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

by Bolesław Prus

  CHAPTER LXVII

  From the death of Rameses XIII. till the day of his burial the statewas governed by the most worthy San-Amen-Herhor as high priest of theTheban Amon, and viceroy of the late pharaoh.

  The government of the viceroy, lasting some months, was veryprosperous for Egypt. Herhor pacified the outbreaks of the people,and, in accordance with former times, he gave the seventh day for restto the working man. He introduced stern discipline among the priests;he extended protection to foreigners, especially Phoenicians, andconcluded a treaty with Assyria, not yielding Phoenicia, however,which remained tributary to Egypt.

  In the course of this short government, justice was meted out quickly,but without cruelty, and this or that man did not dare to beat anEgyptian laborer, who had the right to appeal to a court if he hadtime sufficient and witnesses.

  Herhor occupied himself too in paying the debts which weighed on thelands of the state and the pharaoh. With this object he persuaded thePhoenicians to resign a certain part of the sums due them from thetreasury, and to cover the rest he drew from the labyrinth theenormous sum of thirty thousand talents.

  Thanks to these measures, in the course of three months peace andprosperity were established in Egypt.

  "May the rule of the viceroy, San-Amen-Herhor be blessed!" said thepeople. "Indeed the gods predestined him to power so as to free Egyptfrom misfortunes brought on by Rameses XIII., who was a woman-hunterand frivolous."

  A few days sufficed the people to forget that all Herhor's acts weremerely the accomplishment of plans made by the young and lofty-mindedpharaoh.

  In the month Tobi, when the mummy of Rameses XIII. was placed in itstomb, a great assembly of the most important personages met in thetemple of Amon. There were present almost all the high priests,nomarchs, and generals of troops, and among them, covered with glory,was the gray-haired chief of the eastern army, Nitager.

  In this same gigantic hall of columns, where half a year earlier thepriests had judged Rameses XII., and shown dislike for Rameses XIII.,those dignitaries assembled to settle the most important question ofstate, under the presidency of Herhor. On the 25th of Tobi, exactly atnoon, Herhor, in the mitre of Amenhotep, sat on the throne; others satin armchairs, and the council took place.

  It was of wonderfully short duration, just as if the result had beenarranged previously.

  "High priests, nomarchs, and leaders," began Herhor. "We haveassembled here on sad and important business. With the death of theeternally living Rameses XIII., whose short and stormy reign ended ina manner so unfortunate--" Here Herhor sighed.

  "With Rameses XIII. perished not only a pharaoh, but the twentiethdynasty, which was full of glory."

  Among those present rose a murmur.

  "The dynasty has not ended," interrupted the powerful nomarch ofMemphis, almost harshly. "The worthy Queen Nikotris is still living,therefore the throne belongs to her."

  After a time Herhor answered: "My most worthy consort, QueenNikotris--"

  Now in the assembly was heard, not a murmur, but a cry, and it lasteda number of minutes. When it ceased Herhor continued calmly and withemphasis:--

  "My most worthy consort, Queen Nikotris, inconsolable through sorrowfor her son, has abdicated the throne--"

  "Permit!" exclaimed the nomarch of Memphis. "The most worthy viceroyhas called the queen his consort. This intelligence is entirely new,and, first of all it must be verified."

  At a sign from Herhor the judge of Thebes drew out an act concludedtwo days before between the most worthy high priest of Amon,San-Amen-Herhor, and Queen Nikotris, widow of Rameses XII., and motherof Rameses XIII.

  After this explanation came a grave-like silence. Herhor beganagain,--

  "Since my consort, who is the only heir to the throne, has abdicated,the reign of the twentieth dynasty is ended; we must choose a newsovereign.

  "This sovereign," continued Herhor, "should be a man of ripe years,energetic, and skilled in government. For this reason I advise you tochoose for the highest position--"

  "Herhor!" cried some one.

  "The most famous Nitager, the leader of the eastern army," finishedHerhor.

  Nitager sat a long time with closed eyes, smiling. At last he rose,and said,--

  "Never will there be a lack of men eager for the title of pharaoh. Wehave more of them perhaps than are needed. Luckily, the godsthemselves, in setting aside useless rivals, have indicated a man mostworthy of power, and it seems to me that I shall act wisely if,instead of receiving the crown offered me graciously, I answer,--

  "May he live through eternity, his holiness, San-Amen-Herhor, thefirst pharaoh of a new dynasty!"

  Those present, with few exceptions, repeated the shout, and at thesame time the supreme judge brought on a golden tray two caps: thewhite one of Upper, and the red one of Lower Egypt. One of these wastaken by the high priest of Osiris, the other by the high priest ofHorns, and they delivered them to Herhor, who, when he had kissed thegolden serpent, put them both on his head.

  Then those present began the ceremony of offering homage, which lasteda couple of hours. After that a proper act was written; those who tookpart in the election placed their seals on it, and from that momentSan-Amen-Herhor was the real pharaoh, the lord of both worlds, also ofthe life and death of his subjects.

  Toward evening his holiness returned wearied to his chambers of a highpriest, where he found Pentuer, who had grown thin, and on whoseemaciated face weariness and sadness were evident.

  When Pentuer prostrated himself the pharaoh raised him and said with asmile,--

  "Thou didst not sign my election, thou didst not give me homage, and Ifear that I shall have to arrest thee some time in the temple of Ptah.Well, hast thou been thinking to leave me? Dost prefer Menes?"

  "Forgive, holiness," answered the priest, "but court life has sowearied me that my only desire is to learn wisdom."

  "Thou canst not forget Rameses?" inquired Herhor. "And yet thouknewest him only a very short time, while thou hast labored with meduring years."

  "Blame me not, holiness, but--Rameses XIII. was the first pharaoh tocommiserate the Egyptian people."

  Herhor smiled.

  "O ye learned men," said he, shaking his head. "But it was thou whodidst turn the attention of Rameses to the people, and now thoubearest mourning for him in thy heart, though he did nothing whateverfor the people. It was thou who commiserated, not he. Ye are strangemen, in spite of your powerful minds," continued Herhor. "It is thesame thing with Menes. That priest considers that he is the mostpeaceful man in Egypt, though it was he who overturned the dynasty andsmoothed the road to power for me. Were it not for his letter aboutthe eclipse of the sun on the 20th of Paofi, perhaps I and the lateMefres would be splitting stones now in the quarries.

  "Well, go; go and greet Menes for me. Remember also that I know how tobe thankful, which is the great secret of ruling. Tell Menes that Ishall carry out every wish of his, unless he asks me, for example, toabdicate. Return to me when thou hast rested, I will keep an importantplace for thee."

  And he touched Pentuer's head, which was inclined submissively.

  [Decoration]