The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 107

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 Rameses.

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 G.o.d 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 Rameses, 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 G.o.ds? 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 G.o.ds 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,"[21]

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.

[21] An inscription on the monument of h.o.r.em-Hep, 1470 years B. C.

"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 G.o.d 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 G.o.ds 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 G.o.ds 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, enamelled 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.

Rameses 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 Phnician 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 pa.s.sed 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 Rameses, occupied with Pentuer's story, took no note of what was pa.s.sing.

"The G.o.ds," 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 G.o.ds!" whispered Rameses. "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 G.o.ds 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 Rameses.

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 mult.i.tude 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--"