CHAPTER LXV
On the 20th of Paofi Memphis looked as it might during a great solemnfestival. All occupations had ceased; even carriers were not bearingburdens. The whole population had come out on the streets, or hadcollected around the temples,--mainly around the temple of Ptah, whichwas the best defended, and where the spiritual dignitaries had cometogether, also those lay officials who were under the direction ofHerhor and Mefres.
Near the temples troops were posted in loose rank, so that thewarriors might come to an understanding with the populace.
Among the common people and the army circulated many hucksters, withbaskets of bread and with pitchers and skin bags in which there waswine. They entertained free of charge. When any one asked them whythey took no pay, some answered that his holiness was entertaining hissubjects, while others said,--
"Eat and drink, right-believing Egyptians, for it is unknown whetherwe shall see to-morrow!"
These were hucksters in the service of the priesthood.
A multitude of agents were circling about. Some proved to listenersthat the priests were rebelling against their lord, and even wanted topoison him, because he had promised the seventh day for rest. Otherswhispered that the pharaoh had gone mad, and had conspired withforeigners to destroy the temples and Egypt. The first encouraged thepeople to attack the temples where the priests and nomarchs werearranging to oppress laborers and artisans; the others expressed fearthat if the people attacked the temples some great misfortune mightfall on them.
Under the walls of Ptah were a number of strong beams, and piles ofstones brought, it was unknown from what quarter.
The serious merchants of Memphis, passing among the crowds, had nodoubt that the popular disturbance was called forth artificially.Inferior scribes, policemen, overseers of laborers, and disguiseddecurions denied neither their official positions, nor this, that theywere urging the people to occupy the temples. On the other sidedissectors, beggars, temple servants and inferior priests, though theywished to conceal their identity, were unable to do so, and each onewho was endowed with perception saw that they were urging the peopleto violence. The thinking citizens of Memphis were astonished at thisaction of partisans of the priesthood, and the people began to fallaway from their zeal of yesterday. Genuine Egyptians could notunderstand what the question was, or who was really calling forthdisturbance. The chaos was increased by half-frenzied zealots, who,running about the streets naked, wounded themselves till the bloodflowed, and cried,--
"Woe to Egypt! Impiety has passed its measure and the hour ofjudgment is coming! O gods show your power over the insolence ofinjustice."
The troops bore themselves calmly, waiting till the people shouldbreak into the temples. For an order to that effect had come from thepalace; and on the other the officers foresaw ambushes in the temples,and preferred that men of the crowd should perish rather thanwarriors, who would be sufficiently occupied in every case.
But in spite of the shouts of agitators, and wine given for nothing,the crowd hesitated. Laborers looked at the artisans; the artisans andall were waiting for something.
Suddenly, about one in the afternoon, from side streets a drunken bandpoured forth toward the temple of Ptah; it was armed with poles andaxes and was made up of fishermen, Greek sailors, shepherds, andLibyan vagrants, even convicts from the quarries in Turra. At the headof this band went a laborer of gigantic stature, with a torch in hishand. He stood before the gate of the temple and cried with an immensevoice to the people,--
"Do ye know, right believers, what the high priests and the nomarchsare preparing here? They wish to force his holiness, Rameses XIII., todeprive laborers of a barley cake a day, and to impose new taxes onthe people, a drachma each man. I say, then, that ye are committing alow and stupid deed by standing here with your arms crossed. We mustcatch these temple rats at last and give them into the hands of ourlord, the pharaoh, against whom these godless wretches are conspiring.If our lord yields to priests, who will take the part of honestpeople?"
"He speaks truth!" called out voices from the multitude.
"Our lord will command to give us the seventh day for rest."
"And will give us land."
"He had compassion always for the common people. Remember how he freedthose who, two years ago, were under judgment for attacking the houseof the Jewess."
"I myself saw him beat a scribe, when the man was dragging an unjusttax from laborers."
"May he live through eternity, our lord, Rameses XIII., the guardianof oppressed laborers!"
"But look!" called out some voice from afar, "the cattle are comingfrom pasture, as if evening were near."
"What cattle! Go on against the priests!"
