The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt

by Bolesław Prus

  CHAPTER XLV

  Half an hour later dense throngs of the Egyptian army appeared andsoon the escort of the prince was in the camp. From all sides wereheard 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 theravine trembled from the shouts: "Live through eternity, victor! Thegods 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 andhurried to him.

  "Know, holy father, we have caught the Libyan chief Tehenna."

  "Vain is the capture," replied the priest severely, "for which thesupreme chief must leave his army; especially when a new enemy mayattack at any moment."

  The prince felt all the justice of this reproach, but for that verycause did anger spring up in him. He clinched his fist, his eyesgleamed.

  "In the name of thy mother, be silent," whispered Pentuer, standingbehind him.

  The heir was so astonished by the unexpected words of his adviser,that in one moment he regained self-control, and then he understoodthat it would be best to recognize his error.

  "Thou speakest truth," answered he. "An army should never leave itsleader, nor the leader his army. I thought, however, that thou wouldsttake my place, since thou art a representative of the ministry ofwar."

  The calm answer mollified Mentezufis, so the priest did not remind theprince of the manoeuvres of the previous year when he left the army inthe same way and incurred the pharaoh's disfavor.

  At that moment Patrokles approached them with great uproar. TheGrecian general was drunk again and called from afar to the viceroy,--

  "See, O heir, what the holy Mentezufis has done. Thou didst proclaimpardon to the Libyans who would leave the invaders and return to thearmy of his holiness. Those men came to me, and owing to thy promise Ibroke the left wing of the enemy. But the worthy Mentezufis gavecommand to slay every man of them. About a thousand prisoners haveperished--all recent warriors of ours, who were to have pardon."

  The blood rushed to the prince's head again, but Pentuer, who stoodthere always behind him, whispered,--

  "Be silent, for the sake of the gods, 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 demoralizedutterly when it learns that traitors are forcing their way to the headof it."

  "Vile hireling," replied Mentezufis, coldly, "how darest thou talkthus of the army and the confidants of his holiness? Since the worldbecame the world such blasphemy has not been uttered! And I fear lestthe gods may avenge the insult wrought on them."

  Patrokles laughed loudly.

  "While I sleep among the Greeks, I am not afraid of the vengeance ofnight gods. And while I am on the alert they will do nothing in thedaytime."

  "Go to sleep! go among thy Greeks, drunkard," said Mentezufis, "lest athunderbolt fall on our heads because of thy offenses."

  "On thy shaven head, thou soul worth a copper, it will not fall, forit would think thy head something else," said the Greek, halfunconscious. But seeing that the prince did not support him, hewithdrew to his camp ground.

  "Didst thou really command to kill the prisoners in spite of mypromise that they should have pardon?" asked the prince.

  "Thou wert not in camp, worthiness," replied Mentezufis, "henceresponsibility falls not on thee for that deed: while I observe ourmilitary laws, which command to destroy traitorous warriors. The manwho served his holiness once and joins his enemies afterward is to beslain immediately--that is the law."

  "But if I had been here?"

  "As supreme leader and a son of the pharaoh thou couldst suspend theexecution 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 itsprovisions."

  The prince was so stunned that he interrupted conversation andwithdrew to his tent. There falling into a seat he said to Tutmosis,--

  "I am to-day a captive of the priests. They murder prisoners, theythreaten officers, they do not even respect my duties. Did ye saynothing to Mentezufis when he commanded to kill those unfortunateprisoners?"

  "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 intothose of Patrokles," answered Tutmosis. "But when the holy Mentezufiscame we had to yield to him, for he is our superior."

  The prince thought that the seizure of Tehenna was in every casepurchased with surpassing misfortunes. At the same time he felt in allits force the significance of the maxim that a chief must never leavehis army. He had to confess his error, but that irritated his pridethe more and filled him with hatred for the priesthood.

  "Behold," said he, "I am in captivity even before I have become thepharaoh, may his holiness live through eternity. So to-day I mustbegin to work myself out of this slavery, and first of all to besilent. Pentuer is right: I must be silent always, and put away myanger, like precious jewels into the storehouse of memory. But when itis 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."

  "What, then, was the Libyan army?" asked the astonished prince.

  "From six to seven thousand men."

  "That cannot be. Is it possible that almost a whole army could perishin such an encounter?"

  "And still it is so; that was a terrible battle," replied Tutmosis."Thou didst surround them on all sides, the soldiers did the rest,well--yes--and the worthy Mentezufis. Even inscriptions on the tombsof the most famous pharaohs do not mention such a crushing of theenemies of Egypt."

  "Go to sleep, Tutmosis; I am wearied," interrupted the prince, feelingthat pride was beginning to rise to his head.

  "Then have I won such a victory? Impossible!" thought he.

  He threw himself on to the skins, but though mortally weary he couldnot sleep.

