quickly. He spoke less, laughed +more rarely, sat in thoughtfulness at feasts, and also spent his time +oftener and oftener with the army and the aristocracy. Seeing the favor +which the heir showered on those who bore arms, the noble youth, and +even older men, began to join regiments. This attracted the attention +of the holy Mentezufis, who sent a letter to Herhor with the following +contents: + +"From the time that the Assyrians have arrived at Pi-Bast the heir is +feverish, and his court is inclined toward war very greatly. They drink +and play dice as before; but all have thrown aside robes and wigs, and, +disregarding the awful heat, go about in military caps and mantles. + +"I fear lest this armed readiness may offend the worthy Sargon." + +To this Herhor replied immediately, + +"It is no harm that our effeminate nobles have taken a love for +military appearance during the visit of Sargon, for the Assyrians will +have a better opinion touching Egypt. Our most worthy viceroy, +enlightened by the gods, as is evident, has divined that just now it is +necessary to rattle our swords when we have with us the ambassadors of +such a military people. I am certain that this valiant bearing of our +youth will give Sargon something to think of, and will make him more +yielding in arguments." + +For the first time since Egypt had become Egypt it happened that a +youthful prince had deceived the watchful priesthood. It is true that +the Phoenicians were behind him, and had stolen the secret of the +treaty with Assyria; of this the priests had not even a suspicion. + +In fact, the very best mask which the heir had against suspicion was +his impetuosity of character. All remembered how easily in the past +year he had rushed from maneuvers at Pi-Bailos to Sarah's quiet country +villa, and how from feasts he had grown impassioned, recently, for +administrative labor, and then devotion, to return to feasts afterward. + +So no one believed, with the exception of Tutmosis, that that changeful +youth had before him an object for which he would fight with invincible +decision. + +Even this time there was no need to wait long for new proofs of the +prince's mobility of temper. + +To Pi-Bast, in spite of the heat, came Sarah with all her court and her +infant. She was somewhat thin, her child a trifle ill, or wearied, but +both looked very charming. + +The prince was enchanted. He assigned a house to Sarah in the choicest +part of the palace garden, and sat whole days, almost, at his son's +cradle. + +Feasts, maneuvers, and gloomy meditations were forgotten; the lords of +his suite had to drink and amuse themselves without him. Very soon they +ungirded their swords and arrayed themselves in their most exquisite +garments. The change was the more indispensable as Ramses brought some +of them to Sarah's dwelling and showed his son to them. + +"See, Tutmosis," said he once to his favorite, "what a pretty child: a +real rose leaf! Well, and out of this little thing a man will grow +gradually. And this rosy chick will walk about some day, talk, even +learn wisdom in the schools of the priesthood." + +"Look at his little hands, Tutmosis," said Ramses, delighted. "Remember +these little hands, so as to tell of them some day when I give him a +regiment, and command him to have my mace borne behind him. And this is +my son, my own son." + +It is not to be wondered at that when their lord spoke thus his +attendants were sorry that they could not become dry or wet nurses to +the child which, though it had no dynastic rights, was still the first +son of the future pharaoh. + +But this idyll ended very soon, since it did not harmonize with the +interests of the Phoenicians. + +A certain day the worthy Hiram arrived at the palace with a great suite +of merchants, slaves, and also poor Egyptians to whom he gave alms, and +when he stood before the heir, he said, + +"Our gracious lord! to prove that thy heart is full of kindness toward +us Asiatics also, Thou hast given five talents to arrange games in +honor of the goddess Astaroth. Thy will is accomplished; we have +arranged the games, now we have come to implore thee to deign to honor +the games with thy presence." + +While saying this, the gray-haired Tyrian prince knelt before Ramses +and gave him a golden key to his box in the amphitheatre. + +Ramses accepted the invitation willingly; the holy priests Mefres and +Mentezufis had no objection to the presence of the prince in honoring +the goddess Astaroth. + +"First of all, Astaroth," said the worthy Mefres to Mentezufis, "is the +same as our Is is and the Chaldean Istar; second, if we permit Asiatics +to build temples in our land it is proper to be kindly to their gods at +seasons." + +"We are obliged even to show some politeness to Phoenicians after the +conclusion of such a treaty with Assyria," put in the worthy +Mentezufis, smiling. + +The amphitheatre, to which the viceroy, the nomarch, and the foremost +officers betook themselves about four in the afternoon was built in the +garden of the temple. It was a circular space surrounded by a palisade +twice the height of a man. Inside the palisade, and round about, was a +multitude of boxes and seats rising one above the other. The structure +had no roof, but above the boxes extended cloth of various colors, cut +like wings of butterflies, which, sprinkled with fragrant water, were +moved to cool the atmosphere. + +When the viceroy appeared in his box, the Asiatics and Egyptians +present in the amphitheatre gave forth a mighty shout. The spectacle +began with a procession of singers, dancers, and musicians. + +The prince looked around. At his right was the box of Hiram and the +most noted of the Phoenicians; on his left the box of the Phoenician +priests and priestesses. In this Kama occupied one among the first +places, and attracted notice by her splendid dress and by her beauty. +She wore a transparent robe adorned with embroidery of various colors, +gold bracelets and anklets, and on her head a circlet with a lotus +flower composed most skillfully of jewels. + +Kama came with her colleagues, saluted the prince with low obeisances, +and returned to the box on the left, where began an animated +conversation with a foreigner whose hair was somewhat gray and whose +presence was imposing. The hair and beard of this man and his +companions were plaited into small braids. + +The prince had come almost directly from the chamber of his son, and +was gladsome. But he frowned when he saw the priestess speaking with a +stranger. + +"Dost Thou not know, Tutmosis, who that big fellow is for whom the +priestess is so charming?" asked he. + +"He is that famous pilgrim who has come from Babylon, the worthy +Sargon." + +"But he is an old grandfather!" + +"His years are surely more than thine and mine together; but he is a +stately person." + +"Could such a barbarian be stately!" said the indignant viceroy. "I am +certain that he bears about the smell of tallow." + +Both were silent: the prince from anger, Tutmosis from fear because he +had dared to praise a man whom Ramses hated. + +Meanwhile spectacle followed spectacle on the arena. In turn appeared +acrobats, serpent-charmers, dancers, buffoons, and jesters, who called +forth shouts from the audience. + +But Ramses was gloomy. In his soul sprang up, moment after moment, +passions which had been dormant, hatred for Assyrians and jealousy of +Kama. + +"How can that woman," thought he, "fondle up to an old man who has a +complexion like tanned leather, wild black eyes, and the beard of a he- +goat?" + +But once the prince turned a more attentive look on the arena. + +A number of naked Chaldeans entered. The oldest fixed in the earth +three short spears, points upward; then, with motions of his hands, he +put the youngest man to sleep. After that others took the sleeping man +and placed him on the spears in such fashion that one of the spears +supported his head, another his loins, and the third his feet. + +The man was as stiff as wood. Then the old man made motions above him +with his hands, and drew out the spear supporting his feet. After a +while he removed the spear on which his loins were resting, and finally +that on which his head was fixed. + +This took place in the clear day, before some thousands of spectators. +The sleeping Chaldean rested in the air horizontally, without support, +a couple of ells above the earth. At last the old man pushed him down +and roused him. + +The audience was astounded; no one dared to applaud or to shout, but +flowers were thrown from some boxes. + +Ramses too was astonished. He bent towards Hiram's box, and asked the +old prince in a low voice, + +"Could they perform that secret in the temple of Astaroth?" + +"I am not conversant with all the secrets of our priests," answered +Hiram, confused. "I know, though, that Chaldeans are very clever." + +"But we all saw that that young man rested in the air." + +"If they did not put a spell on us," said Hiram, reluctantly; and he +grew serious. + +After a short interval, during which servitors took to the boxes of +dignitaries fresh flowers, cool wine and cakes, the most important part +of the spectacle began, the bull fight. + +To the sound of trumpets, drums, and flutes they led a strong bull into +the arena, with a cloth over his head so that he should not see. Then a +number of naked men ran around with darts, and one with a short sword. + +At a signal, given by the prince, the leaders ran away, and one of the +armed men struck the cloth from the head of the bull. The beast stood +some moments in a maze; then he chased after the dart man, who vexed +him by pricking. + +This barren struggle continued some tens of minutes. Men tormented the +bull, and he, foaming, stained with blood, reared and chased over the +whole arena after his enemies without reaching any. + +At last he fell, amid the laughter of the spectators. + +The wearied prince, instead of looking at the arena, looked at the box +of the Phoenician priests. He saw that Kama had moved nearer to Sargon +and was conversing vivaciously. The Assyrian devoured her with his +glances; she smiled and blushed, whispered with him, sometimes bending +so that her hair touched the locks of the barbarian; sometimes she +turned from him and feigned anger. + +Ramses felt pain in his heart. For the first time it had happened that +a woman had preferred another man to him; besides, a man who was almost +old, and, moreover, an Assyrian. + +Meanwhile a murmur rose in the audience. On the arena a man armed with +a sword gave command to tie his left hand to his breast; others looked +at their darts a second bull was let in. When an armed man tore the +cloth from his eyes, the bull turned and looked around as if to count +his opponents. But when they began to prick him, he withdrew to the +paling to secure the rear; then he lowered his head and followed the +movements of those attacking. + +At first the armed men stole up guardedly from both sides to prick him. +But when the beast remained motionless, they gained courage, and began +to run across in front, nearer and nearer. + +The bull inclined his head still more, but stood as if fixed to the +earth. The audience laughed; but their joyousness was turned to a cry +of fear suddenly. The bull chose the moment, rushed forward, struck +some man who held a dart, and with one motion of his horns hurled him +upward. + +The man struck the earth with broken bones; the bull galloped to the +other side of the arena and stood in a defensive position. + +The men with darts surrounded the bull again, and began to irritate the +animal; but now servants of the amphitheatre rushed to the arena to +carry off the wounded man, who was groaning. The bull, in spite of the +redoubled pricks of darts, stood motionless; but when three servants +had taken the wounded man in their arms, he rushed at that group with +the swiftness of a whirlwind, overturned it, and began to dig the +ground with his forefeet tremendously. + +There was confusion in the audience: women screamed, men imprecated, +and hurled at the bull whatever each one found nearest. Sticks, knives, +even bench tops fell on the arena. Then a man with a sword rushed at +the raging bull. But the dart men lost their heads and left him +unsupported; hence the bull tossed him and pursued the others. A thing +unparalleled in amphitheatres took place then: five men were lying on +the arena; others, defending themselves badly, were fleeing before the +beast, while the audience was roaring from fear or from anger. + +Next there was perfect silence; the spectators rose and bent forward +out of their places, the terrified Hiram grew pale and crossed his +hands. Down to the arena, from the boxes of dignitaries, sprang two +men, Prince Ramses, with a drawn sword, and Sargon, with a short- +handled axe. + +The bull, with head down and tail in the air, was racing around the +arena, leaving clouds of dust behind him. The beast rushed straight +toward the prince, but, as if repulsed by the majesty of the youth, +avoided him, made directly at Sargon, and dropped to the earth. The +Assyrian, adroit and immensely strong, stretched him with one blow of +his axe, given between the eyes. + +The audience howled with delight, and threw flowers at Sargon and his +victim. Ramses stood still with drawn sword, astonished and angry, +seeing how Kama snatched flowers from her neighbors and threw them to +the Assyrian. + +Sargon received expressions of public delight with indifference. He +pushed the bull with his foot to be sure that the beast was lifeless; +and then, going a couple of steps toward the prince, said something in +his own speech, and bowed with the dignity of a magnate. + +A bloody mist passed before the prince's eyes; he would have buried his +sword in the victor's breast gladly. But he conquered himself, thought +a moment, and taking a gold chain from his neck gave it to Sargon. + +The Assyrian bowed again, kissed the chain, and put it around his neck. +But the prince, with a bluish flush on his cheeks, returned to the door +by which actors entered the arena, and amid plaudits of the audience +left the amphitheatre with a feeling of deep humiliation. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +IT was the month Thoth. In the city of Pi-Bast and its environs the +concourse of people had begun, because of heat, to diminish. But the +court of Ramses amused itself always, and people talked of what had +happened in the amphitheatre. + +Courtiers praised the courage of the prince, maladroit men wondered at +the strength of Sargon, the priests whispered with important mien that +in every case the heir to the throne should not involve himself in +bull-fights: for that there were men who were hired, or who, at least, +did not possess public veneration. + +Either Ramses did not hear these various opinions, or did not consider +them. As to the spectacle, two episodes were fixed in his memory: +victory over the bull had been snatched from him by the Assyrian, who +had also paid court to Kama, and she had received his attentions most +willingly. + +Since he might not bring the Phoenician priestess to his palace, he +sent one day a letter to her in which he declared that he wished to see +her, and inquired when she would receive him. Through the same +messenger Kama replied that she would wait for him that evening. + +Barely had the stars shown themselves, when the prince (with the +greatest secrecy, as he thought) slipped out of the palace, and went to +the villa. The garden of the temple of Astaroth was almost empty, +especially near the house of the priestess. The building was silent, +and inside only two tapers were burning. + +When the prince knocked timidly, the priestess herself drew the door +open. In the dark antechamber she kissed his hand, whispering that she +would have died had the raging bull injured him in the arena. + +"But now Thou must be at rest, since thy lover saved me," said the +prince. + +When they entered the lighted chamber, Ramses saw that Kama was +weeping. + +"What does this mean?" inquired he. + +"The heart of my lord has turned from me," said she; "but perhaps +justly." + +The heir laughed bitterly in answer. + +"Then, sacred virgin, Thou art already his mistress, or about to be?" + +"Mistress? Never! But I may become the wife of that dreadful Assyrian." + +Ramses sprang from his seat. + +"Am I dreaming," cried he, "or has Set cast his curse on me? Thou, a +priestess, guarding the fire before the altar of Astaroth, thou, who +under the threat of death must be a virgin, art Thou going to marry? In +truth, Phoenician deceit is worse than people's account of it." + +"Hear me, lord," said Kama, wiping her tears away, "and condemn if I +deserve it. Sargon wishes to take me as his first wife. According to +our laws a priestess may, in very exceptional cases, become a wife, but +only if the man is of kingly origin. Sargon is a relative of King +Assar." + +"And wilt Thou marry him?" + +"If the supreme council of Tyrian priests command me, what can I do?" +replied she, bursting into tears again. + +"And what is Sargon to that council?" asked the prince. + +"Very much, perhaps," said Kama, with a sigh. "The Assyrians will take +Phoenicia in all likelihood, and Sargon will be its satrap." + +"Art Thou demented?" exclaimed the prince. + +"I say what I know. In our temple we have begun prayers the second time +to avert misfortune from Phoenicia. We had our first prayers before +Thou didst come to us." + +"Why do ye pray now?" + +"Because the Chaldean priest Istubar has just come to Egypt with +letters, in which King Assar appoints Sargon his ambassador to conclude +a treaty with you about the taking of Phoenicia." + +"But I" interrupted the prince. + +He wished to say, "know nothing," but he restrained himself, laughed, +and answered, + +"Kama, I swear to thee, on the honor of my father, that while I live +Assyria will not take Phoenicia. Is that enough?" + +"Oh, lord, lord!" cried she, falling at his feet. + +"Then Thou wilt not become the wife of that rude fellow?" + +"Oh," shuddered she, "canst Thou ask such a question?" + +"And Thou wilt be mine," whispered the prince. + +"Dost Thou wish my death?" asked she, terrified. "Well, if Thou wish +it, I am ready." + +"I wish thee to live," whispered he, impassioned, "to live, belonging +to me." + +"That cannot be," + +"But the supreme council of Tyrian priests?" + +"They can permit nothing but marriage." + +"But Thou wilt enter my house." + +"If I enter it not as thy wife, I shall die. But I am ready even not to +see to-morrow's sun." + +"Be at rest," replied the prince, seriously. "Whoso has my favor will +not experience injustice." + +Kama knelt before him a second time. + +"How can that be?" asked she, clasping her hands. + +Ramses was so roused that he had forgotten his position and his duties; +he was ready to promise the priestess even marriage. He was restrained +from that step, not by judgment, but by some dumb instinct. + +"How can this be? How can this be?" whispered Kama, devouring him with +her glances and kissing his feet. + +The prince raised her, seated her at a distance from him, and said with +a smile, + +"Thou askest how this can be I will explain immediately. My last +teacher, before I reached maturity, was a certain old priest, who knew +a multitude of marvelous histories from the lives of gods, kings, +priests, even lower officials and laborers. + +"This old man, famed for devotion and miracles, did not like women, I +know not why; he even dreaded them. Very frequently he described the +perversity of women, and once, to show how great the power is which ye +wield over men, he told me the following history: + +"A certain scribe, young and indigent, who had not an uten in his +purse, who had nothing save a barley cake, traveled down from Thebes to +Lower Egypt while seeking for employment. Men said that in the north +dwelt the richest lords and merchants, and that in case of luck he +would find a place in which he might acquire extensive property. + +"He walked along the Nile, for he had no coin with which to hire a +boat, and he pondered, + +"'How improvident are men inheriting a talent or two, or even ten +talents! Instead of adding to their wealth by traffic, or by lending at +high interest,' thought he, 'these men waste what they have, to no +purpose. Had I a drachma, well, one drachma is too little, but had I +one talent, or, better, a plot of land, I would increase it yearly, and +toward the end of life I should be as wealthy as the wealthiest +nomarch. + +"'But how begin!' said he, sighing. 'Only fools are favored by the +gods; and I am filled with wisdom from my wig to my two naked heels. If +in my heart a grain of dullness lurks, it is perhaps my inability to +squander, and I should not even know how to set about a work so godless +in its object.' + +"As the needy scribe was thus musing, he passed a mud hut at which sat +some man, neither old nor young, with a very keen glance, which reached +to the depth of whatever heart came before him. The scribe, as wise as +a stork, thought at once that this must be some divinity; so he bowed +down and said to him, + +"'I greet thee, worthy master of this splendid mansion. I grieve that I +have neither meat nor wine, so as to divide them between us, in sign +that I respect thee, and that whatever I own is thy property.' + +"This kindness of the scribe was pleasing to Amon, for he it was, in +human aspect. He looked at the scribe, and inquired of him, + +"'Of what wert Thou thinking while passing along here? for I see wisdom +on thy forehead, and I am of those who seize words of truth as +partridges pick up wheat kernels.' + +"The scribe sighed. + +"'I was thinking,' said he, 'of my misery, and of those frivolous rich +men who spend their wealth without knowing why or in what manner.' + +"'And wouldst Thou not waste wealth?' inquired the god, retaining human +semblance. + +"'Look at me, lord,' said the scribe. 'I have a tattered rag around my +hips, and on the road I have lost my sandals; but my papyrus and reed I +bear with me at all times, as I do the heart in my body. Both while +rising in the morning and lying down at night, I repeat that wise +poverty is far better than foolish riches. If I know how to express +myself in two kinds of writing and to solve the most complicated +problems, if I know all plants and every beast beneath the sky, Thou +mayst judge whether I, the master of such lore, am capable of wasting +property.' + +"The god pondered awhile, and continued, + +"'Thy speech flows as vigorously as the Nile at Memphis; but if Thou +art so wise, indeed, write for me the name of Amon in two manners.' + +"The scribe took his reed and brush, and in no long time he wrote the +name Amon in two manners on the door of the hut, and so clearly that +even dumb creatures would have stopped to give Lord Amon homage. + +"The god was satisfied, and answered, + +"'If Thou art as skilled in reckoning as in writing, reckon for me the +following problem: If they give me four hen eggs for one partridge, how +many hen eggs should they give me for seven partridges?' + +"The scribe gathered pebbles, placed them in various rows, and before +the sun had set, he answered that they should give twenty-eight eggs +for seven partridges. + +"The almighty Amon smiled when be saw before him a sage of such +uncommon proportions, and answered, + +"'I recognize that Thou hast spoken truth concerning thy wisdom. If +Thou shalt appear equally enduring in virtue I will so arrange that +Thou shalt be happy to the end of life, and after death thy sons shall +place thy shade in a beautiful tomb. But now tell me: what wealth dost +Thou wish, wealth which Thou wouldst not merely refrain from wasting, +but wouldst increase?' + +"The scribe fell to the feet of the generous deity, and answered, + +"'If I had even this hut and three measures of land, I should be +wealthy.' + +"'Well,' said the god, 'but first look around and see if it would +suffice thee.' + +"He led him into the hut, and said, + +"'Thou hast four caps and skirts, two mantles for bad weather, and two +pairs of sandals. Here is a fire, here a bench on which Thou mayst +sleep, a mortar for crushing wheat, and a pan for dough.' + +"'But what is this?' asked the scribe, pointing to a certain figure +covered with linen. + +"'That is one thing which Thou must not touch; if Thou do, Thou wilt +lose all thy property.' + +"'Ai!' cried the scribe. 'That may remain a thousand years there; I +will not trouble it. With permission of thy honor, what estate is that +over there?' and he bent through the hut window. + +"'Thou hast spoken wisely,' said Amon, 'for that is an estate, and even +a fine one. It is composed of fifty measures of land. There is a +spacious house on it, some tens of cattle, and ten slaves belong to the +establishment. If Thou prefer that estate.' + +"The scribe fell at the feet of the deity. + +"'Is there,' inquired he, 'a man under the sun who instead of a barley +cake would not prefer a loaf of wheaten bread?' + +"When he heard this, Amon repeated a formula, and that moment both were +in the mansion. + +"'Here Thou hast,' said the god, 'a carved bed, five tables, and ten +armchairs; Thou hast embroidered clothing, Thou hast pitchers, and +glass bottles for wine, a lamp for olive oil, and a litter.' + +"'And what is this?' asked the scribe, pointing to a figure robed in +muslin and standing in a corner. + +"'Thou must not touch that or Thou wilt lose all thy property.' + +"'Were I to live ten thousand years I would not touch it. For, after +wisdom, I consider wealth the highest blessing.' + +"'But what do I see?' inquired he after a while, pointing to an immense +palace in a garden. + +"'Over there is a princely estate,' replied the god. 'That is a palace, +five hundred measures of land, one hundred slaves, and two hundred head +of cattle. That is a grand property: but if Thou think thy wisdom +sufficient to manage it.' + +"The scribe fell again at the feet of Amon, and covered himself with +tears of delight. + +"'O lord,' said he, 'is there on earth a mad man who instead of a +goblet of beer would not take a cask of wine?' + +"'Thy words are worthy of the sage who can make the most difficult +reckonings,' said Amon. + +"He pronounced the mighty words of the formula; the god and the scribe +found themselves in the palace. + +"'Here Thou hast,' said the kind god, 'a dining-hall; in it gold and +gilded curtains, and armchairs, also tables inlaid with woods of +various colors. In the lower story is a kitchen for five cooks; a +storehouse where Thou wilt find all kinds of meat, fish, bread; +finally, a cellar with perfect wines in it. Thou hast a bedchamber with +a movable roof, with which thy slaves will cool thee while Thou art +sleeping. I turn attention to the bed, which is made of cedar wood, and +rests on four lion legs cast from bronze skillfully. Thou hast a +wardrobe filled with linen and woolen garments; in caskets Thou wilt +find rings, chains, and bracelets.' + +"But what is this?" asked the scribe, pointing to a figure covered with +a veil embroidered in gold and purple. + +"'Thou must guard thyself from this most carefully,' warned the god. +'If Thou touch this, thy immense estate will vanish. And there are few +such estates in Egypt, I assure thee. Moreover, I must say that in the +treasury here there are ten talents in gold and precious stones in +addition.'" + +"My sovereign," cried the scribe, "permit that the first place in this +palace be held by thy sacred statue, before which I will burn incense +three times daily." + +"'But avoid that,' replied Amon, pointing to the veiled figure. + +"'Should I lose my wisdom, and be worse than a wild boar, for which +wine is no better than swill,' said the scribe; 'let that veiled figure +do penance here for a hundred millenniums, I will not touch it.' + +"'Remember that if Thou do Thou wilt lose all Thou hast,' cried the +god; and he vanished. + +"The scribe, now made happy, walked up and down through his palace and +looked out through the windows. He examined the treasury and tried the +gold in his hands; it was heavy. He looked at the precious stones; they +were genuine. He commanded to serve him with food; in rushed slaves +immediately, bathed him, shaved him, arrayed him in fine garments. He +ate and drank as be never had drunk and eaten; his hunger joined with +the perfection of the food gave a marvelous taste to it. He burnt +incense before the statue of Amon, and wreathed it with fresh flowers. +Later he sat down at a window. + +"In the courtyard a pair of horses were neighing; they were harnessed +to a carved chariot. In another place a crowd of men with darts and +nets were keeping down eager dogs which were tearing away to chase +animals. Before a granary one scribe was receiving grain from earth- +tillers; before the stable another scribe was receiving reckoning from +the overseer of the shepherds. + +"In the distance were visible an olive grove, high hills covered with +grape-vines, wheat-fields, and on every field were date palms set out +thickly. + +"'In truth,' said he to himself, 'I am rich today, just as was proper; +and I only wonder how I endured life so long in abasement and misery. I +must confess, too, that I do not know whether I can increase this +immense property, for I need no more now, and I shall not have time to +run after investments.' + +"But after a while it was tedious in the house for him; so he looked at +the garden, went around the fields, talked with the servants, who fell +on their faces in his presence, though they were dressed in such style +that yesterday he would have thought it an honor to kiss the hands of +any one of them; but he was bored in the field even, so he went back to +the house, and examined the supplies in his storehouses and cellars, +also the furniture in the chambers. + +"'They are beautiful,' said he to himself; 'but it would be better if +the furniture were made of gold, and the pitchers of jewels.' + +"His eyes turned mechanically toward the corner where the figure was +concealed under an embroidered veil and it sighed. + +"'Sigh!' said he, taking a censer to burn incense before the statue of +Amon. + +"'He is a kind god,' thought he, 'who values the qualities of sages, +even when barefoot, and deals out to them justice. What a beautiful +estate he has given me! It is true that I showed him honor by writing +Amon on the door of that hut in two manners. And how beautifully I +reckoned how many hen eggs he would get for seven partridges. My +teachers were right when they said that wisdom opens the lips of gods +even,' + +"He turned again toward the corner. The veiled figure sighed again. + +"'I am curious to know,' thought the scribe, 'why my friend Amon +forbade me to touch that thing over there in the corner. Well, for such +a property he had a right to impose conditions; though I should not +have imposed them on him. For if all this palace is my property, if I +may use all that is here, why should I not even touch this thing I may +not touch it, but I may look at it.' + +"He approached the figure, drew the veil aside carefully, looked; it +was indeed beautiful. It resembled a boy, but was not a boy. It had +hair reaching to its knees, delicate features, and a look full of +sweetness. + +"'Who art thou?' asked the scribe of the figure. + +"'I am a woman,' answered the figure, with a voice that penetrated his +heart like a Phoenician dagger. + +"'Woman?' thought the scribe. 'They did not tell me about woman in the +priests' school. Woman?' repeated he. 'But what hast Thou here?' + +"'Those are my eyes.' + +"'Eyes? What canst Thou see with eyes which would melt before any +light?' + +"'Those are not eyes made for me to look from, but Thou must look into +them.' + +"'Wonderful eyes! '" thought the scribe to himself; and he walked +through the chamber. + +"Again he stood before the figure, and asked, + +"'But what hast Thou here?' + +"'Those are my lips.' + +"'By the gods, Thou wilt die of hunger,' cried he, 'for with such +little lips Thou couldst take in no food whatever.' + +"'They are not for eating,' answered the figure, 'but Thou art to kiss +them.' + +"'To kiss,' repeated the scribe. 'They did not tell me in the priests' +school of kissing. But these what are they?' + +"'Those are my hands.' + +"'Hands? It is well that Thou hast told me, for with those hands Thou +couldst not do anything; Thou couldst not milk sheep even.' + +"'My hands are not for work.' + +"'But for what?' wondered the scribe, spreading apart her fingers (as I +do thine, Kama," said the prince, fondling the small hands of the +priestess). "' But what are those arms for?' inquired the scribe of the +figure. + +"'To put around thy neck.' + +"'Thou wishest to say shoulder,' cried the frightened scribe, whom the +priest always seized by the shoulder when he was to get stripes. + +"'Not by the shoulder,' said the figure, 'but this way;' and she put +her arms around his neck thus," said the prince (here he put his arms +around the priestess), "and she nestled up to his breast thus" (here he +nestled up to Kama). + +"Lord, what art Thou doing?" whispered Kama. "But this is nay death." + +"Have no fear," replied the prince; "I was only showing thee what the +statue did to that scribe in his palace. The moment she embraced him +the earth trembled, the palace disappeared, dogs, horses, slaves +vanished. The hill covered with grape-vines turned into a cliff, the +olive-trees into thorns, the wheat into sand. The scribe, when he +recovered in the embrace of his love, understood that he was as poor as +he had been on the highroad a day earlier. But he did not regret his +wealth, since he had a woman who loved and who clung to him." + +"So everything vanished but the woman!" exclaimed Kama, naively. + +"The compassionate Amon left her to the scribe to console him," said +the viceroy. + +"Then Amon is compassionate only to scribes," answered Kama. "But what +does that story signify?" + +"Guess. But Thou hast just heard what the poor scribe yielded up for +the kiss of a woman." + +"But he would not yield up a throne," interrupted the priestess. + +"Who knows? if he were implored greatly to do so," whispered Ramses, +with passion. + +"Oh, no!" cried Kama, tearing away from him; "let not the throne go so +easily, for what would become then of thy promise to Phoenicia?" + +They looked into each other's eyes for a long time. The prince felt a +wound in his heart, and felt as if through that wound some feeling had +gone from him. It was not passion, for passion remained; but it was +esteem for Kama, and faith in her. + +"Wonderful are these Phoenicians," thought the heir; "one may go wild +for them, but 'tis not possible to trust them." + +He felt wearied, and took farewell of the priestess. He looked around +the chamber as though it were difficult to leave the place; and while +going, he said to himself, + +"And still Thou wilt be mine, and Phoenician gods will not kill thee, +if they regard their own priests and temples." + +Barely had Ramses left Kama's villa, when into the chamber of the +priestess rushed a young Greek who was strikingly beautiful, and +strikingly similar to Ramses. Rage was depicted on his face. + +"Lykon!" cried the terrified Kama. "What art Thou doing here?" + +"Vile reptile!" replied the Greek, in his resonant voice. "A month has +not passed since thy oath, declaring thy love, and that Thou wouldst +flee to Greece with me, and now Thou art falling on the neck of +another. Are the gods dead? Has justice deserted them?" + +"Thou art mad with thy jealousy," interrupted the priestess; "Thou wilt +kill me." + +"It is sure that I, and not thy stone goddess, will kill thee. With +these two hands," cried he, stretching out his fingers, like talons, "I +will choke thee if Thou hast become the mistress." + +"Of whom?" + +"Do I know? Of course, of both, of that old Assyrian and this +princeling, whose head I will split with a stone should he prowl about +this place any longer. The prince! he has all the women of Egypt, and +still he wants foreign priestesses. The priestesses are for priests, +not for foreigners." + +Kama recovered her coolness. + +"But for us art Thou not a foreigner?" asked she, haughtily. + +"Reptile!" burst out the Greek, a second time. "I cannot be a foreigner +for you Asiatics, since that gift of voice with which the gods have +endowed me is turned to the use of your divinities. But how often, by +means of my figure, have ye deceived dull Asiatics by telling them that +the heir to the throne of Egypt belongs to your faith in secret?" + +"Silence! silence!" hissed the priestess, closing his mouth with her +hand. + +There must have been something enchanting in her touch, for the Greek +grew calm, and spoke lower. + +"Hear me, Kama. Soon to the bay of Sebenico will come a Greek ship, +commanded by my brother. Make the high priest send thee to Pi-Uto; we +shall flee thence to northern Greece, to a place which has never yet +seen a Phoenician." + +"It will see them if I hide there," interrupted the priestess. + +"Should a hair fall from thy head," whispered the raging Greek, "I +swear that Dagon, that all the Phoenicians here will lose their heads, +or die in the stone quarries. They will learn what a Greek can do." + +"But I say to thee," answered Kama, in the same tone, "that until I +collect twenty talents I will not leave here. I have now only eight." + +"Where wilt Thou get the other twelve?" + +"Sargon and the viceroy will give them." + +"I will let Sargon give, but not the prince." + +"Foolish Lykon, dost thou not know why that stripling pleases me a +little? He reminds me of thee." + +The Greek was perfectly quieted. + +"Well, well," muttered he, "I understand that when a woman has the +choice between the heir to the throne and a man with my voice I have no +need to tremble. But I am jealous and violent, so I beg thee to let him +approach thee as little as possible." + +He kissed her, slipped out of the villa, and vanished in the dark +garden. + +Kama stretched her clinched fist after him. + +"Worthless buffoon!" whispered she; "Thou who art hardly fit to be a +singing slave in my mansion." + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +When Ramses on the following morning visited his son, he found Sarah +weeping. He asked what the cause was. She answered at first that +nothing troubled her; then she said that she was sad. At last she fell +at his feet and cried bitterly. + +"My lord," whispered she, "I know that Thou hast ceased to love me, but +at least avoid danger." + +"Who said that I have ceased to love thee?" asked Ramses, astonished. + +"Thou hast in thy house three new women, ladies of high family." + +"Ah, so that is the trouble?" + +"Besides, Thou art exposing thyself for a fourth, a wicked Phoenician." + +The prince was confused. Whence could Sarah know of Kama, and know that +she was wicked? + +"As dust squeezes into caskets, so scandals work into the quietest +houses," said Ramses. "Who has spoken to thee of a Phoenician?" + +"Do I know who? My heart and an evil omen." + +"Then are there omens?" + +"Terrible. One old priestess learned, I suppose from a crystal ball, +that we shall all perish through Phoenicians, especially I and my son," +burst out Sarah. + +"And Thou who believest in One, in Jehovah, fearest the fictions of +some stupid old woman who is perhaps intriguing? Where is thy great +Deity?" + +"My God is only mine, but those others are thine; so I must revere +them." + +"Then that old woman spoke to thee of Phoenicians?" asked Ramses. + +"She told me long ago, while in Memphis, that I should guard against a +Phoenician woman," answered Sarah. "Here all are speaking of a +Phoenician priestess. I cannot tell; maybe it is only something +wandering in my troubled head." + +"People say even that were it not for her spell Thou wouldst not have +sprung into the arena. Oh, if the bull had killed thee! Even today, +when I think of the evil which might have happened, the heart grows +cold in my bosom." + +"Laugh, Sarah," interrupted Ramses, joyously. "She whom I take to +myself stands so high that no fear should reach her, still less, stupid +scandal." + +"But misfortune? Is there a mountain top so high that the missile of +misfortune may not reach it?" + +"Thy sickness has wearied thee, and fever has disturbed thy mind; that +is why Thou art troubled without reason. Be quiet, and watch over my +son. A man," said he, in deep thought, "be he Greek or Phoenician, can +harm only beings like himself, but not us, who are gods of this world." + +"What didst Thou say of a Greek? What Greek?" asked Sarah, alarmed. + +"Did I say Greek? I know nothing of a Greek. Such a word may have +slipped from me; perhaps Thou didst not hear correctly." + +He kissed Sarah and his son, and took farewell of them; but he did not +expel fear. + +"We must say once, and decisively," thought he, "that in Egypt no +secret is hidden. The priests and my attendants follow me, even when +they are drunk, or pretend to be, and the serpent eyes of Phoenicia are +gazing at Kama. If they have not hidden her before me thus far, they +must have small regard for her virtue. Moreover, before whom? Before +me, to whom they themselves discovered the deceptions of their own +temple. Kama will belong to me. They are too much involved in this to +think of bringing my auger on their heads by opposition." + +A couple of days later the holy Mentezufis, assistant of the worthy +Herhor, came to the erpatr. Ramses, looking at the pale face and +downcast eyes of the prophet, divined that he too knew of the +Phoenician woman, and perhaps wished, as a priest, to reprimand the +viceroy. But this time Mentezufis did not mention affairs touching the +heart of the heir. + +When he had greeted the prince, with an official mien, the prophet took +the seat indicated, and began, + +"From the Memphis palace of the lord of eternity they have informed me +that in recent days the Chaldean high priest Istubar, the court +astrologer and counselor of his grace King Assar, has come to Pi-Bast." + +The prince desired to tell Mentezufis the reason of Istubar's coming, +but he bit his lips and was silent. + +"The renowned Istubar," continued the priest, "has brought documents in +virtue of which the worthy Sargon, a satrap, and a relative of King +Assar, remains with us as ambassador of that mighty sovereign." + +The prince was near bursting into laughter. The seriousness with which +Mentezufis had thought fit to lay bare a small part of the secrets long +known to Ramses filled him with contempt and delight also. + +"This trickster," thought the prince, "has not an inkling in his heart +that I know all their villainy." + +"The worthy Sargon and the revered Istubar," continued Mentezufis, +"will go to Memphis to kiss the feet of his holiness. But first, +worthiness, thou, as viceroy, wilt be pleased to receive both these +dignitaries graciously, and their suite also." + +"Very willingly," answered the prince, "and on that occasion I shall +ask them when Assyria will pay the arrears of tribute?" + +"Wouldst Thou do that, worthiness?" asked the priest, looking him in +the eyes. + +"That first of all; our treasury needs tribute." + +Mentezufis rose suddenly from his seat, and said, in solemn though +lowered accents, + +"O viceroy of our lord, and giver of life, in the name of his holiness +I forbid thee to speak with anyone of tribute, but, above all, with +Sargon, Istubar, or any man of their suite." + +The prince grew pale. + +"Priest," said he, standing up also, "on what basis dost Thou speak to +me as a superior?" + +Mentezufis drew aside his robe, and took from his neck a chain on which +was one of the pharaoh's rings. + +The viceroy looked at the ring, kissed it with devotion, returned it to +the priest, and answered, + +"I will fulfill the command of his holiness, my lord and father." + +Again both sat down, and the prince asked the priest, + +"Canst Thou explain to me, worthiness, why Assyria should not pay us +tribute which would save the state treasury from embarrassment?" + +"Because we have not the power to force Assyria to pay us tribute," +answered Mentezufis, coldly. "We have an army of a hundred and twenty +thousand, Assyria has three hundred thousand warriors. I say this to +thee, worthiness, in perfect confidence, as to a high state official." + +"I understand. But why did the ministry of war, in which Thou servest, +decrease our valiant army sixty thousand men?" + +"To increase the income of his holiness twenty thousand talents," +replied the priest. + +"Aha! Tell me, then, worthiness," continued the prince, "with what +object is Sargon going to the feet of the pharaoh?" + +"I know not." + +"Aha! But why should I not know, I, who am heir to the throne?" + +"Because there are state secrets which barely a few dignitaries know." + +"And which even my most worthy father may not know?" + +"Assuredly he may not, for there are things which even his holiness may +not know, since he does not possess the highest priestly consecration." + +"It is wonderful!" said the prince, after some thought. "Egypt is the +property of the pharaoh, and still things may be done in it which are +unknown to him. Explain this to me, worthiness." + +"Egypt is first of all, and even only and exclusively, the property of +Amon," said the priest. "There is absolute need, therefore, that only +those should know the highest secrets to whom Amon has declared his +plans and purposes." + +The prince, while listening, felt as if people were turning him on a +bed of dagger points under which fire was burning. + +Mentezufis wished to rise; Ramses detained him. + +"One word more," said he, mildly. "Is Egypt so weak that she cannot +even mention the Assyrian tribute?" + +He panted. + +"If Egypt is so wretched," continued he, "then what assurance is there +that Assyria will not attack us?" + +"We may assure ourselves by a treaty," answered the priest. + +The heir waved his hand. + +"There are no treaties for the weak!" said he. "Silver tablets +inscribed with agreements will not guard boundaries unless spears and +swords stand behind them." + +"But who has told thee, worthiness, that they will not stand on our +land?" + +"Thou thyself. One hundred and twenty thousand men must yield before +three hundred thousand. Were Assyrians to come here, Egypt would be +turned into a desert." + +Mentezufis eyes flashed. + +"If they were to invade us," cried he, "their bones would never touch +their own country! We should arm all the nobles, all the regiments of +laborers, even convicts in the quarries. We should take the treasures +from all temples. And Assyria would meet five hundred thousand Egyptian +warriors." + +Ramses was delighted at this outburst of patriotism in Mentezufis. He +seized him by the hand, and said, + +"Then, if we are able to have such an army, why do we not attack +Babylon? Is not the great warrior Nitager imploring us for years to do +so? Is not his holiness alarmed by the movement in Assyria? If we let +them concentrate their forces, the struggle will be most difficult; but +if we begin ourselves." + +The priest interrupted him, + +"Dost Thou know, prince, what a war is to which one must go through a +desert? Who will assure us that before we could reach the Euphrates +half our army and carriers would not perish from hardship?" + +"That would be cured by one battle," interrupted Ramses. + +"A battle!" repeated the priest. "But does the prince know what a +battle is?" + +"I hope so!" replied the heir, striking his sword. + +Mentezufis shrugged his shoulders. + +"But I say, lord, that Thou dost not know what a battle is; Thou hast +even an entirely false idea of it from maneuvers at which Thou hast +always been the victor, though more than once Thou shouldst have been +conquered." + +The prince frowned. The priest put his hand beneath his robe, and said +quickly, + +"Guess what I have in my hand, worthiness." + +"What?" repeated Ramses, with astonishment. + +"Guess quickly and truly," insisted the priest, "for if Thou art +mistaken two of thy regiments perish." + +"Thou hast a ring," said the heir, who had grown joyous. + +Mentezufis opened his hand; there was a bit of papyrus in it. + +"But what have I now?" asked the priest again. + +"A ring." + +"Well, not a ring, but an amulet of the divine Hator. Dost see, lord, +that is a battle? In time of battle Fate holds out her hand every +moment, and commands us to guess at the very quickest the surprise +enclosed in it. We succeed, or we fail; but woe to the man who fails +oftener than he guesses; and a hundredfold more to those on whom Fate +turns her back and forces into blunders." + +"But still I believe, and I feel here," cried the heir, striking his +breast, "that Assyria must be trampled." + +"Oh, that the god Amon might speak through thy mouth," said Mentezufis. +"What Thou sayst is true; Assyria will be humbled, perhaps even with +thy hands, but not immediately not immediately." + +The priest took farewell; Ramses remained alone. In his head and his +heart raged a hurricane. + +"So Hiram was right in saying that they deceive us," thought he. "I am +certain now that our priests have made a treaty with the Chaldeans +which his holiness will be forced to sanction. Has anyone ever heard of +a thing so monstrous? He, the lord of the living, and of the western +world, must sign a treaty invented by intriguers!" + +Breath failed him. + +"The holy Mentezufis has betrayed himself. It is true, then, that in +case of need Egypt can put forth an army of half a million? I did not +even dream of such forces. Still they think that I fear their fables +about fate, which commands us to solve riddles. Only let me have two +hundred thousand men, trained like Greek and Libyan regiments, and I +would undertake to solve all riddles on earth and in the heavens." + +"That is a hot head," thought the worthy Mentezufis, while returning to +his cell, "a woman hunter, an adventurer, but strong. After the weak +pharaoh of today he reminds us rather of Ramses the Great. In ten years +the stars may change; he will ripen and crush Assyria. Of Nineveh there +will remain only ruins, sacred Babylon will find its true place, and +the one supreme God, the God of Egyptian and Chaldean prophets, will +reign from the Libyan desert to the sacred Ganges." + +"If our youth would not make himself ridiculous by night pilgrimages to +the Phoenician priestess; if he should be seen in the garden of +Astaroth, or if people should think that the erpatr was inclining his +ear to the faith of Phoenicia. Not much is needed in Lower Egypt to +reject the ancient gods. What a mixture there is of nations here!" + +Some days later the worthy Sargon informed the viceroy officially of +his position as ambassador, declared the wish to salute him, and begged +for an Egyptian escort which might conduct him with all safety and +honor to the feet of the pharaoh. + +The prince deferred his answer two days, and appointed an audience to +Sargon at the expiration of two other days. The Assyrian, accustomed to +eastern delay in journeys and business, was offended in no way, and +wasted no time. He drank from morning till evening, played dice with +Hiram and other rich men from Asia. In free moments he slipped away, +like Ramses, to Kama. + +As an elderly and a practical man, he offered the priestess rich +presents at every visit. His feelings he explained as follows: + +"O Kama, why sit in Pi-Bast and grow thin here? While young, the +service of Astaroth may please thee; but when old, a wretched fate will +present itself. They will take thy costly robes from thee, and put a +younger woman in the temple; Thou wilt earn, then, a handful of roasted +barley by telling fortunes, or by nursing women in childbirth. Had the +gods in punishment created me a woman, I should choose to be the mother +and not the nurse attending her." + +"Hence I say," continued Sargon, "leave the temple and join my +household. I will give thee ten talents in gold; I will give forty +cows, and of wheat a hundred measures. The priests will fear +chastisement from the gods, so as to gain from me a better bargain. But +I shall not yield a drachma; I may add, at most, a few sheep to let +them celebrate a solemn service. The heavenly Astaroth will appear +then, and will free thee from vows if I add a gold chain or a goblet." + +While listening to these statements Kama bit her lips to restrain +laughter; and he continued, + +"If Thou go with me to Nineveh, Thou wilt be a great lady. Thou shalt +have a palace; I will give thee also horses, a litter, slaves, and +servants. In one month Thou wilt pour out on thy person more perfume +than Thou offerest here in one year to thy goddess. And who knows," +concluded he, "Thou mayst please King Assar; if so, he would take thee +to his palace. Thou wouldst be the happiest of women, and I should get +back what I had spent on thee." + +At the palace of the heir, on the day appointed to receive Sargon, +Egyptian troops were drawn up, and a throng of people were standing +near, eager for spectacles. + +The Assyrian retinue appeared about midday, the hour when heat is +greatest. In front inarched policemen armed with swords and sticks; +behind them a number of naked swift runners, and three horses. Those +were trumpeters and a herald. At the corner of each street the +trumpeters sounded a signal, and the herald called in a loud voice: +"Behold, Sargon is approaching; the ambassador of the mighty Assar, a +relative of the king, a lord of immense wealth, a conqueror in battles, +a ruler of provinces. Give him, O people, due homage as a friend of the +ruler of Egypt!" + +After the trumpeters rode Assyrian cavalry, with pointed caps, in +narrow skirts and jackets. Their shaggy and enduring horses had on +their foreheads and breasts bronze armor patterned as fish-scales. Next +appeared infantry in helmets, and long mantles reaching the earth. One +division was armed with heavy clubs, the next with bows, the third with +spears and shields. Each man had, besides, a sword, and was armored. + +After the soldiers came Sargon's horses, chariots, and litters, +surrounded by servants in white, red, and green garments. After them +came five elephants with litters on their backs; on one rode Sargon, on +another the Chaldean priest Istubar. + +The procession was closed by warriors on horseback and on foot, and by +harsh Assyrian music, produced by trumpets, drums, metallic plates, and +pipes squealing shrilly. + +Prince Ramses, surrounded by priests, nobility, and officers, dressed +in various colors, and richly, was awaiting the ambassador in the great +hall of audience, which was open on all sides. The heir was gladsome, +knowing that the Assyrians were bringing gifts which, in the eyes of +Egyptians, might pass as tribute. But when he heard the immense voice +of a herald in the court praising the might of Sargon, he frowned. +"When the expression flew to his ears, that King Assar was the friend +of the pharaoh, he grew angry. His nostrils dilated like those of an +angry bull, and sparks flashed in his eyeballs. Seeing this, the +officers and nobility began to assume threatening faces, and put hands +to their sword-hilts. The holy Mentezufis noted their looks, and cried, + +"In the name of his holiness, I command nobles and officers to receive +the worthy Sargon with the respect due a great king's ambassador!" + +The heir frowned, and strode impatiently along the raised platform +where his viceregal chair was standing. But the disciplined officers +and the nobles grew silent, knowing that they could not trifle with the +assistant of the war minister. + +Meanwhile, in the court the immense and heavily armed Assyrian warriors +stood in three ranks, opposite the half naked and slender warriors of +Egypt. The two sides looked at each other like a band of tigers at a +herd of rhinoceroses. In the hearts of each ancient hatred was +smoldering. But command towered above hatred. + +At that moment the elephants entered, the Egyptian and Assyrian +trumpets roared, the troops of both armies raised their weapons, the +people fell on their faces, while the Assyrian dignitaries, Sargon and +Istubar, were descending from their litters. + +In the hall Prince Ramses sat on an elevated chair beneath a baldachin, +while at the entrance door appeared the herald. + +"Most worthy lord," said he, turning to the heir, "the ambassador of +the great King Assar, the renowned Sargon, and his associate, the pious +prophet Istubar, desire to salute thee and render thee honor as viceroy +and heir to the pharaoh, may he live through eternity!" + +"Ask those dignitaries to enter and comfort my heart by the sight of +their persons," answered the viceroy. + +Sargon entered the hall with a clattering and clinking. He was dressed +in a long green robe, thickly embroidered with gold. At his side, in a +snow-white mantle, walked the devout Istubar, and behind them stately +Assyrian lords carried gifts for the viceroy. + +Sargon approached the elevation, and said in the Assyrian language, +which an interpreter repeated in Egyptian immediately, + +"I, Sargon, a leader, a satrap, and a relative of the most mighty King +Assar, come to salute thee, O viceroy of the most mighty pharaoh, and +in sign of eternal friendship I offer gifts to thee." + +The heir rested his palms on his knees, and sat as motionless as the +statues of his ancestors. + +"Interpreter," said Sargon, "hast Thou repeated badly to the prince my +kindly greeting?" + +Mentezufis, standing near the elevation, turned toward Ramses. + +"Prince," whispered he, "the Lord Sargon is waiting for a gracious +answer." + +"Then answer him that I do not understand by what right he speaks to me +as if he were my equal in dignity." + +Mentezufis was confused, which still more angered the prince, whose +lips began to tremble; and again his eyes flashed. But the Chaldean, +Istubar, understanding Egyptian, said quickly to Sargon, + +"Let us fall on our faces." + +"Why should I fall on my face?" inquired the indignant Sargon. + +"Fall, unless Thou wish to lose the favor of King Assar, and perhaps +thy head also." + +Thus speaking, Istubar lay on the floor at full length, and Sargon next +to him. + +"Why should I lie on my belly before that stripling?" muttered Sargon, +indignantly. + +"Because he is viceroy," answered Istubar. + +"Have I not been viceroy of my lord?" + +"But he will be king, and Thou wilt not." + +"What are the ambassadors of the most mighty King Assar discussing?" +inquired the prince, now satisfied, of the interpreter. + +"This: whether they are to show thy worthiness the gifts intended for +the pharaoh, or only to give those sent to thee," replied the dexterous +interpreter. + +"I wish to see the gifts intended for his holiness my father," said the +prince, "and I permit the ambassadors to rise." + +Sargon rose, purple from rage or weariness, and sat down on the floor +cross-legged. + +"I knew not," said he, "that I, a relative and an ambassador of the +great Assar, should be forced to wipe with my garments dust from the +pavement of an Egyptian viceroy." + +Mentezufis knew Assyrian, and commanded, without asking Ramses, to +bring immediately two benches covered with cushions, on which sat at +once the panting Sargon and the calm Istubar. + +When Sargon had puffed himself quiet, he gave command to produce a +great glass goblet, a steel sword, and to lead up before the entrance +two horses decked with gold housings. When his command was obeyed he +rose and, inclining, addressed Ramses, + +"My lord, King Assar sends thee, O prince, two wonderful horses, may +they bear thee only to victory! He sends also a goblet, may gladness +always flow to thy heart from it! and a sword the like of which Thou +wilt not find in the armory of the mightiest ruler." + +He drew from its scabbard a rather long sword, shining like silver, and +bent it. The sword bent like a bow, and then sprang out straight again. + +"A wonderful weapon, indeed," said Ramses. + +"If Thou permit, O viceroy, I will show thee another of its qualities," +said Sargon, who, with the chance to praise Assyrian arms, which at +that time were excellent, forgot his anger. + +At his request one of the Egyptian officers unsheathed a bronze sword +and held it as if to attack. Then Sargon raised his steel blade, struck +and cut a slice from the weapon of the other man. + +In the hall rose a murmur of astonishment, and an intense flush came +out on the face of Ramses. + +"That foreigner," thought he, "took the bull from me in the circus, he +wishes to marry Kama, and now he shows a sword which cuts our blades +into shavings." + +And he felt a still deeper hatred toward King Assar, toward all +Assyrians in general, and toward Sargon especially. But he endeavored +to command himself, and with politeness begged the envoy to show those +gifts intended for the pharaoh. + +They brought immediately immense packs made of fragrant wood; from one +of these the higher Assyrian officials took articles, goblets, +pitchers, steel weapons, bows made of goat horns, gilded weapons, and +shields set with jewels. + +But the most splendid gift was a model of King Assar's palace in gold +and silver. It looked like three edifices, the second smaller than the +first, the third smaller than the second; the second built upon the +first, the third upon the second. Each was surrounded thickly by +columns, and instead of a roof had a flat pavement. Each entrance was +guarded by lions or winged bulls with human heads. On both sides of the +stairs stood statues of vassals of the king, bearing gifts; on both +sides of the entrance were carved horses in various positions. Sargon +removed one wall of the model, and showed rich chambers filled with +priceless furniture. Special wonder was roused by the audience hall, +where were figures representing the king on a lofty throne, and near +him courtiers, warriors, and vassals giving homage. + +The entire model was as long as twice the height of a man, and almost +as high as the height of one man. The Egyptians whispered that that +gift alone was worth a hundred and fifty talents. + +When the packs were carried out, the heir invited the ambassadors and +their retinue to a feast, during which abundant gifts were bestowed on +the Assyrians. Ramses pushed his politeness so far that when one of the +women pleased Sargon the prince presented her to the ambassador, of +course with her consent and the permission of her mother. + +The prince was polite and bountiful, but his face was still clouded. +And when Tutmosis asked him if King Assar had not a beautiful palace, +the prince answered, + +"Its ruins on the ashes of Nineveh would be more beautiful to my eyes." + +At that feast the Assyrians were very abstemious. Notwithstanding the +abundance of wine, they drank little, and did not shout greatly. Sargon +did not even once burst into loud laughter, though that was his custom; +he cast down his eyes and thought deeply. + +But the two priests Istubar, the Chaldean, and Mentezufis, the Egyptian +were calm, like men to whom the future is known, and who command it. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +AFTER his reception by the viceroy, Sargon delayed at Pi-Bast, waiting +for letters from the pharaoh at Memphis. Meanwhile strange reports +began to circulate among officers and nobles. + +The Phoenicians told, of course as the greatest secret, that the +priests, it was unknown for what reason, not only forgave the Assyrians +the unpaid tribute, not only freed them once and for all time from +paying it, but, besides, to facilitate some northern war for the +Assyrians, had concluded a treaty of peace for many years with them. + +"The pharaoh," said the Phoenicians, "on learning of these concessions +to Assyria fell very ill. Prince Ramses is troubled, and goes around +grief-stricken. But both must give way to the priests, for they are not +sure of the nobles and the army." + +This enraged the Egyptian aristocracy. + +"Is it possible?" whispered magnates who were in debt. "Does the +dynasty not trust us? Have the priests undertaken to disgrace and ruin +Egypt? For it is clear that if Assyria has a war in the distant north +somewhere, now is just the time to attack her and fill the reduced +treasury of the pharaoh and the aristocracy with plunder." + +One and another of the young lords made bold to ask the prince what he +thought of Assyrians. Ramses was silent, but the gleam in his eyes and +his fixed lips expressed his feelings sufficiently. + +"It is clear," whispered the lords, later on, "that this dynasty is +bound by the priesthood. It yields not its confidence to nobles; great +misfortunes are threatening Egypt." + +Silent anger was soon turned into secret councils, which had even the +semblance of conspiracy. Though many persons took part in this action, +the priests were self-confident, or knew nothing of this in their +blindness; and Sargon, though he felt the existing hatred, did not +attach to it importance. He learned that Prince Ramses disliked him, +but that he attributed to the event in the arena, and to his jealousy +in the affair of the priestess. Confident, however, in his position as +ambassador, he drank, feasted, and slipped away almost every evening to +Kama, who received with increasing favor his courting and his presents. + +Such was the condition of mind in the higher circles, when on a certain +night the holy Mentezufis rushed to the prince's dwelling, and declared +that he must see the viceroy immediately. + +The courtiers answered that one of his women was visiting their lord, +and that they would not disturb him. But when Mentezufis insisted with +increasing emphasis, they called out Ramses. + +The prince appeared after a time, and was not even angry. + +"What is this?" asked he of the priest. "Are we at war, that Thou +takest the trouble to visit me at an hour like the present?" + +Mentezufis looked diligently at the prince, and sighed deeply. + +"Has the prince not gone out all the evening?" inquired he. + +"Not a step." + +"Can I give a priest's word for this?" + +The heir was astonished. + +"It seems to me," answered he, haughtily, "that thy word is not needed, +since I have given mine. What does this mean?" + +They withdrew to a special chamber. + +"Dost Thou know, lord," asked the excited priest, "what has happened, +perhaps an hour since? Some young men attacked the worthy Sargon and +clubbed him." + +"Who were they? Where did this happen?" + +"At the villa of a Phoenician priestess named Kama," answered +Mentezufis, watching the face of the heir sharply. + +"Daring fellows," said the prince, shrugging his shoulders, "to attack +such a stalwart man! I suppose that more than one bone was broken in +that struggle." + +"But to attack an ambassador! Consider, worthy lord, an ambassador +protected by the majesty of Assyria and Egypt," said the priest. + +"Ho! ho!" laughed the prince. "Then King Assar sends ambassadors even +to Phoenician dancers?" + +Mentezufis was confused. All at once he tapped his forehead, and cried +out also, with laughter, + +"See, prince, what a simple man I am, unfamiliar with ceremonies. I +forgot that Sargon, strolling about in the night near the house of a +suspected woman, is not an ambassador, but an ordinary person." + +After a while he added, + +"In every case something evil has happened. Sargon may conceive a +dislike for us." + +"Priest! O priest!" cried Ramses, shaking his head. "Thou hast +forgotten this, a thing of much more importance, that Egypt has no need +to fear or even care for the good or bad feeling toward her, not merely +of Sargon, but King Assar." + +Mentezufis was so confused by the appositeness of the remark, that, +instead of an answer, he bowed, muttering, + +"Prince, the gods have given thee the wisdom of high priests, may their +names be blessed! I wanted to issue an order to search for these +insolents, but now I prefer to follow thy advice, for Thou art a sage +above sages. Tell me, therefore, lord, what I am to do with Sargon and +those turbulent young people." + +"First of all, wait till morning. As a priest, Thou knowest best that +divine sleep often brings good counsel." + +"But if before morning I think out nothing?" + +"I will visit Sargon in every case, and try to efface that little +accident from his memory." + +The priest took farewell of Ramses with marks of respect. On the way +home, he pondered. + +"I will let the heart be torn out of my breast," thought he, "if the +prince had to do with that business. He neither beat Sargon, nor +persuaded another to beat him; he did not even know of the incident. +Whoso judges an affair with such coolness and so pointedly cannot be a +confederate. In that case I can begin an investigation, and if we do +not mollify the shaggy barbarian I will deliver the disturbers to +justice. Beautiful treaty of friendship between two states, which +begins by insulting the ambassador!" + +Next morning the lordly Sargon lay on his felt couch till midday. He +lay thus rather frequently, however, that is, after each drinking- +feast. Near him, on a low divan, sat the devout Istubar, with eyes +fixed on the ceiling, while muttering a prayer. + +"Istubar," sighed the dignitary, "art Thou sure that no man of our +court knows of my misfortune?" + +"Who could know, if Thou hast seen no one?" + +"But the Egyptians!" groaned Sargon. + +"Of the Egyptians Mentezufis and the prince know, yes, and those madmen +who surely will remember thy fists for a long time." + +"They may they may; but it seems to me that the heir was among them, +and that his nose is crushed, if not broken." + +"The heir has a sound nose, and he was not there, I assure thee." + +"In that case," sighed Sargon, "the prince should impale a good number +of those rioters on stakes. I am an ambassador; my person is sacred." + +"But I tell thee," counseled Istubar, "to cast anger from thy heart, +and not to complain even; for if those rioters are arraigned before a +court, the whole world will learn that the ambassador of the most +worthy King Assar goes about among Phoenicians, and, what is worse, +visits them alone during night hours. What wilt Thou answer if thy +mortal enemy, the chancellor Lik-Bagus, asks thee, 'Sargon, what +Phoenicians didst Thou see, and of what was thy discourse with them at +night, outside their temple '?" + +Sargon sighed, if sounds like the growling of a lion are to be called +sighs. + +That moment one of the Assyrian officers rushed in. He knelt down, +struck the pavement with his forehead, and said to Sargon, + +"Light of our lord's eyes! There is a crowd of magnates and dignitaries +of Egypt before the entrance, and at the head of them the heir himself, +with the evident intention of giving thee homage." + +But before Sargon could utter a command, the prince was in the door of +the chamber. He pushed the gigantic watch aside, and approached the +felts quickly, while the confused ambassador, with widely opened eyes, +knew not what to do, to flee naked to another chamber, or hide beneath +the covers. + +On the threshold stood a number of Assyrian officers, astonished at the +invasion of the heir in opposition to every etiquette. But Istubar made +a sign to them, and they vanished. + +The prince was alone; he had left his suite in the courtyard. + +"Be greeted, O ambassador of a great king, and guest of the pharaoh. I +have come to visit thee and inquire if Thou hast need of anything, also +to learn if time and desire will permit thee to ride in my company on a +horse from my father's stables, surrounded by our suites in a manner +becoming an ambassador of the mighty Assar, may he live through +eternity!" + +Sargon listened as he lay there, without understanding a syllable. But +when Istubar interpreted the words of the Egyptian viceroy, the +ambassador felt such delight that he beat his head against the couch, +repeating the names Ramses and Assar. + +When he had calmed himself, and made excuses for the wretched state in +which so worthy and famous a guest had found him, he added, + +"Do not take it ill, O lord, that an earthworm and a support of the +throne, as I am, show delight in a manner so unusual. But I am doubly +pleased at thy coming; first, because such a super-terrestrial honor +has come to me; second, because in my dull and worthless heart I +thought that thou, O lord, wert the author of my misfortune. It seemed +to me that among the sticks which fell on my shoulders I felt thine, +which struck, indeed, vigorously." + +The calm Istubar interpreted phrase after phrase to the prince. To this +the heir, with genuine kingly dignity, answered, + +"Thou wert mistaken, O Sargon. If Thou thyself hadst not confessed the +error, I should command to count out fifty blows of a stick to thee, so +that Thou shouldst remember that persons like me do not attack one man +with a crowd, or in the night-time." + +Before the serene Istubar could finish the interpretation of this +speech, Sargon had crawled up to the prince and embraced his legs +earnestly. + +"A great lord! a great king!" cried he. "Glory to Egypt, that has such +a ruler." + +To this the prince answered, + +"I will say more, Sargon. If an attack was made on thee yesterday, I +assure thee that no one of my courtiers made it. For I judge that a man +of such strength as Thou art must have broken more than one skull. But +my attendants are unharmed, every man of them." + +"He has told truth, and spoken wisely," whispered Sargon to Istubar. + +"But though," continued the prince, "this evil deed has happened, not +through my fault, or through that of my attendants, I feel bound to +decrease thy dissatisfaction with a city in which Thou wert met so +unworthily; hence I have visited thy bedchamber; hence I open to thee +thy house at all times, as often as them mayst wish to visit it, and I +beg thee to accept this small gift from me." + +The prince drew forth from his tunic a chain set with rubies and +sapphires. + +The gigantic Sargon shed tears; this moved the prince but did not +affect the indifference of Istubar. The priest saw that Sargon had +tears, joy, or anger, at call, as befitted the ambassador of a king +full of wisdom. + +The viceroy sat a moment longer, and then took farewell of Sargon. +While going out, he thought that the Assyrians, though barbarians, were +not evil minded, since they knew how to respond to magnanimity. + +Sargon was so touched that he gave order immediately to bring wine, and +he drank from midday till evening. + +Some time after sunset the priest, Istubar, left Sargon's chamber for a +while; he returned soon, but through a concealed doorway. Behind him +appeared two men in dark mantles. When they had pushed their cowls +aside, Sargon recognized in one the high priest Mefres, in the other +Mentezufis the prophet. + +"We bring thee, worthy ambassador, good news," said Mefres. + +"May I be able to give you the like," cried the ambassador. "Be seated, +holy and worthy fathers. And though I have reddened eyes, speak to me +as if I were in perfect soberness; for when I am drunk my mind is +improved even. Is this not true, Istubar?" + +"Speak on," said the Chaldean. + +"Today," began Mentezufis, "I have received a letter from the most +worthy minister Herhor. He writes that his holiness may he live through +eternity! awaits thy embassy at Memphis in his wonderful palace, and +that his holiness may he live through eternity! is well disposed to +make a treaty with Assyria." + +Sargon tottered on his feet, but his eyes showed clear mental action. + +"I will go," said he, "to his holiness the pharaoh, may he live through +eternity! In the name of my lord I will put my seal on the treaty, if +it be written on bricks in cuneiform letters, for I do not understand +your writing. I will lie even all day on my belly before his holiness, +and will sign the treaty. But how will ye carry it out, ha! ha! ha! +that I know not," concluded he, with rude laughter. + +"How darest thou, O servant of the great Assar, doubt the good-will and +faith of our ruler?" inquired Mentezufis. + +Sargon grew a little sobered. + +"I do not speak of his holiness," replied he, "but of the heir to the +throne of Egypt." + +"He is a young man full of wisdom, who will carry out the will of his +father and the supreme council without hesitation," answered Mefres. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the drunken barbarian again. "Your prince O gods, +put my joints out if I speak an untruth, when I say that I should wish +Assyria to have such an heir as he is. Our Assyrian heir is a sage, a +priest. He, before going to war, looks first at the stars in the sky; +afterward he looks under hens' tails. But yours would examine to see +how many troops he had; he would learn where the enemy was camping, and +fall on him as an eagle on a lamb. He is a leader, he is a king! He is +not of those who obey priestly counsels. He will take counsel with his +own sword, and ye will have to carry out what he orders. Therefore, +though I sign a treaty, I shall tell my lord that behind the sick +pharaoh and the wise priests there is in Egypt a young heir to the +throne who is a lion and a bull in one person, a man on whose lips +there is honey, but in whose heart lies a thunderbolt." + +"And Thou wilt tell an untruth," interrupted Mentezufis. "For our +prince, though impulsive and riotous somewhat, as is usual with young +people, knows how to respect both the counsel of sages and the highest +institutions of the country." + +"O ye sages learned in letters, ye who know the circuits of the stars!" +said Sargon, jeering. "I am a simple commander of troops, who without +my seal would not always be able to scratch off my signature. Ye are +sages, I am unlearned; but by the beard of my king, I would not change +what I know for your wisdom. Ye are men to whom the world of papyrus +and brick is laid bare; but the real world in which men live is closed +to you. I am unlearned, but I have the sniff of a dog; and, as a dog +sniffs a bear from a distance; so I with reddened nose sniff a hero. + +"Ye will give counsel to the prince! But ye are charmed by him already, +as a dove is by a serpent. I, at least, do not deceive myself; and, +though the prince is as kind to me as my own father, I feel through my +skin that he hates me and my Assyrians as a tiger hates an elephant. +Ha! ha! Only give him an army, and in three months he would be at +Nineveh, if soldiers would rise up to him in the desert instead of +falling down and dying." + +"Even though Thou wert speaking truth," interrupted Mentezufis, "even +if the prince wished to go to Nineveh, he will not go." + +"But who will detain him when he is the pharaoh?" + +"We." + +"Ye? ye? Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Sargon. "Ye think always that that young +man does not feel this treaty. But I but I ha! ha! ha! I will let the +skin be torn from me, and my body be impaled if he does not know +everything." + +"Would the Phoenicians be so quiet if they possessed not the certainty +that your young lion of Egypt would shield them before the bull of +Assyria?" + +Mentezufis and Mefres looked at each other stealthily. The genius of +the barbarian almost terrified them; he had given bold utterance to +that which they had not thought of. What would the result be, indeed, +if the heir had divined their plans and wished to cross them? + +But Istubar, silent thus far, rescued them from momentary trouble. + +"Sargon," said he, "Thou art interfering in affairs not thy own. Thy +duty is to conclude with Egypt a treaty of the kind that our lord +wishes. But what the heir knows or does not know, what he will do or +will not do, is not thy affair, since the supreme, eternally existent +priestly council assures us that the treaty will be executed. In what +way it will be executed is not a question for our heads." + +The dry tone with which Istubar declared this calmed the riotous joy of +the ambassador. He nodded and muttered, + +"A pity for the man in that case! He is a grand warrior, and +magnanimous." + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +AFTER their visit to Sargon the two holy men, Mentezufis and Mefres, +when they had concealed themselves carefully with their burnouses, +returned home, meditating deeply. + +"Who knows," said Mentezufis, "that the view of that drunken Sargon +concerning our prince is not the right one?" + +"In that case Istubar's view is still more correct," answered Mefres, +decidedly. + +"Still, let us not be too hasty. We should examine the prince first," +remarked Mentezufis. + +"Let us do so." + +"In fact, both priests went to the heir next morning with very serious +faces, and asked for a confidential talk with him. + +"What has happened?" inquired the prince. "Has his worthiness Sargon +gone on some new night embassy?" + +"Alas! the question for us is not of Sargon," answered Mefres. "But +reports are current among people that thou, most worthy lord, art +maintaining relations continually with unbelieving Phoenicians." + +From these words the prince divined why the two prophets had made the +visit, and the blood boiled in him. But he saw at once that this was +the beginning of a play between the priests and him, and, as became the +son of a pharaoh, he mastered himself in one instant. His face assumed +an expression of innocent curiosity. + +"The Phoenicians are dangerous, born enemies of Egypt," said Mefres. + +The heir smiled. + +"Holy fathers, if ye would lend me money, and if ye had beautiful +maidens in your temples, I should see you oftener. But as things are, I +must be friendly with Phoenicians." + +"Men say, Erpatr, that Thou dost visit that Phoenician woman during +night hours." + +"I must till the girl gains wit and moves to my house. But have no +fear, I go with a sword; and if any man should bar the way to me." + +"But through that Phoenician woman Thou hast conceived repulsion for +King Assar's envoy." + +"Not through her by any means, but because Sargon smells of tallow. But +whither does this lead? Ye, holy fathers, are not overseers of my +women; I think that the worthy Sargon has not committed his to you. +What is your desire?" + +Mefres was so confused that blushes appeared on his shaven forehead. + +"It is true, worthiness," answered he, "thy love affairs and the +methods therein do not pertain to us. But there is a worse thing, +people are astonished that the cunning Hiram lent thee a hundred +talents with such readiness, even without a pledge." + +The prince's lips quivered, but again he answered quietly, + +"It is no fault of mine that Hiram has more trust in my words than have +rich Egyptians! He knows that I would rather yield the arms which I +inherit from my grandfather than fail to pay the money due him. It +seems to me that he must be at rest concerning interest, since he has +not mentioned it. I do not think of hiding from you, holy fathers, that +the Phoenicians are more dexterous than Egyptians. Our wealthy men +would make some faces before lending me one hundred talents; they would +groan, make me wait a month, and at last demand immense pledges and a +high rate of interest. But Phoenicians know the hearts of princes +better; they give us money even without a judge or witnesses." + +The high priest was so irritated by this quiet banter that he pressed +his lips together and was silent. Mentezufis rescued him by asking +quickly, + +"What wouldst Thou say, worthiness, were we to make a treaty with +Assyria, yielding northern Asia and Phoenicia?" + +While asking this question, he had his eyes fixed on the face of the +heir. But Ramses answered him with perfect calmness, + +"I should say that only traitors could persuade the pharaoh to make +such a treaty." + +Both priests started up. Mefres raised his hands; Mentezufis clinched +his fist. + +"But if danger to the state demanded it?" insisted Mentezufis. + +"What do ye wish of me?" burst out the prince. "Ye interfere with my +debts and women, ye surround me with spies, ye dare reproach me, and +now ye give me some sort of traitorous queries. Now I will tell you: I, +if ye were to poison me, would not sign a treaty like the one ye +mention. Luckily that does not depend on me, but on his holiness, whose +will we must all obey." + +"What wouldst Thou do, then, wert Thou the pharaoh?" + +"What the honor and the profit of the state demanded." + +"Of that I doubt not," said Mentezufis. "But what dost Thou consider +the profit of the state? Where are we to look for indications?" + +"Why is the supreme council in existence?" asked Ramses, with feigned +auger this time. "Ye say this council is made up of all the great +sages. In that case let them take on themselves responsibility for a +treaty which I should look on as a shame and as destruction." + +"Whence dost Thou know, worthiness, that thy godlike father would not +act in just such a manner?" + +"Why ask me, then, of this matter? What investigation is this? Who +gives you the right to pry into my heart?" + +Ramses feigned to be so mightily indignant that the priests were +satisfied. + +"Thou speakest, prince," said Mefres, "as becomes a good Egyptian. Such +a treaty would pain us, too; but danger to the state forces men to +yield temporarily to circumstances." + +"What forces you to yield?" cried the prince. "Have we lost a great +battle, or have we no army?" + +"The oarsmen on the boat in which Egypt is sailing through the river of +eternity are gods," replied Mefres, with solemnity; "but the steersman +is the Highest Lord of existence. The oarsmen stop frequently, or turn +the boat so as to avoid dangerous eddies which we do not even notice. +In such cases we need only patience and obedience, for which, later or +earlier, a liberal reward will meet us, surpassing all that mortal man +can imagine." + +After this statement the priests took farewell. They were full of hope +that the prince, though angry because of the treaty, would not break +it, and would assure to Egypt the time of rest which she needed. After +their departure the prince called his adjutant. When alone with +Tutmosis, his long restrained auger and sorrow burst forth. He threw +himself on a couch; he writhed like a serpent, he struck his head with +his fists, and shed tears even. + +The frightened Tutmosis waited till the access of rage had subsided; +then he gave Ramses wine and water, and fumed him with calming +perfumes; finally he sat near his lord and inquired the cause of this +unmanly outburst. + +"Sit here," said the prince, without rising. "Knowest thou, I am today +convinced that our priests have concluded an infamous treaty with +Assyria; without war, without demands even from the other side! Canst +Thou imagine what we are losing?" + +"Dagon told me that the Assyrians wished to take Phoenicia. But the +Phoenicians are now less alarmed, for King Assar has a war on the +northeastern boundaries. A very valiant and numerous people inhabit +that region; hence it is unknown what the end of this affair may be. +The Phoenicians will have peace for a couple of years in every case, +time in which to prepare defense and find allies." + +The prince waved his hand impatiently. + +"See," said he, interrupting Tutmosis, "even Phoenicia is arming her +own people, and perhaps all the neighbors who surround her; in every +case, we lose the unpaid tribute of Asia, which reaches hast Thou heard +the like? more than a hundred thousand talents." + +"A hundred thousand talents," repeated the prince. "O gods! but such a +sum would fill the treasury of the pharaoh. And were we to attack +Assyria at the right season, in Nineveh alone, in the single palace of +Assar, we should find inexhaustible treasures. Think how many slaves we +could take, half a million a million, people of gigantic strength, and +so wild that captivity in Egypt with the hardest labor on canals or in +quarries would seem play to them. The fertility of the land would be +increased; in the course of a few years our people, now wretched, would +rest, and before the last Assyrian slave had died, the state would +regain its ancient might and well-being. And the priests are destroying +all this by the aid of a few silver tablets, and a few bricks marked +with arrow-headed signs understood by no Egyptian." + +When he had heard the complaints of the prince, Tutmosis rose from the +armchair and looked carefully through the adjoining chambers to see if +some one in them were listening; then he sat down again near Ramses, +and whispered, + +"Be of good heart, lord. As far as I know, the entire aristocracy, all +the nomarchs, all the higher officers have heard something of this +treaty and are indignant. Only give the sign and we will break these +brick treaties on the head of Sargon, even on the head of King Assar." + +"But that would be rebellion against his holiness," replied the prince, +also in a whisper. Tutmosis put on a sad face. + +"I should not like," said he, "to make thy heart bleed, but thy father, +who is equal to the highest god, has a grievous illness." + +"That is not true!" said the prince, springing up. "It is true; but let +not people see that Thou knowest this. His holiness is greatly wearied +by his stay on earth, and desires to leave it. But the priests hold him +back, and do not summon thee to Memphis, so that the treaty with +Assyria may be signed without opposition." + +"But they are traitors, traitors!" whispered the enraged prince. + +"Therefore Thou wilt have no difficulty in breaking the treaty when +Thou shalt inherit power after thy father, may lie live through +eternity!" + +Ramses thought awhile. + +"It is easier," said he, "to sign a treaty than to break it." "It is +easy also to break a treaty," laughed Tutmosis. "Are there not in Asia +unorganized races which attack our boundaries? Does not the godlike +Nitager stand on guard with his army to repulse them and carry war into +their countries? Dost Thou suppose that Egypt will not find armed men +and treasures for the war? We will go, all of us, for each man can gain +something, and in some way make his life independent. Treasures are +lying in the temples but the labyrinth." + +"Who will take them from the labyrinth?" asked the prince, doubtingly. + +"Who? Any nomarch, any officer, any noble will take them if he has a +command from the pharaoh, and the minor priests will show the way to +secret places." + +"They would not dare to do so. The punishment of the gods." + +Tutmosis waved his hand contemptuously. + +"But are we slaves or shepherds, to fear gods whom Greeks and +Phoenicians revile, and whom any mercenary warrior will insult and go +unpunished?" + +"The priests have invented silly tales about gods, tales to which they +themselves attach no credit. Thou knowest that they recognize only the +One in temples. They perform miracles, too, at which they laugh. + +"Only the lowest people strike the earth with their foreheads before +statues in the old way. Even working women have doubts now about the +all-might of Osiris, Set, and Horus; the scribes cheat the gods in +accounts, and the priests use them as a lock and chain to secure their +treasures." + +"Oho!" continued Tutmosis; "the clays have passed when all Egypt +believed in everything announced from temples. At present we insult the +Phoenician gods, the Phoenicians insult our gods, and no thunderbolt +strikes any man of us." + +The viceroy looked carefully at Tutmosis. + +"How did such thoughts come to thy head?" inquired he. "But it is not +so long ago that Thou wouldst pale at the very mention of the +priesthood." + +"Yes, because I felt alone. But today, after I have seen that all the +nobles understand as I, I feel encouraged." + +"But who told thee and the nobles of that treaty with Assyria?" + +"Dagon and other Phoenicians," answered Tutmosis. "They even said that +when the time came they would rouse Asiatic races to rebellion, so that +our troops might have a pretext to cross the boundaries, and when once +on the road to Nineveh, the Phoenicians and their allies would join us. +And thy army would be larger than that which Ramses the Great had +behind him," + +This zeal of the Phoenicians did not please the heir, but he was silent +on that subject. + +"But what will happen if the priests learn of your conversations?" +inquired he. "None of you will escape death, be sure of that." + +"They will learn nothing," replied Tutmosis, joyfully. "They trust too +much in their power, they pay their spies badly, and have disgusted all +Egypt with their pride and rapacity. Moreover, the aristocracy, the +army, the scribes, the laborers, even the minor priests are only +waiting for the signal to attack the temples, take out the treasures, +and lay them at the feet of the pharaoh. When their treasures fail, all +their power will be lost to the holy fathers. They will cease even to +work miracles, for to work them gold rings are needed." + +The prince turned conversation to other subjects and gave Tutmosis the +sign of withdrawal. When alone, he began to meditate. + +He would have been enchanted at the hostile disposition of the nobles +toward the priests, and the warlike instincts of the higher classes, if +the enthusiasm had not broken out so suddenly, and if Phoenicians were +not concealed behind it. This enjoined caution, for he understood that +in the affairs of Egypt it was better to trust the patriotism of +priests than the friendship of Phoenicians. He recalled, however, his +father's words, that Phoenicians were truth-speaking and faithful +whenever truth was in their interest. Beyond doubt the Phoenicians had +a great interest in not falling under control of Assyria. And it was +possible to depend on them as allies in case of war, for the defeat of +Egypt would injure, first of all, Phoenicia. + +On the other hand, Ramses did not admit that Egyptian priests, even +when concluding such a harmful treaty with Assyria, thought of treason. +No, they were not traitors, they were slothful dignitaries. Peace +agreed with them, for during peace their treasures grew, and they +increased their influence. They did not wish for war, since war would +raise the pharaoh's power, and impose on them a grievous outlay. + +So the young prince, despite his inexperience, understood that be must +be cautious, that he must not hasten, that he must not condemn, but +also that he must not trust too much. He had decided on war with +Assyria, not because the nobles and the pharaoh desired it, but because +Egypt needed slaves and also treasures. + +But in making war he wished to make it with judgment. He wished to +bring the priestly order to it gradually, and only in case of +opposition to crush that order through the nobles and the army. + +And just when the holy Mefres and Mentezufis were jeering at the +predictions of Sargon, who said that the heir would not yield to the +priests but force them to obedience, the prince had a plan to subject +them. And he saw what power he possessed for that purpose. The moment +to begin the war and the means of waging it he left to the future. + +"Time will bring the best counsels," said he to himself. + +He was calm and satisfied, like a man who after long hesitation knows +what he must do, and has faith in his own abilities. So then, to free +himself of even the traces of his recent indignation, he went to Sarah. +Amusement with his little son always calmed him, and filled his heart +with serenity. + +He passed the garden, entered Sarah's villa, and found her in tears +again. + +"Oh, Sarah!" cried he, "if the Nile were in thy bosom Thou wouldst weep +it all away." + +"I will not weep any longer," said she; but a more abundant stream +flowed from her eyes. + +"What is this?" asked the prince; "or hast Thou brought in some witch +again who frightens thee with Phoenician women?" + +"I am not afraid of Phoenician women, but of Phoenicia," said Sarah; +"Thou knowest not, lord, what bad people the Phoenicians are." + +"Do they burn children?" laughed Ramses. + +"Thou thinkest that they do not?" asked she, looking at him with great +eyes. + +"A fable! I know, besides, from Prince Hiram, that that is a fable." + +"Hiram!" cried Sarah, "Hiram! but he is the most wicked of all! Ask my +father, and he will tell thee bow Hiram entices young girls of distant +countries to his ships, and raising the sails takes away the +unfortunates to sell them. Even we had a bright-haired slave girl +stolen by Hiram. She became insane from sorrow for her country. But she +could not even say where her country was; and she died. Such is Hiram, +such is that vile Dagon, and all those wretches." + +"Perhaps; but how does this concern us?" inquired Ramses. + +"Very much. Thou, O lord, art listening to Phoenician counsels; but our +Jews have learned that Phoenicia wants to raise a war between Egypt and +Assyria. Even their first bankers and merchants have bound themselves +by dreadful oaths to raise it." + +"Why should they want war?" inquired the prince, with apparent +indifference. + +"Because they will furnish arms to you and to Assyrians; they will +furnish, also, supplies and information, and for everything they +furnish they will make you pay ten prices. They will plunder the dead +and wounded of both armies. They will buy slaves from your warriors and +from the Assyrians. Is that little? Egypt and Assyria will ruin +themselves, but the Phoenicians will build up new storehouses with +wealth from both sides!" + +"Who explained such wisdom to thee?" asked the prince, smiling. + +"Do I not hear my father and our relatives and friends whispering of +this, while they look around in dread lest some one may hear what they +are saying? Besides, do I not know the Phoenicians? They lie prostrate +before thee, but Thou dost not note their deceitful looks; often have I +seen their eyes green with greed and yellow from anger. O lord, guard +thyself from Phoenicians as from venomous serpents." + +Ramses looked at Sarah, and involuntarily he compared her sincere love +with the calculations of the Phoenician priestess, her outbursts of +tenderness with the treacherous coldness of Kama. + +"Indeed," thought he, "the Phoenicians are poisonous reptiles. But if +Ramses the Great used a lion in war, why should I not use a serpent +against the enemies of Egypt?" + +And the more plastically he pictured to himself the perversity of Kama, +the more did he desire her. At times heroic souls seek out danger. + +He took farewell of Sarah, and suddenly, it is unknown for what reason, +he remembered that Sargon had suspected him of taking part in the +attack on his person. + +The prince struck his forehead. + +"Did that second self of mine," thought he, "arrange the attack on the +ambassador? But if he did, who persuaded him? Was it Phoenicians? But +if they wished to connect my person with such a vile business? Sarah +says, justly, that they are scoundrels against whom I should guard +myself always." + +Straightway anger rose in him, and he determined to settle the +question. Since evening was just coming, Ramses, without going home, +went to Kama. + +It concerned him little that he might be recognized; besides, in case +of need, he had a sword on his person. + +There was light in the villa of the priestess, but there was no servant +at the entrance. + +"Thus far," thought he, "Kama has sent away her servants when I was to +come. Had she a feeling that I would come today, or will she receive a +more fortunate lover?" + +He ascended one story, stood before the chamber of the priestess, and +pushed aside the curtain quickly. In the chamber were Kama and Hiram; +they were whispering. + +"Oh, I come at the wrong time!" said Ramses, laughing. "Well, prince, +art thou, too, paying court to a woman who cannot be gracious to men +unless death be the penalty?" + +Hiram and the priestess sprang from their seats. + +"Thou wert forewarned by some good spirit that we were speaking of +thee, that is clear," said the Phoenician, bowing. + +"Are ye preparing some surprise for me?" inquired the heir. + +"Perhaps. Who can tell?" answered Kama, with a challenging expression. + +"May those who in future wish to surprise me not expose their own necks +to the axe or the halter; if they do, they will surprise themselves +more than me." + +The smile grew cold on Kama's half-open lips; Hiram, now pale, answered +humbly, + +"How have we earned the anger of our lord and guardian?" + +"I would know the truth," said Ramses, sitting down and looking +threateningly at Hiram. "I would know who arranged an attack on the +Assyrian ambassador, and associated in that villainy a man resembling +me as much as my two hands resemble each other?" + +"Seest, Kama," said the frightened Hiram, "I told thee that intimacy +with that ruffian would bring great misfortune And here it is! We have +not waited long to see it." + +The priestess fell at the prince's feet. + +"I will tell all," cried she, groaning; "only cast from thy heart, +lord, anger against Phoenicians. Slay me, imprison me, but be not angry +at Phoenicians." + +"Who attacked Sargon?" + +"Lykon, the Greek, who sings in our temples," said the priestess, still +kneeling. + +"Aha! it was he, then, who was singing outside thy house, and he +resembles me greatly?" + +Hiram bent his head and placed his hand on his heart. + +"We, lord, have paid that man bountifully because he is so like thee. +We thought that his figure might serve thee should the need come." + +"And it has," interrupted the prince. "Where is he? I wish to see this +perfect singer, this living picture of myself." + +Hiram held his hands apart. + +"The scoundrel has fled, but we will find him," replied he, "unless he +turns into a fly or an earthworm." + +"But Thou wilt forgive me, lord?" whispered the priestess, leaning on +the knees of the prince. + +"Much is forgiven women," said Ramses. + +"And ye will not take vengeance on me?" asked she of Hiram, with fear. + +"Phoenicia," replied the old man, deliberately and with emphasis, +"forgives the greatest offence to that person who possesses the favor +of our lord Ramses, may he live through eternity! As to Lykon," added +he, turning to the heir, "Thou wilt have him, dead or living." + +Hiram made a profound obeisance and went from the chamber, leaving the +prince with the priestess. + +The blood rushed to Ramses' head; he embraced the kneeling Kama, and +asked, + +"Hast Thou heard the words of the worthy Hiram? Phoenicia forgives thee +the greatest offence! That man is faithful to me indeed. And if he has +said that, what answer wilt Thou find?" + +Kama kissed his hands, whispering, + +"Thou hast won me I am thy slave. But leave me in peace today, respect +the house which belongs to Astaroth." + +"Then Thou wilt remove to my palace?" asked the prince. + +"O gods, what hast Thou said? Since the sun first rose and set, no +priestess of As But this is difficult! Phoenicia, lord, gives thee a +proof of attachment and honor such as no son of hers has received at +any time." + +"Then?" interrupted the prince. + +"But not today, and not here," implored Kama. