On the eighteenth day of Paofi chaos had begun. Communication was
interrupted between Lower and Upper Egypt; commerce had ceased; on the
Nile moved only boats on guard, the roads were occupied by troops
marching toward those cities which contained the most famous temples.
Only the laborers of the priests were at work in the fields. On the
estates of nobles and nomarchs, but especially of the pharaoh, flax
was unpulled, clover uncut; there was no one to gather in grapes. The
common people did nothing but prowl about in bands; they sang, ate,
drank, and threatened either priests or Phoenicians. In the cities
all shops were closed, and the artisans who had lost their occupation
counselled whole days over the reconstruction of Egypt. This offensive
spectacle was no novelty, but it appeared in such threatening
proportions that the tax-gatherers, and even the judges began to hide,
especially as the police treated all offences of common men very
mildly.
One thing more deserved attention: the abundance of food and wine. In
dramshops and cook houses, especially of the Phoenicians, as well in
Memphis as in the provinces, whoso wished might eat and drink what he
pleased at a very low price, or for nothing. It was said that his
holiness was giving his people a feast which would continue a whole
month in every case.
Because of difficult and even interrupted communication the cities
were not aware of what was happening in neighboring places. Only the
pharaoh, or still better the priests, knew the general condition of
the country.
The position was distinguished, first of all, by a break between
Upper, or Theban, and Lower, or Memphian Egypt. In Thebes partisans of
the priesthood were stronger, in Memphis adherents of the pharaoh. In
Thebes people said that Rameses XIII. had gone mad, and wished to sell
Egypt to Phoenicians; in Memphis they explained that the priests
wished to poison the pharaoh and bring in Assyrians. The common
people, as well in the north as the south, felt an instinctive
attraction toward the pharaoh. But the force of the people was passive
and tottering. When an agitator of the government spoke, the people
were ready to attack a temple and beat priests, but when a procession
appeared they fell on their faces and were timid while listening to
accounts of disasters which threatened Egypt in that very month of
Paofi.
The terrified nobles and nomarchs had assembled at Memphis to implore
the pharaoh for rescue from the rebelling multitude. But since Rameses
enjoined on them patience, and did not attack the rabble, the magnates
began to take counsel with the adherents of the priesthood.
It is true that Herhor was silent, or enjoined patience also; but
other high priests proved to the nobles that Rameses was a maniac, and
hinted at the need of deposing him.
In Memphis itself two parties were facing each other. The godless who
drank, made an uproar, threw mud at temples and even at statues, and
the pious, mainly old men and women who prayed on the streets,
prophesied misfortune aloud and implored all the divinities for
rescue. The godless committed outrages daily; each day among the pious
health returned to some sick man or cripple. But for a wonder neither
party, in spite of roused passions, worked harm on the other, and
still greater wonder neither party resorted to violence, which came
from this, that each was disturbed by direction, and according to
plans framed in higher circles.
The pharaoh, not having collected all his troops and all his proofs
against the priests, did not give the order yet for a final attack on
the temples; the priests seemed waiting for something. It was evident,
however, that they did not feel so weak as in the first moments after
the voting by delegates. Rameses himself became thoughtful when men
reported from every side that people on the lands of the priests did
not mix in disturbances at all, but were working.
"What does this mean?" asked the pharaoh of himself. "Do the shaven
heads think that I dare not touch temples, or have they means of
defence quite unknown to me?"
On the 19th of Paofi a police official informed Rameses that the night
before people had begun to break the walls inclosing the temple of
Horus.
"Did ye command them to do that?" inquired the pharaoh.
"No. They began of their own accord."
"Restrain them mildly--restrain them," said Rameses. "In a few days
they may do what they like. But now let them not act with great
violence."
Rameses, as a leader and victor at the Soda Lakes, knew that once men
attack in a multitude nothing has power to restrain them; they must
break or be broken. Unless the temples defend themselves the multitude
will take them; but if they defend themselves? In that case the people
will flee and there will be need to send warriors, of whom there were
many it is true, but not so many as would be needed, according to the
pharaoh's own reckoning. Moreover, Hiram had not returned from Pi-Bast
yet with letters proving the treason of Mefres and Herhor. And what
was more important, the priests who sided with the pharaoh were to
assist the troops only on Paofi 23d. By what means then could he
forewarn them in temples which were so numerous and so distant from
one another? And did not caution itself command him to avoid relations
which might betray them?
For these reasons Rameses did not wish an earlier attack on the
temples.
Meanwhile the disturbance increased in spite of the pharaoh. Near the
temple of Isis a number of pious persons were slain who predicted
misfortune to Egypt, or who had recovered their health by a miracle.