"Hei, ye!" cried the giant at the temple gate. "Open to us of your ownwill, so that we may know what the high priests and the nomarchs arecounselling!"
"Open, or we will break the gate!"
"A wonderful thing," said people from afar; "the birds are going tosleep. But it is only midday."
"Something evil has happened in the air!"
"O gods, night is coming, and I haven't pulled salad for dinner," saidsome girl.
But these remarks were drowned by the uproar of the drunken band, andthe noise of beams striking the bronze gate of the temple. If thecrowd had been less occupied with the violent deeds of the attackers,they would have seen that something unusual was happening in nature.The sun was shining, there was not one cloud in the sky, and still thebrightness of the day had begun to decrease and there was a breath ofcoolness.
"Give us another beam!" cried the attackers of the temple. "The gateis giving way!"
"Powerfully! Once more!"
The crowd looking on roared like a tempest. Here and there men beganto separate from the throng and join the attackers. At last a wholemass of people pushed slowly toward the temple.
Though but just past midday, gloom increased. In the gardens of thetemple the cocks began to crow. But the rage of the throng was sogreat now that few noticed the change.
"Look ye!" cried some beggar. "Behold the day of judgment is coming--Ogods--"
He wished to speak on, but struck on the head by a club he fellprostrate.
On the walls of the temple naked but armed figures began to climb up.Officers called the warriors to arms, certain that soon they wouldhave to support the attack of the multitude.
"What does this mean?" whispered warriors, looking at the sky. "Thereis not a cloud, still the world looks as it does in the time of atempest."
"Strike! break!" shouted men near the temple.
The sound of beams was more and more frequent.
At that moment on the terrace above the gate appeared Herhor. He wassurrounded by a retinue of priests and civil dignitaries. The mostworthy high priest was in a golden robe, and wore the cap of Amenhotepwith its regal serpent.
Herhor looked at the enormous masses of people who surrounded thetemple, and bending toward the band of stormers, he said to them,--
"Whoever ye are, right believers or unbelievers, leave this temple inpeace, in the name of the gods I summon you."
The uproar of the people ceased suddenly, and only the pounding of thebeams against the bronze gate was audible. But soon even that ceased.
"Open the gate!" cried the giant from below. "We wish to see if ye areforging treason against the pharaoh."
"My son," replied Herhor, "fall on thy face and implore the gods toforgive thee thy sacrilege."
"Ask thou the gods to shield thee!" cried the leader of the band, andtaking a stone he threw it toward the high priest.
At the same time, from a window of the pylon shot out a small streamwhich seemed to be water, and which struck the giant's face. Thebandit tottered, threw up his hands, and fell.
Those nearest him gave out a cry of fear, whereupon the farther ranks,not seeing what had happened, answered with laughter and curses.
"Break down the gate!" was heard from the end of the crowd, and avolley of stones flew in the direction
of Herhor and his retinue.
Herhor raised both hands, and when the crowd had grown silent againthe high priest shouted,--
"O gods! into your protection I give these sacred retreats, againstwhich blasphemers and traitors are advancing!"
A moment later, somewhere above the temple, an unearthly voice washeard,--
"I TURN MY FACE FROM THE ACCURSED PEOPLE AND MAY DARKNESS FALL ON THEEARTH."
Then a dreadful thing happened: as the voice rose the sun decreased,and with the last word there was darkness as at night. Stars began toshine in the heavens; instead of the sun was a black disk surroundedwith a thin hoop of flame.
An immense cry was rent from a hundred thousand breasts. Those whowere storming the gate threw down their beams; common people fell tothe earth.
"Oh, the day of punishment and death has come!" cried a shrill voiceat the end of the street.
"O gods of mercy! O holy men, ward off this terror!" cried the crowd.
"WOE TO ARMIES WHICH CARRY OUT THE ORDERS OF GODLESS COMMANDERS!"cried a great voice from the temple.
In answer all the people fell on their faces, and confusion rose inthe two regiments standing before the temple. The ranks broke,warriors threw down their weapons and ran toward the river insensate.Some, rushing like blind men, knocked against the walls of houses inthe darkness; others fell to the ground and were trampled to death bytheir comrades. In the course of a few minutes, instead of closecolumns of warriors, on the square, spears and axes lay scatteredabout, and at the entrance of the streets were piles of dead andwounded.
