Next day Tutmosis, with a great suite of officers and attendants, paid
a visit to the Phoenician prince, and invited him to the viceroy.
In the afternoon Hiram appeared before the palace in a simple litter
borne by eight poor Egyptians to whom he gave alms. He was surrounded
by the most notable Phoenician merchants, and that same throng of
people who stood before his house daily.
Rameses greeted with a certain astonishment the old man out of whose
eyes wisdom was gazing and in whose whole bearing there was dignity.
He bowed gravely before the viceroy, and raising his hands above his
head, pronounced a short blessing. Those present were deeply affected.
When the viceroy indicated an armchair and commanded his courtiers to
withdraw, Hiram said,--
"Yesterday thy servant Dagon informed me that the prince needs a
hundred talents. I sent out my couriers at once to Sabne-Chetam,
Sethroe, Pi-Uto, and other cities where there are Phoenician ships,
asking them to land all their goods. I think that in a day or two thou
wilt receive this small sum--"
"Small!" interrupted Rameses, with a smile. "Thou art happy if thou
call a hundred talents a small sum."
Hiram nodded.
"Thy grandfather, worthiness," said he, after a while, "the eternally
living Rameses-sa-Ptah, honored me with his friendship; I know also
his holiness, thy father--may he live through eternity!--and I will
even try to lay before him my homage, if I be permitted."
"Whence could a doubt arise?" interrupted the prince.
"There are persons," replied the guest, "who admit some to the face of
the pharaoh and refuse others--but never mind them. Thou art not to
blame for this; hence I venture to lay before thee one question, as an
old friend of thy father and his father."
"I am listening."
"What means it," asked Hiram, slowly, "that the heir to the throne and
a viceroy must borrow a hundred talents when more than a hundred
thousand are due Egypt?"
"Whence?" cried Rameses.
"From the tribute of Asiatic peoples. Phoenicia owes five thousand;
well, Phoenicia will pay, I guarantee that, unless some events happen.
But, besides, Israel owes three thousand, the Philistines and the
Moabites each two thousand, the Hittites thirty thousand. Finally, I
do not remember details, but I know that the total reaches a hundred
and three or a hundred and five thousand talents."
Rameses gnawed his lips, but on his vivacious countenance helpless
anger was evident. He dropped his eyes and was silent.
"It is true," said Hiram, on a sudden, and looking sharply at the
viceroy. "Poor Phoenicia--but also Egypt."
"What dost thou say?" asked the prince, frowning. "I understand not
thy questions."
"Prince, thou knowest what it is of which I speak, since thou dost not
answer my question," replied Hiram; and he rose as if to withdraw.
"Still, I withdraw not my promise. Thou wilt receive a hundred
talents."
He made a low bow, but the viceroy forced him to sit down again.
"Thou art hiding something," said Rameses, in a voice in which offence
was evident. "I would hear thee explain what danger threatens Egypt or
Phoenicia."
"Hast thou not heard?" asked Hiram, with hesitation.
"I know nothing. I have passed more than a month in the temple."
"That is just the place in which to learn everything."
"Tell me, worthiness," said the viceroy, striking the table with his
fist. "I am not pleased when men are amused at my expense."
"Give a great promise not to betray me to any one and I will tell,
though I cannot believe that they have not informed the heir of this."
"Dost thou not trust me?" asked the astonished prince.
"In this affair I should require a promise from the pharaoh himself,"
answered Hiram, with decision.
"If I swear on my sword, and the standards of my troops, that I will
tell no man--"
"Enough," said Hiram.
"I am listening."
"Does the prince know what is happening at this moment in Phoenicia?"
"I know nothing of that, even," interrupted the irritated viceroy.
"Our ships," whispered Hiram, "are coming home from all parts of the
earth to convey at the first signal our people and treasures to some
place--beyond the sea--to the west."
"Why?" asked the astounded viceroy.
"Because Assyria is to take us under her dominion."
"Thou hast gone mad, worthy man!" exclaimed Rameses. "Assyria to take
Phoenicia! But we?--Egypt--what would we say to that?"
"Egypt has consented already."
Blood rushed to the prince's head.
"The heat has disturbed thy mind, aged man," said he, in a calm voice.
"Thou hast forgotten, even, that such an affair could not take place
without the pharaoh's permission and mine."
"That will follow. Meanwhile the priests have concluded a treaty."
"With whom? What priests?"
"With Beroes, the high priest of Chaldea, at commission of King
Assar," said Hiram. "And who from your side? I will not state to a
certainty. But it seems to me that his worthiness Herhor, his
worthiness Mefres, and the holy prophet Pentuer."
The prince became pale.
"Consider, Phoenician," said he, "that thou art accusing of treason
the highest dignitaries of Egypt."
"Thou art mistaken, prince, this is no treason: the high priest of
Egypt and the minister of his holiness have the right to make treaties
with neighboring states. Besides, how dost thou know, worthiness, that
all this is not done with consent of the pharaoh?"
Rameses was obliged to confess in his soul that such a treaty would
not be treason, but disregard toward him, the erpatr.