Near the temple of Ptah the multitude rushed on a procession, struck
down the priests, and broke the holy boat in which the god was
advancing. Almost at the same time messengers flew in from the cities
of Sochem and Anu with news that people were breaking into the
temples, and that in Cherau they had even broken in and desecrated the
most holy places.
Toward evening a deputation of priests came, almost by stealth, to the
palace of his holiness; the revered prophets fell at his feet,
weeping, crying out to him to defend the gods and their sanctuaries.
This altogether unexpected event filled the heart of Rameses with
great delight and still greater pride. He commanded the delegates to
rise, and answered graciously that his regiments would be always ready
to defend the temples when conducted into them.
"I have no doubt," said he, "that the rioters themselves will withdraw
when they see the dwellings of the gods occupied by the army."
The delegates hesitated.
"It is known to thee, holiness," answered the chief, "that the army
may not enter the inclosure of a temple. We must ask, therefore, what
the high priests have to say."
"Very well, take counsel," answered the sovereign. "I cannot perform
miracles, and I cannot defend temples from a distance."
The saddened delegates left the pharaoh, who after their departure
summoned a confidential council. He was convinced that the priests
would yield to his will, and it did not even occur to him that the
delegation itself was a trick arranged by Herhor to lead him into
error.
When the civil and military officials had assembled in the pharaoh's
chamber Rameses began,--
"I thought," said he, proudly, "to occupy the temples of Memphis only
on the 23d, but I consider it better to do so to-morrow."
"Our troops have not assembled yet," objected Tutmosis.
"And we have not Herhor's letters to Assyria," added the chief scribe.
"Never mind!" answered the pharaoh. "Proclaim to-morrow that Herhor
and Mefres are traitors, and we will show the nomarchs and priests the
proofs three days later when Hiram returns from Pi-Bast to us."
"Thy new command, holiness, will change the first one greatly," said
Tutmosis. "We shall not occupy the labyrinth to-morrow. If the temples
in Memphis make bold to resist, we have not even rams to break down
the gates."
"Tutmosis," answered the pharaoh, "I might not explain my commands,
but I wish to convince thee that my heart estimates the course of
events more profoundly. If people attack the temples to-day they will
wish to break into them to-morrow. Unless we support them they will be
repulsed, and will be discouraged in every case from deeds of daring.
The priests send a delegation to-day, hence they are weak. Meanwhile
the number of their adherents among the common people may be greater
some days hence. Enthusiasm and fear are like wine in a pitcher; it
decreases in proportion as it is poured out, and only he can drink who
puts his goblet under in season. If the people are ready to attack
to-day and the enemy is frightened, let us make use of the situation,
for, as I say, luck may leave us in a few days, or may turn against
us."
"And provisions will be exhausted," added the treasurer. "In three
days the people must return to work, for we shall not have the
wherewithal to feed them."
"Oh, seest thou," continued the pharaoh to Tutmosis. "I myself have
commanded the chief of police to restrain the people. But it is
impossible to restrain them, we must make a movement. An experienced
sailor struggles neither with wind nor current, but he lets them bear
him in the direction which they have taken."
At this moment a courier came in with news that the people had fallen
upon foreigners. They had assaulted Greeks, Assyrians, but especially
Phoenicians. They had plundered many shops and slain a number of
persons.
"Here is proof," cried the excited pharaoh, "that we should not turn
a crowd from the road it has taken. Let the troops be near the temples
to-morrow, and let them march in if the people begin to burst into
them, or--or if they begin to withdraw under pressure.
"It is true that grapes should be gathered in the month Paofi; but is
there a gardener, who if his fruit were ripe a month earlier, would
leave it on the vines to wither?
"I repeat this: I wished to delay the movement of the people till we
had finished preparations. But if it is impossible to delay, let us
raise our sails and use the wind which is blowing. Ye must arrest
Herhor and Mefres to-morrow and bring them to the palace. In a few
days we will finish with the labyrinth."
The members of the council recognized that the decision of the pharaoh
was proper, and they departed admiring his promptness and wisdom. Even
generals declared that it was better to use the occasion at hand than
to have forces ready when the time had passed in which to use them.
It was night. Another courier rushed in from Memphis with information
that the police had been able to protect foreigners, but that the
people were excited and it was unknown what they might attempt on the
morrow.
Thenceforth courier arrived after courier. Some brought news that a
great mass of men armed with clubs and axes were moving toward Memphis
from every direction. From somewhere else information came that people
in the region of Peme, Sochem, and On, were fleeing to the fields and
crying that the end of the world would come the day following.