"O gods! O gods!" groaned and cried the people, "take pity on theinnocent."
"Osiris!" cried Herhor from the terrace, "have compassion and show thyface to the unfortunate people."
"AT LAST I HEAR THE PRAYERS OF MY PRIESTS, FOR I AM COMPASSIONATE,"answered the supernatural voice from the temple.
At that moment the darkness began to disappear, and the sun to regainits brightness.
A new shout, new weeping, and new prayers were heard in the throng.The people, drunk with delight, greeted the sun which had risen fromthe dead. Men unknown to one another embraced, some persons died, andall crawled on their knees to kiss the sacred walls of the temple.
Above the gate stood the most worthy Herhor, his eyes fixed on thesky, and two priests supporting his holy hands with which he haddissipated darkness, and saved his people from destruction.
Scenes of the same kind with certain changes took place throughout allLower Egypt. In each city on the 20th of Paofi people had collectedfrom early morning. In each city about midday some band was storming asacred gate. About one the high priest of the temple, with a retinue,cursed the faithless attackers and produced darkness. But when thethrong fled in panic, or fell on the ground, the high priest prayed toOsiris to show his face, and then the light of day returned to theearth again.
In this way, thanks to the eclipse of the sun, the party of thepriests, full of wisdom, had shaken the importance of Rameses XIII. inLower Egypt.
In the course of a few minutes the government of the pharaoh had come,even without knowing it, to the brink of a precipice. Only greatwisdom could save it, and an accurate knowledge of the situation. Butthat was lacking in the pharaoh's palace, where the all-powerful reignof chance had set in at that critical moment.
On the 20th of Paofi his holiness rose exactly at sunrise, and, to benearer the scene of action, he transferred himself from the mainpalace to a villa which was hardly an hour's distance from Memphis. Onone side of this villa were the barracks of the Asiatic troops, on theother the villa of Tutmosis and his wife, the beautiful Hebron. Withtheir lord came the dignitaries faithful to Rameses, and the firstregiment of the guard in which the pharaoh felt unbounded reliance.
Rameses was in perfect humor. He bathed, ate with appetite, and beganto hear the reports of couriers who flew in from Memphis every fifteenminutes.
Their reports were monotonous to weariness: The high priests and someof the nomarchs, under the leadership of Herhor and Mefres, had shutthemselves up in the temple of Ptah. The army was full of hope, andthe people excited. All were blessing the pharaoh, and waiting theorder to move on the temple.
When the fourth courier came about nine, and repeated the same words,the pharaoh was frowning.
"What are they waiting for?" asked he. "Let them attack immediately."
The courier answered that the chief band which was to attack andbatter down the bronze gate had not arrived yet.
This explanation displeased the pharaoh. He shock his head, and sentan officer to Memphis to hasten the attack.
"What does this delay mean?" asked he. "I thought that my army wouldwaken me with news of the capture of the temple. In such cases promptaction is the condition of success."
The officer rode away, but nothing had changed at the temple of Ptah.The people were waiting for something, but the chief band was not inits place yet. Some other will seemed to delay the execution of theorder.
About ten the litter of Queen Nikotris came to the villa occupied bythe pharaoh. The revered lady broke into her son's chamber almost withviolence, and fell at his feet, weeping.
"What dost thou wish of me, mother?" asked Rameses, hardly hiding hisimpatience. "Hast thou forgotten that the camp is no place for women?"
"I will not leave thee to-day, I will not leave thee for an instant!"exclaimed the queen. "Thou art the son of Isis, it is true, and shesurrounds thee with care. But I should die from fright."
"What threatens me?" inquired the pharaoh, shrugging his shoulders.
"The priest who investigates the stars," said she, tearfully,"declared to a serving woman that thou wilt live and reign a hundredyears if this day favors thee."
"Ah! Where is that man who is skilled in my fate?"
"He fled to Memphis," replied the lady.
Rameses thought a while, then he said, smiling,--
"As the Libyans at the Soda Lakes hurled missiles at us, the priestshurl threats to-day. Be calm, mother! Talk is less dangerous thanstones and arrows."