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII, + +LEARNING from Hiram that the Phoenicians had given him the priestess, +Ramses wished to have her in his house at the earliest, not because he +could not live without her, but because she had become for him a +novelty. + +Kama delayed her coming; she implored the prince to leave her in peace +till the inflow of pilgrims diminished, and above all till the most +noted among them should go from Pi-Bast. Were she to become his +favorite during their presence, the income of the temple might decrease +and danger threaten the priestess. + +"Our sages and great men," said she to Ramses, "would forgive me. But +the common people would call the vengeance of the gods on my head, and +thou, lord, knowest that the gods have long hands." + +"May they not lose these hands in thrusting them under my roof," said +Ramses. + +But he did not insist greatly, as his attention was much occupied at +that juncture. + +The Assyrian ambassadors, Sargon and Istubar, had gone to Memphis to +put their names to the treaty. At the same time the pharaoh had +summoned Ramses to give a report of his journey. + +The prince commanded his scribes to write accurately of all that had +happened from the time of leaving Memphis; hence the review of +artisans, the visits to fields and factories, the conversations with +nomarchs and officials. To present the report he appointed Tutmosis. + +"Thou wilt be heart and lips for me before the face of the pharaoh," +said the prince to him, "and this is what Thou must do there. + +"When the most worthy Herhor asks what, to my thinking, causes the +poverty of Egypt and the treasury, tell the minister to turn to his +assistant, Pentuer, and he will explain my views in the same way that +he did his own in the temple of Hator. + +"When Herhor wishes to know my opinion of a treaty with Assyria, answer +that my duty is to carry out the commands of my master." + +Tutmosis nodded in sign that he comprehended. + +"But," continued the heir, "when Thou shalt stand in the presence of my +father, may he live through eternity! and convince thyself that no one +is listening, fall at his feet in my name, and say, + +"Our lord, thy son and servant, the worthy Ramses, to whom Thou hast +given life and power, says the following, + +"'The cause of Egypt's suffering is the loss of fertile lands taken by +the desert, and the loss of men who die from want and hard labor. But +know, our lord, that the damage caused thy treasury by priests is no +less than that wrought by death and the desert; for not only are the +temples filled with gold and jewels, which would suffice to pay our +debts entirely, but the holy fathers and the prophets have the best +lands, the best slaves and laborers, and lands far greater in extent +than those of the divine pharaoh. + +"'Thy son and slave, Ramses, says this to thee, he who all the time of +his journey had his eyes open like a fish, and his ears set forward +like an ass which is watching.'." + +The prince stopped. Tutmosis repeated the words mentally. + +"If," continued the viceroy, "his holiness asks for my opinion of the +Assyrians, fall on thy face and answer, + +"'Thy servant Ramses, if Thou permit, makes bold to say that the +Assyrians are strong and large men, and have perfect weapons; but it is +evident that they have bad training. At the heels of Sargon marched the +best Assyrian warriors, archers, axemen, spearmen, and still there were +not six among them who could march in line warrior fashion. Besides +they carry their spears crookedly, their swords are badly hung, they +bear their axes like carpenters or butchers. Their clothing is heavy, +their rude sandals gall their feet, and their shields, though strong, +are of small use, for the men are awkward." + +"Thou speakest truth," said Tutmosis. "I have noticed that, and I have +heard the same from Egyptian officers who declare that Assyrian troops, +like those which we saw here, would offer less resistance than the +hordes of Libya." + +"Say also to our lord, who gives us life, that all the nobles and the +Egyptian army are indignant at the mere report that Assyria might annex +Phoenicia. Why, Phoenicia is the port of Egypt, and the Phoenicians the +best warriors in our navy. + +"Say, besides, that I have heard from Phoenicians (of this his holiness +must know best of all) that Assyria is weak at the moment, for she has +a war on her northern and eastern boundaries; all western Asia is +arming against her. Should we attack today, we could win immense +wealth, and take multitudes of captives who would help our slaves in +their labor. + +"But say, in conclusion, that the wisdom of my father excels that of +all men, therefore I shall do whatsoever he commands, if only he gives +not Phoenicia to King Assar; if he gives it, we are ruined. Phoenicia +is the bronze door of our treasure-house, and where is the man who +would yield his door to a robber?" + +Tutmosis went to Memphis in the month Paofi (July and August). + +The Nile was increasing mightily; hence the influx of Asiatic pilgrims +to the temple of Astaroth diminished. People of the place betook +themselves to the fields to gather with the utmost speed grapes, flax, +and a certain plant which furnished cotton. + +In one word, the neighborhood grew quiet, and the gardens surrounding +the temples were almost deserted. + +At that time Prince Ramses, relieved from amusements and the duties of +the state, turned to his love affair with Kama. On a certain day he had +a secret consultation with Hiram, who at his command gave the temple of +Astaroth twelve talents in gold, a statue of the goddess wonderfully +carved out of malachite, fifty cows and of wheat one hundred and fifty +measures. That was such a generous gift that the high priest of the +temple himself came to Ramses to fall prostrate and thank him for the +favor which, as he said, people who loved the goddess would remember +during all the ages. + +Having settled with the temple, the prince summoned the chief of police +in Pi-Bast and passed a long hour with him. Because of this the whole +city was shaken some days later under the influence of extraordinary +tidings: Kama, the priestess of Astaroth, had been seized, borne away +and lost, like a grain of sand in a desert. + +This unheard-of event occurred under the following conditions: The high +priest of the temple sent Kama to the town Sabne-Chetam at Lake +Menzaleh with offerings for the chapel of Astaroth in that place. To +avoid summer heat and secure herself against curiosity and the homage +of people, the priestess journeyed in a boat and during night hours. +Toward morning, when the three wearied rowers were dozing, boats manned +by Greeks and Hittites pushed out suddenly from among reeds at the +shore, surrounded the boat bearing Kama, and carried off the priestess. +The attack was so sudden that the Phoenician rowers made no resistance. +The strangers gagged Kama, evidently, for she remained silent. The +Greeks and Hittites after the sacrilege vanished in the reeds, to sail +toward the sea afterward. To prevent pursuit they sank the boat which +had borne the priestess. + +Pi-Bast was as excited as a beehive. People talked of nothing else. +They even guessed who did the deed. Some suspected Sargon, who had +offered Kama the title of wife if she would leave the temple and remove +to Nineveh. Others suspected Lykon, the temple singer, who long had +burned with passion for the priestess. He was moreover rich enough to +hire Greek slaves, and so godless that he would not hesitate to snatch +away a priestess. + +A Phoenician council of the richest and most faithful members was +summoned to the temple. The council resolved, first of all, to free +Kama from her duties as priestess and remove from her the curse against +a virgin who lost her innocence in the service of the goddess. + +That was a wise and pious resolution, for if some one had carried off +the priestess and deprived her of sacredness against her will, it would +have been unjust to punish her. + +A couple of days later they announced, with sound of trumpet, to +worshippers in the temple that the priestess Kama was dead, and if any +man should meet a woman seeming like her he would have no right to seek +revenge or even make reproaches. The priestess had not left the +goddess, but evil spirits had borne her off; for this they would be +punished. + +That same day the worthy Hiram visited Ramses and gave him in a gold +tube a parchment furnished with a number of seals of priests and +signatures of Phoenician notables. + +That was the decision of the spiritual court of Astaroth, which +released Kama from her vows and freed her from the curse if she would +renounce the name which she had borne while priestess. + +The prince took this document and went after sundown to a certain lone +villa in his garden. He opened the door in some unknown way and +ascended one story to a room of medium dimensions, where by light from +a carved lamp in which fragrant olive oil was burning, he saw Kama. + +"At last!" cried he, giving her the gold tube. "Thou hast everything +according to thy wishes." + +The Phoenician woman was feverish; her eyes flashed. She snatched the +tube, looked at it, and threw it on the floor. + +"Dost think this gold?" asked she. "I will bet my necklace that that +tube is copper, and only covered on both sides with thin strips of +gold." + +"Is that thy way of greeting me?" inquired the astonished Ramses. + +"Yes, for I know my brethren," said she. "They counterfeit not only +gold, but rubies and sapphires." + +"Woman," said the heir, "in this tube is thy safety." + +"What is safety to me? I am wearied in this place, and I am afraid. I +have sat here four days as in prison." + +"Dost Thou lack anything?" + +"I lack air, amusement, laughter, songs, people. O vengeful goddess, +how harshly Thou art punishing!" + +The prince listened with amazement. In that mad woman he could not +recognize the Kama whom he had seen in the temple, that woman over +whose person had floated the passionate song of the Greek Lykon. + +"Tomorrow," said the prince, "Thou canst go to the garden; and when we +visit Memphis or Thebes, Thou wilt amuse thyself as never in thy life +before. Look at me. Do I not love thee, and is not the honor which +belongs to me enough for a woman?" + +"Yes," answered she, pouting, "but Thou hadst four women before me." + +"But if Hove thee best?" + +"If Thou love me best, make me first, put me in the palace which that +Jewess Sarah occupies, and give a guard to me, not to her. Before the +statue of Astaroth I was first. Those who paid homage to the goddess, +when kneeling before her, looked at me. But here what? Troops beat +drums and sound flutes; officials cross their hands on their breasts, +and incline their heads before the house of the Jewess." + +"Before my first-born son," interrupted the prince, now impatient, "and +he is no Jew." + +"He is a Jew!" screamed Kama. + +Ramses sprang up. + +"Art Thou mad?" but quieting himself quickly, he added, "Dost Thou not +know that my son cannot be a Jew" + +"But I tell thee that he is a Jew!" cried Kama, beating the table with +her fist. "He is a Jew, just as his grandfather is, just as his uncles +are; and his name is Isaac." + +"What hast Thou said, Phoenician woman? Dost wish that I should turn +thee out?" + +"Turn me out if a lie has gone from my lips. But if I have spoken +truth, turn out that woman with her brat and give me her palace. I wish +and deserve to be first in thy household. She deceives thee, reviles +thee. But, I for thy sake, have deserted my goddess and exposed myself +to her vengeance." + +"Give me proofs and the palace will be thine. No, that is false!" said +Ramses. "Sarah would not permit such a crime. My first-born son!" + +"Isaac Isaac!" cried Kama. "Go to her, and convince thyself." + +Ramses, half unconscious, ran out from Kama's house and turned toward +Sarah's villa. Though the night was starry, he lost his way and +wandered a certain time through the garden. The cool air sobered him; +he found the road to the villa and entered almost calmly. + +Though the hour was late, they were awake there. Sarah with her own +hands was washing swaddling-clothes for her son, and the servants were +passing their time in eating, drinking, and music. When Ramses, pale +from emotion, stood on the threshold, Sarah cried out, but soon calmed +herself. + +"Be greeted, lord," said she, wiping her wet hands and bending to his +feet. + +"Sarah, what is the name of thy son?" inquired he. + +She seized her head in terror. + +"What is thy son's name?" repeated he. + +"But Thou knowest, lord, that it is Seti," answered she, with a voice +almost inaudible. + +"Look me in the eyes." + +"O Jehovah!" whispered Sarah. + +"Thou seest that Thou art lying. And now I will tell thee, my son, the +son of the heir to the throne of Egypt, is called Isaac and he is a Jew +a low Jew." + +"O God, O God of mercy!" cried Sarah, throwing herself at his feet. + +Ramses did not raise his head for an instant, but his face was gray. + +"I was forewarned," said he, "not to take a Jewess to my house. I was +disgusted when I saw thy country place filled with Jews; but I kept my +disgust in subjection, for I trusted thee. But them, with thy Jews, +hast stolen my son from me, Thou child thief!" + +"The priests commanded that he should become a Jew," whispered Sarah, +sobbing at the feet of Ramses. + +"The priests! What priests?" + +"The most worthy Herhor, the most worthy Mefres. They said that it must +be so, that thy son would become the first king of the Jews." + +"The priests? Mefres?" repeated the prince. "King of the Jews? But I +have told thee that thy son would become the chief of my archers, my +secretary. I told thee this, and thou, wretched woman, didst think that +the title of king of the Jews was equal to that of my secretary and +archer. Mefres Herhor! Thanks to the gods that at last I understand +those dignitaries and know what fate they are preparing for my +descendants." + +He thought awhile, gnawing his lips. Suddenly he called with a powerful +voice, + +"Hei, servants, warriors!" + +The room was filled in the twinkle of an eye. Sarah's serving-women +came in, the scribe and manager of the house, then the slaves; finally, +a few warriors with an officer. + +"Death!" cried Sarah, with a piercing voice. + +She rushed to the cradle, seized her son, and, standing in the corner +of the room, called out, + +"Kill me; but I will not yield my son!" + +Ramses smiled. + +"Centurion," said he to the officer, "take that woman with her child +and conduct her to the building where my household slaves dwell. That +Jewess will not be mistress here; she is to be the servant of her who +takes this place. + +"And thou, steward," said he, turning to the official, "see that the +Jewess does not forget, to-morrow morning, to wash the feet of her +mistress, who will come hither directly. If this serving-woman should +prove stubborn, she is to receive stripes at command of her mistress. +Conduct the woman to the servants' quarters." + +The officer and steward approached Sarah, but stopped, as they dared +not touch her; but there was no need to do so. + +Sarah wound a garment around the puling child, and left the room, +whispering, + +"O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have mercy on us!" + +She bowed low before the prince, and from her eyes tears flowed in +silence. + +While she was still in the antechamber, Ramses heard her sweet voice, + +"God of Abraham Isa." + +When all was quiet, the viceroy called the officer and steward. + +"Go with torches to the house among the fig-trees." + +"I understand," replied the steward. + +"And conduct hither, immediately, the woman who dwells there." + +"It will be done." + +"Thenceforth that woman will be thy mistress and the mistress of Sarah; +the Jewess must wash the feet of her mistress every morning, pour water +to her, and hold a mirror before her. That is my will, my command." + +"It shall be accomplished," said the steward. + +"And to-morrow morning Thou wilt tell me if the new servant is +stubborn." + +When he had given these commands, he returned home; but he did not +sleep that night. He felt that without raising his voice for a moment +he had crushed Sarah, the wretched Jewess, who had dared to deceive +him. He had punished her as a king who with one movement of the eye +dashes people down from heights into the abyss of servitude. But Sarah +was merely an instrument of the priests, and the heir had too great a +feeling of justice to forgive the real authors when he had broken the +instrument. + +His rage was intensified all the more because the priests were +unassailable. He might send out Sarah with her child in the middle of +the night to the servants' house, but he could not deprive Herhor of +his power, nor Mefres of the high priesthood. Sarah had fallen at his +feet, like a trampled worm; but Herhor and Mefres, who had snatched his +first-born from him, towered above Egypt, and, oh, shame! above him, +the corning pharaoh, like pyramids. + +And he could not tell how often in that year he had recalled the wrongs +which priests had inflicted. At school they had beaten him with sticks +till his back was swollen, or had tortured him with hunger till his +stomach and spine had grown together. At the maneuvers of the year +past, Herhor spoiled his whole plan, then put the blame on him, and +took away the command of an army corps. That same Herhor drew on Mm the +displeasure of his holiness because he had taken Sarah to his house, +and did not restore him to honor till the humiliated prince had passed +a couple of months in a voluntary exile. + +It would seem that when he had been leader of a corps and was viceroy +the priests would cease tormenting him with their guardianship. But +just then they appeared with redoubled energy. They had made him +viceroy; for what purpose? to remove him from the pharaoh, and conclude +a shameful treaty with Assyria. They had used force in such form that +he betook himself to the temple as a penitent to obtain information +concerning the condition of the state; there they deceived him through +miracles and terrors, and gave thoroughly false explanations. + +Next they interfered with his amusements, his women, his relations with +the pharaoh, his debts, and, finally, to humiliate and render him +ridiculous in the eyes of Egyptians, they made his first-born a Hebrew. + +Where was the laborer, where the slave, where an Egyptian convict in +the quarries who had not the right to say, "I am better than thou, the +viceroy, for no son of mine is a Hebrew." + +Feeling the weight of the insult, Ramses understood at the same time +that he could not avenge himself immediately. Hence he determined to +defer that affair to the future. In the school of the priests he had +learned self-command, in the court he had learned deceit and patience; +those qualities became a weapon and a shield to him in his battle with +the priesthood. Till he was ready he would lead them into error, and +when the moment came he would strike so hard that they would never rise +again. + +It began to dawn. The heir fell asleep, and when he woke the first +person he saw was the steward of Sarah's villa. + +"What of the Jewess?" asked the prince. + +"According to thy command, worthiness, she washed the feet of her new +mistress," answered the official. + +"Was she stubborn?" + +"She was full of humility, but not adroit enough; so the angry lady +struck the Jewess with her foot between the eyebrows." + +The prince sprang up. + +"And what did Sarah do?" inquired he, quickly. + +"She fell to the pavement. And when the new mistress commanded her to +go, she went out, weeping noiselessly." + +The prince walked up and down in the chamber. + +"How did she pass the night?" + +"The new lady?" + +"No! I ask about Sarah." + +"According to command, Sarah went with her child to the servants' +house. The women, from compassion, yielded a fresh mat to her, but she +did not lie down to sleep; she sat the whole night with her child on +her knees." + +"But how is the child?" asked Ramses. + +"The child is well. This morning, when the Jewess went to serve her new +mistress, the other women bathed the little one in warm water, and the +shepherd's wife, who also has an infant, gave her breast to it." + +The prince stopped before the steward. + +"It is wrong," said he, "when a cow instead of suckling its calf goes +to the plough and is beaten. Though this Jewess has committed a great +offence, I do not wish that her innocent child should be a sufferer. +Therefore Sarah will not wash the feet of the new lady again, and will +not be kicked between the eyes by her a second time. Thou wilt set +aside for her use in the servants' house a room with food and furniture +such as are proper for a woman recovered recently from childbirth. And +let her nourish her infant in peace there." + +"Live Thou through eternity, our ruler!" answered the steward; and he +ran quickly to carry out the commands of the viceroy. + +All the servants loved Sarah, and in a few days they had occasion to +hate the angry and turbulent Kama. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +THE priestess brought little happiness to the viceroy. When he came the +first time to visit her in the villa occupied recently by Sarah, he +thought: "I shall be met with delight now and gratitude." + +Meanwhile Kama received him almost with anger. + +"What is this?" cried she. "A half day has passed, and that wretched +Jewess is restored to thy favor." + +"Does she not dwell in the servants' house?" asked the prince. + +"But my steward says that she will wash my feet no longer." + +When the prince heard this, a feeling of disgust seized him. + +"Thou art not satisfied, I see," said he. + +"I shall not be satisfied till I humiliate that Jewess," cried Kama, +"till she, by serving me and kneeling at my feet, forgets that she was +once thy first woman and the mistress of this villa. I shall not be +satisfied till my servants cease to look at me with fear and without +confidence, and on her with compassion." + +The Phoenician woman was less and less pleasing to Ramses. + +"Kama," said he, "consider what I tell thee: If a servant here were to +kick in the teeth a female dog that was suckling its young, I should +hunt that servant out of this villa. Thou hast struck with thy foot +between the eyes a woman and a mother. In Egypt mother is a great word. +A good Egyptian reverences three things beyond all others, the gods, +the pharaoh, and his own mother." + +"Oh, woe to me!" cried Kama, throwing herself on the couch. "Here is my +reward, wretched woman, for denying my goddess. One week ago men placed +flowers at my feet and burnt incense before me, but today." + +The prince walked out of the chamber quietly, and saw the priestess +again only after some days had passed. + +But she was still in evil humor. + +"I implore thee, lord," cried she, "think a little more of me. My +servants even begin to contemn me, the warriors look at me with a +frown, and I am afraid that some one in the kitchen may poison the food +prepared for me." + +"I was occupied with the army, so I could not visit thee," replied the +viceroy. + +"That is untrue," answered Kama, in anger. "Yesterday Thou wert outside +the entrance to this house, and then Thou didst go to the servants' +house, where dwells the Jewess. Thou didst this to show." + +"Enough!" interrupted the prince. "I was neither here nor at the +servants' house. If it seemed to thee that Thou wert looking at me, +that means that thy lover, that worthless Greek, not only has not left +Egypt, but even dares to wander through my garden." + +The Phoenician woman heard him with fright. + +"Astaroth!" cried she, suddenly. "Save me! Hide me, O earth! for if +that wretch Lykon returns mighty misfortune is threatening me." + +The prince laughed, but he had not patience to listen to the complaints +of the ex-priestess. + +"Be at rest," said he, when going, "and wonder not if after some days +men bring in thy Lykon bound like a jackal. That insolent ruffian has +worn out my patience." + +On returning to his palace the prince summoned Hiram and the chief of +police in Pi-Bast. He told them that Lykon, the Greek with a face +resembling his, was prowling around among the palaces, and he gave +command to seize him. Hiram swore that if Phoenicians helped the police +the Greek would be taken. But the chief shook his head. + +"Dost doubt?" asked the prince. + +"Yes, lord. In Pi-Bast dwell many pious Asiatics who think the +priestess worthy of death because she deserted the altar. If this Greek +has bound himself to kill Kama, they will help him, they will conceal +the man, and facilitate flight for him." + +"What is thy answer to this?" asked the heir of Hiram. + +"The worthy master of the palace speaks wisely," replied the old +Phoenician. + +"But ye have freed Kama from the curse." + +"I guarantee that Phoenicians will not touch Kama, and will pursue the +Greek. But what is to be done with the other adherents of Astaroth?" + +"I make bold to think," said the chief, "that nothing threatens this +woman at present. If she had courage, we might employ her to decoy the +Greek, and seize him here in thy palaces, O Erpatr." + +"Then go to her," said the prince, "and lay before her whatever plan +Thou mayst think out. And if Thou seize the man, I will give thee ten +talents." + +When the heir left them, Hiram said to the chief, + +"Dignitary, I am aware that Thou knowest both kinds of writing, and +that the wisdom of priests is not strange to thee. When Thou hast the +wish, Thou art able to hear through walls and see things in darkness. +For this reason Thou knowest the thoughts of the man who works with a +bucket, the laborer, the artisan who takes sandals to market, the great +lord who in the escort of his servants feels as safe as a child on the +bosom of its mother." + +"Thou speakest truth," replied the official. "The gods have given me a +wonderful gift of clear insight." + +"That is it; thanks to thy gifts, Thou hast guessed beyond doubt that +the temple of Astaroth will appoint to thee twenty talents if Thou +seize that wretch who dares assume the appearance of the prince, our +viceroy. Besides, in every case, the temple offers thee ten talents if +news of the likeness of the wretched Lykon to the heir is not reported +throughout Egypt; for it is offensive and improper that an ordinary +mortal should recall by his features a personage descended from +divinity." + +"Therefore let not that which Thou hearest of the wretched Lykon go +beyond our own hearts, nor any word touching our chase after that +godless outcast." + +"I understand," replied the official. "It may even happen that such a +criminal may lose his life before we can give him to the court." + +"Thou hast said it," replied Hiram, pressing his hand; "and every help +asked by thee of Phoenicians will be furnished." + +They parted like two friends who were hunting a wild beast, and knew +that the problem was not that their spear should strike, but that the +beast should drop in its tracks and not go into other hands. + +After some days Ramses visited Kama again, but found her in a state +touching on insanity. She hid herself in the darkest room of the villa; +she was hungry, her hair was not dressed, she was even unwashed. She +gave the most contradictory commands to her servants; at one time she +ordered all to come to her, at another she sent all away. In the night +she summoned the guard of warriors, and fled to the highest chamber +soon after, crying out that they wished to kill her. + +In view of these actions all desire vanished from the prince's soul, +and there remained simply a feeling of great trouble. He seized his +head when the steward of the palace and the officer told him of these +wonders, and he whispered: + +"Indeed, I did badly in taking that woman from her goddess; for the +goddess alone could endure her caprices with patience." + +He went, however, to Kama, and found her emaciated, broken, and +trembling. + +"Woe to me!" cried she. "There are none around me but enemies. My +tirewoman wishes to poison me; my hairdresser to give me some dreadful +disease. The warriors are waiting an opportunity to bury swords and +spears in my bosom; I am sure that instead of food, they prepare for me +magic herbs in the kitchen. All are rising up to destroy me." + +"Kama!" interrupted the prince. + +"Call me not by that name!" whispered she; "it will bring me +misfortune." + +"But how do these ideas come to thee?" + +"How? Dost Thou think that in the daytime I do not see strange people +who appear at the palace and vanish before I can call in my servants? +And in the night do I not hear people outside the wall whispering?" + +"It seems so to thee." + +"Cursed! Cursed!" cried Kama, weeping. "Ye all say that it seems to me. +But the day before yesterday some criminal hand threw into my +bedchamber a veil, which I wore half a day before I saw that it was not +mine and that I had never worn a veil like it." + +"Where is that veil?" inquired the prince, now alarmed. + +"I burned it, but I showed it first to my servants." + +"If not thine even, what harm could come of it?" + +"Nothing yet. But had I kept that rag in the house two days longer, I +should have been poisoned, or caught some incurable disorder. I know +Asiatics and their methods." + +Wearied and irritated, the prince left her at the earliest, in spite of +entreaties to stay. When he asked the servants about that veil, the +tirewoman declared that it was not one of Kama's; some person had +thrown it into the chamber. + +The prince commanded to double the watch at the villa and around it, +and returned in desperation to his dwelling. + +"Never should I have believed," said he, "that a single weak woman +could bring so much trouble. Four freshly caught hyenas are not so +restless as that Kama!" + +At his palace the prince found Tutmosis, who had just returned from +Memphis and had barely taken time to bathe and dress after the journey. + +"What hast Thou to say?" inquired the prince of his favorite, divining +that he had not brought pleasant tidings. "Hast Thou seen his +holiness?" + +"I saw the sun-god of Egypt, and this is what he said to me." + +"Speak," hurried Ramses. + +"Thus spoke our lord," answered Tutmosis, crossing his arms on his +breast: "For four and thirty years have I directed the weighty car of +Egypt, and I am so wearied that I yearn to join my mighty forefathers +who dwell now in the western kingdom. Soon I shall leave this earth, +and then my son, Ramses, will sit on the throne, and do with the state +what wisdom points out to him." + +"Did my holy father speak thus?" + +"Those are his words repeated faithfully. A number of times the lord +spoke explicitly, saying that he would leave no command to thee, so +that Thou mightst govern Egypt as thy wishes indicate." + +"Ob, holy one! Is his illness really serious? Why did he not summon +me?" asked the prince, in sorrow. + +"Thou must be here, for Thou mayst be of service in this part of +Egypt." + +"But the treaty with Assyria?" + +"It is concluded in this sense, that Assyria may wage war on the east +and north without hindrance from Egypt. But the question of Phoenicia +remains in abeyance till Thou art the pharaoh." + +"O blessed! O holy ruler! From what a dreadful heritage Thou hast saved +me." + +"So Phoenicia remains in abeyance," continued Tutmosis. "But still +there is one bad thing. His holiness, to show Assyria that he will not +hinder her in the war against northern peoples, has commanded to +decrease our army by twenty thousand mercenaries." + +"What dost Thou tell me!" cried the heir, astounded. + +Tutmosis shook his head in sign of sorrow. + +"I speak the truth, and four Libyan regiments are now disbanded." + +"But this is madness!" almost howled the heir, wringing his hands. "Why +have we so weakened ourselves, and whither will those disbanded men +go?" + +"They have gone to the Libyan desert already, and will either attack +the Libyans, which will cause us trouble, or will join them and both +will attack then our western border." + +"I have heard nothing of this! What did they do, and when did they do +it? No news reached us!" cried Ramses. + +"The disbanded troops went to the desert from Memphis, and Herhor +forbade to mention this news to any person." + +"Do neither Mefres nor Mentezufis know of this matter?" + +"They know." + +"They know, and I do not." + +The prince grew calm on a sudden, but he was pale, and on his young +face was depicted terrible hatred. He seized both hands of his +favorite, pressed them firmly, and whispered, + +"Hear me! By the sacred heads of my father and mother, by the memory of +Ramses the Great by all the gods, if there are any, I swear that during +my rule if the priests will not bow down before me I will crush them." + +Tutmosis listened in alarm. + +"I or they!" finished the prince. "Egypt cannot have two lords." + +"Formerly it had only one, the pharaoh," added Tutmosis. + +"Then Thou wilt be loyal to me?" + +"I, all the nobles, and the army, I swear to thee." + +"Enough!" concluded Ramses. "Let them discharge the mercenary +regiments, let them sign treaties, let them hide before me like bats, +and let them deceive us all. But the time will come And now, Tutmosis, +rest after the journey; be with me at the feast this evening. Those +people have so bound me that I can only amuse myself. Then let me amuse +myself. But in time I will show them who the ruler of Egypt is, they or +I." + +From that day feasts began again. The prince, as if ashamed to meet the +army, was not present at drills. Still, his palace was swarming with +nobles, officers, jugglers, and singers, while at night great orgies +took place, at which the sound of harps mingled with the drunken shouts +of guests and the spasmodic laughter of women. + +Ramses invited Kama to one of these feasts, but she refused. + +The prince was offended. Seeing this, Tutmosis said, + +"They have told me, lord, that Sarah has lost thy favor." + +"Do not mention that Jewess to me," replied Ramses. "But dost Thou know +what she did with my son?" + +"I know; but that, it seems to me, was not her fault. I heard in +Memphis that thy worthy mother and the worthy minister Herhor made thy +son a Jew, so that he might rule over Israelites sometime." + +"But the Israelites have no king, only priests and judges," interrupted +the prince. + +"They have not, but they wish to have. They, too, are disgusted with +priestly rule." + +The heir waved his hand contemptuously. + +"A charioteer of his holiness means more than any king, especially any +king of the Israelites, who as yet have no kingdom." + +"In every case, Sarah's fault is not so great," put in Tutmosis. + +"Then know that I will pay the priests sometime." + +"They are not to blame so greatly. For instance, the worthy Herhor did +this to increase the glory and power of thy dynasty. And he did it with +the knowledge of thy mother." + +"But why does Mefres interfere? His single duty is to care for the +temple, not influence the fate of the pharaoh's descendants." + +"Mefres is an old man growing whimsical. The whole court of his +holiness jeers at him because of practices, of which I know nothing, +though I see the holy man almost daily." + +"This is curious. What does he do?" + +"A number of times during twenty-four hours he performs solemn services +in the most secret parts of the temple, and he commands the priests to +see if the gods do not hold him suspended while praying." + +"Ha! ha!" laughed Ramses. "And all this is going on in Pi-Bast here +under our eyes, and I do not know of it?" + +"A priestly secret." + +"A secret of which all in Memphis are talking! Ha! ha! ha! In the +amphitheatre I saw a Chaldean suspended in the air." + +"I saw him too; but that was a trick, while Mefres wishes to be borne +above the earth really on the wings of his devotion." + +"Unheard-of buffoonery! What do the other priests say to this?" + +"Perhaps in our sacred papyruses there is mention that in old times +there were prophets among us who had the gift of suspending themselves +in the air; so the desires of Mefres do not astonish priests nowadays. +And since, as is known to thee, subordinates among us see whatever +pleases superiors, some holy men claim that during prayer Mefres really +rises a couple of fingers high above the pavement." + +"Ha! ha! ha! And with this great secret the whole court is occupied, +and we, like laborers or earth-diggers, do not even suspect that +miracles are wrought at one side of us. A wretched fate to be heir to +the throne of Egypt!" laughed the viceroy. + +When he grew calm, at the repeated request of Tutmosis, he commanded to +transfer Sarah from the servants' house to Kama's first villa. The +servants were delighted at this change; all the serving and slave +women, and even the scribes conducted Sarah to her new dwelling with +music and shouts of pleasure. + +The Phoenician woman, when she heard the uproar, asked the reason; and +when they told her that Sarah had been restored to the favor of the +prince, and that from the servants' house she had been transferred to +the villa, the enraged ex-priestess sent for Ramses. + +The prince came. + +"Dost Thou treat me in this way?" screamed she, losing control of her +temper. "Thou didst promise that I should be thy first woman, but +before the moon traversed half the heavens thy promise was broken. +Perhaps Thou thinkest that the vengeance of Astaroth will fall on the +priestess alone, and not reach to princes." + +"Tell thy Astaroth," replied Ramses, calmly, "not to threaten princes, +or she may go herself to the servants' house." + +"I understand!" exclaimed Kama. "I shall go to the servants' house, +perhaps even to prison, while Thou wilt spend nights with thy Jewess. +Because I have left the gods for thee I have drawn down a curse on my +own head. Because I left them I know no rest for a moment; I have lost +my youth for thee, my life, my soul even, and this is the pay which +Thou givest me." + +The prince confessed in his heart that Kama had sacrificed much for +him, and he felt compunction. + +"I have not been and shall not be with Sarah," said he. "But does it +harm thee that the ill-fated woman has some comfort and can nourish her +child unmolested?" + +Kama trembled. She raised her clinched fist, her hair stirred, and in +her eyes an ugly fire of hate was flashing. + +"Is this the answer which Thou givest me? The Jewess is unhappy because +Thou didst drive her from the villa, and I must be satisfied, though +the gods have driven me out of their temples. But my soul the soul of a +priestess who is drowning in tears and in terror does not mean more for +thee than that brat of the Jew woman this child, which, would he were +dead may he." + +"Silence!" cried the prince, shutting her mouth. + +She drew back frightened. + +"Then may I not even complain of my wretchedness?" inquired she. "But +if Thou art so careful of that child, why steal me from the temple, why +promise that I should be first in thy household? Have a care," +continued she, raising her voice again, "that Egypt, after learning my +fate, may not call thee a faith-breaker." + +The prince turned his head and laughed. But he sat down, and said, + +"My teacher was right, indeed, when he warned me against women: Ye are +like ripe peaches in the eyes of a man whose tongue thirst has parched, +but peaches ripe only in appearance. Woe to the fool who dares bite +that fruit of fair seeming; instead of cooling sweetness he will find a +nest of wasps that will sting not his lips alone, but his heart also." + +"Wilt Thou complain? Wilt Thou not spare me even this shame after I +have sacrificed to thee both my dignity of priestess and my virtue?" + +The heir shook his head and smiled. + +"Never could I have thought," said he, after a while, "that the story +told by laborers before bedtime could have come true. But today I see +the truth of it. Listen to me, Kama; perhaps Thou wilt stop, and not +force me to withdraw the goodwill which I have for thee." + +"He wishes now to tell a fable!" said the priestess, bitterly. "Thou +hast told me one already, and I was profited by hearing it." + +"This will profit thee if Thou understand it." + +"Will there be anything about Jewish brats in it?" + +"Of priestesses there will be; only listen carefully. + +"The following thing happened here long ago, in Pi-Bast: [A true +story.] + +"Once Prince Satni, on the square before the temple of Ptah, saw a very +beautiful woman. She surpassed all whom he had met before, and, what +was more noteworthy, she had much gold on her person. + +"She pleased the prince greatly, and when he learned that she was the +daughter of the high priest, he sent his equerry to her with the +following offer, + +"'I will give thee gold rings if Thou wilt pass one short hour in my +company.' + +"The equerry went to the beautiful Tbubui and repeated the words of +Prince Satni. When she had listened to him politely, she answered as +became a well-bred young lady, + +"'I am the daughter of a high priest; I am innocent, no low girl. So, +if the prince wishes to have the pleasure of knowing me, let him come +to my house, where everything will be ready, and where acquaintance +with him will not expose me to the scandal of all the street gossips.' + +"Prince Satni went to Tbubui's chambers, the walls of which were +covered with lapis lazuli and pale green enamel. There were also many +couches decked with regal linen, and not a few one-legged tables on +which gold goblets were standing. One of these goblets was filled with +wine and given to the prince, while Tbubui said to him, 'Be gracious, +and drink.' To this the prince answered, 'Thou knowest that I have not +come to drink wine here.' Still the two sat down at the feast, during +which Tbubui wore a long, heavy robe fastened at her neck closely. When +the prince, excited by wine, wished to kiss her, she repelled him, and +answered, + +"'This house will be thine. But remember that I am no street woman, but +an innocent maiden. If Thou wish from me obedience, swear faith, and +convey to me thy property.' + +"'Let the scribe come!' cried the prince. When they brought in the +scribe, Satni commanded him to write an act of betrothal, also a deed +by which he transferred to Tbubui all his money, and all his property, +personal and real. + +"An hour later the servants announced to the prince that his children +were waiting in the lower story. Tbubui left him then, but returned +soon, attired in a transparent gauze robe. Satni wished again to +embrace her, but she repelled him a second time, saying: 'This house +will be thine. But, since I am no common woman, but an innocent maiden, +if Thou wish to possess me, let thy children renounce every claim, lest +they raise lawsuits hereafter with my children.' + +"Satni called up his children, and commanded them to sign an act +renouncing all claim to his possessions. They did so. But when, roused +by long resistance, he approached Tbubui, she repelled him, saying, + +"'This house will be thine. But I am no chance passing woman, I am a +pure maiden. If Thou love me, give consent to kill those children lest +they take property from my children.'" + +"This is rather a long story," said Kama, impatiently. + +"It will end right away. And dost Thou know, Kama, what Satni replied +to this: 'If Thou wish, let the crime be accomplished.' Tbubui gave no +chance to have these words said a second time. Before their father's +eyes she commanded to kill the children, and throw their bloody limbs +to dogs and cats outside the windows. Only after that did Satni enter +her chamber and repose on her bed, inlaid with ivory." + +"Tbubui did well not to trust to men's promises," said the irritated +Kama. + +"But Satni," said the heir, "did better. He woke, for his dreadful +crime was a dream only. And remember this, Kama, the surest way to +rouse a man from love's intoxication is to curse his son." + +"Be at rest, lord," said Kama, gloomily, "I will never mention +hereafter thy son or my sorrow." + +"And I will not withdraw my favor from thee, and Thou wilt be happy," +said Ramses, in conclusion. + + + +CHAPTER XL + +Among the inhabitants of Pi-Bast alarming news had begun to circulate +concerning the Libyans. It was said that those barbarian warriors, +disbanded by the priests, began by begging on the road homeward, then +they stole, and finally they fell to robbing and burning Egyptian +villages, murdering the inhabitants meanwhile. + +In the course of a few days they attacked and destroyed the towns of +Chinen-su, Pinat, and Kasa, south of Lake Moeris, and they cut down +also a caravan of merchants and Egyptian pilgrims returning from the +oasis Uit-Mehe. The entire western boundary of the state was in peril, +and even from Teremethis inhabitants began to flee. And in the +neighborhood beyond that, toward the sea, appeared bands of Libyans, +sent, as it were, by the terrible chief, Musawasa, who, it seemed, was +to declare a sacred war against Egypt. + +Moreover, if any evening a western strip of sky was red for too long a +time alarm fell on Pi-Bast. The people gathered along the streets; some +of them went out on the flat roofs, or climbed trees, and declared that +they saw a fire in Menuf or in Sechem. Some, even, in spite of +darkness, saw fleeing people, or Libyan bands marching toward Pi-Bast +in long black columns. + +Notwithstanding the indignation of people, the rulers of provinces +remained indifferent, for the central power issued no order. + +Prince Ramses saw this alarm of the people and the indifference of +dignitaries. Mad anger seized him, because he received no command from +Memphis, and because neither Mefres nor Mentezufis spoke with him of +dangers threatening Egypt. + +But since neither priest visited him, and both, as it were, avoided +conversation, the viceroy did not seek them, nor did he make any +military preparations. + +At last he ceased to visit the regiments stationed at Pi-Bast, but +assembling at the palace all the young nobles, he amused himself and +feasted, repressing in his heart indignation at the priests and anxiety +for the fate of the country. + +"Thou wilt see!" said he once to Tutmosis. "The holy prophets will +manage us so that Musawasa will take Lower Egypt, and we shall have to +flee to Thebes, if not to Sunnu, unless the Ethiopians drive us also +from that place." + +"Thou speakest truth," replied Tutmosis; "our rulers' acts resemble +those of traitors." + +The first day in the month of Hator (August-September) a great feast +was given at the palace of the viceroy. They began to amuse themselves +at two in the afternoon, and before sunset all present were drunk. It +went so far that men and women rolled on the floor, which was wet with +wine and covered with flowers and pieces of broken pitchers. + +The prince was the soberest among them. He was not on the floor, he was +sitting in an armchair, holding on his knees two beautiful dancers, one +of whom was giving him wine, while the other was pouring strong +perfumes on his head. + +At this moment an adjutant entered the hall, and, stepping over a +number of guests lying prostrate, hurried up to Ramses. + +"Worthy lord," said he, "the holy Mefres and the holy Mentezufis wish +to speak at once with thee." + +The viceroy pushed the girls away, and with red face, stained garments, +and tottering steps went to his chamber in the upper story. At sight of +him Mefres and Mentezufis looked at each other. + +"What do ye wish, worthy fathers?" asked the prince, dropping into an +armchair. + +"I do not know whether Thou wilt be able to hear us," answered the +anxious Mentezufis. + +"Ah! do ye think that I am tipsy?" cried the prince. "Have no fear. +Today all Egypt is either so mad or so stupid that most sense is found +among drinkers." + +The priests frowned, but Mentezufis began, + +"Thou knowest, worthiness, that our lord and the supreme council +determined to disband twenty thousand mercenary warriors?" + +"Well, if I do not know?" said the heir. "Ye have not deigned to ask my +advice in a question so difficult to determine, ye have not even +thought it worth while to inform me that four regiments are disbanded, +and that those men, because of hunger, are attacking our cities." + +"It seems to me, worthiness, that Thou art criticizing the commands of +his holiness the pharaoh," interrupted Mentezufis. + +"Not of his holiness!" cried the prince, stamping, "but of those +traitors who, taking advantage of the sickness of my father, wish to +sell Egypt to Assyrians and Libyans." + +The priests were astounded. No Egyptian had ever used words of that +kind. + +"Permit, prince, that we return in a couple of hours, when Thou shalt +have calmed thyself," said Mefres. + +"There is no need of that. I know what is happening on our western +boundary. Or rather it is not I who know, but my cooks, stable-boys, +and laundrymen. Perhaps then ye will have the goodness, worthy fathers, +to communicate your plans to me." + +Mentezufis assumed a look of indifference, and said, + +"The Libyans have rebelled and are collecting bands with the intention +of attacking Egypt." + +"I understand." + +"At the desire, therefore, of his holiness," continued Mentezufis, "and +of the supreme council, Thou art to take troops from Lower Egypt and +annihilate the rebels." + +"Where is the order?" + +Mentezufis drew forth from his bosom a parchment provided with seals, +and gave it to the viceroy. + +"From this moment then I command, and am the supreme power in this +province," said the viceroy. + +"It is as Thou hast said." + +"And I have the right to hold a military council with you?" + +"Of course," replied Mefres. "Even this moment + +"Sit down," interrupted the prince. + +Both priests obeyed his command. + +"I ask because in view of my plans I must know why the Libyan regiments +were disbanded." + +"Others too will be disbanded," caught up Mentezufis. "The supreme +council desires to disband twenty thousand of the most expensive +warriors, so that the treasury of his holiness may save four thousand +talents yearly, without which want may soon threaten the court of the +pharaoh." + +"A thing which does not threaten the most wretched of Egyptian +priests," added Ramses. + +"Thou forgettest, worthiness, that it is not proper to call a priest +wretched," replied Mentezufis. "And if want threatens none of them, the +merit is found in their moderate style of living." + +"In that case the statues drink the wine which is carried every day to +the temples, while stone gods dress their wives in gold and jewels," +jeered Ramses. "But no more about your abstemiousness. Not to fill the +treasury of the pharaoh has the council of priests disbanded twenty +thousand troops and opened the gates of Egypt to bandits." + +"But why?" + +"This is why: to please King Assar. And since his holiness would not +agree to give Phoenicia to Assyria, ye wish to weaken the state in +another way, by disbanding hired troops and rousing war on our western +boundary." + +"I take the gods to witness that Thou dost astonish us, worthiness," +cried Mentezufis. + +"The shades of the pharaohs would be more astonished if they heard that +in this same Egypt in which the power of the pharaoh is hampered, some +Chaldean trickster is influencing the fate of the nation." + +"I do not believe my own ears," replied Mentezufis. "What dost Thou say +of some Chaldean?" + +The viceroy laughed sneeringly. + +"I speak of Beroes. If thou, holy man, hast not heard of him, ask the +revered Mefres, and if he has forgotten turn then to Herhor and +Pentuer." + +"That is a great secret of our temples + +"A foreign adventurer came like a thief to Egypt, and put on the +members of the supreme council a treaty so shameful that we should be +justified in signing it only after we had lost battles, lost all our +regiments and both capitals. And to think that this was done by one +man, most assuredly a spy of King Assar! And our sages let themselves +be so charmed by his eloquence, that, when the pharaoh would not let +them give up Phoenicia, they disbanded regiments in every case, and +caused war on our western boundary. Have we ever heard of a deed like +this?" continued Ramses, no longer master of himself. "When it was just +the time to raise the army to three hundred thousand and hurry on to +Nineveh, those pious maniacs discharged twenty thousand men and fired +their own dwelling-house." + +Mefres, still and pale, listened to these jeers. At last he said, + +"I know not, worthy lord, from what source Thou hast taken thy +information. May it be as pure as the hearts of the highest counselors! +But let us suppose that Thou art right, that some Chaldean priest had +power to bring the council to sign a burdensome treaty with Assyria. If +it happened thus, whence knowest Thou that that priest was not an envoy +of the gods, who through his lips forewarned us of dangers hanging over +Egypt?" + +"How do the Chaldeans enjoy your confidence to such a degree?" asked +the viceroy. + +"The Chaldean priests are elder brothers of the Egyptians," interrupted +Mentezufis. + +"Then perhaps the Assyrian king is the master of the pharaoh?" + +"Blaspheme not, worthiness," said Mefres, severely. "Thou art pushing +into the most sacred things frivolously, and to do that has proved +perilous to men who were greater than Thou art." + +"Well, I will not do so. But how is a man to know that one Chaldean is +an envoy of the gods, and another a spy of King Assar?" + +"By miracles," answered Mefres. "If, at thy command, prince, this room +should fill with spirits, if unseen powers were to bear thee in the +air, we should know that Thou wert an agent of the immortals, and +should respect thy counsel." + +Ramses shrugged his shoulders. "I, too, have seen spirits: a young girl +made them. And I saw a juggler lying in the air in the amphitheatre." + +"But Thou didst not see the fine strings which his four assistants had +in their teeth," put in Mentezufis. + +The prince laughed again, and, remembering what Tutmosis had told him +about the devotions of Mefres, he said in a jeering tone, + +"In the days of Cheops a certain high priest wished absolutely to fly +through the air. With this object he prayed to the gods, and commanded +his inferiors to see whether unseen powers were not raising him. And +what will ye say, holy fathers? From that time forth there was no day +when prophets did not assure the high priest that he was borne in the +air, not very high, it is true, about a finger from the pavement." + +"But what is that to thy power, worthiness?" inquired he of Mefres, +suddenly. + +"The high priest, when he heard his own story, shook in the chair, and +would have fallen had not Mentezufis supported him." + +Ramses bustled about, gave the old man water to drink, rubbed vinegar +on his temples and forehead, and fanned him. + +Soon the holy Mefres recovered, rose from the chair, and said to +Mentezufis, + +"May we not go now?" + +"I think so." + +"But what am I to do?" asked the prince, feeling that something evil +had happened. + +"Accomplish the duties of leader," said Mentezufis, coldly. + +Both priests bowed to the prince ceremoniously, and departed. Ramses +was not entirely sober, but a great weight fell on his heart. At that +moment he understood that he had committed two grievous errors: He had +confessed to the priests that he knew their great secret, and he had +jeered, without mercy, at Mefres. He would have given a year of his +life could he have blotted from their memories all that drunken +conversation. But it was too late then to do so. + +"It cannot be hidden," thought he. "I have betrayed myself and procured +mortal enemies. The position is difficult. The struggle begins at a +moment which is for me most unfavorable. But let us go on. More than +one pharaoh has struggled with the priests and conquered, even without +having very strong allies." + +Still he felt the danger of his position so clearly that at that moment +he swore by the sacred head of his father that he would never drink +wine again freely. He summoned Tutmosis. The confidant appeared at +once, perfectly sober. + +"We have a war, and I am commander," said the viceroy. + +Tutmosis bent to the earth. + +"I will never get drunk again," added the prince. "And knowest Thou +why?" + +"A leader should abstain from wine and stupefying perfumes," said +Tutmosis. + +"I have not thought of that, that is nothing; but I have babbled out a +secret before the priests." + +"What secret?" cried the terrified Tutmosis. + +"This, that I hate them, and jeer at their miracles." + +"Oh, that is no harm. They never calculate on the love of people." + +"And that I know their political secrets," added the prince. + +"Ei!" hissed Tutmosis. "That is the one thing that was not needed." + +"No help for it now," said Ramses. "Send out our couriers immediately +to the regiments; let the chiefs meet to-morrow morning in a military +council. Give command to light alarm signals, so that all the troops of +Lower Egypt may march toward the western border to-morrow. Go to the +nomarchs here, and command them to inform all the others to collect +clothing, provisions, and weapons." + +"We shall have trouble with the Nile," said Tutmosis. + +"Then let every boat and barge be held at the arms of the Nile to ferry +over troops. We must summon every nomarch to occupy himself in fitting +out reserves." + +Meanwhile Mefres and Mentezufis returned to their dwellings in the +temple of Ptah. When they were alone in a cell, the high priest raised +his hands, and exclaimed, + +"O Trinity of immortal gods, Osiris, Isis, and Horus, save Egypt from +destruction! Since the world became the world, no pharaoh has ever +uttered so many blasphemies as we have heard today from that stripling. +What do I say, pharaoh? No enemy of Egypt, no Hittite, Phoenician, or +Libyan has ever dared so to insult priestly immunity." + +"Wine makes a man transparent," answered Mentezufis. + +"But in that youthful heart is a nest of serpents. He insults the +priestly rank, he jeers at miracles, he has no belief in gods." + +"But this concerns me most," said Mentezufis, thoughtfully, "how did he +learn of our negotiations with. Beroes? for he knows them, I will swear +to that." + +"A dreadful treason has been committed," added Mefres, seizing his +head. + +"A very wonderful thing! There were four of us." + +"Not at all four of us. The elder priestess of Isis knew of Beroes, two +priests who showed him the road to the temple of Set, and a priest who +received him at the door. But wait! that priest spends all his time in +underground places. But if he overheard?" + +"In every case he did not sell the secret to a stripling, but to some +one more important; and that is dangerous." + +The high priest of the temple of Ptah, the holy Sem, knocked at the +door of the cell. + +"Peace to you," said he, entering. + +"Blessing to thy heart." + +"I came, for ye were raising your voices as if some misfortune had +happened. Does this war with the wretched Libyans not surprise you?" + +"What dost Thou think of the prince, the heir to the throne?" asked +Mentezufis, interrupting him. + +"I think," answered Sem, "that he must be quite satisfied with the war +and supreme command. He is a born hero. When I look at him I remember +that lion, Ramses the Great. This youth is ready to rush at all the +bands of Libya, and, indeed, he may scatter them." + +"This youth," added Mefres, "is capable of overturning all our temples, +and wiping Egypt from the face of the earth." + +Holy Sem drew forth quickly a gold amulet which he wore on his breast, +and whispered, + +"Flee, evil words, to the desert. Go far, and harm not the just. What +art Thou saying, worthiness?" continued he, more loudly, and in a tone +of reproach. + +"The worthy Mefres speaks truth," said Mentezufis. "Thy head would +ache, and thy stomach also, should human lips repeat the blasphemous +words which we have heard this day from that giddy stripling." + +"Jest not, O prophet," said the high priest Sem, with indignation. +"Sooner would I believe that water burns and air quenches than that +Ramses would commit blasphemy." + +"He did so in seeming drunkenness," said Mefres, maliciously. + +"Even if he were drunk I do not deny that the prince is frivolous, and +a rioter; but a blasphemer." + +"So, too, did we think," said Mentezufis. "And we were so sure of +knowing his character that when he returned from the temple of Hator we +ceased even to exercise control over him." + +"Thou wert sparing of gold to pay men for watching," said Mefres. "Thou +seest now what results are involved in a neglect which seemed slight to +thee." + +"But what has happened?" inquired Sem, impatiently. + +"I will answer briefly: the prince reviles the gods." + +"Oho!" + +"He criticizes the commands of the pharaoh." + +"Is it possible?" + +"He calls the supreme council traitors." + +"But." + +"But from whom did he learn of the coming of Beroes, even of his +interview with Mefres, Herhor, and Pentuer, in the temple of Set?" + +The high priest Sem, seizing his head with both hands, walked up and +down through the cell. + +"Impossible!" said he. "Impossible! Has any one cast a spell over that +young man? Perhaps the Phoenician priestess, whom he stole from the +temple." + +This consideration seemed to Mentezufis so apposite that he looked at +Mefres. But the angry high priest would not be turned aside for an +instant. + +"Let us see," said he. "But first we must investigate and learn what +the prince was doing day by day, after his return from the temple of +Hator. He had too much freedom, too many relations with unbelievers and +with enemies of Egypt. But Thou wilt help us, worthy Sem." + +Because of this decision, the high priest Sem ordered to summon for the +following day a solemn service at the temple of Ptah. + +So they stationed on squares and at street comers, even in the fields, +heralds of the priests, and called all the people with flutes and +trumpets. + +And when a sufficient number of hearers had assembled, they informed +them that in the temple of Ptah there would be prayers and processions +during three days, to the intent that the good god would bless Egyptian +arms and crush Libyans; that he would send down on their leader, +Musawasa, leprosy, insanity, and blindness. + +As the priests wished, so was it done. From morning till late at night +common people of every occupation crowded around the temple; the +aristocracy and the wealthy citizens assembled in the forecourt; while +the priests of the city and of the neighboring provinces made +sacrifices to Ptah and repeated prayers in the most holy chapel. + +Thrice daily did a solemn procession issue forth, carrying in a golden +boat, concealed by curtains, the revered statue of the divinity; +whereat the people prostrated themselves and confessed their faults +loudly, while prophets disposed in the crowd numerously helped them to +penitence by appropriate questions. A similar thing was done in the +forecourt of the temple. But since officials and rich people did not +like to accuse themselves openly, the holy fathers took them aside, and +gave advice and exhortation in whispers. + +In the afternoon the service was most solemn, for at that time the +troops marching westward came to receive the blessing of the high +priest, and strengthen the power of amulets which had the quality of +weakening blows from the enemy. + +Sometimes thunder was heard in the temple, and at night, above the +pylons, there was lightning. This was a sign that the god had heard +some one's prayers, or was conversing with the priesthood. + +When, after the ending of the solemnity, the three dignitaries Sem, +Mefres, and Mentezufis met for consultation, the position had become +clearer. + +The solemnity had brought the temple about forty talents but sixty +talents had been given out in presents or in paying the debts of +various persons of the aristocracy as well as of the highest military +circles. + +They had collected the following information: + +A report was current in the army, that when Prince Ramses mounted the +throne, he would begin a war with Assyria, which would assure great +profit to those taking part in it. The lowest soldier, they said, would +not return without a thousand drachmas, or perhaps a still larger sum. + +It was whispered among people that when the pharaoh returned with +victory from Nineveh, he would give slaves to the earth-tillers, and +remit for a number of years all taxes. + +The aristocracy, on its part, judged that the new pharaoh would, first +of all, take from priests and return to nobles all lands which had +become temple property, and would pay also the debts of nobles. It was +said, too, that the coming pharaoh would govern independently, without +a supreme priestly council. + +Finally, in all social circles there reigned a conviction that Ramses, +to secure the aid of Phoenicia, had had recourse to the goddess Istar, +[Another form of Astarte.] to whom he showed marked devotion. In every +case it was certain that the heir had once visited the temple of Istar, +and had seen, in the night, certain miracles. Finally, rumors were +current among Asiatics that Ramses had made immense presents to the +temple, and in return had taken thence a priestess to confirm him in +the faith of the goddess. + +All these tidings were collected by the most worthy Sem and his +assistants. The holy fathers, Mefres and Mentezufis, communicated to +him other information which had come to them from Memphis: + +The Chaldean priest and miracle-worker, Beroes, was received in the +subterranean parts of the temple of Set by the priest Osochar, who, +when giving his daughter in marriage two months later, had presented +her with rich jewels and bought a good estate for her and her husband. +And since Osochar had no considerable income, a suspicion rose that +that priest had overheard the conversation of Beroes with the Egyptian +priests, and had sold to Phoenicians, criminally, the secret of the +treaty, and received a great estate from them. + +When he heard this, the high priest Sem added, + +"If the holy Beroes does, indeed, perform miracles, then ask him, first +of all, if Osochar has betrayed the secret." + +"They inquired of Beroes," said Mefres, "but the holy man answered that +in that affair he preferred to be silent. He added, also, that even if +some one had heard their conversation, and reported to Phoenicians, +neither Egypt nor Chaldea would suffer any injury; and if they should +find the guilty person, it would be proper to show him mercy." + +"A holy man! Indeed, a holy man!" whispered Sem. + +"And what wilt Thou say, worthiness," asked Mefres, "of the prince and +the disturbances which his conduct has caused in the country?" + +"I will say the same as Beroes: 'The heir does not cause harm to Egypt, +so we should show him indulgence. '." + +"This young man reviles the gods and miracles; he enters foreign +temples, he excites the men to rebellion. These are no small matters," +said Mefres, bitterly. This priest could not pardon Ramses for having +jeered at his devotion so rudely. + +The high priest Sem loved Ramses; so he answered with a kindly smile, + +"What laborer is there in Egypt who would not like to have a slave, and +abandon hard labor for sweet idleness? Or what man is there on earth +who is without the dream of not paying taxes, since with that which he +pays the treasury, his wife, he himself, and his children might buy +showy clothes and use various dainties?" + +"Idleness and excessive outlay spoil a man," said Mentezufis. + +"What warrior," continued Sem, "would not desire war and covet a +thousand drachmas, or even a greater sum? Further, I ask you, O +fathers, what pharaoh, what nomarch, what noble pays old debts with +alacrity, and does not look askance at the wealth of temples?" + +"That is vile greed," whispered Mefres. + +"And, finally," said Sem, "what heir to the throne has not dreamed of +decreasing the importance of the priesthood? What pharaoh at the +beginning of his reign has not tried to shake off the supreme council's +influence?" + +"Thy words are full of wisdom," said Mefres, "but to what may they lead +us?" + +"To this, not to accuse the heir before the supreme council, for there +is no court that would condemn the prince for this, that earth-workers +would be glad not to pay taxes, or that soldiers want war if they can +have it. Nay, ye may receive a reprimand. For if ye had followed the +prince day by day and restrained his minor excesses, we should not have +at present that pyramid of complaints founded, moreover, on nothing. In +such affairs the evil is not in this, that people are inclined to sin, +for they have been so at all times. But the danger is here, that we +have not guarded them. Our sacred river, the mother of Egypt, would +very soon fill all canals with mud, if engineers ceased to watch it." + +"And what wilt Thou say, worthiness, of the fictions which the prince +permitted himself in speaking with us? Wilt Thou forgive his foul +reviling of miracles?" inquired Mefres. "Moreover this stripling has +insulted me grievously in my religious practices." + +"Whoso speaks with a drunken man is himself an offender," said Sem. "To +tell the truth, ye had no right, worthy fathers, to speak with a man +who was not sober about important state questions. Ye committed a fault +in making a drunken man commander of an army. A leader must be sober." + +"I bow down before thy wisdom," said Mefres; "still I vote to lay a +complaint against the heir before the supreme council." + +"But I vote against a complaint," answered Sem, energetically. "The +council must learn of all acts of the viceroy, not through a complaint, +but through an ordinary report to it." + +"I too am opposed to a complaint," said Mentezufis. + +The high priest, Mefres, seeing that he had two votes against him, +yielded in the matter of a complaint. But he remembered the insult from +the prince and hid ill-will in his bosom. + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +BY advice of astrologers the headquarters were to move from Pi-Bast on +the seventh day of Hator. For that day was "good, good, good." Gods in +heaven and men on earth rejoiced at the victory of Ra over his enemies; +whoever came into the world on that day was destined to die at an +advanced age surrounded by reverence. + +That was a favorable day for pregnant women, and people trading in +woven stuffs, but for toads and mice it was evil. + +From the moment that he was appointed commander Ramses rushed to work +feverishly. He received each regiment as it arrived; he inspected its +weapons, its train, and its clothing. He greeted the recruits, and +encouraged them to diligent exercise at drilling, to the destruction of +their enemies and the glory of the pharaoh. He presided at every +military council, he was present at the examination of every spy, and +in proportion as tidings were brought in, he indicated on the map with +his own hand the movement of Egyptian armies and the positions of the +enemy. + +He passed so swiftly from place to place that they looked for him +everywhere, and still he swooped on them suddenly like a falcon. In the +morning he was on the south of Pi-Bast and verified the list of +provisions; an hour later he was north of the city, and discovered that +a hundred and fifty men were lacking in the left regiment. In the +evening he overtook the advance guard, was at the crossing of an arm of +the Nile, and passed in review two hundred war chariots. + +The holy Mentezufis, who, as a representative of Herhor, understood the +military art well, was overcome by astonishment. + +"Ye know," said he to Sem and Mefres, "that I do not like the heir to +the throne, for I have discovered his perversity and malice. But Osiris +be my witness that that young man is a born leader. I will tell you a +thing unparalleled: We shall concentrate our forces on the border three +or four days earlier than it was possible to expect. The Libyans have +lost the war already, though they have not heard the whistle of our +arrows." + +"So much the worse is such a pharaoh for us," interposed Mefres, with +the stubbornness peculiar to old men. + +Toward evening the sixth of Hator, Prince Ramses bathed and informed +his staff that they would march on the morrow two hours before sunrise. +"And now I wish to sleep," said he. + +To wish for sleep was easier than to get it. The whole city was +swarming with warriors; at the palace of the prince a regiment had +encamped which had no thought of rest, but was eating, drinking, and +singing. + +The prince went to the remotest chamber, but even there he could not +undress. Every few minutes some adjutant flew in with a report of no +moment, or for an order in questions which could have been settled on +the spot by the commander of a regiment. Spies were led in who brought +no new information; great lords with small followings were announced; +these wished to offer their services to the prince as volunteers. +Phoenician merchants broke in on him; these wanted contracts for the +army, or were contractors who complained of the extortion of generals. + +Even soothsayers and astrologers were not lacking, who in the last +hours before marching wished to draw his horoscope for the viceroy; +there were even practicers of the black art who wished to sell +unfailing amulets against missiles. + +These people simply broke into the prince's chamber: each one of them +judged that the fate of the expedition was in his hands, and that in +such a case every etiquette should vanish. + +The heir satisfied all applicants patiently. But when behind an +astrologer one of his own women pushed into the room with complaint +that Ramses did not love her, since he had not taken farewell, and when +a quarter of an hour later the weeping of another was heard outside the +window, the heir could endure no longer; he summoned Tutmosis. + +"Sit in this room," said he, "and if Thou wish, console the women of my +household. I will hide somewhere in the garden; if not, I shall not +sleep and to-morrow I shall look like a hen just pulled out of a +cistern." + +"Where am I to seek thee in case of need?" asked Tutmosis. + +"Oho! ho!" laughed the heir. "Seek me nowhere. I shall appear of myself +when the trumpet is sounded." + +And throwing over his shoulders a long mantle with a hood, he slipped +out to the garden. Through the garden were prowling soldiers, kitchen +boys, and other servants. In the whole space about the palace order had +disappeared, as usual before an expedition. Noting this, Ramses turned +to the densest part of the park, found a little arbor formed of grape- +vines, and threw himself on a bench satisfied. + +"Here neither priests nor women will find me," muttered the viceroy. + +He fell asleep immediately, and slept like a stone. + +Kama had felt ill for some days. To her irritation was joined some +peculiar weakness and pain in the joints. Then there was an itching of +her face, but especially of her forehead above the eyebrows. + +These minute symptoms seemed to her so alarming that she ceased to +dread assassination, but straightway she sat down before a mirror, and +told her servants to withdraw and leave her. At such times she thought +neither of Ramses nor the hated Sarah; all her attention was fixed on +those spots which an untrained eye would not have even noticed. + +"A spot yes, these are spots," whispered she, full of terror. "Two, +three O Astaroth, but Thou wilt not punish thy priestess in this way! +Death would be better But again what folly! If I rub my forehead, the +spots will be redder. Evidently something has bitten me, or I have used +impure oil in anointing. I will wash, and the spots will be gone by to- +morrow." + +The morrow came, but the spots had not vanished. + +Kama called a servant. + +"Listen!" said she. "Look at me!" + +But as she spoke she sat down in a less lighted part of the chamber. + +"Listen and look!" said she, in a stifled voice. "Dost Thou see spots +on my face? But come no nearer." + +"I see nothing," answered the serving woman. + +"Neither under my left eye nor on my brows?" asked she, with growing +irritation. + +"Let the lady be pleased graciously to sit with the side of her face to +the light," said the woman. + +Of course that request enraged Kama. + +"Away, wretch," cried she; "show thyself no more to me!" + +When the serving-woman fled, her mistress rushed feverishly to the +dressing-table, opened two little toilet jars, and with a brush painted +her face rose-color. + +Toward evening, feeling continual pain in her joints and fear in her +heart, which was worse than pain, she commanded to call a physician. +When they told her that the physician had come, she looked at the +mirror, and was seized by a new attack, as it were of insanity. She +threw the mirror to the pavement, and cried out with weeping that she +did not need the physician. + +During the sixth of Hator she ate nothing all day and would see no +person. + +When the slave woman brought in a light after sun-down, + +Kama lay on the bed, after she had wound herself in a shawl. She +ordered the slave to go out as quickly as possible; then she sat in an +armchair at a distance from the lamp, and passed some hours in a half- +waking stupor. + +"There are no spots," said she, "and if there are, they are not spots +of that kind! They are not leprosy. O ye gods!" cried she, throwing +herself on the pavement. "It cannot be that I O ye gods, save me! I +will go back to the temple; I will do life-long penance I have no +spots. I have been rubbing my skin for some days; that is why it is +red. Again, how could I have it; has any one ever heard that a +priestess and a woman of the heir to the throne could have leprosy? O +ye gods! that never has happened since the world began. Only fishermen, +prisoners, and vile Jews Oh, that low Jewess! Heavenly powers, oh, send +down leprosy to her!" + +At that moment some shadow passed by the window on the first story. +Then a rustle was heard, and from the door to the middle of the room +sprang in Lykon. + +Kama was amazed. She seized her head suddenly, and in her eyes immense +terror was depicted. + +"Lykon!" whispered she. "Thou here, Lykon? Be off! They are searching +for thee." + +"I know," answered the Greek, with a jeering laugh. "All the +Phoenicians are hunting me, and all the police of his holiness. Still I +am with thee, and I have been in thy lord's chamber." + +"Wert Thou with the prince?" + +"Yes; in his own bedchamber. And I should have left a dagger in his +breast if the evil spirits had not saved him. Evidently he went to some +other woman, not to thee." + +"What dost Thou wish here?" whispered Kama. "Flee!" + +"But with thee. On the street a chariot is ready for us; on this we +shall ride to the Nile, and there my boat is in waiting." + +"Thou hast gone mad! But the city and the streets are filled with +warriors." + +"For that very reason I was able to enter this palace, and we can +escape very easily. Collect all thy treasures. I shall be back here +immediately and take thee." + +"Whither art Thou going?" + +"I am seeking thy lord. I shall not go without leaving him a memento." + +"Thou art mad!" + +"Be silent!" interrupted Lykon, pale from anger. "Thou wishest yet to +defend him." + +The Phoenician woman tottered; she clinched her fists, and an evil +light flashed in her eyes. + +"But if Thou canst not find him?" + +"Then I will kill one of his sleeping warriors. I will set fire to the +palace. Do I know what I shall do? But I will not go without leaving a +memento." + +The great eyes of the Phoenician woman had such a ghastly look that the +Greek was astonished. + +"What is the matter with thee?" asked Lykon. + +"Nothing; listen. Thou hast never been so like the prince as today. +Hence, if Thou wish to do a good thing." + +She put her face to his ear and whispered. + +The Greek listened in amazement. + +"Woman," said he, "Hades speaks through thee." + +"Yes; suspicion will be turned on him." + +"That is better than a dagger," said Lykon, laughing. "Never could I +have come on that idea. Perhaps both would be better?" + +"No! Let her live. This will be my vengeance." + +"What a wicked soul!" whispered Lykon. "But Thou pleasest me. We will +pay them both in kingly fashion." + +He withdrew to the window and vanished. Kama leaned out after him, and +forgetting every other thing, listened in a fever. + +Perhaps a quarter of an hour after the departure of Lykon, at the side +of the fig grove rose the piercing shriek of a woman. It was repeated a +couple of times, and then ceased. + +Instead of the expected delight, terror seized Kama. She fell on her +knees, and gazed into the dark garden with a wandering stare. + +Below was heard almost noiseless running; there was a squeak at the +pillar in the antechamber, and in the window appeared Lykon again in a +dark mantle. He was panting with violence, and his hands trembled. + +"Where are thy jewels?" whispered he. + +"Let me alone," replied she. + +The Greek seized her by the shoulder. + +"Wretch! Dost Thou not understand that before sunrise they will +imprison thee, and will strangle thee a couple of days later?" + +"I am sick." + +"Where are thy jewels?" + +"Under the bed." + +Lykon went to her bedchamber; with the light of a lamp he drew out a +heavy casket, threw a mantle over Kama, and pulled her by the arm. + +"Make ready! Where are the doors through which he comes to thee that +lord of thine?" + +"Leave me!" + +The Greek bent to her, and whispered, + +"Aha! Dost think that I will leave thee here? I care as much for thee +now as I do for a dog that has lost sense of smell. But Thou must go +with me. Let that lord of thine know that there is a man better than +he. He stole a priestess from Astaroth, I take his mistress from the +heir of Egypt." + +"I tell thee that I am sick." + +The Greek drew out a slender blade, and put the point of it to her +throat. + +Kama trembled, and whispered, + +"I go." + +They passed through the secret door to the garden. From the direction +of the palace came the noise of warriors kindling fires. Here and there +among the trees were lights; from time to time some one in the service +of the heir passed the pair. At the gate the guard stopped them, + +"Who are ye?" + +"Thebes," answered Lykon. + +Then they went out to the street unhindered, and vanished in the alleys +of the foreign quarter. + +Two hours before daybreak drums and trumpets sounded through the city. + +Tutmosis was lying sunk in deep sleep, when Prince Ramses pulled his +mantle, and called, + +"Rise, watchful leader. The regiments are marching!" + +Tutmosis sat up in bed and rubbed his drowsy eyes. + +"Ah, is it thou, lord?" asked he, yawning. "Hast Thou slept?" + +"As never before," replied Ramses. + +"But I should like to sleep more." + +Both bathed, put on their jackets and light mail, then mounted horses, +which were tearing away from the equerries. + +Soon the heir, with a small suite, left the city, and on the way passed +slowly moving columns. The Nile had overflowed widely, and the prince +wished to be present at the passage of fords and canals. + +At sunrise the last army chariot was far outside the city, and the +worthy nomarch of Pi-Bast said to his servants, + +"I am going to sleep now, and woe to the man who rouses me before the +hour of our feast in the evening! Even the divine sun rests when each +day is past, while I have not lain down since the first day of Hator." + +Before he had finished praising his own watchfulness, a police officer +entered, and begged for a special hearing in a case of immense +importance. + +"Would that the earth had swallowed thee!" muttered the worthy nomarch. + +But still he commanded to summon the officer, and inquired with ill- +humor, + +"Is it not possible to wait a few hours? The Nile will not run away, as +it seems to me." + +"A terrible misfortune has happened," replied the officer. "The son of +the erpatr is killed." + +"What? Who?" cried the nomarch. + +"The son of the Jewess Sarah." + +"Who killed him? When?" + +"Last night." + +"But who could do this?" + +The officer bent his head and spread his arms. + +"I asked who killed him?" repeated the nomarch, more astonished than +angry. + +"Be pleased, lord, thyself to investigate. My lips will not utter what +my ears have heard." + +The astonishment of the nomarch increased. He gave command to lead in +Sarah's servants, and sent for Mefres, the high priest. Mentezufis, as +representative of the minister of war, had gone with the viceroy. + +The astonished Mefres came. The nomarch told of the murder of the +child, and said that the police official dared not give explanations. + +"But are there witnesses?" inquired the high priest. + +"We are waiting for thy commands, holy father." + +They brought in Sarah's doorkeeper. + +"Hast Thou heard," inquired the nomarch, "that the child of thy +mistress is killed?" + +The man fell to the pavement, and answered, + +"I have even seen the worthy remains broken against the wall, and I +detained our lady when she ran out to the garden, screaming." + +"When did this happen?" + +"At midnight. Immediately after the most worthy heir came to our lady," +answered the watch. + +"How is this? Did the prince visit thy lady last night?" inquired +Mefres. + +"Thou hast said it, great prophet." + +"This is wonderful!" whispered Mefres to the nomarch. + +The second witness was Sarah's cook, the third her waiting woman. Both +declared that after midnight the prince had entered Sarah's chamber, +stayed there awhile, then run out quickly to the garden, and soon after +him appeared Lady Sarah, screaming terribly. + +"But the prince remained all night in his chamber; he did not leave the +palace," said the nomarch. + +The police-officer shook his head, and declared that some of the palace +servants were waiting in the antechamber. + +They were summoned. Mefres questioned them, and it appeared that the +heir had not slept in the palace. He had left his chamber before +midnight, and gone to the garden; he returned when the first trumpet +sounded. + +When the witnesses had been led out, and the two dignitaries were +alone, the nomarch threw himself on the pavement, and declared to +Mefres that he was grievously ill, and would rather lose his life than +carry on investigations. The high priest was very pale and excited; but +he replied that they must clear up a question of murder, and he +commanded the nomarch in the name of the pharaoh-to go with him to +Sarah's dwelling. It was not far to the garden of the heir, and the two +dignitaries soon found themselves at the place where the crime had been +committed. + +When they entered the chamber on the first story, they saw Sarah +kneeling at the cradle in such a posture as if nursing the child. On +the wall and the pavement were blood spots. + +The nomarch grew so weak that he was forced to sit down, but Mefres was +calm. He approached Sarah, touched her arm, and said, + +"We come hither, lady, in the name of his holiness." + +Sarah sprang to her feet suddenly, and, looking at Mefres, cried in a +terrible voice, + +"A curse on you! Ye wished to have a Jew king, and here is the king for +you. Oh, why did I, unfortunate, listen to your traitorous advice!" + +She dropped, and fell again at the side of the cradle, groaning, + +"My son my little Seti! How beautiful he was, so cunning; just +stretching out his little hands to me! O Jehovah! give him back to me, +for that is in Thy power. O gods of Egypt, Osiris, Horus, Isis, O Isis, +for Thou too wert a mother! It cannot be that in the heavens there is +not one who will listen to my prayer. Such a dear, little child! A +hyena would have spared him." + +The high priest took her by the arms, and put her on her feet. The +police and the servants filled the room. + +"Sarah," said the high priest, "in the name of his holiness, the lord +of Egypt, I summon thee, and command thee to answer, Who killed thy +son?" + +She gazed straight ahead, like a maniac, and rubbed her forehead. + +The nomarch gave her water and wine, and one of the women present +sprinkled her with vinegar. + +"In the name of his holiness," repeated Mefres, "I command thee, Sarah, +to tell the name of the murderer." + +Those present withdrew toward the door; the nomarch with despairing +action closed both his ears. + +"Who killed?" said Sarah, in a panting voice, sinking her gaze in the +face of Mefres. "Who killed, dost Thou ask? I know you, ye priests! I +know your justice." + +"Then who killed?" insisted Mefres. + +"I!" cried Sarah, in an unearthly voice. "I killed my child, because ye +made him a Jew." + +"That is false!" hissed the high priest. + +"I, I!" repeated Sarah. "Hei, Ye people who see me and hear me," she +turned to the witnesses, "ye know that I killed him I I I!" cried she, +beating her breast. + +At such an explicit accusation of herself the nomarch recovered, and +looked with compassion on Sarah; the women sobbed, the doorkeeper wiped +away tears. But the holy Mefres closed his blue lips firmly. At last he +said, with emphatic voice, while looking at the police official, + +"Servants of his holiness, I surrender this woman, whom ye are to +conduct to the edifice of justice." + +"But my son with me!" interrupted Sarah, rushing to the cradle. + +"With thee, with thee, poor woman," said the nomarch; and he covered +his face. + +The dignitaries went out of the chamber. The police officer had a +litter brought, and with marks of the highest respect conducted Sarah +down to it. The unfortunate woman seized a blood-stained bundle from +the cradle, and took a seat, without resistance, in the litter. + +All the servants went after her to the chamber of justice. + +When Mefres, with the nomarch, was passing through the garden, the +nomarch said, + +"I have compassion on that woman." + +"She will be punished properly for lying," answered the high priest. + +"Dost Thou think so, worthiness?" + +"I am certain that the gods will discover and punish the real +murderer." + +At the garden gate the steward of Kama's villa stood in the road before +them. + +"The Phoenician woman is gone. She disappeared last night." + +"A new misfortune," whispered the nomarch. + +"Have no fear," said Mefres; "she followed the prince." + +From these answers the worthy nomarch saw that Mefres hated the prince, +and his heart sank in him. If they proved that Ramses had killed his +own son, the heir would never ascend the throne of his fathers, and the +heavy yoke of the priesthood would weigh down still more mightily on +Egypt. + +The sadness of the nomarch increased when they told him in the evening +that two physicians of the temple of Hator, when looking at the corpse +of the infant, had expressed the opinion that only a man could have +committed the murder. Some man, said they, seized with his right hand +the feet of the little boy, and broke his skull against the wall of the +building. Sarah's hand could not clasp both legs, on which, moreover, +were traces of large fingers. + +After this explanation Mefres, in company with the high priest Sem, +went to Sarah in the prison, and implored her by all the gods of Egypt +and of foreign lands to declare that she was not guilty of the death of +the child, and to describe the person of the murderer. + +"We will believe thy word," said Mefres, "and Thou wilt be free +immediately." + +But Sarah, instead of being moved by this proof of friendliness, fell +into anger. + +"Jackals," cried she, "two victims are not enough; ye want still more. +I, unfortunate woman, did this; I, for who else would be so abject as +to kill a child a little child that had never harmed any one?" + +"But dost Thou know, stubborn woman, what threatens thee?" asked the +holy Mefres. "Thou wilt hold the remains of thy child for three days in +thy arms, and then be fifteen years in prison." + +"Only three days?" repeated Sarah. "But I would never part with my +little Seti; and not only to prison, but to the grave will I go with +him, and my lord will command to bury us together." + +When the high priest left Sarah, the most pious Sem said, + +"I have seen mothers who killed their own children, and I have judged +them; but none were like her." + +"For she did not kill her child," answered Mefres, angrily. + +"Who, then?" + +"He whom the servants saw when he rushed into Sarah's house and fled a +moment later; he who, when going against the enemy, took with him the +priestess Kama, who denied the altar; he," concluded Mefres, excitedly, +"who hunted Sarah out of the house, and made her a slave because her +son had been made a Jew." + +"Thy words are terrible," answered Sem, in alarm. + +"The criminal is still worse, and, in spite of that stupid woman's +stubbornness, he will be discovered." + +But the holy man did not suppose that his prophecy would be +accomplished so quickly. + +And it was accomplished in the following manner: Prince Ramses, when +moving from Pi-Bast with the army, had not left the palace when the +chief of the police learned of the murder of Sarah's child, and the +flight of Kama, and this, too, that Sarah's servants saw the prince +entering her house in the night time. The chief of police was a very +keen person; he pondered over this question, Who could have committed +the crime? and instead of inquiring on the spot, he hastened to pursue +the guilty parties outside the city, and forewarned Hiram of what had +happened. + +While Mefres was trying to extort a confession from Sarah, the most +active agents of the Pi-Bast police, and with them every Phoenician +under the leadership of Hiram, were hunting the Greek Lykon and the +priestess Kama. + +So three nights after the prince had departed, the chief of police +returned to Pi-Bast, bringing with him a large cage covered with linen, +in which was some woman who screamed in heaven-piercing accents. +Without lying down to sleep, the chief summoned the officer who had +made the investigation, and listened to his report attentively. + +At sunrise the two priests, Sem and Mefres, with the nomarch of Pi- +Bast, received a most humble invitation to deign immediately, should +such be their will, to come to the chief of police. In fact, all three +entered at the very same moment; so the chief, bending low, implored +them to tell all that they knew concerning the murder of the son of the +viceroy. + +The nomarch, though a great dignitary, grew pale when he heard the +humble invitation, and answered that he knew nothing. The high priest +Sem gave almost the same answer, adding, for himself, the reflection +that Sarah seemed to him innocent. + +When the turn came to the holy Mefres, he said, + +"I know not whether Thou hast heard, worthiness, that during the night +of the crime one of the prince's women escaped; her name was Kama." + +The chief of police feigned to be greatly astonished. + +"I know not," continued Mefres, "whether they have told thee that the +heir did not pass the night in the palace, but was in Sarah's house. +The doorkeeper and two servants recognized him, for the night was +rather clear. It is a great pity," finished the high priest, "that Thou +hast not been here these two days past." + +The chief bowed very low to Mefres, and turned to the nomarch, + +"Wouldst Thou be pleased, worthiness, to tell me, graciously, how the +prince was dressed that evening?" + +"He wore a white jacket, and a purple apron with gold fringe," answered +the nomarch. "I remember very well, for that evening I was one of the +last who spoke with him." + +The chief of the police clapped his hands, and Sarah's doorkeeper +entered the chamber. + +"Didst Thou see the prince," inquired he, "when he came in the night to +the house of thy lady?" + +"I opened the door to his worthiness, may he live through eternity!" + +"And dost Thou remember how he was dressed?" + +"He wore a jacket with yellow and black stripes, a cap of the same +colors, and a blue and red apron," answered the doorkeeper. + +Both priests and the nomarch began to wonder. + +Then they brought in Sarah's servants, who repeated exactly the same +description of the prince's dress. The nomarch's eyes flashed with +delight, but on the face of the holy Mefres confusion was evident. + +"I will swear," put in the worthy nomarch, "that the prince wore a +white jacket and a purple apron with gold fringe." + +"Now, most worthy men," said the chief of police, "be pleased to come +with me to the prison. There we shall see one more witness." + +They went to a subterranean hall, where under a window stood a great +cage covered with linen. The chief threw back the linen with his stick, +and those present saw a woman lying in a corner. + +"But this is the Lady Kama!" cried the nomarch. + +It was indeed Kama, sick and changed very greatly. When she rose at +sight of the dignitaries, and appeared in the light, those present saw +that her face had bronze-colored spots on it. Her eyes seemed +wandering. + +"Kama," said the chief, "the goddess Astaroth has touched thee with +leprosy." + +"It was not the goddess!" said she, with a changed voice. "It was the +low Asiatics, who threw in a tainted veil to me. Oh, I am unfortunate!" + +"Kama," continued the chief, "our most famous high priests, Sem and +Mefres, have taken compassion on thee. If Thou wilt tell the truth, +they will pray for thee, and perhaps the all-mighty Osiris will turn +from thee misfortune. There is still time, the disease is only +beginning, and our gods have great power." + +The sick woman fell on her knees, and pressing her face against the +grating, said in a broken voice, + +"Have compassion on me! I have renounced Phoenician gods, and to the +end of life will serve the gods of Egypt. Only avert from me." + +"Answer, but answer truly," said the chief, "and the gods will not +refuse thee their favor. Who killed the child of the Jewess Sarah?" + +"The traitor, Lykon, the Greek. He was a singer in our temple, and said +that he loved me. But he has rejected me, the infamous traitor, and +seized my jewels." + +"Why did Lykon kill the child?" + +"He wanted to kill the prince, but not finding him in the palace, he +ran to Sarah's villa." + +"How did the criminal enter a house that was guarded?" + +"Dost Thou not know that Lykon resembles the prince? They are as much +alike as two leaves of one palm-tree." + +"How was Lykon dressed that night?" + +"He wore a jacket in yellow and black stripes, a cap of the same +material, and a red and blue apron. Do not torment me; return me my +health! Be compassionate! I will be faithful to your gods! Are ye going +already? Oh, hard-hearted!" + +"Poor woman," said the high priest Sem, "I will send to thee a mighty +worker of miracles; he may." + +"May ye be blessed by Astaroth! No, may your almighty and compassionate +gods bless you," whispered Kama, in dreadful weariness. + +The dignitaries left the prison and returned to the upper hall. The +nomarch, seeing that the high priest Mefres kept his eyes cast down and +his lips fixed, asked him, + +"Art Thou not rejoiced, holy man, at these wonderful discoveries made +by our chief?" + +"I have no reason to rejoice," answered Mefres, dryly. "The case, +instead of being simplified, has grown difficult. Sarah asserts that +she killed the child, while the Phoenician woman answers as if some one +had taught her." + +"Then dost Thou not believe, worthiness?" interrupted the chief. + +"No, for I have never seen two men so much alike that one could be +mistaken for the other. Still more, I have never heard that there +exists in Pi-Bast a man who could counterfeit our viceroy, may he live +through eternity!" + +"That man," said the chief, "was in Pi-Bast, at the temple of Astaroth. +The Tyrian Prince Hiram knew him, and our viceroy has seen him with his +own eyes. More than that, not long ago, he commanded me to seize him, +and even offered a large reward." + +"Ho! ho!" cried Mefres, "I see, worthy chief, I see that the highest +secrets of the state are concentrating about thee. But permit me not to +believe in that Lykon till I see him." + +And he left the hall in anger, and after him Sem, shrugging his +shoulders. But when their steps had ceased to sound in the corridor, +the nomarch, looking quickly at the chief, asked, + +"What dost Thou think?" + +"Indeed," said the chief, "the holy prophets are beginning to interfere +in things which have never been under their jurisdiction." + +"And we must endure this!" whispered the nomarch. + +"For a time only," sighed the chief. "In so far as I know men's hearts, +all the military, all the officials of his holiness, in fine, all the +aristocracy, are indignant at this priestly tyranny. Everything must +have its limit." + +"Thou hast uttered great words," said the nomarch, pressing the chief's +hand, "and some internal voice tells me that I shall see thee as +supreme chief of police at the side of his holiness." + +A couple of days passed. During this time the dissectors had secured +from corruption the remains of the viceroy's son; but Sarah continued +in prison, awaiting her trial, certain that she would be condemned. + +Kama was sitting, also, confined in her cage; people feared her, for +she was infected with leprosy. It is true that a miracle-working +physician visited her, repeated prayers before her, gave her everything +to drink, and gave her healing water. Still, fever did not leave the +woman, and the bronze-colored spots on her cheeks and brows grew more +definite. Therefore an order came from the nomarch to take her out to +the eastern desert, where, separated from mankind, dwelt a colony of +lepers. + +On a certain evening the chief appeared at the temple of Ptah, saying +that he wished to speak with the high priest. The chief had with him +two agents, and a man covered from head to foot in a bag. + +After a while an answer was sent to the chief that the high priests +were awaiting him in the sacred chamber of the statue of their +divinity. + +The chief left the agents before the gate, took by the arm the man +dressed in the bag, and, conducted by a priest, went to the sacred +chamber. When he entered, he found Mefres and Sem arrayed as high +priests, with silver plates on their bosoms. + +He fell before them on the pavement, and said, + +"In accordance with your commands, I bring to you, holy fathers, the +criminal Lykon. Do ye wish to see his face?" + +When they assented, the chief rose, and pulled the bag from the man +standing near him. + +Both high priests cried out with astonishment. The Greek was really so +like Ramses that it was impossible to resist the deception. + +"Thou art Lykon, the singer from the temple of Astaroth?" asked the +holy Sem of the bound Greek. + +Lykon smiled contemptuously. + +"And didst Thou kill the child of the prince?" added Mefres. + +The Greek grew blue from rage, and strove to tear off his bonds. + +"Yes!" cried he, "I killed the whelp, for I could not find the wolf, +his father, may heaven's blazes burn him!" + +"In what has the prince offended thee, criminal?" asked the indignant +Sem. + +"In what? He seized from me Kama, and plunged her into a disease for +which there is no remedy. I was free, I might have fled with life and +property, but I resolved to avenge myself, and now ye have me. It was +his luck that your gods are mightier than my hatred. Now ye may kill +me; the sooner ye do so, the better." + +"This is a great criminal," said Sem. + +Mefres was silent and gazed into the Greek's eyes, which were burning +with rage. He admired his courage, and fell to thinking. All at once he +said to the chief, + +"Worthy sir, Thou mayst go, this man belongs to us." + +"This man," replied the chief, who was indignant, "belongs to me. I +seized him and I shall receive a reward from Prince Ramses." + +Mefres rose and drew forth from under his mantle a gold medal. + +"In the name of the supreme council, of which I am a member," said he, +"I command thee to yield this man to us. Remember that his existence is +among the highest state secrets, and indeed it would be a hundred times +better for thee to forget that Thou hast left him here." + +The chief fell again to the pavement, and went out repressing his +anger. + +"Our lord the prince will repay you when he is the pharaoh!" thought +he. "And he will pay you my part ye will see." + +"Where is the prisoner?" asked the agents standing before the gate. + +"In prison," answered the chief; "the hands of the gods have rested on +him." + +"And our reward?" asked the elder agent. + +"The hands of the gods have rested on your reward also. Imagine then to +yourselves that ye saw that prisoner only in a dream, ye will be safer +in health and in service." + +The agents dropped their heads in silence. But in their hearts they +swore vengeance against the priests, who had taken a handsome reward +from them. + +After the chief had gone Mefres summoned a number of priests, and +whispered something into the ears of the eldest. The priests surrounded +the Greek and conducted him out of the chamber. Lykon made no +resistance. + +"I think," said Sem, "that this man should be brought before the court +as a murderer." + +"Never!" cried Mefres, with decision. "On this man weighs an +incomparably greater crime, he is like the heir to the