  Only fourteen hours had passed since the moment when he had given thesignal to begin the battle. Only fourteen hours? Was it possible!

  Had he won such a battle? But he had not even seen a battle, nothingbut a yellow dense cloud, whence unearthly shouts were poured out intorrents. Even now he sees that cloud, he hears the uproar, he feelsthe heat, but there is no battle.

  Next he sees a boundless desert, in which he is struggling through thesand with painful effort. He and his men have the best horses in thearmy, and still they creep forward like turtles. And what heat!Impossible for man to support the like.

  And now Typhon springs up, hides the light, burns, bites, suffocates.Pale sparks are shooting forth from Pentuer's body. Above their headsthunder rolls--such thunder as he had never heard till that day. Lateron, silent night in the desert. The fleeing griffin, the dark outlineof the sphinx on the limestone hill.

  "I have seen so much. I have passed through so much," thought Rameses."I have been present at the building of our temples, and even at thebirth of the great sphinx, which is beyond having an age now, and--allthis happened in the course of fourteen hours."

  Now the last thought flashed before the prince: "A man who has passedthrough so much cannot live long."

  A chill went through him from head to foot, and he fell asleep.

  He woke next morning a couple of hours after sunrise. His eyessmarted, all his bones ached; he coughed a little, but his mind wasclear and his heart full of courage.

  Tutmosis was at the door of the tent.

  "What
is it?" asked the prince.

  "Spies from the Libyan boundary bring strange news," said thefavorite. "A great throng of people are approaching our ravine, nottroops, however, but unarmed men, with children and women; at the headof them is Musawasa, and the foremost of the Libyans."

  "What does this mean?"

  "Evidently they wish to beg peace of thee."

  "After one battle?" asked the prince, with wonder.

  "But what a battle! Besides, fear increases our army in their eyes.They fear invasion and death."

  "Let us see if this is a military stratagem," answered the prince,after some thought. "How are our men?"

  "They are in good health, they have eaten and drunk, they have restedand are gladsome. But--"

  "But what?"

  "Patrokles died in the night," whispered Tutmosis.

  "How?" cried the prince, springing up.

  "Some say that he drank too much, some--that it was the punishment ofthe gods. His face was blue and his mouth full of foam."

  "Like that captive in Atribis, thou rememberest him? His name wasBakura; he broke into the feasting hall with complaints against thenomarch. He died that same night--from drunkenness, of course. Whatdost thou think?"

  Tutmosis dropped his head.

  "We must be very careful, my lord," whispered he.

  "We shall try," answered the prince, calmly. "We will not even wonderat the death of Patrokles. For what is there surprising in this, thatsome drunken fellow dies who insulted the gods, nay! insulted thepriests even."

  Tutmosis felt a threat in these jeering words.

  The prince had loved Patrokles greatly. The Greek leader had been asfaithful as a dog to him. Rameses might forget many wrongs donehimself, but the death of that man he would not forgive.

  Before midday a fresh regiment, the Theban, arrived from Egypt at theprince's camp, and besides that some thousands of men and severalhundreds of asses bringing large supplies of provisions and alsotents. At the same time, from the direction of Libya, returned spieswith information that the band of unarmed people coming toward theravine was increasing.

  At command of the heir numerous small detachments of cavalryreconnoitred the neighborhood in every direction to learn if a hostilearmy were not hidden somewhere. Even the priests, who had brought withthem a small chapel of Amon, went to the summit of the highest hilland held a religious service. Then returning to the camp, they assuredRameses that a crowd of some thousands of unarmed Libyans wereapproaching, but that there was no army at any point, at least nonewithin a fifteen mile radius.

  The prince laughed at the report.

  "I have good sight," said he, "but I could not see an army at thatdistance."

  The priests, after they had counselled together, informed the princethat if he would bind himself not to tell the uninitiated what he sawhe would learn that it was possible to see at great distances.

  Rameses took an oath. The priests placed the altar of Amon on aheight, and began prayers. When the prince had washed, removed hissandals, offered to the god a gold chain and incense, they conductedhim to a small box which was perfectly dark and told him to look atone wall of it.

  After a while sacred hymns were intoned during which a bright circleappeared on the box. Soon the bright color grew darker; the prince sawa sandy plain, in the midst of it cliffs, and near them an Asiaticoutpost.

  The priests sang with more animation and the picture changed. Anotherpatch of the desert was visible, and on it a group of people wholooked no larger than ants. Still the movements and dress, and eventhe faces of the persons were so definite that the prince coulddescribe them.

  The astonishment of the heir knew no bounds. He rubbed his eyes,touched the moving picture. Suddenly he turned away his face; thepicture vanished and darkness remained.

  When he went out of the chapel the elder priest asked him,--

  "Well, Erpatr, dost thou believe now in the might of the gods ofEgypt?"