From Memphis a new courier rushed in with a report that all was well,but still the main band was not ready.
On the comely face of the pharaoh appeared signs of anger. Wishing tocalm the sovereign, Tutmosis said to him,--
"The people are not an army. They know not how to assemble at a givenhour; while marching they stretch out like a swamp, and obey nocommands. If the occupation of the temples were committed to regimentsthey would be in possession at present."
"What art thou saying, Tutmosis?" cried the queen. "Where has any oneheard of Egyptian troops--"
"Thou hast forgotten," interrupted Rameses, "that according to mycommands the troops were not to attack, but defend the temples fromattacks of the people."
"Action is delayed through this also," answered Tutmosis, impatiently.
"O counsellors of the pharaoh!" burst out the queen. "Your lord actswisely, appearing as a defender of the gods, and ye, instead of makinghim milder, urge him to violence."
The blood rushed to Tutmosis' head. Fortunately an adjutant called himfrom the chamber with information that at the gate was an old man whowished to speak with his holiness.
"To-day each man is struggling to get at the pharaoh, as he might atthe keeper of a dramshop," muttered the adjutant.
Tutmosis thought that in the time of Rameses XII. no one would havedared to speak of the ruler in that way. But he feigned not to hear.
The old man whom the watch had detained was Prince Hiram. He wore asoldier's mantle covered with dust; he was irritated and wearied.
Tutmosis commanded to admit him, and when both were in the garden, hesaid to him,--
"I judge that thou wilt bathe, worthiness, and change thy dress beforeI obtain an audience with his holiness?"
Hiram raised his iron-gray brows, and his bloodshot eyes becamebloodier.
"From what I have seen," said he firmly, "I may even not ask for anaudience."
"Hast thou the letters of the
high priest to Assyria?"
"What good are those letters, since ye have agreed with the priests?"
"What dost thou say, worthiness?" inquired Tutmosis, starting.
"I know what I say!" replied Hiram. "Ye have obtained tens ofthousands of talents from the Phoenicians, as it were for theliberation of Egypt from the power of the priesthood, and to-day inreturn for that ye are robbing and slaying us. See what is happeningfrom the sea to the First Cataract: your common people are hunting thePhoenicians like dogs, for such is the command of the priesthood."
"Thou art mad, Phoenician! Our people are taking the temple of Ptah inMemphis."
Hiram waved his hand.
"They will not take it! Ye are deceiving us, or ye are deceivingyourselves. Ye were to seize, first of all, the labyrinth and itstreasure, and that only on the 23d. Meanwhile ye are wasting power onthe temple of Ptah, and the labyrinth is lost. What is happening here?Where is mind to be found in this place?" continued the indignantPhoenician. "Why storm an empty building? Ye are attacking it so thatthe priests may take more care of the labyrinth!"
"We will seize the labyrinth, too," said Tutmosis.
"Ye will seize nothing, nothing! Only one man could take thelabyrinth, and he will be stopped by to-day's action in Memphis."
Tutmosis halted on the path.
"About what art thou troubled?" asked he, abruptly.
"About the disorder which reigns here. About this, that ye are nolonger a government, but a group of officers and officials whom thepriests send whithersoever they wish and whensoever it pleases them.For three days, there is such terrible confusion in Lower Egypt thatthe people are killing us, your only friends, the Phoenicians. And whyis this? Because government has dropped from your hands, and thepriests have seized it."
"Thou speakest thus for thou knowest not the position," repliedTutmosis. "It is true that the priests thwart us and organize attackson Phoenicians. But power is in the hands of the pharaoh; events movein general according to his orders."
"And the attack on the temple of Ptah?" inquired Hiram.
"Was ordered by the pharaoh. I was present at the confidentialcouncil, during which the pharaoh gave command to take possession ofthe temples to-day instead of the 23d."
"Well, I declare to thee, commander of the guard, that ye are lost,for I know to a certainty that the attack of to-day was decided on ata council of high priests and nomarchs in the temple of Ptah, whichwas held on Paofi 13."