throne." + +"And what wilt Thou do with him, worthiness?" + +"I will reserve him for the supreme council," said Mefres. "When the +heir to the throne visits pagan temples and steals from them women, +when the country is threatened with danger of war, and the power of the +priests with rebellion, Lykon may be of service." + +On the following midday the high priest Sem, the nomarch, and the chief +of police went to Sarah's prison. The unfortunate woman had not eaten +for a number of days, and was so weak that she did not rise from the +bench even in presence of so many dignitaries. + +"Sarah," said the nomarch, whom she had known before, "we bring thee +good news." + +"News," repeated she with a pathetic voice. "My son is not living, that +is the news; my breast is full of nourishment, but my heart is full of +sadness." + +"Sarah," said the nomarch, "Thou art free. Thou didst not kill thy +child." + +Her seemingly dead features revived. She sprang from the bench, and +cried, + +"I I killed him only I." + +"Consider, Sarah, a man killed thy son, a Greek, named Lykon, the lover +of the Phoenician Kama." + +"What dost Thou say?" whispered she, seizing the nomarch's hands. "Oh, +that Phoenician woman! I knew that she would ruin us. But the Greek? I +know no Greek. How could my son offend any man?" + +"I know not," continued the nomarch. "That Greek is no longer alive. +But that man was so like Prince Ramses that when he entered thy chamber +Thou didst think him our lord. And Thou hast preferred to accuse thy +own self rather than our lord, and thine." + +"Then that was not Ramses?" cried she, seizing her head. "And I, +wretched woman, let a strange man take my son from his cradle. Ha! ha! +ha!" + +Then she laughed more and more. On a sudden, as if her legs had been +cut from under her, she fell to the floor, her hands hopped a couple of +times, and she died in hysteric laughter. + +But on her face remained an expression of sorrow which even death could +not drive from it. + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +THE western boundary of Egypt for a distance of more than a hundred +geographic miles is composed of a wall of naked limestone hills about +two hundred meters high, intersected by ravines. They run parallel to +the Nile, from which they are sometimes five miles distant, sometimes +one kilometer. Whoso should clamber up one of these hills and turn his +face northward would see one of the strangest sights possible. He would +have on his right hand the narrow but green plain cut lengthwise by the +Nile; on his left he would see an endless yellow open region, varied by +spots, white or brick colored. + +Monotony, the irritating yellow color of the sand plain, the heat, and, +above all, boundless immensity are the most peculiar traits of the +Libyan desert, which extends westward from Egypt. + +But viewed more nearly the desert is in fact less monotonous. Its sand +is not level, but forms a series of swellings which recall immense +waves of water. It is like a roused sea solidified on a sudden. But +whoso should have the courage to go across that sea for an hour, two +hours, a day, directly westward would see a new sight. On the horizon +would appear eminences, sometimes cliffs and rocks of the strangest +outlines. Under foot the sand would grow thinner, and from beneath it +limestone rocks would emerge just like land out of water. + +In fact that was a land, or even a country in the midst of a sand +ocean. Around the limestone hills were valleys, in them the beds of +streams and rivers, farther on a plain, and in the middle of it a lake +with a bending line of shores and a sunken bottom. + +But on these plains, hills, and heights no blade of grass grows; in the +lake there is no drop of water; along the bed of the river no current +moves. That is a landscape, even greatly varied with respect to forms, +but a landscape from which all water has departed, the very last atom +of moisture has dried from it; a dead landscape, where not only all +vegetation has vanished, but even the fertile stratum of earth has been +ground into dust or dried up into rock slabs. + +In those places the most ghastly event has taken place of which it is +possible to meditate: Nature has died there, and nothing remains but +her dust and her skeleton, which heat dissolves to the last degree, and +burning wind tosses from spot to spot. + +Beyond this dead, unburied region stretches again a sea of sand, on +which are seen, here and there, towering up in one and another place, +pointed stacks as high as a house of one story. Each summit of such a +little hill is crowned by a small bunch of gray, fine, dusty leaves, of +which it is difficult to say that they are living; but it may be said +that they cannot wither. + +One of these strange stacks signifies that water in that place has not +dried up altogether, but has hidden from drought beneath the earth, and +preserves dampness in some way. On that spot a tamarind seed fell, and +the plant has begun to grow with endless effort. + +But Typhon, the lord of the desert, has noted this, and begun to stifle +it with sand. And the more the little plant pushes upward, the higher +rises the stack of sand which is choking it. That tamarind which has +wandered into the desert looks like a drowning man raising his arms, in +vain, heavenward. + +And again the yellow boundless ocean stretches on with its sand waves +and those fragments of the plant world which have not the power to +perish. All at once a rocky wall is in front, and in it clefts, which +serve as gateways. + +The incredible is before us. Beyond one of these gateways a broad green +plain appears, a multitude of palms, the blue waters of a lake. Even +sheep are seen pasturing, with cattle and horses. From afar, on the +sides of a cliff, towers up a town; on the summit of the cliff are the +white walls of a temple. + +That is an oasis, or island in the sand ocean. + +In the time of the pharaohs there were many such oases, perhaps some +tens of them. They formed a chain of islands in the desert, along the +western boundary of Egypt. They lay at a distance of ten, fifteen, or +twenty geographic miles from the Nile, and varied in size from a few to +a few tens of square kilometers in area. + +Celebrated by Arab poets, these oases were never really the forecourts +of paradise. Their lakes are swamps for the greater part; from their +underground sources flow waters which are warm, sometimes of evil odor, +and disgustingly brackish; their vegetation could not compare with the +Egyptian. Still, these lonely places seemed a miracle to wanderers in +the desert, who found in them a little green for the eye, a trifle of +coolness, dampness, and some dates also. + +The population of these islands in the sand ocean varied from a few +hundred persons to numbers between ten and twenty thousand, according +to area. These people were all adventurers or their descendants, +Europeans, Libyans, Ethiopians. To the desert fled people who had +nothing to lose, convicts from the quarries, criminals pursued by +police, earth-tillers escaping from tribute, or laborers who left hard +work for danger. The greater part of these fugitives died on the sand +ocean. Some of them, after sufferings beyond description, were able to +reach the oases, where they passed a wretched life, but a free one, and +they were ready at all times to fall upon Egypt for the sake of an +outlaw's recompense. + +Between the desert and the Mediterranean extended a very long, though +not very wide strip of fruitful soil, inhabited by tribes which the +Egyptians called Libyans. Some of these worked at land tilling, others +at navigation and fishing; in each tribe, however, was a crowd of wild +people, who preferred plunder, theft, and warfare to regular labor. +That bandit population was perishing always between poverty and warlike +adventure; but it was also recruited by an influx of Sicilians and +Sardinians, who at that time were greater robbers and barbarians than +were the native Libyans. + +Since Libya touched the western boundary of Lower Egypt, barbarians +made frequent inroads on the territory of his holiness, and were +terribly punished. Convinced at last that war with Libyans was result- +less, the pharaohs, or, more accurately, the priesthood, decided on +another system: real Libyan families were permitted to settle in the +swamps of Lower Egypt, near the seacoast, while adventurers and bandits +were enlisted in the army, and became splendid warriors. + +In this way the state secured peace on the western boundary. To keep +single Libyan robbers in order police were sufficient, with a field +guard and a few regiments of regulars disposed along the Canopus arm of +the great river. + +Such a condition of affairs lasted almost two centuries; the last war +with the Libyans was carried on by Ramses III, who cut enormous piles +of hands from his slain enemies, and brought thirteen thousand slaves +home to Egypt. From that time forth no one feared attack on the Libyan +boundary, and only toward the end of the reign of Ramses XII did the +strange policy of the priests kindle the flame of war again in those +regions. + +It burst out through the following causes: + +His worthiness, Herhor, the minister of war, and high priest of Amon, +because of resistance from his holiness the pharaoh, was unable to +conclude with Assyria a treaty for the division of Asia. But wishing, +as Beroes had forewarned him, to keep a more continued peace with +Assyria, Herhor assured Sargon that Egypt would not hinder them from +carrying on a war with eastern and northern Asiatics. + +And since Sargon, the ambassador of King Assar, seemed not to trust +their oaths, Herhor decided to give him a material proof of friendly +feeling, and, with this object, ordered to disband at once twenty +thousand mercenaries, mainly Libyans. + +For those disbanded warriors, who were in no way guilty and had been +always loyal, this decision almost equaled a death sentence. Before +Egypt appeared the danger of a war with Libya, which could in no case +give refuge to men in such numbers, men accustomed only to comforts and +military exercise, not to poverty and labor. But in view of great +questions of state, Herhor and the priests did not hesitate at trifles. + +Indeed, the disbanding of the Libyans brought them much advantage. + +First of all, Sargon and his associates signed and swore to a treaty of +ten years with the pharaoh, during which time, according to predictions +of priests in Chaldea, evil fates were impending over Egypt. + +Second, the disbanding of twenty thousand men spared four thousand +talents to the treasury; this was greatly important. + +Third, a war with Libya on the western boundary was an outlet for the +heroic instincts of the viceroy, and might turn his attention from +Asiatic questions and the eastern boundary for a long time. His +worthiness Herhor and the supreme council had calculated very keenly +that some years would pass before the Libyans, trained in petty +warfare, would ask for peace with Egypt. + +The plan was well constructed, but the authors of it failed in one +point; they had not found Ramses a military genius. + +The disbanded Libyan regiments robbed along the way, and reached their +birthplace very quickly, all the more quickly since Herhor had given no +command to place obstacles before them. The very first of the disbanded +men, when they stood on Libyan soil, told wonders to their relatives. + +According to their stories, dictated by anger and personal interest, +Egypt was then as weak as when the Hyksos invaded it nine hundred years +earlier. The pharaoh's treasury was so poor that he, the equal of the +gods, had to disband them, the Libyans, who were the chief, if not the +only honor of the army. Moreover, there was hardly any army unless a +mere band on the eastern boundary, and that was formed of warriors of a +common order. + +Besides, there was dissension between the priesthood and his holiness. +The laborers had not received their wages, and the earth tillers were +simply killed through taxes, therefore masses of men were ready to +rebel if they could only find assistance. And that was not the whole +case, for the nomarchs, who ruled once independently, and who from time +to time demanded their rights again, seeing now the weakness of the +government, were preparing to overturn both the pharaoh and the supreme +priestly council. + +These tidings flew, like a flock of birds, along the Libyan boundary, +and found credit quickly. Those barbarians and bandits ever ready to +attack, were all the more ready then, when ex-warriors and officers of +his holiness assured them that to plunder Egypt was easy. + +Rich and thoughtful Libyans believed the disbanded men also; for during +many years it had been to them no secret that Egyptian nobles were +losing wealth yearly, that the pharaoh had no power, and that earth- +tillers and laborers rebelled because they suffered. + +And so excitement burst out through all Libya. People greeted the +disbanded warriors and officers as heralds of good tidings. And since +the country was poor, and had no supplies to nourish visitors, a war +with Egypt was decided on straightway, so as to send off the new +arrivals at the earliest. + +Even the wise and crafty Libyan prince, Musawasa, let himself be swept +away by the general current. It was not, however, the disbanded +warriors who had convinced him, but certain grave and weighty persons +who, in every likelihood, were agents of the chief Egyptian council. + +These dignitaries, as if dissatisfied with things in Egypt, or offended +at the pharaoh and the priesthood, had come to Libya from the seashore; +they took no part in conversations, they avoided meetings with +disbanded warriors, and explained to Musawasa, as the greatest secret, +and with proofs in hand, that that was just his time to fall on Egypt. + +"Thou wilt find there endless wealth," said they, "and granaries for +thyself, thy people, and the grandsons of thy grandsons." + +Musawasa, though a skilful diplomat and leader, let himself be caught +in that way. Like a man of energy, he declared a sacred war at once, +and, as he had valiant warriors in thousands, he hurried off the first +corps eastward. His son, Tehenna, who was twenty years of age at that +time, led it. + +The old barbarian knew what war was, and understood that he who plans +to conquer must act with speed and give the first blows in the +struggle. + +Libyan preparations were very brief. The former warriors of his +holiness had no weapons, it is true, but they knew their trade, and it +was not difficult in those days to find weapons for an army. A few +straps, or pieces of rope for a sling, a dart or a sharpened stick, an +axe, or a heavy club, a bag of stones, and another of dates, that was +the whole problem. + +So Musawasa gave two thousand men, ex-warriors of the pharaoh, and four +thousand of the Libyan rabble to Tehenna, commanding him to fall on +Egypt at the earliest, seize whatever he could find, and collect +provisions for the real army. Assembling for himself the most important +forces, he sent swift runners through the oases and summoned to his +standard all who had no property. + +There had not been such a movement in the desert for a long time. From +each oasis came crowd after crowd, such a proletariat, that, though +almost naked, they deserved to be called a tattered rabble. Relying on +the opinion of his counselors, who a month earlier had been officers of +his holiness, Musawasa supposed, with perfect judgment, that his son +would plunder hundreds of villages and small places from Teremethis to +Senti-Nofer, before he would meet important Egyptian forces. Finally +they reported to him, that at the first news of a movement among the +Libyans, not only had all laborers fled from the glass works, but that +even the troops had withdrawn from fortresses in Sochet-Heman on the +Soda Lakes. + +This was of very good import to the barbarians, since those glass works +were an important source of income to the pharaoh's treasury. + +Musawasa had made the same mistake as the supreme priestly council. He +had not foreseen military genius in Ramses. And an uncommon thing +happened: before the first Libyan corps had reached the neighborhood of +the Soda Lakes the viceroy's army was there, and was twice as numerous +as its enemies. + +No man could reproach the Libyans with lack of foresight. Tehenna and +his staff had a very well-organized service. Their spies had made +frequent visits to Melcatis, Naucratis, Sai, Menuf, and Teremethis, and +had sailed across the Canopus and Bolbita arms of the Nile. Nowhere did +they meet troops; the movements of troops would have been paralyzed in +those places by the overflow, but they did see almost everywhere the +alarm of settled populations which were simply fleeing from border +villages. So they brought their leader exact intelligence. + +Meanwhile the viceroy's army, in spite of the overflow, had reached the +edge of the desert in nine days after it was mobilized, and now, +furnished with water and provisions, it vanished among the hills of the +Soda Lakes. + +If Tehenna could have risen like an eagle above the camp of his +warriors, he would have been frightened at seeing that Egyptian +regiments were hidden in all the ravines of that district, and that his +corps might be surrounded at any instant. + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +FROM the moment when the troops of Lower Egypt marched out of Pi-Bast, +the prophet, Mentezufis, who accompanied the prince, received and sent +away dispatches daily. + +One correspondence he conducted with the minister Herhor; Mentezufis +sent reports to Memphis touching the advance of the troops, and the +activity of the viceroy; of this activity he did not conceal his +admiration. On his part, the worthy Herhor stated that every freedom +was to be left to the heir, and that if Ramses lost his first battle, +the supreme council would not feel angry. + +"A slight defeat," said Herhor, "would be a lesson in humility and +caution to the viceroy, who even now, though as yet he has done +nothing, considers himself as equal to the most experienced warriors." + +When Mentezufis answered that one could not easily suppose that the +heir would meet defeat, Herhor let him understand that in that case the +triumph should not be over brilliant. + +"The state," continued he, "will not lose in any way if the warriors +and the impulsive heir find amusement for some years along the western +border. He will gain skill himself in warfare, while the idle warriors +will find their own proper work to do." + +The other correspondence Mentezufis carried on with the holy father +Mefres and that seemed to him of more importance. Mefres, offended +formerly by the prince, had recently, in the case of Sarah's child, +accused the prince directly of infanticide, committed under Kama's +influence. + +When a week had passed, and the viceroy's innocence was manifest, the +high priest grew still more irate, and did not cease his efforts. The +prince, he said, was capable of anything; he was hostile to the +country's gods, he was an ally of the vile Phoenicians. + +The murder of Sarah's child seemed so suspicious in the earlier days, +that even the supreme council asked Mentezufis what he. thought of it. + +Mentezufis answered that he had watched the prince for days, and did +not think the man a murderer. + +Such were the letters which, like birds of prey, whirled around Ramses, +while he was sending scouts against the enemy, consulting leaders, or +urging on his warriors. + +On the fourteenth day the whole army was concentrated on the south of +Teremethis. To the great delight of the heir, + +Patrokles came with the Greek regiment, and with him the priest +Pentuer, sent by Herhor as another guardian near the viceroy. + +The multitude of priests in the camp (for there were still others) did +not enchant Ramses. But he resolved not to turn attention to the holy +men or ask advice of them. + +Relations were regulated in some way, for Mentezufis, according to +instructions from Herhor, did not force himself on the prince, while +Pentuer occupied himself with organizing medical aid for the wounded. + +The military game began. + +First of all Ramses, through his agents, had spread a report in many +boundary villages that the Libyans were pushing forward in great +masses, and would destroy and murder. Because of this the terrified +inhabitants fled eastward and met the Egyptian warriors. The prince +took them in to carry burdens for the army, the women and children he +conveyed to the interior of Egypt. Next the commander sent spies to +meet the approaching Libyans and discover their number and disposition. +These spies returned soon, bringing accurate indications as to where +the Libyans were and very exaggerated accounts as to their numbers. +They asserted, too, mistakenly, though in great confidence, that at the +head of the Libyan columns marched Musawasa with his son Tehenna. + +The princely leader was flushed with delight that in his first war he +would have such an experienced enemy as Musawasa. + +He overestimated, therefore, the danger of the struggle and redoubled +every caution. To have all chances on his side he had recourse to +stratagem. He sent confidential men to meet the Libyans; he commanded +them to feign that they were fugitives, to enter the enemies' camp and +draw from Musawasa his best forces, the disbanded Libyan soldiers. + +"Tell them," said Ramses to his agents, "that I have axes for the +insolent, and compassion for obedience. If in the coming battle they +will throw their weapons down and leave Musawasa, I will receive them +back to the army of his holiness, and command to pay all arrears, as if +they had never left the service." + +Patrokles and the other generals saw in this a very prudent measure; +the priests were silent, Mentezufis sent a dispatch to Herhor and next +day received an answer. + +The neighborhood of the Soda Lakes was a valley some tens of kilometers +long, enclosed between two lines of hills, extending from the southeast +toward the northwest. The greatest width did not exceed ten kilometers; +there were places narrower, almost ravines. + +Throughout the whole length of that valley extended one after another +about ten swampy lakes filled with bitter, brackish water. Wretched +plants and bushes grew there ever coated with sand, ever withering, +plants which no beast would take to its mouth. Along both sides were +sticking up jagged limestone hills, or immense heaps of sand in which a +man might sink deeply. + +The white and yellow landscape had a look of dreadful torpor, which was +heightened by the heat, and also by the silence. No bird was ever heard +there, and if any sound was given forth it was from a stone rolling +down along a hillside. + +Toward the middle of the valley rose two groups of buildings a few +kilometers from each other; these were a 'fortress on the east, and +glass factories on the west, to which Libyan merchants brought fuel. +Both these places had been deserted because of the conflict. Tehenna's +corps was to occupy both these points, and secure the road to Egypt for +Musawasa's army forces. + +The Libyans marched slowly from the town of Glaucus southward, and on +the evening of the fourteenth day of Hator, they were at the entrance +to the valley of the Soda Lakes, feeling sure that they would pass +through in two days unmolested. That evening at sunset the Egyptian +army moved toward the desert, passed over more than forty kilometers of +sand in twelve hours, and next morning was on the hills between the +huts and the fortress and hid in the many ravines of that region. + +If some man that night had told the Libyans that palm-trees and wheat +were growing in the valley of the Soda Lakes they would have been +astonished less than if he had declared that the Egyptians had barred +the way to it. + +After a short rest, during which the priests had discovered and cleared +out a few wells of water somewhat endurable for drinking, the Egyptian +army began to occupy the hills extending along the northern side of the +valley. + +The viceroy's plan was quite simple. He was to cut off the Libyans from +their country, and push them southward into the desert, where heat and +hunger would kill them. + +With this object he disposed his army on the northern side of the +valley and divided it into three corps. The right wing, that which +extended most toward Libya, was led by Patrokles, who was to cut off +the invaders from their own town of Glaucus. The left wing, that +nearest to Egypt, commanded by Mentezufis, was to stop the Libyans from +advancing. Finally, the direction of the centre, at the glass huts, was +taken by Ramses, who had Pentuer near his person. + +On the fifteenth of Hator about seven in the morning, some tens of +Libyan horsemen moved at a brisk trot through the valley. They stopped +a moment at the huts, looked around, and, seeing nothing suspicious, +rode back again. + +At about ten in the forenoon in a heat which seemed to suck sweat and +draw blood from men's bodies, Pentuer said to the viceroy, + +"The Libyans have entered the valley and passed Patrokles' division. +They will be here in an hour from now." + +"Whence knowest Thou this?" asked the astonished prince. + +"The priests know everything," replied Pentuer, smiling. + +Then he ascended one of the cliffs cautiously, took from a bag a very +bright object and turning it in the direction of the holy Mentezufis +began to give certain signs with his hand. + +"Mentezufis is informed already," said Pentuer. + +The prince could not recover from astonishment and answered, + +"My eyes are better than thine, and my hearing is not worse, I think; +still I see nothing, I hear nothing. How, then, dost Thou see the enemy +and converse with Mentezufis?" + +Pentuer directed the prince to look at a distant hill, on the summit of +which was a thorn bush. Ramses looked at that point and shaded his eyes +on a sudden. In the bush something flashed brightly. + +"What unendurable glitter is that?" cried he. "It might blind a man." + +"That is the priest who is aiding the worthy Patrokles; he is giving us +signs," replied Pentuer. "Thou seest, then, worthy lord, that we, too, +can be useful in war time." + +He was silent. From the distance of the valley came a certain sound; at +first low, gradually it grew clearer. At this sound the Egyptian +soldiers hidden at the sides of the hill began to spring up, look at +their weapons, and whisper. But the sharp commands of officers quieted +them, and again the silence was deathlike along the cliffs on the north +side. + +Meanwhile that distant sound in the valley increased and passed into an +uproar in which, on the bases of thousands of voices a man could +distinguish songs, sounds of flutes, squeaks of chariots, the neighing +of horses, and the cries of commanders. The prince's heart was now +beating with violence; he could not resist his curiosity, and he +clambered up to a rocky height whence a large part of the valley was +visible. + +Surrounded by rolls of yellow dust the Libyan corps was approaching +deliberately, and seemed like a serpent some miles in length, with +blue, white, and red spots on its body. + +At its head marched from ten to twenty horsemen, one of whom, wearing a +white mantle, was sitting on his horse as on a bench, both his legs on +the left side of the animal. Behind the horsemen marched a crowd of +slingers in gray shirts, then some dignitary in a litter, over whom a +large parasol was carried. Farther was a division of spearmen in blue +and red shirts, then a great band of men almost naked, armed with +clubs, again slingers and spearmen, behind them a red division with +scythes and axes. They came on more or less in ranks of four; but in +spite of shouts of officers, that order was interrupted, and each four +treading on others, broke ranks continually. + +Singing and talking loudly, the Libyan serpent crawled out into the +broadest part of the valley, opposite the huts and the Soda Lakes. +Order was disturbed now more considerably. Those marching in advance +stopped, for it had been said that there would be a halt at that point; +the columns behind hurried so as to reach the halt and rest all the +earlier. Some ran out of the ranks, and laying down their weapons, +rushed into the lake, or took up in their palms its malodorous water; +others, sitting on the ground, took dates from bags, or drank vinegar +and water from their bottles. + +High above the camp floated a number of vultures. + +Unspeakable sadness and terror seized Ramses at this spectacle. Before +his eyes flies began to circle; for the twinkle of an eye he lost +consciousness; it seemed to him that he would have yielded his throne +not to be at that place, and not to see what was going to happen. He +hurried down from the cliff looking with wandering eyes straight out in +front of him. + +At that moment Pentuer approached and pulled him by the arm vigorously. + +"Recover, leader," said he; "Patrokles is waiting for orders." + +"Patrokles?" repeated the prince, and he looked around quickly. + +Before him stood Pentuer, deathly pale, but collected. A couple of +steps farther on was Tutmosis, also pale; in his trembling hand was an +officer's whistle. From behind the hill bent forth soldiers, on whose +faces deep emotion was evident. + +"Ramses," repeated Pentuer, "the army is waiting." + +The prince looked at the priest with desperate decision. + +"Begin!" said he in a stifled whisper. + +Pentuer raised his glittering talisman, and made some signs in the air +with it. Tutmosis gave a low whistle; that whistle was repeated in +distant ravines on the right and the left. Egyptian slingers began to +climb up the hillsides. + +It was about midday. + +Ramses recovered gradually from his first impressions and looked around +carefully. He saw his staff, a division of spearmen and axemen under +veteran officers, finally slingers, advancing along the cliff +leisurely. And he was convinced that not one of those men had the wish +to die or even to fight and move around in that heat, which was +terrible. + +All at once from the height of some hill was heard a mighty voice, +louder than the roar of a lion, + +"Soldiers of the pharaoh, slay those Libyan dogs! The gods are with +you." + +To this unearthly voice answered two voices no less powerful: the +prolonged shout of the Egyptian army, and the immense outcry of the +Libyans. + +The prince had no need to conceal himself longer, and ascended an +eminence whence he could see the hostile forces distinctly. Before him +stretched a long line of Egyptian slingers who seemed as if they had +grown up from the earth, and a couple of hundred yards distant the +Libyan column moving forward in dust clouds. The trumpets, the +whistles, the curses of barbarian officers were heard calling to order. +Those who were sitting sprang up; those who were drinking snatched +their weapons and ran to their places; chaotic throngs developed into +ranks, and all this took place amid outcries and tumult. Meanwhile the +Egyptian slingers cast a number of missiles each minute. They were as +calm and well ordered as at a maneuver. The decurions indicated to +their men the hostile crowds against which they must strike, and in the +course of some minutes they covered them with a shower of stones and +leaden bullets. The prince saw that after every such shower a Libyan +crowd scattered and very often one man remained on the earth behind the +others. + +Still the Libyan ranks formed and withdrew outside the reach of +missiles, then their slingers pushed forward and with equal swiftness +and coolness replied to the Egyptians. At times there were bursts of +laughter in their ranks and shouts of delight at the fall of some +Egyptian slinger. + +Soon above the heads of the prince and his retinue stones began to +whizz and whistle. One, cast adroitly, struck the arm of an adjutant, +and broke the bone in it; another knocked the helmet from a second +adjutant; a third, falling at the prince's feet, was broken against the +cliff and struck the leader's face with fragments as hot as boiling +water. + +The Libyans laughed loudly and shouted out something: apparently they +were abusing the viceroy. + +Fear and, above all, compassion and pity left the soul of Ramses in an +instant. He saw before him no longer people threatened by death and +anguish, but lines of savage beasts which he had to kill or deprive of +weapons. Mechanically he reached for his sword to lead on the spearmen +awaiting command, but he was restrained by contempt of the enemy. Was +he to stain himself with the blood of that rabble? Warriors were there +for that purpose. + +Meanwhile the battle continued, and the brave Libyan slingers, while +shouting and even singing, began to press forward. From both sides +missiles whizzed like beetles, buzzed like bees, sometimes they struck +one another in the air with a crack, and every minute or two on this +side or that some warrior went to the rear groaning, or fell dead +immediately. But this did not spoil the humor of others: they fought +with malicious delight, which gradually changed to rage and self +oblivion. + +Then from afar on the right wing were heard sounds of trumpets, and +shouts repeated frequently. That was the unterrified Patrokles; drunk +since daylight, he was attacking the rear guard of Libya. + +"Charge!" said the prince. + +Immediately that order was repeated by one, two, ten trumpets, and +after a moment the Egyptian companies pushed out from all the ravines. +The slingers disposed on the hilltops redoubled their efforts, while in +the valley, without haste, but also without disorder, the Egyptian +spearmen and axemen arranged in four columns moved forward gradually. + +"Strengthen the centre," said the prince. + +A trumpet repeated the command. Behind two columns of the first line +two new columns were placed. Before the Egyptians had finished that +maneuver, under a storm of missiles, the Libyans, following their +example, had arranged themselves in eight columns against the main +corps of Egypt. + +"Forward, reserves!" shouted the prince. "See," said he, turning to one +of the adjutants, "whether the left wing is ready." + +To see the valley at a glance, and more accurately, the adjutant rushed +in among the slingers, and fell immediately, but beckoned with his +hand. Another rushed to replace him and returned quickly to state that +both wings of the prince's division were drawn up in order. + +From the division commanded by Patrokles came an increasing uproar, and +higher than the hill dense rolls of dark smoke were rising. + +An officer from Pentuer ran to the prince reporting that the Libyan +camp had been fired by the Greek regiments. + +"Force the centre!" cried Ramses. + +Trumpet after trumpet sounded the attack, and when they had ceased the +command was heard in the central column, and then followed the rhythmic +roll of drums and the beat of the infantry step, marching slowly and in +time: one two! one two! one two! The command was repeated on the right +and on the left wing; again drums rolled and the wing columns moved +forward: one two! one two! + +The Libyan slingers began to withdraw, showering stones on the marching +Egyptians. But though one warrior fell after another, the columns moved +on without stopping; they marched slowly, regularly, one two! one two! +one two! + +The yellow cloud, growing ever denser, indicated the march of the +Egyptian battalions. The slingers could hurl stones no longer, and +there came a comparative quiet in the midst of which were heard sobs +and groans from wounded warriors. + +"It is rare that they march on review so well," cried Ramses to the +staff officers. + +"They are not afraid of sticks this time," grumbled a veteran officer. + +The space between the dust cloud around the Egyptians and that on the +Libyan side decreased every minute, but the barbarians, halting, stood +motionless, and behind their line a second cloud made its appearance. +Evidently some reserve was strengthening the central column, which was +threatened by the wildest of onsets. + +The heir ran down from his eminence and mounted; the last Egyptian +reserves poured out of the ravines, fixed themselves in ranks, and +waited for the order. Behind the infantry pushed out some hundreds of +Asiatic horsemen on small but enduring horses. + +The prince hurried after the columns advancing to attack, and when he +had gone a hundred yards he found a new eminence, not high, but from +which he could see the whole field of battle. The retinue, the Asiatic +cavalry, and the reserve column hurried after him. + +The prince looked impatiently toward the left wing whence + +Mentezufis had to come, but he was not coming. The Libyans stood +immovable, the situation seemed more and more serious. + +The viceroy's division was the stronger, but against it were arrayed +almost all the Libyan forces. The two sides were equal as to numbers; +the prince had no doubt of victory, but he dreaded the immense loss +since his opponent was so manful. + +Besides, battle has caprices. + +Over men who have gone to attack, the leader's influence has ceased, he +controls them no longer; Ramses has only a regiment of reserves, and a +handful of cavalry. If one of the Egyptian columns is beaten, or if +reinforcements come to the foe unexpectedly! + +The prince rubbed his forehead at this thought. He felt all the +responsibility of a leader. He was like a dice thrower who has staked +all he owns, cast his dice, and asks, "How will they come out?" + +The Egyptians are a few tens of yards from the Libyan columns. The +command, the trumpets, the drums sound hurriedly, and the troops move +at a run: one two three! one two three! But on the side of the enemy +also a trumpet is heard, two ranks of spears are lowered, drums beat. +At a run! New rolls of dust rise, then they unite in one immense cloud. +The roar of human voices, the rattle of spears, the biting of scythes, +then a shrill groan which is soon lost in one general uproar. + +Along the whole line of battle neither men, nor weapons, nor even +columns are visible, nothing but a line of yellow, dust stretching +along like a giant serpent. The denser cloud signifies places where the +columns are struggling; the thinner, where there are breaks in the +columns. + +After some minutes of satanic uproar the heir sees that the dust on his +left wing is bending back very slowly. + +"Strengthen the left wing!" shouts Ramses. + +One half of the reserve runs to the place pointed out, and disappears +in the sand cloud; the left wing straightens itself, the right goes +forward slowly always in one direction. + +"Strengthen the centre!" cries Ramses. + +The second half of the reserve advances and vanishes in the sand cloud. +The shout increased for a moment, but no forward movement is visible. + +"Those wretches fight desperately," said an old officer of the suite to +Ramses. "It is high time that Mentezufis were here." + +The prince summoned the leader of the Asiatic cavalry. + +"But look to the right," said he; "there must be a bend there." + +"Go cautiously so as not to trample our warriors and attack those dogs +in their central column, on the flank." + +"They must be chained, for somehow they stand too long," replied the +Asiatic, smiling. + +The prince has now about two hundred of his own cavalry, and these +advance, with the others, at a trot, crying, + +"May our chief live forever!" + +The heat passes description. The prince strains eyes and ears to see +through the sand cloud. He waits and waits. All at once he shouts with +delight. The centre of the cloud quivers and moves forward slightly. + +Again it stops, again it moves forward slowly, very slowly, but still +it moves forward. + +The din is so tremendous that no one can decide what it means: rage, +defeat, or victory. + +Now the right wing begins to bend outward and withdraw in a strange +manner. In the rear of the wing appears a new dust cloud. At the same +moment Pentuer races up, dismounts, and shouts, + +"Patrokles is engaging the rear of the Libyans!" + +The confusion on the right wing increases, and is passing to the +centre. It is clear that the Libyans are beginning to withdraw, and +that panic is seizing even their main column. + +The whole staff of the prince, roused to the uttermost, follows the +movements of the yellow dust, feverishly. In a few minutes alarm +appears on the left wing. The Libyans have begun to flee in that +quarter. + +"May I never see another sun, if this is not a victory!" cried a +veteran officer. + +A courier rushes in from the priests, who from the highest hill had +followed the course of the battle, and reports that on the left wing +the troops of Mentezufis are visible, and that the Libyans are +surrounded on three sides. + +"They would fly like deer if the sand did not hinder them." + +"Victory! May our chief live forever!" cried Pentuer. + +It was only two hours after midday. + +The Asiatic cavalry sing loudly, and send arrows into the air in honor +of Ramses. The staff officers discount, and rush to kiss the hands and +feet of the viceroy; at last they take him from the saddle, raise him +in the air, shouting, + +"Here is a mighty leader! He has trampled the enemies of Egypt! Amon is +on his right, and on his left, who can oppose him?" + +Meanwhile the Libyans, pushing back all the time, had ascended the +sandy hills on the south, and after them Egyptians. From out the cloud +came horsemen every minute and rushed to Ramses. + +"Mentezufis has taken them in the rear!" cried one. + +"Two hundred have surrendered!" cried another. + +"Patrokles has taken them in the rear!" + +"Three Libyan standards are captured: the ram, the lion, and the +sparrow-hawk!" + +More and more men gathered round the staff: it was surrounded by +warriors who were bloody and dust-covered. + +"May he live through eternity! May he live through eternity, our +leader!" + +The prince was so excited, that he laughed and cried in turn and said +to his retinue, + +"The gods have been compassionate. I feared that we had lost. Evil is +the plight of a leader; without drawing a sword and even without +seeing, he must answer for everything!" + +"Live thou, O conquering commander, live through eternity!" cried the +warriors. + +"A fine victory for me!" laughed Ramses. "I do not know even how they +won it." + +"He wins a victory, and wonders how it came!" cried some one in the +retinue. + +"I say that I saw not the face of the battle," explained the prince. + +"Be at rest, our commander," said Pentuer. "Thou didst dispose the army +so wisely that the enemy had to be beaten. And in what way? Just as if +that did not belong to thee, but the regiments." + +"I did not even draw a sword. I do not see one Libyan," complained the +prince. + +On the southern heights there was a struggling and a seething, but in +the valley the dust had begun to settle here and there, and a crowd of +Egyptian soldiers were visible as through a mist, their spears pointed +upward. + +Ramses turned his horse in that direction and rode out to the deserted +field of battle, where just recently had been the struggle of the +central column. It was a place some hundreds of yards in width, with +deep furrows filled with bodies of the dead and wounded. On the side +along which the prince was approaching, Egyptians and Libyans lay +intermixed, in a long line, still farther on there were almost none +except Libyans. + +In places bodies lay close to bodies; sometimes on one spot three or +four were piled one on another. The sand was stained with brownish +blood patches; the wounds were ghastly. Both hands were cut from one +man, another had his head split to the body, from a third man, the +entrails were dropping. Some were howling in convulsions, and from +their mouths, filled with sand, came forth curses, or prayers imploring +some one to slay them. + +Ramses passed along hastily, not looking around, though some of the +wounded men shouted feebly in his honor. + +Not far from that place he met the first crowd of prisoners. They fell +on their faces before him and begged for compassion. + +"Proclaim pardon to the conquered and the obedient," said he to his +staff. + +A number of horsemen rushed off in various directions. Soon a trumpet +was heard, and after it a piercing voice, + +"By the order of his worthiness the prince in command, prisoners and +wounded are not to be slain!" + +In answer came wild shouts, evidently from prisoners. + +"At command of the prince," a second voice cried in singing tones in +another direction, "prisoners and wounded are not to be slain!" + +Meanwhile on the southern heights the battle ceased and two of the +largest Libyan divisions laid down their arms before the Greek +regiments. + +The valiant Patrokles, in consequence of the heat, as he said himself +of ardent drink, as thought others barely held himself in the saddle. +He rubbed his tearful eyes, and turned to the prisoners. + +"Mangy dogs!" cried he, "who raise sinful hands on the army of his +holiness (may the worms devour you)! Ye will perish like lice under the +nail of a pious Egyptian, if ye do not tell this minute where your +leader is, may leprosy eat off his nose and drink his blear eyes out!" + +At that moment the prince appeared. The general greeted him with +respect, but did not stop his investigation. + +"I will have belts cut from your bodies! I will impale you on stakes, +if I do not learn this minute where that poisonous reptile is, that son +of a wild boar." + +"Ei! where our leader is?" cried one of the Libyans, pointing to a +little crowd on horseback which was advancing slowly in the depth of +the desert. + +"What is that?" inquired the prince. + +"The wretch Musawasa is fleeing!" said Patrokles, and he almost fell to +the ground. + +The blood rushed to Ramses' head. + +Then Musawasa was here and escaped? + +"Hei! whoso has the best horse, follow me!" + +"Well," said Patrokles, laughing, "that sheep-stealer himself will +bleat now!" + +Pentuer stopped the way to the prince. + +"It is not for thee to hunt fugitives, worthiness." + +"What?" cried the heir. "During this whole battle I did not raise a +hand on any man, and now I am to give up the Libyan leader? What would +be said by the warriors whom I have sent out under spears and axes?" + +"The army cannot remain without a leader." + +"But are not Patrokles, Tutmosis, and finally Mentezufis, here? For +what purpose am I commander if I cannot hunt the enemy? They are a few +hundred yards from us and have tired horses." + +"We will come back in an hour with him. He is only an arm's length from +us!" whispered some Asiatic. + +"Patrokles, Tutmosis, I leave the army to you!" cried the heir. "Rest. +I will come back immediately." + +He put spurs to his horse and advanced at a trot, sinking in the sand, +and behind him about twenty horsemen, with Pentuer. + +"Why art Thou here, O prophet?" asked Ramses. "Better sleep today Thou +hast rendered good service." + +"I may be of use yet," added Pentuer. + +"But remain I command thee!" + +"The supreme council commands me not to go one step from thee, +worthiness." + +Ramses shook himself angrily. + +"But if we fall into an ambush?" + +"I will not leave thee in ambush," answered the priest. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV + +THERE was in his voice so much kindliness that the astonished prince +was silent and let him go. + +They were in the desert; a couple of hundred yards behind them was an +army; in front were fugitives several hundred yards in advance. But +though they beat and urged on their horses, the fleeing, as well as the +pursuers, advanced with great difficulty. The sun poured from above +dreadful heat on them, the fine but sharp dust pushed itself into their +mouths, into their nostrils, into their eyes above all; under their +horses' feet the burning sand gave way at every step. In the air +reigned a deathlike silence. + +"But it will not continue like this," said Ramses. + +"It will be worse and worse," answered Pentuer. "Dost Thou see, +worthiness," he indicated the fugitives, "their horses are in sand to +their knees?" + +The prince laughed, for at that moment they came out on ground which +was firmer, and trotted about a hundred yards. But soon their road was +confronted by a sea of sand, and again they advanced step by step +slowly. + +Sweat poured from the men, there was foam on the horses. + +"It is hot!" whispered the heir. + +"Listen, lord," said Pentuer, "this is not a good day for hunting in +the desert. This morning the sacred insects showed great disquiet, then +dropped into lethargy. Also my knife of a priest went down very little +in the earthen scabbard, which means intense heat. Both these phenomena +the heat, and the lethargy of insects may announce a tempest. Let us +return, for not only have we lost sight of the camp, but even sounds +from there do not reach to us." + +Ramses looked at the priest almost contemptuously. + +"And dost Thou think, O prophet," said he, "that I, having once +commanded the capture of Musawasa, can return empty handed because I +fear heat and a tempest?" + +They went on without stopping. At one place there was hard ground +again, thanks to which they approached the fugitives to within the +distance of a sling cast. + +"Hei, ye there!" cried the heir, "yield." + +The Libyans did not even look behind, and waded on through the sand +with great effort. After a while one might suppose that they would be +overtaken. Soon again, however, the prince's party struck on deep sand +while the Libyans hastening forward vanished beyond an elevation. + +The Asiatics cursed, the prince gritted his teeth. + +At last the horses began to stumble more and to be weary, so the riders +had to dismount and go on foot. All at once an Asiatic grew purple, and +fell on the sand. The prince commanded to cover him with a mantle, and +said, + +"We will take him on the way back." + +After great toil they reached the top of the sand height, and saw the +Libyans. For them too the road had been murderous, two of their horses +had stopped. + +The camp of the Egyptian army was hidden completely behind the rolling +land, and if Pentuer and the Asiatics had not known how to guide +themselves by the sun they could not have gone back to the camping- +place. In the prince's party another man fell, and threw bloody foam +from his mouth. He was left, with his horse. To finish their trouble, +on the outline of the sands stood a group of cliffs; among these the +Libyans vanished. + +"Lord," said Pentuer, "that may be an ambush." + +"Let it be death, and let it take me!" replied the heir, in a changed +voice. + +The priest gazed at him with wonder; he had not supposed such resolve +in Ramses. + +The cliffs were not distant, but the road was laborious beyond +description. They had not only to walk themselves, but to drag their +horses out of the soft sand. They waded, sinking below their ankles; +they sank to their knees even in some places. + +Meanwhile the sun was flaming above them, that dreadful sun of the +desert, every ray of which not only baked and blinded, but pricked +also. The men dropped from weariness: in one, tongue and lips were +swollen; another had a roaring in his head, and saw black patches +before his eyes; drowsiness seized a third, all felt pain in their +joints, and lost the sensation of heat. Had any one asked if it were +hot, they would not have answered. + +The ground grew firm under their feet again, and the party passed in +between the cliffs. + +The prince, who had more presence of mind than those who were with him, +heard the snorting of horses; he turned to one side, and in the shade +cast by the cliff saw a crowd of people lying as each man had dropped. +Those were the Libyans. + +One of them, a youth of twenty years, wore an embroidered purple shirt, +a gold chain was around his neck, and he carried a sword richly +mounted. He seemed unconscious; the eyes were turned in his head, and +there was foam on his lips. In him Ramses recognized the chief. He +approached him, drew the chain from his neck, and unfastened his sword. + +Some old Libyan who seemed less wearied than others, seeing this, +called out, + +"Though Thou art victor, Egyptian, respect the prince's son, who is +chief." + +"Is he the son of Musawasa?" asked Ramses. + +"Thou hast spoken truth," replied the Libyan. "This is Tehenna, the son +of Musawasa; he is our leader; he is worthy to be even prince of +Egypt." + +"But where is Musawasa?" + +"In Glaucus. He will collect a great army and avenge us." + +The other Libyans said nothing; they did not even look at their +conquerors. + +At command of Ramses the Asiatics disarmed them without the least +trouble, and sat down in the shade themselves. + +At that moment they were all neither enemies nor friends, only men who +were mortally wearied. Death was hovering over all, but beyond rest +they had no desire. + +Pentuer, seeing that Tehenna remained unconscious, knelt near him and +bent above his head so that no one saw what he was doing. Soon Tehenna +sighed, struggled, and opened his eyes; then he sat up, rubbed his +forehead, as if roused from a deep steep, which had not yet left him. + +"Tehenna, leader of the Libyans, Thou and thy people are prisoners of +his holiness," said Ramses. + +"Better slay me here," said Tehenna, "if I must lose my freedom." + +"If thy father, Musawasa, will submit and make peace with Egypt, Thou +wilt be free and happy." + +The Libyan turned his face aside, and lay down careless of everything; +he seemed to be sleeping. + +He came to himself, in a quarter of an hour, somewhat fresher. He gazed +at the desert and cried out with delight: on the horizon a green +country was visible, water, many palms, and somewhat higher, a town and +a temple. + +Around him all were sleeping, both Asiatics and Libyans. But Pentuer, +standing on a rock, had shaded his eyes with his hand and was looking +in some direction. + +"Pentuer! Pentuer!" cried Ramses. "Dost Thou see that oasis?" + +He sprang up and ran to the priest, whose face was full of anxiety. + +"Dost Thou see the oasis?" + +"That is no oasis," said Pentuer; "that is the ghost of some region +which is wandering about through the desert a region no longer in +existence. But over there over there is reality!" added he, pointing +southward. + +"Are they mountains?" + +"Look more sharply." + +The prince looked, and saw something suddenly. + +"It seems to me that a dark mass is rising my sight must be dulled." + +"That is Typhon," whispered the priest. "The gods alone have power to +save us, if only they have the wish." + +Indeed, Ramses felt on his face a breath, which amid the heat of the +desert seemed all at once hot to him. That breath, at first very +delicate, increased, growing hotter and hotter, and at the same time +the dark streak rose in the sky with astonishing swiftness. + +"What shall we do?" asked Ramses. + +"These cliffs," said the priest, "will shelter us from being covered +with sand, but they will not keep away dust or the heat which is +increasing continually. But in a day or two days." + +"Does Typhon blow that long?" + +"Sometimes three and four days. But sometimes he springs up for a +couple of hours, and drops suddenly, like a vulture pierced with an +arrow. That happens very rarely." + +The prince became gloomy, though he did not lose courage. The priest, +drawing from under his mantle a little green flask, said, + +"Here is an elixir. It should last thee a number of days. Whenever Thou +art afraid, or feel drowsy, drink a drop. In that way Thou wilt be +strengthened and endure." + +"But thou, and the others?" + +"My fate is in the hands of the One. As to the rest of the people, they +are not heirs to the throne of Egypt." + +"I do not wish this liquid!" cried the prince, pushing away the little +bottle. + +"Thou must take it!" said Pentuer. "Remember that the Egyptian people +have fixed their hopes on thee. Remember that on thee is their +blessing." + +The black cloud had covered half the sky, and the hot wind blew with +such force that the prince and priest had to go to the foot of the +cliff. + +"The Egyptian people? their blessing?" repeated Ramses. + +All at once he called out, + +"Was it Thou who conversed with me a year ago in the garden? That was +immediately after the maneuvers." + +"That same day, when Thou hadst compassion on the man who hanged +himself through despair because his canal was destroyed," answered the +priest. + +"Thou didst save my house and the Jewess Sarah from the rabble who +wished to stone her." + +"I did," said Pentuer. "And soon after Thou didst free the innocent +laborers from prison, and didst not permit Dagon to torture thy people +with new tribute." + +"For this people," continued the priest in a louder voice, "for the +compassion which Thou hast always shown them I bless thee again today. +Perhaps Thou art the only one who will be saved here, but remember that +the oppressed people of Egypt will save thee, they who look to thee for +redemption." + +Hereupon it grew dark; from the south came a shower of hot sand, and +such a mighty wind rose that it threw down a horse that was standing in +the open. The Asiatics and the Libyan prisoners all woke, but each man +merely pressed up to the cliff more closely, and possessed by great +fear remained silent. + +In nature something dreadful was happening. Night covered the earth, +and through the sky black or ruddy clouds of sand rushed with mad +impetus. It seemed as though all the sand of the desert, now alive, had +sprung up and was flying to some place with the speed of a stone +whirled from the sling of a warrior. + +The heat was like that in a bath: on the hands and feet the skin burst, +the tongue dried, breath produced a pricking in the breast. The fine +grains of sand burnt like fire sparks. + +Pentuer forced the bottle to the prince's lips. Ramses drank a couple +of drops and felt a marvelous change: the pain and heat ceased to +torment him; his thought regained freedom. + +"And this may last a couple of days?" asked he. + +"It may last four," replied Pentuer. + +"But ye sages, favorites of the gods, have ye no means of saving people +from such a tempest?" + +The priest thought awhile, and answered, + +"In the world there is only one sage who can struggle with evil +spirits. But he is not here." + +Typhon had been blowing for half an hour with inconceivable fury. It +had become almost like night. At moments the wind weakened, the black +clouds pushed apart; in the sky was a bloody sun, on the earth an +ominous light of ruddy color. The hot stifling wind grew more violent, +the clouds of sand thicker. The ghastly light was extinguished, and in +the air were heard sounds and noises to which human ears are not +accustomed. + +It was near sunset, but the violence of the tempest increased, and the +unendurable heat rose' continually. From time to time a gigantic bloody +spot appeared above the horizon, as if a world fire were coming. + +All at once the prince saw that Pentuer was not before him. He strained +his ear and heard a voice, crying, + +"Beroes! Beroes! If Thou cannot help us, who can? Beroes! in the name +of the One, the Almighty, who knows neither end nor beginning, I call +on thee." + +On the northern extremity of the desert, thunder was heard. The prince +was frightened, since thunder for an Egyptian was almost as rare a +phenomenon as a comet. + +"Beroes! Beroes!" repeated the priest in a deep voice. + +Ramses strained his eyes in the direction of the voice, and saw a dark +human figure with arms uplifted. From the head, the fingers, and even +from the clothing of that figure, light bluish sparks were flashing. + +"Beroes! Beroes!" + +A prolonged roar of thunder was heard nearer; lightning gleamed amid +clouds of sand, and filled the desert with lurid flashes. + +A fresh peal of thunder, and again lightning. + +The prince felt that the violence of the tempest was decreasing, and +the heat also. The sand which had been whirled through the air began to +fall to the earth now, the sky became ashen gray, next ruddy, next +milk-colored. At last all was silent, and after a while thunder was +heard again, and a cool breeze from the north appeared. + +The Asiatics and Libyans, tormented by heat, regained consciousness. + +"Warriors of the pharaoh," said the old Libyan on a sudden, "do ye hear +that noise in the desert?" + +"Will there be another tempest?" + +"No; that is rain." + +In fact some cold drops fell from the sky, then more of them, till at +last there was a downpour accompanied by thunder. + +Among the soldiers of Ramses and their prisoners mad delight sprang up +suddenly. Without caring for the thunder and lightning the men, who a +moment before had been scorched with heat, and tormented by thirst, ran +under the rain like small children. In the dark they washed themselves +and their horses, they caught water in their caps and leather bags, and +above all they drank and drank eagerly. + +"Is not this a miracle?" cried Ramses. "Were it not for this blessed +rain we should all perish here in the burning grasp of Typhon." + +"It happens," said the old Libyan, "that the southern sandy wind rouses +a wind from the sea and brings heavy rain to us." + +Ramses was touched disagreeably by these words, for he had attributed +the downpour to Pentuer's prayers. He turned to the Libyan, and asked, + +"And does it happen that sparks flash from people's bodies?" + +"It is always so when the wind blows from the desert," answered the +Libyan. "Just now we saw sparks jumping not only from men, but from +horses." + +In his voice there was such conviction that the prince approaching an +officer of his cavalry whispered, + +"But look at the Libyans." + +When he had said this some one made a noise in the darkness, and after +a while tramping was heard. When a flash lighted up the desert they saw +a man escaping on horseback. + +"Bind these wretches!" cried the prince, "and kill any one who resists +you. Woe to thee, Tehenna, if that scoundrel brings thy brethren +against us. Ye will perish in dreadful tortures, Thou and thy men +here." + +In spite of rain, darkness, and thunder the prince's soldiers hurried +to bind the Libyans, who made no resistance. + +Perhaps they were waiting for Tehenna's command, but he was so crushed +that he had not even thought of fleeing. + +The storm subsided gradually, and instead of that heat of the daytime a +piercing cold seized the desert. The men and horses had drunk all they +wanted; the bags were full of water; there were dates and cakes in +abundance, so a good disposition prevailed. The thunder grew weak; at +last even noiseless lightning flashed less and less frequently; on the +northern sky the clouds parted; here and there stars twinkled. + +Pentuer approached Ramses, + +"Let us return to the camp," said he. "In a couple of hours we shall be +there, before the man who has escaped can lead forth an enemy." + +"How shall we find the camp in such darkness?" asked Ramses. + +"Have ye torches?" asked the priest of the Asiatics. + +Torches, or long cords soaked in an inflammable substance they had; but +there was no fire, for their wooden fire-drills were rain soaked. + +"We must wait till morning," said Ramses, impatiently. + +Pentuer made no answer. He took a small instrument from his bag, took a +torch from one of the soldiers, and went to one side. After a while +there was a low hissing, and the torch was lighted. + +"He is a great magician, that priest," muttered the old Libyan. + +"Before my eyes Thou hast performed a second miracle," said the prince. +"Canst Thou explain to me how that was done?" + +The priest shook his head. + +"Ask of me anything, lord, and I will answer. But ask not to explain +temple secrets." + +"Not even if I were to name thee my counselor?" + +"Not even then. Never shall I be a traitor, and even if I desired to be +one I should be terrified by punishment." + +"Punishment?" repeated Ramses. "Aha! I remember in the temple of Hator, +that man hidden under the pavement, on whom the priests were pouring +burning pitch. Did they do that, indeed, and did that man die really in +tortures?" + +Pentuer was silent, as if not hearing the question, and drew out slowly +from his wonderful bag a small statue of a divinity with crossed arms. +The statue depended from a string; the priest let it hang, and +whispered a prayer, while he watched it. The statue, after some +turnings and quiverings, hung without motion. + +Ramses, by the light of the torch, looked at these acts with +astonishment. + +"What art Thou doing?" asked he. + +"I can only say this much to thee, worthiness," replied Pentuer, "that +this divinity points with one hand at the star Eshmun. This hand leads +Phoenician ships through the sea during night hours." + +"Then the Phoenicians, too, have this god?" + +"They do not even know of him. The god which points one hand always to +the star Eshmun, [Polar Star] is known only to us and the priests of +Chaldea. By the aid of this god every prophet night and day, in bad and +good weather, can find his way on the sea or in the desert." + +At command of the prince, who went with a lighted torch at the side of +Pentuer, the retinue and the prisoners followed the priest, +northeastward. The god depending from a string trembled, but indicated +with outstretched hand, the sacred star, Eshmun, the guardian of +travelers. + +They went on foot at a good pace, leading the horses. The cold was so +sharp, that even Asiatics blew on their hands, and the Libyans +trembled. + +With that, something began to crackle and break underfoot. Pentuer +stopped, and bent down. + +"In this place," said he, "rain has made a pool on the rock. And see, +worthy lord, what has become of the water." + +Thus speaking, he raised and showed the prince what seemed a plate of +glass, but which melted in his hand. + +"When there is great cold," said he, "water becomes a transparent +stone." + +The Asiatics confirmed the words of the priest, and added that far away +in the north, water turned into stone very often, and fog turned into a +white salt which is tasteless, but breaks in the hands and causes pain +in the teeth. + +The prince admired Pentuer's wisdom still more. + +Meanwhile, the northern side of the heavens grew clear, showing the +Great Bear and the star, Eshmun. The priest repeated a prayer again, +put the-guiding god into his bag, and commanded to quench the torches, +and to leave only a burning cord which kept the fire, and indicated +time by its gradual burning. + +The prince enjoined watchfulness on his men, and taking Pentuer, pushed +ahead some tens of paces. + +"Pentuer," said he, "from this hour I make thee my counselor, both now +and when it shall please the gods to give me the crown of Upper and +Lower Egypt." + +"How have I deserved this favor?" + +"Before my eyes Thou hast done deeds which show great wisdom, and also +power over spirits. Besides Thou wert ready to save me. So, although it +is thy resolve to keep many things from my knowledge." + +"Pardon, lord," interrupted Pentuer. "For gold and jewels, Thou wilt +find traitors shouldst Thou need them, among priests even. But I am not +of those men. For think, were I to betray the gods, what bond could I +give not to betray thee also?" + +Ramses grew thoughtful. + +"Thou hast answered wisely," said he. "But it is a wonder to me why +thou, a priest, hast for me kindness in thy heart. Thou didst bless me +a year ago, and today Thou wouldst not let me go alone into the desert, +and hast shown me great service." + +"Because the gods have forewarned me that Thou art worthy, lord; +shouldst Thou wish, Thou mayst rescue the ill-fated people of Egypt." + +"How do the people concern thee?" + +"I came from them. My father and brother raised water long days from +the Nile, and received blows of sticks for their labor." + +"How can I aid the people?" asked Ramses. + +Pentuer grew animated. + +"Thy people," said he, with emotion, "toil too much, they pay too much +tribute, they suffer persecution and misery. Hard is the fate of the +toiling man. The worm eats half his harvest, the rhinoceros the other +half; in the fields, a legion of mice live; the locust devours, the +cattle trample, the sparrows steal. What is left after these for the +threshing floor the thief takes. Oh, wretched earth-tillers! Now comes +the scribe to the boundary and mentions the harvest. His attendants +have sticks, and black men carry palm rods. 'Give wheat!' say they. He +answers, 'There is none.' They flog him; immediately they stretch him +out at full length they bind him; they hurl him into the canal, where +they sink him, head downward. They bind his wife in his presence and +also his children. His neighbors flee, carrying their wheat away with +them." [Original description.] + +"I have seen that myself," said Ramses, "and have driven off at least +one scribe of that sort. But can I be everywhere to forestall +injustice?" + +"Thou mayst command, lord, not to torment working-men needlessly. Thou +mayst decrease taxes, appoint days of rest for the earth-tillers. Thou +mayst give each family a patch of land, even the harvest of which would +be theirs, and serve to nourish them. In the opposite case they will +feed themselves as they now do, with lotus seeds, rotten fish and +papyrus, till thy people will perish finally. But show them favor and +they will rise." + +"Indeed, I will do so!" said Ramses. "A wise owner will not let cattle +starve nor work beyond the strength of their bodies, or be clubbed +without reason. This must be changed." + +Pentuer halted. + +"Dost Thou promise that, worthy lord?" + +"I swear!" answered Ramses. + +"Then I swear that Thou wilt be the most famous of all pharaohs; before +thee the fame of Ramses the Great, will grow pale!" cried the priest, +mastering himself no longer. + +The prince fell to thinking, then asked, + +"What can we two do against those priests who hate me?" + +"They fear thee, lord," answered Pentuer. "They fear lest Thou begin +war too soon against Assyria?" + +"What is that to them if the war be successful?" + +The priest bent his head and spread his hands, but was silent. + +"Then I will tell thee," cried the prince, in anger. "They want no war! +They fear that I might return from it a conqueror, laden with +treasures, urging on slaves in front of me. They fear this because they +wish every pharaoh to be a weak tool in their grasp, a utensil of no +real value, a utensil to be thrown aside when the wish comes. But this +will not happen in my case. Either I shall do what I plan, and which I, +as the son and heir of the gods have the right to do, or I shall +perish." + +Pentuer drew back, and muttered an exorcism. + +"Speak not thus, worthy lord," said he, in confusion, "lest evil +spirits circling through the desert may seize thy words. A word, +remember this, ruler, is like a stone sent from a sling; it may strike +a wall, rebound, and hit the man who hurled it." + +The prince motioned with his hand contemptuously. + +"It is all one," replied he. "A life in which every one stops my will +has no worth for me. When the gods do not bar me, the winds of the +desert do; when evil spirits are not against me, the priests are. Is +the power of a pharaoh to be of such sort. I wish to do what my mind +says, to give account to my deathless ancestors, and to them only, not +to this or that shaven head, who pretends to interpret the will of +divinity, but who is really seizing power, and turning my wealth to his +own use." + +At some tens of yards from them a strange cry was heard at that moment, +half neighing, half bleating, and an immense shadow sped past. It went +like an arrow, and as far as could be seen had a humped back and a long +neck. + +From the prince's retinue came sounds of fear. + +"That is a griffin! I saw its wings clearly," said one and another of +the Asiatics. + +"The desert is swarming with monsters," added the old Libyan. + +Ramses was afraid; he also thought that the passing shadow had the head +of a serpent, and something resembling short wings. + +"Do monsters really show themselves in the desert?" asked he of the +priest. + +"It is true," said Pentuer, "that in such a lonely place evil spirits +prowl about in strange guises. But it seems to me that that which has +passed is rather a beast. It is like a saddle horse, only larger and +quicker in movement. Dwellers in the oases say that this beast may live +without drinking water at all, or at least very rarely. If that be the +case, men hereafter may in crossing deserts use this strange creature, +which today rouses fear only." + +"I should not dare to sit on the back of a great beast like that," said +Ramses, as he shook his head. + +"Our ancestors said the same of the horse, which helped the Hyksos to +conquer Egypt, but today it is indispensable to our army. Time changes +men's judgments greatly," said Pentuer. + +The last clouds had vanished from the sky and a clear night set in. +Though the moon was absent the air was so clear that on the background +of the white sand a man could distinguish the general outline of +objects, even when small or distant. The piercing cold also diminished. +All advanced now in silence, and sank, as they walked, in the sand to +their ankles. Suddenly a tumult and cries rose among the Asiatics, + +"A sphinx! Look, a sphinx! We shall not escape from this desert if +specters show themselves all the time." + +Indeed, outlines of a sphinx on a white limestone hill were seen very +clearly. The body of a lion, an immense head with an Egyptian cap, and +as it were a human profile. + +"Calm yourselves, barbarians," said the old Libyan. "That is no sphinx; +it is a lion, and he will do no harm, for he is occupied in eating." + +"Indeed, that is a lion!" confirmed the prince halting. "But how he +resembles a sphinx." + +"He is the father of our sphinxes," added the priest in a low voice. +"His face recalls a man's features, his mane is the wig." + +"And our great sphinx, that at the pyramids?" + +"Many ages before Menes," said Pentuer, "when there were no pyramids +yet, there was on that spot a rock which looked like a recumbent lion, +as if the gods wished in that way to indicate the beginning of the +desert. The holy priests of that period commanded artists to hew the +rock around with more accuracy and to fill out its lacks by additions. +The artists, seeing people oftener than lions, cut out the face of a +man, and thus the first sphinx had its origin." + +"To which we give divine honor," said the prince, smiling. + +"And justly," answered the priest. "For the gods made the first +features of this work and men finished them under divine guidance. Our +sphinx by its size and mysteriousness recalls the desert. It has the +posture of spirits wandering through it, and terrifies men as does the +desert. That sphinx is really the son of the gods and the father of +terror." + +"Everything has in its own way an earthly beginning," answered the +prince. "The Nile does not flow from heaven, but from certain mountains +which lie beyond Ethiopia. The pyramids, which Herhor said were an +image of our state, are built on the model of mountain summits. And our +temples, too, with their pylons and obelisks, with their gloom and +coolness, do they not recall caves and mountains, extending along the +Nile valley? How many times in hunting have I not gone astray among +eastern ridges! I have always struck upon some strange collection of +rocks which recalled a temple. Frequently even, on their rough sides, I +have seen hieroglyphs written by wind and by rainstorms." + +"In that, worthiness, Thou hast proof," said Pentuer, "that our temples +were reared on a plan which the gods themselves outlined. And as a +small kernel cast into the ground gives birth to a heaven-touching palm +tree, so the picture of a cliff, a cave, a lion, even a lotus, placed +in the soul of a pious pharaoh, gives birth to an alley of sphinxes, to +temples and their mighty columns. Those are the works of divinities, +not men, and happy is the ruler who when he looks can discover divine +thought in earthly objects and present it in a form pleasing to future +generations." + +"But such a ruler must have power, much wealth, and not depend on the +fancies of priests," interrupted Ramses. + +Before them extended a second sandy elevation, on which at that moment +appeared some horsemen. + +"Are they our men, or the Libyans?" asked Ramses. + +The sound of a horn was heard from the eminence; to this an answer was +given by the prince's retinue. The horsemen came down as quickly as the +deep sand would let them. When they had approached one cried out, + +"Is the heir to the throne here?" + +"He is, and is well!" cried Ramses. + +They dismounted and fell on their faces. + +"Oh, Erpatr!" cried the leader of the newly arrived, "thy troops are +rending their garments and scattering dust on their heads, thinking +that Thou hast perished. All the cavalry has scattered over the desert +to find traces, while the gods have permitted us, the unworthy, to be +first to greet thee." + +The prince named the man a centurion and commanded him to present his +subordinates for a reward on the morrow. + + + +CHAPTER XLV + +HALF an hour later dense throngs of the Egyptian army appeared and soon +the escort of the prince was in the camp. From all sides were heard +trumpets sounding the recall. Warriors seized their weapons, stood in +ranks and shouted. Officers fell at the feet of the prince, then raised +him in their arms, bore him around before the divisions, as they had +after the triumph of the day previous. The walls of the ravine trembled +from the shouts: "Live through eternity, victor! The gods are thy +guardians!" + +The holy Mentezufis, surrounded by torches, approached now. The heir, +seeing the priest, tore Himself free from the arms of the officers and +hurried to him. + +"Know, holy father, we have caught the Libyan chief Tehenna." + +"Vain is the capture," replied the priest severely, "for which the +supreme chief must leave his army; especially when a new enemy may +attack at any moment." + +The prince felt all the justice of this reproach, but for that very +cause did anger spring up in him. He clinched his fist, his eyes +gleamed. + +"In the name of thy mother, be silent," whispered Pentuer, standing +behind him. + +The heir was so astonished by the unexpected words of his adviser, that +in one moment he regained self-control, and then he understood that it +would be best to recognize his error. + +"Thou speakest truth," answered he. "An army should never leave its +leader, nor the leader his army. I thought, however, that Thou wouldst +take my place, since Thou art a representative of the ministry of war." + +The calm answer mollified Mentezufis, so the priest did not remind the +prince of the maneuvers of the previous year when he left the army in +the same way and incurred the pharaoh's disfavor. + +At that moment Patrokles approached them with great uproar. The Grecian +general was drunk again and called from afar to the viceroy, + +"See, heir, what the holy Mentezufis has done. Thou didst proclaim +pardon to the Libyans who would leave the invaders and return to the +army of his holiness. Those men came to me, and owing to thy promise I +broke the left wing of the enemy. But the worthy Mentezufis gave +command to slay every man of them. About a thousand prisoners have +perished all recent warriors of ours, who were to have pardon." + +The blood rushed to the prince's head again, but Pentuer, who stood +there always behind him, whispered, + +"Be silent, for the sake of the gods, be silent." + +But Patrokles had no adviser, so he continued, + +"From this moment we lose forever, not only the confidence of others, +but also that of our own people. For our army must become demoralized +utterly when it learns that traitors are forcing their way to the head +of it." + +"Vile hireling," replied Mentezufis, coldly, "how darest Thou talk thus +of the army and the confidants of his holiness? Since the world became +the world such blasphemy has not been uttered! And I fear lest the gods +may avenge the insult wrought on them." + +Patrokles laughed loudly. + +"While I sleep among the Greeks, I am not afraid of the vengeance of +night gods. And while I am on the alert they will do nothing in the +daytime." + +"Go to sleep! go among thy Greeks, drunkard," said Mentezufis, "lest a +thunderbolt fall on our heads because of thy offenses." + +"On thy shaven head, Thou soul worth a copper, it will not fall, for it +would think thy head something else," said the Greek, half unconscious. +But seeing that the prince did not support him, he withdrew to his camp +ground. + +"Didst Thou really command to kill the prisoners in spite of my promise +that they should have pardon?" asked the prince. + +"Thou wert not in camp, worthiness," replied Mentezufis, "hence +responsibility falls not on thee for that deed: while I observe our +military laws, which command to destroy traitorous warriors. The man +who served his holiness once and joins his enemies afterward is to be +slain immediately that is the law." + +"But if I had been here?" + +"As supreme leader and a son of the pharaoh Thou couldst suspend the +execution of certain laws which I must obey," replied Mentezufis. + +"Couldst Thou not have waited till my return?" + +"The law commands to kill immediately, so I carried out its +provisions." + +The prince was so stunned that he interrupted conversation and withdrew +to his tent. There falling into a seat he said to Tutmosis, + +"I am today a captive of the priests. They murder prisoners, they +threaten officers, they do not even respect my duties. Did ye say +nothing to Mentezufis when he commanded to kill those unfortunate +prisoners?" + +"He shielded himself with military laws, and new orders from Herhor." + +"But it is I who am leader here, though I went out for half a day." + +"Thou didst give the leadership explicitly into my hands and into those +of Patrokles," answered Tutmosis. "But when the holy Mentezufis came we +had to yield to him, for he is our superior." + +The prince thought that the seizure of Tehenna was in every case +purchased with surpassing misfortunes. At the same time he felt in all +its force the significance of the maxim that a chief must never leave +his army. He had to confess his error, but that irritated his pride the +more and filled him with hatred for the priesthood. + +"Behold," said he, "I am in captivity even before I have become the +pharaoh, may his holiness live through eternity. So today I must begin +to work myself out of this slavery, and first of all to be silent. +Pentuer is right: I must be silent always, and put away my anger, like +precious jewels into the storehouse of memory. But when it is full, ye +will pay me, O prophets." + +"Thou dost not inquire, worthiness, for the results of the battle," +said Tutmosis. + +"Aha, just that. What are they?" + +"More than two thousand prisoners, more than three thousand killed, and +barely a few hundred escaped." + +"What, then, was the Libyan army?" asked the astonished prince. + +"From six to seven thousand men." + +"That cannot be. Is it possible that almost a whole army could perish +in such an encounter?" + +"And still it is so; that was a terrible battle," replied Tutmosis. +"Thou didst surround them on all sides, the soldiers did the rest, well +yes and the worthy Mentezufis. Even inscriptions on the tombs of the +most famous pharaohs do not mention such a crushing of the enemies of +Egypt." + +"Go to sleep, Tutmosis; I am wearied," interrupted the prince, feeling +that pride was beginning to rise to his head. + +"Then have I won such a victory? Impossible!" thought he. + +He threw himself on to the skins, but though mortally weary he could +not sleep. + +Only fourteen hours had passed since the moment when he had given the +signal to begin the battle. Only fourteen hours? Was it possible! + +Had he won such a battle? But he had not even seen a battle, nothing +but a yellow dense cloud, whence unearthly shouts were poured out in +torrents. Even now he sees that cloud, he hears the uproar, he feels +the heat, but there is no battle. + +Next he sees a boundless desert, in which he is struggling through the +sand with painful effort. He and his men have the best horses in the +army, and still they creep forward like turtles. And what heat! +Impossible for man to support the like. + +And now Typhon springs up, hides the light, burns, bites, suffocates. +Pale sparks are shooting forth from Pentuer's body. Above their heads +thunder rolls such thunder as he had never heard till that day. Later +on, silent night in the desert. The fleeing griffin, the dark outline +of the sphinx on the limestone hill. + +"I have seen so much. I have passed through so much," thought Ramses. +"I have been present at the building of our temples, and even at the +birth of the great sphinx, which is beyond having an age now, and all +this happened in the course of fourteen hours." + +Now the last thought flashed before the prince: "A man who has passed +through so much cannot live long." + +A chill went through him from head to foot, and he fell asleep. + +He woke next morning a couple of hours after sunrise. His eyes smarted, +all his bones ached; he coughed a little, but his mind was clear and +his heart full of courage. + +Tutmosis was at the door of the tent. + +"What is it?" asked the prince. + +"Spies from the Libyan boundary bring strange news," said the favorite. +"A great throng of people are approaching our ravine, not troops, +however, but unarmed men, with children and women; at the head of them +is Musawasa, and the foremost of the Libyans." + +"What does this mean?" + +"Evidently they wish to beg peace of thee." + +"After one battle?" asked the prince, with wonder. + +"But what a battle! Besides, fear increases our army in their eyes. +They fear invasion and death." + +"Let us see if this is a military stratagem," answered the prince, +after some thought. "How are our men?" + +"They are in good health, they have eaten and drunk, they have rested +and are gladsome. But." + +"But what?" + +"Patrokles died in the night," whispered Tutmosis. + +"How?" cried the prince, springing up. + +"Some say that he drank too much, some that it was the punishment of +the gods. His face was blue and his mouth full of foam." + +"Like that captive in Atribis, Thou rememberest him? His name was +Bakura; he broke into the feasting hall with complaints against the +nomarch. He died that same night from drunkenness, of course. What dost +Thou think?" + +Tutmosis dropped his head. + +"We must be very careful, my lord," whispered he. + +"We shall try," answered the prince, calmly. "We will not even wonder +at the death of Patrokles. For what is there surprising in this, that +some drunken fellow dies who insulted the gods, nay! insulted the +priests even." + +Tutmosis felt a threat in these jeering words. + +The prince had loved Patrokles greatly. The Greek leader had been as +faithful as a dog to him. Ramses might forget many wrongs done himself, +but the death of that man he would not forgive. + +Before midday a fresh regiment, the Theban, arrived from Egypt at the +prince's camp, and besides that some thousands of men and several +hundreds of asses bringing large supplies of provisions and also tents. +At the same time, from the direction of Libya, returned spies with +information that the baud of unarmed people coming toward the ravine +was increasing. + +At command of the heir numerous small detachments of cavalry +reconnoitered the neighborhood in every direction to learn if a hostile +army were not hidden somewhere. Even the priests, who had brought with +them a small chapel of Amon, went to the summit of the highest hill and +held a religious service. Then returning to the camp, they assured +Ramses that a crowd of some thousands of unarmed Libyans were +approaching, but that there was no army at any point, at least none +within a fifteen mile radius. + +The prince laughed at the report. + +"I have good sight," said he, "but I could not see an army at that +distance." + +The priests, after they had counseled together, informed the prince +that if he would bind himself not to tell the uninitiated what he saw +he would learn that it was possible to see at great distances. + +Ramses took an oath. The priests placed the altar of Amon on a height, +and began prayers. When the prince had washed, removed his sandals, +offered to the god a gold chain and incense, they conducted him to a +small box which was perfectly dark and told him to look at one wall of +it. + +After a while sacred hymns were intoned during which a bright circle +appeared on the box. Soon the bright color grew darker; the prince saw +a sandy plain, in the midst of it cliffs, and near them an Asiatic +outpost. + +The priests sang with more animation and the picture changed. Another +patch of the desert was visible, and on it a group of people who looked +no larger than ants. Still the movements and dress, and even the faces +of the persons were so definite that the prince could describe them. + +The astonishment of the heir knew no bounds. He rubbed his eyes, +touched the moving picture. Suddenly he turned away his face; the +picture vanished and darkness remained. + +When he went out of the chapel the elder priest asked him, + +"Well, Erpatr, dost Thou believe now in the might of the gods of +Egypt?" + +"Indeed," answered he, "ye are such great sages that the whole world +ought to give you offerings and homage. If ye can see the future in an +equal degree nothing can oppose you." + +After these words a priest entered the chapel and began to pray; soon a +voice was heard from the chapel, saying, + +"Ramses! the fates of the kingdom are weighed, and before another full +moon comes Thou wilt be its ruler." + +"O gods!" cried the terrified prince. "Is my father so sick, then?" + +He fell on his face in the sand; then an assisting priest inquired if +he did not wish to learn something more. + +"Tell me, Father Amon, whether my plans will be accomplished." + +After a while a voice spoke in the chapel. + +"If Thou begin no war in the east, if Thou give offerings to the gods +and respect their servants, a long life awaits thee, and a reign full +of glory." + +After the miracles which had happened on the open field, in the open +day, the excited prince returned to his tent. + +"Nothing can resist the priests," thought he in fear. + +He found Pentuer in the tent. + +"Tell me, my counselor," said he, "whether priests can read the heart +of a man and unveil his secret purpose." + +Pentuer shook his head. + +"Sooner," answered he, "will man see what there is in the centre of a +cliff than read the heart of another man. It is even closed to the +gods, and death alone can discover its secrets." + +Ramses drew a deep sigh of relief, but he could not free himself from +fear. When, toward evening, it was necessary to call a military +council, he summoned Mentezufis and Pentuer. + +No one mentioned the sudden death of Patrokles; perhaps because there +was more urgent business; for Libyan envoys had come imploring in the +name of Musawasa mercy for his son Tehenna, and offering to Egypt +surrender and peace forever. + +"Evil men," said one of the envoys, "tempted our people saying that +Egypt was weak; that her pharaoh was the shadow of a ruler. But +yesterday we learned how strong your arm is, and we consider it wiser +to yield and pay you tribute than expose our people to certain death +and our property to ruin." + +When the military council had heard this speech the Libyans were sent +from the tent, and Prince Ramses asked the holy Mentezufis directly for +his opinions; this astonished even the generals. + +"Only yesterday," said the worthy prophet, "I should have been glad to +refuse the prayer of Musawasa, transfer the war to Libya, and destroy +that nest of robbers. But today I have received such important news +from Memphis that I will vote for mercy to the conquered." + +"Is his holiness, my father, sick?" inquired the prince, with deep +emotion. + +"He is sick. But till we finish with the Libyans Thou must not think of +his holiness." + +When the heir dropped his head in sadness, Mentezufis added, + +"I must perform one more duty. Yesterday, worthy prince, I made bold to +offer a judgment that for such a wretched captive as Tehenna, a chief +should not leave his army. Today I see that I was mistaken, for if Thou +hadst not seized Tehenna we should not have this early peace with +Musawasa. Thy wisdom, chief, has proved higher than military +regulations." + +The prince was arrested by this compunction on the part of Mentezufis. + +"Why does he speak thus?" thought he. "It is evident that Amon is not +alone in knowing of my holy father's illness." + +And in the soul of the heir the old feelings were roused, contempt for +the priests and distrust of their miracles. + +"So it was not the gods who told me that I should soon become pharaoh, +but the news came from Memphis, and the priests tricked me in the +chapel! But if they lie in one thing, who will assure me that those +views of the desert shown on the wall were not deceit also?" + +Since the prince was silent all the time, which was attributed to his +sorrow because of his father's illness, and the generals did not dare +to say anything after the decisive words of Mentezufis, the military +council ended. A unanimous decision was made to stop the war, take the +very highest tribute from the Libyans, and send them an Egyptian +garrison. + +All expected now that the pharaoh would die. But Egypt, to celebrate a +funeral worthy of its ruler, needed profound peace. + +When leaving the tent of the military council the prince said to +Mentezufis, + +"The valiant Patrokles died last night; do ye holy fathers think to +show his remains honor?" + +"He was a barbarian and a great sinner," said the priest, "but he +rendered such famous services to Egypt that it is proper to assure life +beyond the grave to him. If Thou permit, worthiness, we will send the +body of that man this day to Memphis, so as to make a mummy of it, and +take it to an eternal dwelling in Thebes among the retreats of the +pharaohs." + +The prince consented willingly, but his suspicions rose. + +"Yesterday," thought he, "Mentezufis threatened me as he might a lazy +pupil, and it was even a favor of the gods that he did not beat my back +with a stick; but today he speaks to me like an obedient son to a +father, and almost falls on his breast before me. Is this a sign that +power is drawing near my tent, and also the hour of reckoning?" + +Thus thinking, the prince increased in pride, and his heart was filled +with greater wrath against the priesthood. Wrath which was the worse +for being silent like a scorpion which has hidden in the sand and maims +the incautious foot with its biting sting. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI + +AT night the sentries gave notice that a throng of Libyans imploring +mercy had entered the valley. Indeed the light of their fires was +visible on the desert. + +At sunrise the trumpets were sounded, and all the Egyptian forces were +drawn up under arms on the widest part of the valley. According to +command of the prince, who wished to increase the fright of the Libyans +the carriers were arranged between the ranks of the army, and men on +asses were disposed among the cavalry. So it happened that the +Egyptians seemed as numerous as sands in the desert, and the Libyans +were as timid as doves, over which a falcon is soaring. + +At nine in the morning his gilded war chariot stood before the tent of +the viceroy. The horses bearing ostrich plumes reared so that two men +had to hold each of them. + +Ramses came out of his tent, took his place in the chariot, and seized +the reins himself, while the place of the charioteer was occupied by +the priest Pentuer, who held now the position of counselor. One of the +commanders carried a large green parasol over the prince; behind, and +on both sides of the chariot, marched Greek officers in gilded armor. +At a certain distance behind the prince's retinue came a small division +of the guard, in the midst of it Tehenna, son of the Libyan chief +Musawasa. + +A few hundred paces from the Egyptians, at the entrance of the ravine, +stood the gloomy crowd of Libyans imploring the conqueror's favor. + +When Ramses came with his suite to the eminence where he was to receive +the envoys of the enemy, the army raised such a shout in his honor that +the cunning Musawasa was still more mortified, and whispered to the +Libyan elders, + +"I say to you, that is the cry of an army which loves its commander." + +Then one of the most restless of the Libyan chiefs, a great robber, +said to Musawasa, + +"Dost Thou not think that in a moment like this we should be wiser to +trust to the swiftness of our horses than to the kindness of the +pharaoh's son? He must be a raging lion, which tears the skin even when +stroking it, while we are like lambs snatched away from our mothers." + +"Do as may please thee," replied Musawasa, "Thou hast the whole desert +before thee. But the people sent me to redeem their faults, and above +all I have a son, Tehenna, on whom the prince will pour out his wrath +unless I win favor." + +To the crowd of Libyans galloped up two Asiatic horsemen, who declared +that their lord was waiting for submission. + +Musawasa sighed bitterly and went toward the height on which the +conqueror had halted. Never before had he made such a painful journey. +Coarse linen used by penitents covered his back imperfectly; on his +head, sprinkled with ashes, the heat of the sun was burning; sharp +pebbles cut his naked feet, and his heart was crushed by his own sorrow +and that of his people. + +He had advanced barely a few hundred paces, but he was forced to halt a +couple of times to rest and recover. He looked backward frequently to +be sure that the naked slaves carrying gifts to the prince were not +stealing gold chains, or what was worse, stealing jewels. For Musawasa +knowing life, knew that man is glad to make use of his neighbor's +misfortune. + +"I thank the gods," said the cunning barbarian, comforting himself in +mishap, "that the lot has come to me of humbling myself to a prince who +may put on the pharaoh's cap any moment. The rulers of Egypt are +magnanimous, especially in time of triumph. If I succeed then in moving +my lord he will strengthen my position in Libya, and permit me to +collect a multitude of taxes. It is a real miracle that the heir to the +throne himself seized Tehenna; and not only will he not do him wrong, +but he will cover him with dignities." Thus he thought and looked +behind continually, for a slave, though naked, may conceal a stolen +jewel in his mouth, and even swallow it. + +At thirty steps from the chariot of the heir Musawasa and those who +were with him, the foremost of the Libyans, fell upon their faces and +lay on the sand till command to rise was given them through the +prince's adjutant. When they had approached a few steps they fell +again; later they fell a third time, and rose only at command of +Ramses. + +During this interval Pentuer, standing at the prince's chariot, +whispered to his lord, + +"Let thy countenance show neither harshness nor delight. Be calm, like +the god Amon, who despises his enemies and delights in no common +triumphs." + +At last the penitent Libyans stood before the face of the prince, who +looked at them as a fierce hippopotamus at ducklings which have no +place to hide before his mightiness. + +"Art Thou he?" asked Ramses, suddenly. "Art Thou that Musawasa, the +wise Libyan leader?" + +"I am thy servant," answered Musawasa, and he threw himself on the +ground again. + +When they ordered him to rise, the prince said, + +"How couldst Thou commit such a grievous sin, and raise thy hand +against the kingdom of the gods? Has thy former wisdom deserted thee?" + +"Lord," answered the wily Libyan, "sorrow disturbed the reason of the +disbanded warriors of his holiness, so they ran to their own +destruction, drawing me and mine after them. And the gods alone know +how long this dreadful war might have lasted if at the head of the army +of the ever living pharaoh, Amon himself had not appeared in thy +semblance. Thou didst fall on us like a storm wind of the desert, when +Thou wert not expected, where Thou wert not expected, and as a bull +breaks a reed so didst Thou crush thy blinded opponent. All people then +understood that even the terrible regiments of Libya had value only +while thy hand sent them forward." + +"Thou speakest wisely, Musawasa," said the viceroy, "and Thou hast done +still better to meet thus the army of the divine pharaoh, instead of +waiting till it came to thee. But I should be glad to know how sincere +thy obedience is." + +"Let thy countenance be radiant, great potentate of Egypt," [An +inscription on the monument of Horem-Hep, 1470 years B. c.] answered +Musawasa. "We come to thee as subjects, may thy name be great in Libya, +be Thou our sun, as Thou art the sun of nine nations. Only command thy +subordinates to be just to us the conquered people who are joined to +thy power. Let thy officials govern us justly and with conscience, and +not according to their own evil wishes, reporting falsely concerning +our people, and rousing thy disfavor against us and our children. +Command them, O viceroy of the victorious pharaoh, to govern according +to thy will, sparing our freedom, our property, our language, and the +customs of our ancestors and fathers. + +"Let thy laws be equal for all subjects, let not thy officials favor +some too much and be too harsh toward others; let their sentences be of +the same kind for all. Let them collect the tribute predestined for thy +needs and for thy use, but let them not take secretly other tributes +which never go into thy treasury, and enrich only thy servants and the +servants of those servants. + +"Command them to govern without injustice to us and our children, for +Thou art to us a deity and a ruler forever. Imitate the sun, which +sends his light to all and gives life and strength to them. We, thy +Libyan subjects, implore thy favor and fall on our faces before thee, O +heir of the great and mighty pharaoh." + +So spoke the crafty Libyan prince, Musawasa, and after he had finished +speaking he prostrated himself again. But when the pharaoh's heir heard +these wise words his eyes glittered, and his nostrils dilated like +those of a young stallion which after good feeding runs to a field +where mares are at pasture. + +"Rise, Musawasa, and listen to what I tell thee. Thy fate and that of +thy people depend not on me, but on that gracious lord who towers above +us all, as the sky above the earth. I advise thee, then, to go and to +take Libyan elders hence to Memphis, and, falling on thy face before +the leader and the god in this world, to repeat the humble prayer, +which I have heard here from thee. + +"I know not what the effect of thy prayer will be; but since the gods +never turn from him who implores and is repentant, I have a feeling +that Thou wilt not meet a bad reception. + +"And now show me the gifts intended for his holiness, so that I may +judge whether they will move the heart of the all-powerful pharaoh." + +At this moment Mentezufis gave a sign to Pentuer who was standing on +the prince's chariot. + +When Pentuer descended and approached the holy man with honor, +Mentezufis whispered, + +"I fear lest the triumph may rise to the head of our young lord over +much. Dost Thou not think it would be wise to interrupt the solemnity +in some way?" + +"On the contrary," answered Pentuer, "do not interrupt the solemnity, +and I guarantee that he will not have a joyous face." + +"Thou wilt perform a miracle." + +"If I succeed I shall merely show him that in this world great delight +is attended by deep suffering." + +"Do as Thou wishest," said Mentezufis, "for the gods have given thee +wisdom worthy a member of the highest council." + +Trumpets and drums were heard, and the triumphal review began. + +At the head of it went naked slaves bearing gifts. Rich Libyans guarded +these bondmen who carried gold and silver divinities, boxes filled with +perfumes, enameled vessels, stuffs, furniture, finally gold dishes +dotted with rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The slaves who bore these +had shaven heads and were gagged lest some one of them might steal a +costly jewel. + +Ramses rested both hands on the edge of the chariot and looked from the +height of the hill at the Libyans, and at his own men, as a golden- +headed eagle looks down on many colored partridges. Pride filled the +prince from foot to head, and all present felt that it was impossible +to have more power than was possessed by that victorious commander. + +But in one instant the prince's eyes lost their brightness, and on his +face the bitterest surprise was depicted. Pentuer was standing near +him, + +"Bend thy ear, lord," whispered he. "Since Thou hast left Pi-Bast +wondrous changes have taken place there. Thy Phoenician woman, Kama, +has fled with Lykon." + +"With Lykon?" repeated the prince. + +"Move not, Erpatr, and show not to thousands that Thou feelest sorrow +in the day of thy triumph." + +Now there passed below the prince an endless line of Libyans with fruit +and bread in baskets, as well as wine and olive oil in roomy pitchers +for the army. At sight of this a murmur of delight was spread among the +warriors, but Ramses, occupied with Pentuer's story, took no note of +what was passing. + +"The gods," said the prophet in a whisper, "have punished the +traitorous Kama." + +"Is she caught?" inquired the prince. + +"She is caught, but they have sent her to the eastern colony, because +leprosy attacked her." + +"O gods!" whispered Ramses. "But may it not threaten me?" + +"Be calm, lord; if it had infected thee Thou wouldst be leprous this +moment." + +The prince felt a chill in every member. How easy for the gods to +thrust a man down from the highest summits to the depths of the lowest +misery! + +"And Lykon?" + +"He is a great criminal," said Pentuer; "a criminal of such kind that +the earth has given few such." + +"I know him. He is as like me as a reflection of me in a mirror," +replied Ramses. + +Now came a crowd of Libyans leading strange animals. At the head of +these was a one-humped camel with white hair, one of the first which +they had caught in the desert, next two rhinoceroses, a herd of horses, +and a tame lion caged. Then a multitude of cages holding birds of +various colors, monkeys, and small dogs intended for court ladies. +Behind them were driven great herds of cattle, and flocks of sheep as +food for the pharaoh's army. + +The prince cast an eye on the moving menagerie, and asked the priest, + +"But is Lykon caught?" + +"I will tell thee now the worst news, unhappy lord," whispered Pentuer. +"But remember that the enemies of Egypt must not notice grief in thee." + +The heir moved. + +"Thy second woman, Sarah the Jewess." + +"Has she run away too?" + +"She died in prison." + +"O gods! Who dared imprison her?" + +"She confessed that she killed thy son." + +"What?" + +A great cry was heard at the prince's feet: the Libyan prisoners +captured in battle were marching past, and at the head of them the +sorrowful Tehenna. + +Ramses had at that moment a heart so full of pain that he nodded to +Tehenna, and said, + +"Stand near thy father Musawasa, so that he may touch thee, and see +thee living." + +At these words all the Libyans and the whole army gave forth a mighty +shout; but the prince did not hear it. + +"Is my son dead?" asked he of the priest. "Sarah accused herself of +child-murder? Did madness fall on her?" + +"The vile Lykon slew thy son." + +"O gods give me strength!" groaned Ramses. + +"Restrain thyself, lord, as becomes a victorious leader." + +"Is it possible to conquer such pain? O gods without pity!" + +"Lykon slew thy son; Sarah accused herself to save thee, for seeing the +murderer in the night she mistook him for thee." + +"And I thrust her out of my house! And I made her a servant of the +Phoenician!" + +Now appeared Egyptian warriors bearing baskets filled with hands which +had been cut from the fallen Libyans. + +At sight of this Ramses hid his face and wept bitterly. + +The generals surrounded the chariot at once and gave their lord +consolation. The holy Mentezufis made a proposition which was received +immediately, that thenceforth the Egyptian army would not cut off the +hands of enemies who had fallen in battle. + +With this unforeseen incident ended the first triumph of the heir to +the throne of Egypt. But the tears which he shed over the severed hands +attached the Libyans to him more than the victorious battle. No one +wondered then that around the fires Libyan and Egyptian warriors sat in +concord sharing bread, and drinking wine from the same goblet. Instead +of wars which were to last for years, there was a deep feeling of peace +and confidence. + +Ramses gave command that Musawasa, Tehenna, and the foremost Libyans +should go to Memphis straightway, and he gave them an escort, not so +much to watch them as to safeguard their persons and the treasures +which they were taking. The prince withdrew to a tent then, and did not +appear again until a number of hours had passed. He was like a man to +whom pain is the dearest companion. He did not receive even Tutmosis. + +Toward evening a deputation of Greeks appeared under the leadership of +Kalippos. When the heir asked what their wish was Kalippos answered, + +"We have come, lord, to implore that the body of our leader, thy +servant Patrokles, should not be given to Egyptian priests, but be +burned in accord with Greek usage." + +The prince was astonished. + +"Is it known to you," asked he, "that the priests wish to make of the +remains of Patrokles a mummy of the first order, and to put it near the +graves of the pharaohs? Can honor greater than this meet a man +anywhere?" + +The Greeks hesitated; at last Kalippos took courage and answered, + +"Our lord, permit us to open our hearts to thee. We know well that the +making of a mummy is of more profit to a man than to burn him, for the +soul of a burned man is transferred to eternal regions immediately; the +soul of a mummied man may live during thousands of years on this earth +and enjoy its beauties. + +"But the Egyptian priests, O chief, let this not offend thy ears hated +Patrokles. Who will assure us, then, that these priests in making him a +mummy are not detaining him on earth so as to subject him to tortures? +And what would our worth be if we who suspect revenge did not protect +from it the soul of our compatriot and leader?" + +Great was the prince's astonishment. + +"Do," said he, "as ye think proper." + +"But if they will not give us the body?" + +"Prepare the funeral pile; I will attend to the rest of the ceremony." + +The Greeks left the tent. The prince sent for Mentezufis. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII + +THE priest observed the heir stealthily, and found him much changed. +Ramses was pale; he had almost grown thin in a few hours; his eyes had +lost their glitter and had sunk beneath his forehead. + +When Mentezufis heard what the Greeks had in mind he did not hesitate a +moment to surrender the body of Patrokles. + +"The Greeks are right," said the holy man, "in thinking that we have +power to torment the shade of Patrokles, but they are fools to suppose +that any priest of Chaldea or Egypt would permit such a crime. Let them +take the body of their compatriot, if they think that after death he +will be happier under protection of their own rites." + +The prince sent an officer straightway with the needful order, but he +detained Mentezufis. Evidently he wished to say something to him, +though he hesitated. + +After some silence Ramses asked suddenly, + +"Thou knowest, of course, holy prophet, that one of my women, Sarah, is +dead, and that her son was murdered?" + +"That happened," said Mentezufis, "the night that we marched from Pi- +Bast." + +The prince sprang up. + +"By the eternal Amon!" cried he. "Did that take place so long ago, and +ye did not mention it? Ye did not even tell me that I was suspected of +murdering my own son?" + +"Lord," said the priest, "the leader of an army in the day before +battle has neither son nor father; he has no one whatever save the army +and the enemy. Could we in extreme moments disturb thee with such +tidings?" + +"That is true," replied the prince, after some thought. "If we were +attacked today I am not sure that I could command the army. In general +I am not sure of my power to regain peace of mind. + +"Such a little such a beautiful child! And that woman who sacrificed +herself for me after I had wronged her grievously. Never have I thought +that misfortunes of such sort could happen, and that people's hearts +could endure them." + +"Time heals time and prayer," whispered the priest. + +The prince nodded, and again there was such silence in the tent that +the dropping of sand in the hour glass was audible. + +Again the heir rallied, + +"Tell me, holy father," said he, "unless it belongs to the great +secrets, what is the real difference between burning the dead and the +making of mummies? for though I have heard something at school I do not +understand clearly this question, to which the Greeks attach such +importance." + +"We attach far more, the greatest importance to this question," replied +Mentezufis. "To this our cities of the dead testify; they occupy a +whole region in the western desert. The pyramids testify to it also; +they are the tombs of the pharaohs of the ancient kingdom, and the +immense tombs which are cut in cliffs for the rulers of our period. + +"Burial and the tomb are of great importance the very greatest human +importance. For while we live in bodily form fifty or a hundred years, +our shades endure tens of thousands till they are perfectly purified. + +"The Assyrian barbarians laugh at us, saying that we give more to the +dead than the living; but they would weep over their own lack of care +for the dead did they know the mystery of death and the tomb as do the +priests of Egypt." + +The prince started up. + +"Thou dost terrify me," said he. "Dost forget that among the dead there +are two beings dear to me, and these are not buried according to +Egyptian ritual." + +"On the contrary. Just now men are embalming them. Both Sarah and thy +son will have everything which may profit them in the long journey." + +"Will they?" asked Ramses, as if comforted. + +"I guarantee," answered Mentezufis, "that everything will be done which +is needed, and should this earthly life ever be unpleasant to thee Thou +wilt find them happy in the other." + +On hearing this Ramses was greatly affected. + +"Then dost Thou think, holy man," inquired he, "that I shall find my +son some time, and that I shall be able to say to that woman: 'Sarah, I +know that I have been too harsh to thee?'" + +"I am as certain of it as that I see thee now, worthy lord," replied +the prophet. + +"Speak, speak of this!" exclaimed the prince. "A man does not think of +the grave till he has put a part of himself there. This misfortune has +struck me, and struck just when I thought myself more powerful than any +save the pharaoh." + +"Thou hast inquired, lord," began Mentezufis, "as to the difference +between burning the dead and embalming them. We find the same +difference that there is between destroying a garment and preserving it +in a closet. When the garment is preserved it may be of use frequently; +and if a man has only one garment it would be madness to burn it." + +"I do not understand this," interrupted Ramses. "Ye do not explain it +even in the higher schools." + +"But we can tell it to the heir of the pharaoh. Thou knowest, +worthiness," continued the priest, "that a human being is composed of +three parts: the body, the divine spark, and the shade, or Ka, which +connects the body and the divine spark. + +"When a man dies his shade separates from his body as does the divine +spark. If the man lives without sin the divine spark and the shade +appear among the gods to live through eternity. But each man sins, +stains himself in this world; therefore his shade, the Ka, must purify +itself, for thousands of years sometimes. It purifies itself in this +way, that being invisible it wanders over our earth among people and +does good in its wandering, though the shades of criminals, even in +life beyond the grave, commit offences, and at last destroy themselves +and the divine spark contained in them. + +"Now and this is no secret for thee, worthiness this shade, the Ka, is +like a man, but looks as though made of most delicate mist. The shade +has a head, hands, body, it can walk, speak, throw things or carry +them, it dresses like a man, and even, especially during a few hundred +of the earlier years after death, must take some food at intervals. But +the shade obtains its main strength from the body which remains on the +earth here. Therefore if we throw a body into a grave it spoils quickly +and the shade must satisfy itself with dust and decay. If we burn the +body the shade has nothing but ashes with which to gain strength. But +if we embalm the body, or preserve it for thousands of years the shade +Ka is always healthy and strong; it passes the time of purification in +calmness, and even agreeably." + +"Wonderful things!" whispered the heir. + +"Priests in the course of investigations during thousands of years have +learned important details of life beyond the grave. They have convinced +themselves that if the viscera are left in the body of a dead man, his +shade, the Ka, has a great appetite, and needs as much food as a man +during earthly existence, and if food is withheld it will rush at +living people and suck the blood out of them. But if the viscera are +removed from the body, as we remove them, the shade lives on without +food almost: its own body, embalmed and filled with plants which are +strongly fragrant, suffices it for millions of years. + +"It has been verified, also, that if the tomb of a dead man is empty +the shade yearns for the world and wanders about in it needlessly. But +if we place in a mortuary chapel the clothing, furniture, arms, +vessels, utensils, things pleasant during life to the dead man, if the +walls are covered with paintings depicting feasts, hunts, divine +services, wars, and, in general, events in which the departed took +share, if besides we add statues of members of his family, servants, +horses, dogs and cattle, the shade will not go out to the world without +need, for it will find what it wants in the house of the dead with its +mummy. + +"Finally they have convinced themselves that many shades, even after +penance is finished, could not enter regions of endless bliss since +they know not the needful prayers, incantations, and conversations with +gods. We provide for that by winding the mummies in papyruses, on which +are written sentences, and by putting the 'Book of the Dead' in their +coffins. + +"In one word, our funeral ritual assures strength to the shade, +preserves it from misfortunes and yearnings after earth, facilitates +its entrance to the company of gods, and secures living people from +every harm which shades might inflict on them. Our great care of the +dead has this in view specially; hence we erect for them almost palaces +and in them dwellings with the greatest ornaments." + +The prince thought awhile, but said finally, + +"I understand that ye show great kindness to weak and defenseless +shades by caring for them in this manner. But who will assure me that +there are shades?" + +"That there is a waterless desert," said the priest, "I know, for I see +it, I have sunk in its sands and felt heat in it. That there are +countries in which water turns to stone, and steam into white down, I +know also, for credible witnesses have informed me." + +"But how do ye know of shades which no man has seen, and how do ye know +of their life after death since no one of them has ever returned to +us?" + +"Thou art mistaken, worthiness," replied the priest. "Shades have shown +themselves more than once, and even revealed their own secrets. + +"It is possible to live ten years in Thebes and not see rain: it is +possible to live a hundred years on earth and not meet a shade. But +whoso should live hundreds of years in Thebes, or live thousands of +years on earth would see more than one rain, and more than one shade." + +"Who has lived thousands of years?" inquired Ramses. + +"The sacred order of priests has lived, is living, and will live," +replied Mentezufis. "The sacred order of priests settled on the Nile +thirty thousand years ago. Since then it has scrutinized the heavens +and the earth; it has created our wisdom, and made the plan of every +field, sluice, canal, pyramid, and temple in Egypt." + +"That is true. The order of priests is mighty and wise, but where are +the shades? What man has seen them, and who is the person who has +spoken to them?" + +"Know this, lord," said Mentezufis. "There is a shade in each living +man; as there are people distinguished for immense strength, or a +marvelous swiftness of vision, so there are men who possess the +uncommon gift that during life they can separate their own shades from +their bodies. + +"Our secret books are filled with the most credible narratives touching +this subject. More than one prophet has been able to fall into a sleep +that is deathlike. At that time his shade separated from the body and +transferred itself in a moment to Tyre, Babylon, or Nineveh, examined +what it wished, listened to counsels relating to us, and after the +awakening of the prophet gave the most minute account of all that it +had witnessed. More than one evil magician, after falling asleep in +like fashion, has sent out his shade against a man whom he hated, and +overturned or destroyed furniture and terrified a whole household. + +"It has happened, too, that the man attacked by the shade of the +magician struck the shade with a spear or a sword, and on his house +bloody traces were left, while the magician received on his body that +wound exactly which was inflicted on his shade. + +"More than once also has a shade of a living man appeared in company +with him, but some steps distant." + +"I know such shades," said the prince ironically. + +"I must add," continued Mentezufis, "that not only people, but animals, +plants, stones, buildings, and utensils have shades also. But a +wonderful thing the shade of an inanimate object is not dead, it +possesses life, moves, goes from place to place, it even thinks and +expresses thought through various signs, most frequently through +knocking. + +"When a man dies his shade lives and shows itself to people. In our +books thousands of such cases are noted; some shades asked for food, +others walked about in houses, worked in a garden, or hunted in the +mountains with the shades of their dogs and cats with them. Other +shades have frightened people, destroyed their property, drunk their +blood, even enticed living persons to excesses. But there are good +shades: those of mothers nursing their children, of soldiers, fallen in +battle, who give warning of an ambush of an enemy, of priests who +reveal important secrets. + +"In the eighteenth dynasty the shade of the pharaoh, Cheops, who was +doing penance for oppressing people while building the great pyramid, +appeared in Nubian gold mines, and in compassion for the sufferings of +toiling convicts showed them a new spring of water." + +"Thou tellest curious things, holy man," replied Ramses; "let me now +tell thee something. One night in Pi-Bast my own shade appeared to me. +That shade was just like me, and even dressed like me. Soon, however, I +convinced myself that it was no shade. It was a living man, a certain +Lykon, the vile murderer of my son. He began his offences by +frightening the Phoenician woman Kama. I appointed a reward for seizing +him but our police not only did not seize the man, they even permitted +him to seize that same Kama and to slay a harmless infant. + +"Today I hear that they have captured Kama, but I know nothing of +Lykon. Of course he is living in freedom, in good health, cheerful and +rich through stolen treasures; may be making ready for new crimes +even." + +"So many persons are pursuing that criminal that he must be taken at +last," said Mentezufis. "And if he falls into our hands Egypt will pay +him for the sufferings which he has caused the heir to her throne. +Believe me, lord, Thou mayst forgive all his crimes in advance, for the +punishment will be in accord with their greatness." + +"I should prefer to have him in my own hands," said the prince. "It is +always dangerous to have such a 'shade' while one is living." [It is +curious that the theory of shades, on which very likely the uncommon +care of the Egyptians for the dead was built, has revived in our times +in Europe. Adolf d'Assier explains it minutely in a pamphlet "Essai sur +l'humanite posthume et le spiritisme, par un positiviste." ] + +Not greatly pleased by this end of his explanation, the holy Mentezufis +took leave of the viceroy. After the priest had gone, Tutmosis entered. + +"The Greeks are raising the pile for their chief," said he, "and a +number of Libyan women have agreed to wail at the funeral ceremony." + +"We shall be present," answered Ramses. "Dost Thou know that my son is +killed? such a little child. When I carried him he laughed and held out +his little hands to me. What wickedness may be in the human heart is +beyond comprehension. If that vile Lykon had attempted my life I could +understand, even forgive him. But to slay a little child." + +"But have they told thee of Sarah's devotion?" inquired Tutmosis. + +"She was, as I think, the most faithful of women, and I did not treat +her justly. But how is it," cried the prince, striking his fist on the +table, "that they have not seized that wretch Lykon to this moment? The +Phoenicians swore to me, and I promised a reward to the chief of +police. There must be some secret in this matter." + +Tutmosis approached the prince, and whispered, + +"A messenger from Hiram has been with me. Hiram, fearing the anger of +the priests, is hiding before he leaves Egypt. Hiram has heard, from +the chief of police in PiBast perhaps, that Lykon was captured But +quiet!" added the frightened Tutmosis. + +The prince fell into anger for a moment, but soon mastered himself. + +"Captured?" repeated he. "Why should that be a secret?" + +"It is, for the chief of police had to yield him up to the holy Mefres +at his command in the name of the supreme council." + +"Aha! aha!" repeated the heir. "So the revered Mefres and the supreme +council need a man who resembles me so much? Aha! They are to give my +son and Sarah a beautiful funeral, and embalm their remains. But the +murderer they will secrete safely. Aha! + +"And the holy Mentezufis is a great sage. He told me today all the +secrets of life beyond the grave; he explained to me the whole funeral +ritual, as if I were a priest at least of the third degree. But +touching the seizure of Lykon, the hiding of that murderer by Mefres, +not a word! Evidently the holy fathers are more occupied by minute +secrets of the heir to the throne than with the great secrets of future +existence. Aha!" + +"It seems to me, lord, that Thou shouldst not wonder at that," +interrupted Tutmosis. "Thou knowest that the priests suspect thee of +ill-will, and are on their guard. All the more." + +"What, all the more?" + +"Since his holiness is very ill. Very." + +"Aha! my father is ill, and I meanwhile at the head of the army must +watch the desert lest the sand should run out of it. It is well that +Thou hast reminded me of this! Yes, his holiness must be very ill, +since the priests are so tender toward me. They show me everything and +speak of everything, except this, that Mefres has secreted Lykon." + +"Tutmosis," said the prince on a sudden, "dost Thou think today that I +can reckon on the army?" + +"We will go to death, only give the order." + +"And dost Thou reckon on the nobles?" + +"As on the army." + +"That is well. Now we may render the rites to Patrokles." + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII + +In the course of those few months, during which Prince Ramses had +fulfilled the duties of viceroy of Lower Egypt, his holiness the +pharaoh had failed in health continually. The moment was approaching in +which the lord of eternity, who roused delight in human hearts, the +sovereign of Egypt, and of all lands on which the sun shone, had to +occupy a place at the side of his revered ancestors in the Libyan +catacombs which lie on the other side of the city Teb. + +Not over advanced in age was this potentate, the equal of the gods, he +who gave life to his subjects, and had power to take from husbands +their wives whenever his heart so desired. But thirty and some years of +rule had so wearied him that he wished, of his own accord, to rest and +regain youth and beauty in that kingdom of the west, where each pharaoh +reigns without care through eternity over people who are so happy that +no man of them has ever wished to return to this earth from that +region. + +Half a year earlier the holy lord had exercised every activity +connected with his office, on which rested the safety and prosperity of +all visible existence. + +Barely had the cocks crowed in the morning when the priests roused the +sovereign with a hymn in honor of the rising sun. The pharaoh rose from +his bed and bathed in a gilded basin containing water fragrant with +roses. Then his divine body was rubbed with priceless perfumes amid the +murmur of prayers, which had the power of expelling evil spirits. + +Thus purified and incensed by prophets, the lord went to a chapel, +removed a clay seal from the door and entered the sanctuary unattended, +where on a couch of ivory lay the miraculous image of Osiris. This +image bad the wondrous quality that every night the hands, feet and +head fall from it. These on a time had been cutoff by the evil god Set; +but after the prayer of the pharaoh all the members grew on without +evident reason. + +When his holiness convinced himself that Osiris was sound again he took +the statue from the couch, bathed it, dressed it in precious garments, +and putting it on a malachite throne burnt incense before it. This +ceremony was vastly important, for if any morning the divine members +would not grow together it would signify that Egypt, if not the whole +world, was threatened by measureless misfortune. + +After the resurrection and restoration of the god, his holiness opened +the door of the chapel, so that through it blessings might flow forth +to the country. Then he designated the priests, who all that day were +to guard the sanctuary, not so much against the ill-will, as the +frivolity of people. For more than once it happened that a careless +mortal who had gone too near that most holy place received an invisible +blow which deprived him of consciousness or of life, even. + +After he had finished divine service, the lord went, surrounded by +chanting priests to a great hall of refection, where stood a small +table and an armchair for him and nineteen other tables before nineteen +statues which represented the nineteen preceding dynasties. When the +sovereign had seated himself youths and maidens came in with silver +plates, on which were meat and cakes, also pitchers of wine. The +priest, the inspector of the dishes, tasted what was on the first dish, +and what was in the first pitcher, then, on his knees, he gave these to +the pharaoh, but the other plates and pitchers were placed before the +statues of the pharaoh's ancestors. When the sovereign had satisfied +his hunger and left the hall princes or priests had the right to eat +food intended for the ancestors. + +From the hall of refection the lord betook himself to the grand hall of +audience. There the highest dignitaries of state, and the nearest +members of the family prostrated themselves before him, after that the +minister, Herhor; the chief treasurer, the supreme judge, and the +supreme chief of police made reports to him. The reading was varied by +religious music and dancing, during which wreaths and flowers were cast +on the throne of the pharaoh. + +After the audience his holiness betook himself to a side chamber and +reposing on a couch slumbered lightly for a time; then he offered wine +and incense to the gods, and narrated to the priests his dreams, from +which those sages made the final disposition in affairs which his +holiness was to settle. + +But sometimes, when there were no dreams, or when the interpretation of +them seemed inappropriate to the pharaoh, his holiness smiled and +commanded kindly to act in this way or that in given cases. This +command was law which no one might change except in the execution +perhaps of details. + +In hours after dinner his holiness, borne in a litter, showed himself +in the court to his faithful guard, and then he ascended to the roof +and looked toward the four quarters of the earth, to impart to them his +blessing. At that moment on the summits of pylons banners appeared, and +mighty sounds came from trumpets. Whoso heard these sounds in the city +or the country, an Egyptian or a stranger, fell on his face so that a +portion of supreme grace might descend on him. + +At that moment it was not permitted to strike man, or beast: a stick +raised over a man's back dropped of itself. If a criminal sentenced to +death, declared that the sentence was read to him at the time when the +lord of earth and heaven had appeared, his punishment was lessened. For +before the pharaoh went might, and behind him followed mercy. + +When he had made his people happy, the ruler of all things beneath the +sun entered his gardens among palms and sycamores, there he sat a +longer time than elsewhere, receiving homage from his women and looking +at the amusements of the children of his household. When one of them +arrested his attention by beauty or adroitness he called it up, and +made inquiry, + +"Who art thou, my little child?" + +"I am Prince Binotris, the son of his holiness," answered the little +boy. + +"And what is thy mother's name?" + +"My mother is the lady Ameses, a woman of his holiness." + +"What dost Thou know?" + +"I know how to count to ten and to write: 'May he live through eternity +our god and father, his holiness the pharaoh Ramses!" + +The lord of eternity smiled benignly and touched with his delicate, +almost transparent, hand the curly head of the sprightly little boy. +Then the child became a prince really, though the smile of his holiness +was ever enigmatical. But whoso had been touched by the divine hand was +not to know misfortune in life and had to be raised above others. + +The sovereign dined in another hall of refection and shared his meal +with the gods of all the divisions of Egypt, gods whose statues were +ranged along the walls there. Whatever the gods did not eat went to the +priests and higher court dignitaries. + +Toward evening his holiness received a visit from Lady Niort's, the +mother to the heir to the throne of Egypt; looked at religious dances +and heard a concert. After that he went again to the bath and, thus +purified, entered the chapel of Osiris to undress and lay to sleep the +marvelous divinity. When he had finished this he closed and sealed the +chapel door and then, surrounded by a procession of priests, the +pharaoh went to his bed-chamber. + +In an adjoining apartment the priests offered up, till the following +sunrise, silent prayers to the soul of the pharaoh, which found itself +among gods during the sleep of the sovereign. They laid before it their +prayers for a favorable transaction of current state business, for +guardianship over the boundaries of Egypt, and over the tombs of the +pharaohs, so that no thief might dare to enter in and disturb the +endless rest of those potentates. But the prayers of the priests, +because of night weariness, surely, were not always effectual, for +state difficulties increased, and sacred tombs were robbed, not only of +costly objects, but even of the mummies of sovereigns. + +This was because various foreigners had settled in the country and +unbelievers from whom the people learned to disregard the gods of Egypt +and the most sacred places. + +The repose of the lord of lords was interrupted exactly at midnight. At +that hour the astrologers roused his holiness and informed him in what +mansion the moon was, what planets were shining above the horizon, what +constellations were passing the meridian and whether in general +something peculiar had taken place in heavenly regions. For sometimes +clouds appeared or stars fell in greater number than usual, or a fiery +ball flew over Egypt. + +The lord listened to the report of the astrologers. In case of any +unusual phenomenon he pacified them concerning the safety of the world, +and commanded to write down all observations on appropriate tablets, +which were sent every month to priests of the temple of the Sphinx, the +greatest sages in Egypt. Those men drew conclusions from those tablets, +but the most important they declared to no one, unless to their +colleagues the Chaldean priests in Babylon. + +After midnight his holiness might sleep till the morning cockcrow if he +thought proper. + +Such a pious and laborious life had been led, not more than half a year +ago, by this kind, divine person, the distributor of protection, life, +and health, who watched day and night over the earth and the sky, over +the world both visible and invisible. But for the last half year his +eternally living soul had begun to be more and more wearied with +earthly questions, and with its bodily envelope. There were long days +when he ate nothing, and nights during which he had no sleep whatever. +Sometimes during an audience, there appeared on his mild face an +expression of deep pain, while oftener and oftener, he fainted. + +The terrified Queen Niort's, the most worthy Herhor and the priests, +asked the sovereign repeatedly whether anything pained him. But the +lord shrugged his shoulders, and was silent, fulfilling always his +burdensome duties. + +Then the court physicians began imperceptibly to give the most powerful +remedies to restore strength to him. They mixed in his wine and food at +first the ashes of a burnt horse and a bull; later of a lion, a +rhinoceros, and an elephant; but these strong remedies seemed to have +no effect whatever. His holiness fainted so frequently that they ceased +to read reports to him. + +On a certain day the worthy Herhor with the queen and the priests, fell +on their faces; they implored the lord to permit them to examine his +divine body. He consented. The physicians examined and struck him, but +found no worse sign than great emaciation. + +"What feelings dost Thou experience, holiness?" inquired at last the +wisest physician. + +The pharaoh smiled. + +"I feel," replied he, "that it is time for me to return to my radiant +father." + +"Thou canst not do that, holiness, without the greatest harm to thy +people," said Herhor, hurriedly. + +"I leave you my son, Ramses, who is a lion and an eagle in one person. +And in truth, if ye will obey him, he will prepare for Egypt such a +fate as the world has not heard of since the beginning of ages." + +A chill passed through holy Herhor and the other priests at that +promise. They knew that the heir to the throne was a lion and an eagle +in one person, and that they must obey him. But they would have +preferred to have for long years that kindly lord, whose heart, filled +with compassion, was like the north wind which brings rain to the +fields and coolness to mankind. Therefore they fell down all of them as +one man to the pavement, groaning, and they lay prostrate till the +pharaoh consented to let himself be treated. + +Then the physicians took him out for a whole day to the gardens, among +frequent pine-trees, they nourished him with chopped meat; they gave +him strong herbs with milk and old wine. These effective means +strengthened his holiness for something like a week yet; then a new +faintness announced itself, and to overcome that they forced their lord +to drink the fresh blood of calves descended from Apes. + +But neither did this blood help for a long time, and they found it +needful to turn for advice to the high priest of the temple of the +wicked god Set. + +Amid general fear, the gloomy priest entered the bedchamber of his +holiness. He looked at the sick pharaoh and prescribed a dreadful +remedy. + +"It is needful," said he, "to give the pharaoh blood of innocent +children to drink; each day a full goblet." + +The priests and magnates in the chamber were dumb when they heard this +prescription. Then they whispered that the children of earth-tillers +were best for the purpose, since the children of priests and great +lords lost their innocence even in infancy. + +"It is all one to me whose children they are," said the cruel priest, +"if only his holiness has fresh blood given him daily." + +The pharaoh, lying on the bed with closed eyes, heard that gory +counsel, and the whispers of the frightened courtiers. And when one of +the physicians asked Herhor timidly if it were possible to take +measures to seek proper children, Ramses XII recovered. He fixed his +wise eyes on those present, + +"The crocodile will not devour its own little ones," said he, "a jackal +or a hyena will give its life for its whelps, and am I to drink the +blood of Egyptian infants, who are my children? Indeed, I never could +have believed that anyone would dare to prescribe means so unworthy." + +The priest of the evil god fell to the pavement, and explained that in +Egypt no one had ever drunk the blood of infants but that the infernal +powers returned health by it. Such means at least were used in +Phoenicia and Assyria. + +"Shame on thee!" replied the pharaoh, "for mentioning in the palace of +Egyptian sovereigns disgusting subjects. Knowest Thou not that +Phoenicians and Assyrians are barbarous? But among us the most +unenlightened earth-tiller would not believe that blood, shed without +cause, could be of service to any one." + +Thus spoke he who was equal to immortals. The courtiers covered their +faces, spotted now with shame, and the high priest of Set went silently +out of the chamber. + +Then Herhor, to save the quenching life of the sovereign, had recourse +to the last means, and told the pharaoh that in one of the Theban +temples, Beroes, the Chaldean, lived in secret. He was the wisest +priest of Babylon a miracle worker without equal. + +"For thee, holiness," said Herhor, "that sage is a stranger, and he has +not the right to impart such important advice to the lord of Egypt. +But, O Pharaoh, permit him to look at thee. I am sure that he will find +a medicine to cure thy illness, and in no case will he offend thee by +impious expressions." + +The pharaoh yielded this time also to persuasions from his faithful +servitors. And in two days Beroes, summoned in some mysterious way, was +sailing down toward Memphis. + +The wise Chaldean, even without examining the pharaoh minutely, gave +this counsel, + +"We must find a person in Egypt whose prayers reach the throne of the +Highest. And if this person prays sincerely for the pharaoh, the +sovereign will receive his health and live for long years in strength +again." + +On hearing these words the pharaoh looked at the priests surrounding +him, and said, + +"I see here holy men in such numbers that, if one of them thinks of me, +I shall be in health again." And he smiled imperceptibly. + +"We are all only men," interrupted Beroes; "hence our souls cannot +always rise to the footstool of Him who existed before the ages. But, +holiness, I will use an infallible method by which to find a man whose +prayers have the utmost sincerity, and the highest effect." + +"Discover him, so that he may be a friend to me in my last hour of +life," said the pharaoh. + +After this favorable answer the Chaldean desired a room with a single +door, and unoccupied. And that same day, one hour before sunset, he +asked that his holiness be borne into that chamber. + +At the appointed hour four of the highest priests dressed the pharaoh +in a robe of new linen, pronounced a great prayer above him, this +prayer expelled every evil power absolutely, and seating him in a +litter they bore him to that simple chamber where there was but one +small table. + +Beroes was there already, and, looking toward the east, was praying. + +When the priests had left the chamber the Chaldean closed the heavy +door, put a purple scarf on his arm and placed a glass globe of black +color on the table before the pharaoh. In his left hand he held a sharp +dagger of Babylonian steel, in his right a staff covered with +mysterious signs, and with that staff he described in the air a circle +about himself and the pharaoh. Then facing in turn the four quarters of +the world, he whispered, + +"Amorul, Taneha, Latisten, Rabur, Adonay have pity on me and purify me, +O heavenly Father, the compassionate and gracious. Pour down on thy +unworthy servant thy sacred blessing, and extend thy almighty arm +against stubborn and rebellious spirits, so that I may consider thy +sacred work calmly." + +He stopped and turned to the pharaoh, + +"Mer-Amen-Ramses, high priest of Amon, dost Thou distinguish a spark in +that black globe?" + +"I see a white spark which seems to move like a bee above a flower." + +"Mer-Amen-Ramses, look at that spark and take not thy eyes from it. +Look neither to the right nor the left, look not on anything whatever +which may come from the sides." + +And again he whispered, + +"Baralanensis, Baldachiensis, by the mighty princes Genio, Lachidae, +the ministers of the infernal kingdom, I summon you, I call you through +the strength of Supreme Majesty, by which I am gifted, I adjure, I +command!" + +At that place the pharaoh started up with aversion. + +"Mer-Amen-Ramses, what seest thou?" asked the Chaldean. + +"From beyond the globe rises some horrid head reddish hair is standing +on end; a face of greenish hue; the eye looking down so that only the +white of it is visible; the mouth open widely, as if to shriek." + +"That is Terror!" cried Beroes, and he held his sharp dagger point +above the globe. + +Suddenly the pharaoh bent to the earth. + +"Enough!" cried he, "why torment me thus? The wearied body seeks rest, +the soul longs to be in the region of endless light. But not only will +ye not let me die; ye are inventing new torments. Oh, I wish not." + +"What dost Thou see?" + +"From the ceiling every instant two spider legs lower themselves they +are terrible. As thick as palm trunks; shaggy with hooks at the ends of +them. I feel that above my head is a spider of immense size, and he is +binding me with a web of ship ropes." + +Beroes turned his dagger point upward. + +"Mer-Amen-Ramses," said he again, "look ever at the spark, and never at +the sides. Here is a sign which I raise in thy presence," whispered he. +"Here am I mightily armed with Divine aid, I, foreseeing and +unterrified, who summon you with exorcisms Aye, Saraye, Aye, Saraye, +Aye, Saraye in the name of the all-powerful, the all-mighty and +everlasting divinity." + +At that moment a calm smile appeared on the lips of the pharaoh. + +"It seems to me," said he, "that I behold Egypt all Egypt. Yes! that is +the Nile the desert. Here is Memphis, there Thebes." + +Indeed he saw Egypt, all Egypt, but no larger than the path which +extended through the garden of his palace. The wonderful picture had +this trait, that when the Pharaoh turned more deliberate attention to +any point of it, that point with its environments grew to be of real +size almost. + +The sun was going down, covering the earth with golden and purple +light. Birds of the daytime were settling to sleep, the night birds +were waking up in their concealments. In the desert hyenas and jackals +were yawning, and the slumbering lion had begun to stretch his strong +body and prepare to hunt victims. + +The Nile fisherman drew forth his nets hastily, men were tying up at +the shores the great transport barges. The wearied earth-worker removed +from the sweep his bucket with which he had drawn water since sunrise; +another returned slowly with the plough to his mud hovel. In cities +they were lighting lamps, in the temples priests were assembling for +evening devotions. On the highways the dust was settling down and the +squeak of carts was growing silent. From the pylon summits shrill +voices were heard calling people to prayer. + +A moment later, the pharaoh saw with astonishment flocks of silvery +birds over the earth everywhere. They were flying up out of palaces, +temples streets, workshops, Nile barges, country huts, even from the +quarries. At first each of them shot upward like an arrow, but soon it +met in the sky another silvery feathered bird, which stopped its way, +striking it with all force and both fell to the earth lifeless. + +Those were the unworthy prayers of men, which prevented each other from +reaching the throne of Him who existed before the ages. + +The pharaoh strained his hearing. At first only the rustle of wings +reached him, but soon he distinguished words also. + +And now he heard a sick man praying for the return of his health, and +also the physician, who begged that that same patient might be sick as +long as possible. The landowner prayed Amon to watch over his granary +and cow-house, the thief stretched his hands heavenward so that he +might lead forth another man's cow without hindrance, and fill his own +bags from another man's harvest. + +Their prayers knocked each other down like stones which had been hurled +from slings and had met in the air. + +The wanderer in the desert fell on the sand and begged for a north +wind, to bring a drop of rain to him, the sailor on the sea beat the +deck with his forehead and prayed that wind might blow from the east a +week longer. The earth-worker wished that swamps might dry up quickly +after inundation; the needy fisherman begged that the swamps might not +dry up at any time. + +Their prayers killed each other and never reached the divine ears of +Amon. + +The greatest uproar reigned above the quarries where criminals, lashed +together in chain gangs, split enormous rocks with wedges, wetted with +water. There a party of day convicts prayed for the night, so that they +might lie down to slumber; while parties of night toilers, roused by +their overseers, beat their breasts, asking that the sun might not set +at any hour. Merchants who purchased quarried and dressed stones prayed +that there might be as many criminals in the quarries as possible, +while provision contractors lay on their stomachs, sighing for the +plague to kill laborers, and make their own profits as large as they +might be. + +So the prayers of men from the quarries did not reach the sky in any +case. + +On the western boundary the pharaoh saw two armies preparing for +battle. Both were prostrate on the sand, calling on Amon to rub out the +other side. The Libyans wished shame and death to Egyptians; the +Egyptians hurled curses on the Libyans. + +The prayers of these and of those, like two flocks of falcons, fought +above the earth and fell dead in the desert. Amon did not even see +them. + +And whithersoever the pharaoh turned his wearied glance he saw the same +picture everywhere. The laborers were praying for rest and decrease of +taxes, scribes were praying that taxes might increase and work never be +finished. The priests implored Amon for long life to Ramses XII and +death to Phoenicians, who interfered with their interests; the nomarchs +implored the gods to preserve the Phoenicians and let Ramses XIII +ascend the throne at the earliest, for he would curb priestly tyranny. +Lions, jackals, and hyenas were panting with hunger and desire for +fresh blood; deer and rabbits slipped out of hiding-places, thinking to +preserve wretched life a day longer, though experience declared that +numbers of them must perish, even on that night, so that beasts of prey +might not famish. So throughout the whole world reigned cross-purposes +everywhere. Each wished that which filled others with terror; each +begged for his own good, without asking if he did harm to the next man. + +For this cause their prayers, though like silvery birds flying +heavenward, did not reach their destination. And the divine Amon, to +whom no voice of the earth came at any time, dropped his hands on his +knees, and sank ever deeper in meditation over his own divinity, while +on the earth blind force and chance ruled without interruption. + +All at once the pharaoh heard the voice of a woman, "Rogue! Little +rogue! come in, Thou unruly, it is time for prayers." + +"This minute! this minute!" answered the voice of the little child. + +The sovereign looked toward the point whence the voice came and saw the +poor hut of a cattle scribe. The hut owner had finished his register in +the light of the setting sun, his wife was grinding flour for a cake, +and before the house, like a young kid, was running and jumping the +six-year-old little boy, laughing, it was unknown for what reason. + +The evening air full of sweetness had given him delight, that was +evident. + +"Rogue! Little rogue! come here to me for a prayer," repeated the +woman. + +"This minute! this minute!" + +And again he ran with delight as if wild. + +At last the mother, seeing that the sun was beginning to sink in the +sands of the desert, put away her mill stones, and, going out, seized +the boy, who raced around like a little colt. He resisted but gave way +to superior force finally. The mother, drawing him to the hut as +quickly as possible, held him with her hand so that he might not escape +from her. + +"Do not twist," said she, "put thy feet under thee, sit upright, put +thy hands together and raise them upward. Ah, Thou bad boy!" + +The boy knew that he could not escape now; so to be free again as soon +as possible he raised his eyes and hands heavenward piously, and with a +thin squeaky voice, he said, + +"O kind, divine Amon, I thank thee, Thou hast kept my papa today from +misfortune, Thou hast given wheat for cakes to my mamma. What more? +Thou hast made heaven. I thank thee. And the earth, and sent down the +Nile which brings bread to us. And what more? Aha, I know now! And I +thank thee because out-of-doors it is so beautiful, and flowers are +growing there, and birds singing and the palms give us sweet dates. For +these good things which Thou hast given us, may all love thee as I do, +and praise thee better than I can, for I am a little boy yet and I have +not learned wisdom. Well, is that enough, mamma?" + +"Bad boy!" muttered the cattle scribe, bending over his register. "Bad +boy! Thou art giving honor to Amon carelessly." + +But the pharaoh in that magic globe saw now something altogether +different. Behold the prayer of the delighted little boy rose, like a +lark, toward the sky, and with fluttering wings it went higher and +higher till it reached the throne where the eternal Amon with his hands +on his knees was sunk in meditation on his own all-mightiness. + +Then it went still higher, as high as the head of the divinity, and +sang with the thin, childish little voice to him: + +"And for those good things which Thou hast given us may all love thee +as I do." + +At these words the divinity, sunk in himself, opened his eyes there +came to the earth immense calm. Every pain ceased, every fear, every +wrong stopped. The whistling missile hung in the air, the lion stopped +in his spring on the deer, the stick uplifted did not fall on the back +of the captive. The sick man forgot his pains, the wanderer in the +desert his hunger, the prisoner his chains. The storm ceased, and the +wave of the sea, though ready to drown the ship, halted. And on the +whole earth such rest settled down that the sun, just hiding on the +horizon, thrust up his shining head again. + +The pharaoh recovered. He saw before him a little table, on the table a +black globe, at the side of it Beroes the Chaldean. + +"Mer-Amen-Ramses," asked the priest, "hast Thou found a person whose +prayers reach the footstool of Him who existed before the ages?" + +"I have." + +"Is he a prince, a noble, a prophet, or perhaps an ordinary hermit?" + +"He is a little boy, six years old, who asked Amon for nothing, he only +thanked him for everything." + +"But dost Thou know where he dwells?" inquired the Chaldean. + +"I know, but I will not steal for my own use the virtue of his prayer. +The world, Beroes, is a gigantic vortex, in which people are whirled +around like sand, and they are whirled by misfortune. That child with +his prayer gives people what I cannot give: a brief space of peace and +oblivion. Dost understand, O Chaldean?" + +Beroes was silent. + + + +CHAPTER XLIX + +AT sunrise of the twenty-first of Hator there came from Memphis to the +camp at the Soda Lakes an order by which three regiments were to march +to Libya to stand garrison in the towns, the rest of the Egyptian army +was to return home with Ramses. + +The army greeted this arrangement with shouts of delight, for a stay of +some days in the wilderness had begun to annoy them. In spite of +supplies from Egypt and from conquered Libya, there was not an excess +of provisions; water in the wells dug out quickly, was exhausted; the +heat of the sun burned their bodies, and the ruddy sand wounded their +lungs and their eyeballs. The warriors were falling ill of dysentery +and a malignant inflammation of the eyelids. + +Ramses commanded to raise the camp. He sent three native Egyptian +regiments to Libya, commanding the soldiers to treat people mildly and +never wander from the camp singly. The army proper he turned toward +Memphis, leaving a small garrison at the glass huts and in the +fortress. + +About nine in the morning, in spite of the heat, both armies were on +the road; one going northward, the other toward the south. + +The holy Mentezufis approached the heir then, and said, + +"It would be well, worthiness, couldst Thou reach Memphis earlier. +There will be fresh horses half-way." + +"Then my father is very ill?" cried out Ramses. + +The priest bent his head. + +The prince gave command to Mentezufis, begging him to change in no way +commands already made, unless he counseled with lay generals. Taking +Pentuer, Tutmosis, and twenty of the best Asiatic horsemen, he went +himself on a sharp trot toward Memphis. + +In five hours they passed half the journey; at the halt, as Mentezufis +had declared, were fresh horses and a new escort. The Asiatics remained +at that point, and after a short rest the prince with his two +companions and a new escort went farther. + +"Woe to me!" said Tutmosis. "It is not enough that for five days I have +not bathed and know not rose perfumed oil, but besides I must make in +one day two forced marches. I am sure that when we reach Memphis no +dancer will look at me." + +"What! Art Thou better than we?" asked the prince. + +"I am more fragile," said the exquisite. "Thou, prince, art as +accustomed to riding as a Hyksos, and Pentuer might travel on a red-hot +sword. But I am so delicate." + +At sunset the travelers came out on a lofty hill, whence they saw an +uncommon picture unfolded before them. For a long distance the green +valley of Egypt was visible, on the background of it, like a row of +ruddy fires, the triangular pyramids stood gleaming. A little to the +right of the pyramids the tops of the Memphis pylons, wrapped in a +bluish haze, seemed to be flaming upward. + +"Let us go; let us go!" said Ramses. + +A moment later the reddish desert surrounded them again, and again the +line of pyramids gleamed until all was dissolved in the twilight. + +When night fell the travelers had reached that immense district of the +dead, which extends for a number of tens of miles on the heights along +the left side of the river. + +Here during the Ancient Kingdom were buried, for endless ages, +Egyptians, the pharaohs in immense pyramids, princes and dignitaries in +smaller pyramids, common men in mud structures. Here were resting +millions of mummies, not only of people, but of dogs, cats, birds, in a +word, all creatures which, while they lived, were dear to Egyptians. + +During the time of Ramses, the burial-ground of kings and great persons +was transferred to Thebes; in the neighborhood of Memphis were buried +only common persons and artisans from regions about there. + +Among scattered graves, the prince and his escort met a number of +people, pushing about like shadows. + +"Who are ye?" asked the leader of the escort. + +"We are poor servants of the pharaoh returning from our dead. We took +to them roses, cakes, and beer." + +"But maybe ye looked into strange graves?" + +"O gods!" cried one of the party, "could we commit such a sacrilege? It +is only the wicked Thebans may their hands wither! who disturb the +dead, so as to drink away their property in dramshops?" + +"What mean those fires at the north there?" interrupted the prince. + +"It must be, worthiness, that Thou comest from afar if Thou know not," +answered they. "Tomorrow our heir is returning with a victorious army. +He is a great chief! He conquered the Libyans in one battle. Those are +the people of Memphis who have gone out to greet him with solemnity. +Thirty thousand persons. When they shout." + +"I understand," whispered the prince to Pentuer. "Holy Mentezufis has +sent me ahead so that I may not have a triumphal entry. But never mind +this time." + +The horses were tired, and they had to rest. So the prince sent +horsemen to engage barges on the river, and the rest of the escort +halted under some palms, which at that time grew between the Sphinx and +the group of pyramids. + +Those pyramids formed the northern limit of the immense cemetery. On +the flat, about a square kilometer in area, overgrown at that time with +plants of the desert, were tombs and small pyramids, above which +towered the three great pyramids: those of Cheops, Chafre, and Menkere, +and the Sphinx. These immense structures stand only a few hundred yards +from one another. The three pyramids are in a line from northeast to +southwest. East of this line and nearer the Nile is the Sphinx, near +whose feet was the underground temple of Horus. + +The pyramids, but especially that of Cheops, as a work of human labor, +astound by their greatness. This pyramid is a pointed stone mountain; +its original height was thirty five stories, or four hundred and +eighty-one feet, standing on a square foundation each side of which was +seven hundred and fifty-five feet. It occupied a little more than +thirteen acres of area, and its four triangular walls would cover +twenty acres of land. In building it, such vast numbers of stones were +used that it would be possible to build a wall of the height of a man, +a wall half a meter thick, and two thousand five hundred kilometers +long. + +When the attendants of the prince had disposed themselves under the +wretched trees, some occupied themselves in finding water; others took +out cakes, while Tutmosis dropped to the ground and fell asleep +directly. But the prince and Pentuer walked up and down conversing. + +The night was clear enough to let them see on one side the immense +outline of the pyramids, on the other, the Sphinx, which seemed small +in comparison. + +"I am here for the fourth time," said the heir, "and my heart is always +filled with regret and astonishment. When a pupil in the higher school, +I thought that, on ascending the throne, I would build something of +more worth than the pyramid of Cheops. But today I am ready to laugh at +my insolence when I think that the great pharaoh in building his tomb +paid sixteen hundred talents (about ten million francs) for the +vegetables alone which were used by the laborers. Where should I find +sixteen hundred talents even for wages?" + +"Envy not Cheops, lord," replied the priest. "Other pharaohs have left +better works behind: lakes, canals, roads, schools, and temples." + +"But may we compare those things with the pyramids?" + +"Of course not," answered Pentuer, hurriedly. "In my eyes and in the +eyes of all the people, each pyramid is a great crime, and that of +Cheops, the greatest of all crimes." + +"Thou art too much excited," said the prince. + +"I am not. The pharaoh was building his immense tomb for thirty years; +in the course of those years one hundred thousand people worked three +months annually. And what good was there in that work? Whom did it +feed, whom did it cure, to whom did it give clothing? At that work from +ten to twenty thousand people perished yearly; that is, for the tomb of +Cheops a half a million corpses were put into the earth. But the blood, +the pain, the tears, who will reckon them? + +"Therefore, wonder not, lord, that the Egyptian toiler to this day +looks with fear toward the west, when above the horizon the triangular +forms of the pyramids seem bloody or crimson. They are witnesses of his +sufferings and fruitless labor. + +"And to think that this will continue till those proofs of human pride +are scattered into dust! But when will that be? For three thousand +years those pyramids frighten men with their presence; their walls are +smooth yet, and the immense inscriptions on them are legible." + +"That night in the desert thy speech was different," interrupted the +prince. + +"For I was not looking at these. But when they are before my eyes, as +at present, I am surrounded by the sobbing spirits of tortured toilers, +and they whisper, 'See what they did with us! But our bones felt pain, +and our hearts longed for rest from labor.'." + +Ramses was touched disagreeably by this outburst. "His holiness, my +father," said he, after a while, "presented these things to me +differently; when we were here five years ago, the sacred lord told me +the following narrative: + +"During the reign of the pharaoh Tutmosis I, Ethiopian ambassadors came +to negotiate touching the tribute to be paid by them. They were all +arrogant people. They said that the loss of one war was nothing, that +fate might favor them in a second; and for a couple of months they +disputed about tribute. + +"In vain did the wise pharaoh, in his wish to enlighten the men mildly, +show our roads and canals to them. They replied that in their country +they had water for nothing wherever they wanted it. In vain he showed +them the treasures of the temples; they said that their country +concealed more gold and jewels by far than were possessed by all Egypt. +In vain did the lord review his armies before them, for they asserted +that Ethiopia had incomparably more warriors' than his holiness. + +"The pharaoh brought those people at last to these places where we are +standing and showed them those structures. + +"The Ethiopian ambassadors went around the pyramids, read the +inscriptions, and next day they concluded the treaty required of them. + +"Since I did not understand the heart of the matter," continued Ramses, +"my holy father explained it. + +"'My son,' said he, 'these pyramids are an eternal proof of superhuman +power in Egypt. If any man wished to raise to himself a pyramid he +would pile up a small heap of stones and abandon his labor after some +hours had passed, asking: 'What good is this to me?' Ten, one hundred, +one thousand men would pile up a few more stones. They would throw them +down without order, and leave the work after a few days, for what good +would it be to them? + +"'But when a pharaoh of Egypt decides, when the Egyptian state has +decided to rear a pile of stones, thousands of legions of men are sent +out, and for a number of tens of years they build, till the work is +completed. For the question is not this: Are the pyramids needed, but +this is the will of the pharaoh to be accomplished, once it is +uttered.' So, Pentuer, this pyramid is not the tomb of Cheops, but the +will of Cheops, a will which had more men to carry it out than had any +king on earth, and which was as orderly and enduring in action as the +gods are. + +"While I was yet at school they taught me that the will of the people +was a great power, the greatest power under the sun. And still the will +of the people can raise one stone barely. How great, then, must be the +will of the pharaoh who has raised a mountain of stones only because it +pleased him, only because he wished thus, even were it without an +object." + +"Wouldst thou, lord, wish to show thy power in such fashion?" inquired +Pentuer, suddenly. + +"No," answered the prince, without hesitation. "When the pharaohs have +once shown their power, they may be merciful; unless some one should +resist their orders." + +"And still this young man is only twenty three years of age!" thought +the frightened priest. + +They turned toward the river and walked some time in silence. + +"Lie down, lord," said the priest, after a while; "sleep. We have made +no small journey." + +"But can I sleep?" answered the prince. "First I am surrounded by those +legions of laborers who, according to thy view, perished in building +the pyramids Just as if they could have lived forever had they not +raised those structures! Then, again, I think of his holiness, my +father, who is dying, perhaps, at this very moment. Common men suffer, +common men spill their blood! Who will prove to me that my divine +father is not tortured more on his costly bed than thy toilers who are +carrying heated stones to a building? + +"Laborers, always laborers! For thee, O priest, only he deserves +compassion who bites lice. A whole series of pharaohs have gone into +their graves; some died in torments, some were killed. But Thou +thinkest not of them; Thou thinkest only of those whose service is that +they begot other toilers who dipped up muddy water from the Nile, or +thrust barley balls into the mouths of their milch cows. + +"But my father and I? Was not my son slain, and also a woman of my +household? Was Typhon compassionate to me in the desert? Do not my +bones ache after a long journey? Do not missiles from Libyan slings +whistle over my head? Have I a treaty with sickness, with pain, or with +death, that they should be kinder to me than to thy toilers? + +"Look there: the Asiatics are sleeping, and quiet has taken possession +of their breasts; but I, their lord, have a heart full of yesterday's +cares, and of fears for the morrow. Ask a toiling man of a hundred +years whether in all his life he had as much sorrow as I have had +during my power of a few months as commander and viceroy." + +Before them rose slowly from the depth of the night a wonderful shade. +It was an object fifty yards long and as high as a house of three +stories, having at its side, as it were, a five-storied tower of +uncommon structure. + +"Here is the Sphinx," said the irritated prince, "purely priests' work! +Whenever I see this, in the day or the night time, the question always +tortures me: What is this, and what is the use of it? The pyramids I +understand: Almighty pharaoh wished to show his power, and, perhaps, +which was wiser, wished to secure eternal life which no thief or enemy +might take from him. Drat this Sphinx! Evidently that is our sacred +priestly order, which has a very large, wise head and lion's claws +beneath it. + +"This repulsive statue, full of double meaning, which seems to exult +because we appear like locusts when we stand near it, it is neither a +man nor a beast nor a rock What is it, then? What is its meaning? Or +that smile which it has If Thou admire the everlasting endurance of the +pyramids, it smiles; if Thou go past to converse with the tombs, it +smiles. Whether the fields of Egypt are green, or Typhon lets loose his +fiery steeds, or the slave seeks his freedom in the desert, or Ramses +the Great drives conquered nations before him, it has for all one and +the same changeless smile. Nineteen dynasties have passed like shadows; +but it smiles on and would smile even were the Nile to grow dry, and +were Egypt to disappear under sand fields. + +"Is not that monster the more dreadful that it has a mild human visage? +Lasting itself throughout ages, it has never known grief over life, +which is fleeting and filled with anguish." + +"Dost Thou not remember, lord, the 'faces of the gods," interrupted +Pentuer, "or hast Thou not seen mummies? All immortals look on +transient things with the selfsame indifference. Even man does when +nearing the end of his earth-life." + +"The gods hear our prayers sometimes, but the Sphinx never moves. No +compassion on that face, a mere gigantic jeering terror. If I knew that +in its mouth were hidden some prophecy for me, or some means to elevate +Egypt, I should not dare to put a question. It seems to me that I +should hear some awful answer uttered with unpitying calmness. This is +the work and the image of the priesthood. It is worse than man, for it +has a lion's body; it is worse than a beast, for it has a human head; +it is worse than stone, for inexplicable life is contained in it." + +At that moment groaning and muffled voices reached them, the source of +which they could not determine. + +"Is the Sphinx singing?" inquired the astonished prince. + +"That singing is in the underground temple," replied Pentuer. "But why +are they praying at this night hour?" + +"Ask rather why they pray at all, since no one hears them." + +Pentuer took the direction at once and went toward the place of the +singing. The prince found some stone for a support and sat down +wearied. He put his hands behind him, leaned back, and looked into the +immense face before him. + +In spite of the lack of light, the superhuman features were clearly +visible; just the shade added life and character. The more the prince +gazed into that face, the more powerfully he felt that he had been +prejudiced, that his dislike was unreasonable. + +On the face of the Sphinx, there was no cruelty, but rather +resignation. In its smile there was no jeering, but rather sadness. It +did not feel the wretchedness and fleeting nature of mankind, for it +did not see them. Its eyes, filled with expression, were fixed +somewhere beyond the Nile, beyond the horizon, toward regions concealed +from human sight beneath the vault of heaven. Was it watching the +disturbing growth of the Assyrian monarchy? Or the impudent activity of +Phoenicia? Or the birth of Greece, or events, perhaps, which were +preparing on the Jordan? Who could answer? + +The prince was sure of one thing, that it was gazing, thinking, waiting +for something with a calm smile worthy of supernatural existence. And, +moreover, it seemed to him that if that something appeared on the +horizon, the Sphinx would rise up and go to meet it. + +What was that to be, and when would it come? This was a mystery the +significance of which was depicted expressly on the face of that +creature which had existed for ages. But it would of necessity take +place on a sudden, since the Sphinx had not closed its eyes for one +instant during millenniums, and was gazing, gazing, always. + +Meanwhile Pentuer found a window through which came from the +underground temple pensive hymns of the priestly chorus: + +Chorus I. "Rise, as radiant as Isis, rise as Sotis rises on the +firmament in the morning at the beginning of the established year." + +Chorus II. "The god Amon-Ra was on my right and on my left. He himself +gave into my hands dominion over all the world, thus causing the +downfall of my enemies." + +Chorus I. "Thou wert still young, Thou wert wearing braided hair, but +in Egypt naught was done save at thy command no corner-stone was laid +for an edifice unless Thou wert present." + +Chorus II. "I came to Thee, ruler of the gods, great god, lord of the +sun. Turn promises that the sun will appear, and that I shall be like +him, and the Nile; that I shall reach the throne of Osiris, and shall +possess it forever." + +Chorus I. "Thou hast returned in peace, respected by the gods, O ruler +of both worlds, Ra-Mer-Amen-Ramses. I assure to thee unbroken rule; +kings will come to thee to pay tribute." + +Chorus II. "O thou, Thou Osiris-Ramses! ever-living son of heaven, born +of the goddess Nut, may thy mother surround thee with the mystery of +heaven, and permit that Thou become a god, O thou, O Osiris-Ramses." +[Tomb inscriptions] + +"So then the holy father is dead," said Pentuer to himself. + +He left the window and approached the place where the heir was sitting, +sunk in imaginings. + +The priest knelt before him, fell on his face, and exclaimed: + +"Be greeted, O pharaoh, ruler of the world!" + +"What dost Thou say?" cried the prince, springing up. + +"May the One, the All-Powerful, pour down on thee wisdom and strength, +and happiness on thy people." + +"Rise, Pentuer! Then I then I." + +Suddenly he took the arm of the priest and turned toward the Sphinx. + +"Look at it," said he. + +But neither in the face nor in the posture of the colossus was there +any change. One pharaoh had stepped over the threshold of eternity; +another rose up like the sun, but the stone face of the god or the +monster was the same precisely. On its lips was a gentle smile for +earthly power and glory; in its glance there was a waiting for +something which was to come, but when no one knew. + +Soon the messengers returned from the ferry with information that boats +would be waiting there. + +Pentuer went among the palms, and cried, + +"Wake! wake!" + +The watchful Asiatics sprang up at once, and began to bridle their +horses. Tutmosis also rose, and yawned with a grimace. + +"Brr!" grumbled he, "what cold! Sleep is a good thing! I barely dozed a +little, and now I am able to go even to the end of the world, even +again to the Soda Lakes. Brr! I have forgotten the taste of wine, and +it seems to me that my hands are becoming covered with hair, like the +paws of a jackal. And it is two hours to 'the palace yet. + +"Happy are common men! One ragged rogue sleeps after another and feels +no need of washing: he will not go to work till his wife brings a +barley cake; while I, a great lord, must wander about, like a thief in +the night, through the desert, without a drop of water to put to my +lips." + +The horses were ready, and Ramses mounted his own. Pentuer approached, +took the bridle of the ruler's steed, and led, going himself on foot. + +"What is this?" inquired the astonished Tutmosis. + +He bethought himself quickly, ran up, and took Ramses' horse by the +bridle on the other side. And so all advanced in silence, astonished at +the bearing of the priest, though they felt that something important +had happened. + +After a few hundred steps the desert ceased, and a highroad through the +field lay before the travelers. + +"Mount your horses," said Ramses; "we must hurry." + +"His holiness commands you to sit on your horses," cried Pentuer. + +All were amazed. But Tutmosis recovered quickly, and placed his hand on +his sword-hilt. + +"May he live through eternity, our all-powerful and gracious leader +Ramses!" shouted the adjutant. + +"May he live through eternity!" howled the Asiatics, shaking their +weapons. + +"I thank you, my faithful warriors," answered their lord. + +A moment later the mounted party was hastening toward the river. + + + +CHAPTER L + +We know not whether the prophets in the underground temple of the +Sphinx saw the new ruler of Egypt when he halted at the foot of the +pyramids, and gave information touching him at the palace, and if so +how they did it. The fact is that when Ramses was approaching the +ferry, the most worthy Herhor gave orders to rouse the palace servants, +and when their lord was crossing the Nile all priests, generals, and +civil dignitaries were assembled in the great hall of audience. + +Exactly at sunrise Ramses XIII, at the head of a small escort, rode +into the palace yard, where the servants fell on their faces before +him, and the guard presented arms to the sound of drums and trumpets. + +His holiness saluted the army and went to the bathing chambers, where +he took a bath filled with perfumes. Then he gave permission to arrange +his divine hair; but when the barber asked most submissively if the +pharaoh commanded to shave his head and beard, the lord replied, + +"There is no need. I am not a priest, but a warrior." + +These words reached the audience-hall a moment later; in an hour they +had gone around the palace; about midday they had passed through every +part of the city of Memphis, and toward evening they were known in all +the temples of the state, from Tami-n-hor and Sabue-Chetam on the north +to Suunu and Pilak on the south. + +At this intelligence the nomarchs, the nobility, the army, the people, +and the foreigners were wild with delight, but the sacred order of +priests mourned the more zealously the dead pharaoh. + +When his holiness emerged from the bath he put on a warrior's short +shirt with black and yellow stripes, and a yellow breast-piece; on his +feet sandals fastened with thongs, and on his head a low helmet with a +circlet. Then he girded on that Assyrian sword which he had worn at the +battle of the Soda Lakes, and, surrounded by a great suite of generals, +he entered with a clatter and clinking the audience-hall. + +There the high priest Herhor stood before him, having at his side Sem, +the holy high priest, Mefres, and others, and behind him the chief +judges of Thebes and Memphis, some of the nearer nomarchs, the chief +treasurer, also the overseers of the house of wheat, the house of +cattle, the house of garments, the house of slaves, the house of silver +and gold, and a multitude of other dignitaries. + +Herhor bowed before Ramses, and said with emotion, + +"Lord! it has pleased thy eternally living father to withdraw to the +gods where he is enjoying endless delight. To thee, then, has fallen +the duty of caring for the fate of the orphan kingdom. + +"Be greeted, therefore, O lord and ruler of the world, and, holiness, +may Thou live through eternity Cham-Sam-mereramen-Ramses-Neter-haq-an." + +Those present repeated this salutation with enthusiasm. They expected +the new ruler to show some emotion or feeling. To the astonishment of +all he merely moved his brow and answered, + +"In accordance with the will of his holiness, my father, and with the +laws of Egypt, I take possession of government and will conduct it to +the glory of the state and the happiness of the people." + +He turned suddenly to Herhor and, looking him sharply in the eyes, +inquired, + +"On thy miter, worthiness, I see the golden serpent. Why hast Thou put +that symbol of regal power on thy head?" + +A deathlike silence settled on the assembly. The haughtiest man in +Egypt had never dreamed that the young lord would begin rule by putting +a question like that to the most powerful person in the state, more +powerful, perhaps, than the late pharaoh. + +But behind the young lord stood a number of generals; in the courtyard +glittered the bronze-covered regiments of the guard; and crossing the +Nile at that moment was an army wild from the triumph at the Soda +Lakes, and enamored of its leader. + +The powerful Herhor grew pale as wax, and the voice could not issue +from his straitened throat. + +"I ask your worthiness," repeated the pharaoh, calmly, "by what right +is the regal serpent on thy miter?" + +"This is the miter of thy grandfather, the holy Amenhotep," answered +Herhor, in a low voice. "The supreme council commanded me to wear it on +occasions." + +"My holy grandfather," replied the pharaoh, "was father of the queen, +and in the way of favor he received the right to adorn his miter with +the ureus. But, so far as is known to me, his sacred vestment is +counted among the relics of the temple of Amon." + +Herhor had recovered. + +"Deign to remember, holiness," explained he, "that for twenty-four +hours Egypt has been deprived of its legal ruler. Meanwhile some one +had to wake and put to sleep the god Osiris, to impart blessings to the +people and render homage to the ancestors of the pharaoh." + +"In such a grievous time the supreme council commanded me to wear this +holy relic, so that the order of the state and the service of the gods +might not be neglected. But the moment that we have a lawful and mighty +ruler I set aside the wondrous relic." + +Then Herhor took from his head the miter adorned with the ureus, and +gave it to the high priest Mefres. + +The threatening face of the pharaoh grew calm, and he turned his steps +toward the throne. + +Suddenly the holy Mefres barred the way, and said while bending to the +pavement, + +"Deign, holy lord, to hear my most submissive prayer." + +But neither in his voice nor his eyes was there submission when, +straightening himself, he continued, + +"I have words from the supreme council of high priests." + +"Utter them," said the pharaoh. + +"It is known to thee, holiness, that a pharaoh who has not received +ordination as high priest cannot perform the highest sacrifices; that +is, dress and undress the miraculous Osiris." + +"I understand," interrupted Ramses, "I am a pharaoh who has not +received the ordination of high priest." + +"For that reason," continued Mefres, "the supreme council begs thee +submissively, holiness, to appoint a high priest to take thy place in +religious functions." + +When they heard these decided words, the high priests and civil +dignitaries trembled and squirmed as if standing on hot stones, and the +generals touched their swords as if involuntarily. The holy Mefres +looked at them with unconcealed contempt, and fixed his cold glance +again on the face of the pharaoh. + +But the lord of the world showed no trouble even this time. + +"It is well," said he, "that Thou hast reminded me, worthiness, of this +important duty. The military profession and affairs of state do not +permit me to occupy myself with the ceremonies of our holy religion, so +I must appoint a substitute." + +While speaking he looked around at the men assembled. + +On the left of Herhor stood the holy Sem. Ramses glanced into his mild +and honest face and inquired suddenly, + +"Who and what art thou, worthiness?" + +"My name is Sem; I am high priest of the temple of Ptah in Pi-Bast." + +"Thou wilt be my substitute in religious ceremonies," said the pharaoh, +pointing toward him with his finger. + +A murmur of astonishment ran through the assembly. + +After long meditation and counsels it would have been difficult to +select a more worthy priest for that high office. + +Herhor grew much paler than before; Mefres pressed his blue lips +together tightly and dropped his eyelids. + +A moment later the new pharaoh sat on his throne, which instead of feet +had the carved figures of princes and the kings of nine nations. + +Soon Herhor gave to the lord, on a golden plate, a white and also a red +crown. + +The sovereign placed the crowns on his own head in silence, while those +present fell prostrate. + +That was not the solemn coronation; it was merely taking possession of +power. + +When the priests had incensed the pharaoh and had sung a hymn to +Osiris, imploring that god to pour all blessings on the sovereign, +dignitaries of the civil power and of the army were permitted to kiss +the lowest step of the throne. Then Ramses took a gold spoon, and, +repeating a prayer which the holy Sem pronounced aloud, he incensed the +statues of the gods arranged in line on both sides of the pharaoh's +chapel. + +"What am I to do now?" inquired he. + +"Show thyself to the people," replied Herhor. + +Through a gilded, widely opened door his holiness ascended marble steps +to a terrace, and, raising his hands, faced in turn toward the four +sides of the universe. The sound of trumpets was heard, and from the +summits of pylons banners were hung out. Whoso was in a field, in a +yard, on the street, fell prostrate; the stick, raised above the back +of a beast or a slave, was lowered without giving the blow, and all +criminals against the state who had been sentenced that day received +grace. + +Descending from the terrace the pharaoh inquired, + +"Have I something more to do?" + +"Refreshments and affairs of state are awaiting thee, holiness," +replied Herhor. + +"After that I may rest," said the pharaoh. "Where are the remains of +his holiness, my father?" + +"Given to the embalmers," whispered Herhor. + +Tears filled the pharaoh's eyes, and his mouth quivered, but he +restrained himself and looked down in silence. It was not proper that +servants should see emotion in such a mighty ruler. + +Wishing to turn the pharaoh's attention to another subject, Herhor +asked, + +"Wilt Thou be pleased, holiness, to receive the homage due from the +queen, thy mother?" + +"I? Am I to receive homage from my mother?" asked Ramses, with +repressed voice. + +"Hast Thou forgotten what the sage Eney said? Perhaps holy Sem will +repeat those beautiful words to us." + +"Remember," quoted Sem, "that she gave birth to thee and nourished thee +in every manner." + +"Speak further; speak!" insisted the pharaoh, striving always to +command himself. + +"Shouldst Thou forget that she would raise her hands to the god, and he +would hear her complaint. She bore thee long beneath her heart, like a +great burden, and gave thee birth when thy mouths had expired. She +carried thee in her arms afterward, and during three years she put her +breast into thy mouth. She reared thee, was not disgusted with thy +uncleanness. And when Thou wert going to school and wert exercised in +writing, she placed before thy teacher daily bread and beer from her +own dwelling." [Authentic] + +Ramses sighed deeply and said with calmness, + +"So ye see that it is not proper that my mother should salute me. +Rather I will go to her." + +And he passed through a series of halls lined with marble, alabaster, +and wood, painted in bright colors, carved and gilded; behind him went +his immense suite. But when he came to the antechamber of his mother's +apartments, he made a sign to leave him. When he had passed the +antechamber, he stopped a while before the door, then knocked and +entered quietly. + +In a chamber with bare walls, where in place of furniture there stood +only a low wooden couch and a broken pitcher holding water, all in sign +of mourning, Queen Niort's, the mother of the pharaoh, was sitting on a +stone. She was in a coarse shirt, barefoot; her face was smeared with +mud from the Nile, and in her tangled hair there were ashes. + +When she saw Ramses, the worthy lady inclined so as to fall at his +feet. But the son seized her in his arms, and said with weeping, + +"If thou, O mother, incline to the ground before me, I shall be forced +to go under the ground before thee." + +The queen drew his head to her bosom, wiped away his tears with the +sleeve of her coarse shirt, and then, raising her hands, whispered, + +"May all the gods, may the spirit of thy father and grandfather, +surround thee with blessing and solicitude. O Isis, I have never spared +offerings to thee, but today I make the greatest; I give my beloved son +to thee. Let this kingly son become thy son entirely, and may his +greatness and his glory increase thy divine inheritance." + +The pharaoh embraced and kissed his mother repeatedly, then he seated +her on the wooden couch and sat on the stone himself. + +"Has my father left commands to me?" inquired he. + +"He begged thee only to remember him, but he said to the supreme +council, 'I leave you my heir, who is a lion and an eagle in one +person; obey him, and he will elevate Egypt to incomparable power.'." + +"Dost Thou think that the priests will obey me?" + +"Remember," answered the queen, "that the device of the pharaoh is a +serpent, and a serpent means prudence, which is silent, and no one +knows when it will bite mortally. If Thou take time as thy confederate, +Thou wilt accomplish everything." + +"Herhor is tremendously haughty. Today he dared to put on the miter of +the holy Amenhotep. Of course I commanded him to set it aside. I will +remove him from the government, him and certain members of the supreme +council." + +The queen shook her head. + +"Egypt is thine," said she, "and the gods have endowed thee with great +wisdom. Were it not for that, I should fear terribly a struggle with +Herhor." + +"I do not dispute with him; I remove him." + +"Egypt is thine," repeated the queen, "but I fear a struggle with the +priests. It is true that thy father, who was mild beyond measure, has +made those men insolent, but it is not wise to bring them to despair +through severity. Besides, think of this: Who will replace them in +counsel? They know everything that has been, that is, and that will be +on earth and in heaven; they know the most secret thoughts of mankind, +and they direct hearts as the wind directs tree leaves. Without them +Thou wilt be ignorant not only of what is happening in Tyre and +Nineveh, but even in Thebes and Memphis." + +"I do not reject their wisdom, but I want service," answered the +pharaoh. "I know that their understanding is great, but it must be +controlled so that it may not deceive, and it must be directed lest it +ruin the State. Tell me thyself, mother, what they have done with Egypt +in the course of thirty years? The people suffer want, or are in +rebellion; the army is small, the treasury is empty, and meanwhile two +months' distance from us Assyria is increasing like dough containing +leaven, and today is forcing on us treaties." + +"Do as may please thee, but remember that the device of a pharaoh is a +serpent, and a serpent is silence and discretion." + +"Thou speakest truth, mother, but believe me, at certain times daring +is better than prudence. The priests planned, as I know today, that the +Libyan war should last entire years. I finished it in the course of a +few days, and only because every day I took some mad but decisive step +If I had not rushed to the desert against them, which by the way was a +great indiscretion, we should have the Libyans outside Memphis at this +moment." + +"I know that Thou didst hunt down Tehenna, and that Typhon caught +thee," said the queen. "O hasty child, Thou didst not think of me." + +He smiled. + +"Be of good heart," replied Ramses. "When the pharaoh is in battle, at +his left and his right hand stands Amon. Who then can touch him?" + +He embraced the queen once more and departed. + + + +CHAPTER LI + +THE immense suite of his holiness had remained in the hall of +attendance, but as if split into two parts. On one side were Herhor, +Mefres, and some high priests superior in years; on the other were all +the generals, civil officials, and a majority of the younger priests. + +The eagle glance of the pharaoh saw in one instant this division of +dignitaries, and in the heart of the young sovereign joyous pride was +kindled. + +"And here I have gained a victory without drawing my sword," thought +Ramses. + +The dignitaries drew away farther and more distinctly from Herhor and +Mefres, for no one doubted that the two high priests, till then the +most powerful persons in the state, had ceased to possess the favor of +the new pharaoh. + +Now the sovereign went to the hall of refection, where he was +astonished first of all by the multitude of serving priests and the +number of the dishes. + +"Have I to eat all this?" inquired he, without hiding his amazement. + +The priest who inspected the kitchen explained to the pharaoh that the +dishes not used by his holiness went as offerings to the dynasty. And +while speaking he indicated the statues placed in line along the hall. + +Ramses gazed at the statues, which looked as if no one had made them an +offering; next at the priests, who were as fresh of complexion as if +they had eaten everything presented; then he asked for beer, also the +bread used by warriors, and garlic. + +The elder priest was astonished, but he repeated the order to the +younger one. The younger hesitated, but repeated the command to the +serving men and women. The servants at the first moment did not believe +their own ears, but a quarter of an hour later they returned terrified, +and whispered to the priests that there was no warriors' bread nor +garlic. + +The pharaoh smiled and gave command that from that day forth there +should not be a lack of simple food in his kitchen. Then he ate a +pigeon, a morsel of wheaten cake, and drank some wine. + +He confessed in spirit that the food was well prepared and the wine +exquisite. He could not free himself from the thought, however, that +the court kitchen must swallow immense sums of money. + +Having burnt incense to his ancestors, the pharaoh betook himself to +his cabinet to hear reports from ministers. + +Herhor came first. He bent down before his lord much lower than he had +when greeting him, and congratulated Ramses on his victory at the Soda +Lakes with great enthusiasm. + +"Thou didst rush," said he, "holiness, on the Libyans like Typhon on +the miserable tents of wanderers through the desert. Thou hast won a +great battle with very small losses, and with one blow of thy divine +sword hast finished a war, the end of which was unseen by us common +men." + +The pharaoh felt his dislike toward the minister decreasing. + +"For this cause," continued the high priest, "the supreme council +implores thee, holiness, to appoint ten talents' reward to the valiant +regiments. Do thou, as supreme chief, permit that to thy name be added +'The Victorious.'