The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 79

"They would not dare to do so. The punishment of the G.o.ds--"

Tutmosis waved his hand contemptuously.

"But are we slaves or shepherds, to fear G.o.ds whom Greeks and Phnicians revile, and whom any mercenary warrior will insult and go unpunished?"

"The priests have invented silly tales about G.o.ds,--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 G.o.ds in accounts, and the priests use them as a lock and chain to secure their treasures."

"Oho!" continued Tutmosis; "the days have pa.s.sed when all Egypt believed in everything announced from temples. At present we insult the Phnician G.o.ds, the Phnicians insult our G.o.ds, 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 to-day, after I have seen that all the n.o.bles understand as I, I feel encouraged."

"But who told thee and the n.o.bles of that treaty with a.s.syria?"

"Dagon and other Phnicians," 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 Phnicians and their allies would join us. And thy army would be larger than that which Rameses the Great had behind him."

This zeal of the Phnicians 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 n.o.bles toward the priests, and the warlike instincts of the higher cla.s.ses, if the enthusiasm had not broken out so suddenly, and if Phnicians 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 Phnicians. He recalled, however, his father's words, that Phnicians were truth-speaking and faithful whenever truth was in their interest. Beyond doubt the Phnicians had a great interest in not falling under control of a.s.syria. And it was possible to depend on them as allies in case of war, for the defeat of Egypt would injure, first of all, Phnicia.

On the other hand, Rameses did not admit that Egyptian priests, even when concluding such a harmful treaty with a.s.syria, 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 he 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 a.s.syria, not because the n.o.bles 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 n.o.bles 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. Amus.e.m.e.nt with his little son always calmed him, and filled his heart with serenity.

He pa.s.sed 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 Phnician women?"

"I am not afraid of Phnician women, but of Phnicia," said Sarah; "thou knowest not, lord, what bad people the Phnicians are."

"Do they burn children?" laughed Rameses.

"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 how 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 Rameses.

"Very much. Thou, O lord, art listening to Phnician counsels; but our Jews have learned that Phnicia wants to raise a war between Egypt and a.s.syria. 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 a.s.syrians; 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 a.s.syrians. Is that little? Egypt and a.s.syria will ruin themselves, but the Phnicians 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 Phnicians? 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 Phnicians as from venomous serpents."

Rameses looked at Sarah, and involuntarily he compared her sincere love with the calculations of the Phnician priestess, her outbursts of tenderness with the treacherous coldness of Kama.

"Indeed," thought he, "the Phnicians are poisonous reptiles. But if Rameses 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 amba.s.sador? But if he did, who persuaded him? Was it Phnicians? 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, Rameses, 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 to-day, 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 Rameses, laughing. "Well, prince, art thou, too, paying court to a woman who cannot be gracious to men unless death be the penalty?"