CHAPTER XXXIII
A couple of days later Rameses sent his favorite with a summons toKama. She appeared soon in a tightly closed litter.
Rameses 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 thishigh favor? And what hindered thee, worthy lord, from deigning tosummon thy slave?"
"Some beasts were there,--Assyrians, I suppose."
"Then thou didst take the trouble, worthiness, in the evening? Nevercould I have dared to suppose that our ruler was under the open sky, afew steps from me."
The prince blushed. How she would be astounded could she know that hehad passed ten evenings near her windows!
But perhaps she knew it, judging by her half-smiling lips and her eyescast down deceitfully.
"So, then, Kama," said the prince, "thou receivest Assyrians at thyvilla?"
"That man is a great magnate,--Sargon,--a relative of King Assar,"answered Kama; "he has brought five talents to our goddess."
"And thou wilt repay him, Kama?" jeered the heir. "And since he issuch a bountiful magnate, the Phoenician gods will not send thee deathin punishment."
"What dost thou say, lord?" exclaimed Kama, clasping her hands. "Dostthou not know that if an Asiatic found me in the desert he would notlay hands on me, even were I myself to yield to him? They fear thegods."
"Why, then, does he come to thee, this malodorous--no--this piousAsiatic?"
"Because he wants to persuade me to go to the temple of Astaroth inBabylon."
"And wilt thou go?"
"I will go if thou command me, lord," said Kama, concealing her facewith her veil.
The prince took her hands in silence. His lips quivered.
"Do not touch me, lord," whispered she, with emotion. "Thou art mysovereign, my support, the support of all Phoenicians in thiscountry--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 inthe month of Mechir white down falls from the sky, it is said; thisdown in the fire turns to water, and makes the air cold. Oh, Kama, begthy gods to send me a little of that down,--though what do I say? Ifthey should cover Egypt with it, all that down might be turned intowater and not cool the heart in me."
"For thou art like the divine Amon; thou art the sun concealed inhuman form," replied Kama. "Darkness flees from that place whitherthou turnest thy countenance, and under the gleam of thy glancesflowers 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 aburden. Kama looked from beneath her drooping lids at him, and smiledslightly.
When silence had endured too long, she said,--
"Thou hast commanded to summon me, Sovereign. Here I am, to hear whatthy 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 thatnight 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 Rameses."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 Ishall not speak with Hiram or any other man about this miracle, onlywith thee. Now, Kama, tell this spirit or man who is so like me toleave 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 spokenso 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 thycompatriots showed me my own living picture. Do they wish to forewarnme that they have a man to supplant me? Indeed, their act isastounding."
Kama fell at his feet.
"O lord!" whispered she, "thou who bearest on thy breast our highesttalisman, canst thou suppose that the Phoenicians would do aught toinjure thee? But only think--if danger threatened thee, or if thouhadst 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 anyone's assistance! But do thePhoenicians think that I need assistance? If I do they have chosen apoor protector."
"Lord!" whispered Kama, "is it not known to thee that Rameses theGreat 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 peopleof Asia may know that I am gracious, I designate Kama five talents forgames, in honor of Astaroth, and a costly goblet for her temple. Thisgift will be received to-day 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 aman, they can make of him a great present to me, and I shall performat times miracles such, perhaps, as have never been heard of in Egypt.The pharaoh dwells in Memphis, and at the same time he shows himselfin Thebes or in Tanis. The pharaoh is marching on Babylon with anarmy, the Assyrians assemble their main forces there, andsimultaneously the pharaoh, with another army, captures Nineveh,--Ijudge that the Assyrians would be greatly astounded by an event ofthat sort."
And again deep hatred was roused in him against the strong Asiatics;again he saw his conquering chariot sweeping over a battlefieldcovered with Assyrian corpses, and whole baskets of severed handsstood before him.
For his soul war had become now as great a need as bread is for thebody. For not only could he enrich Egypt by it, fill the treasury, andwin glory to last through ages, but, besides, he might satisfy theinstinct hitherto unknown, but roused mightily at that moment, todestroy Assyria.
Until he had seen those warriors with shaggy beards he had not thoughtof them. That day they had met him and made the world seem so smallthat one side must give way,--they or he.
What role had Hiram and Kama played in creating his present frame ofmind? Of this he had made no estimate. He felt only that he must havewar with Assyria, just as a bird of passage feels that in the monthPachons it must go northward.
A passion for war seized the prince quickly. He spoke less, laughedmore rarely, sat in thoughtfulness at feasts, and also spent his timeoftener and oftener with the army and the aristocracy. Seeing thefavor which the heir showered on those who bore arms, the noble youth,and even older men, began to join regiments. This attracted theattention of the holy Mentezufis, who sent a letter to Herhor with thefollowing contents:--
"From the time that the Assyrians have arrived at Pi-Bast the heir isfeverish, and his court is inclined toward war very greatly. Theydrink and play dice as before; but all have thrown aside robes andwigs, and, disregarding the awful heat, go about in military caps andmantles.