." + +Counting on the youth of the pharaoh, Herhor exaggerated in flattery. +Ramses recovered from his delight and replied on a sudden, + +"What wouldst Thou add to my name had I destroyed the Assyrian army and +filled our temples with the riches of Nineveh and Babylon?" + +"So he is always dreaming of that?" thought the high priest. + +The pharaoh, as if to confirm Herhor's fears, changed the subject. + +"How many troops have we?" asked he. + +"Here in Memphis?" + +"No, in all Egypt." + +"Thou hadst ten regiments, holiness," answered Herhor. "The worthy +Nitager on the eastern boundary has fifteen. There are ten on the +south, for Nubia begins to be disturbed; five are garrisoned throughout +the country." + +"Forty altogether," said Ramses, after some thought. "How many warriors +in all?" + +"About sixty thousand." + +Ramses sprang up from his chair. + +"Sixty thousand instead of one hundred and twenty thousand!" shouted +he. "What does this mean? What have ye done with my army?" + +"There are no means to maintain more men." + +"O God!" said the Pharaoh, seizing his head. "But the Assyrians may +attack us a month hence. We are disarmed." + +"We have a preliminary treaty with Assyria," put in Herhor. + +"A woman might give such an answer, but not a minister of war," said +Ramses, with indignation. "What does a treaty mean when there is no +army behind it: Today one half of the troops which King Assar commands +would crush us." + +"Deign to be at rest, holy lord. At the first news of Assyrian treason +we should have half a million of warriors." + +The pharaoh laughed in his face. + +"What? How? Thou art mad, priest! Thou art groping among papyruses, but +I have served seven years in the army, and there was almost no day +which I did not pass in drill or maneuvers. How couldst Thou have an +army of half a million in the course of a few months?" + +"All the nobility would rise." + +"What is thy nobility? Nobility is not an army. To form an army of half +a million, at least a hundred and fifty regiments are needed, and we, +as Thou thyself sayest, have forty. How could those men who today are +herding cattle, ploughing land, making pots, or drinking and idling on +their lands, learn the art of warfare? Egyptians are poor materials for +an army. I know that, for I see them daily. A Libyan, a Greek, a +Hittite, in boyhood even uses a bow and arrows and a sling; he handles +a club perfectly; in a year he learns to march passably. But only in +three years will an Egyptian march in some fashion. It is true that he +grows accustomed to a sword and a spear in two years, but to cast +missiles four years are too short a time for him. So in the course of a +few months ye could put out not an army, but half a million of a rabble +which the Assyrians would break to pieces in the twinkle of an eye. +For, though the Assyrian regiments are poor and badly trained, an +Assyrian knows how to hurl stones and shoot arrows; he knows how to cut +and thrust, and, above all, he has the onrush of a wild beast, which is +lacking in the mild Egyptians altogether. We break the enemy by this, +that our trained and drilled regiments are like a battering ram: it is +necessary to beat down one-half of our men before the column is +injured. But when the column is broken, there is no Egyptian army." + +"Thou speakest wisdom," said Herhor to the panting pharaoh. "Only the +gods possess such acquaintance with things. I know that the forces of +Egypt are too weak; that to create new ones many years of labor are +needed. For this very reason I wish to conclude a treaty with Assyria." + +"But ye have concluded it already!" + +"For the moment. Sargon, in view of the sickness of thy father, and +fearing thee, holiness, deferred the conclusion of a regular treaty +till Thou shouldst ascend the throne." + +The pharaoh fell into anger again. + +"What?" cried he. "Then they think really of seizing Phoenicia! And do +they suppose that I will sign the infamy of my reign? Evil spirits have +seized all of you!" + +The audience was ended. Herhor fell on his face this time, but while +returning from his lord he considered in his heart, + +"His holiness has heard the report, hence he does not reject my +services. I have told him that he must sign a treaty with Assyria, +hence the most difficult question is finished. He will come to his mind +before Sargon returns to us. But he is a lion, and not even a lion, but +a mad elephant. Still he became pharaoh only because he is the grandson +of a high priest. He does not understand yet that those same hands +which raised him so high." + +In the antechamber the worthy Herhor halted, thought over something; at +last instead of going to his own dwelling he went to Queen Niort's. + +In the garden there were neither women nor children, but from the +scattered villas came groans. Those were from women belonging to the +house of the late pharaoh who were lamenting that sovereign who had +gone to the west. Their sorrow, it seemed, was sincere. + +Meanwhile the supreme judge entered the cabinet of the new pharaoh. + +"What hast Thou to tell me, worthiness?" asked Ramses. + +"Some days ago an unusual thing happened near Thebes," replied the +judge. "A laborer killed his wife and three children and drowned +himself in the sacred lake." + +"Had he gone mad?" + +"It seems that his act was caused by hunger." + +The pharaoh grew thoughtful. + +"A strange event," said he, "but I wish to hear of something else. What +crimes happen most commonly in these days?" + +The supreme judge hesitated. + +"Speak boldly," said the pharaoh, now grown impatient, "and hide +nothing from me. I know that Egypt has fallen into a morass; I wish to +draw it out, hence I must know everything." + +"The most usual crimes are revolts. But only common people revolt," +added the judge, hastily. + +"I am listening," said the pharaoh. + +"In Kosem a regiment of masons and stone-cutters revolted recently; for +some time needful supplies had been refused them. In Sechem earth- +tillers killed a scribe who was collecting taxes. In Melcatis and Pi- +Hebit also earth-tillers wrecked the houses of Phoenician tenants. At +Kasa they refused to repair the canal, declaring that pay from the +treasury was clue them for that labor. Finally in the porphyry quarries +the convicts killed their overseers and tried to escape in a body to +the seacoast." + +"This news does not surprise me," replied the pharaoh. "But what dost +Thou think?" + +"It is necessary first of all to punish the guilty." + +"But I think it necessary first of all to give laborers what belongs to +them. A hungry ox will lie down; a hungry horse will totter on his feet +and pant. How, then, can we ask a hungry man to work and not declare +that he is suffering?" + +"Then, holiness." + +"Pentuer will open a council to investigate these matters," interrupted +the pharaoh. "Meanwhile I have no desire to punish." + +"In that case a general insurrection will break out," cried the judge, +in alarm. + +The pharaoh rested his chin on his hands and considered, + +"Well," said he, after a while, "let the courts do their work, but as +mildly as possible. And this very day Pentuer will assemble his +council." + +"In truth," added he, after a time, "it is easier to make a decision in +battle than in the disorder which has mastered Egypt." + +When the supreme judge had departed, the pharaoh summoned Tutmosis. He +directed him to salute in the name of the sovereign the army returning +from the Soda Lakes, and to distribute twenty talents among the +officers and warriors. + +Then he commanded Pentuer to come; meanwhile he received the chief +treasurer. + +"I wish to know," said he, "what the condition of the treasury is." + +"We have," replied the dignitary, "at this moment twenty thousand +talents of value in the granaries, stables, storehouses, and chests, +while taxes are coming in daily." + +"But insurrections are breaking out daily," added the pharaoh. "What is +our general income and outgo?" + +"On the army we expend yearly twenty thousand talents; on the court two +to three thousand talents monthly." + +"Well, what further? And public works?" + +"At present they are carried on without expense," said the treasurer, +dropping his head. + +"And the income?" + +"We have as much as we expend," whispered the official. + +"Then we have forty or fifty thousand talents yearly. And where is the +rest?" + +"Mortgaged to the Phoenicians, to certain bankers, to merchants, and to +the temples." + +"Well, but there is besides the inviolable treasure of the pharaohs in +gold, platinum, and jewels; how much is that worth?" + +"That was taken and distributed ten years ago." + +"For what purpose? To whom?" + +"For the needs of the court, in gifts to nomarchs and to temples." + +"The court had incomes from current taxes. But could presents exhaust +the treasury of my father?" + +"Osiris Ramses, thy father, holiness, was a bountiful lord and made +great offerings." + +"Is it possible? Were they so great? I wish to know about this," said +the pharaoh, impatiently. + +"Exact accounts are in the archives; I remember only general figures." + +"Speak!" + +"For example," answered the treasurer, hesitatingly, "Osiris Ramses in +the course of his happy reign gave to the temples about one hundred +towns, one hundred and twenty ships, two million head of cattle, two +million bags of wheat, one hundred and twenty thousand horses, eighty +thousand slaves, two hundred thousand kegs of beer and wine, three +million loaves of bread, thirty thousand garments, thirty thousand +vessels of honey, olives, and incense. Besides that, one thousand +talents of gold, three thousand talents of silver, ten thousand of +bronze, five hundred talents of dark bronze, six million garlands of +flowers, twelve hundred statues of gods, and thirty thousand precious +stones. [The gifts of Ramses III to the temples were incomparably +greater] Other numbers I do not remember at the moment, but they are +all recorded." + +The pharaoh raised his hands with laughter, but after a time fell into +anger, and cried, while striking the table with his fist, + +"It is an unheard of thing that a handful of priests should use so much +beer and bread, so many garlands and robes, while they have their own +income, an immense income, which exceeds the wants of these holy men a +hundred times." + +"Thou hast been pleased, holiness, to forget that the priests support +tens of thousands of poor; they cure an equal number of sick, and +maintain a number of regiments at the expense of the temples." + +"What do they want of regiments? Even the pharaohs use troops only in +wartime. As to the sick, almost every man of them pays for himself, or +works out what he owes the temple for curing him. And the poor? But +they work for the temple: they carry water for the gods, take part in +solemnities, and, above all, are connected with the working of +miracles. It is they who at the gates of the temples recover reason, +sight, hearing; their wounds are cured, their feet and hands regain +strength, while the people looking at these miracles pray all the more +eagerly and give offerings to gods the more bountiful. + +"The poor are like the oxen and sheep of the temples: they bring in +pure profit." + +"But," the treasurer made bold to put in, "the priests do not expend +all the offerings; they lay them up, and increase the capital." + +"For what purpose?" + +"For some sudden need of the state." + +"Who has seen this capital?" + +"I have seen it myself," said the dignitary. "The treasures accumulated +in the labyrinth do not decrease; they increase from generation to +generation, so that in case." + +"So that the Assyrians might have something to take when they conquer +Egypt, which is managed by priests so beautifully!" interrupted the +pharaoh. "I thank thee, chief treasurer; I knew that the financial +condition of Egypt was bad, but I did not suppose the state ruined. +There are rebellions, there is no army, the pharaoh is in poverty; but +the treasure in the labyrinth is increasing from generation to +generation." + +"If each dynasty, an entire dynasty, gave as many gifts to temples as +my father has given, the labyrinth would have nineteen thousand talents +of gold, about sixty thousand of silver, and so much wheat, and land, +so many cattle, slaves, and towns, so many garments and precious +stones, that the best accountant could not reckon them." + +The chief treasurer was crushed when taking farewell of the sovereign. +But the sovereign himself was not satisfied, for after a moment's +thought it seemed to him that he had spoken too plainly with officials. + + + +CHAPTER LII + +THE guard in the antechamber announced Pentuer. The priest prostrated +himself before the pharaoh, and said that he was waiting for commands. + +"I do not wish to command," said Ramses, "but to beg thee. Thou knowest +that in Egypt there are riots of laborers, artisans, even convicts. +There are riots from the sea to the quarries. The only thing lacking is +that my warriors should rebel and proclaim as pharaoh Herhor, for +example." + +"Live through eternity, holiness!" replied the priest. "There is not a +man in Egypt who would not sacrifice himself for thee, and not bless +thy name." + +"Aha, if they knew," said the ruler, with anger, "how helpless the +pharaoh is, and how poor he is, each nomarch would like to be the lord +of his province. I thought that on inheriting the double crown I should +signify something. But I have convinced myself during the first day +that I am merely a shadow of the former rulers of Egypt; for what can a +pharaoh be without wealth, without an army, and, above all, without +faithful subjects? I am like the statues of the gods which they +incense, and before which they place offerings. The statues are +powerless and the offerings serve to fatten the priests. But, true, +Thou art on their side." + +"It is painful to me," answered Pentuer, "that Thou speakest thus, +holiness, on the first day of thy reign. If news of this were to go +over Egypt!" + +"To whom can I tell what pains me?" interrupted Ramses. "Thou art my +counselor; I was saved by thee, or at least Thou hadst the wish to save +my life, not of course to publish to the world that which is happening +in the ruler's heart, which heart I open before thee. But Thou art +right." + +He walked up and down in the chamber, and said after a while in a tone +considerably calmer, + +"I have appointed thee chief of a council which is to investigate the +causes of those ever-recurring riots in Egypt. I wish that only the +guilty be punished, and that justice be done those who are injured." + +"May the god support thee with his favor," whispered the priest. "I +will do what Thou commandest. But the causes of the riots I know +already." + +"What are they?" + +"More than once have I spoken of them to thee, holiness. The toiling +people are hungry; they have too much work, and they pay too many +taxes. He who worked formerly from sunrise till sunset must begin now +an hour before sunrise and finish an hour after sunset. It is not long +since a common man might go every tenth day to visit the graves of his +mother and father, speak with their shades, and make them offerings. +But today no one goes, for no one has time to go." + +"Formerly a working man ate three wheat cakes in the course of the day; +at present he has not even barley bread. Formerly labor on the canals, +dams, and roads was deducted from the taxes; now the taxes are paid +independently while public works are carried on without wages. These +are the causes of riots." + +"I am the poorest noble in the kingdom!" cried the pharaoh, while he +tugged at his own hair. "Any landowner gives his cattle proper food and +rest; but all men who work for me are tired and hungry." + +"What am I to do, then, tell Thou who hast begged me to improve the lot +of the workers?" + +"Wilt Thou command me to tell, lord?" + +"I will beg, I will command, as Thou wishest. Only speak wisely." + +"Blessed be thy rule, O true son of Osiris," answered the priest. "This +is what it is proper to do: Command, lord, first of all, that pay be +given for labor on public works, as was the case formerly." + +"Of course." + +"Next command that field labor last only from sunrise till sunset. Then +direct, as during the divine dynasties, that people rest every seventh +day; not every tenth, but every seventh day. Then command that +landowners shall not have the right to mortgage earth-tillers, or +scribes the right to beat and torture them according to fancy. + +"And finally, give the tenth part, or even the twentieth part of the +land as property to the workers, so that no one may take it away or +mortgage it. Let each family have as much land in extent as the +pavement of this room, and it will not be hungry. Give the people +desert sands as property, and in a few years gardens will be growing on +them." + +"Thou speakest beautifully," interrupted the pharaoh; "but what Thou +sayest is what Thou seest in thy heart, not in the world. Men's plans, +though the best, are not always in accord with the natural course of +things." + +"I have seen such changes and their result, holiness," answered +Pentuer. + +"At certain temples various trials have been made at curing the sick, +teaching children, rearing cattle, cultivating plants, and reforming +men, and the following has happened: When they gave a lean and lazy man +good food, and rest every seventh day, the man became sturdy, willing +to work, and he dug more land than before. A laborer who receives wages +is more cheerful and does more work than a slave, even though beaten +with whips of iron. Well-nourished people have more children than +hungry and overworked ones; the children of free men are healthy and +strong; those of slaves are fragile, gloomy, inclined to stealing and +to lying. Men have convinced themselves that land tilled by its owner +gives one half more grain and vegetables than land tilled by captives. + +"I will tell a most curious thing to thee, holiness: When they play on +musical instruments to ploughmen, the men and the oxen work better, +more quickly, and tire themselves less than when there is no music. All +this has been verified at our temples." + +The pharaoh smiled. + +"I must," said he, "have music on my lands and in the quarries. But if +the priests convince themselves of such wonders as Thou art relating, +why act as they do on their own estates?" + +Pentuer dropped his head. + +"Because," replied he, sighing, "not all priests are sages, not all +have noble hearts." + +"That is it!" exclaimed the pharaoh. + +"And now tell me, Thou who art a son of earth tillers, and knowest that +among priests there are fools and rioters, tell me, why Thou art +unwilling to serve me in a struggle against the priesthood? Thou +knowest that I cannot improve the lot of the working man unless first I +teach the priests obedience to my orders." + +Pentuer wrung his hands. + +"O lord," replied he, "a struggle with the priesthood is godless and +dangerous. More than one pharaoh began it, and was unable to finish." + +"Because he was not supported by sages like thee!" burst out Ramses. +"And, indeed, I shall never understand why wise and honest priests bind +themselves to a band of rogues, such as the majority of this class +are." + +Pentuer shook his head and began slowly, "During thirty thousand years +the sacred order of priests has nursed Egypt and made the country the +wonder of the world, which it is at present. And how have the priests, +in spite of their faults, been able to do this? Because they are the +lamp in which burns the light of wisdom. + +"This lamp may be foul, even malodorous; still it preserves the divine +fire, without which darkness and savagery would prevail among people. + +"Thou speakest, lord, of a struggle with the priesthood," continued +Pentuer. "How can that profit me? If Thou lose I shall be unhappy, for +Thou wilt not improve the lot of the worker. And if Thou win? May I not +live to that! for shouldst Thou break the lamp, who knows whether Thou +wouldst not put out the fire of wisdom which for thousands of years has +illuminated Egypt and mankind. + +"These, lord, are the reasons why I will not take part in thy struggle +with the sacred order of priests. I feel that the struggle is +approaching, and I suffer because such a worm as I am unable to prevent +it. But I will not participate, for I should have to betray either +thee, or the God, the creator of wisdom." + +While hearing these words the pharaoh walked up and down the chamber in +thought. + +"Aa!" said he, without anger, "do as may please thee. Thou art not a +warrior, hence I cannot reproach thee with lack of valor. But Thou +canst not be my adviser, though I beg thee to form a council to +investigate the riots of working men, and, when I summon thee, declare +what thy wisdom enjoins." + +Pentuer knelt down in taking farewell of his lord. + +"In every case," added the pharaoh, "know this, that I have no desire +to quench the divine light. Let the priests guard wisdom in their +temples, but let them not make my army useless, let them not conclude +shameful treaties, and let them not steal," he said this excitedly, +"the treasures of the pharaohs. + +"Can they think that I will stand at their gates, like a beggar, asking +that they deign to give me funds to restore the state which is ruined +by their stupid and villainous management? Ha, ha! Pentuer, I should +not ask the gods for that which is my power and my right Thou mayst +go." + +The priest, withdrawing with his face toward the pharaoh, went out +backward with obeisance, and when in the doorway he fell with his face +on the pavement. + +The pharaoh remained alone. + +"Mortal men," thought he, "are like children. Herhor is wise: he knows +that Egypt in case of war would need half a million of warriors; he +knows that those troops need training, and still he has decreased the +number of the regiments. + +"The chief treasurer also is wise, but it seems to him quite in order +that all the treasure of the pharaohs should go to the labyrinth. + +"Finally here is Pentuer. What a strange person he is! He wants me to +give earth-tillers food, land, and ever-recurring holidays. All this +would decrease my income, which even now is insufficient. But if I say +to him: help me to take the pharaoh's treasures from the priesthood, he +calls that godlessness and the quenching of light in Egypt. Strange +man, he would be glad to turn the state bottom upwards, so far as +relates to the good of earth tillers, but he would not venture to seize +a high priest and lead him forth to prison. With the utmost composure +he commands me to renounce half my income, but I am sure that he would +not dare to take a copper uten out of the labyrinth." + +The pharaoh smiled, and again he meditated. + +"Each man wants to be happy himself; but if Thou wish to give happiness +to all men, each one will seize thy hand as he would if Thou wert +drawing an aching tooth from him. + +"Therefore a pharaoh must have decision. Therefore my divine father did +ill when he neglected the workers and trusted beyond bounds in the +priesthood. He left me a grievous inheritance, but I will improve it. + +"At the Soda Lakes there was also a difficult question, more difficult +than this one. Here are only gabblers and timid cowards; there stood +armed men ready to go to death. + +"One battle will open our eyes more widely than tens of years in +peaceful management. Whoso says to himself, 'I will burst through this +hindrance,' will burst through it. But he who hesitates must yield." + +Darkness came. In the palace the watches were changed, and in the +remoter halls torches were lighted. But no one dared enter the +sovereign's chamber unless commanded. + +Ramses, wearied by sleeplessness, by the journey of the day previous, +by the occupations of that day, dropped into an armchair. It seemed to +him that he had been pharaoh for centuries, and he could not believe +that one day had not passed since he had been at the pyramids. + +"One day? Impossible!" + +Then he thought that perhaps the spirits of the former pharaohs had +settled in the heart of their heir. It must be so, for otherwise whence +could such a feeling of age or remoteness settle down in him? And why +did governing the state seem today a simple thing, while two months +before he was alarmed when he thought that he could not govern. + +"One day?" repeated he, in spirit. "But I am a thousand years in this +palace!" + +Suddenly he heard a repressed voice, + +"My son! O son!" + +The pharaoh sprang up from his chair. + +"Who art thou?" exclaimed he. + +"I am, I Hast Thou forgotten me already?" + +"O my son," said the voice again, "respect the will of the gods if Thou +wish to receive their blessed assistance O respect the gods, for +without their assistance the greatest power on earth is as dust and +shadows O respect the gods if Thou wish that the bitterness of thy +faults should not poison my existence in the happy region of the West." + +The voice ceased, Ramses ordered to bring a light. One door of the room +was closed, at the other a guard stood. No stranger could enter there. + +Anger and alarm tore the pharaoh's heart. "What was that? Had the shade +of his father spoken indeed to him, or was that voice only a new +priestly trick?" + +But if the priests, notwithstanding thick walls, could speak to him +from a distance, they could overhear him. And then he, the lord of the +world, was like a wild beast caged in on all sides. + +It is true that in the palace of the pharaoh secret listening was +common. Ramses had thought, however, that his cabinet was safe, and +that the insolence of priests had stopped at the threshold of the +supreme ruler. + +"But if that was a spirit?" + +He did not wish to sup, but betook himself to rest. It seemed to him +that he could not sleep; but weariness won the victory over irritation. + +In a few hours bells and a light woke him. It was midnight and the +astrologer priest came to make a report on the position of the heavenly +bodies. The pharaoh heard the report, and said at the end of it, + +"Couldst thou, revered prophet, make thy report to the worthy Sem +hereafter? He is my substitute in matters touching religion." + +The astrologer wondered greatly at the indifference of his lord to +affair? of the heavens. + +"Art them pleased, holiness," inquired he, "to refuse those indications +which the stars give to rulers?" + +"Do they give them?" asked the pharaoh. "Tell what they promise me." + +Clearly the astrologer had looked for the question, so he answered +directly, + +"The horizon is darkened for the moment. The lord of light has not come +yet to the road of truth which leads to knowledge of the divine will. +But sooner or later he will find both long life and a happy reign +filled with glory." + +"Aha! I thank thee, holy man. And as soon as I know what to seek I will +accommodate myself to the indication. But again I beg thee to +communicate henceforth with the holy Sem. He is my substitute, but +shouldst Thou read anything in the stars Thou wilt tell me of it in the +morning." + +The priest left the bedchamber shaking his head. + +"They have roused me from sleep!" said Ramses, dissatisfied. + +"An hour ago Queen Niort's, most greatly to be revered, commanded me, +holiness, to ask of thee an interview," said an adjutant, suddenly. + +"Now? At midnight?" asked the pharaoh. + +"Her exact words were that at midnight Thou wouldst wake, holiness." + +The pharaoh meditated, then answered the adjutant that ha would wait +for the queen in the golden hall. He thought that there no one could +overhear them. + +Ramses threw a mantle over his shoulders, put on sandals unfastened and +commanded to light the golden hall brightly. Then he went out, +directing the servants not to go with him. + +He found Niort's in the hall; she was wearing coarse linen garments in +sign that she was mourning. When she saw the pharaoh she wished to drop +on her knees, but her son raised the queen and embraced her. + +"Has something important happened, mother, that Thou art working at +this hour?" inquired Ramses. + +"I was not asleep I was praying," replied the queen. "O my son, Thou +hast divined wisely that the affair is important. I have heard the +sacred voice of thy father." + +"Indeed!" said the pharaoh, feeling that anger was filling him. + +"Thy ever-living father," continued the queen, "told me, full of +sadness, that Thou wert entering on a way of error. Thou refusest with +contempt the ordination of high priest, and treatest badly the servants +of divinity." + +"'Who will remain with Ramses,' said thy father, 'if he angers the gods +and the priests desert him? Tell him tell him,' repeated the revered +shade, 'that in this way he will ruin Egypt, himself, and the +dynasty.'" + +"Oho!" said the pharaoh, "then they threaten me thus from the first day +of my reign. My mother, a dog barks loudest when he is afraid; so +threats are of evil omen, but only for the priesthood." + +"But thy father said this," repeated the anxious lady. + +"My immortal father and my holy grandfather," said the pharaoh, "being +pure spirits know my heart, and see the woeful condition of Egypt. But +since my heart wishes to raise the state by stopping abuses they would +not prevent me from carrying out my measures." + +"Then dost Thou not believe that the spirit of thy father gives thee +counsel?" asked the queen, with rising terror. + +"I know not. But I have the right to suppose that those voices of +spirits, which are heard in various comers of our palace, are some +trick of the priesthood. Only priests can fear me, never the gods, and +spirits. Therefore it is not spirits which are frightening us, mother." + +The queen fell to thinking; it was clear that her son's words impressed +her. She had seen many miracles in her life and some of them had seemed +to her suspicious. + +"In that case," said she, with a sigh, "Thou art not cautious, my son. +This afternoon Herhor visited me; he was very much dissatisfied with +the audience. He said that it was thy wish to remove the priests from +thy court." + +"But of what use are priests to me? Are they to cause great outgo in my +kitchen and cellar? Or, perhaps, to hear what I say, and see what I +do?" + +"The whole country will revolt," interrupted the queen, "if the priests +declare that Thou art an unbeliever." + +"The country is in revolt now. But the priests are the cause of it," +replied the pharaoh. "And touching the devotion of the Egyptian people +I begin to have another idea. If Thou knew, mother, how many lawsuits +there are in Lower Egypt for insults to the gods, and in Upper Egypt +for robbing the dead, Thou wouldst be convinced that for our people the +cause of the priests has ceased to be holy." + +"This is through the influence of foreigners, especially Phoenicians, +who are flooding Egypt," cried the lady. + +"All one through whose influence; enough that Egypt no longer considers +either statues or priests as superhuman. And wert thou, mother, to hear +the nobility, the officers, the warriors talk, Thou wouldst understand +that the time has come to put the power of the pharaoh in the place of +priestly power, unless all power is to fall in this country." + +"Egypt is thine," sighed the queen. "Thy wisdom is uncommon, so do as +may please thee. But act Thou with caution oh, with caution! A scorpion +even when killed may still wound an unwary conqueror." + +They embraced and the pharaoh returned to his bedchamber. But, in +truth, he could not sleep that time. + +He understood clearly that between him and the priesthood a struggle +had begun, or rather something repulsive which did not even deserve the +name struggle, and which at the first moment he, the leader, could not +manage. For where was the enemy? Against whom was his faithful army to +show itself? Was it against the priests who fell on their faces before +him? Or against the stars which said that the pharaoh had not entered +yet on the true way? What and whom was he to vanquish? Was it, perhaps, +those voices of spirits which were raised amid darkness? Or was it his +own mother, who begged him in terror not to dismiss priests from state +offices? + +The pharaoh writhed on his bed while feeling his helplessness. Suddenly +the thought came to him: "What care I for an enemy which yields like +mud in a hand grasp? Let them talk in empty halls, let them be angry at +my godlessness. I will issue orders, and whoso will not carry them out +is my enemy; against him I will turn courts, police, and warriors." + + + +CHAPTER LIII + +So in the month Hator, after thirty-four years of rule, died the +Pharaoh Mer-Amen-Ramses XII, the ruler of two worlds, the lord of +eternity, the giver of life and every happiness. + +He died because he felt that his body was growing weak and useless. He +died because he was yearning for his eternal home and he wished to +confide the cares of earthly rule to hands that were more youthful. +Finally he died because he wished to die, for such was his will. His +divine spirit flew away, like a falcon which, circling for a time above +the earth, vanishes at last in blue expanses. + +As his life had been the sojourn of an immortal in the region of +evanescence, his death was merely one among moments in the existence of +the superhuman. + +Ramses XII woke about sunrise; leaning on two prophets, surrounded by a +chorus of priests, he went to the chapel of Osiris. There, as usual, he +resurrected the divinity, washed and dressed it, made offerings, and +raised his hands in prayer. Meanwhile the priests sang: + +Chorus I. "Honor to thee who raisest thyself on the horizon and +coursest across the sky." + +Chorus II. "The pathway of thy sacredness is the prosperity of those on +whose faces thy rays fall." + +Chorus I. "Would that I might go as Thou goest, O sun! without +halting." + +Chorus II. "Mighty wanderer in space, Thou who hast no lord, for thee +hundreds of millions of years are merely the twinkle of an eye." + +Chorus I. "Thou goest down, but endurest. Thou multipliest hours, days, +and nights, and remainest in solitude according to thy own laws." + +Chorus II. "Thou dost illumine the earth, offering thy own self with +thy own hands, when under the form of Ra Thou comest up on the +horizon." + +Chorus I: "O star, emerging great, through thy light, Thou thyself +formest thy own limbs." + +Chorus II. "And, not begotten of any, Thou givest birth to thyself on +the horizon." [Authentic hymn] + +At this point the pharaoh spoke: + +"O Thou radiant in the heavens! Permit that I enter eternity. Let me +join the revered and perfect shadows of the upper land. Let me, +together with them, behold thy rays in the morning, and in the evening, +when Thou joinest thy mother Nut. And when Thou turnest thy face to the +West let my hands join while praying in honor of life, which is going +to sleep beyond the mountains." [Authentic] + +Thus spoke the pharaoh with upraised hands, surrounded by a cloud of +incense. All at once he ceased, and dropped into the arms of the +priests behind him. + +He was no longer living. + +Intelligence of the pharaoh's death flew through the palace like +lightning. Servants left their occupations, overseers ceased to watch +over their slaves, the guard was roused; all entrances were occupied. + +In the main court a throng began to gather; cooks, cellarers, +equerries, women of his holiness, and their children. Some inquired: +"Is this true?" Others wondered that the sun shone in heaven, but all +cried at once in heaven-piercing voices, + +"O our lord! O our father! O beloved! Can it be that Thou hast gone +from us? Oh it is true, he is going to Abydos! To the West, to the +West, to the land of the just ones! The place which Thou hast loved +groans and weeps for thee!" [Authentic] + +Terrible uproar was heard throughout all the courts, throughout the +whole park. It was echoed from the eastern hills, on the wings of the +wind it flew across the Nile, and disturbed the city of Memphis. + +Meanwhile, the priests, amid prayers, placed the body of the deceased +in a rich closed litter. Eight stood at the poles of the litter; four +took ostrich feather fans in their hands, others censers, and they +prepared to go forth. + +At this moment Queen Niort's ran in, and, seeing the remains in the +litter, threw herself at the feet of the dead pharaoh. + +"O my husband! O my brother! O my beloved!" cried she, carried away +with weeping. "O beloved, remain with us, remain in thy house, withdraw +not from this place on earth in which Thou art dwelling!" [Authentic.] + +"In peace, in peace, to the West," sang the priests. "O mighty +sovereign, go in peace to the West." + +"Misfortune," said the queen, "Thou art hastening to the ferry to pass +to the other shore! O priests, O prophets, hasten not, leave him; for +ye will return to your houses, but he will go to the land of eternity." + +"In peace, in peace to the West," sang the priestly chorus. "If it +please the god, when the day of eternity comes, we shall see thee, O +sovereign! For now Thou art going to the land which brings all men +together." + +At a sign given by the worthy Herhor, the attendants drew the queen +from the feet of the pharaoh, and led her by force to her chambers. + +The litter, borne by priests, moved on, and in it the sovereign, +dressed and surrounded, as if living. On the right, and on the left, +before and behind him, went generals, treasurers, judges, chief +scribes, the bearers of the mace and the bow, and above all a throng of +priests of various dignities. + +In the courtyard, the servants fell on their faces, groaning and +weeping, but the troops presented arms and the trumpets sounded, as if +to greet a living pharaoh. + +Between Memphis and the "Tableland of Mummies," lay a peculiar division +of the city. All its buildings were devoted to the dead, and it was +inhabited only by dissectors and embalmers. + +This division was the forecourt as it were, of the cemetery proper, the +bridge which joined living society with the city of endless rest. To +this place were brought corpses, and mummies were made of them; here +families stipulated with priests, touching the cost of funerals. Here +were prepared sacred books and bandages, coffins, implements, vessels, +and statues for the departed. + +This district was a couple of thousand yards from Memphis. It was +surrounded by a long wall provided with gates here and there. + +The retinue bearing the remains of the pharaoh halted before the +richest gate, and one of the priests knocked at it. + +"Who is there?" inquired those within. + +"Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses, the lord of two worlds, has come and desires +that ye prepare him for his eternal journey," replied the priests. + +"Is it possible that he, the sun of Egypt, is quenched? That he is dead +who himself was breath and life?" + +"Such was his will," answered a priest. "Receive, then, the lord with +due honor and render all service to him, as is befitting, lest +punishments meet you in this and the coming life." + +"We will do as ye say," said a voice from within. + +The priests left the litter, and went away hurriedly, so that the evil +odor of remains accumulated in that place should not fall on them. Only +civil officials under the lead of the supreme judge and treasurer +remained there. + +'After they had waited a considerable time, the gate opened, and from +ten to twenty persons showed themselves. They wore priestly garments +and their faces were covered. + +"We give you," said the judges, on seeing them, "the body of our lord +and yours. Do with it what the rules of religion enjoin, and omit +nothing, so that the great deceased may not experience unquiet in that +world through your fault." + +The treasurer added, + +"Use gold, silver, malachite, jasper, emerald, turquoise, and the most +rare kinds of incenses for this lord, so that nothing be lacking that +he may have whatever is best. I, the treasurer, say this to you. And if +the wretch should be found who, instead of noble metals, gives +counterfeit, and instead of genuine stones, gives Phoenician glass, let +him remember that his hands will be cut off and his eyes dug out." + +"It will be as ye wish," replied one of the veiled priests. + +Others raised the litter and bore it to the interior of the district of +the dead. + +"Thou art going in peace to Abydos! Mayst Thou go in peace to the +Theban West. To the West, to the West, to the land of the just ones!" + +The gate closed, the supreme judge, the treasurer, and the officials +accompanying them returned to the palace. + +The hooded priests bore the litter to an immense building where only +the remains of pharaohs were embalmed, or those of high dignitaries who +had gained the exceptional favor of a pharaoh. + +The priests stopped in the antechamber, where stood the golden boat on +wheels, and took the corpse from the litter. + +"Look ye!" cried one of the cowled priests, "are they not criminals? +The pharaoh died in the chapel of Osiris, so he must have been in +ceremonial costume, while here oh! instead of gold ornaments bronze; +the chain is bronze, too, and on his breast false jewels!" + +"True," said another. "I am curious to know who fitted him out thus: +priests, or scribes?" + +"Surely priests. Oh, would that your hands withered, ye scoundrels! And +some wretch they are all such dared command us to give the deceased +what was best." + +"It was not they, but the treasurer." + +"They are all rogues." + +Thus discoursing, the embalmers took from the deceased his garments of +a pharaoh, put on him a gown of cloth of gold and bore the remains to +the boat. + +"Thanks to the gods," said one of the cowled men, "we have a new +pharaoh. He will bring the priests to order. What they have taken with +their hands they will bring back with their mouths." + +"Uuu! they say that he will be a shrewd ruler," put in another. "He is +friendly with the Phoenicians; he passes time willingly with Pentuer, +who is not of priestly family, but of such poor people as we. But the +army, they say the army would let itself be burnt and drowned for the +new pharaoh." + +"Besides, he conquered the Libyans most gloriously a few days ago." + +"Where is he now, that new pharaoh?" asked another. "In the desert? I +am afraid that misfortune may meet him before he comes back to us." + +"What will any one do to him when he has an army behind him? May I not +live to an honest burial if the young lord will not treat the priests +as a buffalo treats growing wheat." + +"O Thou fool!" interrupted an embalmer who had been silent till that +moment. "The pharaoh conquer the priests!" + +"Why not?" + +"But hast Thou ever seen that a lion tore down a pyramid?" + +"Nonsense!" + +"Or that a buffalo tossed it apart?" + +"Of course he cannot toss it." + +"Or that a tempest overturned it." + +"What has this man begun at today?" + +"Well, I tell thee that sooner will a lion, a buffalo, or a tempest +overturn the great pyramid than the pharaoh put an end to the +priesthood. Even if that pharaoh were a lion, a buffalo, and a tempest +in one person." + +"Hei ye, there!" cried men from above. "Is the corpse ready?" + +"Yes, yes; but its jaw has fallen," answered they at the entrance. + +"All one give it up here, for Isis must go to the city an hour from +now." + +After a while the golden boat with the dead pharaoh was raised by means +of ropes to an internal balcony. + +From the entrance it went into a great hall, painted in the color of +the sky, and ornamented with golden stars. Through the whole length of +the hall, from one wall to the other, was fixed a balcony in the form +of an arch the ends of which were one story high and the centre a story +and a half. + +The hall represented the dome of heaven, the balcony the road of the +sun in the sky. The late pharaoh was to represent Osiris, or the sun, +which passes from the east to the west. + +On the pavement of the hall stood a throng of priests and priestesses +who, while waiting for the solemnity, conversed about indifferent +subjects. + +"Ready!" cried they from the balcony. + +Conversation ceased. Above was heard the sound of a metal plate beaten +thrice and on the balcony appeared the golden boat of the sun in which +the late pharaoh was advancing. + +Below sounded the hymn in honor of the sun: + +"Behold he appears in a cloud to separate the sky from the earth, and +later to connect them. + +"Hidden unceasingly in all things, he alone lives, in him all things +exist through eternity." + +The boat moved gradually upward on the balcony; finally it halted at +the highest point. + +Then at the lower end of the arch appeared a priestess, arrayed as the +goddess Tsis, with her son Horus, and with equal slowness she began to +ascend. That was an image of the moon, which follows the sun. + +Now the boat from the top of the arch began to go toward the west, and +the chorus below sang again: + +"The god incarnate in all things, the spirit of Shu in all gods. He is +the body of a living person, the creator of the tree which bears fruit, +the causer of fertilizing overflows. Without him nothing lives in the +earthly circle." [Authentic hymn.] + +The boat vanished at the western termination of the balcony, Isis and +Horus stopped at the summit of the arch. A crowd of priests ran to the +boat, took out the corpse of the pharaoh and placed it on a marble +table, as Osiris to rest after his toils of the day. + +Now to the dead man came the dissector, dressed as the god Typhon. On +his head were a horrid mask and a red tangled wig, on his shoulders the +skin of a wild boar, and in his hand an Ethiopian stone knife. + +With this knife he began quickly to cut off the soles of the dead +pharaoh's sandals. + +"What art Thou doing, O Typhon, to thy sleeping brother?" asked Isis +from the balcony. + +"I am scraping the feet of my brother Osiris, so that he may not befoul +heaven with earthly dust," replied the dissector dressed as Typhon. + +When he had cut off the soles, the dissector took a bent wire, thrust +it into the nostrils of the deceased and began to extract his brains. +Next he made an opening in his body, and through that opening drew out +quickly the heart, lungs, and viscera. + +During this time the assistants of Typhon brought four great urns +adorned with the heads of the gods Hape, Emset, Duamut and Quebhsneuf, +and in each of those urns he placed some internal organ of the deceased +pharaoh. + +"But what art Thou doing, O brother Typhon?" inquired Isis a second +time. + +"I am purifying my brother Osiris of earthly things, so that he may +become more beautiful," replied the dissector. + +At the side of the marble table was a vat of water with soda in +solution. The dissectors, when they had cleaned the body, put it into +the vat where it was to soak seventy days. + +Meanwhile Isis, when she had passed over the entire vault, approached +the chamber where the dissectors had cleaned the pharaoh's body. She +looked at the marble table, and, seeing that it was empty, inquired in +terror, + +"Where is my brother? Where is my divine consort?" + +Thereupon thunder roared, trumpets and bronze plates sounded; the +dissector disguised as Typhon burst into laughter, and cried, + +"O beautiful Isis, who in company with the stars delightest the night, +thy consort exists not. Never again will the radiant Osiris sit in the +golden boat, never again will that sun appear on the firmament. I have +done this, I, Set, and I have hidden him so deeply that none of the +gods, nor all the gods together will find him." + +At these words the goddess rent her garments, she groaned and tore her +hair. Again sounded trumpets, thunder, and plates; among the priests +and priestesses an uproar began, then shouting and curses. Suddenly all +rushed at Typhon crying, + +"Cursed spirit of darkness! Thou rousest the whirlwinds of the desert, +Thou rousest the sea, darkenest the light of day! Mayst Thou fall into +the pit from which the father of the gods himself could not free thee. +Cursed! Cursed Set! May thy name be a disgust and a terror!" + +While cursing in this way they all attacked Typhon with fists and +clubs; the red-haired god fled, and rushed at last out of the building. + +Again the bronze plates sounded thrice, and the solemnity was ended. + +"Well, that is enough!" cried the senior priest to the assembly which +had begun to fight in earnest. "Thou, Isis, mayest return to the city, +but the rest of us must go to other departed ones who are waiting for +our services. We must not neglect the ordinary dead, for it is unknown +how much they will pay us for this one." + +"Not much indeed!" interrupted the embalmer. "People say that there is +nothing in the treasury, while the Phoenicians threaten to cease +lending unless new rights are given them." + +"May death destroy all those Phoenicians! Soon a man will be forced to +beg a barley cake of them; even now they have snatched away +everything." + +"But unless they lend the pharaoh money we shall get nothing for the +funeral." + +Conversation ceased gradually, and those present left the heavenly +hall. Only at the vat where the body of the pharaoh lay steeping was a +guard left. + +All this solemnity, representing the legend of the slaying of Osiris +(the sun) by Typhon (the god of night and crime), served to open and +clean the body of the pharaoh, and in this way prepare it for the +embalming proper. + +During seventy days the departed must lie in a solution of soda, in +memory, it seems, of this, that the wicked Typhon had sunk the body of +his brother in the Soda Lakes. During all these days a priestess, +dressed as Isis, came to the heavenly hall, morning and evening. There, +groaning and tearing her hair, she inquired of all present whether any +one had seen her divine consort and brother. + +At the expiration of that time of mourning, Horus, the son and heir of +Osiris, with his suite appeared in the hall, and they were the first to +see the vat with the solution. + +"Might we look here for the remains of my father and brother?" asked +Horus. + +So they searched and found; amid the immense delight of the priests, +with sounds of music, they removed the body of the pharaoh from the +strengthening bath. + +The body was put into a stone cylinder through which passed a hot +breeze for a number of days, and, when the body was dried they gave it +to the embalmers. + +Now began the most important ceremonies, which were performed by the +supreme priests of the court of the dead: + +The body of the departed, turned head southward, they washed with +consecrated water and the interior with palm wine. On the pavement, +which was sprinkled with ashes, sat wailing women who tore their hair +and scratched their faces; they bewailed the late pharaoh. Around the +couch where the body lay were assembled priests dressed as gods. These +were Isis naked with a crown of the pharaohs, the youthful Horns, +Anubis with a jackal head, bird-headed Tot with tablets in his hands, +and many others. + +Under the inspection of this worthy assembly, specialists began to fill +the body with strongly odorous plants and sawdust, they even poured in +odorous resin, all amid prayers. Then in his eye-sockets they inserted +glass eyes set in bronze. After that the whole body was sprinkled with +powdered soda. + +Another priest appeared now who explained to those present that the +body of the departed was the body of Osiris, that his qualities were +the qualities of Osiris. "The magic qualities of his left temple are +the qualities of the god Turn and his right eye is the eye of the god +Turn, whose rays pierce through darkness. His left eye is the eye of +Horus, which dazzles every living creature; the upper lip that of Isis, +and the lower that of Nefthys. The neck of the departed is the goddess, +his hands are divine spirits, his fingers the heavenly serpents, sons +of the goddess Setkit. His sides are the two feathers of Amon, his back +the backbone of Sib, his belly is the good Nue." [Maspero] + +Another priest spoke, + +"A mouth was given me for speaking, feet for walking, hands to overturn +my enemies. I rise from the dead, I exist, I open heaven; I do what has +been commanded me in Memphis." [Authentic] + +Meanwhile on the neck of the departed they hung a scarab made of a +precious stone, on which was this inscription: "O my heart, heart which +I received from my mother, which I had when I was on earth, O heart do +not rise against me and do not give evil witness in the day of +judgment." [Authentic] + +Next priests wound around each arm and foot, each finger and toe of the +dead, strips on which were written prayers and spells. Those strips +they fastened with gum and balsam. On the breast and on the neck they +placed complete manuscripts of the Book of the Dead with the following +meditations which the priests read aloud over the body, + +"I am he before whom no god puts an obstacle. + +"Who is that? + +"He is Turn on his shield, he is Ra on his shield, which rises in the +east of heaven. + +"I am Yesterday and I know Tomorrow. + +"Who is he? + +"Yesterday is Osiris, Tomorrow is Ra on the day when he annihilates the +enemies of the Lord who is above all and when he consecrates his son +Horus. In other words, in the day when his father Ra meets the coffin +of Osiris. He conquers the gods at command of Osiris, the lord of the +mountain Amenti. + +"What is that? + +"Amenti is a creation of the soul of the gods, at command of Osiris, +the lord of the mountain. + +"In other words, Amenti is that impulse roused by Ra. Every god who +arrives there carries on a battle. I know the great god who dwells +there. + +"I am from my country, I come from my city, I destroy evil, I set aside +that which is not good, I remove uncleanness from myself, I betake +myself to the country of dwellers in heaven, I enter through the mighty +gate. + +"O ye comrades, give me a hand, for I shall be one of you." ["Book of +the Dead."] + +When every member of the departed was covered with prayer bandages, and +furnished with amulets, when he had a sufficient supply of meditations +to find the way in the region of the gods, it was proper to think of a +document which would open the gate of that region. For between the tomb +and heaven forty-two terrible judges were waiting for the dead man; +these, under presidency of Osiris, examined his earthly life. Only when +the heart of the departed, weighed in the scales of justice, appeared +equal to the goddess of truth, when the god Dutes, who writes on his +tablets the deeds of the dead, considered it just, only then did Horus +take the soul by the hand and lead it before the throne of Osiris. + +So that the dead might be able to justify himself before the court it +was necessary to wrap the mummy in a papyrus on which was written a +general confession. While they were winding him in this document the +priest spoke clearly and with emphasis, so that the dead might not +forget: + +"Lords of truth, I bring thee truth itself. I have not done evil to any +man treacherously. I have not made any one near me unfortunate. I have +not permitted myself any lewdness or abusive word in the house of +veracity. I have had no intimacy with evil. I have committed nothing +bad. As a superior I have not commanded my subordinates to work beyond +their strength. No one through my fault has become afraid, poor, +suffering, or unhappy. I have done nothing of any kind which the gods +would despise. I have not tormented a slave. I have not killed him with +hunger. I have not forced tears from him. I have not slain. I have not +commanded to kill a slave treacherously. I have not lied, I have not +plundered the property of temples. I have not decreased incomes devoted +to the gods. I have not taken away the bread or the bandages of +mummies. I have not committed sin with the priest of my district. I +have not taken from him or decreased his property. I have not used +false weights. I have not snatched away an infant from the breast of +its nurse. I have never committed anything bestial. I have not caught +in nets birds devoted to the gods. I have not hindered the inundation +of water. I have not turned away the course of canals. I have not +quenched fire at a time that was improper, I have not stolen from the +gods offerings which they had chosen. I am pure I am pure I am pure." +["Book of the Dead." This is one of the loftiest documents left us by +antiquity.] + +When the departed was able, thanks to the Book of the Dead to help +himself in the region of eternity, and above all when he knew how to +justify himself before the court of the forty-two gods, the priests +furnished him still further with an introduction to this book, and +explained to him orally its immense importance. In view of this the +embalmers who surrounded the fresh mummy of the pharaoh withdrew and a +high priest of that quarter came and whispered into the ear of the +departed: + +"Know that through the possession of this book Thou shalt belong to the +living and attain to great significance among gods. Know that, thanks +to it, no one will dare to oppose thee. The gods themselves will +approach thee and embrace thee, for Thou wilt belong to their company. + +"Know that this book informs thee of what was at the beginning. No man +has uttered it, no eye has seen it, no ear has heard it. This book is +truth itself, but no one has ever known it. Let it be seen only through +thee and through him who will behold thee in it. Add to it no +commentary which thy memory or imagination might suggest to thee. It is +written entirely in the hall where the departed are embalmed. It is a +great secret which no common man knows, not one in the world. + +"This book will be thy nourishment in the lower region of spirits, it +will give thy soul means of sojourn on the earth, it will give it life +eternal, and effect this, that no one will have power over thee." +["Book of the Dead."] + +The remains of the pharaoh were arrayed in costly garments, with a gold +mask on the face, with bracelets on the wrists, and with rings on the +hands, which were crossed on the breast. Under the head was put a +support of ivory, such as Egyptians were accustomed to sleep on. +Finally the body was enclosed in three coffins: one of paper covered +with inscriptions, one of cedar which was gilt, and one of marble. The +form of the first two corresponded accurately to the form of the body; +even the sculptured face was like the original, though smiling. + +After a stay of three months in the quarter of the dead the mummy of +the pharaoh was ready for a solemn funeral; therefore it was taken back +to the palace. + + + +CHAPTER LIV + +During seventy days, in the course of which the revered remains were +steeping in the solution of soda, Egypt was in mourning. + +The temples were closed; there were no processions. All music ceased; +no feasts were given. Dancing women became wailers; instead of dancing +they tore their hair; this also brought them income. + +No one drank wine, no one ate meat. The highest dignitaries went in +coarse garments and barefoot. No one shaved (with the exception of +priests); the most devoted did not wash, they smeared their faces with +mud, and scattered ashes on their hair. + +From the Mediterranean to the first cataract of the Nile, from the +Libyan desert to the peninsula of Sinai reigned sadness and silence. +The sun of Egypt had quenched, had gone to the West, the giver of life +and gladness had deserted his servants. + +In the highest circles the most fashionable conversation touched the +universal sorrow, which was communicated even to nature. + +"Hast Thou not observed," said one dignitary to another, "that the days +are shorter and darker?" + +"I did not wish to unburden myself of this before thee," replied the +other, "but it is so in reality. I have even noticed that fewer stars +shine at night, and that the full moon lasts a shorter time, and the +new moon longer than usual." + +"The shepherds say that cattle at pasture will not eat, they only +bellow." + +"And I have heard from hunters that lions are reduced by weeping; they +do not attack deer, for lions eat no meat at present." + +"A terrible time! Come to me this evening and we will drink a glass of +mourning liquor which my cellarer has invented." + +"Thou hast, I suppose, dark beer of Sidon?" + +"May the gods forbid that at this time we should use drinks which +rejoice people. The liquor which my cellarer has invented is not beer; +it is more like wine mixed with musk and fragrant plants." + +"A very proper drink when our lord is sojourning in the quarter of the +dead, where the odor of musk and embalming herbs is always prevalent." + +Thus during seventy days did dignitaries mortify themselves. + +The first quiver of delight ran through Egypt when it was announced +from the quarter of the dead that the body of the sovereign had been +taken from the soda bath, and that embalmers and priests were +performing ceremonies over it. + +That day for the first time people cut their hair and whoso had the +wish washed himself. But in fact there was no need of mortification, +since Horus had found the remains of Osiris. The ruler of Egypt, thanks +to the art of embalmers, had received life, and, thanks to the prayers +of the priests and the Book of the Dead, he had become equal to the +gods. + +From that moment on, the late pharaoh, Mer-Amen-Ramses, was called +"Osiris" officially; unofficially, he had been called that since his +death. + +The innate joyfulness of the Egyptian people began to gain the victory +over mourning, especially among warriors, artisans, and laborers. +Delight took on, among common people, forms which at times were +inappropriate. Reports began to circulate, it was unknown where they +had originated, that the new pharaoh, whom the whole people loved +instinctively, intended to occupy himself with improving the condition +of earth-tillers, laborers, and even captives. For this cause it +happened, an unheard-of thing, that masons, cabinet makers, potters, +instead of drinking quietly and speaking of their own occupation, or +family interests, dared to complain in dramshops, not only of taxes, +but even to complain of the power of the priesthood. And earth-tillers, +instead of devoting time free of labor to prayers and the memory of +their ancestors, told one another how well it would be if each man had +some bit of land as his own, and could rest one day in seven. + +Of the army, and especially foreign regiments, nothing was to be said. +Those men imagined that they were the most noted class in Egypt, and if +they were not, they would soon be, after some fortunate war in the near +future. + +But the nomarchs, the nobility living on estates, and above all, the +high priests of various temples mourned their deceased lord with +solemnity, though they might have rejoiced, since the pharaoh had +become Osiris. + +Taking things as they were, the new ruler had interfered with no one +thus far, hence the cause of grief for dignitaries lay in those same +reports which delighted common people. The nomarchs and the nobility +grieved at the thought that their earth-tillers might be idle fifty +days in a year, and, what was worse, possess land, though even of an +extent on which a tomb might be erected. Priests grew pale and gritted +their teeth when they saw the management of Ramses XIII and the way in +which he treated them. + +In fact, immense changes had taken place in the pharaoh's palace. + +The pharaoh had transferred his residence to one of the wing buildings, +in which almost all the chambers were occupied by generals. In the +cellars Greek warriors were quartered, on the first story the guard, in +the chambers along the wall, Ethiopians. Guard around the building was +kept by Asiatics, and near the chambers of his holiness was quartered +that squadron from which were selected the warriors who had accompanied +their lord when he hunted Tehenna through the desert. + +What was worse, his holiness, in spite of the recent rebellion of the +Libyans restored to them his favor; he condemned none to punishment, +and gave them his confidence. + +That corps of priests who had been in the main palace remained with him +it is true, and performed religious ceremonies under the direction of +his worthiness Sera. But as the priests did not accompany the pharaoh +to meals, to dinners and suppers, their food was far from exquisite. + +In vain did the holy men declare that they must feed the +representatives of nineteen dynasties, and a multitude of gods. The +treasurer, noting the intention of the pharaoh, answered that flowers +and perfumes were sufficient for gods and ancestors, and that prophets +like themselves, as morality commanded, should eat barley cakes and +drink beer or water. To support these rude theories the treasurer +referred to the example of Sem, the holy high priest, who lived like a +penitent, and what was worse, he told them that his holiness, with the +generals, had a military kitchen. + +In view of this, the priests of the palace began to consider whether +they had not better leave the stinted house of the pharaoh and go to +their own dwellings at temples where their duties would be easier, and +where hunger would not twist their entrails. + +They would have done this before, had not the worthy Herhor and Mefres +commanded them to remain in their places. + +But the position of Herhor near the new pharaoh was not favorable. The +all-powerful minister, who had till of late almost never left the +chambers of the pharaoh, sat now alone in his villa, and frequently he +did not see the new ruler for ten days in succession. He was still +minister of war, but he gave out almost no orders. The pharaoh himself +settled all military questions. He alone read reports of generals; he +alone decided doubtful questions, while his adjutants took from the +minister of war the necessary documents. + +If his worthiness Herhor was ever called before the sovereign it was +only to be reprimanded. + +Nevertheless, all dignitaries acknowledged that the new pharaoh worked +with great diligence. + +Ramses XIII rose before sunrise, he bathed and burnt incense before the +statue of Osiris. Immediately afterward he heard the reports of the +supreme judge, the chief scribe of the granaries and stables in the +whole country, the high treasurer, finally, the chief of his palaces. +This last dignitary suffered most, for there was no day when his lord +did not tell him that the court cost too much, and kept too many +persons. + +In the palace dwelt several hundred women of the late pharaoh with a +corresponding number of servants and children. The chief of the palace, +being reproached continually, dismissed from day to day a number of +persons, and limited the allowances of others. At the end of a month, +therefore, all the ladies of the court ran weeping and wailing to Queen +Niort's, and begged her to rescue them. + +The worthy lady betook herself to the pharaoh, and, falling on her +face, begged him to take compassion on the women of his father, and not +let them die in destitution. + +The pharaoh listened to her with frowning brows and commanded the chief +of the court not to extend his saving farther. But at the same time he +told the most worthy lady that after the funeral of his father the +women would be removed from the palace and sent to the country. + +"Our court," said he, "costs about thirty thousand talents yearly, or +once and a half as much as the whole army. I cannot expend such a sum +without ruining myself and the kingdom." + +"Do as may please thee," answered the queen. "Egypt is thine. But I +fear that the persons rejected from the court will become thy enemies." + +At this he took his mother by the hand, led her to the window, and +pointed to a forest of spears held by infantry drilling in the +courtyard. + +This act of the pharaoh produced an unexpected effect. The queen's +eyes, which a moment before gleamed with pride, were filled with tears. +All at once she bent and kissed her son's hand, saying with emotion, + +"Thou art, indeed, the son of Isis and Osiris, and I did well when I +yielded thee to the goddess. Egypt at last has a ruler." + +From that time the worthy lady never appealed to her son in any +question. And when she was asked for protection, she answered, + +"I am the servant of his holiness and I advise you to carry out his +commands without resistance. All he does comes from inspiration of the +gods. And who can oppose the gods?" + +After breakfast the pharaoh was occupied in affairs of the ministry of +war, and the treasury; about three in the afternoon, surrounded by a +great suite, he went to the troops encamped outside Memphis, and +reviewed them. + +Indeed, the greatest changes had taken place in the military condition. + +In less than two months his holiness had organized five new regiments, +or rather he had reestablished those disbanded during the reign of his +father. He dismissed officers addicted to drunkenness and gambling, +also those who tortured warriors. + +Into the military bureaus, where priests alone had held office, he +introduced his most capable adjutants, who very soon mastered important +documents relative to the army. He commanded to make a list of all men +in the state who belonged to the military order, but who for years had +not fulfilled any duty. He opened two new schools, one for the +education of officers, and one for children of twelve years, and +renewed a custom then in abeyance, that youths in the army should +receive breakfast only after three hours' marching in line and in +column. + +Finally, no division of the army was permitted to dwell in villages, +all must live in camps or in barracks. Each regiment had its fixed +field of exercise, where for whole days the warriors hurled stones from +slings or shot arrows from bows at marks from one to two hundred yards +distant. + +A command was issued to all families of military rank that the men +should exercise themselves in hurling missiles under direction of +officers and decurions of the army. The command was carried out +straightway, therefore Egypt looked like a camp in no longer than two +months after the death of the twelfth Ramses. For even village or city +children, who before had played as scribes and priests, now, imitating +their elders, began to play as warriors. So on every square and in +every garden, from morning till evening, stones and arrows were +whistling, and the courts were filled with complaints about bodily +injuries. + +Egypt was transformed, as it were, and in spite of complaints a great +movement reigned in it, and all because of the new ruler. + +The pharaoh himself was pleased and his pride increased, seeing that +the whole state arranged itself to his wishes. + +But a moment arrived when he became gloomy. + +On the very day that the embalmers took the body of Ramses XII from the +soda bath, the chief treasurer, when making his usual report, said to +the pharaoh, + +"I know not what to do. We have two thousand talents in the treasury, +and for the funeral of the dead pharaoh we need at least one thousand." + +"How, two thousand?" asked Ramses, with astonishment. "When I assumed +power Thou didst tell me that we had twenty thousand." + +"We have expended eighteen." + +"In two months?" + +"Our outlays are enormous." + +"True, but new taxes come in every day." + +"The taxes, I know not why, have decreased again, and do not come in so +plentifully as I expected. But they too are expended. Be pleased to +remember, holiness, that we have five new regiments; hence, about eight +thousand men have left their occupations and live at the cost of the +treasury." + +The pharaoh grew thoughtful. + +"We must," said he, "make a new loan. Come to an understanding with +Herhor and Mefres, so that the temples may lend to us." + +"I have spoken with them. The temples will lend us nothing." + +"The prophets are offended," said the pharaoh, smiling. "In that case +we must call in unbelievers. Send to me Dagon." + +Toward evening the pharaoh's banker came. He fell on the pavement +before Ramses and offered him a golden goblet set with jewels. + +"Now I can die!" said Dagon, "since my most gracious sovereign has +mounted the throne." + +"But before thy death, find me a few thousand talents," said his +holiness to the kneeling banker. + +The Phoenician was alarmed. Could he feign great embarrassment? + +"Rather command me, holiness, to seek pearls in the Nile, for I shall +perish at once, and my lord will not suspect me of ill-will toward him. +But to find such a sum today!" + +Ramses XIII was astounded. + +"How is this?" inquired he. "Then have the Phoenicians no money for +me?" + +"Our blood, our lives, our children we will give thee, holiness. But +money where can we find it? + +"Formerly the temples gave us loans at fifteen or twenty per cent +yearly, but since, as heir to the throne, Thou wert in the temple of +Hator at Pi-Bast the priests have refused us every credit. + +"If they could they would expel us from Egypt, or, more gladly, they +would destroy us. Ah, what we suffer because of them. The earth-tillers +do what they like and whenever they like. As rent they give us what +drops from their noses. If we strike one of them they rebel to the last +man, and if an unfortunate Phoenician goes for redress to a court he +either loses his case or pays terribly. + +"Our hours in this land are numbered," wailed Dagon. + +The pharaoh frowned. + +"I will take up these matters," answered he, "and the courts will give +thee justice. Meanwhile, I need about five thousand talents." + +"Where shall we get them, O lord?" groaned out Dagon. "Find us +purchasers, holiness, and we will sell all our property movable and +immovable, only to carry out thy commands. But where are the +purchasers? There are none except the priests, who would value our +property at a trifle, and then not pay ready money." + +"Send to Tyre, to Sidon," interrupted Ramses. "Each of those cities +might lend, not five, but a hundred thousand talents." + +"Tyre and Sidon!" repeated Dagon. "Today all Phoenicia is collecting +gold and jewels to pay the Assyrians. Envoys of King Assar are circling +about through our country and they say that if we pay a liberal sum +yearly the King and the satraps not only will not oppress us, but will +offer us more profits than those which we have now in Egypt, O +holiness, through thy favor." + +The pharaoh grew pale and set his teeth. The banker noted this and +added, quickly, + +"But why should I waste thy time, holiness, with my stupid talk? Here +in Memphis is Prince Hiram; he perhaps will explain all this to my lord +far better than I can, for he is a sage and a member of the supreme +council in our cities." + +"Send him hither quickly," replied Ramses, "for thy conversation with +me, Dagon, is not that of a banker, but of a wailing woman at a +funeral." + +The Phoenician touched the floor once again with his forehead, and +inquired, + +"What if the worthy Hiram cannot come immediately? It is late now, it +is true. But he is in such fear of the priests that he would rather +come at night to do homage, O holiness." + +The pharaoh bit his lips, but agreed to that project; so he sent +Tutmosis with the banker to conduct Hiram to the palace by secret +passages. + + + +CHAPTER LV + +ABOUT ten in the evening Hiram stood before his lord. He was dressed in +the dark robe of a Memphis huckster. + +"Why dost Thou steal in thus, worthiness?" inquired Ramses. "Is my +palace a prison, or a house of lepers?" + +"Ah, our sovereign!" sighed the old Phoenician. "Since Thou hast become +lord of Egypt the criminals are those who dare to see thee and not give +account of what Thou art pleased to tell them." + +"To whom must ye repeat my words?" inquired the pharaoh. + +Hiram raised his eyes and hands to heaven. + +"Holiness, thou knowest thy enemies," said he. + +"Thou knowest, worthiness, why I have summoned thee. I wish to borrow a +few thousand talents." + +Hiram made a hissing noise through his teeth, so that the pharaoh +permitted him to sit in his presence, which was the highest honor. When +he had disposed himself comfortably and rested, Hiram said, + +"Why shouldst Thou borrow, holiness, when Thou mayst have a rich +treasury?" + +"I know, when I shall get Nineveh," interrupted Ramses. "That time is +distant and I need money this day." + +"I speak not of war," answered Hiram; "I speak of an affair which would +bring large sums to the treasury immediately, and a permanent yearly +income." + +"How?" + +"Permit us, holiness, and assist us to dig a canal which would join the +Red Sea with the Mediterranean." + +"Art Thou jesting, old man?" cried the pharaoh, springing up from his +seat. "Who could do such a work, and who could wish to endanger Egypt? +The sea would inundate the country." + +"What sea? Neither the Mediterranean nor the Red Sea would," answered +Hiram calmly. "I know that Egyptian priests who are engineers have +examined this work and have calculated that it would give immense +profit, it is the best work on earth. But they wish to do it +themselves, or rather they do not wish that the pharaoh should do it." + +"Where are thy proofs?" asked Ramses. + +"I have not the proofs, but I will send a priest, holiness, who will +explain the whole affair to thee, with plans and estimates." + +"Who is this priest?" + +Hiram thought a moment and then asked, + +"Have I thy promise, holiness, that no one will know of him except us? +He, lord, will render more service than I. He knows many secrets and +many iniquities of the priesthood." + +"I promise," answered the pharaoh. + +"This priest is Samentu. He is a great sage, but needs money, and he is +very ambitious. And since the high priests degrade him he will overturn +the order of priests; for he knows many secrets oh, many!" + +Ramses meditated. He understood that that priest was a great traitor, +but he estimated the magnitude of the service which the man might +render. + +"Well," said the pharaoh, "I will think of this Samentu. But now let us +suppose for the moment that it is possible to make such a canal; what +profit shall I have from it?" + +Hiram raised his left hand, and counted on his fingers. + +"First, holiness, Phoenicia will give thee five thousand talents of +unpaid tribute; second, Phoenicia will pay for the right of doing this +work; third, when the work begins we will pay one thousand talents of +yearly rent, and besides as many talents as Egypt furnishes us tens of +laborers; fourth, for every Egyptian engineer we will give to thee, +holiness, a talent a year; fifth, when the work is finished Thou wilt +give us the canal for one hundred years, and we will pay for that one +thousand talents yearly. Are those small gains?" inquired Hiram. + +"But now, today," asked Ramses, "would ye give me those five thousand +talents tribute?" + +"If the treaty is made today we will give ten thousand, and we will add +three thousand as an advance of rent for a three years' period." + +Ramses meditated. More than once Phoenicians had proposed the cutting +of this canal to the rulers of Egypt, but they had always met the +unbending resistance of the priesthood. The Egyptian sages explained to +the pharaoh that that canal would expose the country to inundations +from the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. But Hiram asserted that such a +thing would not happen; the priests knew that it would not. + +"Ye Phoenicians," said the pharaoh, after a long time, "promise to pay +one thousand talents yearly for one hundred years. Ye say that that +canal dug in the sand is the best affair in the world. I do not +understand this, and I confess, Hiram, that I am suspicious." + +Hiram's eyes flashed. + +"Lord," replied he, "I mil tell thee everything, but I abjure thee by +thy crown, by the shade of thy father, not to discover the secret to +any one. This is the greatest secret of the Chaldean and Egyptian +priests, and even of Phoenicia. On it depends the future of the world." + +"Well, well, Hiram," answered the pharaoh with a smile. + +"To thee, O pharaoh," continued the Phoenician, "the gods have given +wisdom, nobility, and energy, therefore, Thou art on our side. Thou, +alone, of earthly rulers mayst be initiated, for Thou art the only one +who will be able to accomplish great objects. For this reason Thou wilt +have power such as no man has ever reached before thee." + +Ramses felt the sweetness of pride in his heart, but he mastered his +feelings. + +"Praise me not for what I have not done; but explain to me what profit +will come from this canal to Phoenicia and to Egypt?" + +Hiram straightened himself in the chair, and began in a lowered voice, + +"Know, lord, that east, north, and south of Assyria and Babylon are not +morasses inhabited by strange monsters, but immense states and +countries. Those countries are so great that thy foot warriors, O +holiness, renowned for marching, would have to move eastward two years +without halt before they could reach the end of them." + +Ramses raised his brows like one who permits some man to lie, but knows +that he is lying. + +"Southeast of Babylon, ac the great sea, dwell one hundred millions of +people who have mighty kings, who have priests wiser than those of +Egypt, who have ancient books, and skilled artisans. Those people know +how to make woven stuffs, implements and vessels as beautiful as those +of the Egyptians, and from time immemorial they have temples above +ground and underground, which are grander, richer, and larger than the +temples of Egypt." + +"Speak on, speak on!" said the pharaoh. But it was impossible to learn +from his face whether his curiosity was roused by the description, or +he was indignant at the untruth of the Phoenician. + +"In those countries," continued Hiram, "are pearls, precious stones, +gold, copper; in those countries grow the most curious grains, flowers, +and fruits; finally they have forests where a man might wander whole +months among trees thicker than the columns in the temples of Egypt and +taller than palms. The inhabitants of those countries are mild and +simple. And, holiness, if Thou wouldst send thither two regiments on +ships, Thou wouldst be able to win an area of land larger than Egypt, +richer than the treasures of the labyrinth. If Thou permit, I will send +thee to-morrow specimens of the woven stuffs of those regions, with +bronzes and woods from them. I will send also two grains of a wondrous +balsam from those countries; if a man swallows this balsam, it opens +the gates of eternity before him, and he experiences the happiness +which falls to divinities only." + +"I beg thee to send specimens of the stuffs, and the utensils. As to +the balsam, never mind! We shall enjoy eternity and the gods without it +sufficiently after death." + +"But far, very far east of Assyria," added Hiram, "lie still greater +countries, countries which have two hundred millions of inhabitants." + +"How easy millions come to you Phoenicians," laughed Ramses. + +Hiram placed his baud on his heart. + +"I swear," said he, "by the souls of my ancestors, and by my honor that +I am telling truth." + +The pharaoh was moved; such a great oath arrested his attention. + +"Speak on speak!" said he. + +"These last lands," continued the Phoenician, "are very wonderful. They +are inhabited by people with yellow skin and sloping eyes. Those people +have a sovereign who is called the Son of Heaven, and he governs +through sages, who are not priests, however, and have not such power as +priests have in Egypt. Still those people are like the Egyptians. They +honor dead ancestors and take great care of their remains. They use +writing which calls to mind the writing of Egyptian priests. But they +wear long robes of such stuffs as are unknown in this country; they +have sandals which are like little benches, and they cover their heads +with pointed boxes. The roofs of their houses are pointed too at the +top, and are turned up at the edges. + +"Those uncommon people have a grain which is more plentiful than +Egyptian wheat, and they make of it a drink which is stronger than +wine. They have a plant the leaves of which give strength to the +members, gladness to the mind, and which enables them even to dispense +with sleep. They have paper which they adorn with many colored images, +and they have clay which after it is burned shines like glass, and is +as resonant as metal. + +"Tomorrow, if Thou permit, holiness, I will send specimens of the works +of these people." + +"Thou art narrating wonders, Hiram. But I do not see the connection +between those things and the canal which Thou wishest to dig." + +"I will tell in brief," replied the Phoenician. "When there is a canal +all the Phoenician and Egyptian fleets will sail on the Red Sea and +beyond it; in the course of a couple of months they will reach those +rich countries which by land are almost inaccessible. + +"But dost Thou not see, holiness," continued he, with gleaming eyes, +"the treasures which we shall find there? Gold, precious stones, grain, +woods? I swear to thee, lord," added he with enthusiasm, "that gold +will be cheaper than copper is now, wood will be cheaper than straw, +and a slave cheaper than a cow. Only let us, lord, dig the canal, and +hire fifty thousand of thy warriors." + +Ramses, too, was excited. + +"Fifty thousand warriors," repeated he. "But what will ye give me for +this?" + +"I have said already, holiness. One thousand talents yearly for the +right to work, and five thousand for the workmen, to whom we will give +food and wages." + +"But ye will kill them with work?" + +"May the gods forbid! There is no profit when workmen perish. Thy +warriors, holiness, will not work more at the canal than today on roads +and at fortresses but what glory for thee, lord! what income for the +treasury, what profit for Egypt! The poorest earth-tiller will have a +wooden cottage, some cattle, tools, and furniture, and as I live, a +slave. No pharaoh has ever raised the state to such a height or carried +out such a work. + +"What will dead and useless pyramids be in comparison with a canal to +facilitate the passage of treasures to the whole world?" + +"Yes," added the pharaoh, "and fifty thousand warriors on the eastern +boundary." + +"Of course!" exclaimed Hiram. "In view of that force, which will cost +thee nothing, holiness, Assyria will not dare to stretch a hand toward +Phoenicia." + +The project was so brilliant and promised such profit that Ramses XIII +felt dazed by it. But he mastered himself. + +"Hiram," said he, "Thou art making splendid promises. So splendid that +I fear lest Thou art concealing behind them some less favorable +outcome. Therefore I must think over this matter deeply and take +counsel with the priests." + +"They will never consent of themselves!" exclaimed the Phoenician. +"Though may the gods forgive me the blasphemy I am certain that if +today the highest power were in the hands of the priests they would +summon us in a couple of months to make the canal for them." + +Ramses looked with cold contempt at Hiram. + +"Old man," said he, "leave me to care for the obedience of the priests, +and do Thou present proofs that what Thou hast said is true. I should +be a very poor sovereign were I unable to remove obstacles springing up +between my will and the interests of Egypt." + +"Thou art indeed a great sovereign, our lord," whispered Hiram, bending +to the floor. + +It was then late at night. The Phoenician took farewell of the pharaoh +and left the palace with Tutmosis. The following day he sent through +Dagon a box with specimens of wealth from the unknown countries. + +The pharaoh found in it statues of gods, woven stuffs, rings from +India, small morsels of opium, and in a second division handfuls of +rice, leaves of tea, two porcelain cups ornamented with pictures, and a +number of drawings made on paper with China ink and colors. He examined +them with the greatest attention and confessed that those articles were +new to him: the rice, the paper, the pictures of people with pointed +hats and sloping eyes. + +He had no doubt now that a new region existed which differed in every +way from Egypt: in mountains, trees, houses, bridges, ships. + +"And that country has existed for ages undoubtedly," thought he; "our +priests know of it, they know of its wealth, but say nothing. Evidently +they are traitors who wish to limit the power of the pharaoh and +impoverish him so as to push him down from the height of the throne +afterward. + +"But O ye my ancestors and my heirs," said he in spirit, "I call you to +witness that I will put a limit to these iniquities; I will elevate +wisdom, but I will stamp out deceit, and I will give Egypt hours of +rest from labor." + +Thinking thus, he raised his eyes and beheld Dagon waiting for an +answer. + +"Thy box is very curious," said he to the banker, "but this is not what +I asked of thee." + +The Phoenician approached him on tiptoe and, kneeling before him, +whispered, + +"Deign holiness, to sign a treaty with the worthy Hiram, then Tyre and +Sidon will place all their treasures at thy feet." + +Ramses frowned. He was displeased by the insolence of the Phoenicians +who dared to lay down conditions to him; so he answered coldly, + +"I will reflect and give Hiram my answer. Thou mayst withdraw, Dagon." + +After the Phoenician had gone, Ramses meditated again; a reaction began +in him, + +"Those hucksters," said he in his heart, "consider me as one of +themselves, nay more, they dare to hold up to me a bag of gold from +afar so as to extort a treaty! I know not that any of the pharaohs +admitted them to such confidence! I must change. The men who fall on +their faces before the envoys of Assar may not say to me, 'Sign and +Thou wilt get!' Stupid Phoenician rats, who steal into the pharaoh's +palace and look on it as their own den a moment later!" + +The longer he thought over it the more precisely he recalled the +bearing of Hiram and Dagon, the greater the auger that seized him, + +"How dare they how dare they lay conditions down to me? Hei, Tutmosis!" +cried he. + +His favorite stood before him immediately. + +"What dost Thou command, my lord?" + +"Send some one of the younger officers to Dagon to inform him that he +has ceased to be my banker. He is too stupid for such a lofty +position." + +"But to whom dost Thou predestine the honor, holiness?" + +"I know not at the moment. It will be necessary to find some one among +Egyptian or Greek merchants. In the last resort we will turn to the +priests." + +Information of this resolve went through all the palaces, and before an +hour it had reached Memphis. Throughout the whole city people said that +the Phoenicians were in disfavor with the pharaoh. Towards evening the +Egyptians had begun to break into the shops of the hated foreigners. + +The priests drew a breath of relief. Herhor even made a visit to holy +Mefres and said to him, + +"My heart felt that our lord would turn from those unbelievers who are +drinking the blood of the people. I think that it is proper for us to +show him gratitude." + +"And perhaps open the doors to our treasures?" asked Mefres, rudely. +"Hasten not, worthiness, I have divined this young man woe to us if +ever we let him get the upper hand." + +"But if he has broken with the Phoenicians?" + +"He will gain by that; for he will not pay his debts to them." + +"In my opinion," said Herhor, after some thought, "now is the moment in +which we can regain the favor of this youthful pharaoh. He is hasty in +anger, but he knows how to be grateful. I have experienced that. + +"Every word is an error," interrupted the stubborn Mefres. "First of +all, this prince is not the pharaoh yet, for he has not been crowned in +a temple. Second, he will never be a real pharaoh, since through +contempt he will never be ordained a high priest. And finally, we do +not need his favor, while he needs the favor of the gods, whom he +insults at every step he makes." + +Mefres, who had been panting from anger, stopped and began anew, + +"He spent a month in the temple of Hator, he listened to the highest +wisdom, and immediately afterward betook himself to the Phoenicians. +What do I say? He visited the idol house of Astarte and took thence a +priestess an offence against all religions. After that he reviled my +piety, in public; conspired with such frivolous minds as his own, and +with the aid of Phoenicians stole state secrets. And when he ascended +the throne I speak incorrectly, when he had barely stood on the first +step of the throne, he tried to make the priests odious; he disturbed +the earth-tillers and the warriors, and renewed vows with his friends +the Phoenicians. + +"Dost thou, worthy Herhor, forget all this? And if Thou remember, dost +Thou not understand the dangers which threaten us from this milksop? +Still he has under his hand the rudder of the ship of state, which he +pushes in among rocks and eddies. Who will assure me that this madman, +who yesterday summoned to his presence the Phoenicians, but quarreled +with them today, will not do something to-morrow which will expose +Egypt to destruction?" + +"And therefore, what?" inquired Herhor, looking into his eyes quickly. + +"This we have no reason to show him gratitude, which would really be +weakness. But since he wants money at once, we will not give him +money." + +"But but then what?" inquired Herhor. + +"Afterward he will govern the state and increase the army without +money," answered the irritated Mefres. + +"But if his famished army wants to rob temples?" + +"Ha! ha! ha!" burst out Mefres, but suddenly he grew serious and bowing +said in an ironical tone, + +"That pertains to thee, worthiness. A man who for so many years has +directed the state should prepare for such dangers." + +"Let us suppose," said Herhor, slowly, "that I can find means against +dangers to the state. But canst thou, worthiness, who art the senior +high priest, provide against insults to the priestly order and the +temples?" + +They looked each other in the eyes for a moment. + +"Dost Thou inquire whether I can? Whether I can? I need make no effort. +The gods have placed in my hands a thunderbolt which will destroy every +author of sacrilege." + +"Pst!" whispered Herhor. "Let that take place." + +"With the consent or without the consent of the supreme council of +priests," added Mefres. "When a boat is overturned there is no time to +discuss with the oarsmen." + +They parted in a gloomy state of mind. That same day in the evening the +Pharaoh summoned them. + +They came at the appointed time, each high priest separately. Each made +a profound obeisance to his lord, and each stood in a separate corner +without looking at the other. + +"Have they quarreled?" thought Ramses? "No harm in that!" + +A moment later the holy Sem and the prophet Pentuer came in. Then +Ramses sat on an elevation, indicated to the priests stools in front of +him, and said, + +"Holy fathers! I have not summoned you thus far to counsel because all +my orders related to military questions exclusively." + +"Thou hadst the right, holiness, not to call us," put in Herhor. + +"I have done what I was able in such a short time to strengthen the +defensive power of the state. I have formed two new schools for +officers and I have restored five regiments." + +"Thou hadst the right, lord," answered Mefres. + +"Of other military reforms I do not speak, since those questions do not +concern you, holy people." + +"Thou art right," said Mefres and Herhor together. + +"But there is another question," continued the pharaoh, satisfied with +the assent of the two dignitaries from whom he had expected opposition. +"The funeral day of my divine father is approaching, but the treasury +does not possess sufficient funds." + +Mefres rose from his stool. + +"Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses," said he, "was a just lord who for many years +assured peace to his people, and praise to the gods. Permit, holiness, +that the funeral of this pious pharaoh be performed at the expense of +the temples." + +Ramses XIII was astonished and was moved by the homage rendered his +father. He was silent for a while as if unable to find an answer; at +last he replied, + +"I am very thankful to you for the honor shown my father, who is equal +to the gods. I permit the funeral, and once more I thank you greatly." + +He stopped, rested his head on his hand and meditated, as if struggling +with himself. Suddenly he raised his head; his face was animated, his +eyes were gleaming. + +"I am moved," said he, "by this proof of your good-will. If the memory +of my father is so dear to you ye cannot have ill-will toward me." + +"Thou hast no doubt, I think, holiness, touching our goodwill?" said +the high priest Sem. + +"Thou art speaking truth," continued the pharaoh. "I suspected you +unjustly of prejudice toward me. I wish to correct my suspicion; I will +be sincere with you." + +"May the gods bless thee, holiness," said Herhor. + +"I will be sincere. My divine father, because of age, illness, and +perhaps priestly occupations, could not devote so much time to affairs +of state as I can. I am young, in health, free, hence I wish to rule, +myself, and will rule. As a leader must direct his army on his own +responsibility and according to his own plan, so shall I direct the +state. This is my express will and I shall not draw back from it. + +"But I understand that even were I the most experienced I could not +succeed without faithful servants and wise counselors. Therefore I +shall ask your advice sometimes on various questions." + +"To this end we constitute the supreme council near thy throne," +remarked Herhor. + +"I shall use," continued Ramses with animation, "your services +immediately, even from this moment." + +"Command, lord," said Herhor. + +"I wish to improve the condition of the Egyptian people. But since in +such affairs over-hasty action may only bring injury, I give them at +first a small thing: After six days' labor the seventh for rest." + +"Such was it during the reigns of the eighteenth dynasty. That law is +as old as Egypt itself," said Pentuer. + +"Rest every seventh day will give fifty days to each laborer during a +year, or it will take from his lord fifty drachma. On a million of +laborers the state will lose ten thousand talents yearly," said Mefres. +"We have calculated that in the temples." + +"That is true," answered Pentuer, quickly, "but the losses will be +during the first year only, for when the people increase in strength by +rest they will recover all and more in the following years." + +"That is true," answered Mefres, "but in every case it is necessary to +have ten thousand talents for that first year. I think even that twenty +thousand talents would not be amiss." + +"Thou art right, worthy Mefres," said the pharaoh. "In view of the +changes which I wish to introduce in my state twenty thousand, and even +thirty thousand talents would not be too great a sum; therefore," added +he quickly, "I shall ask assistance of you holy men." + +"We are ready to support every measure of thy holiness with prayers and +processions," said Mefres. + +"Very good; pray and encourage the people to pray. But besides that +give the state thirty thousand talents," answered the pharaoh. + +The high priests were silent; Ramses waited a while, then turned to +Herhor, + +"Thou art silent, worthiness." + +"Thou hast said thyself, O sovereign, that the treasury has no means, +even to bury Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses. I cannot even divine, therefore, +where we could get thirty thousand talents." + +"But the treasury of the labyrinth." + +"That is a treasury of the gods, to be touched only at a moment when +the state is in supreme need," replied Mefres. + +Ramses XIII boiled up with anger. + +"If earth-tillers do not need this sum, I do," said he, striking his +fist on the arm of the chair. + +"Holiness," replied Mefres, "Thou canst in the course of a year receive +more than thirty thousand talents, and Egypt twice as much." + +"How?" + +"Very simply. Give command, sovereign, to expel the Phoenicians from +Egypt." + +It seemed that the pharaoh would rush at the insolent high priest; he +grew pale, his lips quivered, his eyes stared. But he restrained +himself in one moment, and said, in a tone of wonderful calmness, + +"Well, sufficient. If ye are able to give only such counsels I shall +get on without them. The Phoenicians have our signatures that we will +pay them our debts faithfully. Has this occurred to thee, Mefres?" + +"Pardon, holiness, but at that moment other thoughts occupied me. Thy +ancestors, not on papyrus, but on bronze and stone carved out the +statement that the gifts made by them to the gods and the temples +belonged and would belong forever to the gods and the temples." + +"And to you priests," added the pharaoh, sneeringly. + +"As much to us," replied the haughty high priest, "as the state belongs +to thee, sovereign. We guard and increase those treasures; but we have +not the right to spend them." + +The pharaoh left the hall panting with anger, and went to his own +cabinet. His position was presented to him with terrible distinctness. +Of the hatred of the priests toward him he had no doubt any longer. +Those were the same dignitaries who, giddy with pride, had the past +year refused him the corps of Memphis, and who had made him viceroy +only when it seemed to them that he had performed an act of penitence +by withdrawing from the palace the very same who watched every movement +of his, made reports regarding him, but did not tell him, the heir to +the throne, even of the treaty with Assar, the very same dignitaries +who had employed deceit against him in the temple of Hator, and who at +the Soda Lakes slaughtered prisoners to whom he had promised freedom. + +The pharaoh recalled the obeisances of Herhor, the looks of Mefres, and +the tones of voice which both used. Beneath the show of good-will, +their pride and their contempt for him appeared each moment. He asks +for money, they promise prayers. Nay! they dare to tell him that he is +not sole ruler in the land of Egypt. + +The young sovereign laughed in spite of himself, for he called to mind +the hired herdsmen who told the owner of the flock that he had no right +to do what he liked with it. Besides the ridiculous aspect there was in +the case a point which was terrible. The treasury contained perhaps a +thousand talents which, according to the recent rate of outlay would +last from seven to ten days. And then what? How would the officials, +the servants, and above all how would the army, exist, not only without +pay, but without sustenance? + +The high priests knew this position of the pharaoh if they did not +hasten to assist him they wished to ruin him, and to ruin him in the +course of a few days, even before the funeral of his father. + +Ramses recalled a certain event of his childhood. + +He was at a school of the priests when, on the festival of the goddess +Mut, after various amusements they introduced the most famous buffoon +in Egypt. This artist represented an unfortunate hero: when he +commanded he was not obeyed, his anger was answered with laughter, and +when, to punish those who made sport of him, he seized an axe, the axe +broke in his hands. At last they let out a lion at him and when the +defenseless hero began to flee it turned out that not a lion was +chasing him, but a pig in a lion's skin. + +The pupils and the teachers laughed at those adventures till the tears +came; but the little prince sat gloomily; he was sorry for the man who +was eager for great things but fell covered with ridicule. + +That scene and the feelings which he experienced then were revived in +the memory of the pharaoh. "They want to make me like that buffoon," +thought he. Despair seized him, for he felt that his power would end +when the last talent was issued, and with his power his life also. + +But here came a certain revulsion. He halted in the middle of the room +and thought, + +"What can happen to me? Nothing save death. I will go to my glorious +ancestors, to Ramses the Great But then, I could not tell them that I +died without defending myself. After the misfortunes of this earthly +life eternal shame would meet me. How was it to end? He, the conqueror +at the Soda Lakes, to yield before a handful of deceivers against whom +one Asiatic regiment would not have much trouble? For the reason, then, +that Mefres and Herhor wish to rule Egypt and the pharaoh, his troops +must suffer hunger, and a million men are not to receive rest from +labor? But did not his ancestors rear these temples. Did they not fill +them with spoils? And who won the battles? The priests, or the +warriors? Who, then, had a right to the treasures, the priests, or the +pharaoh and his army?" + +Ramses shrugged his shoulders and summoned Tutmosis. Though it was late +at night the favorite came to him straightway. + +"Dost Thou know," asked the pharaoh, "that the priests have refused me +a loan, though the treasury is empty?" + +Tutmosis straightened himself, and asked, + +"Wilt Thou command to take them to prison?" + +"Wouldst thou?" + +"There is not an officer in Egypt who would hesitate to carry out an +order from our lord and leader." + +"In that case," said the pharaoh, deliberately, "there is no need to +imprison any one. I have too much power on my side and too much +contempt for the priesthood. A man does not put into a box bound with +iron the carrion which he meets on the highway; he merely passes around +it." + +"But a hyena is confined in a cage," whispered Tutmosis. + +"It is too early yet. I must be gracious to those men, at least till my +father is buried or they might commit some indignity on his revered +mummy, and destroy his spirit. But go tomorrow to Hiram and tell him to +send me that priest of whom we have spoken." + +"That will be done. But I must remind thee, holiness, that today people +attacked Phoenician houses in Memphis." + +"Oho! That was not needed." + +"It seems to me, too," continued Tutmosis, "that since Thou hast +commanded Pentuer to investigate the condition of earth-tillers and +laborers the priests are exciting the nomarchs and nobles. They say +that it is thy wish to ruin the nobility for the sake of the people." + +"But do the nobles believe that?" + +"There are some who believe, but there are others who say directly that +it is an intrigue of the priests against the pharaoh." + +"But if I wish indeed to improve the condition of earth-tillers?" + +"Thou wilt do, lord, that which pleases thee," answered Tutmosis. + +"Oh, I understand my position!" exclaimed Ramses. "Be at rest, and tell +the nobility that not only will they lose nothing in carrying out my +orders, but their own condition will be improved notably. The wealth of +Egypt must be taken at last from the hands of the unworthy and given to +faithful servants." + +The pharaoh dismissed his adjutant and went to rest satisfied. His +temporary despair seemed to him laughable. + +About noon of the following day it was announced that a deputation of +Phoenician merchants had come to his holiness. + +"Do they wish to complain of the attack on their houses?" inquired the +pharaoh. + +"No," replied the adjutant, "they wish to offer thee homage." + +In fact a number of Phoenicians, under the leadership of Rabsun, +declared that, according to ancient custom they had made bold to lay an +insignificant gift at the feet of the sovereign who gave life to them +and security to their property. + +Then they placed on the tables gold plates, chains, and goblets filled +with jewels. + +After that, Rabsun placed on the steps of the throne a tray with the +papyrus by which the Phoenicians bound themselves to give all things +necessary for the army to the amount of two thousand talents. + +That was a considerable gift, since all that the Phoenicians had +brought represented a sum of three thousand talents. + +The pharaoh answered the faithful merchants very graciously, and +promised protection. He dismissed them in happiness. + +Ramses XIII drew a breath of relief: bankruptcy of the treasury, and +therefore the need of using violent measures against the priests was +deferred ten days longer. + +In the evening, again, under the guardianship of Tutmosis, the worthy +Hiram stood in the cabinet of his holiness. This time he did not +complain of weariness, but he fell on his face and cursed the stupid +Dagon. + +"I have learned," said he, "that that mangy fellow dared to remind +thee, holiness, of our talk concerning the canal to the Red Sea. May he +perish! May the leprosy devour him! May his children become swineherds +and his grandchildren Hebrews. But do thou, sovereign, only command, +and whatever wealth Phoenicia has she will lay at thy feet without bond +or treaty. Are we Assyrians or priests," added he in a whisper, "that +one word of such a mighty potentate should not suffice us?" + +"But if I should require a really large sum?" + +"Such as?" + +"For example, thirty thousand talents." + +"Immediately?" + +"No, in the course of a year." + +"Thou wilt have it, holiness," answered Hiram, without hesitation. + +The pharaoh was astonished at this liberality. + +"But must I give you a pledge?" + +"Only for form's sake," replied the Phoenician. "Give us, holiness, the +quarries in pledge, so as not to rouse the suspicions of priests. Were +it not for them, Thou wouldst have all Phoenicia without pledge or +paper." + +"But the canal? Am I to sign a treaty at once?" asked Ramses. + +"Not at all. Thou wilt make, O holiness, a treaty when it pleases +thee." + +It seemed to the pharaoh that he was uplifted in the air. At that +moment it seemed to him that he had tasted for the first time the +sweetness of regal power, and tasted it, thanks to the Phoenicians. + +"Hiram," said he, controlling himself no longer, "I give thee +permission this day to dig a canal which shall join the Red Sea with +the Mediterranean." + +The old man fell at the feet of the pharaoh. + +"Thou art the greatest sovereign ever seen on earth," said he. + +"For the time Thou art not permitted to speak of this to any one, +because the enemies of my glory are watching. But that Thou shouldst +feel certain, I give thee this from my own finger." + +He took from his finger a ring adorned with a magic stone on which was +engraved the name Horns, and put it on the finger of the Phoenician. + +"The property of all Phoenicia is at thy command," said Hiram, moved +profoundly. "Thou wilt accomplish a work which will herald thy name +till the sun quenches." + +The pharaoh pressed Hiram's iron-gray head and commanded him to sit +down before him. + +"And so we are allies," said he, after a while, "and I hope that from +this will rise prosperity for Egypt and Phoenicia." + +"For the whole world," added Hiram. + +"But tell me, prince, whence hast Thou such confidence in me?" + +"I know thy noble character, holiness. If thou, sovereign, wert not a +pharaoh, in a few years Thou wouldst become the most renowned of +Phoenician merchants and the chief of our council." + +"Let us suppose that," replied Ramses. "But I, to keep my promises, +must first bend the priests. That is a struggle the issue of which is +uncertain." + +Hiram smiled. + +"Lord," said he, "if we were so insignificant as to abandon thee today +when thy treasury is empty, and thy enemies are insolent, Thou wouldst +lose the battle. For a man deprived of means loses daring easily; from +an impoverished king his armies turn away as well as his dignitaries +and his subjects. But if thou, sovereign, have our gold and our agents, +with thy army and thy generals Thou wilt have as much trouble with the +priests as an elephant with a scorpion. Thou wilt barely set thy foot +on them and they will be crushed beneath it. But this is not my affair. +The high priest Samentu is waiting in the garden, he whom Thou hast +summoned. I withdraw; it is his hour. But I refuse not the money. +Command me to the extent of thirty thousand talents." + +He fell on his face again and then withdrew, promising that Samentu +would present himself straightway. + +In half an hour the high priest appeared. As became one who honored Set +he did not shave his red beard and shaggy hair; he had a severe face, +but eyes full of intellect. He bowed without excessive humility and met +the soul-piercing gaze of the pharaoh with calmness. + +"Be seated," said the pharaoh. + +The high priest sat on the floor. + +"Thou pleasest me," said Ramses. "Thou hast the bearing and the face of +a Hyksos, and they are the most valiant troops in my army." Then he +inquired, on a sudden, + +"Art Thou the man who informed Hiram of the treaty of our priests with +Assyria?" + +"I am," replied Samentu, without dropping his eyes. + +"Didst Thou share in that iniquity?" + +"I did not. I overheard the conditions. In the temples, as in thy +palaces, holiness, the walls are honeycombed with passages through +which it is possible to hear on the summit of pylons what is said in +the cellars." + +"And from subterranean places it is possible to converse with persons +in upper chambers?" asked the pharaoh. + +"And imitate voices from the gods," added the priest seriously. + +The pharaoh smiled. Then the supposition was correct that it was not +the spirit of his father, but priests who spoke to him and to his +mother. + +"Why didst Thou confide to Phoenicians a great secret of the state?" +inquired Ramses. + +"Because I wished to prevent a shameful treaty which was as harmful to +us as to Phoenicia." + +"Thou mightst have forewarned some Egyptian dignitary." + +"Whom?" inquired the priest. "Men who were powerless before Herhor; or +who would complain of me to him and expose me to death and tortures? I +confided it to Hiram, for he meets dignitaries of ours whom I never +see." + +"But why did Herhor and Mefres conclude such a treaty?" inquired +Ramses. + +"In my opinion, they are men of weak heads whom Beroes, the great +Chaldean priest, frightened. He told them that for ten years evil fates +would threaten Egypt; that if we began war with Assyria during that +time we should be defeated." + +"And did they believe him?" + +"Beroes, it seems, showed them wonders. He was even borne above the +earth. Beyond doubt that is wonderful; but I cannot understand why we +should lose Phoenicia because Beroes can fly above the earth." + +"Then Thou dost not believe in miracles?" + +"It depends upon what they are," replied Samentu. "It seems that Beroes +does perform unusual things; but our priests merely deceive people as +well as rulers." + +"Thou hast a hatred for the priestly order?" + +"Well, they cannot endure me, and what is worse they insult me under +pretext that I am a minister of Set. Meanwhile, what do I care for gods +whose hands and feet must be moved by strings. Or priests who pretend +to be