  "Indeed," answered he, "ye are such great sages that the whole worldought to give you offerings and homage. If ye can see the future in anequal degree nothing can oppose you."

  After these words a priest entered the chapel and began to pray; soona voice was heard from the chapel, saying,--?

  "Rameses! the fates of the kingdom are weighed, and before anotherfull moon comes thou wilt be its ruler."

  "O gods!" cried the terrified prince. "Is my father so sick, then?"

  He fell on his face in the sand; then an assisting priest inquired ifhe did not wish to learn something more.

  "Tell me, Father Amon, whether my plans will be accomplished."

  After a while a voice spoke in the chapel.

  "If thou begin no war in the east, if thou give offerings to the godsand respect their servants, a long life awaits thee, and a reign fullof glory."

  After the miracles which had happened on the open field, in the openday, the excited prince returned to his tent.

  "Nothing can resist the priests," thought he in fear.

  He found Pentuer in the tent.

  "Tell me, my counsellor," said he, "whether priests can read the heartof a man and unveil his secret purpose."

  Pentuer shook his head.

  "Sooner," answered he, "will man see what there is in the centre of acliff than read the heart of another man. It is even closed to thegods, and death alone can discover its secrets."

  Rameses drew a deep sigh of relief, but he could not free himself fromfear. When, toward evening, it was necessary to call a militarycouncil, he summoned Mentezufis and Pentuer.

  No one mentioned the sudden death of Patrokles; perhaps because therewas more urgent business; for Libyan envoys had come imploring in thename of Musawasa mercy for his son Tehenna, and offering to Egyptsurrender and peace forever.

  "Evil men," said one of the envoys, "tempted our people saying thatEgypt was weak; that her pharaoh was the shadow of a ruler. Butyesterday we learned how strong your arm is, and we consider it wiserto yield and pay you tribute than expose our people to certain deathand our property to ruin."

  When the military council had heard this speech the Libyans were sentfrom the tent, and Prince Rameses asked the holy Mentezufis directlyfor his opinions; this astonished even the generals.

  "Only yesterday," said the worthy prophet, "I should have been glad torefuse the prayer of Musawasa, transfer the war to Libya, and destroythat nest of robbers. But to-day I have received such important newsfrom Memphis that I will vote for mercy to the conquered."

  "Is his holiness, my father, sick?" inquired the prince, with deepemotion.

  "He is sick. But till we finish with the Libyans thou must not thinkof his holiness."

  When the heir dropped his head in sadness, Mentezufis added,--

  "I must perform one more duty. Yesterday, worthy prince, I made boldto offer a judgment that for such a wretched captive as Tehenna, achief should not leave his army. To-day I see that I was mistaken, forif thou hadst not seized Tehenna we should not have this early peacewith Musawasa. Thy wisdom, chief, has proved higher than militaryregulations."

  The prince was arrested by this compunction on the part of Mentezufis.

  "Why does he speak thus?" thought he. "It is evident that Amon is notalone in knowing of my holy father's illness."

  And in the soul of the heir the old feelings were roused,--contemptfor the priests and distrust of their miracles.

  "So it was not the gods who told me that I should soon become pharaoh,but the news came from Memphis, and the priests tricked me in thechapel! But if they lie in one thing, who will assure me that thoseviews of the desert shown on the wall were not deceit also?"

  Since the prince was silent all the time, which was attributed to hissorrow because of his father's illness, and the generals did not dareto say anything after the decisive words of Mentezufis, the militarycouncil ended. A unanimous decision was made to stop the war, take thevery highest tribute from the Libyans, and send them an Egyptiangarrison.

  All expected n
ow that the pharaoh would die. But Egypt, to celebrate afuneral worthy of its ruler, needed profound peace.

  When leaving the tent of the military council the prince said toMentezufis,--

  "The valiant Patrokles died last night; do ye holy fathers think toshow his remains honor?"

  "He was a barbarian and a great sinner," said the priest, "but herendered such famous services to Egypt that it is proper to assurelife beyond the grave to him. If thou permit, worthiness, we will sendthe body of that man this day to Memphis, so as to make a mummy of it,and take it to an eternal dwelling in Thebes among the retreats of thepharaohs."

  The prince consented willingly, but his suspicions rose.

  "Yesterday," thought he, "Mentezufis threatened me as he might a lazypupil, and it was even a favor of the gods that he did not beat myback with a stick; but to-day he speaks to me like an obedient son toa father, and almost falls on his breast before me. Is this a signthat power is drawing near my tent, and also the hour of reckoning?"

  Thus thinking, the prince increased in pride, and his heart was filledwith greater wrath against the priesthood. Wrath which was the worsefor being silent like a scorpion which has hidden in the sand andmaims the incautious foot with its biting sting.