"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 formilitary appearance during the visit of Sargon, for the Assyrians willhave a better opinion touching Egypt. Our most worthy viceroy,enlightened by the gods, as is evident, has divined that just now itis necessary to rattle our swords when we have with us the ambassadorsof such a military people. I am certain that this valiant bearing ofour youth
will give Sargon something to think of, and will make himmore yielding in arguments."
For the first time since Egypt had become Egypt it happened that ayouthful prince had deceived the watchful priesthood. It is true thatthe Phoenicians were behind him, and had stolen the secret of thetreaty with Assyria; of this the priests had not even a suspicion.
In fact, the very best mask which the heir had against suspicion washis impetuosity of character. All remembered how easily in the pastyear he had rushed from manoeuvres at Pi-Bailos to Sarah's quietcountry villa, and how from feasts he had grown impassioned, recently,for administrative labor, and then devotion, to return to feastsafterward.
So no one believed, with the exception of Tutmosis, that thatchangeful youth had before him an object for which he would fight withinvincible decision.
Even this time there was no need to wait long for new proofs of theprince's mobility of temper.
To Pi-Bast, in spite of the heat, came Sarah with all her court andher 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 choicestpart of the palace garden, and sat whole days, almost, at his son'scradle.
Feasts, manoeuvres, and gloomy meditations were forgotten; the lordsof his suite had to drink and amuse themselves without him. Very soonthey ungirded their swords and arrayed themselves in their mostexquisite garments. The change was the more indispensable as Ramesesbrought 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: areal rose leaf! Well, and out of this little thing a man will growgradually. And this rosy chick will walk about some day, talk, evenlearn wisdom in the schools of the priesthood."
"Look at his little hands, Tutmosis," said Rameses, delighted."Remember these little hands, so as to tell of them some day when Igive 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 hisattendants were sorry that they could not become dry or wet nurses tothe child which, though it had no dynastic rights, was still the firstson of the future pharaoh.
But this idyll ended very soon, since it did not harmonize with theinterests of the Phoenicians.
A certain day the worthy Hiram arrived at the palace with a greatsuite of merchants, slaves, and also poor Egyptians to whom he gavealms, and when he stood before the heir, he said,--
"Our gracious lord! to prove that thy heart is full of kindness towardus Asiatics also, thou hast given five talents to arrange games inhonor of the goddess Astaroth. Thy will is accomplished; we havearranged the games, now we have come to implore thee to deign to honorthe games with thy presence."
While saying this, the gray-haired Tyrian prince knelt before Ramesesand gave him a golden key to his box in the amphitheatre.
Rameses accepted the invitation willingly; the holy priests Mefres andMentezufis had no objection to the presence of the prince in honoringthe goddess Astaroth.
"First of all, Astaroth," said the worthy Mefres to Mentezufis, "isthe same as our Isis and the Chaldean Istar; second, if we permitAsiatics to build temples in our land it is proper to be kindly totheir gods at seasons."
"We are obliged even to show some politeness to Phoenicians after theconclusion of such a treaty with Assyria," put in the worthyMentezufis, smiling.
The amphitheatre, to which the viceroy, the nomarch, and the foremostofficers betook themselves about four in the afternoon was built inthe garden of the temple. It was a circular space surrounded by apalisade twice the height of a man. Inside the palisade, and roundabout, was a multitude of boxes and seats rising one above the other.The structure had no roof, but above the boxes extended cloth ofvarious colors, cut like wings of butterflies, which, sprinkled withfragrant water, were moved to cool the atmosphere.
When the viceroy appeared in his box, the Asiatics and Egyptianspresent in the amphitheatre gave forth a mighty shout. The spectaclebegan with a procession of singers, dancers, and musicians.
The prince looked around. At his right was the box of Hiram and themost noted of the Phoenicians; on his left the box of the Phoenicianpriests and priestesses. In this Kama occupied one among the firstplaces, 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 lotusflower composed most skilfully of jewels.
Kama came with her colleagues, saluted the prince with low obeisances,and returned to the box on the left, where began an animatedconversation with a foreigner whose hair was somewhat gray and whosepresence was imposing. The hair and beard of this man and hiscompanions were plaited into small braids.
The prince had come almost directly from the chamber of his son, andwas gladsome. But he frowned when he saw the priestess speaking with astranger.
"Dost thou not know, Tutmosis, who that big fellow is for whom thepriestess is so charming?" asked he.
"He is that famous pilgrim who has come from Babylon,--the worthySargon."
"But he is an old grandfather!"
"His years are surely more than thine and mine together; but he is astately person."
"Could such a barbarian be stately!" said the indignant viceroy. "I amcertain that he bears about the smell of tallow."
Both were silent: the prince from anger, Tutmosis from fear because hehad dared to praise a man whom Rameses hated.
Meanwhile spectacle followed spectacle on the arena. In turn appearedacrobats, serpent-charmers, dancers, buffoons, and jesters, who calledforth shouts from the audience.