abstemious and devout, but have ten wives, spend some tens of +talents yearly, steal the offerings placed on altars, and are little +wiser than pupils of a higher school." + +"But dost Thou take presents from Phoenicians?"' + +"From whom should I take them? The Phoenicians are the only men who +really honor Set; they fear lest he might wreck their ships. With us +the poor alone revere him. Were I restricted to their offerings I +should die of hunger, and my children also." + +The pharaoh thought that this priest was not a bad man, though he had +betrayed a temple secret. And moreover, he seemed wise and he spoke +truth. + +"Hast Thou heard anything," inquired Ramses again, "of a canal which is +to join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean?" + +"I know of that affair. Our engineers have been developing the project +for some centuries." + +"But why has it not been carried out ere this time?" + +"Because the priests are afraid that strangers would come who might +undermine our religion, and with it the priestly income." + +"Is there truth in what Hiram says of people living in the distant +East?" + +"Perfect truth. We know of them for a long time, and no ten years pass +that we do not receive from those countries products, precious stones, +or pictures." + +The pharaoh meditated again, and asked suddenly, + +"Wilt Thou serve me faithfully if I make thee my counselor?" + +"I will serve thee, holiness, with life and death. But were I to become +thy counselor, the priests, who hate me, would be indignant." + +"Dost Thou not think it possible to overthrow them?" + +"It is possible and very easy." + +"What would thy plan be, if I had to free myself of them?" + +"To obtain possession of the treasures in the labyrinth." + +"Couldst Thou go to it?" + +"I have many indications; the rest I can discover, for I know where to +search for them." + +"What further?" inquired the pharaoh. + +"It would be necessary to bring an action against Herhor and Mefres for +treason, and for secret relations with Assyria." + +"But the proofs?" + +"We should find them with the help of the Phoenicians." + +"Would no danger come of that to Egypt?" + +"None. Four hundred years ago the pharaoh, Amenhotep IV. overturned the +power of priests by establishing the faith in one god, Re Harmachis. It +is understandable that in those conditions he took treasures from the +temples of the other gods. And at that time neither the people, nor the +army, nor the nobility took part with the priesthood. What would the +case be today when the old faith is greatly weakened?" + +"Who assisted Amenhotep?" inquired Ramses. + +"A simple priest, Ey." + +"But who, on the death of Amenhotep, became his heir?" asked Ramses, +looking quickly into the eyes of the priest. + +Samentu answered, calmly, + +"Events show that Amenhotep was incompetent, more occupied in honoring +Re than in governing Egypt." + +"Indeed, Thou art a real sage!" said Ramses. + +"At thy service, holiness." + +"I appoint thee my counselor," said the pharaoh. "In that case Thou +mayst visit me in secret, and Thou wilt dwell with me." + +"Pardon, lord, but until the members of the supreme council are in +prison for negotiating with enemies of Egypt, my presence in the palace +would bring more harm than profit. So I will serve thee, holiness, and +advise, but in secret." + +"And wilt Thou find the way to the treasure in the labyrinth?" + +"I hope, lord, that before Thou returnest from Thebes, I shall succeed +in this matter. But when we transfer the treasure to thy palace, when +the court condemns Herhor and Mefres whom Thou mayst pardon afterward, +with permission, I will appear openly and cease to be the priest of +Set, who only frightens people and turns them from me." + +"And dost Thou think that everything will go well?" + +"I pledge my life on it!" cried the priest. "The people thee, holiness, +so it is easy to influence them against traitorous dignitaries. The +army obeys thee as no army has obeyed a pharaoh since Ramses the Great. +Who will oppose, then? In addition, holiness, Thou hast the Phoenicians +behind thee, and money, the greatest power on earth." + +When Samentu took farewell, the pharaoh permitted him to kiss his feet, +and gave him a heavy gold chain and a bracelet ornamented with +sapphires. Not every dignitary received such favor after long years of +service. The visit and Samentu's promises filled the pharaoh's heart +with new hope. + +What if he should succeed in getting the treasure of the labyrinth! For +a small part of it he might free the nobles from Phoenician debts, +improve the lot of the laborers and redeem the mortgaged property of +the court. + +And with what edifices might the state be enriched! + +Hence the treasure of this labyrinth might remove all the pharaoh's +troubles. For what was the result of a great loan from the Phoenicians? +It would be necessary to pay a loan some time, and, sooner or later, +mortgage the rest of the pharaoh's property. That was merely to defer +ruin, not avoid it. + + + +CHAPTER LVI + +In the middle of the month Famenut (January) spring began. All Egypt +was green with growing wheat. On black patches of land crowds of men +were sowing lupines, beans, and barley. In the air was the odor of +orange blossoms. The water had fallen greatly and new bits of land were +laid bare day by day. + +Preparations for the funeral of Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses were ended. + +The revered mummy of the pharaoh was enclosed in a white box, the upper +part of which repeated perfectly the features of the departed. The +pharaoh seemed to see with enameled eyes, while the god-like face +expressed a mild regret, not for the world which the ruler had left, +but for the people condemned to the sufferings of temporal existence. +On its head the image of the pharaoh had an Egyptian cap with white and +sapphire stripes; on its neck, a string of jewels; on its breast, the +picture of a man kneeling with crossed hands; on its legs, images of +the gods, sacred birds, and eyes, not set into any face, but, as it +were, gazing out of infinity. + +Thus arrayed, the remains of the pharaoh rested on a costly couch in a +small cedar chapel, the walls of which were covered with inscriptions +celebrating the life and deeds of the departed sovereign. Above hovered +a miraculous falcon with a human head, and near the couch night and day +watched a priest clothed as Anubis, the god of burial, with a jackal's +head on his body. + +A heavy basalt sarcophagus had been prepared which was to be the outer +coffin of the mummy. This sarcophagus had also the form and features of +the dead pharaoh. It was covered with inscriptions, and pictures of +people praying, of sacred birds and also scarabs. + +On the 17th of Famenut, the mummy, together with its chapel and +sarcophagus, was taken from the quarter of the dead to the palace and +placed in the largest hall there. + +This hall was soon filled with priests, who chanted funeral hymns, with +attendants and servants of the departed, and above all with his women, +who screamed so vehemently that their cries were heard across the +river. + +"O lord! Thou our lord!" cried they, "why art Thou leaving us? Thou so +kind, so beautiful. Thou art silent now, Thou who didst speak to us so +willingly. Thou didst incline to our society, but today Thou art far +from us." + +During this time the priests sang, + +Chorus I. "I am Turn, who alone exists." + +Chorus II. "I am Re, in his earliest splendor." + +Chorus I. "I am the god who creates himself." + +Chorus II. "Who gives his own name to himself, and no one among the +gods can restrain him." + +Chorus I. "I know the name of the great god who is there." + +Chorus II. "For I am the great bird Benut which tests the existent." +["Book of the Dead."] + +After two days of groans and devotions a great car in the form of a +boat was drawn to the front of the palace. The ends of this car were +adorned with ostrich plumes and rams' heads, while above a costly +baldachin towered an eagle, and there also was the ureus serpent, +symbol of the pharaoh's dominion. On this car was placed the sacred +mummy, in spite of the wild resistance of court women. Some of them +held to the coffin, others implored the priests not to take their good +lord from them, still others scratched their own faces, tore their +hair, and even beat the men who carried the remains of the pharaoh. + +The outcry was terrible. + +At last the car, when it had received the divine body, moved on amid a +multitude of people who occupied the immense space from the palace to +the river. There were people smeared with mud, torn, covered with +mourning rags, people who cried in heaven-piercing voices. At the side +of these, according to mourning ritual, were disposed, along the whole +road, choruses. + +Chorus I. "To the West, to the mansion of Osiris, to the West art Thou +going, Thou who wert the best among men, who didst hate the untrue." + +Chorus II. "Going West! There will not be another who will so love the +truth, and who will so hate a lie." + +Chorus of charioteers. "To the West, oxen, ye are drawing the funeral +car, to the West! Our lord is going after you." + +Chorus III. "To the West, to the West, to the land of the just! The +cities which Thou didst love are groaning and weeping behind thee." + +The throng of people. "Go in peace to Abydos! Go in peace to Abydos! Go +Thou in peace to the Theban West!" + +Chorus of female wailers. "O our lord, O our lord, Thou art going to +the West, the gods themselves are weeping." + +Chorus of priests. "He is happy, the most revered among men, for fate +has permitted him to rest in the tomb which he himself has +constructed." + +Chorus of drivers. "To the West, oxen, ye are drawing the car, to the +West! Our lord is going behind thee." + +The throng of people. "Go in peace to Abydos! Go in peace to Abydos, to +the western sea." [Authentic expression.] + +Every couple of hundred yards a division of troops was stationed which +greeted the lord with muffled drums, and took farewell with a shrill +sound of trumpets. + +That was not a funeral, but a triumphal march to the land of +divinities. + +At a certain distance behind the car went Ramses XIII, surrounded by a +great suite of generals, and behind him Queen Niort's leaning on two +court ladies. Neither the son nor the mother wept, for it was known to +them then (the common people were not aware of this), that the late +pharaoh was at the side of Osiris and was so satisfied with his stay in +the land of delight that he had no wish to return to an earthly +existence. + +After a procession of two hours which was attended by unbroken cries, +the car with the remains halted on the bank of the Nile. There the +remains were removed from the boat-shaped car and borne to a real barge +gilded, carved, covered with pictures, and furnished with white and +purple sails. + +The court ladies made one more attempt to take the mummy from the +priests; again were heard all the choruses and the military music. +After that the lady Niort's and some priests entered the barge which +bore the royal mummy, the people hurled bouquets and garlands and the +oars began to plash. + +Ramses XII had left his palace for the last time and was moving on the +Nile toward his tomb in Theban mountains. But on the way it was his +duty, like a thoughtful ruler, to enter all the famed places and take +farewell of them. + +The journey lasted long. Thebes was five hundred miles distant higher +up the river, along which the mummy had to visit between ten and twenty +temples and take part in religious ceremonies. + +Some days after the departure of Ramses XII to his eternal rest, Ramses +XIII moved after him to rouse from sorrow by his presence the torpid +hearts of his subjects, receive their homage and give offerings to +divinities. + +Behind the dead pharaoh, each on his own barge, went all the high +priests, many of the senior priests, the richest landholders, and the +greater part of the nomarchs. So the new pharaoh thought, not without +sorrow, that his retinue would be very slender, + +But it happened otherwise. At the side of Ramses XIII were all the +generals, very many officials, many of the smaller nobility and all the +minor priests, which more astonished than comforted the pharaoh. + +This was merely the beginning. For when the barge of the youthful +sovereign sailed out on the Nile there came to meet him such a mass of +boats, great and small, rich and poor, that they almost hid the water. +Sitting in those barges were naked families of earth-tillers and +artisans, well-dressed merchants, Phoenicians in bright garments, +adroit Greek sailors, and even Assyrians and Hittites. + +The people of this throng did not shout, they howled; they were not +delighted, they were frantic. Every moment some deputation broke its +way to the pharaoh's barge to kiss the deck which his feet had touched, +and to lay gifts before him: a handful of wheat, a bit of cloth, a +simple earthen pitcher, a pair of birds, but, above all, a bunch of +flowers. So that before the pharaoh had passed Memphis, his attendants +were forced repeatedly to clear the barge of gifts and thus save it +from sinking. + +The younger priests said to one another that except Ramses the Great no +pharaoh had ever been greeted with such boundless enthusiasm. + +The whole journey from Memphis to Thebes was conducted in a similar +manner and the enthusiasm of people rose instead of decreasing. Earth- +tillers left the fields and artisans the shops to delight themselves +with looking at the new sovereign of whose intentions legends were +already created. They expected great changes, though no one knew what +these changes might be. This alone was undoubted, that the severity of +officials had decreased, that Phoenicians collected rent in a less +absolute manner, and the Egyptian people, always so submissive, had +begun to raise their heads when priests met them. + +"Only let the pharaoh permit," said people in inns, fields and markets, +"and we will introduce order among the holy fathers. Because of them we +pay immense taxes, and the wounds on our backs are always open." + +Among the Libyan hills, about thirty-five miles south of + +Memphis, lay the country of Piom or Fayum, wonderful through this, that +human hands had made it. + +There was formerly in this province a sunken desert surrounded by naked +hills. The pharaoh Amenhemat first conceived the daring plan of +changing this place into a fruitful region, three thousand five hundred +years before the Christian era. + +With this object he divided the eastern part of the depression from the +rest and put a mighty dam around it. This dam was about eight meters +high, one hundred yards thick at the base, and its length more than +four hundred kilometers. + +In this way was created a reservoir which held three milliards of cubic +meters of water, the surface of which occupied about three hundred +square kilometers. This reservoir served to irrigate two hundred +thousand hectares of land, and besides, in time of overflow, it took in +the excess of water and guaranteed a considerable part of Egypt from +sudden inundation. + +This immense collection of water was called Lake Moeris, and was +considered one of the wonders of the world. Thanks to it a desert +valley was changed into the fertile land of Piom, where about two +hundred thousand people lived in comfort. In this province, besides +palms and wheat, were produced the most beautiful roses; oil made from +these went to all Egypt, and beyond its boundaries. + +The existence of Lake Moeris was connected with another wonder among +works of Egyptian engineers, Joseph's canal. This canal, two hundred +yards wide, extended about three hundred and fifty kilometers along the +western side of the Nile. It was situated fifteen kilometers from the +river, served to irrigate lands near the Libyan mountains, and conveyed +water to Lake Moeris. + +Around the country of Piom rose a number of ancient pyramids and a +multitude of smaller tombs. On its eastern boundary was the celebrated +Labyrinth (Lope-rohunt). This was built also by Amenhemat and had the +form of an immense horseshoe. It occupied an area one thousand yards +long and six hundred wide. + +This edifice was the great treasure-house of Egypt. In it reposed the +mummies of several famous pharaohs, renowned priests, generals, and +architects. Here lay the remains of revered animals, above all, those +of crocodiles. And here was kept the property of the Egyptian state, +brought together in the course of ages. Of this structure it is +difficult to gain an idea at present. + +The labyrinth was neither inaccessible from the outside, nor watched +over-carefully; it was guarded by a small division of troops attached +to the priests, and some priests of tried honesty. The safety of the +treasury lay specially in this that with the exception of those few +persons, no one knew where to look for it in the labyrinth, which was +divided into two stories, one above ground, the other subterranean, and +in each of these there were fifteen hundred chambers. + +Each pharaoh, each high priest, finally each treasurer and supreme +judge was bound to examine with his own eyes the property of the state +immediately after entering on his office. Still, no one of the +dignitaries could find it, or even learn where the treasure lay, +whether in the main body of the building or in some of its wings, above +the earth or beneath it. + +There were some to whom it seemed that the treasure was really +underground, far away from the labyrinth proper. There were even some +who thought that the treasure was beneath the lake, so that it might be +submerged should the need come. Finally no dignitary of the state cared +to occupy himself with the question, knowing that an attack on the +property of the gods drew after it ruin to the sacrilegious. The +uninitiated might have discovered the road, perhaps, if fear had not +paralyzed intruders. Death in this world and the next threatened him +and his family who should dare with godless plans to discover such +secrets. + +Arriving in those parts Ramses XIII visited first of all the province +of Fayum. In his eyes it seemed like the interior of some immense bowl, +the bottom of which was a lake and hills the edges. Whithersoever he +turned he found green juicy grass varied with flowers, groups of palms, +groves of fig trees and tamarinds, amid which from sunrise to sunset +were heard the singing of birds and the voices of gladsome people. + +That was perhaps the happiest corner of Egypt. + +The people received the pharaoh with boundless delight. + +They covered him and his retinue with flowers, they presented him with +a number of vessels of the costliest perfumes as well as gold and +precious stones to the amount of ten talents. + +Ramses spent two days in that pleasant region where joy seemed to +blossom on the trees, flow in the air, and look over the waters of Lake +Moeris. But men reminded him that he should see the labyrinth also. + +He left Fayum with a sigh and gazed around as he traveled. Soon his +attention was fixed by a majestic pile of gray buildings which stood on +an eminence. + +At the gate of the famous labyrinth Ramses was greeted by a company of +priests of ascetic exterior, and a small division of troops, every man +in which was completely shaven. + +"These men look like priests," said Ramses. + +"They do, because every one in the ranks has received the inferior +ordination, and centurions the superior," answered the high priest of +the edifice. + +When he looked more carefully at the faces of those strange warriors, +who ate no meat and were celibates, the pharaoh noted in them calm +energy and quickness, he noted also that his sacred person made no +impression whatever in that place. + +"I am very curious to learn how Samentu's secret plan will succeed," +thought he. The pharaoh understood that it was impossible either to +frighten those men or to bribe them. They were as self-confident in +looks as if each one commanded countless regiments of spirits. + +"We shall see," thought Ramses, "if they can frighten my Greeks and +Asiatics, who, fortunately, are so wild that they do not know pompous +faces." + +At the request of the priests, the pharaoh's suite remained at the +gate, as if under guard of the shaven soldiers. + +"Must I leave my sword too?" asked Ramses. + +"It will not harm us," answered the chief overseer. + +The young pharaoh had the wish at least to slap the pious man with the +side of his sword for such an answer, but he restrained himself. + +Ramses and the priests entered the main building by an immense court +and passed between two rows of sphinxes. Here in a very spacious, but +somewhat dark, antechamber were eight doors, and the overseer inquired, + +"Through which door dost Thou wish to go to the treasure, holiness?" + +"Through that by which we can go the most quickly." + +Each of five priests took two bundles of torches, but only one ignited +a torch. + +At his side stood the chief overseer holding in his hands a large +string of beads on which were written certain characters. Behind them +walked Ramses surrounded by three priests. + +The high priest who held the beads turned to the right and entered a +great hall, the walls and columns of which were covered with +inscriptions and figures. From that they entered a narrow corridor, +which led upward, and found themselves in a hall distinguished by a +great number of doors. Here a tablet was pushed aside in the floor, +discovering an opening through which they descended, and again advanced +through a narrow corridor to a chamber which had no doors. But the +guide touched one hieroglyph of many, and the wall moved aside before +them. + +Ramses tried to remember the direction in which they were going, but +soon his attention was bewildered. He noted, however, that they passed +hurriedly through great halls, small chambers, narrow corridors, that +they climbed up or descended, that some halls had a multitude of doors +and others none whatever. He observed at once that the guide at each +new entrance dropped one bead from his long rosary, and sometimes, by +the light of the torch, he compared the indications on the beads with +those on the walls. + +"Where are we now?" asked the pharaoh on a sudden, "beneath the earth, +or above it?" + +"We are in the power of the gods!" replied his neighbor. + +After a number of turns and passages the pharaoh again said, + +"But I think that we are here for the second time." + +The priests were silent, but he who carried the torch held his light to +the walls in one and another place, and Ramses, while looking, +confessed in spirit that they had not been there before. + +In a small chamber without doors they lowered the light, and the +pharaoh saw on the pavement dried, black remains, covered with decayed +clothing. + +"That," said the overseer of the building, "is the body of a Phoenician +who, during the sixteenth dynasty, tried to break into the labyrinth; +he got thus far." + +"Did they kill him?" inquired Ramses. + +"He died of hunger." + +The party had advanced again about half an hour, when the priest who +bore the torch lighted a niche in the corridor where also dried remains +were lying. + +"This," said the overseer, "is the body of a Nubian priest, who in the +time of thy grandfather, holiness, tried to enter the labyrinth." + +The pharaoh made no inquiry as to what happened to this man. He had the +impression of being in some depth and the feeling that the edifice +would crush him. Of taking bearings amid those hundreds of corridors, +halls, and chambers, he had no thought any longer. He did not even wish +to explain to himself by what miracle those stone walls opened, or why +pavements sank before him. + +"Samentu will do nothing," said he in spirit. "He will perish like +these two, whom I must even mention to him." + +Such a crushing, such a feeling of helplessness and nothingness he had +never experienced. At moments it seemed to him that the priests would +leave him in one of those narrow doorless chambers. Then despair seized +the young pharaoh; he touched his sword and was ready to cut them down. +But he remembered directly that without their assistance he could not +go hence, and he dropped his head. + +"Oh to see the light of day, even for a moment! How terrible must death +be among three thousand rooms filled with gloom or utter darkness!" + +Heroic souls have moments of deep depression which the common man +cannot even imagine. + +The advance had lasted an hour almost when at last they entered a low +hall resting on octagonal pillars. The three priests surrounding the +pharaoh, separated then Ramses noticed that one of them nestled up to a +column and vanished, as it were, in the interior of it. + +After a while a narrow opening appeared in one of the walls, the +priests returned to their places, and the guide commanded to light four +torches. All turned toward that opening and pushed through it +cautiously. + +"Here are the chambers," said the overseer. + +The priests lighted quickly torches which were fixed to the walls and +columns. Ramses saw a series of immense chambers filled with most +varied products of priceless value. In this collection every dynasty, +if not every pharaoh, had placed from what he or it possessed, that +which was most peculiar, or which had the most value. + +There were chariots, boats, beds, tables, caskets, and thrones gold or +covered with gold plate, also inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl and +colored wood so ornamentally that artists must have worked tens of +years at them. There were weapons, shields and quivers glittering with +jewels. There were pitchers, plates, and spoons of pure gold, costly +robes, and baldachins. + +All this treasure, thanks to dry and pure air, was preserved without +change during ages. + +Among rare objects the pharaoh saw the silver model of the Assyrian +palace brought to Ramses XII by Sargon. The high priest, while +explaining to the pharaoh whence each gift came, looked at his face +diligently. But in place of admiration for the treasures, he noticed +dissatisfaction. "Tell me, worthiness," inquired Ramses on a sudden, +"what good comes of these treasures shut up in darkness?" + +"Should Egypt be in danger there would be great power in them," replied +the overseer. "For a few of these helmets, chariots and swords we might +buy the good-will of all the Assyrian satraps. And maybe even King +Assar himself would not resist if we gave him furniture for his throne +hall, or his arsenal." + +"I think that they would rather take all from us by the sword than a +few through good-will," said the pharaoh. + +"Let them try!" replied the priest. + +"I understand. Ye have then means of destroying the treasures. But in +that case no one could make use of them." + +"That is not a question for my mind," replied the overseer. "We guard +what is given to us, and do what is ordered." + +"Would it not be better to use a portion of these treasures to fill the +coffers of the state and raise Egypt from the misery in which it is at +present?" asked the pharaoh. + +"That does not depend on us." + +Ramses frowned. He examined things for some time without very great +interest; at last he inquired, + +"Yes, these products of art might be useful in gaining the good-will of +Assyrian dignitaries; but if war were to break out with Assyria how +could we get wheat, men, and arms from nations which have no knowledge +of rare objects?" + +"Open the treasury," said the high priest. + +At this time the priests hurried in different directions: two vanished +as if in the interior of columns, while a third went up along the wall +on steps and did something near a carved figure. + +Again a hidden door slipped aside and Ramses entered the real hall of +treasure. + +That was a spacious room filled with priceless objects. In it were +earthen jars containing gold dust, lumps of gold piled up like bricks, +and ingots of gold in packages. Blocks of silver stored at one side +formed, as it were, a wall two ells thick and as high as the ceiling. +In niches and on stone tables lay precious stones of every color: +rubies, topazes, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, pearls as large as nuts +and even as birds' eggs. There were single jewels which equaled a town +in value. + +"This is our property in case of misfortune," said the overseer. + +"For what misfortune are ye waiting?" inquired the pharaoh. "The people +are poor, the nobility and the court are in debt, the army decreased +one half, the pharaoh without money. Has Egypt ever been in a worse +position?" + +"It was in a worse position when the Hyksos conquered it." + +"In a few years," replied Ramses, "even the Israelites will conquer +this country unless the Libyans and Ethiopians precede them. And then +these beautiful stones, broken into pieces, will go to ornament the +sandals of black men and Hebrews." + +"Be at rest, holiness. In case of need not only the treasure itself, +but the labyrinth would vanish without a trace, together with its +guardians." + +Ramses understood thoroughly that he had before him fanatics who +thought only of this: not to let any one possess that treasure. He sat +down on a pile of gold bricks, and continued, + +"Then ye are preserving this property for evil days in Egypt?" + +"Thou speakest truth, holiness." + +"But who will convince you, its guardians, that those days have come +when they are really present?" + +"To do that it would be necessary to call an extraordinary assembly of +Egyptians, an assembly made up of the pharaoh, thirteen priests of the +highest degree, thirteen nomarchs, thirteen nobles, thirteen officers, +and thirteen of each of the following: merchants, artisans, and earth- +tillers." + +"Then ye would give to such an assembly the treasures?" asked the +pharaoh. + +"We would give the necessary sum if the whole assembly, as one man, +decided that Egypt was in danger, and." + +"And what?" + +"If the statue of Amon in Thebes confirmed that decision." + +Ramses dropped his head as if to hide his great satisfaction. + +He had a plan ready. + +"I shall be able to collect such an assembly and incline it to +unanimity," thought the pharaoh. "Also it seems to me the divine statue +of Amon will confirm the decision if I put my Asiatics around it." + +"I thank you, pious men," said he aloud, "for showing me these precious +things, the great value of which does not prevent me from being one +among the poorest of sovereigns. And now I beg you to lead me hence by +the shortest way possible and the most convenient." + +"We wish thee, holiness, to double the wealth of the labyrinth. As to +the road, there is only one, we must return as we came." + +One of the priests gave Ramses dates, another a flask of wine mixed +with some invigorating substance. Then the pharaoh recovered strength +and went forward cheerfully. + +"I would give much," said he, laughing, "to know all the turns of this +wonderful passage." + +The guiding priest stopped, + +"I assure thee, holiness, that we ourselves do not understand or +remember this road, though each one of us has entered a number of times +by it." + +"Then how do ye manage?" + +"We have certain indications, but if one of these were to fail us, even +at this moment we should die here of hunger." + +They reached the antechamber at last and through it the courtyard. +Ramses looked around and drew one breath of relief after another. + +"For all the treasures of the labyrinth I would not guard them!" cried +he. "Terror falls on my breast when I think that it is possible to die +in those stone prisons." + +"But it is possible to grow attached to them," replied the priest +smiling. + +The pharaoh thanked each of his guides, and concluded, + +"I should be glad o show you some favor; ask for one." + +The priests listened with indifference, and their chief answered, + +"Pardon me, holiness, but what could we wish for? Our figs and dates +are as sweet as those in thy garden, our water is as good as that from +thy well. If wealth attracted us have we not more of it than all the +kings put together?" + +"I cannot win these men by anything," thought the pharaoh, "but I will +give them a decision of the assembly, and a decision of Amon." + + + +CHAPTER LVII + +WHEN he left Fayum the pharaoh and his retinue advanced southward a +number of days up the Nile, surrounded by a throng of boats, greeted by +shouts, and covered with flowers. + +On both banks of the river, on a background of green fields, extended +an unbroken series of huts of the people, groves of fig trees, groups +of palms. Every hour appeared the white houses of some village, or a +larger place with colored buildings, and the immense pylons of temples. + +On the west the wall of the Libyan hills was outlined not very +distinctly; but on the east the Arabian line approached ever nearer to +the river. It was possible to see clearly the steep, jagged cliffs, +dark, yellow or rose colored, recalling by their forms the ruins of +fortresses or of temples built by giants. + +In the middle of the Nile they met islands which had risen from the +water as it were yesterday, but were covered with rich vegetation today +and were occupied by birds in countless numbers. When the noisy retinue +of the pharaoh sailed near, the frightened birds flew up and, circling +above the boats, joined their cries with the mighty sound of people. +Above this all hung a transparent sky and light so full of life that in +the flood of it the black earth assumed a brightness, and the stones +rainbow colors. + +Time passed, therefore, pleasantly for the pharaoh. At first the +incessant cries irritated him somewhat, but later he grew so, +accustomed that he turned no attention to them. He was able to read +documents, take counsel, and even sleep. + +From a hundred and fifty to two hundred miles above Fayum on the left +bank of the Nile is Siut, where Ramses XIII took a rest of two days. He +was even obliged to halt there, for the mummy of the late pharaoh was +still in Abydos, where they were making solemn prayers at the grave of +Osiris. + +Siut was one of the richest parts of Upper Egypt. At that place were +made the famous vessels of white and black clay, and there they wove +linen. It was also the chief market-place to which people brought goods +from the oases scattered throughout the desert. There besides was the +famous temple of the jackal-headed god, Anubis. + +On the second day of his stay in that place the priest Pentuer appeared +before Ramses. He was the chief of that commission sent to investigate +the condition of the people. + +"Hast Thou news?" inquired the sovereign. + +"I have this, O holiness, that all the country blesses thee. All with +whom I speak are full of hope, and say, 'His reign will be a new life +for Egypt.'." + +"I wish," replied Ramses, "my subjects to be happy; I wish the toiling +man to rest; I wish that Egypt might have eight millions of people as +aforetime and win back that land seized from it by the desert; I wish +the laborer to rest one day in seven and each man who digs the earth to +have some little part of it." + +Pentuer fell on his face before the kindly sovereign. + +"Rise," said Ramses. "But I have had hours of grievous sadness: I see +the suffering of my people; I wish to raise them, but the treasury is +empty. Thou thyself knowest best that without some tens of thousands of +talents I cannot venture on such changes. But now I am at rest; I can +get the needed treasure from the labyrinth." + +Pentuer looked at his sovereign with amazement. + +"The overseer of the treasure explained to me what I am to do," said +the pharaoh. "I must call a general council of all orders, thirteen of +each order. And if they declare that Egypt is in need the labyrinth +will furnish me with treasure." + +"O gods!" added he, "for a couple for one of the jewels which lie there +it would be possible to give the people fifty rest days in a year! +Never will they be used to better purpose." + +Pentuer shook his head. + +"Lord," said he, "the six million Egyptians, with me and my friends +before others, will agree that Thou take from that treasure. But, O +holiness, be not deceived; one hundred of the highest dignitaries of +the state will oppose, and then the labyrinth will give nothing." + +"They wish me, then, to beg before some temple!" burst out the pharaoh. + +"No," replied the priest. "They fear lest that treasure house be +emptied once Thou touch it. They will suspect thy most faithful +servants, holiness, of sharing in the profits flowing from the +labyrinth. And then envy will whisper to each of them: 'Why shouldst +Thou not profit also?' Not hatred of thee, holiness, but mutual +distrust, greed, will urge them to resistance." + +When he heard this the pharaoh was calm, he smiled even. + +"If it be as Thou sayst, be at rest, beloved Pentuer. At this moment I +understand exactly why Amon established the authority of the pharaoh +and gave him superhuman power. For the purpose, seest thou, that a +hundred, even of the most distinguished rascals, should not wreck the +state." + +Ramses rose from his armchair and added, + +"Say to 'my people: Work and be patient. Say to the priests who are +loyal: Serve the gods and cultivate wisdom, which is the sun of the +universe. But those stubborn and suspicious dignitaries leave to my +management. Woe to them if they anger me." + +"Lord," said the priest, "I am thy faithful servant." + +But when he had taken farewell and gone out care was evident on his +face. + +About seventy-five miles from Siut, higher up the Nile, the wild +Arabian rocks almost touch the river, but the Libyan hills have pushed +away so far from it that the valley at that point is perhaps the widest +part of Egypt. Just there, side by side, stood Tibis and Abydos, two +holy cities. There was born the first Egyptian pharaoh, Menes, there, a +hundred thousand years before, were laid in the grave the holy relics +of the god Osiris slain by Set (his brother Typhon) treacherously. + +There, finally, in memory of those great events, the famous pharaoh +Seti built a temple to which pilgrims came from every part of Egypt. +Each believer was bound even once during life to bring his forehead to +the blessed earth of Abydos. Truly happy was he whose mummy could make +a journey to that place and halt even at a distance from the temple. + +The mummy of Ramses XII spent two days there; for he had been a ruler +noted for devotion. There is nothing wonderful in this, therefore, that +Ramses XIII began his reign by rendering homage to the grave of Osiris. + +Seti's temple was not among the oldest or most splendid in Egypt, but +it was distinguished for pure Egyptian style. His holiness Ramses XIII, +accompanied by Sem the high priest, visited the temple and made +offerings in it. + +The ground belonging to the edifice occupied a space of seventy-five +hectares, on which were fish ponds, flower beds, orchards and vegetable +gardens, besides the houses or rather villas of the temple priesthood. +Everywhere grew poplars and acacias, as well as palm, fig, and orange +trees which formed alleys directed toward the cardinal points of the +world, or groups of trees of almost the same height and set out in +order. + +Under the watchful eyes of priests even the plant world did not develop +according to its own impulses into irregular but picturesque groups; it +was arranged in straight lines according to direction, or straight +lines according to height, or in geometrical figures. + +Palms, tamarinds, cypresses, and myrtles were arranged like warriors in +ranks or columns. The grass was a divan shorn and ornamented with +pictures made of flowers, not of any chance color, but of that color +which was demanded. People looking from above saw pictures of gods or +sacred beasts blooming on the turf near the temple; a sage found there +aphorisms written out in hieroglyphs. + +The central part of the gardens occupied a rectangular space nine +hundred yards long and three hundred wide. This space was enclosed by a +wall of no great height which had one visible gate and a number of +secret entrances. Through the gate pious people entered the space which +surrounded the dwelling of Osiris; this space was covered with a stone +pavement. In the middle of the space stood the temple, a rectangular +pile four hundred and fifty yards long and in width one hundred and +fifty. + +From the public gate to the temple was an avenue of sphinxes with human +heads and lion bodies. They were in two lines, ten in each, and were +gazing into each others' eyes. Only the highest dignitaries might pass +between these sphinxes. + +At the head of this avenue, and opposite the public gate, rose two +obelisks or slender and lofty granite columns of four sides, on which +was inscribed the history of the pharaoh Seti. + +Beyond the obelisks rose the gate of the temple having at both sides of +it gigantic piles in the form of truncated pyramids called pylons. +These were like two strong towers, on the walls of which were paintings +representing the visits of Seti, or the offerings which he made to +divinities. + +Earth-tillers were not permitted to pass this gate which was free only +to wealthy citizens and the privileged classes. Through it was the +entrance to the peristyle or court, surrounded by a corridor which had +a multitude of columns. From this court, where there was room for ten +thousand people, persons of the noble order might go still farther to +the first hall, the hypostyle; this had a ceiling which rested on two +rows of lofty columns, and there was space in it for two thousand +worshippers. This hall was the last to which lay people were admitted. +The highest dignitaries who had not received ordination had the right +to pray there, and look thence at the veiled image of the god which +rose in the hall of "divine apparition." + +Beyond the hall of "divine apparition" was the chamber of "tables of +offering," where priests placed before the gods gifts brought by the +faithful. Next was the chamber of "repose," where the god rested when +returning from or going to a procession, and last was the chapel or +sanctuary where the god had his residence. + +Usually the chapel was very small, dark, sometimes cut out of one block +of stone. It was surrounded on all sides by chapels equally small, +filled with garments, furniture, vessels and jewels of the god which in +its inaccessible seclusion slept, bathed, was anointed with perfumes, +ate, drank, and as it seems even received visits from young and +beautiful women. + +This sanctuary was entered only by the high priest, and the ruling +pharaoh if he had received ordination. If an ordinary mortal entered he +might lose his life there. + +The walls and columns of each hall were covered with inscriptions and +explanatory paintings. In the corridor surrounding the peristyle were +the names and portraits of all the pharaohs from Menes the first ruler +of Egypt to Ramses XII In the hypostyle, or hall for nobles, the +geography and statistics of Egypt were presented pictorially, also the +subject nations. In the hall of "apparition" were the calendar and the +results of astronomical observation; in the chamber of "tables of +offering," and in that of "repose" figured pictures relating to +religious ceremonial, and in the sanctuary rules for summoning beings +beyond the earth and controlling the phenomena of nature. + +This last kind of knowledge was contained in statements so involved +that even priests in the time of Ramses XII did not understand them. +The Chaldean Beroes was to revive this expiring wisdom. + +Ramses XIII, after he had rested two days in the official palace at +Abydos, betook himself to the temple. He wore a white tunic, a gold +breastplate, an apron with orange and blue stripes, a steel sword at +his side and on his head a golden helmet. The pharaoh sat in a chariot +drawn by horses adorned with ostrich plumes, and was conducted by +nomarchs as he moved slowly toward the house of Osiris, surrounded by +his officers. + +Whithersoever he looked: toward the field, the river, the roofs of +houses, or even the limbs of tamarind and fig-trees there was a throng +of people, and an unceasing shout which was like the roar of a tempest. + +When he arrived at the temple the pharaoh stopped his horses and +descended before the public gate. This act pleased the common people +and delighted the priesthood. He passed on foot along the avenue of +sphinxes and, greeted by the holy men, burned incense before the +statues of Seti which occupied both sides of the main entrance. + +In the peristyle the high priest turned the attention of his holiness +to the splendid portraits of the pharaohs, and pointed out the place +selected for that of Ramses. In the hypostyle he indicated to him the +meaning of the geographical maps and statistical tables. + +In the chamber of "divine apparition" Ramses offered incense to the +gigantic statue of Osiris, and the high priest showed him the columns +dedicated to the separate planets: Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars, +Jupiter, and Saturn. The planets stood around statues of the sun god to +the number of seven. + +"Thou hast told me," said Ramses, "that there are six planets; +meanwhile I see seven columns." + +"The seventh represents the earth, which is also a planet." + +The astonished pharaoh asked for explanation, but the sage was silent, +indicating by signs that his lips were sealed on that subject. + +In the chamber of the "tables of offering" was heard low but beautiful +music, during which a solemn dance was given by a chorus of +priestesses. + +The pharaoh removed his golden helmet; next, his breastplate of great +value, and gave both to Osiris, desiring that these gifts should remain +in the treasury of the god, and not be transferred to the labyrinth. + +In return for his bounty the high priest bestowed on the sovereign a +most beautiful dancer fifteen years of age, who seemed greatly +delighted with her fortune. + +When the pharaoh found himself in the hall of "repose" he sat on the +throne, and his substitute in religion, Sem, to the sound of music and +amid the smoke of censers, entered the sanctuary to bring forth the +divinity. + +Half an hour later, to the deafening sound of bells, appeared in the +gloom of the chamber a golden boat hidden by curtains which moved at +times as if some living being were sitting behind them. + +The priests prostrated themselves, and Ramses looked intently at the +transparent curtains. One of these was turned aside and the pharaoh saw +a child of rare beauty which looked at him with such wise eyes that the +ruler of Egypt was almost afraid of it. + +"This is Horus," whispered the priest. "Horus the rising sun. He is the +son of Osiris and also his father, and the husband of his own mother, +who is his sister." + +The procession began, but only through the interior of the temple. In +advance went harpers and female dancers, next a white bull with a +golden shield between his horns, then two choruses of priests and high +priests bearing the god, then choruses, and finally the pharaoh in a +litter borne by eight priests of the temple. + +When the procession had passed through all the corridors and halls of +the temple, and the god and Ramses had returned to the chamber of +repose, the curtain concealing the sacred boat slipped apart and the +beautiful child smiled at the pharaoh. + +After that Sem bore away the boat and the god to the chapel. + +"One might become a high priest," said the pharaoh, who was so pleased +with the child that he would have been glad to see it as often as +possible. + +But when he had gone forth from the temple and seen the sun and the +throng of delighted people, he confessed in his soul that he understood +nothing. He knew not whence they had brought that child, unlike any +other child in Egypt, whence that superhuman wisdom in its eyes, nor +what the meaning was of all that he himself had seen. + +Suddenly he remembered his murdered son, who might have been as +beautiful, and the ruler of Egypt wept in presence of a hundred +thousand subjects. + +"Converted! The pharaoh is converted!" said the priests. "Barely has he +entered the dwelling of Osiris, and his heart is touched." + +That same day one blind man and two paralytics, who were praying +outside the walls of the temple, recovered health. The council of +priests decided, therefore, to reckon that day in the list of those +which were miraculous, and to paint a picture on the external wall of +the edifice representing the weeping pharaoh and the cured people. + +Ramses returned rather late in the afternoon to his palace to hear +reports. When all the dignitaries had left the cabinet Tutmosis came in +and said, + +"Holiness, the priest Samentu wishes to pay thee homage." + +"Well, let him come." + +"He implores thee, lord, to receive him in a tent in the military camp; +he asserts that the walls of the palace are fond of listening." + +Before sunset, the pharaoh went with Tutmosis to his faithful troops +and found among them the royal tent, at which Asiatics were on guard by +command of Tutmosis. + +In the evening came Samentu dressed in the garb of a pilgrim, and when +he had greeted his holiness with honor, he whispered, + +"It seems to me that I was followed the whole way by some man who has +stopped not far from this tent, O holiness. Perhaps he was sent by the +high priests." + +At the pharaoh's command Tutmosis ran out, and found, in fact, a +strange officer. + +"Who art thou?" asked he. + +"I am Eunana, a centurion in the regiment of Isis. The unfortunate +Eunana. Dost Thou not remember me, worthiness? More than a year ago at +the maneuvers near Pi-Bailos I discovered the sacred scarabs." + +"Ah, that is thou!" interrupted Tutmosis. "But thy regiment is not in +Abydos?" + +"The water of truth flows from thy lips. We are quartered at a wretched +place near Mena where the priests have commanded us to clear a canal, +as if we were Hebrews or earthdiggers." + +"How hast Thou appeared here?" + +"I implored my superiors for a rest of some days, and like a deer +thirsting for a spring I, thanks to the swiftness of my feet, have +hurried hither." + +"What dost Thou wish, then?" + +"I wish to beg favor of his holiness against the shaven heads who give +me no promotion because I am sensitive to the sufferings of warriors." + +Tutmosis returned to the tent, ill-humored, and repeated the +conversation to the pharaoh. + +"Eunana?" repeated the sovereign. "Yes, I remember him. He caused us +trouble with his beetles, but got fifty blows of a stick through +Herhor. And Thou sayst that he complains of the priests? Bring him +hither." + +The pharaoh told Samentu to go into the second division of the tent. + +The unfortunate officer soon showed himself. He fell with his face to +the earth, and then kneeling, and sighing, continued, + +"I pray every day at his rising and setting to Re Harmachis, and to +Amon, and Re, and Ptah, and to other gods and goddesses, for thy +health, O sovereign of Egypt! That Thou live! That Thou have success, +and that I might see even the splendor of thy heel." [Authentic] + +"What does he wish?" asked the pharaoh of Tutmosis, observing etiquette +for the first time. + +"His holiness is pleased to inquire what thy wish is?" repeated +Tutmosis. + +The deceitful Eunana, remaining on his knees, turned toward the +favorite, and said, + +"Thou art the ear and eye of the land; Thou givest delight and life, +hence I will answer thee as at the judgment of Osiris: I have served in +the priests' regiment of the divine Isis ten years; I have fought six +years on the eastern boundary. Men of my age are commanders of +thousands, but I am only a centurion. I receive blows of sticks at +command of the god-fearing priests. And why is such injustice done me? +In the day-time I think of books, and at night I read them, since the +fool who leaves books as quickly as a gazelle takes to flight is of low +mind; he is like the ass which receives lashes, like the deaf man who +does not hear, and with whom one must speak with his fingers. In spite +of my love for science I am not puffed up with my own knowledge, but I +take counsel with all, for from each man it is possible to learn +something, and I surround with my esteem worthy sages." + +The pharaoh moved impatiently, but listened on, knowing that an +Egyptian considered garrulousness as his duty and the highest honor to +superiors. + +"This is what I am," said Eunana. "In a strange house I look not at +women. I give my attendants to eat what is proper, but when my turn +comes I dispute not about the division. I have a face which is +satisfied at all times, and in presence of superiors I act +respectfully. I never sit in the presence of an older man standing; I +am not forward, and without invitation I go not into other men's +houses. I am silent touching that which my eyes see, for I know that we +are deaf to men who use many words. + +"Wisdom teaches that the body of a man is like a granary full of +various objects. Therefore, I choose at all times the good that is in +me and express it. I keep the bad shut up in my person. The deceits of +other men I repeat not, and as to that which is committed to me I +always accomplish it in the best manner possible. + +"And what is my reward?" finished Eunana, raising his voice; "I suffer +cold, I go in rags, I am not able to lie on my back, it is so beaten. I +read in books that the priestly order rewards valor and prudence. +Indeed! that must have been at some other time, and very long ago. For +the priests of today turn from men of ability and drive strength and +valor out of the bones of officers." + +"I shall fall asleep in presence of this man," said the pharaoh. + +"Eunana," said Tutmosis, "his holiness is convinced that Thou art +expert in books, but tell now in as few words as possible what thy wish +is." + +"An arrow does not go so quickly to its mark as my request will fly to +the divine feet of his holiness," replied Eunana. "The service of the +shaven heads has so disgusted me, the priests have filled my heart with +such bitterness, that if I am not transferred to the army of the +pharaoh, I shall pierce myself with my own sword, before which the +enemies of Egypt have trembled more than one time and more than a +hundred times. I would rather be a decurion, nay a simple warrior of +his holiness than a centurion in priestly regiments; a pig or a dog may +serve them, but not a believing Egyptian!" + +Eunana uttered the last words with such mad anger that the pharaoh said +in Greek to Tutmosis, + +"Take him to the guard. An officer who does not like the priests may be +of use to us." + +"His holiness, the lord of both worlds has given command to receive +thee into his guard," repeated Tutmosis. + +"My health and life belong to our lord. May he live through eternity!" +exclaimed Eunana, and he kissed the footstool beneath the feet of the +pharaoh. + +Eunana, now made happy, moved backward, falling on his face after every +couple of steps, and left the tent, blessing his sovereign. + +"His garrulousness irritated me," said Ramses. "I must teach Egyptian +soldiers and officers to speak briefly, not like learned scribes." + +"May the gods grant that to be his only failing," whispered Tutmosis, +on whom Eunana had made a bad impression. + +Ramses summoned Samentu. + +"Be at rest," said he to the priest. "That officer who came after thee +was not following. He is too stupid for commissions of that sort. But a +heavy hand may be used in case of necessity. Well, now, tell me what +inclined thee to such cautiousness?" + +"I know, almost, the road to the treasure chambers in the labyrinth," +said Samentu. + +The pharaoh shook his head. + +"That is a difficult task," said he in a low voice. "I ran an hour +through various halls and corridors, like a mouse chased by a cat. And +I confess that, not merely did I not understand that road, but I could +not have even escaped from the place unattended. Death in the sunlight +may be pleasant, but death in those dens, where a mole would lose its +way! Brr!" + +"Still we must find that road and master it," said Samentu. + +"But if the overseers themselves give the necessary part of the +treasure," inquired the pharaoh. + +"They will not do that while Mefres, Herhor, and their confederates are +living. Believe me, sovereign, the question for those dignitaries is to +roll thee in swaddling clothes, like an infant." + +Ramses grew pale from anger. + +"Unless I wind them in chains! How wilt Thou discover the way?" + +"Here in Abydos, in the grave of Osiris, I found the whole plan of the +road to the treasure," said Samentu. + +"But how didst Thou learn that it was here?" + +"Inscriptions in my temple of Set explained that to me." + +"When didst Thou find the plan?" + +"When the mummy of thy eternally living father, O holiness, was in the +temple of Osiris. I accompanied the revered relics and while on night +service in the hall of 'repose' I entered the sanctuary." + +"Thou shouldst be a general, not a high priest!" cried Ramses, +laughing. "And now Thou understandest the way of the labyrinth?" + +"I have understood it this long time, now I have taken indications for +guidance." + +"Canst Thou explain it to me?" + +"Of course, at the right time, I will even show thee a plan, holiness. +That way," continued Samentu, "passes in zigzags four times through the +whole labyrinth; it begins on the upper story and ends in the lowest +place underground, and has a number of other twists. That is why it is +so long." + +"And how couldst Thou go from one hall to another when there is such a +multitude of doors in them?" + +"On every door leading to the object there is a portion of this +sentence: 'Woe to the traitor who tries to penetrate the supreme secret +of the state and to stretch forth a sacrilegious hand toward the +treasure of the gods. His remains will be like offal, and his soul, +torn by its sins, will wander without rest, through dark places.'" + +"And that inscription does not terrify thee?" + +"But, holiness, does the sight of a Libyan spear terrify thee? Threats +are good against common people, but not against me, who am able myself +to write curses still more dreadful." + +The pharaoh fell to thinking. + +"Thou art right," said he. "A spear will not harm him who knows how to +ward it off, and a deceitful road will not lead astray the sage who +knows the word of truth. But how wilt Thou manage to make stones in the +wall move apart before thee, and columns change into doors of +entrance?" + +Samentu shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. + +"In my temple," replied he, "there are imperceptible entrances even +more difficult to open than those in the labyrinth. Whoso knows the key +to a mystery can go everywhere, as Thou hast said justly, O holiness." + +Ramses rested his head on his hand and continued thinking. + +"I should be sorry," said he, "if misfortune were to meet thee on the +way." + +"In the worst event I shall meet death, and does not death threaten +even a pharaoh. Besides, didst Thou not march to the Soda Lakes boldly, +though Thou wert not sure of returning? And, lord, think not," +continued the priest, "that I must pass over the same distance as other +men who visit the labyrinth. I shall find nearer points, and in the +course of one prayer to Osiris I can reach a place which Thou wouldst +only reach after thirty prayers." + +"But are there other entrances?" + +"There are, most assuredly, and I must find them. I shall not enter as +Thou didst, by the main gate or in the daytime." + +"How then?" + +"There are external doors which I know and which the wise overseers of +the labyrinth leave unguarded. In the court the watches are not +numerous and they trust so much to the care of the gods, or to the fear +of the people that they sleep in the night time most frequently. +Besides, the priests go to pray in the temple three times between +sunset and sunrise, but the guards perform their devotions in the open +air. Before one prayer is finished I shall be in the edifice." + +"And if Thou go astray?" + +"I have a plan." + +"But if the plan is imperfect?" asked the pharaoh, unable to hide his +anxiety. + +"But, holiness, if Thou obtain not the treasures of the labyrinth? If +the Phoenicians change their minds and refuse the promised loan? If the +army be hungry, and the hopes of the common people be deceived? Be +pleased to believe me, lord," continued the priest, "that I amid the +corridors of the labyrinth shall be safer than Thou in thy kingdom of +Egypt." + +"But the darkness the darkness! And the walls which one cannot break +through, and the depth, and those hundreds of ways in which he who +enters must lose himself. Believe me, Samentu, a battle with men is +amusement, but a conflict with darkness and doubt that is dreadful." + +"Holiness," answered Samentu, smiling, "Thou dost not know my life. At +the age of twenty-five I was a priest of Osiris." + +"Thou?" asked Ramses, with astonishment. + +"I, and I will tell at once why I passed to the service of Set. They +sent me to the peninsula of Sinai to build a small chapel for miners. +The labor of building continued six years. I, had much free time and +wandered among mountains, examining the caves in them. + +"What have I not seen in those places! Corridors so long that it took +hours to pass through them, narrow entrances through which if a man +passes he must crawl on his stomach; chambers so immense that in each a +whole temple might find room sufficient. I saw underground rivers, +lakes, crystal chambers, dens totally dark in which no man could see +his own hand, again others in which there was as much light as if a +second sun had been shining there. + +"How often have I been lost in countless passages, how often has my +torch gone out, how often was I approaching an unseen precipice? I have +passed many days in subterranean places, living on parched barley, +licking the moisture from wet rocks, not knowing whether I should ever +see this upper world again. + +"But I gained experience. My vision grew sharp and I even came to love +those underground regions. And today when I think of the childish +recesses of the labyrinth I am ready for laughter. Edifices built by +men are like mole-hills when compared with the immense structures +reared by those silent and invisible earth spirits. + +"But once I met a dreadful thing which brought me to change my +position. West from the quarries of Sinai is a group of ravines and +mountains among which subterranean thunders are heard frequently, the +earth trembles, and flames are seen sometimes. I was made curious, so I +went there for a longer visit. I sought, and, thanks to an +inconsiderable opening, I discovered a whole chain of immense caves +under the arches of which it would be possible to place the largest +pyramid. + +"When I wandered into those places I was met by a smell of +putrefaction, a smell so strong that I wished to flee from it. But, +conquering myself, I entered the cave whence it came, and beheld +Imagine, lord, a man with legs and arms shorter by one half than ours, +but thick, awkward, and with claws at their extremities. Add to this +figure a broad tail, flattened at the side, indented like the comb of a +cock, a very long neck, and on it a dog's head. Finally, dress this +monster in armor covered on the back with carved spikes. Now imagine +that figure standing on its feet with arms and breast resting against a +cliff." + +"That was something very ugly," put in Ramses; "I should have killed it +immediately." + +"It was not ugly," answered Samentu, shaking himself. "For think, lord, +that monster was as tall as an obelisk." + +Ramses made a movement of displeasure. + +"Samentu," said he, "it seems to me that Thou didst visit thy caves in +a dream." + +"I swear to thee, holiness, by the life of my children!" exclaimed the +priest, "that I speak truth. Yes; that monster in the skin of a reptile +covered with a scaly armor, if lying on the ground, would with its tail +be fifty paces long. In spite of fear and repulsion I returned a number +of times to that cave and examined the creature most carefully." + +"Then it was alive?" + +"No, it was dead. Dead a very long time, but preserved like our +mummies. The great dryness of the air preserved it, and perhaps some. +salt of the earth unknown to me. + +"That was my last discovery," continued Samentu. "I went no more into +caves, for I meditated greatly. 'Osiris,' said I, 'creates lions, +elephants, horses, and Set gives birth to serpents, bats, crocodiles; +the monster which I met is surely a creation of Set, and since it +exceeds everything known by us under the sun, Set is a mightier god +than Osiris.' + +"So I turned to Set, and on returning to Egypt fixed myself in his +temple. When I told the priests of my discovery they explained to me +that they knew a great many monsters of that sort." + +Samentu drew breath, then continued, + +"Shouldst Thou desire to visit our temple at any time, holiness, I will +show thee wondrous and terrible beings in coffins: geese with lizards' +heads and bats' wings. Lizards like swans, but larger than ostriches, +crocodiles three times as long as those which live now in the Nile, +frogs as bulky as mastiffs. Those are mummies, or skeletons found in +caves and preserved in our coffins. People think that we adore them, +but we merely save them from decay and examine their structure." + +"I shall believe thee when I see them myself," replied the pharaoh. +"But tell me, whence could such creatures come?" + +"The world in which we live, holiness, has suffered great changes. In +Egypt itself we find ruins of cities and temples hidden in the earth +deeply. There was a time when that which is now Lower Egypt was an arm +of the sea, and the Nile flowed through the whole width of our valley. +Still earlier the sea was here, where this kingdom is now. Our +ancestors inhabited the region which the western desert has taken. +Still earlier tens of thousands of years ago the people were not as we +are, they rather resembled monkeys, but they knew how to build huts, +they had fire, and they used stones and clubs in fighting. + +"There were no horses in those days, nor bulls; while elephants, +rhinoceroses and lions were three or even four times as large as those +beasts are in our time. + +"But enormous elephants were not the first creatures. Before them lived +immense reptiles: flying, swimming, and walking. Earlier than the +reptiles in this world there were only snails and fish, and before them +only plants, but plants such as exist not at present." + +"And still earlier?" inquired Ramses. + +"Still earlier the earth was empty and void, and the spirit of God +moved over the waters." + +"I have heard something of this," said Ramses, "but I shall not believe +it till Thou show me mummies of monsters which, as Thou sayst, are in +thy temple." + +"With permission, holiness, I will finish what I have begun," said +Samentu. "When I saw that immense body in the cave at Sinai fear seized +me, and for two years or more I entered no cave of any kind. But when +priests of Set explained to me the origin of such wonderful creatures +my alarm vanished and curiosity rose up in place of it. I have no +pleasanter amusement today than to wander in subterranean places and +search for ways amid darkness. For this reason the labyrinth will not +cause me more trouble than a walk through the pharaoh's garden." + +"Samentu," said the sovereign, "I esteem thy marvelous daring and thy +wisdom; Thou hast told me so many curious things that indeed I myself +have conceived a wish to examine caves, and some time I will even go +with thee to Sinai. Still I have fears as to thy conquest of the +labyrinth, and in every event I will summon an assembly of Egyptians to +empower me to use its treasures." + +"That will do no harm," replied the priest. "But none the less will my +labor be needed, since Mefres and Herhor will never consent to yield +the treasure." + +"And art Thou sure of success?" inquired Ramses persistently. + +"Since Egypt is Egypt," said Samentu, "there has not been a man who had +such means to win victory as I have. This encounter is for me not even +a struggle, but an amusement. Darkness terrifies some men; I love +darkness and can even see in the midst of it. Others are unable to +guide themselves among the numerous chambers and corridors; I shall do +that very easily. Besides, the secrets of opening hidden doors are +unknown to other men, while I know them thoroughly. + +"Had I nothing beyond what I have recounted I should discover the ways +of the labyrinth in one month or in two, but I have besides a detailed +plan of those passages and I know the expressions which will lead me +from hall to hall. What then can hinder me?" + +"Still doubt is concealed at the bottom of thy heart; Thou didst fear +that officer who seemed to pursue thee." + +The priest shrugged his shoulders. + +"I fear nothing and no man," replied he with calmness, "but I am +cautious. I provide against everything, and I am prepared even for +this, that they may seize me." + +"Dreadful tortures would await thee in that case!" whispered Ramses. + +"No tortures. I shall open a door directly from the subterranean +chamber of the labyrinth to the land of endless light." + +"And wilt Thou not be sorry for me?" + +"Why should I? I aim at a great object; I wish to occupy Herhor's +place." + +"I swear that Thou shalt have it." + +"Unless I perish," added Samentu. "But if I go along precipices to +mountain summits, and in that wandering my foot slips and I fall, what +does it signify? Thou, lord, wilt care for the future of my children?" + +"Go forward," said Ramses. "Thou art worthy to be my foremost +assistant." + + + +CHAPTER LVIII + +AFTER leaving Abydos, Ramses XIII sailed up the Nile to the city of +Tan-ta-ren (Dendera) and Keneh, which stood nearly opposite each other: +one on the western, the other on the eastern bank of the river. At Tan- +ta-ren were two famous places: the pond in which crocodiles were +reared, and the temple of Hator, where there was a school at which were +taught medicine, sacred hymns, the methods of celebrating divine +ceremonies, finally astronomy. + +The pharaoh visited both places. He was irritated when they directed +him to burn incense before the sacred crocodiles, which he considered +as foul and stupid reptiles. And when one of these in time of offering +pushed out too far and seized the sovereign's garment with its teeth, +Ramses struck it on the head with a bronze ladle so violently that the +reptile closed its eyes for a time, and spread its legs, then withdrew +and crept into the water, as if understanding that the youthful +sovereign did not wish to be familiar even with divinities. + +"But have I committed sacrilege?" inquired Ramses of the high priest. + +The dignitary looked around stealthily to see if any one were +listening, and answered, + +"If I had known, holiness, that Thou wouldst make it an offering in +that way, I should have given thee a club, not a censer. That crocodile +is the most unendurable brute in the whole temple. Once it seized a +child." + +"And ate it?" + +"The parents were satisfied!" said the priest. + +"Tell me," said the pharaoh, after thinking, "how can ye sages render +homage to beasts which, moreover, when there are no witnesses, ye beat +with sticks?" + +The high priest looked around again, and seeing no one near by, he +answered, + +"Of course Thou canst not suspect, sovereign, that worshippers of one +god believe in the divinity of beasts. What is done is done for the +people." + +In the temple of Hator the pharaoh passed quickly through the school of +medicine, and listened without great interest to predictions given by +astrologers concerning him. When the astrologer high priest showed him +a tablet on which was engraved a map of heaven, he asked, + +"How often do these predictions come true which ye read in the stars?" + +"They come true sometimes." + +"But if ye predict from trees, stones, or running water, do those +predictions come true also?" + +The high priest was troubled. + +"Holiness, do not consider us untruthful. We predict the future for +people because it concerns them, and we tell them, indeed, what they +can understand of astronomy." + +"And what do ye understand?" + +"We understand," said the priest, "the structure of the heavenly dome +and the movement of the stars." + +"What good is that to any one?" + +"We have rendered no small service to Egypt. We indicate the main +directions according to which edifices are built and canals are dug. +Without the aid of our science vessels sailing on the sea could not go +far from laud. Finally we compose calendars and calculate future +heavenly phenomena. For instance, the sun will be eclipsed within a +short period." + +Ramses was not listening; he had turned and gone out. + +"How is it possible," thought the pharaoh, "to build a temple for such +childish amusements, and besides to engrave the results on golden +tablets? These holy men do not know what to snatch at from idleness." + +After he had remained a short time in Tan-ta-ren, the sovereign crossed +over to Keneh. + +In that place were no celebrated temples, incensed crocodiles, or +golden tablets with stars. But commerce and pottery flourished. From +that city went two roads to ports on the Red Sea: Koseir and Berenice, +also a road to the porphyry mountains, whence they brought statues and +great sticks of timber. + +Keneh was swarming with Phoenicians who received the sovereign with +great enthusiasm, and presented him with valuables to the amount of ten +talents. + +In spite of this, the pharaoh remained barely one day there, since they +informed him from Thebes that the revered body of Ramses XII was +already in the palace of Luxor awaiting its burial. + +At that epoch Thebes was an immense city occupying about twelve square +kilometers of area. It possessed the greatest temple in Egypt: that of +Amon, also a multitude of edifices, private and public. The main +streets were broad, straight, and paved with stone slabs, the banks of +the Nile had their boulevards, the houses were four or five stories +high. + +Since every temple and palace had a great gateway with pylons Thebes +was called "the city of a hundred gates." It was a city on the one hand +greatly given to commerce and trade, and on the other, the threshold, +as it were, of eternity. On the western bank of the Nile, in the hills +and among them, was an incalculable number of tombs of pharaohs, +priests, and magnates. + +Thebes was indebted for its splendor to two pharaohs: Amenophis III or +Memnon, who found it a "city of mud and left it a city of stone," and +Ramses II, who finished and perfected the edifices begun by Amenophis. + +On the eastern bank of the Nile, in the southern part of the city, was +an entire quarter of immense regal edifices: palaces, villas, temples, +on the ruins of which the small town of Luxor stands at present. In +that quarter the remains of Ramses XII were placed for the last +ceremonies. + +When Ramses XIII arrived all Thebes went forth to greet him, only old +men and cripples remained in the houses, and thieves in the alleys. +Here, for the first time, the people took the horses from the pharaoh's +chariot and drew it themselves. Here for the first time the pharaoh +heard shouts against the abuses of priests. This comforted him; also +cries that every seventh day should be for rest. He desired to make +that gift to toiling Egypt, but he knew not that his plans had become +known, and that the people were waiting to see them accomplished. + +His journey of five miles lasted a couple of hours amid dense crowds of +people. The pharaoh's chariot was stopped very often in the midst of a +throng, and did not move till the guard of his holiness had raised +those who lay prostrate before it. + +When at last he reached the palace gardens where he was to occupy one +of the smaller villas, the pharaoh was so wearied that he did not +occupy himself with affairs of state on his arrival. Next day, however, +he burnt incense before the mummy of his father, which was in the main +royal chamber, and informed Herhor that they might conduct the remains +to the tomb prepared for them. + +But this ceremony was not performed immediately. + +They conveyed the late pharaoh to the temple of Ramses, where it +remained a clay and a night. Then they bore the mummy with boundless +magnificence to the temple of Amon-Ra. + +The details of the funeral ceremony were the same as in Memphis, though +incomparably grander. + +The royal palaces on the right bank of the Nile were on the southern +end of the city, while the temple of Amon-Ra was in the northern part +of it. These were connected by a road unique in character. This was an +avenue two kilometers long, very broad, lined not only with immense +trees, but with two rows of sphinxes. Some of these with lions' bodies +had human heads, others had rams' heads. There were several hundreds of +these statues on the avenue, at both sides of which countless throngs +of people had assembled from Thebes and the surrounding region. Along +the middle of the avenue moved the funeral procession. Advancing to the +music of various regiments were detachments of female wailers, choruses +of singers, all the guilds of artisans and merchants, deputations from +some tens of provinces with their gods and banners, deputations from +more than ten nations which kept up relations with Egypt. And again +walkers' music and priestly choruses. + +This time the mummy of the pharaoh advanced in a golden boat also, but +incomparably richer than that in Memphis. The car which bore it was +drawn by eight pair of white bulls; this car, two stories high, was +almost concealed under garlands, bouquets, ostrich plumes, and precious +woven stuffs. It was surrounded by a dense cloud of smoke from censers, +which produced the impression that Ramses XII was appearing to his +people in clouds like a divinity. + +From the pylons of all Theban temples came thunder-like outbursts and +with them loud and rapid sounds from the clashing of bronze disks. + +Though the avenue of sphinxes was free and wide, though the procession +took place under the direction of Egyptian generals, and therefore with +the greatest order, the procession spent three hours in passing those +two kilometers between the palace and the edifices of Amon. + +Only when the mummy of Ramses XII was borne into the temple did Ramses +XIII drive forth from the palace in a golden chariot drawn by a pair of +splendid horses. The people standing along the avenue, who during the +time of the procession had held themselves quietly, burst out at sight +of the beloved sovereign into a shout so immense that the thunders and +sounds from the summits of all the temples were lost in it. + +There was a moment when that mighty throng, borne away by excitement, +would have rushed to the middle of the avenue and surrounded their +sovereign. But Ramses, with one motion of his hand, restrained the +living deluge and prevented the sacrilege. + +In the course of some minutes the pharaoh passed over the road and +halted before the immense pylons of the noblest temple in Egypt. + +As Luxor was the quarter of palaces in the south, so Karnak was the +quarter of divinities on the northern side of the city. The temple of +Amon-Ra formed the main centre of Karnak. + +This building alone occupied two hectares of space, and the gardens and +ponds around it about twenty. Before the temple stood two pylons forty +meters high. The forecourt, surrounded by a corridor resting on +columns, occupied nearly one hectare, the hall of columns in which were +assembled the privileged classes was half a hectare in extent. This was +not the edifice yet, but the approach to it. + +That hall, or hypostyle, was more than a hundred and fifty yards long +and seventy-five yards in width, its ceiling rested on one hundred and +thirty-four columns. Among these the twelve central ones were fifteen +yards in circumference and from twenty to twenty-four meters high. + +The statues disposed in the temple near the pylons, and at the sacred +lakes accorded in size with all other parts of Karnak. + +In the immense gate the worthy Herhor, the high priest of that temple, +was waiting for Ramses. Surrounded by a whole staff of priests Herhor +greeted the pharaoh almost haughtily, and while burning a censer before +the sovereign he did not look at him. Then he conducted Ramses to the +hypostyle and gave the order to admit deputations within the wall of +the temple. + +In the midst of the hypostyle stood the boat with the mummy of the +departed sovereign, and on both sides of it, two thrones of equal +height stood opposed to each other. On one of these Ramses took his +place surrounded by nomarchs and generals, on the other sat Herhor +surrounded by the priesthood. Then the high priest Mefres gave Herhor +the miter of Amenhotep and the young pharaoh for the second time beheld +on the head of the high priest the golden serpent, the symbol of regal +authority. + +Ramses grew pale from rage, and thought: "Shall I need to remove the +ureus and thy head at the same time?" + +But he was silent, knowing that in that greatest of Egyptian temples +Herhor was lord, the equal of the gods, and a potentate perhaps greater +than the pharaoh. + +During this time when the people filled the court, behind the purple +curtain dividing the rest of the temple from mortals were heard harps +and low singing. Ramses looked at the hall. A whole forest of mighty +columns covered from above to the bases with paintings, the mysterious +lighting, the ceiling far up near the sky somewhere, produced on him an +effect that was crushing. + +"What does it signify," thought he, "to win a battle at the Soda Lakes? +To build an edifice like this is an exploit! But those priests built +it." + +At that moment he felt the power of the priestly order. Could he, his +army, or even the whole people overturn that temple? And if it would be +difficult to deal with the edifice would it be easier to struggle with +its builders? The voice of the high priest Mefres roused him from +disagreeable meditations. + +"Holiness," said the old man; "Thou most worthy confidant of the gods" +(here he bowed to Herhor); "ye nomarchs, scribes, warriors, and common +people, the most worthy high priest of this temple, Herhor, invites you +to judge, according to ancient custom, the earthly acts of the late +pharaoh, and to acknowledge or deny to him burial." + +Anger rushed to the head of Ramses. "It was not enough that they +insulted him in that place, but in addition they dare to discuss the +deeds of his father, to decide as to his burial." + +But he calmed himself; that was only a formality, as ancient, in fact, +as the Egyptian dynasties. It related not to judgment, but to praise of +the departed. + +At a sign given by Herhor the high priests took their seats on stools. +But neither the nomarchs nor the generals surrounding the throne of +Ramses were seated; there were not even stools for them. + +The pharaoh fixed in his memory that insult also; 'but he had so +mastered himself now that it was impossible to learn whether he noticed +the disregard shown those near him. + +Meanwhile the holy Mefres dwelt on the life of the deceased pharaoh. + +"Ramses XII," said he, "did not commit any of the forty-two sins, hence +the court of the gods pronounces a gracious verdict regarding him. And +since, moreover, the royal mummy, thanks to the exceptional care of the +priests, is provided with every amulet, prayer, direction, and spell, +there is no doubt that the late pharaoh is now in the dwelling of the +gods, sitting at the side of Osiris, and is himself Osiris. + +"During his earthly life the divine nature of Ramses XII was made +manifest. He reigned more than thirty years. He gave the people +profound peace and erected or finished many temples. Besides, he was +himself a high priest and surpassed in piety the most pious. During his +reign honor to the gods and elevation of the sacred priestly order held +the chief position. Therefore he was beloved of the heavenly powers, +and one of the Theban gods, Khonsu, at the prayer of the pharaoh, was +pleased to go to the country of Buchten, and expel an evil spirit from +the king's daughter." + +Mefres drew breath and continued, + +"When I have shown your worthinesses that Ramses XII was a god, will ye +inquire with what object that higher being came down to the Egyptian +land and spent some tens of years here? + +"He did so to reform the world, which, through decay of faith, is much +corrupted. For who is occupied in devotion today, who thinks of obeying +the will of the gods in our time? + +"In the distant north we see the great Assyrian people who believe only +in the power of the sword, and who, instead of giving themselves to +devotion and wisdom, are subjecting other nations. Nearer to us are +Phoenicians, whose god is gold, and whose worship is mere fraud and +usury. There are others also: the Hittites on the East, the Libyans on +the west, the Ethiopians on the south, and the Greeks of the +Mediterranean, those are barbarians and robbers. Instead of toiling +they rob, instead of working wisdom they drink, play dice, or sleep +like tired animals. + +"In the world there is only one really wise and pious people, the +Egyptians; but see what is happening among us. Because of the influx of +infidel foreigners, religion has fallen here also. Nobles and officials +at their wine cups revile eternal life and the gods, while the people +throw mud at sacred statues and make no offerings to temples. + +"Excess has taken the place of devotion, riot the place of wisdom. Each +man wants to wear immense wigs, and anoint himself with rare perfumes; +he would have tunics and aprons woven with gold, wear chains and +bracelets set with jewels. A barley cake suffices him no longer: he +wants wheaten bread with milk and honey; he washes his feet in beer and +quenches his thirst with wine from foreign countries. + +"Because of this all nobles are in debt, the people are beaten and +overloaded with labor; here and there rebellions break out. What do I +say! here and there? During a certain time through the length and the +breadth of Egypt, thanks to secret disturbances, we hear the shout: +'Give us rest after every six days of labor! Do not beat us without +judgment! Give each man of us a plot of land as his property!' + +"This is a declaration of ruin for Egypt, against which we must find +rescue. The rescue is only in religion, which teaches that the people +should labor. Holy men, as persons knowing the will of the gods, should +indicate the labor, and it is the duty of the pharaoh and his officials +to see that this labor is carried out actually. + +"Religion teaches all this; according to these principles Ramses XII, +who was equal to the gods, governed Egypt. We high priests, knowing his +devotion, will cut out the following inscription on his tomb and on the +temples: + +"The bull Horus, the mighty Apes who united the crowns of the kingdom, +the golden falcon wielding the saber, the conqueror of nine nations, +the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the ruler of two worlds, the son of +the sun, Amen-Mer-Ramses, beloved of Amon-Ra, the lord and ruler of the +Theban region, the son of Amon-Ra received as son by Horus, and +begotten by Hormach, King of Egypt, ruler of Phoenicia, lord of nine +nations." [Authentic tomb inscription. ] + +When this proposal was confirmed by a shout of those assembled, dancers +ran out from behind the curtain and performed a sacred dance before the +sarcophagus, and the priests burned incense. Then they took the mummy +from the boat and bore it to the sanctuary of Amon into which Ramses +XIII had not the right to enter. + +The service ended soon after and the assembly left the temple. + +While returning to the palace of Luxor the young pharaoh was so sunk in +thought that he hardly saw the immense throng of people and did not +hear the shouts which rose from it. + +"I cannot deceive my own heart," thought Ramses. "The high priests +insult me; this has not happened to any pharaoh till my time; more, +they point out to me the way in which I can gain their favor. They wish +to manage the state, and I am to see that their commands are +accomplished. + +"But it will be otherwise: I shall command and ye must accomplish. +Either my royal foot will be planted on your necks or I shall perish." + +For two days the revered mummy of Ramses XII remained in the temple of +Amon, in a place so sacred that even high priests might not enter, save +only Herhor and Mefres. Before the deceased only one lamp was burning, +the flame of which, nourished in a miraculous manner, was never +extinguished. Over the deceased hung the symbol of the spirit, a man- +headed falcon. Whether it was a machine, or really a living being, was +known to no one. This is certain, that priests who had the courage to +look behind the curtain stealthily saw that this being kept one place +in the air unsupported while its lips and eyes continued moving. + +The continuation of the funeral began, and the golden boat carried the +deceased to the other side of the river. But first it passed through +the main street of Thebes surrounded by an immense retinue of priests, +wailers, warriors, and people, amid incense, music, wailing and +chanting. This was perhaps the most beautiful street in all Egypt. It +was broad, smooth, lined with trees. Its houses, four and even five +stories high, were covered from roof to foundation with mosaic or with +bas-reliefs in colors. It looked as if those buildings had been hung +with immense colored tapestry or hidden by colossal pictures +representing the work and occupations of merchants, artisans, mariners, +also distant lands and their people. In one word that was not a street, +but a colossal gallery of pictures, barbarous as to the drawing, but +brilliant in colors. + +The funeral procession advanced about two kilometers from the north to +the south, keeping more or less the centre of the city, then it turned +westward toward the river. + +In the middle of the river opposite this point was a large island +connected by a bridge of boats with the city. To avoid accidents the +generals in command reformed the procession; they put four people in a +rank, ordered them to move very slowly and forbade them to keep step. +With this object the different bands of music at the head of the +multitude each played different music. + +After a couple of hours the procession passed the first bridge, next +the island, then the second bridge, and was on the western bank of the +river. + +If we might call the eastern part of Thebes the city of gods and kings, +the western quarter was that of tombs and mortuary temples. + +The procession advanced from the Nile toward the Libyan hills by the +middle road. South of this road, on an eminence, stood a temple, +commemorating the victories of Ramses III, the walls of which are +covered with pictures of conquered nations: Hittites, Amorites, +Philistines, Ethiopians, Arabs, Libyans. A little lower down rose two +colossal statues of Amenhotep II, the height of which, notwithstanding +their sitting posture, was twenty meters. One of these statues was +distinguished by the miraculous property that when struck by the rays +of the rising sun it gave out sounds like those of a harp whenever +chords snap in it. + +Still nearer the road, but always on the left, stood the Ramesseum, a +beautiful though not very large temple which was built by Ramses II. +The entrance to this edifice was guarded by statues with the royal +insignia in their hands. In the forecourt towered the statue of Ramses +II to the height of sixteen meters. + +The road rose gradually, and a very steep eminence became more and more +visible; this was as full of holes as a sponge: those holes were the +tombs of Egyptian officials. At the entrance to them, among steep +cliffs stood the very strange temple of Queen Hatasu. This temple was +four hundred and fifty yards long. From the forecourt, surrounded by a +wall, there was an entrance by steps to the second court surrounded by +columns; under this was a subterranean temple. From the court of +columns the passage rose by steps again to a temple cut out in the +cliff under which was another subterranean temple. In this way the +temple was of two stories, each of which was divided into an upper and +a lower part. The stairs were immense, without railing, but furnished +with two rows of sphinxes; the entrance to each stairway was guarded by +two sitting statues. + +At the temple of Hatasu began the gloomy ravine which led from the +tombs of high dignitaries to those of the pharaohs. Between these two +quarters was the tomb of the high priest Retemenof, the corridors and +chambers of which occupied about one hectare of subterranean area. + +The road to the ravine was so steep that men had to help the draught +bulls, and push the funeral boat forward. The procession moved, as it +were, along a cornice cut into the cliff side; at last they halted on a +broad platform some hundreds of feet above the ravine counting from the +lower bed of it. + +Here was the door leading to the underground tomb which during his +thirty years' reign the pharaoh had made for himself. This tomb was a +whole palace with chambers for the pharaoh, for his family and +servants, with a dining-room, bed-chamber and bath, with chapels +consecrated to various gods, and finally with a well at the bottom of +which was a small chamber where the mummy of the sovereign would rest +for the ages. + +By the light of brilliant torches the walls of all the rooms appeared +covered with prayers, and also with pictures which represented every +occupation and amusement of the departed: hunting, the building of +temples, the cutting of canals, triumphal entries, solemnities in honor +of the gods, battles of troops with their enemies, the labors of +people. + +And those were not sufficient: the chambers were not only fitted with +furniture, vessels, chariots, weapons, flowers, meat, bread, and wine, +but they were furnished also with a multitude of statues. There were +various portraits of Ramses XII, his priests, ministers, women, +warriors, and slaves; for the sovereign could not dispense in the other +world any more than in this with costly vessels, exquisite food and +faithful servants. + +When the funeral car halted at the entrance the priests drew forth from +its sarcophagus the mummy of the pharaoh, and placed it on the earth +resting against the cliff with its shoulder. Then Ramses XIII burned +incense before the remains of his father, while Queen Niort's embraced +the mummy by the neck, and said with weeping, + +"I am thy sister, Niort's, thy wife; do not desert me, Thou great one! +Dost Thou desire really, my good father, that I should go? But if I go +Thou wilt be alone, and will any one be with thee?" + +Now the high priest Herhor burned incense before the mummy, and Mefres +poured out wine, saying, + +"To thy second self we offer this, O Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses, sovereign +of Upper and Lower Egypt, whose voice in the presence of the great god +is truthful." + +Then the wailers and the chorus of priests were heard: + +Chorus I. "Complain, complain, weep, weep, weep, without ceasing, as +loudly as ever ye are able." + +Wailers. "O worthy traveler, who turnest thy steps to the land of +eternity, how quickly they are tearing thee from us." + +Chorus II. "How beautiful is that which is happening to him! Since +Khonsu of Thebes was loved by him greatly, the god has permitted the +sovereign to reach that west, the world of the generations of his +servants." + +Wailers. "O Thou who hast been attended by so many servitors, Thou art +now in the laud ruled by loneliness. Thou who hadst splendid robes and +didst love spotless linen art lying now in the garments of yesterday!" + +Chorus I. "In peace, in peace, to the West, O our lord, go Thou in +peace. We shall see thee again when the day of eternity conies, for +Thou art going to the land which brings all men together." [Authentic] + +The final ceremony began. + +They brought a bull and an antelope which it was the duty of Ramses +XIII to slay, but they were slain by his substitute before the gods, +Sem, the high priest. The inferior priests dressed the beasts quickly, +after which Herhor and Mefres, taking the hind legs, placed them in +turn at the mouth of the mummy. But the mummy had no wish to eat, for +it was not brought to life yet, and its lips were closed. + +To remove that obstacle Mefres washed it with holy water and incensed +it with perfumes and alum, saying, + +"Here stands thy father; here stands Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses. I am thy +son; I am Horns; I come to purify thee and make thee alive. I put thy +bones again in order; I join that which was severed, for I am Horus, +the avenger of my father. Thou wilt sit on the throne of Ra who +proceeds from Nut, who gives birth to Re every morning, who gives birth +to Mer-Amen-Ramses daily, just as Re." + +Thus speaking, the high priest touched with amulets the mouth, the +breasts, the hands, and the feet of the mummy. + +Now the choruses were heard again, + +Chorus I. "Henceforth Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses will eat and drink all +things which the gods eat and drink. He will sit in their place, like +them; he is healthy and powerful." + +Chorus II. "He has power in every limb; it is hateful to him to be +hungry and unable to eat, thirsty and unable to drink." + +Chorus I. "O gods, give to Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses thousands of +thousands of pitchers of wine, thousands of garments, thousands of +loaves and of bullocks!" + +Chorus II. "O ye who are living on the earth, when ye pass this way, if +life be dear to you and death be repulsive, if ye desire that your +dignities pass to your descendants, repeat this prayer for the heaven- +dweller who is placed here." + +Mefres. "O ye great ones, ye prophets, ye princes, scribes, and +pharaohs, O ye other people who are to come a million years after me, +if any of you put his name on the place of my name the god will punish +him by destroying his person on earth!" [Authentic] + +After this curse the priests lighted the torches, took the royal mummy, +placed it again in its casket, and the casket in the stone sarcophagus +which had the human form in its general outlines. Then, in spite of the +shrieks, the despair, and the resistance of wailers, they bore that +immense weight toward the tomb chamber. + +After they had passed by the light of torches through a number of +corridors and chambers they halted in that one where the well was. They +lowered the sarcophagus in that opening, went down themselves, and put +away the sarcophagus in a lower subterranean space, then walled up the +passage to this space quickly and in such a manner that the most +trained eye could not have discovered it; then they went up and closed +the entrance to the well with equal effectiveness. + +The priests did all this without witnesses; and they did the work so +accurately that the mummy of Ramses XII remains to this day in its +secret abode, as safe from thieves as from modern curiosity. During +twenty-nine centuries many tombs of pharaohs have been ravaged, but +that one is inviolate. + +While some priests were hiding the remains of the pious pharaoh, others +illuminated the underground chambers and invited the living to a feast +in that dwelling. + +Ramses XIII, Queen Niort's, and Sem, with some civil and military +dignitaries entered the dining-hall. In the middle of the chamber stood +a table covered with food, wine, and flowers, and at the wall sat a +statue of the late sovereign carved out of porphyry. He seemed to gaze +at those present, smile pensively, and beg them to eat in his presence. + +The feast began with a sacred dance, which was accompanied by a hymn +sung by one of the highest priestesses. + +"Enjoy days of happiness, for life lasts but one instant. Enjoy +happiness, for when ye enter the tomb ye will rest there the whole +length of each day during ages." + +After the priestess came a prophet, and to the accompaniment of harps +he chanted, + +"The world is endless change and endless renewal. That arrangement of +fate is wise; the decision of Osiris deserves admiration; for as a body +which belongs to past time decays and perishes, other bodies rise +behind it. + +"The pharaohs, those gods who were before us, rest in their pyramids; +their mummies and their second selves remain, though the palaces which +they built are no longer on their sites, and no longer in existence. + +"Despair not, but give thyself to thy desires and thy happiness, and +wear not thy heart out till for thee the day comes when Thou wilt +implore, while Osiris, the god whose heart beats no longer, will not +hear thy petitions. + +"The mourning of a world will not restore happiness to a man who is +lying in the tomb; use, then, thy days of happiness and in delight be +no laggard. There is no man, indeed, who can take his goods to the +other world with him; there is none who can go to that world and come +back to this one." [Authentic] + +The feast ended; the worthy assembly incensed the statue of the +deceased once again and made ready to return to Thebes. In the mortuary +temple only priests remained to make regular offerings to the deceased +and a guard watching the tomb against sacrilegious attempts of robbers. + +Thenceforth Ramses XII was alone in that mysterious chamber. Through a +small secret opening in the rock a gloomy light barely broke in to him; +instead of the rustle of ostrich plumes was the rustle of enormous bat +wings; instead of music was heard, during night hours, complaining +howls of hyenas, and at times the mighty voice of a lion, which greeted +from the desert the pharaoh in his resting-place. + + + +CHAPTER LIX + +After the funeral of the pharaoh, Egypt returned to its usual life, and +Ramses XIII to affairs of state. The new ruler in the month Epifi +visited the cities of the Nile above Thebes. Hence he went to Sni, a +city greatly devoted to trade and commerce. In Sni was the temple of +Keph, or the "Soul of the World." He visited Edfu, whose temple had +pylons a hundred and fifty feet high, and which possessed an immense +library of papyruses, and on the walls of which were written and +depicted, as it were, an encyclopedia of the geography, astronomy, and +theology of that period. He visited the quarries in Chennu, in Nubia, +or Kom-Ombo; he made offerings to Horus, the god of light, and to +Sebek, the spirit of darkness. He was on the island Ab, which among +dark cliffs seemed an emerald, produced the best dates, and was called +the Capital of Elephants, Elephantina, for on that island the ivory +trade was concentrated. He visited finally the city of Sunnu, situated +at the first cataract of the Nile, and visited the immense quarries, +granite and sienite, where rocks were split off with wooden wedges on +which the quarrymen poured water which swelled them, and thus obelisks +one hundred and thirty feet high were detached from the face of the +quarry. + +Wherever the new lord of Egypt appeared his subjects greeted him +wildly. Even criminals, toiling in the quarries men whose bodies were +covered with never-healing wounds experienced happiness since the +pharaoh commanded to release them for the space of three days from +their labor. + +Ramses XIII might feel proud and well satisfied, for no pharaoh in time +of triumph was received as he on his peaceful journey. So, nomarchs, +scribes, and high priests, seeing this boundless attachment of the +people, bent before the pharaoh and whispered, + +"The people are like a herd of bulls, and we like prudent ants. Hence +we will honor our new lord so that he may enjoy health and protect us +from ruin." + +In this way the opposition of dignitaries, very strong some mouths +earlier, had grown silent and yielded to boundless obedience. The whole +aristocracy, all the priests, fell on their faces before Ramses XIII; +Mefres and Herhor alone were unshaken. + +Hence when the pharaoh returned from Sunnu to Thebes the chief +treasurer brought unfavorable news the first day to him. + +"All the temples," said he, "refuse credit, and beg most obediently +that thou, holiness, command to pay in the course of two years all sums +which they have lent the treasury." + +"I understand," said the pharaoh; "this is the work of holy Mefres. How +much do we owe them?" + +"About fifty thousand talents." + +"We have to pay fifty thousand talents in two years," repeated the +pharaoh. "Well, what more?" + +"The taxes come in very slowly. During three months we have received +barely one-fourth of what is due us." + +"What has happened?" + +The treasurer was anxious. + +"I have heard," said he, "that some people have explained to earth- +tillers that during thy reign they are not to pay taxes." + +"Oh! ho!" cried Ramses, laughing. "Those 'some people' seem to me very +like the worthy Herhor. Well, what is this; does he want to kill me +with hunger? How can we meet current expenses?" + +"At Hiram's command the Phoenicians lend us," answered the treasurer. +"We have received from them eight thousand talents already." + +"But do ye give them notes?" + +"Notes and mortgages," sighed the treasurer. "They say that this is a +simple formality. Still they settle on thy lands, and take what they +can from the people." + +Delighted with the reception given him by the people and the obedience +of magnates, the pharaoh was not even angry at Herhor and Mefres. The +time of auger had passed, the moment of action had come, and Ramses +formed his plan that very day. He summoned for the morrow those in whom +he had most reliance: the high priest Sem, the prophet Pentuer, his +favorite Tutmosis, and the Phoenician Hiram. When they had assembled he +said, + +"Ye know, of course, the temples request me to return to them the funds +borrowed by my father. Every debt is sacred, that which belongs to the +gods I should like to pay first of all. But my treasury is empty, since +even the taxes come in only fitfully. + +"For this reason I look on the state as in danger, and I am forced to +turn for funds to treasures preserved in the labyrinth." + +The two priests moved uneasily. + +"I know," continued the pharaoh, "that according to our sacred laws my +decree is not sufficient to open to us the vaults of the labyrinth. But +the priests there have explained what is needful. I must summon +representatives of all orders in Egypt, thirteen men from each order, +and obtain a confirmation of my will from them." + +The pharaoh smiled at this point, and finished, + +"Today I have called you to help me to summon that assembly of the +orders, and this is my command to you: + +"Thou, worthy Sem, wilt select for me thirteen priests and thirteen +nomarchs. Thou, pious Pentuer, will bring to me from various provinces +thirteen land-tillers and thirteen artisans. Tutmosis will bring +thirteen officers and thirteen nobles; and Prince Hiram will occupy +himself in bringing thirteen merchants. I wish that this assembly +should meet at the very earliest in my palace in Memphis and, without +losing time in vain talk, recognize that the labyrinth is to furnish +means to my treasury." + +"I make bold to remind thee, holiness," said Sem, "that at that +assembly the worthy Herhor and the worthy Mefres must be present, and +that, according to law, and even duty, they are to oppose touching the +treasure in the labyrinth." + +"Of course I agree to that," replied the pharaoh promptly. "They will +give their reasons, I mine; the assembly will judge whether a state can +exist without money, and whether it is wise to waste treasure in +darkness while the state is threatened with indigence." + +"A few sapphires of those which are in the labyrinth would suffice to +pay all debts to Phoenicians," said Hiram. "I will go at once among the +merchants and find not thirteen but thirteen thousand who will vote at +thy command, O holiness." + +Then the prince fell on his face and took farewell of the sovereign. +When Hiram went out, the high priest said, + +"I know not whether it was well to have a foreigner at this +consultation." + +"I needed him here; for not only has he great influence over our +merchants, but, what is more important, he is obtaining money for us at +present. I wish to convince the man that I remember what is due to him, +and have means to pay it." + +Silence followed, which Pentuer made use of, and said, + +"If Thou permit, O holiness, I will go at once to occupy myself with +assembling land-tillers and artisans. They will all vote with our lord, +but from the multitude we must select the wisest." + +He took leave of the pharaoh and went out. + +"But thou, Tutmosis," inquired Ramses. + +"My lord," said the favorite, "I am so certain of thy nobility and army +that I make bold to turn to thee with a request for myself." + +"Thou wishest money?" + +"Not at all. I wish to marry." + +"Thou!" exclaimed the pharaoh. "What woman has earned from the gods +such a happiness?" + +"She is the beautiful Hebron, the daughter of Antefa, the most worthy +nomarch of Thebes," replied Tutmosis, laughing. "If Thou wilt be +pleased to speak on my behalf to that revered family I had thought to +say that my love for thee would be increased, but I will not say so, +for I should tell untruth." + +"Well, well," said the pharaoh, slapping him on the shoulder, "do not +persuade me of that which I know. I will go to Antefa to-morrow and it +seems to me that in the course of a few days I shall arrange a wedding. +But now Thou mayst go to thy Hebron." + +Left with Sem alone, his holiness said, + +"Thy face is gloomy. Dost Thou doubt that we may find thirteen priests +to carry out my orders?" + +"I am certain," replied Sem, "that almost all the priests and nomarchs +will do what may be needed for the happiness of Egypt and thy +satisfaction, holiness. But be pleased not to forgot that when it is a +question of the treasure of the labyrinth the final decision will be +given to Amon." + +"Is that the statue of Amon in Thebes?" + +"It is." + +The pharaoh waved his hand contemptuously, + +"Amon is Herhor and Mefres. That they will not agree I know; but I have +no intention of sacrificing Egypt to the stubbornness of two persons." + +"Thou art mistaken, holiness," answered Sem with dignity. "It is true +that very often statues of gods do what high priests wish, but not +always. In our temples mysterious and uncommon things happen sometimes. +At moments the statues of the gods say and do what they themselves +wish." + +"In that case I am at rest," interrupted the pharaoh. "The gods know +the condition of the state, and they read my heart. I wish Egypt to be +happy. And as I am striving to that end alone no wise and good god can +hinder me." + +"May thy words, holiness, be verified," whispered the high priest. + +"Dost Thou wish to tell me anything more?" asked Ramses, noticing that +his substitute in religion was delaying his departure. + +"Yes, lord. It is my duty to remind thee that every pharaoh after +reaching power and burying his predecessor must think of two buildings: +a tomb for himself and a temple for the gods." + +"Just so! I have thought more than once of this, but not having money I +do not issue orders. For Thou must understand," added he with +animation, "that if I build it will be something great, something which +will command Egypt not to forget me quickly." + +"Then dost Thou wish to have a pyramid?" + +"No. I could not, of course, build a greater pyramid than that of +Cheops, nor a greater temple than that of Amon in Thebes. My kingdom is +too weak to accomplish great works. I must make something entirely new, +therefore, for I tell thee that our buildings weary me. They are all +alike, just as men are, and differ from one another only in +proportions, as a man is bigger than a child." + +"Then what?" asked the high priest, opening his eyes widely. + +"I have spoken with the Greek Dion, who is the most famous architect +among us, and he praised my plan. For my own tomb I wish to build a +round tower with internal stairs, like that in Babylon. I shall build a +temple, not to Osiris or Isis, but to the One God in whom all believe: +the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians, and the Jews. I wish +that temple to be like the palace of King Assar, the model of which +Sargon brought to my father." + +"Those are great plans," said the high priest, shaking his head, "but +it is impossible to execute them. The Babylonian towers are not lasting +because of their form, they overturn easily, while our edifices must +endure for ages. A temple to the One God we may not raise, for he needs +no food, drink, or raiment. The whole world is his dwelling-place. +Where, then, is the temple which could hold him? Where is the priest +who would dare to make offerings before him?" + +"Well, let us build a residence for Amon-Ra," said the pharaoh. + +"Yes, if it is not like the palace of King Assar, for that is an +Assyrian building, and it is not proper for us Egyptians to imitate +barbarians." + +"I do not understand thee," interrupted Ramses, with irritation. + +"Listen to me, lord," answered Sem. "Look at snails, each one of them +has a different shell: one is winding, but blunt; another is winding, +but pointed; a third is like a box. In the same way precisely each' +people build edifices according to their blood and disposition. Be +pleased also to remember that Egyptian edifices differ as much from +those of Assyria as the Egyptian people differ from Assyrians. Among us +the fundamental form of every building is a pointless pyramid, the most +enduring form, as Egypt is the most enduring among kingdoms. With +Assyrians the fundamental form is a cube, which is injured easily and +is subject to destruction. + +"The proud and frivolous Assyrian puts his cubes one upon another, and +rears a many-storied structure under which foundations yield. The +obedient and prudent Egyptian puts his truncated pyramids one behind +the other. In that way nothing hangs in the air, but every part of the +structure is resting on the ground. From this it comes that our +buildings are broad and endure forever, while those of the Assyrians +are tall and weak, like their state, which at first rises quickly, but +in a couple of generations there is nothing left of it but ruins. + +"The Assyrian is a noisy self-praiser, so in his buildings everything +is put on the outside: columns, sculpture, pictures. While the modest +Egyptian hides the most beautiful columns and carving inside the +temples like a sage who conceals in his heart lofty thoughts, desires, +and feelings he does not ornament his shoulders and breast with them. +Among us everything beautiful is hidden; among them, everything is made +to show. The Assyrian, if he could, would cut open his stomach to +exhibit to the world what peculiar foods he is digesting." + +"Speak speak on!" said Ramses. + +"Not much remains for me to say," continued Sem. "I only wish, lord, to +turn thy attention to the general form of our edifices, and those of +the Assyrians. When I was in Nineveh a few years ago, I observed the +Assyrian buildings towering above the earth haughtily; it seemed to me +that they were raging horses which had broken from the bit and reared +on their haunches, but would soon fall and perhaps break their legs in +addition. + +"Now try, holiness, to look from a lofty point on some Egyptian temple. +What does it recall to thee? This a man prostrate on the earth and +praying. The two pylons are his arms. The hall 'of columns,' or 'the +heavenly chamber,' is his head, the chamber of 'divine apparition' and +'the tables of offering' are his breasts, and the secret retreat of the +god is the heart of the pious Egyptian. Our temple teaches us what we +should be. 