So then the priests treated him in this way,--him who might be the
pharaoh a year hence? That is why Pentuer criticised war, and Mefres
supported him.
"When could that have happened, and where?" asked the prince.
"Very likely they concluded the treaty at night in the temple of Set
at Memphis," answered Hiram. "And when?--I know not exactly, but it
seems to me that it took place when thou wert setting out from
Memphis."
"The wretches!" thought the viceroy. "That is how they respect my
position! Some kind god made me doubt in the temple of Hator."
After a time of internal conflict he added,--
"Impossible! I shall not believe till proof be given."
"Proof there will be," replied Hiram. "One of these days a great lord
will come to Pi-Bast from Assyria, Sargon, the friend of King Assar.
He will come under pretext of a pilgrimage to the temple of Astaroth,
he will bring gifts to thee and to his holiness; then he will make a
treaty. Ye will in fact put seals to that which the priests have
determined to the ruin of Phoenicia, and perhaps to your own great
misfortune."
"Never! What return could Assyria give Egypt?"
"That speech is worthy of a pharaoh. What return would Egypt get?
Every treaty is good for a state if only something be gained through
it. I am astonished specially by this," continued Hiram, "that Egypt
should conclude a bad transaction: besides Phoenicia, Assyria will
take almost all Asia, and to you will be left, in the form of a favor,
the Israelites, the Philistines, and the peninsula of Sinai. In that
case the tributes belonging to Egypt will be lost, and the pharaoh
will never receive those hundred and five thousand talents."
The viceroy shook his head.
"Thou dost not know Egyptian priests," said he; "not one of them would
accept such a treaty."
"Why not? The Phoenician proverb says: 'Better barley in the granary
than gold in the desert.' Should Egypt feel very weak she might prefer
Sinai and Palestine to a war with Assyria. But this is what sets me to
thinking: Not Egypt, but Assyria, is easy to conquer. Assyria has a
quarrel on the northwest; Assyria has few troops, and those of poor
quality. Were Egypt to attack she would destroy Assyria, seize immense
treasures in Babylon and Nineveh, and establish her authority in Asia
at once and securely--"
"Such a treaty cannot exist, as thou seest," interrupted Rameses.
"In one case alone could I understand such a treaty," continued Hiram.
"If 'tis the plan of the priests to set aside kingly power in Egypt;
and toward this, O prince, they have been striving since the days of
thy grandfather."
"Thou art speaking aside from the question," said Rameses, but he felt
alarm in his heart.
"Perhaps I am mistaken," answered Hiram, looking into his eyes
quickly. "But hear me out, worthiness."
He moved up his armchair to the prince, and said in a lowered voice,--
"If the pharaoh should make war on Assyria, he would have a great army
attached to his person; a hundred thousand talents of tribute in
arrears, about two hundred thousand talents from Nineveh and Babylon,
finally about a hundred thousand talents yearly from conquered
countries. Such immense wealth would enable him to redeem the property
mortgaged to the priests, and put an end at once and forever to their
meddling."
The prince's eyes glittered, and Hiram continued,--
"To-day the army depends on Herhor, and therefore on the priests;
remove the foreign regiments, and the pharaoh, in case of war, could
not depend on his warriors.
"Besides, the royal treasury is empty, and the greater part of the
pharaoh's property belongs to the temples. He must contract new debts
yearly even to maintain his household; and since there will be no
Phoenicians among you, ye must borrow of the temples. In this way,
when ten years have passed, his holiness--may he live through
eternity!--will lose what is left of his property, and then what?"
On the forehead of Rameses perspiration came out in drops.
"Thou seest then, worthy lord," continued Hiram, "the priests might
and even would be forced in one case to accept the most disgraceful
treaty with Assyria: if they are working to lower and destroy the
power of the pharaoh--well, there may be another case: if Egypt were
so weak as to need peace at any price--"
The prince sprang up.
"Silence!" cried he. "I should prefer treason on the part of my most
faithful servants, to such weakness in the country. Egypt yield to
Assyria--why, a year later Egypt herself would fall under the yoke of
Assyria, for by subscribing to such infamy she would confess her own
helplessness."
He walked up and down the room, with indignation, while Hiram looked
at him with compassion or with sympathy.
All at once Rameses halted before the Phoenician,--
"This is false! Some adroit villain has deceived thee, O Hiram, with
the semblance of truth, and thou hast believed him. If such a treaty
existed, they would have kept it in the closest secrecy. In the
present case one of the four priests whom thou hast mentioned is a
traitor, not only to his own sovereign, but to his co-conspirators--"
"There might have been some fifth man who overheard them," interrupted
Hiram.
"And who sold the secret to thee?"
"It is a wonder to me," said Hiram, "that the prince has not
discovered the power of gold."
"But stop, worthiness, our priests have more gold than thou, though
thou art wealthy beyond the wealthy!"
"Still I am not angry when a drachma comes to me. Why should others
refuse a talent?"
"They would because they are servants of the gods," said the prince,
passionately; "they would fear divine punishment."
The Phoenician laughed.
"I have seen," said he, "many temples of various nations, and in those
temples great and small statues, of wood, stone, and gold even. But
gods I have never met."
