The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 32

"Thy speech is like that of the G.o.ds," 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 a.s.syria, thou hast not mentioned the Greeks, O father," put in Rameses.

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 _I_ 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 G.o.ds, 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 Phnician. The Phnician, 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, a.s.sumes 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 Phnicians, but because their mind constrains them."

"Well, what am I to think of the Phnicians?"

"They are wise people of mighty industry and daring, but hucksters: for them life means profit, be it great or the greatest. The Phnicians 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 a.s.sistants. What we know to-day of secret movements in a.s.syria we know through Phnicians."

"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 a.s.syrian, 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 G.o.ds, 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 Rameses, 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 Rameses, 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 Rameses. "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 a.s.sured 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 Rameses. "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, Rameses 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 t.i.tle gave him an importance which, as it were, supported his t.i.tles 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 despatched 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."