'Have a hand as strong as a pylon,' it says to us, 'and arms +as powerful as walls. Have in thy head reason as broad and rich as the +forecourt of the temple, a soul as pure as the chamber of "apparition" +and of "offering," and in thy heart have God, O Egyptian!' But the +Assyrian buildings say to that people: 'Tower above nations, O +Assyrian; rear thy head beyond every other! Thou wilt do nothing great +here on earth, but at least Thou wilt leave many ruins.' + +"Wouldst thou, then, O sovereign, venture to rear in our land Assyrian +edifices and imitate a people which Egypt contemns and despises?" + +In spite of Sem's explanation, even now Ramses judged that the Assyrian +palaces surpassed those of Egypt in beauty. But he so hated the +Assyrians that his heart began to hesitate. + +"In that case," said he, "I will defer the building of my tomb and the +temple. But do ye sages who are kindly disposed toward me, think over +plans of edifices which would give my name to the remotest +generations." + +"A superhuman pride fills the soul of this young man!" thought the high +priest, and he took farewell of the pharaoh in sadness. + + + +CHAPTER LX + +MEANWHILE Pentuer made ready to revisit Lower Egypt and find on the one +hand thirteen delegates from among land-tillers and artisans for the +pharaoh, and on the other to encourage the working population to demand +the relief which the new sovereign had promised, for according to his +conviction the greatest question for Egypt was to abolish the injustice +and the abuses to which the toiling people were subject. + +Still, Pentuer was a priest, and not only did he not desire the fall of +his order, but he did not even wish to break the bonds which connected +him with it. Hence to emphasize his loyalty he went to take farewell of +Herhor. + +The once mighty dignitary received him with a smile. + +"A rare guest a rare guest!" exclaimed he. "Since Thou hadst the desire +to become the counselor of his holiness Thou dost not show thyself +before me. True, Thou art not the only one! But whatever happens, I +shall not forget thy services, wert Thou even to avoid me still more +than at present." + +"Worthiness, I am not a counselor of our lord, nor do I avoid thee to +whose favor I am indebted for what I am today." + +"I know, I know!" answered Herhor. "Thou hast refused the high dignity +so as not to work to the destruction of the temples. I know, I know! +though perhaps it is to be regretted that Thou hast not become the +adviser of that giddy milksop, who, as it were, governs us. To a +certainty Thou wouldst not have suffered him to surround himself with +those traitors who are ruining him." + +Pentuer, not wishing to speak of such ticklish subjects, told Herhor +why he was going to Lower Egypt. + +"Very well," answered Herhor, "let Ramses XIII call an assembly of all +the orders. He has a right to call it." + +"But," he added suddenly, "I am sorry that Thou art involved in such +labor. Great changes have taken place in thee. Thou rememberest thy +words to my adjutant during those maneuvers in Pi-Bailos? I will remind +thee: Thou didst tell him that it was necessary to limit the abuses and +license of the pharaohs. But today Thou art supporting the childish +pretensions of the greatest profligate ever known to Egypt." + +"Ramses XIII," said Pentuer, interrupting, "wishes to improve the lot +of common people. I should be stupid and mean, therefore, were I, the +son of earth-tillers, not to serve him in this question." + +"But Thou dost not ask whether that would not injure us, the +priesthood." + +Pentuer was astonished. + +"But Thou thyself givest great relief to common men belonging to the +temple," said he. "I have, besides, thy permission." + +"What? Which?" inquired Herhor. + +"Recall, worthiness, that night when we greeted Beroes. Mefres declared +at that time that Egypt had fallen because the priestly order was +lowered, while I asserted that the misery of the people was the cause +of the suffering of the State, to which thou, so far as I remember, +didst answer: Let Mefres occupy himself with bettering the priesthood, +Pentuer in improving the lot of common people, while I will avoid +destructive war between Egypt and Assyria." + +"Well, dost Thou see," interrupted the high priest, "it is thy duty to +act with us, not with Ramses." + +"Does he wish war with Assyria," replied Pentuer, energetically, "or +does he hinder priests from acquiring wisdom? He wishes to give the +people every seventh day for rest, and later to give each family of +earth-workers a small bit of land for subsistence. Do not tell me, +worthiness, that the pharaoh wishes evil, for it has been verified on +temple ground that a free man who has his own patch of earth labors +incomparably better than one without freedom." + +"I am not opposed to relieving common people," said Herhor, "but I am +convinced that Ramses will do nothing for them." + +"Surely not if you refuse him money." + +"Even were we to give him a pyramid of gold and silver, and another of +precious stones, he would do nothing that is a mad stripling whom the +Assyrian ambassador, Sargon, never mentioned otherwise than as a +frivolous youngster." + +"The pharaoh has great capabilities." + +"But he has no knowledge, and no skill," replied Herhor. "He barely +visited the high school a little and left it at the earliest. Hence, +today, in affairs of state he is like a blind person; he is like a +child which puts out pieces boldly on a board, but has no idea how to +play at draughts." + +"Still he governs." + +"Oh, Pentuer, what is his government?" interrupted the high priest, +with laughter. "He has opened new military schools, he has increased +the number of regiments, he is arming the whole people, he has promised +holidays to working men. But how will he carry out his projects? Thou +keepest far from him, hence knowest nothing; but I assure thee that he, +when issuing orders, never stops to ask: Who will carry out this? What +are the means? What will follow? It seems to thee that he governs. It +is I who govern, I govern all the time, I, whom he dismissed. I am the +cause that today fewer taxes come to the treasury, but I also prevent +the rebellion of laborers; because of me they do not leave work on the +canals, dams, and roadways. To sum up, I have twice restrained Assyria +from declaring war on us, war which that madman was calling out by his +military dispositions. + +"Ramses govern! He merely rouses disorder. Thou hadst trial of his +management in Lower Egypt: he drank, frolicked, brought in woman after +woman, and pretended to occupy himself with administration of the +province, but he understood nothing, absolutely nothing. What is worst +of all, he became intimate with Phoenicians, with bankrupt nobles, and +traitors of various kinds, who are urging him to ruin." + +"But the victory of the Soda Lakes?" inquired Pentuer. + +"I recognize energy in him, and a knowledge of military art," added +Herhor. "That is the one thing that he knows. But say thyself would he +have won the battle at the Soda Lakes were it not for aid from thee and +others of the priestly order? I know that ye informed him of every +movement of the Libyan band. And now think, could Ramses, even with +help from you, win a battle against Nitager, for example? Nitager is a +master, Ramses is a mere apprentice." + +"Then what will be the end of this hatred between him and you?" +inquired Pentuer. + +"Hatred!" repeated Herhor. "Could I hate a frivolous fellow, who, +moreover, is surrounded, like a deer in a ravine by hunters! But I must +confess that his rule is so full of danger that if Ramses had a +brother, or if Nitager were younger, we should set aside the present +pharaoh." + +"And thou, worthiness, would become his heir!" burst out Pentuer. + +Herhor was by no means offended. + +"Pentuer Thou hast grown marvelously dull since thy entry into politics +on thy own account," replied he, shrugging his shoulders. "Of course, +if the country were without a pharaoh, it would be my duty to become +one by virtue of my office of high priest of Amon, and chief of the +supreme council. But what is the office to me? Have I not had more +power for a number of years than the pharaoh? Or do I not today, though +I am a minister of war in disgrace, carry out in this state whatever I +think needful? + +"Those same high priests, treasurers, judges, nomarchs, and even +generals who avoid me at present, must carry out every secret order of +the council furnished with my seal. Is there a man in Egypt who would +dare refuse obedience to those orders? Wouldst thou, for instance, dare +oppose them?" + +Pentuer hung his head. + +If in spite of the death of Ramses XII the supreme privy council of +priests had maintained itself, Ramses XIII must either yield or fight a +life-and-death battle. + +The pharaoh had on his side all the people, all the army, many priests, +and the majority of the civil dignitaries. The council could reckon on +hardly two thousand adherents, on its treasures and on its incomparably +wise organization. The forces were utterly unequal, but the issue of +the battle was very doubtful. + +"Then ye have determined to destroy the pharaoh?" asked Pentuer. + +"Not at all. We only wish to save the state." "In that case what should +Ramses XIII do?" "What he will do I know not. But I know what his +father did," answered Herhor. "Ramses XII began to govern in the same +impetuous and tyrannical fashion, but when money failed him, and his +most zealous adherents began to despise him, he turned to the gods. He +surrounded himself with priests, he learned from them, nay, he even +married a daughter of the high priest Amenhotep. And, after a few +years, he went so far that he became himself not only a pious, but a +very learned high priest." + +"But if the pharaoh will not follow that example?" "Then we shall +dispense with him," said Herhor. "Listen to me Pentuer," continued he, +after a while. "I know not only the acts, but even the thoughts of that +pharaoh of thine, who, moreover, has not been solemnly crowned yet, +hence for us he is nothing. I know that he wants to make the priests +his servants, and himself sole lord of Egypt. + +"But such a plan is stupid, it is even treasonable. Not the pharaohs, +as Thou knowest well, but the gods and the priests created Egypt. It is +not the pharaohs who mark the rise and fall of the Nile and regulate +its overflows; it is not the pharaohs who teach the people to sow, to +gather fruits and rear cattle. It is not the pharaohs who cure diseases +and watch over the safety of the state against foreign enemies. + +"What would happen, tell me that, were our order to yield Egypt to the +mercy of the pharaohs? The wisest pharaohs have behind them the +experience of a few years at the longest, but the priestly order has +investigated and taught during tens of thousands of years. The +mightiest ruler has two eyes and two hands, while we possess thousands +of eyes and thousands of hands in all provinces at home, and in all +foreign countries. + +"Can the activity of a pharaoh equal ours; and when opinions differ who +should yield, we or the pharaoh?" + +"Well, what am I to do now?" inquired Pentuer. + +"Do what that stripling commands if Thou betray not holy secrets. And +leave the rest to time. I wish most sincerely that the youth called +Ramses XIII might come to his senses, and I suppose that he would were +it not that he has attached himself to disgusting traitors over whom +the hands of the gods are now suspended." + +Pentuer took farewell of the high priest. He was filled with dark +forebodings, but he did not fail in spirit, since he knew that whatever +he might gain in improving the condition of the common man would +remain, even were the pharaoh to bend before the power of the priestly +order. + +"In the worst case," thought he, "we must do what we can, and what +pertains to us. When conditions improve, what is sown today will give +fruit hereafter." + +But still he determined to renounce agitation among the people. He was +even ready to calm the impatient, so as not to increase trouble for the +pharaoh. + +A couple of weeks later Pentuer entered the boundaries of Lower Egypt, +looking about on the way for the wisest of common men and artisans from +whom it would be possible to select delegates to the assembly summoned +by the pharaoh. + +Everywhere on the way he found signs of the greatest excitement. Earth- +tillers, as well as artisans, were trying to have the seventh day for +rest and receive pay for all public works, as was the case in former +ages. And it was only through remonstrances from priests of various +temples, that a general uprising was averted, or at least that work was +continued. + +At the same time Pentuer was struck by certain new phenomena which he +had not observed a month earlier! first of all the people had divided +into two parties. Some were partisans of the pharaoh and enemies of the +priests; others were active against Phoenicians. Some proved that the +priests ought to give the treasures of the labyrinth to the pharaoh; +others whispered that the pharaoh afforded foreigners too much +protection. + +But strangest of all was a report of unknown origin that + +Ramses XIII showed signs of insanity, like his elder brother, who for +this cause had been excluded from succession. Priests, scribes, even +common men discussed this report of insanity. + +"Who told thee such a lie?" inquired Pentuer of an engineer. + +"It is no lie," replied the engineer, "it is sad reality. In the Theban +palaces they saw the pharaoh running naked through the gardens. One +night he climbed a tree under the window of his mother's chamber, and +spoke to her." + +Pentuer assured the man that no longer than two weeks before he had +seen Ramses in the best of health. He observed at once, however, that +the engineer did not believe him. + +"This is Herhor's work!" thought he. "Priests alone could have news +from Thebes so promptly." + +For the moment he lost desire to busy himself in finding delegates, but +he regained energy at the thought that what the people received today +they would not lose to-morrow, unless something uncommon should happen. + +Beyond Memphis to the north of the pyramids and the sphinx, on the +boundary of the desert, was a small temple of the goddess Nut. An old +priest Menes lived in that temple. This sage had more knowledge of the +stars than any man in Egypt; he was an engineer in addition. + +When a great public edifice was to be built or a new canal made, Menes +went to the place and gave directions. Apart from such tasks he lived +in solitude and poverty in his temple; at night he investigated the +stars, in the daytime he worked over curious instruments. + +For some years Pentuer had not been in that place; hence he was struck +by neglect in it, and poverty. The brick wall was falling, in the +garden the trees were withering, in the yard a lean goat moved around +and a few hens were scratching. + +There was no one near the temple. Only after Pentuer had called out did +an old man come down from a pylon. His feet were bare, on his head was +a soiled cap like that of a laborer, around his waist was a ragged +girdle, and on his shoulder a panther skin from which the hair had +fallen. Still, his bearing was dignified, and his face full of wisdom. +He looked quickly at the guest and said, + +"Either I am mistaken, or Thou art Pentuer?" + +"I am he," answered the newly arrived, and he embraced the old man with +heartiness. + +"Ho! ho!" exclaimed Menes, for it was he; "I see that Thou hast changed +for official reasons. Thou hast a smoother face, whiter hands, and a +gold chain on thy neck. Mother Nut of the heavenly ocean would have to +wait long for such ornaments." + +Pentuer wished to remove the chain, but Menes stopped him with a smile. + +"Do not. If Thou knew what jewels we have in the heavens Thou wouldst +not hasten with an offering of gold. Well, hast Thou come to stay with +us?" + +Pentuer shook his head. + +"No," replied he, "I have come only to bow down before thee, divine +teacher." + +"And again to court?" laughed the old man. "Oh ye, ye courtiers! If ye +knew what ye lose by deserting wisdom for palaces ye would be the +saddest of mankind." + +"Art Thou alone, O my teacher?" + +"As a palm in a desert, especially today when my deaf and dumb servant +has gone with a basket to Memphis to beg something for the mother of Ra +and her chaplain." + +"And is it not disagreeable here?" + +"For me! "'exclaimed Menes. "Since I saw thee last I have snatched from +the gods some secrets which I would not give for the two crowns of +Egypt." + +"Are they secrets between thee and me?" inquired Pentuer. + +"How, secrets? A year ago I completed all measures and calculations +touching the size of the earth." + +"What does that mean?" + +Menes looked around and lowered his voice, + +"Of course it is known to thee that the earth is not flat like a table, +but is an immense ball on the surface of which seas, countries, and +cities are situated?" + +"That is known," said Pentuer. + +"Not to all," answered Menes. "And it was not known to any one how +great that globe might be." + +"But dost Thou know?" inquired Pentuer, almost frightened. + +"I know. Our infantry marches about thirteen Egyptian miles [Three +geographical miles] daily. The globe of the earth is so great that our +armies would require five whole years to march around it." + +"O gods!" exclaimed Pentuer. "Does it not frighten thee, father, to +think of such subjects?" + +Menes shrugged his shoulders. + +"To measure size, what is there terrible in that? To measure the size +of a pyramid, or the earth is the same kind of problem. I did a more +difficult thing. I measured the distance of our temple from the palace +of the pharaoh without crossing the river." + +"Terror!" exclaimed Pentuer. + +"What terror? I have discovered a thing which beyond doubt ye will all +fear. But tell this to no one: in the month Paoni (June, July) there +will be an eclipse of the sun; night will come in the daytime. And may +I die a hunger death, if I have failed even three minutes in the +reckoning." + +Pentuer touched the amulet which he wore on his breast, and uttered a +prayer. + +"I have read," said he, "in sacred books that more than once to the +suffering of people it became night at midday. But what is that? I do +not understand." + +"Dost Thou see the pyramid?" asked Menes on a sudden, pointing toward +the desert. + +"I see it." + +"Now put thy hand before thy eyes. Dost Thou see the pyramid? Thou dost +not. Well, the eclipse of the sun is the same kind of thing; the moon +passes between the sun and us, hides the father of light and makes +night in the daytime." + +"And will that happen here?" inquired Pentuer. + +"In the mouth Paoni. I have written about this to the pharaoh, thinking +that in return he would make some offering to the temple. But on +reading the letter he laughed at me, and commanded my messenger to take +the news to Herhor." + +"Well, what did Herhor do?" + +"Herhor gave us thirty measures of barley. He is the only man in Egypt +who reveres science, but the young pharaoh is frivolous." + +"Do not be severe on him, father," interrupted Pentuer. "Ramses XIII +wishes to improve the lot of laborers and artisans, and give them every +seventh day to rest; he forbids to beat them without trial, and perhaps +he will find land for them." + +"But I tell thee that he is light-minded," said the irritated Menes. +"Two months ago I sent him a great plan for lessening the toil of +laborers, and he laughed at me. He is conceited and ignorant!" + +"Thou art prejudiced, father. But tell me thy plan and perhaps I may +assist in applying it." + +"Plan?" repeated the old man. "It is not a plan, it is a great fact." + +He rose from the bench and went then with Pentuer to a pond in the +garden, at which was an arbor concealed altogether by plant growth. In +this structure was a large wheel in perpendicular position with a +number of buckets on the outer rim of it. Menes went into the centre +and began to move his feet; the wheel turned and the buckets took water +from the pond and poured it into a trough which stood somewhat higher. + +"A curious instrument!" said Pentuer. + +"But dost Thou divine what it may do for the people of Egypt?" + +"No." + +"Then imagine this wheel to be five or ten times greater than it is, +and that instead of a man a pair of bullocks are moving it." + +"Something something appears to me," said Pentuer, "but still I do not +understand clearly." + +"It is very simple," said Menes. "By means of this wheel oxen and +horses might raise water from the Nile and pour it into higher +channels. In that way half a million of men might have rest instead of +working at buckets. Now Thou seest that wisdom does more for the +welfare of mankind than pharaohs." + +Pentuer shook his head. + +"How much timber would be needed for that change! How many oxen, how +much pasture. It seems to me, father, that thy wheel would not take the +place of the seventh day for rest." + +"I see that office has not benefited thee," replied Menes, shrugging +his shoulders. "But though Thou hast lost that alertness which I +admired in thee, I will show still another thing. Perhaps when Thou +hast returned to wisdom, and I am dead, Thou wilt work at improving and +spreading my inventions." + +They went back to the pylon, and Menes put some fuel under a brass +kettle. He blew the flame and soon the water was boiling. On the kettle +was a perpendicular spout covered with a heavy stone. When the kettle +began to hiss, Menes said, + +"Stand in this niche and look." + +He touched a crank fastened to the spout; in one moment the heavy stone +flew through the air and hot steam filled the chamber. + +"Wonderful!" cried Pentuer. But soon he calmed himself and asked, + +"Well, but how will that stone improve the condition of people in +Egypt?" + +"The stone in no way. But," said the sage, now impatient, "I will say +this to thee, and do Thou remember it: the time will come when horses +and oxen will take the place of people in labor, and also when boiling +water will take the place of horses and oxen." + +"But what good will that do the people?" insisted Pentuer. + +"Woe is me!" exclaimed Menes, seizing his head. "I know not whether it +is because Thou hast grown old, or dull; 'the people' have hidden the +whole world from thee and darkened thy mind. If sages had only the +people in mind they would be forced to throw away their books and +calculations and become shepherds." + +"But everything must be of some use," said Pentuer, now grown timid. + +"Ye court people," replied Menes with vexation, "use two measures +frequently. When a Phoenician brings a ruby or a sapphire ye do not +inquire what its use is; ye buy the jewel and shut it up in a casket. +But if a sage comes to you with an invention which might change the +face of the world, ye ask straightway: 'What is the use of this?' It is +clear that ye are frightened lest the investigator might ask a handful +of barley for a thing the sense of which your mind does not fathom." + +"Art Thou angry, father? Have I wished to offend thee?" + +"I am not angry, but I am pained. Twenty years ago there were five men +in this temple working over the discovery of new secrets. Today I am +alone. And, by the gods, I am unable to find not merely a successor, +but even a man who is able to understand me." + +"Beyond doubt I would remain here till death so as to learn thy god- +like thoughts," said Pentuer. "But tell me, can I shut myself up today +in a temple when the fate of the kingdom and the future of the people +are wavering in the balance, and when my assistance." + +"May influence the fate of the kingdom and of some millions of people!" +interrupted Menes, jeeringly. "O ye grownup children in the miters and +chains of office. Because ye are free to draw water from the Nile it +seems to you that ye may stop the rise or the fall of the river. Not +otherwise, surely, thinks the sheep, which following the herd imagines +that she is directing it." + +"But think, the young pharaoh has a heart full of nobleness; he wishes +to give the seventh day for rest, just courts, and even land." + +"All those things are vanishing," said Menes, shaking his head. "The +young pharaoh will grow old, while the people, well, the people have +had the seventh day for rest more than one time, and they have had land +but afterward they lost both! Ah, if that were all that changed! During +three thousand years how many dynasties have passed over Egypt, and +priests, how many cities and temples have fallen into ruins; nay more! +how many new strata of earth have overlaid the country. Everything has +changed except this, that two and two are four, that a triangle is half +a quadrangle, that the moon may hide the sun, and boiling water hurl a +stone through the air. + +"In this 'transitory world wisdom alone is enduring and permanent. And +woe to him who deserts the eternal for things as fleeting as clouds +are. His heart will never know peace, and his mind will dance like a +boat in a whirlwind." + +"The gods speak through thy lips," replied Pentuer, after some thought, +"but barely one man in millions may serve them directly. And well that +it is so, for what would happen if laborers gazed for whole nights at +the firmament, if warriors made reckonings, and officials and the +pharaoh, instead of ruling the people, hurled stones by means of +boiling water? Before the moon could go once round the earth all would +die of hunger. No wheel or cattle would defend the laud from +barbarians, or give justice to those who were injured by wrong-doers. + +"Hence," ended Pentuer, "though wisdom is like the sun, blood and +breath, we cannot all be sages." + +To these words Menes made no answer. + +Pentuer passed some days in the temple of the divine Nut; he admired at +one time the view of the sandy ocean, at another the fertile valley of +the Nile. In company with Menes he looked at the stars, examined the +wheel for raising water, and walked at times toward the pyramids. He +admired the poverty and the genius of his teacher, but said in spirit, + +"Menes is a god in human form, surely, and hence he has no care for +common matters. His wheel to raise water will not be accepted in Egypt, +for first we lack timber, and second to move such wheels one hundred +thousand oxen would be needed. Where is there pasture for them even in +Upper Egypt?" + + + +CHAPTER LXI + +WHILE Pentuer was going around the country and choosing out delegates, +Ramses XIII tarried in Thebes, arranging the marriage of his favorite, +Tutmosis. + +First of all, the ruler of two worlds, surrounded by a grand retinue, +drove in a golden chariot to the palace of the most worthy Antefa. + +This magnate hurried forth to meet his sovereign before the gate, and, +taking the costly sandals from his feet he knelt and assisted Ramses to +alight from the chariot. + +In return for this homage the pharaoh gave him his hand to kiss, and +declared that thenceforth Antefa was his friend, and might enter even +the throne hall in sandals. + +When they were in an immense chamber of Antefa's palace the sovereign +said before the whole retinue, + +"I know, worthy Antefa, that as thy revered ancestors occupy the most +beautiful of tombs, thou, their descendant, art foremost among nomarchs +in Egypt. To thee it is known surely that in my court and army, as in +my heart, the first place is held by Tutmosis, chief of the guard, and +my favorite. + +"According to the opinion of sages the rich man does ill who does not +put his most precious jewel into the most beautiful setting. And, since +thy family is most precious to me, and Tutmosis is most dear, I have +conceived the idea of connecting thee with myself, as Thou wilt be, if +thy daughter, the wise and beautiful Hebron, accepts Tutmosis as +husband." + +To this the worthy Antefa replied, + +"Holiness, sovereign of the western world, and of living men! As Egypt, +and all that is in it belongs to thee, so this house and all its +inhabitants are thy possession. Since it is thy desire that my daughter +should be the wife of thy favorite, let it be so." + +Now the pharaoh declared to Antefa that Tutmosis had twenty talents of +yearly salary, and considerable estates in various provinces. Thereupon +the worthy Antefa declared that his daughter Hebron would have fifty +talents a year, also the right to make use of the estates of her father +in those provinces in which the pharaoh's court sojourned for a season. +And since he had no son, his immense property, which was free of debt, +would pass to Tutmosis some time, together with the office of nomarch +of Thebes, in so far as that transfer might coincide with the will of +the pharaoh. + +After concluding the conditions Tutmosis entered the court, thanked +Antefa first for giving his daughter to one so unworthy, and second, +because he had reared her so beautifully. + +It was arranged then that the ceremony of marriage would take place in +a few days, since Tutmosis, as leader of the guard, had no time for +protracted preliminaries. + +"I wish thee happiness, my son," said Antefa, smiling, "and also great +patience, because my beloved daughter, now twenty years old, is the +first exquisite in Thebes, and has had her will always. By the gods, I +tell thee that my command over Thebes always ends at the gate of her +garden. And I fear that thy military command will go no farther." + +Next the noble Antefa invited his guests to a splendid banquet, in the +course of which the beautiful Hebron showed herself with a great +retinue of damsels. + +In the dining-hall were numbers of small tables for two or four +persons, also a larger table, on a loftier place, for the pharaoh. To +show honor to Antefa and his favorite, Tutmosis, Ramses approached +Hebron and invited her to his table. + +The young lady was really beautiful, and as it seemed had experience, a +thing not exceptional in Egypt. Ramses soon noticed that the betrothed +turned no attention whatever toward Tutmosis, but to make up for this +she turned eloquent glances toward him, the pharaoh. + +That also was no wonder in Egypt. + +When the guests had taken their places, when music sounded and female +dancers began to bring fruit and wine to the tables, Ramses said to +Hebron, + +"The longer I look at thee, the more I am astonished. Were some +stranger to enter he might consider thee a high priestess or a goddess, +but never a woman at the time of happy betrothal." + +"I am happy," said she, "at this moment, though not because of +betrothal." + +"How is that?" interrupted the pharaoh. + +"Marriage does not entice me, and surely I should rather be the high +priestess of Isis than be married." + +"Then why marry?" + +"I marry because it is the absolute wish of my father to have an heir +to his glory, but mainly because it is thy wish, my sovereign." + +"Can it be that Tutmosis does not please thee?" + +"I will not say that he does not please me. Tutmosis is fine-looking; +he is the first exquisite in Egypt, be plays well, and takes prizes at +games. His position, as commander of thy guard, is one of the highest. +Still, were it not for the prayers of my father, and thy command I +should not marry Tutmosis. Even as it is, I shall not be his wife. My +property will suffice Tutmosis and the titles after my father; the rest +he can find among dancing girls." + +"But does he know of his misfortune?" + +Hebron smiled. + +"He knows this long time that even were I not the daughter of Antefa, +but of the lowest dissector, I would not give myself to a man unless I +loved him. I could love only a man who is above me." + +"Art Thou speaking seriously?" asked Ramses in wonder. + +"I am twenty years old. Since I was six years of age adorers have +surrounded me; but I measured them quickly. And today I would rather +hear learned priests than songs and declarations from youthful +exquisites." + +"In that case I ought not to sit near thee, Hebron, for I am not even +an exquisite, and I have no priestly wisdom whatever." + +"Thou art something higher," replied she, blushing deeply. "Thou art a +chief who has won victory. Thou art as impetuous as a lion, as swift as +a vulture. Millions fall on their faces before thee, and kingdoms +tremble. Do I not know what fear is roused by thy name in Tyre and +Nineveh? Gods might be jealous of thy influence." + +Ramses was confused. + +"O Hebron, Hebron," said he. "If Thou knew what alarm Thou art sowing +in my heart." + +"For this very reason," continued Hebron, "I marry Tutmosis. I shall be +nearer thee, and shall see thee, though for a few days only." + +She rose and left the hall. + +Antefa noted her action and hastened in alarm to Ramses. + +"O lord!" cried he, "has my daughter said anything improper? She is an +untamable lioness!" + +"Be at rest," said Ramses. "Thy daughter is full of wisdom and dignity. +She went out because she saw that thy wine was gladdening the guests +rather powerfully." + +In fact a great uproar had risen in the hall, all the more since +Tutmosis, abandoning the role of assistant host, had become a most +animated talker. + +"I will say to thee in confidence, holiness, that poor Tutmosis must +guard himself greatly in presence of my daughter," remarked Antefa. + +That first feast continued till morning. The pharaoh, it is true, +departed immediately, but others remained, first in their chairs and +then on the floor. Finally Antefa had to send them home as if they had +been lifeless objects. + +The marriage ceremony took place some days later. + +To Antefa's palace went the high priests Herhor and Mefres, the +nomarchs of the neighboring provinces, and the chief officials of +Thebes. Later appeared Tutmosis on a two-wheeled chariot, attended by +officers of the guard, and finally his holiness, the pharaoh. + +Ramses was attended by the chief scribe, the commander of the archers, +the commander of the cavalry, the chief judge, the chief treasurer, Sem +the high priest, and the adjutant generals. + +When that splendid assembly was in the hall of the ancestors of the +most worthy Antefa, Hebron appeared in white robes with a numerous +retinue of damsels and maids in attendance. Her father, after he had +burned incense before Amon and the statue of his own father, and Ramses +XIII, who was sitting on a raised platform, declared that he freed his +daughter Hebron from guardianship and provided her with a dowry. Then +he gave her, in a gold tube, a document securing her dowry, and written +before the court on papyrus. + +After a short lunch the bride took her seat in a costly litter borne by +eight officials of the province. Before her went music and singers; +around the litter were dignitaries, and behind them an immense crowd of +people. All this procession moved toward the temple of Amon, through +the most beautiful streets of the city, amid a throng of people almost +as numerous as that which had attended the funeral of the pharaoh. + +At the temple the people remained outside the walls while the bride and +groom, the pharaoh and dignitaries, entered the hall of columns. There +Hebron burned incense before the veiled statue of Amon, priestesses +performed a sacred dance, and Tutmosis read the following act from a +papyrus: + +"I, Tutmosis, commander of the guard of his holiness Ramses XIII, take +thee, Hebron, daughter of Antefa the nomarch of Thebes, as wife. I give +thee now the sum of ten talents because Thou hast consented to marry +me. For thy robes I designate to thee three talents yearly, and for +household expenses one talent a month. Of the children which we may +have the eldest son will be heir to the property which I possess now +and which I may acquire hereafter. If I should not live with thee, but +divorce myself and take another wife, I shall be obliged to pay thee +forty talents, which sum I secure with my property. Our son, on +receiving his estate, is to pay thee fifteen talents yearly. Children +of another wife are to have no right to the property of our first-born +son." [Authentic] + +The chief judge appeared now and read an act in which the bride +promised to give good food and raiment to her husband, to care for his +house, family, servants, slaves, and cattle, and to entrust to that +husband the management of the property which she had received or would +receive from her father. + +After the acts were read Herhor gave Tutmosis a goblet of wine. The +bridegroom drank half, the bride moistened her lips with it, and then +both burned incense before the purple curtain. + +Leaving the temple of Amon the young couple and their splendid retinue +passed through the avenue of sphinxes to the pharaoh's palace. Crowds +of people and warriors greeted them with shouts, scattering flowers on +their pathway. + +Tutmosis had dwelt up to that time in the chambers of the pharaoh, but +on the day of his marriage Ramses presented him with a beautiful little +villa in the depth of the gardens, surrounded by a forest of fig trees, +myrtles and baobabs, where the bridegroom and bride might pass days of +happiness hidden from human eye, and cut off, as it were, from the +world about them. + +In that quiet corner people showed themselves so rarely that even birds +did not flee before them. When the young couple and the guests found +themselves in this new dwelling the final ceremony of marriage +followed: + +Tutmosis took Hebron by the hand and led her to a fire burning before a +statue of Isis; then Mefres poured a spoonful of holy water on the +lady's head; Hebron touched the fire with her hand, while Tutmosis +divided a morsel of bread with her and placed his own ring on her +finger in sign that from that time forth she was mistress of his land, +his servants, his slaves and cattle. + +Meanwhile the priests sang wedding hymns and bore the statue of the +divine Isis through the whole house; and priestesses performed sacred +dances. + +The day ended with spectacles and a great feast, during which all +noticed that Hebron accompanied the pharaoh continually, and that +Tutmosis kept at a distance from her, and simply entertained guests at +the wedding. + +When the stars had risen the holy Herhor left the feast, and soon after +some of the highest dignitaries slipped out also. About midnight the +following worthy persons met in a subterranean chamber of the temple of +Amon: the high priests Herhor, Mefres, and Mentezufis, the chief judge +of Thebes, also the chiefs of the provinces of Abs, Horti, and Emsuchs. + +Mentezufis looked around among the great columns, closed the door, +quenched the torches, and in that lower chamber there remained only one +light, that which burned before a statue of Horus. The dignitaries sat +down on three stone benches. + +"If I were commanded to describe the character of Ramses XIII," said +the nomarch of Abs, "I should be unable to do so." + +"He is a maniac!" said Mefres. + +"I do not know that he is a maniac," answered Herhor, "but he is very +dangerous in every case. Already Assyria has reminded us twice of the +last treaty, and is beginning, I hear, to be alarmed at the arming of +Egypt." + +"That is of less importance," said Mefres; "there is something worse, +for this godless man is thinking to violate the treasure of the +labyrinth." + +"But I should consider," said the nomarch of Emsuch, "that his promises +to the people are the worst. Our income and that of the state will be +shattered if the common people are idle one day in seven. But if the +pharaoh gives them land in addition?" + +"He is ready to do that," said the chief judge in a whisper. + +"Is he ready?" asked the nomarch of Horti. "It seems to me that he +merely wants money. If we should give him something from the +labyrinth." + +"Impossible," interrupted Herhor. "The state is not threatened by +danger, but the pharaoh is, and that is not the same question. I repeat +that as a dam is strong only while it is not penetrated by the tiniest +stream of water, so the labyrinth is full till we touch the first block +of gold in it. After that, all will go. Finally, whom do we strengthen +by the treasures of the gods and of Egypt? This young man who despises +religion, belittles priests, and disturbs the people. Is he not worse +than Assar? Assar is a barbarian, but he does not harm us." + +"It is improper for the pharaoh to pay court to his favorite's wife so +openly on the very day of the marriage," said the judge, thoughtfully. + +"Hebron herself entices him," said the nomarch of Horti. + +"All women entice men," answered the nomarch of Emsuch. "Sense, +however, is given a man to avoid sin." + +"But is not the pharaoh husband to all the women of Egypt?" whispered +the nomarch of Abs. "Moreover, sin is under the judgment of the gods, +while we are occupied only with Egypt." + +"He is dangerous! he is dangerous!" said the nomarch of Emsuch, while +his hands and head trembled. "There is no doubt that the common people +have become insolent and may rise any moment. In that case no high +priest or nomarch would be sure of his life, not to mention his office +and property." + +"Against an uprising we have means," replied Herhor. + +"What means?" + +"First of all," answered Mefres, "we can avoid an uprising if we +explain to the wisest among common people that he who makes them +promises is a maniac." + +"He is one of the soundest men under the sun," whispered the nomarch of +Horti. "All that we need is to learn what he wishes." + +"He is a maniac! a maniac!" repeated Mefres. "His own brother imagines +himself a monkey, and drinks with dissectors. Ramses may act in the +same fashion any day." + +"It is awkward and evil to declare a man of sound mind a maniac," said +the nomarch of Horti. "For if people see the falsehood they will cease +to believe in us, and nothing will restrain an uprising." + +"If I say that Ramses is a maniac it must be that I have proof," +replied Mefres. "And now listen." + +The dignitaries moved on their benches. + +"Tell me," continued Mefres, "would a man of sound mind, heir to the +throne of Egypt, dare to fight in public against a bull in presence of +so many thousands of Asiatics? Would a prince of sound judgment, an +Egyptian, wander into a Phoenician temple during night hours? Would he, +without cause, reduce to the rank of slaves his first woman, an act +which caused her death and the death of her infant?" + +Those present murmured in fear. + +"All this we have seen in Pi-Bast. Mentezufis and I were witnesses of +drinking feasts, at which the half-demented heir blasphemed against the +gods and insulted the priesthood." + +"That is true," said Mentezufis. + +"And what do ye think," continued Mefres, with greater heat, "would a +man of sound mind, the leader of an army, leave his troops to chase +after a few Libyan bandits? I pass over a number of smaller things, +even the idea of giving the people land and a holiday; could I say that +a man was of sound mind who committed so many criminal absurdities +without cause, just at random?" + +Those present were silent; the nomarch of Horti was troubled. + +"It is necessary to think over this," added the chief judge, "lest +injustice be done him." + +Here Herhor spoke. + +"Holy Mefres has done him a kindness," said he, in low decisive tones, +"by considering him a maniac. Unless he is a maniac we must call him a +traitor." + +Those present moved with fear. + +"Yes, the man called Ramses XIII is a traitor, for not only does he +select spies and robbers to discover the way to the treasures of the +labyrinth, not only does he reject the treaty with Assyria, which Egypt +needs absolutely." + +"Grievous accusations," said the judge. + +"But listen to me further: he is negotiating with villainous +Phoenicians to cut a canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. +This canal is the greatest danger for Egypt, since our country might be +inundated by water in one moment. It is not a question here of the +treasures of the labyrinth, but of our temples, houses, fields, six +millions of people, foolish, it is true, but innocent, and finally of +our own lives and the lives of our children." + +"If that is the case" sighed the nomarch of Horti. + +"I and the worthy Mefres pledge ourselves that it is the case, and that +this one man has gathered into his hands more dangers than have ever +yet threatened Egypt. Hence we have brought you here to provide means +of rescue. But we must act quickly, for the plans of this man advance +like a storm in a desert and may overwhelm every one of us." + +For a moment there was silence in the dark chamber. + +"What is to be done at present?" asked the nomarch of Emsuch. "We live +in our provinces far from the court, and not only do we not know the +plans of this madman, but we cannot even divine them, we can hardly +believe that they exist. I think it is best therefore to leave this +affair with thee, worthy Herhor, and with Mefres. Ye have discovered +the disease, provide the remedy and act. But if the greatness of +responsibility alarms you, associate with yourselves the supreme judge +as assistant." + +"Yes! yes! he speaks truth," confirmed the indignant officials. + +Mentezufis lighted a torch and placed on a table before the statue of +the god a papyrus on which was written an act of the following +contents: In view of dangers threatening the state, the power of the +secret council passes into the hands of Herhor with whom are associated +as assistants the supreme judge and Mefres. + +This act, confirmed by the signatures of the dignitaries present, was +enclosed in a tube and concealed in a secret place beneath the altar. + +In addition, each one of the seven associates bound himself under oath +to attract to the conspiracy ten dignitaries. Herhor promised to bring +proof that Assyria was insisting on the treaty, and that the pharaoh +did not wish to sign it, that he was negotiating with Phoenicians to +dig the canal, and that he intended to enter the labyrinth +treacherously. + +"My life and honor are in your hands," concluded Herhor. "If what I +have said is untrue condemn me to death, and have my body burned +afterward." + +No one doubted now that the high priest spoke the pure truth; for no +Egyptian would expose his body to burning and his soul to destruction. + +Tutmosis spent a few days after the wedding in company with Hebron, in +the palace given him by his holiness. But every evening he went to the +barracks of the guard, where with officers and dancers he passed the +nights very pleasantly. + +From this conduct his comrades divined that he had married Hebron only +for her dowry; this, however, did not astonish any one. + +After five days Tutmosis announced to the pharaoh that he was ready to +resume his duties. Thenceforth he visited his wife only in the daytime, +the nights he passed near his lord's chamber. + +One evening the pharaoh said to him, + +"This palace has so many comers for watching and listening that every +act of mine is noted. My revered mother is addressed again by those +mysterious voices which ceased in Memphis after I dismissed the +priesthood. I cannot receive therefore any one in my own chamber, but +must leave the palace and take counsel with my servants in a safe +place." + +"Am I to follow thee, holiness?" inquired Tutmosis, seeing that the +pharaoh was looking around for his mantle. + +"No; Thou must stay here and see that no one enters my chamber. Admit +no person, not even my mother, not even the shade of my ever-living +father. Thou wilt say that I am asleep and will see no one." + +"It will be as Thou hast said," replied Tutmosis, putting on his lord a +hooded mantle. Then he quenched the light in the bed-chamber and Ramses +went out through side passages. + +When he was in the garden Ramses stopped and looked on all sides with +attention. Then, taking bearings, he started quickly toward the villa +which he had given Tutmosis. After he had walked some minutes in a +shady alley a man stood before him and inquired, + +"Who goes?" + +"Nubia," answered the pharaoh. + +"Libya," said the inquirer, and pushed back suddenly, as if frightened. + +The man was an officer of the guard. The pharaoh looked at him, and +said, + +"Ah, this is Eunana! What art Thou doing in this place?" + +"I am going around the gardens; I do so a couple of times nightly, for +thieves steal in sometimes." + +"Thou dost wisely. But remember the first duty of an officer of the +guard is silence. Drive the thief out, but if Thou meet a man in office +seize him not, be silent, be silent always. Even if the high priest +Herhor were in question." + +"Oh lord!" exclaimed Eunana, "but command me not to do homage in the +night to Herhor, or to Mefres. I am not sure that my sword at sight of +them would not spring of itself from the scabbard." + +Ramses smiled. + +"Thy sword is mine," replied he, "and it may leave the scabbard only +when I give the order." He nodded to Eunana and passed on. + +After wandering a quarter of an hour by paths intended to mislead, the +pharaoh found himself near a secret gate in a thicket. It seemed to him +that he heard a rustle, and he said in a low voice, + +"Hebron!" + +A figure, also in a dark mantle, ran out, rushed at Ramses and clung to +his neck, whispering, + +"Is it thou? is it thou? Oh, how long I have waited!" + +The pharaoh felt that she was slipping from his embrace, so he took her +in his arms and carried her to an arbor. At that moment the mantle fell +from his shoulders; he dragged it for a while, but at last dropped it. + +Next day the revered lady Niort's summoned Tutmosis. The favorite of +the pharaoh was frightened when he looked at her. The queen was +terribly pale, her eyes were sunken and she was almost demented. + +"Sit down!" said she, indicating a stool near her armchair. + +Tutmosis hesitated. + +"Sit down! And and swear that Thou wilt repeat to no one what I tell +thee." + +"By the shade of my father, I will not." + +"Hear me," said the queen in a low voice; "I have been almost a mother +to thee. Wert Thou to betray this secret the gods would punish thee. No +they would only cast on thy head a part of those misfortunes which are +hanging over my family." + +Tutmosis listened with astonishment. + +"Is she mad?" thought he with fear. + +"Look at that window," continued the queen; "look at that tree. Dost +Thou know whom I saw last night on that tree outside the window?" + +"Could the brother of his holiness have come to Thebes?" + +"It was not he," whispered she, sobbing. "It was my Ramses himself." + +"On the tree? Last night?" + +"Yes. The light of the lamp fell on his face and figure perfectly. He +had a coat in white and blue stripes, his eyes were wandering he +laughed wildly, like his unfortunate brother, and said, 'Look at me, +mother, I am able to fly now, a thing that neither Seti, nor Ramses the +Great, nor Cheops could do. See what wings are growing out on me!' He +stretched his hands toward me, and I, unconscious from sorrow, touched +his hands through the window and his face, covered with cold +perspiration. At last he slipped down the tree and vanished." + +Tutmosis listened in terror. All at once he struck his forehead. + +"That was not Ramses," said he with decision. "That was a man very like +him, that villain, the Greek Lykon, who killed Sarah's son, and who is +now under control of the high priests. That was not Ramses. This is a +crime of Herhor and Mefres, those wretches." + +Hope gleamed on the queen's face, but only for a moment. + +"How could I fail to recognize my son?" + +"Lykon is very like him," answered Tutmosis. "This is a trick of the +priests. They are infamous! For them death is too slight a punishment." + +"Did the pharaoh sleep at home last night?" inquired the lady. + +Tutmosis was confused and dropped his eyes. + +"So he did not sleep at home?" + +"He did," answered the favorite with an uncertain voice. + +"That is not true. But tell me, at least, did he not wear a coat with +white and blue stripes?" + +"I do not remember," whispered Tutmosis. + +"Thou art telling untruth again. And this mantle, tell me if this is +not my son's mantle? My slave found it on that same tree, in the +branches." + +The queen sprang up and brought from a case a brown, hooded mantle. +Tutmosis remembered that the pharaoh had returned after midnight +without his mantle and even explained to him that he had lost it +somewhere in the garden. He hesitated, meditated, but at last answered +with decision, + +"No, queen, that was not the pharaoh. That was Lykon, and this is a +crime of the priests which I must report to his holiness straightway." + +"But if that were Ramses?" inquired the lady again, though in her eyes +a spark of hope was now evident. + +Tutmosis was troubled. His conclusion that it was Lykon was wise and +might be true, but indications were not lacking that the queen had seen +Ramses. It was certain that he had returned to his chamber after +midnight; he wore a tunic with white and blue stripes, he had lost his +mantle. It was true that his brother was demented, and, moreover, could +a mother's heart deceive her? + +And doubts rose in the soul of Tutmosis, intricate and involved as a +nest of poisonous reptiles. Luckily in proportion as his doubts +increased hope entered the heart of Niort's. + +"It is well that Thou hast reminded me of that Lykon," said she. "I +remember. Through him Mefres accused Ramses of child murder, and today +he may use the wretch to defame his sovereign. In this case not a word +to any one of what I have told thee. If Ramses if in truth he is +subject to such a misfortune, it may be temporary. We must not +humiliate him by mentioning such reports, we must not inform him. If +this is a plot of the priests we must also be cautious. Though people +who use such deceit cannot be powerful." + +"I will investigate this," interrupted Tutmosis, "but if I convince +myself." + +"Do not inform Ramses I implore thee by the shade of thy father!" +exclaimed the queen, clasping her hands. "The pharaoh would not forgive +them, he would deliver them to judgment, and then one of two +misfortunes would happen. Either the supreme priests of the state would +be condemned to death, or the court would free them. And then what? But +pursue Lykon and slay him without mercy, like a wild beast like a +reptile." + +Tutmosis took farewell of the queen. She was pacified, though his fears +had grown greater. + +"If that villainous Greek, Lykon, is living yet, despite imprisonment +by the priests," thought he, "he would prefer flight to climbing trees +and showing himself to the queen. I myself would facilitate his escape, +and cover him with wealth if he would tell the truth and seek +protection against those wretches. But whence came the mantle? How +deceive the mother?" + +From that time Tutmosis avoided the pharaoh, and dared not look him in +the eyes, while Ramses himself acted strangely, so their heartfelt +relations seemed to grow cold somewhat. + +But one evening the pharaoh summoned his favorite a second time. + +"I must speak with Hiram," said he, "on questions of importance. I am +going out. Watch here at my chamber, and if any man wishes to see me do +not admit him." + +When the pharaoh vanished in the secret corridors Tutmosis was seized +by alarm. + +"Maybe," thought he, "the priests have poisoned him to produce +insanity; and he, feeling that an attack is coming, flees from his own +palace? Ha! we shall see!" + +In fact he did see. The pharaoh returned well after midnight to his +chambers, and had a mantle; it was not his own, however, but a +soldier's. + +Tutmosis was alarmed and did not sleep till morning, thinking that the +queen would summon him again on a sudden. The queen did not summon him, +however. But during the morning review of the guard, the officer Eunana +begged to speak with his chief for a moment. + +When they were alone in a chamber Eunana fell at the feet of Tutmosis +and implored the chief not to repeat what he was going to tell him. + +"What has happened?" inquired the adjutant, feeling cold in his heart. + +"Chief," said Eunana, "yesterday I saw a man running in the garden +naked, and crying in an unearthly voice. He was brought in to me, and, +chief slay me!" + +Eunana fell again at the feet of Tutmosis. + +"That naked man that I cannot tell." + +"Who was he?" inquired the terrified Tutmosis. + +"I will not tell!" groaned Eunana. "I took off my mantle and covered +sacred nakedness. I wanted to take him to the palace but I the lord +commanded me to stay where I was, and be silent be silent!" + +"Whither did he go?" + +"I know not. I did not look, and I did not let the warriors look. He +vanished somewhere among the bushes of the garden. I told my men not to +see anything, not to hear anything; that if any man saw or heard +anything he would be strangled that instant." + +Tutmosis had succeeded in mastering himself. + +"I know nothing," said he, coldly, "and understand nothing of what Thou +hast said to me. But remember, one thing: I myself ran naked once when +I had drunk too much wine, and I gave a good reward to those who failed +to see me. Common people, Eunana, and laborers always go naked; great +persons only when it may please them. And if the wish should come to me +or any of the officials to stand head downward, a wise and pious +officer should not wonder at my action." + +"I understand," replied Eunana, looking into the eyes of his chief +quickly. "And not only will I repeat that to my warriors, but I will +even go naked this night through the garden to let them know that +superiors have the right to do whatever pleases them." + +Still, notwithstanding the small number of men who had seen the pharaoh +or his counterfeit in a state of insanity, the reports of these strange +happenings circulated everywhere very quickly. In a few days all the +inhabitants of Thebes, from dissectors and water-carriers to scribes +and merchants, whispered that Ramses XIII was affected with the disease +which had deprived his older brothers of succession. + +Dread of the pharaoh and honor for him were so great that people feared +to speak openly, especially before strangers. Still, all heard of it +all save Ramses. + +But most peculiar was this, that the report went around the whole +kingdom very speedily; a proof that it circulated by means of the +temples. For priests alone possessed the power of communicating in a +few hours from one end of Egypt to the other. + +No one mentioned these disagreeable tidings to Tutmosis directly, but +the chief of the pharaoh's guard felt their existence everywhere. From +the bearing of people with whom circumstances brought him in contact he +divined that the servants, the slaves, the warriors, the purveyors of +the court were discussing the insanity of the pharaoh, and were silent +only when some superior might overhear them. + +At last Tutmosis, impatient and alarmed, decided on a conversation with +the Theban nomarch. + +On arriving at the palace of his father-in-law he found Antefa lying on +a sofa in a room, one half of which was filled with rare plants like a +garden. In the centre played a fountain of water perfumed with roses; +in the comers of the room were statues of gods; on the walls were +depicted the deeds of the renowned nomarch. Standing near his head was +a black slave who cooled his master with an ostrich feather fan; on the +pavement sat the scribe of the province reading a report to him. + +Tutmosis had such an anxious face that the nomarch dismissed the scribe +and the slave straightway; then rising from the couch he looked toward +every corner of the chamber to be sure that no one overheard them. + +"Worthy father of Lady Hebron, my revered wife," said Tutmosis, "from +thy bearing I see that Thou divinest the subject of which I wish to +speak." + +"The nomarch of Thebes must always look ahead," replied Antefa. "I +divine also that the commander of the guard of his holiness would not +honor me by a visit for a frivolous reason." + +For a moment they looked each other in the eyes. Then Tutmosis took a +seat at the side of his father-in-law, and whispered, + +"Hast Thou heard vile reports about our sovereign, which the enemies of +the state are spreading?" + +"If it be a question of my daughter Hebron," replied the nomarch +quickly, "I declare that Thou art her lord today, and canst have no +question with me." + +Tutmosis waved his hand with indifference. + +"Some vile persons are reporting that the pharaoh is insane. Hast heard +of this, my father?" + +Antefa nodded and turned his head motions which meant equally that he +had, or that he had not. At last he said, + +"Stupidity is as great as the ocean; everything finds a place in it." + +"This is not stupidity," replied Tutmosis, "but a crime of the priests, +who have in their possession a man who resembles his holiness, and they +make use of him for evil purposes." And he told the nomarch the story +of the Greek Lykon, and his crime in Pi-Bast. + +"I have heard of this Lykon who killed the son of the heir," said +Antefa. "But hast Thou proof that Mefres imprisoned Lykon in Pi-Bast, +that he brought him to Thebes, and that he lets him enter the gardens +of the pharaoh to counterfeit the sovereign as insane?" + +"Just because I have not proof of this do I ask thee, worthiness, what +to do. I am the commander of the guard and I must watch over the honor +and safety of our sovereign." + +"What Thou must do?" repeated Antefa. "Well, first of all take care +that these vile reports do not reach the ears of the pharaoh." + +"Why?" + +"Because a great misfortune would happen. If our lord hears that Lykon +feigns insanity and pretends to be the pharaoh, he will fall into +terrible anger. Naturally he will direct that anger against Herhor and +Mefres. Maybe he will only abuse them in words, maybe he will imprison +them, maybe he will kill them. Whatever he does, he will do it without +proof, and what then? Egypt at present does not care to give offerings +to the gods, but it will take the part of priests injured without +reason. And what then? Well," added he, approaching his lips to +Tutmosis' ear, "I think it would be the end of the dynasty." + +"What am I to do?" + +"One thing!" exclaimed Antefa. "Find Lykon, prove that Mefres and +Herhor secreted him, and ordered him to counterfeit the pharaoh as +insane. Thou must do this, if Thou wish to keep the favor of thy +sovereign. Proofs as many proofs as possible! Egypt is not Assyria; +Thou canst not act against high priests without the court, and no court +will condemn them without tangible evidence. Where hast Thou the +certainty that some one did not give the pharaoh an intoxicating +potion? That would be simpler than to send out a man at night who knows +neither the watchword, nor the palace, nor the garden. I have heard of +Lykon from an authentic source, for I heard from Hiram. Still, I do not +understand how Lykon could perform such miracles in Thebes." + +"But but" interrupted Tutmosis, "where is Hiram?" + +"Immediately after the wedding he went to Memphis, and in these last +days he was in Hiten." + +Tutmosis again was in trouble: "That night," thought he, "when they +took a naked man to Eunana, the pharaoh said that he was going to see +Hiram. But as Hiram was not in Thebes, then what? Well, his holiness +knew not at the moment that of which he himself was talking." + +Tutmosis returned home dazed. Not only did he fail to understand what +he was to do in that unheard-of position, but even he knew not what to +think of the position itself. His conviction while conversing with +Niort's, that Lykon, the emissary of high priests, had appeared in the +garden, was equaled now by his doubts as to whether the Greek had been +there at all. + +And if this was the case with Tutmosis the favorite, who saw Ramses at +all times, what must it be in the hearts of strangers. The most devoted +adherents of the pharaoh and his measures might hesitate on hearing +from all sides that their sovereign was demented. + +This was the first blow which the priests gave Ramses XIII Slight in +itself, it involved results which were beyond reckoning. + +Not only did Tutmosis hesitate, he suffered. Under a frivolous exterior +he had a character at once energetic and noble. So that day, when men +struck at the honor and power of his sovereign, inactivity was +devouring Tutmosis. He seemed to himself the commander of a fortress +which the enemy was undermining, while he himself was looking on in +helplessness. This thought so tortured him that under its influence he +fell upon a daring plan. Meeting the high priest Sem, he said to him, + +"Worthiness, hast Thou heard the reports about our sovereign?" + +"The pharaoh is young, hence various scandals may circulate concerning +him," replied Sem, looking strangely at Tutmosis. "But such affairs +pertain not to me; I take the place of his holiness in the service of +the gods; I fulfill that office as I know best, and have no care for +other questions." + +"I know, worthiness, that Thou art a faithful servant of the pharaoh," +said Tutmosis, "and I have no thought of interfering with priestly +secrets; I must turn thy attention, however, to one trifle. I have +learned that holy Mefres holds a certain Lykon, a Greek, on whom two +crimes are weighing: he murdered the pharaoh's son, and besides he +looks like his holiness. Let the worthy Mefres not bring disgrace on +the revered priestly order; let him yield the murderer to justice at +the earliest; for if we find Lykon, I swear that Mefres will lose not +his office alone, but his head also. In our kingdom it is not permitted +to patronize murderers and secrete men who resemble the sovereign." + +Sem, in whose presence Mefres had taken Lykon from the police, was +confused out of fear perhaps that he might be suspected of co- +operation, still he answered, + +"I will try to forewarn holy Mefres of these suspicions. But Thou +knowest, worthiness, how people answer who attribute crimes to others." + +"I know and assume responsibility. I am so certain of my case that I +have no concern as to the result of my suspicions. Alarm I leave to +holy Mefres; I trust that he will not force me to pass from warning to +energetic action." + +The conversation had its result: from that day forth no man ever saw +the counterfeit of the pharaoh. But reports did not cease; Ramses XIII, +however, knew nothing of them; Tutmosis feared violent action of the +pharaoh against the priests, hence gave him no information. + + + +CHAPTER LXII + +IN the beginning of the month Paofi (July, August) the pharaoh, Queen +Niort's, and the court returned from Thebes to the palace at Memphis. +Toward the end of the journey, which took place on the Nile this time +also, Ramses fell into meditation often, and said once to Tutmosis, + +"I notice a strange thing. The people assemble on both banks as +numerously, and perhaps even more so than they did when we sailed up +the river, but their shouts are far weaker, boats follow us in smaller +numbers, and flowers are thrown from them stingily." + +"Divine truth flows from thy lips, lord," replied Tutmosis. "Indeed the +people look wearied, but great heat is the cause of that.'? + +"Thou speakest wisely," said the pharaoh in praise, and his face +brightened. + +But Tutmosis did not believe his own words. He felt, and what was worse +the whole retinue felt, that the masses of men had grown somewhat cool +in their love for the pharaoh. Whether this came from tales of the +unfortunate illness of the sovereign, or from new intrigues, Tutmosis +knew not; he felt certain, however, that the priests had had influence +in producing that coolness. + +"That is a stupid rabble," thought he, not restraining the contempt in +his heart. "A short time ago they were drowning just to look at the +face of his holiness, and today they are sparing their voices. Have +they forgotten the seventh day for rest, or the land as property?" + +Immediately after his arrival at the palace the pharaoh issued an order +to assemble delegates. At the same time he commanded officials devoted +to him, and also the police, to begin an agitation against the priests +and in favor of rest on the seventh day from labor. + +Soon there was a buzzing in Lower Egypt as in a beehive. The common +people claimed not only a day for repose, but payment for public labor. +Artisans in inns and on the streets abused the priests for wishing to +limit the sacred power of the pharaoh. The number of offenders +increased, but criminals would not appear before any court. Scribes +grew timid, and no one dared strike a common man, knowing that he would +avenge himself. No one brought offerings to a temple. Stones and mud +were hurled more and more frequently at the gods guarding boundaries, +and at times these gods were thrown down even. Fear fell on priests and +nomarchs as well as their adherents. In vain did judges announce on the +highroads and squares that, according to ancient laws, laborers, +artisans, and even merchants were not to busy themselves with politics +which withdrew them from bread-giving labor. The crowd, amid shouts and +laughter, hurled rotten vegetables and date skins at heralds. + +Meanwhile the most powerful gathered at the palace, and, prostrate +before the pharaoh, begged for deliverance. + +"We are," cried they, "as if the ground were opening under us, and as +if the world were nearing its end! The elements are in confusion, men's +minds are vexed, and if thou, lord, wilt not rescue us, our days are +numbered." + +"My treasury is empty, the army not numerous, the police have seen no +salary this long time," replied the pharaoh. "If ye wish enduring peace +and safety ye must find funds for me. But since my heart is troubled by +your fear I will do what I can, and I hope to restore order." + +In fact his holiness gave command to concentrate troops and dispose +them at the most important points in the kingdom. At the same time he +ordered Nitager to leave the eastern boundary to his assistant, and +come himself with five chosen regiments to Memphis. This he did not so +much to protect aristocrats from common people as to have at hand +strong forces in case the high priests incited to rebellion Upper Egypt +and the troops attached to temples. + +On Paofi 10 there was a great movement in the palace and about it. The +delegates who were to recognize the pharaoh's right to the treasures in +the labyrinth had assembled, also a multitude of men who wished at +least to look at the place of a solemnity rare in Egypt. + +The procession of delegates began in the morning. In front went naked +earth-tillers wearing white caps and girdles; each held in his hand a +piece of coarse cloth to cover his back in presence of the pharaoh. +Next advanced artisans dressed like the earth-tillers, from whom they +differed in wearing finer cloth and narrow aprons covered with parti- +colored embroidery. Third came merchants, some in wigs, all in long +tunics and pelerines. Among them were some who had rich bracelets on +their arms and legs, and rings on their fingers. + +Next appeared officers in caps and wearing coats with girdles which +were black and yellow, blue and white, blue and red. Two instead of +coats had bronze breastplates. After a long interval appeared thirteen +nobles, wearing immense wigs and white robes which reached the +pavement. After them advanced nomarchs in robes bordered with a purple +stripe, and on their heads were coronets. The procession was closed by +priests with shaven heads, and wearing panther skins over their +shoulders. + +The delegates entered the great hall of the pharaoh's palace where +there were seven benches, one behind another, the highest for priests, +the lowest for earth-tillers. + +Soon appeared in a litter his holiness, Ramses XIII, before whom the +delegates fell on their faces. When the lord of both worlds had taken +his seat on a lofty throne, he permitted his faithful subjects to rise +and occupy their places. Now Herhor, Mefres, and the overseer of the +labyrinth, the latter carrying a box, entered and took their seats on +lower thrones. A brilliant suite of generals surrounded the pharaoh, +behind whom stood two high officials with fans of peacock feathers. + +"Truth-believing Egyptians," said the ruler of both worlds, "it is +known to you that my court, my army, and my officials are in such need +that the impoverished treasury cannot overcome it. Of expenses +concerning my sacred person I speak not, since my food and dress are +like those of a warrior; any general or chief scribe has more servants +and women than I have." + +Among those assembled a murmur of assent was heard. + +"Hitherto the custom has been," continued the pharaoh, "that when the +treasury needs funds, greater taxes are imposed on working people. I, +who know my people and their needs, not only do not wish to add +burdens, but would gladly lessen those which they now bear." + +"Our lord, may Thou live through eternity!" said some from the lowest +benches. + +"Happily for Egypt," said the pharaoh, "our kingdom has treasures +through which we may improve the army, pay officials, help the people, +and even pay all debts which we owe either to the temples or +Phoenicians. These treasures, collected by my glorious ancestors, are +lying in the vaults of the labyrinth. But they can be taken only if all +you right believers recognize as one man that Egypt is in need, and I, +your lord, have the right to dispose of the treasures of my ancestors." + +"We recognize! We entreat thee to take what is needed!" was the answer +from all benches. + +"Worthy Herhor," said the ruler, turning to him, "has the sacred +priestly order aught to say in this question?" + +"Very little," answered the high priest rising. "According to ancient +laws the treasure of the labyrinth may be touched only when the state +has no other means; such is not the position at present, however, for +should the government wipe away the Phoenician debts, which have risen +from dishonest usury, not only would they fill thy treasury, holiness, +but men working today for Phoenicians would have respite from grievous +labor." + +On the benches of the delegates approbation was heard now a second +time. + +"Thy advice is keen, O holy man," replied the pharaoh, "but full of +danger. Were my treasurer, the worthy nomarchs, and the nobles, to +erase what the state owes to creditors, they might omit one day to pay +Phoenicians, the next day they might forget to pay sums due the temples +and the pharaoh. Who will assure me, that common men, encouraged by +examples from the great, would not think that they, too, have the right +to forget their duties toward the sovereign?" + +The blow was so weighty that the most worthy Herhor bent and was +silent. + +"And thou, chief overseer of the labyrinth, what hast Thou to say?" +asked Ramses. + +"I have a box here," replied the overseer, "with white and black +pebbles. Every delegate will receive two and will put one of them into +a pitcher; whoso wishes thee, holiness, to break the treasure in the +labyrinth will put in a black pebble; whoso wishes that the property of +the gods be untouched will put in a white one." + +"Agree not, O lord, to that," whispered the treasurer to the sovereign. +"Let each delegate tell openly what he has on his soul." + +"Let us respect ancient customs," interrupted Mefres. + +"Yes, let them put pebbles into the pitcher," decided the pharaoh. "My +heart is pure and my plans are unbending." + +Holy Mefres and Herhor exchanged glances. The overseer of the labyrinth +and two generals went around the benches and gave a white pebble and a +black one to each delegate. The poor men from the common crowd were +confused much at seeing before them such great dignitaries. Some fell +on the floor, did not dare to take the pebbles, and understood with +great difficulty that they were to put only one pebble into the +pitcher, a black or a white one. + +"I wish to agree with the gods and his holiness," whispered an old +shepherd. + +At last the officials succeeded in explaining, and the common men in +understanding what was needed. The voting began. Each delegate went to +the pitcher and dropped in his pebble in such fashion that others did +not see its color. + +Meanwhile the chief treasurer knelt behind the throne, and whispered, + +"All is lost! If they had voted openly we should have unanimity; but +now may my hand wither if there will not be twenty white pebbles in the +pitcher." + +"Be at rest, faithful servant," replied Ramses with a smile. "I have +more regiments at hand than there will be voices against us." + +"But to what purpose? to what purpose?" sighed the treasurer; "without +unanimity they will not open the labyrinth." + +Ramses smiled all the time. + +The procession of delegates had finished. The overseer of the labyrinth +raised the pitcher and poured out its contents on a golden tray. + +Of ninety-one pebbles eighty-three were black and only eight white. + +The generals and officials lost courage, the high priests looked at the +assembly in triumph, but soon alarm seized them, for the face of Ramses +had a gladsome expression. + +No one dared to declare openly that the plan of his holiness had been +defeated. + +"Right-believing Egyptians, my good servants," said the pharaoh with +perfect freedom. "Ye have carried out my command, and my favor is with +you; for two days ye will be guests in my house. Ye will receive +presents and return to your houses and labors. Peace and blessings be +with you." + +When he had said this he left the hall with his suite. The high priests +Herhor and Mefres gazed with a look of alarm at each other. + +"He is not troubled in any way," whispered Herhor. + +"Ah, I said that he is a raging wild beast," replied Mefres. "He will +not hesitate at violence, and if we do not anticipate." + +"The gods will defend us and our dwellings." + +In the evening the most faithful servants of Ramses XIII assembled in +his chamber: the chief treasurer, the chief scribe, Tutmosis, and +Kalippos, the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces. + +"O lord," groaned the treasurer, "why not act like thy eternally living +ancestors. If the delegates had spoken openly we should now have a +right to the treasure in the labyrinth." + +"His worthiness speaks the truth," put in the chief scribe. + +The pharaoh shook his head. + +"Ye are mistaken. If all Egypt cried, 'give the funds in the +labyrinth,' the priests would not give them." + +"Then why disturb the priests by summoning delegates? This royal act +has stirred them greatly, and given insolence to common men, who today +are like a rising deluge." + +"I have no fear of this deluge," said the pharaoh. "My regiments will +be dams against it. The advantage of this delegation is evident, since +it shows the weakness of my opponents: eighty-three for us, eight +against us. It proves that if they can count on one corps I can rely on +ten. Yield not to illusions; between me and the high priests war has +begun already. They are the fortress which we have summoned to +surrender. They have refused; we must storm the fortress." + +"Live forever!" cried Tutmosis and Kalippos. + +"Command us," said the chief scribe. + +"This is my will," said Ramses. "Thou, O treasurer, wilt distribute one +hundred talents among the police, the overseers of the laborers, and +the mayors in the provinces of Seft, Neha-chent, Nehapechu, Sebt-Het, +Aa, Ament, and Ka. In those same places you will give the innkeepers +and the keepers of dramshops barley, wheat, and wine, whatever is at +hand, so that common men may have meat and drink free of charge. Ye +will do this immediately, so that there be supplies wherever needed +till the 23d of Paofi." + +The treasurer inclined to the pavement. + +"Thou, scribe, wilt write and command to-morrow to herald forth in the +streets of provincial capitals that barbarians of the western desert +are advancing in great force to attack the province of Fayum. Thou, +Kalippos, wilt dispatch four Greek regiments southward. Two of these +will halt at the labyrinth, two will push on to Hanes. If troops of the +priests go from Thebes ye will drive them back and not let them +approach Fayum. If people are indignant at the priests and threaten the +labyrinth, thy Greeks will occupy the edifice." + +"But if the overseers of the labyrinth refuse?" inquired Kalippos. + +"That would be rebellion," answered the pharaoh, and continued, + +"Thou, Tutmosis, wilt send three regiments to Memphis and post them +near the temples of Ptah, Isis, and Horus. If the enraged people wish +to storm the temples the commanders of the regiments will open the +gates to themselves, will not admit common men to the holy places, and +will guarantee the persons of the high priests from insult. There will +be priests in the labyrinth and in the temples of Memphis, who will +come forth to the army with green branches. The commanders of regiments +will ask those men for the password and will counsel with them." + +"But if they resist?" inquired Tutmosis. + +"Only rebels would refuse to obey commanders of the pharaoh," answered +Ramses. "The temples and the labyrinth must be occupied by troops on +the 23d of Paofi," continued the pharaoh, turning to the chief scribe. +"The people both in Memphis and Fayum may begin to assemble on the +18th, at first in small groups, then in increasing numbers. But if +slight disturbances begin about the 20th, they are not to be prevented. +The people are to storm the temples not earlier than the 22d and 23d. +And when troops occupy those points all must be quieted." + +"Would it not be better to imprison Herhor and Mefres at once?" +inquired Tutmosis. + +"What for? I am not concerned about them, but the labyrinth and the +temples, for the occupation of which troops are not ready yet. Besides, +Hiram, who intercepted Herhor's letters to the Assyrians will return no +sooner than the 20th. So only on the 21st of Paofi shall we have proofs +in our hands that the high priests are traitors, and we shall announce +their treason in public." + +"Then am I to go to Fayum?" inquired Kalippos. + +"Oh, no! Thou and Tutmosis will remain near me with chosen regiments. +We must have reserves in case the priests draw away a part of the +people." + +"Art Thou not afraid of treason, lord?" asked Tutmosis. + +The pharaoh waved his hand with indifference. "Treason is always +leaking out like water from a swollen barrel. It will be difficult for +the high priests to divine my plans, while I know what they wish. But +as I have anticipated them in collecting forces they will be weaker. +Regiments are not formed in a few days." + +"But enchantments?" inquired Tutmosis. + +"There are no enchantments which an axe will not shatter," said Ramses, +laughing. + +Tutmosis wished at that moment to mention the tricks of the high +priests with Lykon, but he was restrained by the thought that his lord +would be very angry and lose calmness, through which he was powerful on +that day. A chief before battle can think of nothing but action, and +there would be time enough for Lykon's case when the priests were in +prison. + +At a sign from his holiness Tutmosis remained in the chamber, but the +three other dignitaries made low obeisances and vanished. + +"At last!" sighed the chief scribe, when he found himself with the +treasurer in the antechamber, "at last the power of the shaven heads is +ending." + +"Indeed it is time," said the treasurer. "During the last ten years any +prophet had more power than the nomarch of Thebes or of Memphis." + +"I think that Herhor is preparing in secret a boat in which to flee +before the 23d of Paofi," put in Kalippos. + +"What will be done to Herhor?" said the scribe. "His holiness, who is +terrible today, will forgive him when he is obedient." + +"And even leave him his property at the intercession of Queen Niort's," +said the treasurer. "At all events there will be order in the state, +which for some time has been lacking." + +"But it seems to me that his holiness is making too great +preparations," said the scribe. "I should finish all with the Greek +regiments, and not employ the people." + +"He is young; he likes noise and uproar," added the treasurer. + +"How clear it is that ye are not warriors," said Kalippos. "When it +comes to battle we must concentrate all the forces, for surprises are +sure to happen." + +"They would happen if we had not the people behind us," said the +scribe. "But what unexpected thing can happen? The gods will not come +down to defend the labyrinth." + +"Such is thy speech, worthiness, for Thou art at rest," answered +Kalippos; "Thou knowest that the supreme chief is watching and is +trying to foresee everything; if that were not the case thy skin might +creep." + +"I see no surprises," contended the scribe, "unless the high priests +are spreading reports again that the pharaoh is demented." + +"They will try various tricks," added the treasurer, yawning; "but in +fact they have not strength enough. In every case I thank the gods who +put me in the pharaoh's camp. Well, let us go to sleep." + +After the dignitaries had left the chamber of the pharaoh, Tutmosis +opened a secret door in one of the walls, and led in Samentu. Ramses +received the high priest of Set with great pleasure; he gave him his +hand to kiss, and pressed his head. + +"Peace be with thee, good servant," said the sovereign. "What dost Thou +bring me?" + +"I have been twice in the labyrinth," replied the priest. + +"And dost Thou know the way now?" + +"I knew it before, but this time I have made a new discovery: the +treasure chamber may sink, people may be lost, and jewels be destroyed +which are of the greatest value." + +The pharaoh frowned. + +"Therefore," continued Samentu, "be pleased, holiness, to have ready +some tens of reliable men. With them I will enter the labyrinth on the +night before the storm, and seize the chambers adjoining the treasury, +especially the upper ones." + +"Canst Thou lead in men?" + +"Yes. Though I will go alone again to the labyrinth, and see absolutely +whether we may not avert destruction unaided. Even the most faithful +men are uncertain, and to introduce them at night might rouse the +attention of those watchdogs." + +"Are they not following thee now?" asked the pharaoh. + +"Believe me, lord," answered the priest, placing his hand on his +breast, "a miracle would be needed to follow me. Their blindness is +almost childlike. They feel that some one wants to invade the +labyrinth, but the fools have doubled the guard at the ordinary +gateways. Meanwhile, in the course of a month I have discovered three +hidden entrances, these they have forgotten, or perhaps they know +nothing about them. Only some spirit could warn those guardians that I +traverse the labyrinth, or indicate the room in which I may find +myself. Among three thousand chambers and corridors this is +impossible." + +"The worthy Samentu speaks truth," said Tutmosis. "And perhaps we +employ too much keenness against these priestly reptiles." + +"Do not say that," replied the priest. "Their strength, as compared +with that of his holiness, is as a handful of sand in comparison with a +temple, but Herhor and Mefres are very wise, and they may use weapons +against us and means before which we shall be dumb with amazement. Our +temples are full of secrets which will arrest even sages, and bring +down to the dust the courage of the multitude." + +"Wilt Thou tell us something of that?" inquired the pharaoh. + +"I will say first that the warriors of your holiness will meet with +wonders in the temples. In one chamber torches will quench in their +hands, in another, flames and disgusting monsters will surround them. +In one place a wall will stop the way, or a gulf will open before their +feet. In some corridors water will cover them, in others invisible +hands will throw stones at them. And such thunders, such voices will be +heard round about." + +"In every temple I have partisans among the younger priests, and Thou +wilt be in the labyrinth" said the pharaoh. + +"But our axes?" said Tutmosis. "He is a poor soldier who draws back +before flames or frightful pictures, or who loses time listening to +mysterious voices." + +"Thou speakest well, chief," cried Samentu. "If ye go ahead valiantly, +terrors will vanish, voices cease, and flames burn no longer. Now my +last word, lord," said the priest, turning to Ramses. "If I perish." + +"Do not speak thus," interrupted the pharaoh quickly. + +"A young priest of Set will come to thee, holiness, with my ring. Let +the army occupy the labyrinth and expel the overseers, and let them not +leave the building, for that young priest in the course of a month, +perhaps, or even earlier, will find the way to the treasures with the +indications which I will leave him. But, lord," continued Samentu +kneeling down, "I implore thee for one thing: when Thou shalt conquer, +avenge me, and above all, pardon not Mefres and Herhor. Thou knowest +not what enemies they are. If they win, Thou wilt perish, not only +thou, but the dynasty." + +"But does not magnanimity become a victor?" inquired the pharaoh +gloomily. + +"No magnanimity! No favor!" cried Samentu. "As long as they live we are +threatened, Thou and I, with death, with shame, even with insult to our +corpses. It is possible to fondle a lion, to buy a Phoenician, to win +the attachment of a Libyan and an Ethiopian. It is possible to win +favor from a Chaldean priest, for he, like an eagle, soars above +heights and is safe from missiles. But an Egyptian prophet who has +tried power and luxury Thou wilt win with nothing, only his death or +thine can end the conflict." + +"Samentu speaks truth," said Tutmosis. "Happily not his holiness, but +we, the warriors, will decide the ancient struggle between the priests +and the pharaoh." + + + +CHAPTER LXIII + +On Paofi 12 alarming news went forth from various Egyptian temples. +During a few preceding days an altar was overturned in the temple of +Horus; in the temple of Isis a statue of the goddess shed tears. In the +temple of Amon at Thebes, and from the tomb of Osiris in Dendera, omens +of much evil were given. The priests inferred from infallible signs +that some dreadful misfortune would threaten Egypt before the month had +ended. Hence Herhor and Mefres, the high priests, commanded processions +around the temples and sacrifice in houses. + +On Paofi 13 there was a great procession in Memphis: the god Ptah +issued from his temple, and the goddess Isis from hers. Both divinities +moved toward the centre of the city with a very small assembly of +believers, mainly women. But they were forced to withdraw, for +Egyptians reviled them and foreigners went so far as to hurl stones at +the sacred boats of the divinities. + +In presence of these abuses the police bore themselves with +indifference, some of them even took part in unseemly jests. During the +afternoon unknown persons told the crowd that the priests would not +permit relief to be given the people and desired a rebellion against +the pharaoh. + +Toward evening laborers gathered in crowds at the temples, where they +hissed the priests and abused them. Meanwhile stones were hurled at the +gate, and some criminals openly beat off the nose of Horus who was on +guard at his own entrance. + +A couple of hours after sunset the high priests and their most faithful +adherents assembled in the temple of Ptah. The worthy Herhor was there; +so were Mefres, Mentezufis, three nomarchs, and the highest judge. + +"Terrible times!" said the judge, "I know to a certainty that the +pharaoh wishes to rouse a rabble to attack temples." + +"I have heard," said the nomarch of Sebes, "that an order has been sent +to Nitager to hurry at the earliest with new troops, as if those here +were insufficient." + +"Communication between Upper and Lower Egypt is interrupted since +yesterday," added the nomarch of Aa. "On the roads are posted troops, +and the galleys of his holiness examine every barge sailing on the +river." + +"Ramses XIII is not 'holiness,'" said Mefres, dryly, "for he has not +received a crown from the gods yet." + +"All this would be a trifle," said the judge. "Treason is worse. We +have indications that many of the younger priests