But Rameses was gloomy. In his soul sprang up, moment after moment,passions which had been dormant,--hatred for Assyrians and jealousy ofKama.
"How can that woman," thought he, "fondle up to an old man who has acomplexion like tanned leather, wild black eyes, and the beard of ahe-goat?"
But once the prince turned a more attentive look on the arena.
A number of naked Chaldeans entered. The oldest fixed in the earththree short spears, points upward; then, with motions of his hands, heput the youngest man to sleep. After that others took the sleeping manand placed him on the spears in such fashion that one of the spearssupported his head, another his loins, and the third his feet.
The man was as stiff as wood. Then the old man made motions above himwith his hands, and drew out the spear supporting his feet. After awhile he removed the spear on which his loins were resting, andfinally 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, withoutsupport, a couple of ells above the earth. At last the old man pushedhim down and roused him.
The audience was astounded; no one dared to applaud or to shout, butflowers were thrown from some boxes.
Rameses too was astonished. He bent towards Hiram's box, and asked theold 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," answeredHiram, 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 hegrew serious.
After a short interval, during which servitors took to the boxes ofdignitaries fresh flowers, cool wine and cakes, the most importantpart of the spectacle began,--the bull fight.
To the sound of trumpets, drums, and flutes they led a strong bullinto 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 shortsword.
At a signal, given by the prince, the leaders ran away, and one of thearmed men struck the cloth from the head of the bull. The beast stoodsome moments in a maze; then he chased after the dart men, who vexedhim by pricking.
This barren struggle continued some tens of minutes. Men tormented thebull, and he, foaming, stained with blood, reared and chased over thewhole 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 boxof the Phoenician priests. He saw that Kama had moved nearer to Sargonand was conversing vivaciously. The Assyrian devoured her with hisglances; she smiled and blushed, whispered with him, sometimes bendingso that her hair touched the locks of the barbarian; sometimes sheturned from him and feigned anger.
Rameses felt pain in his heart. For the first time it had happenedthat a woman had preferred another man to him; besides, a man who wasalmost old, and, moreover, an Assyrian.
Meanwhile a murmur rose in the audience. On the arena a man armedwith a sword gave command to tie his left hand to his breast; otherslooked at their darts--a second bull was let in. When an armed mantore the cloth from his eyes, the bull turned and looked around as ifto count his opponents. But when they began to prick him, he withdrewto the paling to secure the rear; then he lowered his head andfollowed the movements of those attacking.
At first the armed men stole up guardedly from both sides to prickhim. But when the beast remained motionless, they gained courage, andbegan to run across in front, nearer and nearer.
The bull inclined his head still more, but stood as if fixed to theearth. The audience laughed; but their joyousness was turned to a cryof fear suddenly. The bull chose the moment, rushed forward, strucksome man who held a dart, and with one motion of his horns hurled himupward.
The man struck the earth with broken bones; the bull galloped to theother side of the arena and stood in a defensive position.
The men with darts surrounded the bull again, and began to irritatethe animal; but now servants of the amphitheatre rushed to the arenato carry off the wounded man, who was groaning. The bull, in spite ofthe redoubled pricks of darts, stood motionless; but when threeservants had taken the wounded man in their arms, he rushed at thatgroup with the swiftness of a whirlwind, overturned it, and began todig 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 swordrushed at the raging bull. But the dart men lost their heads and lefthim unsupported; hence the bull tossed him and pursued the others. Athing unparalleled in amphitheatres took place then: five men werelying on the arena; others, defending themselves badly, were fleeingbefore the beast, while the audience was roaring from fear or fromanger.
Next there was perfect silence; the spectators rose and bent forwardout of their places, the terrified Hiram grew pale and crossed hishands. Down to the arena, from the boxes of dignitaries, sprang twomen,--Prince Rameses, with a drawn sword, and Sargon, with ashort-handled axe.
The bull, with head down and tail in the air, was racing around thearena, leaving clouds of dust behind him. The beast rushed straighttoward the prince, but, as if repulsed by the majesty of the youth,avoided him, made directly at Sargon, and dropped to the earth. TheAssyrian, adroit and immensely strong, stretched him with one blow ofhis axe, given between the eyes.
The audience howled with delight, and threw flowers at Sargon and hisvictim. Rameses stood still with drawn sword, astonished and angry,seeing how Kama snatched flowers from her neighbors and threw them tothe Assyrian.
Sargon received expressions of public delight with indifference. Hepushed 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 inhis own speech, and bowed with the dignity of a magnate.
A bloody mist passed before the prince's eyes; he would have buriedhis sword in the victor's breast gladly. But he conquered himself,thought a moment, and taking a gold chain from his neck gave it toSargon.
The Assyrian bowed again, kissed the chain, and put it around hisneck. But the prince, with a bluish flush on his cheeks, returned tothe door by which actors entered the arena, and amid plaudits of theaudience left the amphitheatre with a feeling of deep humiliation.
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