The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 104

"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 G.o.ds 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 Rameses.

Before them extended a second sandy elevation, on which at that moment appeared some hors.e.m.e.n.

"Are they our men, or the Libyans?" asked Rameses.

The sound of a horn was heard from the eminence; to this an answer was given by the prince's retinue. The hors.e.m.e.n 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 Rameses.

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 G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds 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 manuvres 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, O 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 G.o.ds, 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 G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds. 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 to-day 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 surpa.s.sing 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 to-day 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."