are favorable to the +pharaoh and inform him of everything." + +"There are some even who have undertaken to facilitate the occupation +of the temples by troops," added Herhor. + +"Are troops to enter the temples?" exclaimed the nomarch of Sebes. + +"They have such an order at least for the 23d," replied Herhor. + +"And dost Thou speak of this, worthiness, quietly?" inquired the +nomarch of Ament. + +Herhor shrugged his shoulders, while the nomarchs exchanged glances. + +"I do not understand this," said the nomarch of Aa, almost in anger. +"There are barely a few hundred warriors at the temples, some priests +are traitors, the pharaoh cuts us off from Thebes and is rousing the +people, while the worthy Herhor speaks as though we were invited to a +banquet. Either let us defend ourselves, if that be still possible, +or." + +"Shall we yield to 'his holiness'?" inquired Mefres with irony. + +"We shall have time for that always!" + +"But we should like to learn about means of defense," said the nomarch +of Sebes. + +"The gods will save those who are faithful to them," answered Herhor. + +The nomarch of Aa wrung his hands. + +"If I am to open my heart, I must say that I too am astonished at thy +indifference," said the judge. "Almost all the people are against us." + +"The common people are like barley in the field, they incline with the +wind." + +"But the army?" + +"What army will not fall before Osiris?" + +"I know," replied the nomarch of Aa, with impatience, "but I see +neither Osiris nor that wind which is to turn the people toward us. +Meanwhile, the pharaoh has attached them by promises, and he will +appear with gifts to-morrow." + +"Fear is stronger than promises and gifts," replied Herhor. + +"What have they to fear? Those three hundred soldiers of ours?" + +"They will fear Osiris." + +"But where is he?" asked the indignant nomarch of Aa. + +"Ye will see him. But happy the man who will be blind on that day." + +Herhor spoke with such calm solemnity that silence settled on the +assembly. + +"But what shall we do?" asked the judge after a while. + +"The pharaoh," said Herhor, "wishes the people to attack the temple on +the 23d. We must make them attack us on the 20th of Paofi." + +"The gods live through eternity!" cried the nomarch of Aa, raising his +hands. "But why should we bring misfortune on our heads, and besides +two days earlier?" + +"Listen to Herhor," said Mefres with a voice of decision; "try by all +means that the attack be made on the morning of the 20th." + +"But if they beat us in fact?" inquired the judge in confusion. + +"If Herhor's spells fail I will call the gods to assist us," replied +Mefres, and in his eyes was an ominous glitter. + +"Ah, ye high priests have secrets which ye may not explain to us. We +will do what ye command; we will cause the attack on the 20th. But +remember, on your heads be our blood and the blood of our children." + +"So be it! So be it!" cried both high priests together. + +Then Herhor added: "For ten years we have governed the state, and +during that time no wrong has happened to any of you, and we have kept +every promise; so be patient and faithful for a few days. Ye will see +the might of the gods and receive your reward." + +The nomarchs took farewell of the high priests, not trying even to hide +their own grief and alarm. Only Herhor and Mefres remained. After a +long silence Herhor said, + +"Yes, that Lykon was good as long as he counterfeited the maniac. But +that it should be possible to show him instead of Ramses." + +"If the-mother did not detect him," answered Mefres, "the man must +resemble Ramses remarkably. As to sitting on the throne and saying a +few words to those present, he will do that. Moreover, we shall be +there." + +"A terribly stupid comedian!" sighed Herhor, rubbing his forehead. + +"He is wiser than millions of other men, for he has second sight and he +may render the state immense service." + +"Thou art speaking continually, worthiness, of that second sight. Let +me convince myself of it certainly." + +"Dost Thou wish to do so?" inquired Mefres. "Well come with me. But by +the gods, Herhor, mention not, even before thy own heart, what Thou +shalt witness." + +They went beneath the temple of Ptah and entered a large vault where a +lamp was then gleaming. By the feeble light Herhor saw a man sitting at +a table; he was eating. The man wore a coat of the pharaoh's guardsmen. + +"Lykon," said Mefres, "the highest dignitary of the state wishes +evidence of those powers with which the gods have gifted thee." + +"Cursed be the day in which the soles of my feet touched your land!" +muttered Lykon, pushing away a plate with food on it. "I should rather +labor in the quarries, and be beaten." + +"There will be time for that always," interrupted Herhor, severely. + +The Greek was silent, and trembled suddenly when he saw a dark crystal +globe in the hand of Mefres. He grew pale, his sight became dim, large +drops of sweat came out on his face. His eyes were fixed on one point, +as if fastened to that ball of crystal. + +"He is sleeping," said Mefres. "Is this not wonderful?" + +"If he is not feigning." + +"Punch him, stick him, burn him even," said Mefres. + +Herhor drew from under his white robe a dagger and pointed it as if to +strike Lykon between the eyes, but the Greek did not move, even his +eyelids did not quiver. + +"Look!" said Mefres, holding the crystal up to Lykon. "Dost Thou see +the man who carried off Kama?" + +The Greek sprang from his chair, his fists were clenched, and there was +saliva on his lips. + +"Let me go!" cried he with a hoarse voice. "Let me go and drink his +blood." + +"Where is he now?" inquired Mefres. + +"In the villa at the side of the garden next the river. A beautiful +woman is with him." + +"Her name is Hebron, and she is the wife of Tutmosis," added Herhor. +"Confess, Mefres, that second sight is not needed to know that." + +Mefres closed his thin lips tightly. + +"If this does not convince thee, worthiness, I will show something +better," said he at length. "Lykon, find now the traitor who is seeking +the way to the treasure of the labyrinth." + +The sleeping Greek looked for a while at the crystal intently, and +answered, + +"I see him he is dressed in the rags of a beggar." + +"Where is he?" + +"In the court of the last inn before the labyrinth. He will be there in +the morning." + +"How does he look?" + +"He has red hair and beard," answered Lykon. + +"Well?" inquired Mefres of Herhor. + +"Thou hast good police, worthiness," replied Herhor. + +"But the overseers of the labyrinth guard it poorly!" said Mefres in +anger. "I will go there to-night with Lykon to warn the local priests. +But if I succeed in saving the treasure of the gods, Thou wilt permit +me to become its overseer, worthiness?" + +"As Thou wishest," answered Herhor with indifference. But in his heart +he added: "The pious Mefres begins at last to show his claws and teeth. +He desires to become only overseer of the labyrinth, and his ward, +Lykon, he would make only pharaoh! Indeed, to satisfy the greed of my +assistants the gods would have to make ten Egypts," + +When both dignitaries had left the vault, Herhor, in the night, +returned on foot to the temple of Isis where he had a dwelling, but +Mefres commanded to make ready a couple of litters on horses. In one of +these the younger priests placed the sleeping Lykon with a bag on his +head; in the other the high priest himself took his place and, +surrounded by a party of horsemen went at a sharp trot in the direction +of Fayum. + +On the night between the 14th and 15th Paofi the high priest Samentu, +according to the promise given Ramses, entered the labyrinth by a +corridor known to himself only. He had in his hand a bundle of torches, +one of which was burning, and on his back he carried tools in a small +basket. + +Samentu passed very easily from hall to hall, from corridor to +corridor, pushing back with a touch stone slabs in columns and in walls +where there were secret doors. Sometimes he hesitated, but then he read +mysterious signs on the walls and compared them with signs on the beads +which he bore on his neck. + +After a journey of half an hour he found himself in the treasure room, +whence by pushing aside a slab in the pavement he reached a hall in the +lower story. The hall was spacious and its ceiling rested on a number +of short thick columns. + +Samentu put down his basket and, lighting two torches, began by the +light of them to read inscriptions on the walls. + +"Despite my wretched figure," declared one inscription, "I am a real +son of the gods, for my auger is terrible. + +"In the open air I turn to a column of fire, and I am lightning. +Confined I am thunder and destruction, and no building can resist me. + +"Nothing can weaken me but sacred water which takes my force away. But +my anger is roused as well by the smallest spark as by a flame. + +"In my presence everything is twisted and broken. I am like Typhon, who +overturns the highest trees and lifts rocks from their places." + +"In one word, every temple has its secret which others do not know," +thought Samentu. + +He opened one column and took a large pot from it. The pot had a' cover +sealed with wax, also an opening through which passed a long slender +cord; it was unknown where this cord ended inside the column. Samentu +cut off a piece, touched the torch with it and saw that the cord gave +out a hiss and burned quickly. Then with a knife be removed the cover +very carefully and saw inside the pot as it were sand and pebbles of an +ashen color. He took out a couple of the pebbles and going aside +touched them with the torch. In one moment a flame burst forth and the +pebbles vanished leaving thick smoke behind and a disagreeable odor. +Samentu took some of the ash-colored sand, poured it on the pavement, +put in the middle of it a piece of the cord which he had found at the +pot, covered all with a heavy stone. Then he touched the cord with his +torch, the cord burned and after a while the stone sprang up in a +flame. + +"I have that son of the gods now!" said Samentu smiling. "The treasure +will not be lost." + +He went from column to column to open slabs and take out hidden pots. +In each pot was a cord which Samentu cut, the pots he left at one side. + +"Well," said the priest, "his holiness might give me half these +treasures and make my son a nomarch and surely he will do so, for he is +a magnanimous sovereign." + +When he had rendered the lower hall safe in this way Samentu returned +to the treasure chamber, and hence went to the upper hall. There also +were various inscriptions on the walls, numerous columns and in them +pots provided with cords and filled with kernels which burst when fire +touched them. Samentu cut the cords, removed the pots from the interior +of the columns, and tied up in a rag one pinch of the sand. Then being +wearied he sat down to rest. Six of his torches were burnt now. The +night must have been nearing its end. + +"I never should have supposed," said he to himself, "that those priests +had such a wonderful agent. Why, with it they could overturn Assyrian +fortresses! Well, we will not tell our own pupils everything either." + +The wearied man fell to thinking. Now he was certain that he would hold +the highest position in Egypt, a position higher than that held by +Herhor. What would he do? Very much. + +He would secure wealth and wisdom to his posterity. He would try to +gain their secrets from all the temples and this would increase his +power immensely; he would secure to Egypt preeminence above Assyria. + +The young pharaoh jeered at the gods, that would facilitate to Samentu +the establishment of the worship of one god, Osiris, for example; and +the union of Phoenicians, Jews, Greeks, and Libyans in one state with +Egypt. + +Together they would make the canal to join the Red Sea and the +Mediterranean. Along that canal they would build fortresses and +concentrate a numerous army all the trade with unknown nations of the +Orient and the West would fall into the hands of Egyptians. + +They would require an Egyptian fleet and Egyptian sailors. But above +all was the need to crush Assyria, which was growing each year more +dangerous. It was imperative to stop priestly greed and excesses. Let +priests be sages, let them have a sufficiency, but let them serve the +state instead of using it for their own profit as at present. + +"In the month Hator," thought Samentu, "I shall be ruler of Egypt! The +young lord loves women and warriors too well to labor at governing. And +if he has no son, then my son, my son." + +He came to himself. One more torch had burnt out; it was high time to +leave those underground chambers. + +He rose, took his basket and left the hall above the treasure. + +"I need no assistance," thought he, laughing. "I have secured +everything I alone I, the despised priest of Set!" + +He had passed a number of tens of chambers and corridors when he halted +on a sudden. It seemed to him that on the pavement of the hall to which +he was going he saw a small streak of light. + +In one moment such dreadful fear seized the man that he put out his +torch. But the streak of light on the pavement had vanished. Samentu +strained his hearing, but he heard only the throbbing of his own +temples. + +"That only seemed to me!" said he. + +With a trembling hand he took out of the basket a small vessel in which +punk was burning slowly, and he lighted the torch again. + +"I am very drowsy," thought he. Looking around the chamber he went to a +wall in which a door was hidden. He pushed a nail; the door did not +slip back. A second, a third pressure no effect. + +"What does this mean?" thought Samentu in amazement. + +He forgot now the streak of light. It seemed to him that a new thing, +unheard of, had met him. He had opened in his life so many hundreds of +secret doors, he had opened so many in the labyrinth, that he could not +understand simply the present resistance. Terror seized him a second +time. He ran from wall to wall and tried secret doors everywhere. At +last one opened. He found himself in an immense hall, filled as usual +with columns. His torch lighted barely a part of the space, the +remainder of it was lost in thick darkness. + +The darkness, the forest of columns, and above all the strangeness of +the hall gave the priest confidence. At the bottom of his fear a spark +of naive hope was roused then. It seemed to him that since he did not +know the place himself no one else knew it, and that no man would meet +him in that labyrinth. + +He was pacified somewhat and felt that his legs were bending under him; +so he sat down. But again he sprang up and looked around, as if to +learn whether danger was really threatening, and whence. From which of +those dark comers would it come out to rush at him? + +Samentu was acquainted as no other man in Egypt with subterranean +places, with going astray, and with darkness. He had passed also +through many alarms in his life. But that which he experienced then was +something perfectly new and so terrible that the priest feared to give +its own name to it. + +At last, with great effort, he collected his thoughts, and said, + +"If indeed I have seen a light if indeed some one has closed the doors, +I am betrayed. In that case what?" + +"Death!" whispered a voice hidden in the bottom of his soul somewhere. + +"Death?" + +Sweat came out on his face, his breath stopped-. All at once the +madness of fear mastered him. He ran through the chamber and struck his +fist against the wall, seeking an exit. He forgot where he was and how +he had got there; he lost his direction, and even the power of taking +bearings with the bead-string. + +All at once he felt that in him were two persons, so to speak: one +really bewildered, the other wise and self-possessed. This wiseman +explained to himself that all might be imagination, that no one had +discovered him, that no one was searching, and that he could escape if +he would recover somewhat. But the first, the bewildered man, would not +listen to the voice of wisdom; on the contrary, he gained on his +internal antagonist every moment. + +Oh, if he could only hide in some column! Let them seek then Though +surely no one would seek, and no one would find him, while self-command +would come again to him. + +"What can happen to me here?" said he, shrugging his shoulders. "If I +calm myself they can chase me through the whole labyrinth. To cut off +all the roads there would have to be many thousand persons, and to +indicate what cell I am in a miracle would be needed! But let us +suppose that they seize me. Then what? I will take this little vial +here, put it to my lips, and in one moment I shall flee away so that no +one could catch me not even a divinity." + +But in spite of reasoning, such terrible fear seized the man again that +he put out the torch a second time, and trembling, his teeth +chattering, he pushed up to one of the columns. + +"How was it possible how could I decide to come in here?" thought +Samentu. "Had I not food to eat, a place on which to lay my head? It is +a simple thing, I am discovered! The labyrinth has a multitude of +overseers as watchful as dogs, and only a child, or an idiot, would +think of deceiving them. Property power! Where is the treasure for +which it would be worth while for a man to give one day of his life? +And here, I, a man in the bloom of existence, have exposed myself." + +It seemed to him that he heard heavy knocking. He sprang up and in the +depth of the chamber he saw a gleam of light. + +Yes! a real gleam of light, not an illusion. At a distant wall, +somewhere at the end, stood an open door through which at that moment +armed men were coming in carefully with torches. + +At sight of this the priest felt a chill in his feet, in his heart, in +his head. He doubted no longer that he was not merely discovered, but +hunted and surrounded. + +Who could have betrayed him? Of course only one man: the young priest +of Set, whom he had acquainted minutely enough with his purposes. The +traitor, if alone, would have had to look almost a month for the way to +the treasure, but if he had agreed with the overseers they might in one +day track out Samentu. + +At that moment the high priest felt the impressions known only to men +who are looking at death face to face. He ceased to fear since his +imagined alarms had now vanished before real torches. Not only did he +regain self-command, but he felt immensely above everything living. In +a short time he would be threatened no longer by danger of any sort. + +The thoughts flew through his head with lightning clearness and speed. +He took in the whole of his existence: his toils, his perils, his +hopes, his ambitions, and all of those seemed to him a trifle. For what +would it serve him to be at that moment the pharaoh, or to own every +treasure in all kingdoms? They were vanity, dust, and even worse an +illusion. Death alone was all-mighty and genuine. + +Meanwhile the torch-bearers were examining columns most carefully, and +also every corner; they had passed through half the immense hall. +Samentu saw even the points of their lances, and noted that the men +hesitated and advanced with alarm and repulsion. A few steps behind +them was another group of persons to whom one torch gave light. Samentu +did not even feel aversion toward them, he was only curious as to who +could have betrayed him. But even that point did not concern him +overmuch, for incomparably more important then seemed the question: Why +must he die, and why had he been brought into existence? For with death +present as a fact a whole life-time is shortened into one painful +minute even though that life were the longest of all and the richest in +experience. + +"Why was he alive? For what purpose?" + +He was sobered by the voice of one of the armed men, + +"There is no one here, and cannot be." + +They halted. Samentu felt that he loved those men, and his heart +thumped within him. + +The second group of persons came up; among them there was a discussion, + +"How can even thou, worthiness, suppose that some one has entered?" +asked a voice quivering with anger. "All the entrances are guarded, +especially now. And even if any one stole in it would be only to die +here of hunger." + +"But, worthiness, see how this Lykon bears himself," answered another +voice. "The sleeping man looks all the time as if he felt an enemy near +him.." + +"Lykon?" thought Samentu. "Ah, that Greek who is like the pharaoh. What +do I see? Mefres has brought him!" + +At this moment the sleeping Greek rushed forward and stopped at the +column behind which Samentu was hidden. The armed men ran after him, +and the gleam of their torches threw light on the dark figure of +Samentu. + +"Who is here?" cried, with a hoarse voice, the leader. + +Samentu stood forth. The sight of him made such a powerful impression +that the torch-bearers withdrew. He might have passed out between them, +so terrified were they, and no one would have detained him; but the +priest thought no longer of rescue. + +"Well, has my man with second sight been mistaken?" said Mefres, +pointing at his victim. "There is the traitor!" + +Samentu approached him with a smile, and said, + +"I recognize thee by that cry, Mefres. When Thou canst not be a cheat, +Thou art merely an idiot." + +Those present were astounded. Samentu spoke with calm irony. + +"Though it is true that at this moment Thou art both cheat and fool. A +cheat, for Thou art trying to persuade the overseers of the labyrinth +that this villain has the gift of second sight; and a fool, for Thou +thinkest that they believe thee. Better tell them that in the temple of +Ptah there are detailed plans of the labyrinth." + +"That is a lie!" cried Mefres. + +"Ask those men whom they believe: thee, or me? I am here because I +found plans in the temple of Set; Thou hast come by the grace of the +immortal Ptah," concluded Samentu, laughing. + +"Bind that traitor and liar!" cried Mefres. + +Samentu moved back a couple of steps, drew forth quickly from under his +garment a vial, and said, while raising it to his lips, "Mefres, Thou +wilt be an idiot till death. Thou hast wit only when it is a question +of money." + +He placed the vial between his lips and fell to the pavement. + +The armed men rushed to the priest and raised him, but he had slipped +through their fingers already. + +"Let him stay here, like others," said the overseer of the labyrinth. + +The whole retinue left the hall and closed the open doors carefully. +Soon they issued forth from the edifice. + +When the worthy Mefres found himself in the court he commanded the +priests to make ready the mounted litters, and rode away with the +sleeping Lykon to Memphis. + +The overseers of the labyrinth, dazed by the uncommon events, looked +now at one another, and now at the escort of Mefres, which was +disappearing in a yellow dust cloud. + +"I cannot believe," said the chief overseer, "that in our days there +was a man who could break into the labyrinth." + +"Your worthiness forgets that this day there were three such," +interrupted one of the younger priests looking askance at him. + +"A a true!" answered the high priest. "Have the gods disturbed my +reason?" said he, rubbing his forehead and pressing the amulet on his +breast. + +"And two have fled," added the younger priest. + +"Why didst Thou not turn my attention to that in the labyrinth?" burst +out the superior. + +"I did not know that things would turn out as they have." + +"Woe is on my head!" cried the high priest. "Not chief should I be at +this edifice, but gatekeeper. We were warned that some one was stealing +in, but now we have let out two of the most dangerous, who will bring +now whomever it may please them O woe!" + +"Thou hast no need, worthiness, to despair," said another priest. "Our +law is explicit. Send four or six of our men to Memphis, and provide +them with sentences. The rest will be their work." + +"I have lost my reason," complained the high priest. + +"What has happened is over," interrupted the young priest, with irony. +"One thing is certain: that men who not only reach the vaults, but even +walk through them as through their own houses, may not live." + +"Then select six from our militia." + +"Of course! It is necessary to end this," confirmed the overseers. + +"Who knows if Mefres did not act in concert with the most worthy +Herhor?" whispered some one. + +"Enough!" exclaimed the high priest. "If we find Herhor in the +labyrinth we will act as the law directs. But to make guesses, or +suspect any one is not permitted. Let the secretaries prepare sentences +for Mefres and Lykon, Let those chosen hurry after them, and let the +militia strengthen the watch. We must also examine the interior of the +edifice and discover how Samentu got into it, though I am sure that he +will have no followers in the near future." + +A couple of hours later six men had set out for Memphis. + + + +CHAPTER LXIV + +ON the eighteenth day of Paofi chaos had begun. Communication was +interrupted between Lower and Upper Egypt; commerce had ceased; on the +Nile moved only boats on guard, the roads were occupied by troops +marching toward those cities which contained the most famous temples. + +Only the laborers of the priests were at work in the fields. On the +estates of nobles and nomarchs, but especially of the pharaoh, flax was +unpulled, clover uncut; there was no one to gather in grapes. The +common people did nothing but prowl about in bands; they sang, ate, +drank, and threatened either priests or Phoenicians. In the cities all +shops were closed, and the artisans who had lost their occupation +counseled whole days over the reconstruction of Egypt. This offensive +spectacle was no novelty, but it appeared in such threatening +proportions that the tax-gatherers, and even the judges began to hide, +especially as the police treated all offences of common men very +mildly. + +One thing more deserved attention: the abundance of food and wine. In +dramshops and cook houses, especially of the Phoenicians, as well in +Memphis as in the provinces, whoso wished might eat and drink what he +pleased at a very low price, or for nothing. It was said that his +holiness was giving his people a feast which would continue a whole +month in every case. + +Because of difficult and even interrupted communication the cities were +not aware of what was happening in neighboring places. Only the +pharaoh, or still better the priests, knew the general condition of the +country. + +The position was distinguished, first of all, by a break between Upper, +or Theban, and Lower, or Memphian Egypt. In Thebes partisans of the +priesthood were stronger, in Memphis adherents of the pharaoh. In +Thebes people said that Ramses XIII had gone mad, and wished to sell +Egypt to Phoenicians; in Memphis they explained that the priests wished +to poison the pharaoh and bring in Assyrians. The common people, as +well in the north as the south, felt an instinctive attraction toward +the pharaoh. But the force of the people was passive and tottering. +When an agitator of the government spoke, the people were ready to +attack a temple and beat priests, but when a procession appeared they +fell on their faces and were timid while listening to accounts of +disasters which threatened Egypt in that very month of Paofi. + +The terrified nobles and nomarchs had assembled at Memphis to implore +the pharaoh for rescue from the rebelling multitude. But since Ramses +enjoined on them patience, and did not attack the rabble, the magnates +began to take counsel with the adherents of the priesthood. + +It is true that Herhor was silent, or enjoined patience also; but other +high priests proved to the nobles that Ramses was a maniac, and hinted +at the need of deposing him. + +In Memphis itself two parties were facing each other. The godless who +drank, made an uproar, threw mud at temples and even at statues, and +the pious, mainly old men and women who prayed on the streets, +prophesied misfortune aloud and implored all the divinities for rescue. +The godless committed outrages daily; each day among the pious health +returned to some sick man or cripple. But for a wonder neither party, +in spite of roused passions, worked harm on the other, and still +greater wonder neither party resorted to violence, which came from +this, that each was disturbed by direction, and according to plans +framed in higher circles. + +The pharaoh, not having collected all his troops and all his proofs +against the priests, did not give the order yet for a final attack on +the temples; the priests seemed waiting for something. It was evident, +however, that they did not feel so weak as in the first moments after +the voting by delegates. Ramses himself became thoughtful when men +reported from every side that people on the lands of the priests did +not mix in disturbances at all, but were working. + +"What does this mean?" asked the pharaoh of himself. "Do the shaven +heads think that I dare not touch temples, or have they means of +defense quite unknown to me?" + +On the 19th of Paofi a police official informed Ramses that the night +before people had begun to break the walls inclosing the temple of +Horus. + +"Did ye command them to do that?" inquired the pharaoh. + +"No. They began of their own accord." + +"Restrain them mildly restrain them," said Ramses. "In a few days they +may do what they like. But now let them not act with great violence." + +Ramses, as a leader and victor at the Soda Lakes, knew that once men +attack in a multitude nothing has power to restrain them; they must +break or be broken. Unless the temples defend themselves the multitude +will take them; but if they defend themselves? In that case the people +will flee and there will be need to send warriors, of whom there were +many it is true, but not so many as would be needed, according to the' +pharaoh's own reckoning. Moreover, Hiram had not returned from Pi-Bast +yet with letters proving the treason of Mefres and Herhor. And what was +more important, the priests who sided with the pharaoh were to assist +the troops only on Paofi 23d. By what means then could he forewarn them +in temples which were so numerous and so distant from one another? And +did not caution itself command him to avoid relations which might +betray them? + +For these reasons Ramses did not wish an earlier attack on the temples. + +Meanwhile the disturbance increased in spite of the pharaoh. Near the +temple of Isis a number of pious persons were slain who predicted +misfortune to Egypt, or who had recovered their health by a miracle. +Near the temple of Ptah the multitude rushed on a procession, struck +down the priests, and broke the holy boat in which the god was +advancing. Almost at the same time messengers flew in from the cities +of Sochem and Anu with news that people were breaking into the temples, +and that in Cheran they had even broken in and desecrated the most holy +places. + +Toward evening a deputation of priests came, almost by stealth, to the +palace of his holiness; the revered prophets fell at his feet, weeping, +crying out to him to defend the gods and their sanctuaries. + +This altogether unexpected event filled the heart of Ramses with great +delight and still greater pride. He commanded the delegates to rise, +and answered graciously that his regiments would be always ready to +defend the temples when conducted into them. + +"I have no doubt," said he, "that the rioters themselves will withdraw +when they see the dwellings of the gods occupied by the army." + +The delegates hesitated. + +"It is known to thee, holiness," answered the chief, "that the army may +not enter the enclosure of a temple. We must ask, therefore, what the +high priests have to say." + +"Very well, take counsel," answered the sovereign. "I cannot perform +miracles, and I cannot defend temples from a distance." + +The saddened delegates left the pharaoh, who after their departure +summoned a confidential council. He was convinced that the priests +would yield to his will, and it did not even occur to him that the +delegation itself was a trick arranged by Herhor to lead him into +error. + +When the civil and military officials had assembled in the pharaoh's +chamber Ramses began, + +"I thought," said he, proudly, "to occupy the temples of Memphis only +on the 23d, but I consider it better to do so to-morrow." + +"Our troops have not assembled yet," objected Tutmosis. + +"And we have not Herhor's letters to Assyria," added the chief scribe. + +"Never mind!" answered the pharaoh. "Proclaim tomorrow that Herhor and +Mefres are traitors, and we will show the nomarchs and priests the +proofs three days later when Hiram returns from Pi-Bast to us." + +"Thy new command, holiness, will change the first one greatly," said +Tutmosis. "We shall not occupy the labyrinth to-morrow. If the temples +in Memphis make bold to resist, we have not even rams to break down the +gates." + +"Tutmosis," answered the pharaoh, "I might not explain my commands, but +I wish to convince thee that my heart estimates the course of events +more profoundly. If people attack the temples today they will wish to +break into them to-morrow. Unless we support them they will be +repulsed, and will be discouraged in every case from deeds of daring. +The priests send a delegation today, hence they are weak. Meanwhile the +number of their adherents among the common people may be greater some +days hence. Enthusiasm and fear are like wine in a pitcher; it +decreases in proportion as it is poured out, and only he can drink who +puts his goblet under in season. If the people are ready to attack +today and the enemy is frightened, let us make use of the situation, +for, as I say, luck may leave us in a few days, or may turn against +us." + +"And provisions will be exhausted," added the treasurer. "In three days +the people must return to work, for we shall not have the wherewithal +to feed them." + +"Oh, seest thou," continued the pharaoh to Tutmosis. "I myself have +commanded the chief of police to restrain the people. But it is +impossible to restrain them, we must make a movement. An experienced +sailor struggles neither with wind nor current, but he lets them bear +him in the direction which they have taken." + +At this moment a courier came in with news that the people had fallen +upon foreigners. They had assaulted Greeks, Assyrians, but especially +Phoenicians. They had plundered many shops and slain a number of +persons. + +"Here is proof," cried the excited pharaoh, "that we should not turn a +crowd from the road it has taken. Let the troops be near the temples +to-morrow, and let them march in if the people begin to burst into +them, or or if they begin to withdraw under pressure. + +"It is true that grapes should be gathered in the month Paofi; but is +there a gardener, who if his fruit were ripe a month earlier, would +leave it on the vines to wither? + +"I repeat this: I wished to delay the movement of the people till we +had finished preparations. But if it is impossible to delay, let us +raise our sails and use the wind which is blowing. Ye must arrest +Herhor and Mefres tomorrow and bring them to the palace. In a few days +we will finish with the labyrinth." + +The members of the council recognized that the decision of the pharaoh +was proper, and they departed admiring his promptness and wisdom. Even +generals declared that it was better to use the occasion at hand than +to have forces ready when the time had passed in which to use them. + +It was night. Another courier rushed in from Memphis with information +that the police had been able to protect foreigners, but that the +people were excited and it was unknown what they might attempt on the +morrow. + +Thenceforth courier arrived after courier. Some brought news that a +great mass of men armed with clubs and axes were moving toward Memphis +from every direction. From somewhere else information came that people +in the region of Peme, Sochem, and On, were fleeing to the fields and +crying that the end of the world would come the day following. + +Another courier brought a letter from Hiram that he would arrive very +soon. Another announced the stealthy advance of temple regiments to +Memphis, and, what was more important, that from Upper Egypt were +moving strong divisions of people and troops hostile to the +Phoenicians, and even to his holiness. + +"Before they arrive," thought the pharaoh, "I shall have the high +priests in my hands and even the regiments of Nitager now some days +late in arriving." + +Finally information was brought that troops had seized here and there +on the highways, disguised priests who were trying to reach the palace +of his holiness, no doubt with evil purpose. + +"Bring them here," answered Ramses, laughing. "I wish to see men who +dare to form evil plans against the pharaoh." + +About midnight the revered queen, Niort's, desired an audience of his +holiness. + +The worthy lady was pale and trembling. She commanded the officers to +leave the pharaoh's chamber, and when alone with her son she said, +weeping, + +"My son, I bring thee very bad omens." + +"I should prefer, queen, to hear accurate information of the strength +and intention of my enemies." + +"This evening the statue of the divine Isis in my chapel turned its +face to the wall, and water became blood-red in the sacred cistern." + +"That proves," replied the pharaoh, "that there are traitors in the +palace. But they are not very dangerous if they are able only to defile +water and turn statues back forward." + +"All our servants," continued the queen, "all the people are convinced +that if thy army enters the temples, great misfortune will fall upon +Egypt." + +"A greater misfortune," said the pharaoh, "is the insolence of the +priesthood. Admitted by my ever-living father to the palace, they think +today that they have become its owners. But by the gods, what shall I +become at last in presence of their all-mightiness? And shall I not be +free to claim my rights as a sovereign?" + +"At least at least," said the lady after a while, "be gracious. Yes, +Thou must claim thy rights, but do not permit thy soldiers to violate +holy places and do injustice to the priesthood. Remember that the +gracious gods send down delight on Egypt, and the priests in spite of +their errors (who is without them) have rendered incomparable services +to this country. Only think, if Thou shouldest impoverish and dismiss +them, Thou wouldst destroy wisdom which has raised our kingdom above +all others." + +The pharaoh took his mother by both hands, kissed her, and replied, +smiling, + +"Women must always exaggerate. Thou art speaking to me, mother, as if I +were the chief of wild Hyksos, and not a pharaoh. Do I wish injustice +to the priests? Do I hate their wisdom, even such barren wisdom as that +of investigating the course of the stars which move in the heavens +without our aid, and do not enrich us one uten? Neither their wisdom +nor their piety troubles me, but the wretchedness of Egypt, which +within is growing weak from hunger, and without is afraid of any threat +from Assyria. Meanwhile the priests, in spite of their wisdom, not +merely do not wish to help me in my measures, but they present +resistance in the most dangerous manner. + +"Let me, mother, convince them that not they, but I am the master of my +own heritage. I should not be able to take revenge on the submissive, +but I will trample on the necks of the insolent. + +"They know this, but still do not trust, and with a lack of real power +they wish to frighten me by declaring some misfortune. That is their +last resource and weapon. When they understand that I do not fear their +terrors they will submit. And then not a stone will fall from their +temples, or one ring be lost from their treasures. + +"I know those men! Today they put on a great front, for I am far from +them. But when I stretch out a bronze fist they will fall on their +faces, and all this confusion will end in general prosperity and +contentment." + +The queen embraced his feet and went out comforted, imploring him, +however, to respect the gods and spare their servants. + +After the departure of his mother he summoned Tutmosis. + +"Tomorrow," said the pharaoh, "my troops will occupy the temples. But +tell the commanders of regiments, let them know that it is my will, +that the holy places must be inviolate, and that no one is to raise a +hand on any priest in Egypt." + +"Even on Mefres and Herhor?" inquired Tutmosis. + +"Even on them. They will be punished enough when they are put out of +their present positions; they will live in learned temples to pray and +investigate wisdom without hindrance." + +"It will be as Thou commandest, holiness though." + +Ramses raised his finger in sign that he did not wish to hear +arguments. And then, to change the conversation, he said, with a smile, + +"Dost Thou remember, Tutmosis, the maneuvers at Pi-Bailos? Two years +have passed. When I was angry then at the insolence and greed of the +priests, couldst Thou think that I should reckon with them so early? +But poor Sarah and my little son. How beautiful he was!" + +Two tears rolled down the pharaoh's cheeks. + +"Indeed, if I were not a son of the gods, who are magnanimous and +merciful, my enemies would pass through grievous hours to-morrow. How +many humiliations have they put on me! How often have my eyes grown +dark from weeping!" + + + +CHAPTER LXV + +ON the 20th of Paofi Memphis looked as it might during a great solemn +festival. All occupations had ceased; even carriers were not bearing +burdens. The whole population had come out on the streets, or had +collected around the temples, mainly around the temple of Ptah, which +was the best defended, and where the spiritual dignitaries had come +together, also those lay officials who were under the direction of +Herhor and Mefres. + +Near the temples troops were posted in loose rank, so that the warriors +might come to an understanding with the populace. + +Among the common people and the army circulated many hucksters, 'with +baskets of bread and with pitchers and skin bags in which there was +wine. They entertained free of charge. When any one asked them why they +took no pay, some answered that his holiness was entertaining his +subjects, while others said, + +"Eat and drink, right-believing Egyptians, for it is unknown whether we +shall see to-morrow!" + +These were hucksters in the service of the priesthood. + +A multitude of agents were circling about. Some proved to listeners +that the priests were rebelling against their lord, and even wanted to +poison him, because he had promised the seventh day for rest. Others +whispered that the pharaoh had gone mad, and had conspired with +foreigners to destroy the temples and Egypt. The first encouraged the +people to attack the temples where the priests and nomarchs were +arranging to oppress laborers and artisans; the others expressed fear +that if the people attacked the temples some great misfortune might +fall on them. + +Under the walls of Ptah were a number of strong beams, and piles of +stones brought, it was unknown from what quarter. + +The serious merchants of Memphis, passing among the crowds, had no +doubt that the popular disturbance was called forth artificially. +Inferior scribes, policemen, overseers of laborers, and disguised +decurions denied neither their official positions, nor this, that they +were urging the people to occupy the temples. On the other side +dissectors, beggars, temple servants and inferior priests, though they +wished to conceal their identity, were unable to do so, and each one +who was endowed with perception saw that they were urging the people to +violence. The thinking citizens of Memphis were astonished at this +action of partisans of the priesthood, and the people began to fall +away from their zeal of yesterday. Genuine Egyptians could not +understand what the question was, or who was really calling forth +disturbance. The chaos was increased by half-frenzied zealots, who, +running about the streets naked, wounded themselves till the blood +flowed, and cried, + +"Woe to Egypt! Impiety has passed its measure and the hour of judgment +is coming! O gods show your power over the insolence of injustice." + +The troops bore themselves calmly, waiting till the people should break +into the temples. For an order to that effect had come from the palace; +and on the other the officers foresaw ambushes in the temples, and +preferred that men of the crowd should perish rather than warriors, who +would be sufficiently occupied in every case. + +But in spite of the shouts of agitators, and wine given for nothing, +the crowd hesitated. Laborers looked at the artisans; the artisans and +all were waiting for something. + +Suddenly, about one in the afternoon, from side streets a drunken band +poured forth toward the temple of Ptah; it was armed with poles and +axes and was made up of fishermen, Greek sailors, shepherds, and Libyan +vagrants, even convicts from the quarries in Turra. At the head of this +band went a laborer of gigantic stature, with a torch in his hand. He +stood before the gate of the temple and cried with an immense voice to +the people, + +"Do ye know, right believers, what the high priests and the nomarchs +are preparing here? They wish to force his holiness, Ramses XIII, to +deprive laborers of a barley cake a day, and to impose new taxes on the +people, a drachma each man. I say, then, that ye are committing a low +and stupid deed by standing here with your arms crossed. We must catch +these temple rats at last and give them into the hands of our lord, the +pharaoh, against whom these godless wretches are conspiring. If our +lord yields to priests, who will take the part of honest people?" + +"He speaks truth!" called out voices from the multitude. + +"Our lord will command to give us the seventh day for rest." + +"And will give us land." + +"He had compassion always for the common people. Remember how he freed +those who, two years ago, were under judgment for attacking the house +of the Jewess." + +"I myself saw him beat a scribe, when the man was dragging an unjust +tax from laborers." + +"May he live through eternity, our lord, Ramses XIII, the guardian of +oppressed laborers!" + +"But look!" called out some voice from afar, "the cattle are coming +from pasture, as if evening were near." + +"What cattle! Go on against the priests!" + +"Hei, ye!" cried the giant at the temple gate. "Open to us of your own +will, so that we may know what the high priests and the nomarchs are +counseling!" + +"Open, or we will break the gate!" + +"A wonderful thing," said people from afar; "the birds are going to +sleep. But it is only midday." + +"Something evil has happened in the air!" + +"O gods, night is coming, and I have not pulled salad for dinner," said +some girl. + +But these remarks were drowned by the uproar of the drunken band, and +the noise of beams striking the bronze gate of the temple. If the crowd +had been less occupied with the violent deeds of the attackers, they +would have seen that something unusual was happening in nature. The sun +was shining, there was not one cloud in the sky, and still the +brightness of the day had begun to decrease and there was a breath of +coolness. + +"Give us another beam!" cried the attackers of the temple. "The gate is +giving way!" + +"Powerfully! Once more!" + +The crowd looking on roared like a tempest. Here and there men began to +separate from the throng and join the attackers. At last a whole mass +of people pushed slowly toward the temple. + +Though but just past midday, gloom increased. In the gardens of the +temple the cocks began to crow. But the rage of the throng was so great +now that few noticed the change. + +"Look ye!" cried some beggar. "Behold the day of judgment is coming O +gods." + +He wished to speak on, but struck on the head by a club he fell +prostrate. + +On the walls of the temple naked but armed figures began to climb up. +Officers called the warriors to arms, certain that soon they would have +to support the attack of the multitude. + +"What does this mean?" whispered warriors, looking at the sky. "There +is not a cloud, still the world looks as it does in the time of a +tempest." + +"Strike! break!" shouted men near the temple. + +The sound of beams was more and more frequent. + +At that moment on the terrace above the gate appeared Herhor. He was +surrounded by a retinue of priests and civil dignitaries. The most +worthy high priest was in a golden robe, and wore the cap of Amenhotep +with its regal serpent. + +Herhor looked at the enormous masses of people who surrounded the +temple, and bending toward the band of stormers, he said to them, + +"Whoever ye are, right believers or unbelievers, leave this temple in +peace, in the name of the gods I summon you." + +The uproar of the people ceased suddenly, and only the pounding of the +beams against the bronze gate was audible. But soon even that ceased. + +"Open the gate!" cried the giant from below. "We wish to see if ye are +forging treason against the pharaoh." + +"My son," replied Herhor, "fall on thy face and implore the gods to +forgive thee thy sacrilege." + +"Ask Thou the gods to shield thee!" cried the leader of the band, and +taking a stone he threw it toward the high priest. + +At the same time, from a window of the pylon shot out a small stream +which seemed to be water, and which struck the giant's face. The bandit +tottered, threw up his hands, and fell. + +Those nearest him gave out a cry of fear, whereupon the farther ranks, +not seeing what had happened, answered with laughter and curses. + +"Break down the gate!" was heard from the end of the crowd, and a +volley of stones flew in the direction of Herhor and his retinue. + +Herhor raised both hands, and when the crowd had grown silent again the +high priest shouted, + +"O gods! into your protection I give these sacred retreats, against +which blasphemers and traitors are advancing!" + +A moment later, somewhere above the temple, an unearthly voice was +heard, + +"I turn my face from the accursed people and may darkness fall on the +earth." + +Then a dreadful thing happened: as the voice rose the sun decreased, +'and with the last word there was darkness as at night. Stars began to +shine in the heavens; instead of the sun was a black disk surrounded +with a thin hoop of flame. + +An immense cry was rent from a hundred thousand breasts. Those who were +storming the gate threw down their beams; common people fell to the +earth. + +"Oh, the day of punishment and death has come!" cried a shrill voice at +the end of the street. + +"O gods of mercy! O holy men, ward off this terror!" cried the crowd. + +"WOE TO ARMIES WHICH CARRY OUT THE ORDERS OF GODLESS COMMANDERS!" cried +a great voice from the temple. + +In answer all the people fell on their faces, and confusion rose in the +two regiments standing before the temple. The ranks broke, warriors +threw down their weapons and ran toward the river insensate. Some, +rushing like blind men, knocked against the walls of houses in the +darkness; others fell to the ground and were trampled to death by their +comrades. In the course of a few minutes, instead of close columns of +warriors, on the square, spears and axes lay scattered about, and at +the entrance of the streets were piles of dead and wounded. + +"O gods! O gods!" groaned and cried the people, "take pity on the +innocent." + +"Osiris!" cried Herhor from the terrace, "have compassion and show thy +face to the unfortunate people." + +"AT LAST I HEAR THE PRAYERS OF MY PRIESTS, FOR I AM +COMPASSIONATE," answered the supernatural voice from the temple. + +At that moment the darkness began to disappear, and the sun to regain +its brightness. + +A new shout, new weeping, and new prayers were heard in the throng. The +people, drunk with delight, greeted the sun which had risen from the +dead. Men unknown to one another embraced, some persons died, and all +crawled on their knees to kiss the sacred walls of the temple. + +Above the gate stood the most worthy Herhor, his eyes fixed on the sky, +and two priests supporting his holy hands with which he had dissipated +darkness, and saved his people from destruction. + +Scenes of the same kind with certain changes took place throughout all +Lower Egypt. In each city on the 20th of Paofi people had collected +from early morning. In each city about midday some band was storming a +sacred gate. About one the high priest of the temple, with a retinue, +cursed the faithless attackers and produced darkness. But when the +throng fled in panic, or fell on the ground, the high priest prayed to +Osiris to show his face, and then the light of day returned to the +earth again. + +In this way, thanks to the eclipse of the sun, the party of the +priests, full of wisdom, had shaken the importance of Ramses XIII in +Lower Egypt. + +In the course of a few minutes the government of the pharaoh had come, +even without knowing it, to the brink of a precipice. Only great wisdom +could save it, and an accurate knowledge of the situation. But that was +lacking in the pharaoh's palace, where the all-powerful reign of chance +had set in at that critical moment. + +On the 20th of Paofi his holiness rose exactly at sunrise, and, to be +nearer the scene of action, he transferred himself from the main palace +to a villa which was hardly an hour's distance from Memphis. On one +side of this villa were the barracks of the Asiatic troops, on the +other the villa of Tutmosis and his wife, the beautiful Hebron. With +their lord came the dignitaries faithful to Ramses, and the first +regiment of the guard in which the pharaoh felt unbounded reliance. + +Ramses was in perfect humor. He bathed, ate with appetite, and began to +hear the reports of couriers who flew in from Memphis every fifteen +minutes. + +Their reports were monotonous to weariness: The high priests and some +of the nomarchs, under the leadership of Herhor and Mefres, had shut +themselves up in the temple of Ptah. The army was full of hope, and the +people excited. All were blessing the pharaoh, and waiting the order to +move on the temple. + +When the fourth courier came about nine, and repeated the same words, +the pharaoh was frowning. + +"What are they waiting for?" asked he. "Let them attack immediately." + +The courier answered that the chief band which was to attack and batter +down the bronze gate had not arrived yet. + +This explanation displeased the pharaoh. He shook his head, and sent an +officer to Memphis to hasten the attack. + +"What does this delay mean?" asked he. "I thought that my army would +waken me with news of the capture of the temple. In such cases prompt +action is the condition of success." + +The officer rode away, but nothing had changed at the temple of Ptah. +The people were waiting for something, but the chief band was not in +its place yet. Some other will seemed to delay the execution of the +order. + +About ten the litter of Queen Niort's came to the villa occupied by the +pharaoh. The revered lady broke into her son's chamber almost with +violence, and fell at his feet, weeping. + +"What dost Thou wish of me, mother?" asked Ramses, hardly hiding his +impatience. "Hast Thou forgotten that the camp is no place for women?" + +"I will not leave thee today, I will not leave thee for an instant!" +exclaimed the queen. "Thou art the son of Isis, it is true, and she +surrounds thee with care. But I should die from fright." + +"What threatens me?" inquired the pharaoh, shrugging his shoulders. + +"The priest who investigates the stars," said she, tearfully, "declared +to a serving woman that Thou wilt live and reign a hundred years if +this day favors thee." + +"Ah! Where is that man who is skilled in my fate?" + +"He fled to Memphis," replied the lady. + +Ramses thought a while, then he said, smiling, + +"As the Libyans at the Soda Lakes hurled missiles at us, the priests +hurl threats today. Be calm, mother! Talk is less dangerous than stones +and arrows." + +From Memphis a new courier rushed in with a report that all was well, +but still the main band was not ready. + +On the comely face of the pharaoh appeared signs of anger. Wishing to +calm the sovereign, Tutmosis said to him, + +"The people are not an army. They know not how to assemble at a given +hour; while marching they stretch out like a swamp, and obey no +commands. If the occupation of the temples were committed to regiments +they would be in possession at present." + +"What art Thou saying, Tutmosis?" cried the queen. "Where has any one +heard of Egyptian troops." + +"Thou hast forgotten," interrupted Ramses, "that according to my +commands the troops were not to attack, but defend the temples from +attacks of the people." + +"Action is delayed through this also," answered Tutmosis, impatiently. + +"O counselors of the pharaoh!" burst out the queen. "Your lord acts +wisely, appearing as a defender of the gods, and ye, instead of making +him milder, urge him to violence." + +The blood rushed to Tutmosis' head. Fortunately an adjutant called him +from the chamber with information that at the gate was an old man who +wished to speak with his holiness. + +"Today each man is struggling to get at the pharaoh, as he might at the +keeper of a dramshop," muttered the adjutant. + +Tutmosis thought that in the time of Ramses XII no one would have dared +to speak of the ruler in that way. But he feigned not to hear. + +The old man whom the watch had detained was Prince Hiram. He wore a +soldier's mantle covered with dust; he was irritated and wearied. + +Tutmosis commanded to admit him, and when both were in the garden, he +said to him, + +"I judge that Thou wilt bathe, worthiness, and change thy dress before +I obtain an audience with his holiness?" + +Hiram raised his iron-gray brows, and his bloodshot eyes became +bloodier. + +"From what I have seen," said he firmly, "I may even not ask for an +audience." + +"Hast Thou the letters of the high priest to Assyria?" + +"What good are those letters, since ye have agreed with the priests?" + +"What dost Thou say, worthiness?" inquired Tutmosis, starting. + +"I know what I say!" replied Hiram. "Ye have obtained tens of thousands +of talents from the Phoenicians, as it were for the liberation of Egypt +from the power of the priesthood, and today in return for that ye are +robbing and slaying us. See what is happening from the sea to the First +Cataract: your common people are hunting the Phoenicians like dogs, for +such is the command of the priesthood." + +"Thou art mad, Phoenician! Our people are taking the temple of Ptah in +Memphis." + +Hiram waved his hand. + +"They will not take it! Ye are deceiving us, or ye are deceiving +yourselves. Ye were to seize, first of all, the labyrinth and its +treasure, and that only on the 23d. Meanwhile ye are wasting power on +the temple of Ptah, and the labyrinth is lost. What is happening here? +Where is mind to be found in this place?" continued the indignant +Phoenician. "Why storm an empty building? Ye are attacking it so that +the priests may take more care of the labyrinth!" + +"We will seize the labyrinth, too," said Tutmosis. + +"Ye will seize nothing, nothing! Only one man could take the labyrinth, +and he will be stopped by today's action in Memphis." + +Tutmosis halted on the path. + +"About what art Thou troubled?" asked he, abruptly. + +"About the disorder which reigns here. About this, that ye are no +longer a government, but a group of officers and officials whom the +priests send whithersoever they wish and whensoever it pleases them. +For three days there is such terrible confusion in Lower Egypt that the +people are killing us, your only friends, the Phoenicians. And why is +this? Because government has dropped from jour hands, and the priests +have seized it." + +"Thou speakest thus for Thou knowest not the position," replied +Tutmosis. "It is true that the priests thwart us and organize attacks +on Phoenicians. But power is in the hands of the pharaoh; events move +in general according to his orders." + +"And the attack on the temple of Ptah?" inquired Hiram. + +"Was ordered by the pharaoh. I was present at the confidential council, +during which the pharaoh gave command to take possession of the temples +today instead of the 23d." + +"Well, I declare to thee, commander of the guard, that ye are lost, for +I know to a certainty that the attack of today was decided on at a +council of high priests and nomarchs in the temple of Ptah, which was +held on Paofi 13." + +"Why should they arrange an attack on themselves?" asked Tutmosis in a +jeering voice. + +"They must have had some reason for it. And I have convinced myself +that they manage their affairs better than ye manage yours." + +Further conversation was interrupted by an adjutant summoning Tutmosis +to his holiness. + +"But but," added Hiram, "your soldiers have stopped on the path the +priest Pentuer, who has something important to convey to the pharaoh." + +Tutmosis seized his own head, and sent officers immediately to find +Pentuer. Then he ran to the pharaoh, and after a while returned and +commanded the Phoenician to follow him. + +When Hiram entered the chamber of Ramses he saw Queen Niort's, the +chief treasurer, the chief scribe, and a number of generals. Ramses +XIII was irritated, and walked up and down quickly through the chamber. + +"Here we have the misfortune of the pharaoh, and of Egypt!" exclaimed +the queen, pointing to the Phoenician. + +"Worthy lady," answered Hiram, without confusion, bowing to her, "time +will show who was the faithful and who the evil servant of his +holiness." + +Ramses stopped suddenly before Hiram. + +"Hast Thou the letters of Herhor to Assyria?" inquired he. + +The Phoenician drew from under his robe a package, and in silence +handed it to the pharaoh. + +"This is what I needed!" exclaimed the pharaoh in triumph. "We must +declare at once to the people that the high priests are guilty of +treason." + +"My son," interrupted the queen in an imploring voice, "by the shade of +thy father I adjure thee; delay this announcement a couple of days. +There is need of great caution with gifts from Phoenicia." + +"Holiness," put in Hiram, "Thou mayst even burn these letters. I am in +no way concerned with them." + +The pharaoh thought a while, then hid the package in his bosom. + +"What hast Thou heard in Lower Egypt?" inquired the sovereign. + +"They are beating Phoenicians at all points," replied Hiram. "Our +houses are wrecked, our effects stolen, and a number of tens of +Phoenicians are slain." + +"I have heard. This is the work of the priests," said the pharaoh. + +"Say, rather, my son, that it comes of the godlessness and extortion of +Phoenicians," interrupted Queen Niort's. + +"For three days the chief of police from Pi-Bast is in Memphis with two +assistants, and they are on the trail of the murderer and deceiver +Lykon." + +"Who was hidden in Phoenician temples!" cried Niort's. + +"Lykon," continued Hiram, "whom the high priest Mefres stole from the +police and the courts Lykon, who in Thebes ran naked through the garden +as a maniac, counterfeiting thee, holiness." + +"What dost Thou tell me?" cried the pharaoh. + +"Holiness, ask the most revered queen if she saw him," answered Hiram. + +Ramses looked in confusion at his mother. + +"Yes," said she. "I saw that wretch, but I said nothing so as to spare +thee pain. I must explain, however, that no one has proof that Lykon +was put there by the priests, for the Phoenicians might have done that +as well." + +Hiram laughed sneeringly. + +"O mother, mother!" cried Ramses, with sorrow. "Is it possible that the +priests are dearer to thy heart than I am?" + +"Thou art my son and most precious sovereign," said the queen with +enthusiasm, "but I cannot suffer a stranger, an infidel, to cast +calumny on the holy order of the priests from which we are both +descended. O Ramses," exclaimed she, falling on her knees, "expel these +wicked counselors who urge thee to insult temples, and raise thy hand +against the successor of thy grandsire, Amenhotep. There is still time +for agreement, still time to save Egypt." + +All at once, Pentuer, in torn garments, entered the chamber. + +"Well, and what hast Thou to say?" inquired the pharaoh, with wonderful +calmness. + +"Today, perhaps immediately, there will be an eclipse of the sun." + +The pharaoh started back in astonishment. + +"How does an eclipse of the sun concern me, especially at this moment?" + +"Lord," said Pentuer, "I thought the same till I read in old chronicles +of eclipses. An eclipse is such a terrifying spectacle that it was +necessary to forewarn the whole people of it." + +"That is the truth!" interrupted Hiram. + +"Why didst Thou not inform earlier?" inquired Tutmosis. + +"The warriors kept me in prison two days. We cannot forewarn the people +now, but at least inform the troops at the palace, so that they, too, +should not give way to panic." + +Ramses clapped his hands. + +"Ah, it is too bad!" whispered he, and added aloud. "When will it be, +and what will take place?" + +"Day will become night," said Pentuer. "This will last as much time, +perhaps, as is needed in walking five hundred yards. It will begin at +midday, so Menes told me." + +"Menes," repeated the pharaoh, "I know that name." + +"He wrote thee a letter concerning it, holiness. But let the army +know." + +Straightway they sounded the trumpets; the guard and the Asiatics were +drawn out under arms, and the pharaoh, surrounded by his staff, +informed the troops of the eclipse, telling them not to be alarmed, +that it would pass soon, and that he would be with them. + +"Live through eternity!" answered the armed ranks. + +At the same time a number of the best riders were sent to Memphis. + +The generals took their places at the head of the columns, the pharaoh +walked through the court thoughtfully, the civilians whispered with +Hiram; Queen Niort's, left alone in the chamber, fell on her face +before the statue of Osiris. + +It was after one. The light of the sun began to lessen. + +"Will night come in fact?" asked the pharaoh of Pentuer. + +"It will come, but during a very short interval." + +"Where will the sun be?" + +"It will hide behind the moon." + +"I must restore to my favor the sages who investigate stars," said the +pharaoh to himself. + +The darkness increased quickly. The horses of the Asiatics grew +restive, flocks of birds flew into the garden, and occupied all the +trees, with noisy twitter. + +"Rouse up!" cried Kalippos to the Greeks. + +The drums beat, the flutes sounded, and to this accompaniment the Greek +soldiers sang a dancing song of the priest's daughter who was so timid +that she could sleep only in the barracks. + +Meanwhile an ominous shade fell on the tawny Libyan hills, and covered +Memphis, the Nile, and the palace gardens with lightning swiftness. +Night embraced the earth, and in the heavens appeared a ball as black +as coal surrounded by a rim of brightness. + +An immense uproar drowned the song of the Greek regiment. This was +caused by the Asiatics, who raised a military shout as they sent a +cloud of arrows toward the sky to frighten the evil spirit which was +gulping the sun down. + +"Dost say that that black ball is the moon?" inquired the pharaoh of +Pentuer. + +"That is what Menes asserts." + +"He is a great sage! And will the darkness end soon?" + +"To a certainty." + +"And if this moon should tear itself away and fall to the earth?" + +"That cannot be. Here is the sun!" cried Pentuer, with delight. + +The assembled regiments raised a shout in honor of Ramses XIII. + +The pharaoh embraced Pentuer. "Indeed," said he, "we have seen a most +wonderful event. But I should not like to see it a second time. I feel +that if I had not been a warrior fear would have mastered me." + +Hiram approached Tutmosis, and whispered, + +"Send couriers, worthiness, to Memphis immediately, for I fear that the +high priests have done something evil." + +"Dost Thou think so?" + +Hiram nodded. + +"They would not have managed the kingdom so long," said he, "they would +not have buried eighteen dynasties if they had not known how to use +events like the present." + +When Ramses had thanked the troops for good bearing in presence of the +strange phenomenon, he returned to his villa. He continued thoughtful, +he spoke calmly, even mildly, but on his shapely face doubt was +evident. + +In the pharaoh's soul there was indeed a grievous struggle. He had +begun to understand that the priests possessed powers which he not only +had not weighed, but had not noted; he had not even wished to hear of +them. In a few moments the priests who followed the movements of stars +rose in his eyes immensely, and he said to himself that in every case +he should learn this wonderful wisdom which confuses people's plans so +terribly. + +Courier after courier flew from the palace to Memphis to learn what had +happened during the eclipse. But the couriers did not return, and +uncertainty spread its black wings above the retinue of the pharaoh. No +one doubted that something evil had happened at the temple of Ptah. +More than that, no man dared to draw his own conclusions. It seemed as +though the pharaoh and his intimate counselors were glad when a minute +passed without tidings. Meanwhile Queen Niort's sat down at the +pharaoh's side, and whispered, + +"Let me act, Ramses. Women have served this state more than once. Only +remember Queen Niort's in the sixth dynasty, or Makara who created a +fleet on the Red Sea. In our sex there is no lack of mind or of energy, +so let me act. If the temple of Ptah is not taken, and the priests are +not wronged I will reconcile thee with Herhor. Thou wilt take his +daughter as wife, and thy reign will be full of glory. Remember that +thy grandfather, the holy Amenhotep, was also a high priest and a +viceroy of the pharaoh, and Thou thyself, who knows if Thou wouldst be +reigning today, had the holy order of the priests not desired to have +its own blood on the throne. Art thou, too, not obliged to them for +dominion?" + +The pharaoh as he listened to her, thought all the time that the wisdom +of the priests was an immense power, and the struggle with them +difficult. + +Only about three in the afternoon did the first courier arrive from +Memphis, an adjutant of the regiment which had been stationed at the +temple. He informed the sovereign that the temple had not been taken +because of the anger of the gods; that the people had fled, that the +priests were triumphant, and that even in the army disorder had arisen +during that brief but terrible darkness. + +Then, taking Tutmosis aside, the adjutant declared to him directly that +the troops were demoralized; that, because they had fled in a panic, as +many were wounded and killed as in a battle. + +"What is happening now with the troops?" inquired Tutmosis in +consternation. + +"Of course," replied the adjutant, "we were able to rally the men and +bring them to order. But we cannot even speak of using them against the +temples, especially now when they are occupied with caring for the +wounded. At present a warrior is ready to fall to the earth before a +shaven head and a panther skin; a long time will pass before any one +will dare to cross a sacred gateway." + +"But what are the priests doing?" + +"Blessing the warriors, giving food and drink to them, and pretending +that the troops are not guilty of attacking the temple; that that was +the work of Phoenicians." + +"But do ye permit this demoralization of troops?" exclaimed Tutmosis. + +"Well, his holiness commanded us to defend the priests against the +multitude. Had we been permitted to occupy the temple we should have +done so at ten in the morning, and the high priests now would be +sitting in a dungeon." + +At this moment the officer in attendance informed Tutmosis that again +some priest had arrived from Memphis, and desired to speak with his +holiness. + +Tutmosis looked at the guest. He was a man rather young, with a face as +if carved out of wood. He said that he had come to the pharaoh from +Samentu. + +Ramses received the priest, who prostrated himself and gave the pharaoh +a ring, at sight of which his holiness grew pallid. + +"What does this mean?" asked he. + +"Samentu is no longer alive," replied the priest. + +Ramses could not recover his voice for a time. At last he asked, + +"How has this happened?" + +"It appears," replied the priest, "that Samentu was discovered in one +of the halls of the labyrinth, and that he poisoned himself to escape +torture. It seems that Mefres discovered him through the aid of a +certain Greek, who, as they tell us, resembles thee, holiness." + +"Again Mefres and Lykon!" exclaimed Tutmosis in anger. "O lord," said +he, turning to Ramses, "wilt Thou never free thyself from those +traitors?" + +The pharaoh summoned a confidential council again. He called in Hiram, +also the priest who had brought the ring from Samentu. Pentuer did not +wish to take part in the council, but the worthy queen went herself to +it. + +"I see," whispered Hiram to Tutmosis, "that after the expulsion of +priests women are to govern Egypt." + +When the dignitaries had assembled, the pharaoh let Samentu's messenger +speak. + +The young priest would not talk of the labyrinth, but he explained +sufficiently that the temple of Ptah was undefended, and that a few +tens of men would suffice to arrest all who were hiding there. + +"This man is a traitor!" screamed the queen. "A priest himself, he +persuades thee to violence against the priesthood." + +In the face of the messenger no muscle quivered. "Worthy lady," replied +he, "if Mefres destroyed my guardian and master, Samentu, I should be a +dog if I sought not revenge. Death for death!" + +"This young man pleases me," whispered Hiram. + +Indeed a fresher air seemed to move in the assembly. Generals +straightened themselves; civilians looked at the priest with curiosity; +even the pharaoh's face became livelier. + +"Listen not to him, my son," implored Queen Niort's. + +"What dost Thou think," asked the pharaoh on a sudden; "what would the +holy Samentu do now were he living?" + +"I am sure," answered the priest, energetically, "that Samentu would go +to the temple of Ptah and burn incense to the gods; but he would punish +murderers and traitors." + +"And I repeat that Thou art the worst of traitors!" cried the queen. + +"I only fulfill my duty," said the priest, unmoved by her language. + +"This man is a pupil of Samentu indeed," said Hiram. "He alone sees +what is left us to do, and sees clearly." + +The military and civil dignitaries recognized the correctness of +Hiram's opinion. + +"Since we have begun a struggle with the priests," said the chief +scribe, "we should finish it, and finish it today when we have letters +proving that Herhor was negotiating with the Assyrians, an act which is +high treason against Egypt." + +"He is carrying out the policy of Ramses XII," said the queen. + +"But I am Ramses XIII," said the pharaoh impatiently. + +Tutmosis rose from his chair. + +"My lord," said he, "let me act. It is very dangerous to continue +uncertainty in the government, and it would be folly and crime not to +use this occasion. Since this priest says that the temple is not +defended, let me go to it with a handful of men whom I will select." + +"I am with thee!" said Kalippos. "According to my experience, an enemy +while triumphant is the weakest. If we attack the temple of Ptah +immediately." + +"Ye do not need to attack, but go in there as executives of the pharaoh +who commands you to imprison traitors," said the chief scribe. "Even +force is not needed. How often does one policeman rush at a crowd of +offenders and seize as many as he wishes." + +"My son," said the queen, "yields to the pressure of your counsels. But +he does not wish force; he forbids you to use it." + +"Ha! if that be the case," said the young priest of Set, "I will tell +his holiness one other thing." He breathed a couple of times deeply, +but still he finished in a stifled voice and with effort. "On the +streets of Memphis the party of the priests is announcing, that." + +"That what? Speak boldly," said the pharaoh. + +"That thou, holiness, art insane, that Thou hast not the ordination of +high priest, that Thou art not even made pharaoh, and that 'it is +possible to exclude thee from the throne." + +"That is just what I feared," whispered Niort's. + +The pharaoh sprang up from his seat. + +"Tutmosis!" cried he, in a voice in which his recovered energy was +heard. "Take as many troops as Thou wishest; go to the temple of Ptah +and bring me Herhor and Mefres, accused of high treason. If they are +justified I will return my favor; in the opposite case." + +"Hast Thou finished?" interrupted the queen. + +This time the indignant pharaoh did not answer her, and the officials +cried, + +"Death to traitors! When has it begun that in Egypt a pharaoh must +sacrifice faithful servants to beg for himself the favor of +scoundrels?" + +Ramses XIII confided to Tutmosis the package of letters of Herhor to +Assyria, and said in a solemn voice, + +"Till the rebellion of the priests is suppressed, I place my power in +the person of Tutmosis, commander of the guards. And do ye listen to +him, and do thou, worthy mother, go with thy judgments to him?" + +"Wisely and justly has the sovereign acted!" exclaimed the chief +scribe. "It does not become a pharaoh to struggle with sedition, and a +lack of firm rule might destroy us." + +All the dignitaries inclined before Tutmosis. Queen Niort's fell at her +son's feet. + +Tutmosis, in company with the generals, went out to the court. He +commanded the first regiment of the guard to form, and said, + +"I need 'a few tens of men who are ready to die for the glory of our +lord." + +More presented themselves, both men and officers, than were needed, and +at the head of them Eunana. + +"Are ye prepared for death?" inquired Tutmosis. + +"We will die with thee, lord, for his holiness!" exclaimed Eunana. + +"Ye will not die, but ye will overcome vile criminals," replied +Tutmosis. "Soldiers belonging to this expedition will become officers, +and officers will be advanced two degrees. I say this to you, I, +Tutmosis, supreme chief by the will of the pharaoh." + +"Live Thou forever!" + +Tutmosis commanded to prepare twenty-five two-wheeled chariots of the +heavy cavalry, and ordered the volunteers to enter. Then he with +Kalippos mounted their horses, and soon the whole retinue turned toward +Memphis and vanished in a dust cloud. + +When Hiram saw this from the window of a villa, he bowed before the +pharaoh and whispered, + +"Now for the first time I believe that Thou art not in conspiracy with +the high priests." + +"Wert Thou mad?" burst out the pharaoh. + +"Pardon, sovereign, but the attack on the temple today was planned by +the priests. How they drew thee into it, holiness, I do not understand +to this moment." + +It was five in the afternoon. + + + +CHAPTER LXVI + +AT that same hour to a minute, the priest, watching on the pylon of the +temple of Ptah in Memphis, informed the high priests and nomarchs +counseling in the hall, that the palace of the pharaoh was giving some +signals. + +"It seems that his holiness will beg us for peace," said one of the +nomarchs, smiling. + +"I doubt that!" answered Mefres. + +Herhor ascended the pylon, for they were signaling to him from the +palace. Soon he returned and said to those assembled: + +"Our young priest has managed very well. At this moment Tutmosis is +advancing with some tens of volunteers to imprison or slay us." + +"And wilt Thou dare still to defend Ramses?" cried Mefres. + +"I must and will defend him, for I swore solemnly to the queen that I +would. Were it not for the worthy daughter of the holy Amenhotep, our +position today would not be what it is." + +"Well, but I have not sworn," replied Mefres, and he left the hall. + +"What does he wish?" asked one of the nomarchs. + +"He is an old man grown childish," replied Herhor, shrugging his +shoulders. + +Before six o'clock in the evening a division of the guard approached +the temple of Ptah unhindered, and the leader of it knocked at the +gate, which was opened immediately. This was Tutmosis with his +volunteers. + +When the chief entered the temple court he was astonished to see Herhor +in the miter of Amenhotep, and surrounded only by priests come out to +meet him. + +"What dost Thou wish, my son?" asked the high priest of the chief, who +was somewhat confused by the meeting. + +Tutmosis mastered himself quickly, and said, + +"Herhor, high priest of Amon in Thebes, because of letters which Thou +hast written to Sargon, the Assyrian satrap, which letters I have with +me, Thou art accused of high treason to the state, and must justify +thyself before the pharaoh." + +"If the young lord," answered Herhor calmly, "wishes to learn the +object of the policy of the eternally living Ramses XII, let him apply +to our Supreme Council and he will receive explanations." + +"I summon thee to follow me at once, unless Thou wish that I should +force thee," continued Tutmosis. + +"My son, I implore the gods to preserve thee from violence, and from +the punishment which Thou deservest." + +"Wilt Thou go?" asked Tutmosis. + +"I wait here for Ramses," answered Herhor. + +"Well, then, remain here, trickster!" cried Tutmosis. + +He drew his sword and rushed at Herhor. + +At that instant Eunana, who was standing behind the chief, raised an +axe and struck Tutmosis with all his might between the neck and the +right shoulder blade, so that the blood spurted in every direction. The +favorite of the pharaoh fell to the earth almost cut in two. + +Some of the warriors with leveled spears rushed at Eunana, but they +fell after a brief struggle with their own comrades. Of the volunteers, +three-fourths were in the pay of the priesthood. + +"May he live, his holiness Herhor, our lord!" cried Eunana, waving his +bloody axe. + +"May he live through eternity!" repeated the warriors and priests, and +all fell on their faces. + +The most worthy Herhor raised his hands and blessed them. + +On leaving the court of the temple, Mefres went to the underground +chamber to Lykon. The high priest at the very threshold drew from his +bosom a crystal ball, at the sight of which the Greek fell into auger. + +"Would that the earth swallowed you! Would that your corpses might know +no rest!" said Lykon, abusing him in a voice which grew lower and +lower. + +At last he was silent and fell into a trance. + +"Take this dagger," said Mefres, giving the Greek a slender steel +blade. "Take this dagger and go to the palace garden. Halt there at the +clump of fig trees and wait for him who deprived thee of Kama, and took +her away." + +Lykon gritted his teeth in helpless rage. + +"And when Thou seest him, wake," concluded Mefres. + +He threw over the Greek an officer's mantle with a cowl, whispered the +password into his ear and led him forth to the empty streets of Memphis +through a secret door of the temple. + +Then Mefres ran with the celerity of youth to the summit of the pylon, +and taking in his hand some banners, made signals toward the palace. +They saw and understood him, that was evident, for a bitter smile came +to the parchment like face of the high priest. + +Mefres put down the banners, left the summit of the pylon and descended +slowly. When he reached the pavement he was surrounded by some men in +light brown tunics, which were covered by coats in white and black +stripes. + +"Here is the most worthy Mefres," said one of them. And all three knelt +before the high priest, who raised his hand mechanically, as if to +bless them. But he dropped it suddenly, inquiring, "Who are ye?" + +"Overseers of the labyrinth." + +"Why have ye barred the way to me?" asked he, and his hand and thin +lips began to tremble. + +"We need not remind thee, holy man," said one of the overseers still +kneeling, "that some days ago Thou wert in the labyrinth, to which Thou +knowest the way as well as we, though Thou art uninitiated. Thou art +too great a sage not to know what our law is in such a case." + +"What does this mean?" exclaimed Mefres in a raised voice. "Ye are +murderers sent by Her." + +He did not finish. One of the men seized him by the arms, another +passed a kerchief over his head, and a third threw a transparent liquid +over his face. Mefres struggled a number of times, and fell. They +sprinkled him again. When he was dead they placed him in a niche, +pushed into his dead hand a papyrus, and vanished. + +Three men dressed similarly chased after Lykon almost the instant that +he was pushed out of the temple by Mefres and found himself on the +empty street. The men had hidden not far from the door through which +the Greek issued, and at first let him pass freely. But soon one of +them noted something suspicious in his hand, so they followed. + +A wonderful thing! Lykon though in a trance felt, as it were, the +pursuit; he turned quickly into a street full of movement, then to a +square where a multitude of people were circling about, and then ran to +the Nile by Fisher Street. There, at the end of some alley, he found a +small boat, sprang into it and began to cross the river with a speed +which was remarkable. + +He was a couple of hundred yards from the shore when a boat pushed out +after him with one rower and three passengers. Barely had these left +land when a second boat appeared with two rowers and three passengers +also. + +Both boats pursued Lykon with stubbornness. In that which had only one +rower sat the overseers of the labyrinth, looking diligently at their +rivals, as far as was permitted by the darkness, which came soon after +sundown. + +"Who are those three?" whispered they among themselves. "Since the day +before yesterday they have been lurking around the temple, and today +they are pursuing Lykon. Do they wish to protect him from us?" + +Lykon's small boat reached the other shore. The Greek sprang from it +and went swiftly toward the palace garden. Sometimes he staggered, +stopped, and seized his head, but after an instant he went forward +again, as if drawn by some incomprehensible attraction. + +The overseers of the labyrinth landed also, but they were preceded by +their rivals. + +And a race began which was unique in its kind: Lykon was hurling toward +the palace, like a swift runner; after him were the three unknown men, +and the three overseers of the labyrinth. + +A few hundred steps from the garden the pursuing groups came together. +It was night then, but clear. + +"Who are ye?" asked one of the labyrinth men of the others. + +"I am the chief of police in Pi-Bast, and, with my centurions, am +pursuing a great criminal," answered one of them. + +"We are overseers of the labyrinth and are following the same person." + +The groups looked at each other with hands on their swords or knives. + +"What will ye do with him?" asked the chief of police. + +"We have a sentence against the man." + +"But will ye leave the body?" + +"With all that is on it," replied the elder overseer. + +The police whispered among themselves. + +"If ye tell the truth," said the chief at last, "we shall not hinder +you. On the contrary, we will lend him to you for a while, as he will +fall into our hands later." + +"Do ye swear?" + +"We swear." + +"Then we may go together." + +So they joined forces, but the Greek had vanished. + +"Curses on him!" cried the chief of police. "He has escaped again!" + +"He will be found," answered the overseer of the labyrinth, "or perhaps +even he will return." + +"Why should he go to the pharaoh's garden?" asked the chief of police. + +"The high priests are using him for some purpose of their own, but he +will return to the temple." + +They decided to wait and act in common. + +"We are spending the third night for nothing," said one of the +policemen, yawning. + +They wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay on the grass. + +Immediately after the departure of Tutmosis, the worthy lady Niort's, +in silence, with lips tightly closed from anger, left the chamber of +her son, and when Ramses wished to calm her, she interrupted him +sharply, + +"I take leave of the pharaoh, and pray the gods to permit me to see him +to-morrow as pharaoh." + +"Dost Thou doubt that, mother?" + +"It is possible to doubt everything in presence of one who listens to +madmen and traitors." + +They parted in anger. + +Soon his holiness recovered good-humor and conversed joyously with the +officials. But about six o'clock alarm began to torment him. + +"Tutmosis ought to send us a courier," said he. "For I am certain that +the affair is already settled in one or another way." + +"I do not know that," said the chief treasurer. "They may not have +found boats at the crossing. There may have been resistance at the +temple." + +"But where is that young priest?" asked Hiram on a sudden. + +"The priest? The messenger of the late Samentu?" repeated the officials +in concern. "That is true where can he be?" + +Men were sent to search the garden. They searched every path, but there +was no priest. + +This circumstance made a bad impression on the dignitaries. Each one +sat in silence, sunk in alarming thoughts. + +About sundown the pharaoh's chamber servant entered and whispered that +the lady Hebron was very ill, and implored his holiness to visit her. + +The officials, knowing the relations between their lord and the +beautiful Hebron, looked at one another. But when the pharaoh announced +his purpose of going into the garden they made no protest. The garden, +thanks to numerous guards, was as safe as the palace. No one considered +it proper to watch over the pharaoh even from a distance, knowing that +Ramses did not wish any one to be occupied with him at certain moments. + +When he disappeared, the chief scribe said to the treasurer, + +"Time drags on like a chariot in the desert. Perhaps Hebron has some +news from Tutmosis." + +"At this moment," answered the treasurer, "his expedition with a few +tens of men to the temple of Ptah seems to me inconceivable madness!" + +"But did the pharaoh act more wisely at the Soda Lakes when he chased +all night after Tehenna?" put in Hiram. "Daring means more than +numbers." + +"But that young priest?" asked the treasurer. + +"He came without our knowledge and went without leave," added Hiram. +"Each one of us acts like a conspirator." + +The treasurer shook his head. + +Ramses passed the space between his villa and that of Tutmosis quickly. +When he entered her chamber Hebron threw herself on his neck with +weeping. + +"I am dying of fear!" cried she. + +"Art Thou alarmed for Tutmosis?" + +"What is Tutmosis to me?" answered Hebron, with a contemptuous grimace. +"I care for thee only! Of thee only am I thinking, I am alarmed for +thee!" + +"Blessed be thy alarm which freed me even for a moment from tedium," +said the pharaoh, laughing. "O gods! what a day! If Thou hadst heard +our discussions, if Thou hadst seen the faces of our counselors! And in +addition to all, it pleased the worthy queen to honor our assembly with +her presence. Never bad I supposed that the dignity of pharaoh could be +so annoying." + +"Do not say this audibly," cautioned Hebron. "What wilt Thou do if +Tutmosis does not succeed in seizing the temple?" + +"I will take the leadership from him, hide my crown in a box, and put +on an officer's helmet," answered Ramses. "I am certain that when I +appear at the head of the troops myself the sedition will vanish." + +"Which one?" inquired Hebron. + +"Ah, true, we have two," laughed Ramses. "That of the people against +the priests, that of the priests against me." + +He seized Hebron in his arms and went toward the couch whispering, + +"How beautiful Thou art today! Each time I see thee Thou art different, +each time more beautiful than ever." + +"Let me go," whispered Hebron. "At times I am afraid that Thou wilt +bite me." + +"Bite? No! But I might kiss thee to death. Thou dost not even suspect +thy own beauty." + +"I am beautiful in comparison with ministers and generals. But free +me." + +"In thy presence I should wish to be like a pomegranate. I should wish +to have as many arms as the tree has branches, so as to embrace thee +with all of them, as many hands as it has leaves, and as many lips as +it has flowers, so as to kiss thy lips, eyes, and bosom at once with +them." + +"Thou hast a mind marvelously free of care for a sovereign whose throne +is in peril." + +"On the couch, I do not care for a throne. While I have a sword I shall +have power." + +"Thy troops are scattered," said Hebron, defending herself. + +"Tomorrow fresh troops will come, and after to-morrow I shall gather +the scattered ones. I repeat to thee be not occupied with trifles. One +moment of fondling is worth more than a year of dominion." + +One hour after sunset the pharaoh left Hebron's villa and returned +slowly to his palace. He was full of imaginings, he was dreamy, and he +thought the high priests were great fools to resist him. Since Egypt +became Egypt there had not been a kindlier pharaoh. + +All at once, from out a clump of fig trees sprang a man in a dark +mantle, and barred the road to Ramses. The pharaoh, to see the man +better, approached his face to the face of the stranger and cried +suddenly, + +"O wretch, is it thou? Go to the guard house!" + +It was Lykon. Ramses seized him by the neck; the Greek hissed and knelt +on the ground. At the same moment the pharaoh felt a sharp pain in the +left side of his stomach. + +"Dost Thou bite too?" cried Ramses. He seized the Greek with both +hands, and when he heard the cracking of his broken spine he hurled him +off in disgust. + +Lykon fell quivering in the convulsions of death. + +The pharaoh moved back a couple of steps. He examined his body and +discovered the handle of a dagger. + +"He has wounded me!" + +He drew the slender steel from his side and pressed the wound. + +"I wonder," thought he, "if any of my counselors has a plaster?" He +felt weak and hurried forward. Right at the palace one of the officers +stood before him and said, "Tutmosis is dead; the traitor Eunana slew +him." + +"Eunana?" repeated the pharaoh. "But what of the others?" + +"All, all the volunteers who went with Tutmosis were sold to the +priests." + +"Well, I must finish this!" said Ramses. "Sound the trumpets for the +Asiatic regiments." + +The trumpets sounded, and the Asiatics hurried from the barracks, +leading their horses. + +"Give me my steed!" said the pharaoh. But he felt a sudden dizziness +and added, "No, give me a litter, I should tire myself." + +All at once he tottered into the arms of the officers. + +"Oh, I almost forgot," said Ramses in a dying voice. "Bring my helmet +and sword that steel sword from the Soda. Let us go to Memphis." + +Officials and servants ran out of the villa with torches. The pharaoh +was supported by officers, his face was pale and his eyes were mist- +covered. He stretched forth his hand as if seeking his breastplate, his +lips moved, and amid general silence the lord of two worlds, the +temporal and the western, breathed his life out. + +The dove-eyed goddess Astaroth had avenged the wrong done her +priestess. + + + +CHAPTER LXVII + +From the death of Ramses XIII till the day of his burial the state was +governed by the most worthy San-Amen-Herhor as high priest of the +Theban Amon, and viceroy of the late pharaoh. + +The government of the viceroy, lasting some months, was very prosperous +for Egypt. Herhor pacified the outbreaks of the people, and, in +accordance with former times, he gave the seventh day for rest to the +working man. He introduced stern discipline among the priests; he +extended protection to foreigners, especially Phoenicians, and +concluded a treaty with Assyria, not yielding Phoenicia, however, which +remained tributary to Egypt. + +In the course of this short government, justice was meted out quickly, +but without cruelty, and this or that man did not dare to beat an +Egyptian laborer, who had the right to appeal to a court if he had time +sufficient and witnesses. + +Herhor occupied himself too in paying the debts which weighed on the +lands of the state and the pharaoh. With this object he persuaded the +Phoenicians to resign a certain part of the sums due them from the +treasury, and to cover the rest he drew from the labyrinth the enormous +sum of thirty thousand talents. + +Thanks to these measures, in the course of three months peace and +prosperity were established in Egypt. + +"May the rule of the viceroy, San-Amen-Herhor be blessed!" said the +people. "Indeed the gods predestined him to power so as to free Egypt +from misfortunes brought on by Ramses XIII, who was a woman-hunter and +frivolous." + +A few days sufficed the people to forget that all Herhor's acts were +merely the accomplishment of plans made by the young and lofty-minded +pharaoh. + +In the month Tobi, when the mummy of Ramses XIII was placed in its +tomb, a great assembly of the most important personages met in the +temple of Amon. There were present almost all the high priests, +nomarchs, and generals of troops, and among them, covered with glory, +was the gray-haired chief of the eastern army, Nitager. + +In this same gigantic hall of columns, where half a year earlier the +priests had judged Ramses XII, and shown dislike for Ramses XIII, those +dignitaries assembled to settle the most important question of state, +under the presidency of Herhor. On the 25th of Tobi, exactly at noon, +Herhor, in the miter of Amenhotep, sat on the throne; others sat in +armchairs, and the council took place. + +It was of wonderfully short duration, just as if the result had been +arranged previously. + +"High priests, nomarchs, and leaders," began Herhor. "We have assembled +here on sad and important business. With the death of the eternally +living Ramses XIII, whose short and stormy reign ended in a manner so +unfortunate "Here Herhor sighed. + +"With Ramses XIII perished not only a pharaoh, but the twentieth +dynasty, which was full of glory." + +Among those present rose a murmur. + +"The dynasty has not ended," interrupted the powerful nomarch of +Memphis, almost harshly. "The worthy Queen Niort's is still living, +therefore the throne belongs to her." + +After a time Herhor answered: "My most worthy consort, Queen Niort's." + +Now in the assembly was heard, not a murmur, but a cry, and it lasted a +number of minutes. When it ceased Herhor continued calmly and with +emphasis: + +"My most worthy consort, Queen Niort's, inconsolable through sorrow for +her son, has abdicated the throne." + +"Permit!" exclaimed the nomarch of Memphis. "The most worthy viceroy +has called the queen his consort. This intelligence is entirely new, +and, first of all it must be verified." + +At a sign from Herhor the judge of Thebes drew out an act concluded two +days before between the most worthy high priest of Amon, San-Amen- +Herhor, and Queen Niort's, widow of Ramses XII, and mother of Ramses +XIII. + +After this explanation came a grave-like silence. Herhor began again, + +"Since my consort, who is the only heir to the throne, has abdicated, +the reign of the twentieth dynasty is ended; we must choose a new +sovereign. + +"This sovereign," continued Herhor, "should be a man of ripe years, +energetic, and skilled in government. For this reason I advise you to +choose for the highest position." + +"Herhor!" cried some one. + +"The most famous Nitager, the leader of the eastern army," finished +Herhor. + +Nitager sat a long time with closed eyes, smiling. At last he rose, and +said, + +"Never will there be a lack of men eager for the title of pharaoh. We +have more of them perhaps than are needed. Luckily, the gods +themselves, in setting aside useless rivals, have indicated a man most +worthy of power, and it seems to me that I shall act wisely if, instead +of receiving the crown offered me graciously, I answer, + +"May he live through eternity, his holiness, San-Amen-Herhor, the first +pharaoh of a new dynasty!" + +Those present, with few exceptions, repeated the shout, and at the same +time the supreme judge brought on a golden tray two caps: the white one +of Upper, and the red one of Lower Egypt. One of these was taken by the +high priest of Osiris, the other by the high priest of Horus, and they +delivered them to Herhor, who, when he had kissed the golden serpent, +put them both on his head. + +Then those present began the ceremony of offering homage, which lasted +a couple of hours. After that a proper act was written; those who took +part in the election placed their seals on it, and from that moment +San-Amen-Herhor was the real pharaoh, the lord of both worlds, also of +the life and death of his subjects. + +Toward evening his holiness returned wearied to his chambers of a high +priest, where he found Pentuer, who had grown thin, and on whose +emaciated face weariness and sadness were evident. + +When Pentuer prostrated himself the pharaoh raised him and said with a +smile, + +"Thou didst not sign my election, Thou didst not give me homage, and I +fear that I shall have to arrest thee some time in the temple of Ptah. +Well, hast Thou been thinking to leave me? Dost prefer Menes?" + +"Forgive, holiness," answered the priest, "but court life has so +wearied me that my only desire is to learn wisdom." + +"Thou canst not forget Ramses?" inquired Herhor. "And yet Thou knewest +him only a very short time, while Thou hast labored with me during +years." + +"Blame me not, holiness, but Ramses XIII was the first pharaoh to +commiserate the Egyptian people." + +Herhor smiled. + +"O ye learned men," said he, shaking his head. "But it was Thou who +didst turn the attention of Ramses to the people, and now Thou bearest +mourning for him in thy heart, though he did nothing whatever for the +people. It was Thou who commiserated, not he. Ye are strange men, in +spite of your powerful minds," continued Herhor. "It is the same thing +with Menes. That priest considers that he is the most peaceful man in +Egypt, though it was he who overturned the dynasty and smoothed the +road to power for me. Were it not for his letter about the eclipse of +the sun on the 20th of Paofi, perhaps I and the late Mefres would be +splitting stones now in the quarries. + +"Well, go; go and greet Menes for me. Remember also that I know how to +be thankful, which is the great secret of ruling. Tell Menes that I +shall carry out every wish of his, unless he asks me, for example, to +abdicate. Return to me when Thou hast rested, I will keep an important +place for thee." + +And he touched Pentuer's head, which was inclined submissively. + + + +LITTLE, BROWN, & CO.'S Popular fiction + + + +IN THE COUNTRY GOD FORGOT + +By FRANCES CHARLES. 338 pages. $1.50. + +Of this original and engrossing tale of the Southwest the Louisville +Courier-Journal says: "Arizona was never more truthfully described than +in this book." + +It is essentially a rugged book. 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It is full of +local color, and the story is told in a clear and straightforward +manner that should give the volume a high place among current +historical fiction." + +Through the story runs the gayety of the French-Canadian, with its +peculiar flavoring. New York Times Saturday Review. + +By the Same Author + +A DAUGHTER OF NEW FRANCE. Illustrated by Clyde O. De Land. 12mo. $1.50. + +A MAID OF BAR HARBOR + +By HENRIETTA G. ROWE. Illustrated by Ellen W. Ahrens. 12mo. 368 pages. +$1.50. + +A fascinating tale of Mt. Desert before and after society had taken +possession of the island. The heroine, Comfort, says the Boston +Courier, "is an example of a pretty, womanly, determined down-east +girl, whom it is a real pleasure to know." + +SIR CHRISTOPHER + +A Romance of a Maryland Manor in 1644. By MAUD WILDER GOODWIN, author +of "White Aprons," "The Head of a Hundred," etc. Illustrated. $1.50. +I2mo thousand. + + + +NEW & POPULAR FICTION IN THE EAGLE'S TALON + +By SHEPPARD STEVENS. 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