"Why should they arrange an attack on themselves?" asked Tutmosis in ajeering voice.
"They must have had some reason for it. And I have convinced myselfthat they manage their affairs better than ye manage yours."
Further conversation was interrupted by an adjutant summoning Tutmosisto his holiness.
"But--but," added Hiram, "your soldiers have stopped on the path thepriest Pentuer, who has something important to convey to the pharaoh."
Tutmosis seized his own head, and sent officers immediately to findPentuer. Then he ran to the pharaoh, and after a while returned andcommanded the Phoenician to follow him.
When Hiram entered the chamber of Rameses he saw Queen Nikotris, thechief treasurer, the chief scribe, and a number of generals. RamesesXIII. was irritated, and walked up and down quickly through thechamber.
"Here we have the misfortune of the pharaoh, and of Egypt!" exclaimedthe queen, pointing to the Phoenician.
"Worthy lady," answered Hiram, without confusion, bowing to her, "timewill show who was the faithful and who the evil servant of hisholiness."
Rameses stopped suddenly before Hiram.
"Hast thou the letters of Herhor to Assyria?" inquired he.
The Phoenician drew from under his robe a package, and in silencehanded it to the pharaoh.
"This is what I needed!" exclaimed the pharaoh in triumph. "We mustdeclare at once to the people that the high priests are guilty oftreason--"
"My son," interrupted the queen in an imploring voice, "by the shadeof thy father I adjure thee; delay this announcement a couple ofdays. There is need of great caution with gifts from Phoenicia."
"Holiness," put in Hiram, "thou mayst even burn these letters. I am inno way concerned with them."
The pharaoh thought a while, then hid the package in his bosom.
"What hast thou heard in Lower Egypt?" inquired the sovereign.
"They are beating Phoenicians at all points," replied Hiram. "Ourhouses are wrecked, our effects stolen, and a number of tens ofPhoenicians are slain."
"I have heard. This is the work of the priests," said the pharaoh.
"Say, rather, my son, that it comes of the godlessness and extortionof Phoenicians," interrupted Queen Nikotris.
"For three days the chief of police from Pi-Bast is in Memphis withtwo assistants, and they are on the trail of the murderer and deceiverLykon--"
"Who was hidden in Phoenician temples!" cried Nikotris.
"Lykon," continued Hiram, "whom the high priest Mefres stole from thepolice and the courts--Lykon, who in Thebes ran naked through thegarden as a maniac, counterfeiting thee, holiness."
"What dost thou tell me?" cried the pharaoh.
"Holiness, ask the most revered queen if she saw him," answered Hiram.
Rameses looked in confusion at his mother.
"Yes," said she. "I saw that wretch, but I said nothing so as to sparethee pain. I must explain, however, that no one has proof that Lykonwas put there by the priests, for the Phoenicians might have done thatas well."
Hiram laughed sneeringly.
"O mother, mother!" cried Rameses, with sorrow. "Is it possible thatthe priests are dearer to thy heart than I am?"
"Thou art my son and most precious sovereign," said the queen withenthusiasm, "but I cannot suffer a stranger, an infidel, to castcalumny on the holy order of the priests from which we are bothdescended. O Rameses," exclaimed she, falling on her knees, "expelthese wicked counsellors who urge thee to insult temples, and raisethy hand against the successor of thy grandsire, Amenhotep. There isstill time for agreement, still time to save Egypt."
All at once, Pentuer, in torn garments, entered the chamber.
"Well, and what hast thou to say?" inquired the pharaoh, withwonderful calmness.
"To-day, perhaps immediately, there will be an eclipse of the sun."
The pharaoh started back in astonishment.
"How does an eclipse of the sun concern me, especially at thismoment?"
"Lord," said Pentuer, "I thought the same till I read in oldchronicles of eclipses. An eclipse is such a terrifying spectacle thatit was necessary to forewarn the whole people of it--"
"That is the truth!" interrupted Hiram.
"Why didst thou not inform earlier?" inquired Tutmosis.
"The warriors kept me in prison two days. We cannot forewarn thepeople now, but at least inform the troops at the palace, so thatthey, too, should not give way to panic."
Rameses clapped his hands.