"Blasphemer!" exclaimed Rameses. "I have seen a divinity, I have felt
its hand on my person, I have heard its voice."
"In what place?"
"In the temple of Hator, in its hall of entrance, and in my cell."
"In the daytime?"
"In the night," replied the prince; and he stopped.
"At night the prince heard speeches of the gods, and felt their
hands," replied the Phoenician, emphasizing word after word. "At night
it is possible to see many things. What happened?"
"In the temple I was seized by the head, by the shoulders, by the
legs; and I swear--"
"Phst!" interrupted Hiram, with a smile. "It is not proper to swear in
vain."
He looked fixedly at Rameses with his quick and wise eyes, and seeing
that doubt was rising in the young man, he continued,--
"I will tell thee something, lord. Thou art inexperienced, though
surrounded by a net of intrigues, but I have been the friend of thy
grandfather and thy father. Now I will render thee a service: Come in
the night to the temple of Astaroth, but bind thyself to keep the
secret. Come alone, and thou wilt be convinced as to who the gods are
who speak in the temples and touch us."
"I will come," said Rameses, after some meditation.
"Forewarn me, prince, on the morning of the day, and I will give thee
the evening password; thou wilt be admitted. Only betray neither me
nor thyself," said the Phoenician, with a kindly smile. "Men never
pardon betrayal of their secrets, though gods pardon sometimes." He
bowed, raised his eyes and hands, while he whispered a blessing.
"Deceivers!" cried the prince. "Thou prayest to gods, and dost not
believe in them."
Hiram finished the blessing, and said,--
"It is true that I have no belief in Egyptian or Assyrian, or even in
Phoenician gods, but I believe in One who dwells not in temples and
whose name is unknown to us."
"Our priests believe also in One," said Rameses.
"So do the Chaldeans, but they and your priests have conspired against
us. There is no truth in this world, prince."
After Hiram's departure the heir shut himself up in the most remote
chamber under pretext of reading sacred papyruses.
Almost in the twinkle of an eye the information received recently
arranged itself in the fiery imagination of Rameses, and he formed a
plan. First of all, he understood that a secret battle for life and
death was raging between the priests and the Phoenicians. About what?
Naturally about wealth and influence. Hiram said truly, that should
the Phoenicians be expelled from Egypt, all the estates of the
pharaoh, and even of the nomarchs and the entire aristocracy, would
pass into possession of the temples.
Rameses had never liked the priests, and he had known and seen for a
long time that the greater part of Egypt belonged to them, that their
cities were the richest, their fields the best tilled, their people
satisfied. He understood too that one-half the treasures which
belonged to the temples would suffice to rescue the pharaoh from
ceaseless troubles and give back power to him.
The prince knew this, and more than once he had said so with
bitterness. But when through the influence of Herhor he became viceroy
and received the corps in Memphis, he grew reconciled with the priests
and stifled his previous dislike of them.
All that dislike had revived again.
Not only had the priests not told him of their negotiations with
Assyria, they had not even forewarned him of the embassy of Sargon.
This question might indeed be the great secret of the state and the
temples. But why did they conceal the amount of tributes from various
Asiatic nations, unpaid thus far? One hundred thousand talents--why,
that was a sum which might restore immediately the financial status of
the pharaoh! Why had they concealed from him that which even a prince
of Tyre knew, a man who was of the council in that city?
What a shame for him, the heir to the throne, and the viceroy, that
his eyes were first opened by foreigners! But there was something
worse still: Pentuer and Mefres had proved to him in every way that
Egypt must avoid war. In the temple of Hator that emphasis had seemed
to him suspicious, since a war might obtain for the state thousands of
legions of slaves, and raise the general prosperity of the country.
To-day this seemed the more necessary since Egypt ought to receive
unpaid sums and gain still more tribute.
The prince rested his arms on the table and calculated,--
"We," thought he, "should receive a hundred thousand talents. Hiram
calculates that the plunder of Nineveh and Babylon would give about
two hundred thousand; together, three hundred thousand. With such a
sum we might cover the cost of the mightiest war, and there would
remain besides several hundred thousand as profit, and captives and a
hundred thousand yearly tribute from newly conquered regions. After
that," concluded the prince, "we could reckon with the priesthood!"
Rameses was excited. Still reflection came to him,--
"But if Egypt was unable to wage a victorious war against Assyria?"
His blood boiled at this question. "How Egypt? Why should Egypt not
trample Assyria, when he appeared at the head of its armies, he a
descendant of Rameses the Great, who had hurled himself single-handed
on the Hittite war-chariots and scattered them."
The prince could understand everything save this, that man might
conquer him and that he could not snatch victory from the greatest
enemy. He felt in himself endless daring, and he would have been
astounded if any enemy whatever had not fled at sight of his steeds in
full onrush. Did not the gods themselves stand on the war-chariot of
the pharaoh to defend his shield and smite with heavenly bolts his
enemies?
"But what did this Hiram say to me about gods?" thought the prince.
"And what will he show me in the temple of Astaroth? We shall see."