"Ah, it is too bad!" whispered he, and added aloud. "When will it be,and what will take place?"
"Day will become night," said Pentuer. "This will last as much time,perhaps, as is needed in walking five hundred yards. It will begin atmidday, so Menes told me."
"Menes," repeated the pharaoh, "I know that name."
"He wrote thee a letter concerning it, holiness. But let the armyknow."
Straightway they sounded the trumpets; the guard and the Asiatics weredrawn out under arms, and the pharaoh, surrounded by his staff,informed the troops of the eclipse, telling them not to be alarmed,that it would pass soon, and that he would be with them.
"Live through eternity!" answered the armed ranks.
At the same time a number of the best riders were sent to Memphis.
The generals took their places at the head of the columns, the pharaohwalked through the court thoughtfully, the civilians whispered withHiram; Queen Nikotris, left alone in the chamber, fell on her facebefore the statue of Osiris.
It was after one
. The light of the sun began to lessen.
"Will night come in fact?" asked the pharaoh of Pentuer.
"It will come, but during a very short interval."
"Where will the sun be?"
"It will hide behind the moon."
"I must restore to my favor the sages who investigate stars," said thepharaoh to himself.
The darkness increased quickly. The horses of the Asiatics grewrestive, flocks of birds flew into the garden, and occupied all thetrees, with noisy twitter.
"Rouse up!" cried Kalippos to the Greeks.
The drums beat, the flutes sounded, and to this accompaniment theGreek soldiers sang a dancing song of the priest's daughter who was sotimid that she could sleep only in the barracks.
Meanwhile an ominous shade fell on the tawny Libyan hills, and coveredMemphis, the Nile, and the palace gardens with lightning swiftness.Night embraced the earth, and in the heavens appeared a ball as blackas coal surrounded by a rim of brightness.
An immense uproar drowned the song of the Greek regiment. This wascaused by the Asiatics, who raised a military shout as they sent acloud of arrows toward the sky to frighten the evil spirit which wasgulping the sun down.
"Dost say that that black ball is the moon?" inquired the pharaoh ofPentuer.
"That is what Menes asserts."
"He is a great sage! And will the darkness end soon?"
"To a certainty."
"And if this moon should tear itself away and fall to the earth?"
"That cannot be. Here is the sun!" cried Pentuer, with delight.
The assembled regiments raised a shout in honor of Rameses XIII.
The pharaoh embraced Pentuer. "Indeed," said he, "we have seen a mostwonderful event. But I should not like to see it a second time. Ifeel that if I had not been a warrior fear would have mastered me."
Hiram approached Tutmosis, and whispered,--
"Send couriers, worthiness, to Memphis immediately, for I fear thatthe high priests have done something evil."
"Dost thou think so?"
Hiram nodded.
"They would not have managed the kingdom so long," said he, "theywould not have buried eighteen dynasties if they had not known how touse events like the present."
When Rameses had thanked the troops for good bearing in presence ofthe strange phenomenon, he returned to his villa. He continuedthoughtful, he spoke calmly, even mildly, but on his shapely facedoubt was evident.
In the pharaoh's soul there was indeed a grievous struggle. He hadbegun to understand that the priests possessed powers which he notonly had not weighed, but had not noted; he had not even wished tohear of them. In a few moments the priests who followed the movementsof stars rose in his eyes immensely, and he said to himself that inevery case he should learn this wonderful wisdom which confusespeople's plans so terribly.
Courier after courier flew from the palace to Memphis to learn whathad happened during the eclipse. But the couriers did not return, anduncertainty spread its black wings above the retinue of the pharaoh.No one doubted that something evil had happened at the temple of Ptah.More than that, no man dared to draw his own conclusions. It seemed asthough the pharaoh and his intimate counsellors were glad when aminute passed without tidings. Meanwhile Queen Nikotris sat down atthe pharaoh's side, and whispered,--
"Let me act, Rameses. Women have served this state more than once.Only remember Queen Nikotris in the sixth dynasty, or Makara whocreated a fleet on the Red Sea. In our sex there is no lack of mind orof energy, so let me act. If the temple of Ptah is not taken, and thepriests are not wronged I will reconcile thee with Herhor. Thou wilttake his daughter as wife, and thy reign will be full of glory.Remember that thy grandfather, the holy Amenhotep, was also a highpriest and a viceroy of the pharaoh, and thou thyself, who knows ifthou wouldst be reigning to-day, had the holy order of the priests notdesired to have its own blood on the throne. Art thou, too, notobliged to them for dominion?"
The pharaoh as he listened to her, thought all the time that thewisdom of the priests was an immense power, and the struggle with themdifficult.
Only about three in the afternoon did the first courier arrive fromMemphis, an adjutant of the regiment which had been stationed at thetemple. He informed the sovereign that the temple had not been takenbecause of the anger of the gods; that the people had fled, that thepriests were triumphant, and that even in the army disorder had arisenduring that brief but terrible darkness.
Then, taking Tutmosis aside, the adjutant declared to him directlythat the troops were demoralized; that, because they had fled in apanic, as many were wounded and killed as in a battle.
"What is happening now with the troops?" inquired Tutmosis inconsternation.
"Of course," replied the adjutant, "we were able to rally the men andbring them to order. But we cannot even speak of using them againstthe temples, especially now when they are occupied with caring for thewounded. At present a warrior is ready to fall to the earth before ashaven head and a panther skin; a long time will pass before any onewill dare to cross a sacred gateway."
"But what are the priests doing?"
"Blessing the warriors, giving food and drink to them, and pretendingthat the troops are not guilty of attacking the temple; that that wasthe work of Phoenicians."
"But do ye permit this demoralization of troops?" exclaimed Tutmosis.
"Well, his holiness commanded us to defend the priests against themultitude. Had we been permitted to occupy the temple we should havedone so at ten in the morning, and the high priests now would besitting in a dungeon."
At this moment the officer in attendance informed Tutmosis that againsome priest had arrived from Memphis, and desired to speak with hisholiness.
Tutmosis looked at the guest. He was a man rather young, with a faceas if carved out of wood. He said that he had come to the pharaoh fromSamentu.
Rameses received the priest, who prostrated himself and gave thepharaoh a ring, at sight of which his holiness grew pallid.
"What does this mean?" asked he.
"Samentu is no longer alive," replied the priest.
Rameses could not recover his voice for a time. At last he asked,--
"How has this happened?"
"It appears," replied the priest, "that Samentu was discovered in oneof the halls of the labyrinth, and that he poisoned himself to escapetorture. It seems that Mefres discovered him through the aid of acertain Greek, who, as they tell us, resembles thee, holiness."
"Again Mefres and Lykon!" exclaimed Tutmosis in anger. "O lord," saidhe, turning to Rameses, "wilt thou never free thyself from thosetraitors?"
The pharaoh summoned a confidential council again. He called in Hiram,also the priest who had brought the ring from Samentu. Pentuer did notwish to take part in the council, but the worthy queen went herself toit.
"I see," whispered Hiram to Tutmosis, "that after the expulsion ofpriests women are to govern Egypt."
When the dignitaries had assembled, the pharaoh let Samentu'smessenger speak.
The young priest would not talk of the labyrinth, but he explainedsufficiently that the temple of Ptah was undefended, and that a fewtens of men would suffice to arrest all who were hiding there.
"This man is a traitor!" screamed the queen. "A priest himself, hepersuades thee to violence against the priesthood."
In the face of the messenger no muscle quivered. "Worthy lady,"replied he, "if Mefres destroyed my guardian and master, Samentu, Ishould be a dog if I sought not revenge. Death for death!"
"This young man pleases me," whispered Hiram.
Indeed a fresher air seemed to move in the assembly. Generalsstraightened themselves; civilians looked at the priest withcuriosity; even the pharaoh's face became livelier.
"Listen not to him, my son," implored Queen Nikotris.
"What dost thou think," asked the pharaoh on a sudden; "what would theholy Samentu do now were he living?"
"I am sure," answered the priest, energetically, "that Samentu wouldgo
to the temple of Ptah and burn incense to the gods; but he wouldpunish murderers and traitors."
"And I repeat that thou art the worst of traitors!" cried the queen.
"I only fulfil my duty," said the priest, unmoved by her language.
"This man is a pupil of Samentu indeed," said Hiram. "He alone seeswhat is left us to do, and sees clearly."
The military and civil dignitaries recognized the correctness ofHiram's opinion.
"Since we have begun a struggle with the priests," said the chiefscribe, "we should finish it, and finish it to-day when we haveletters proving that Herhor was negotiating with the Assyrians, an actwhich is high treason against Egypt."
"He is carrying out the policy of Rameses XII.," said the queen.
"But I am Rameses XIII.," said the pharaoh impatiently.
Tutmosis rose from his chair.
"My lord," said he, "let me act. It is very dangerous to continueuncertainty in the government, and it would be folly and crime not touse this occasion. Since this priest says that the temple is notdefended, let me go to it with a handful of men whom I will select."
"I am with thee!" said Kalippos. "According to my experience, an enemywhile triumphant is the weakest. If we attack the temple of Ptahimmediately--"
"Ye do not need to attack, but go in there as executives of thepharaoh who commands you to imprison traitors," said the chief scribe."Even force is not needed. How often does one policeman rush at acrowd of offenders and seize as many as he wishes."
"My son," said the queen, "yields to the pressure of your counsels.But he does not wish force; he forbids you to use it."
"Ha! if that be the case," said the young priest of Set, "I will tellhis holiness one other thing." He breathed a couple of times deeply,but still he finished in a stifled voice and with effort. "On thestreets of Memphis the party of the priests is announcing, that--"
"That what? Speak boldly," said the pharaoh.
"That thou, holiness, art insane, that thou hast not the ordination ofhigh priest, that thou art not even made pharaoh, and that--it ispossible to exclude thee from the throne."
"That is just what I feared," whispered Nikotris.
The pharaoh sprang up from his seat.
"Tutmosis!" cried he, in a voice in which his recovered energy washeard. "Take as many troops as thou wishest; go to the temple of Ptahand bring me Herhor and Mefres, accused of high treason. If they arejustified I will return my favor; in the opposite case--"
"Hast thou finished?" interrupted the queen.
This time the indignant pharaoh did not answer her, and the officialscried,--
"Death to traitors! When has it begun that in Egypt a pharaoh mustsacrifice faithful servants to beg for himself the favor ofscoundrels?"
Rameses XIII. confided to Tutmosis the package of letters of Herhor toAssyria, and said in a solemn voice,--
"Till the rebellion of the priests is suppressed, I place my power inthe person of Tutmosis, commander of the guards. And do ye listen tohim, and do thou, worthy mother, go with thy judgments to him?"
"Wisely and justly has the sovereign acted!" exclaimed the chiefscribe. "It does not become a pharaoh to struggle with sedition, and alack of firm rule might destroy us."
All the dignitaries inclined before Tutmosis. Queen Nikotris fell ather son's feet.
Tutmosis, in company with the generals, went out to the court. Hecommanded the first regiment of the guard to form, and said,--
"I need a few tens of men who are ready to die for the glory of ourlord."
More presented themselves, both men and officers, than were needed,and at the head of them Eunana.
"Are ye prepared for death?" inquired Tutmosis.
"We will die with thee, lord, for his holiness!" exclaimed Eunana.
"Ye will not die, but ye will overcome vile criminals," repliedTutmosis. "Soldiers belonging to this expedition will become officers,and officers will be advanced two degrees. I say this to you, I,Tutmosis, supreme chief by the will of the pharaoh."
"Live thou forever!"
Tutmosis commanded to prepare twenty-five two-wheeled chariots of theheavy cavalry, and ordered the volunteers to enter. Then he withKalippos mounted their horses, and soon the whole retinue turnedtoward Memphis and vanished in a dust cloud.
When Hiram saw this from the window of a villa, he bowed before thepharaoh and whispered,--
"Now for the first time I believe that thou art not in conspiracy withthe high priests."
"Wert thou mad?" burst out the pharaoh.
"Pardon, sovereign, but the attack on the temple to-day was planned bythe priests. How they drew thee into it, holiness, I do not understandto this moment."
It was five in the afternoon.
The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt Page 69