Another courier brought a letter from Hiram that he would arrive very
soon. Another announced the stealthy advance of temple regiments to
Memphis, and, what was more important, that from Upper Egypt were
moving strong divisions of people and troops hostile to the
Phoenicians, and even to his holiness.
"Before they arrive," thought the pharaoh, "I shall have the high
priests in my hands and even the regiments of Nitager--now some days
late in arriving."
Finally information was brought that troops had seized here and there
on the highways, disguised priests who were trying to reach the palace
of his holiness, no doubt with evil purpose.
"Bring them here," answered Rameses, laughing. "I wish to see men who
dare to form evil plans against the pharaoh."
About midnight the revered queen, Nikotris, desired an audience of his
holiness.
The worthy lady was pale and trembling. She commanded the officers to
leave the pharaoh's chamber, and when alone with her son she said,
weeping,--
"My son, I bring thee very bad omens."
"I should prefer, queen, to hear accurate information of the strength
and intention of my enemies."
"This evening the statue of the divine Isis in my chapel turned its
face to the wall, and water became blood-red in the sacred cistern."
"That proves," replied the pharaoh, "that there are traitors in the
palace. But they are not very dangerous if they are able only to
defile water and turn statues back forward."
"All our servants," continued the queen, "all the people are convinced
that if thy army enters the temples, great misfortune will fall upon
Egypt."
"A greater misfortune," said the pharaoh, "is the insolence of the
priesthood. Admitted by my ever-living father to the palace, they
think to-day that they have become its owners. But by the gods, what
shall I become at last in presence of their all-mightiness? And shall
I not be free to claim my rights as a sovereign?"
"At least--at least," said the lady after a while, "be gracious. Yes,
thou must claim thy rights, but do not permit thy soldiers to violate
holy places and do injustice to the priesthood. Remember that the
gracious gods send down delight on Egypt, and the priests in spite of
their errors (who is without them) have rendered incomparable services
to this country. Only think, if thou shouldest impoverish and dismiss
them, thou wouldst destroy wisdom which has raised our kingdom above
all others."
The pharaoh took his mother by both hands, kissed her, and replied,
smiling,--
"Women must always exaggerate. Thou art speaking to me, mother, as if
I were the chief of wild Hyksos, and not a pharaoh. Do I wish
injustice to the priests? Do I hate their wisdom, even such barren
wisdom as that of investigating the course of the stars which move in
the heavens without our aid, and do not enrich us one uten? Neither
their wisdom nor their piety troubles me, but the wretchedness of
Egypt, which within is growing weak from hunger, and without is afraid
of any threat from Assyria. Meanwhile the priests, in spite of their
wisdom, not merely do not wish to help me in my measures, but they
present resistance in the most dangerous manner.
"Let me, mother, convince them that not they, but I am the master of
my own heritage. I should not be able to take revenge on the
submissive, but I will trample on the necks of the insolent.
"They know this, but still do not trust, and--with a lack of real
power--they wish to frighten me by declaring some misfortune. That is
their last resource and weapon. When they understand that I do not
fear their terrors they will submit. And then not a stone will fall
from their temples, or one ring be lost from their treasures.
"I know those men! To-day they put on a great front, for I am far from
them. But when I stretch out a bronze fist they will fall on their
faces, and all this confusion will end in general prosperity and
contentment."
The queen embraced his feet and went out comforted, imploring him,
however, to respect the gods and spare their servants.
After the departure of his mother he summoned Tutmosis.
"To-morrow," said the pharaoh, "my troops will occupy the temples. But
tell the commanders of regiments, let them know that it is my will,
that the holy places must be inviolate, and that no one is to raise a
hand on any priest in Egypt."
"Even on Mefres and Herhor?" inquired Tutmosis.
"Even on them. They will be punished enough when they are put out of
their present positions; they will live in learned temples to pray and
investigate wisdom without hindrance."
"It will be as thou commandest, holiness--though--"
Rameses raised his finger in sign that he did not wish to hear
arguments. And then, to change the conversation, he said, with a
smile,--
"Dost thou remember, Tutmosis, the manoeuvres at Pi-Bailos? Two years
have passed. When I was angry then at the insolence and greed of the
priests, couldst thou think that I should reckon with them so early?
But poor Sarah--and my little son. How beautiful he was!"
Two tears rolled down the pharaoh's cheeks.
"Indeed, if I were not a son of the gods, who are magnanimous and
merciful, my enemies would pass through grievous hours to-morrow. How
many humiliations have they put on me! How often have my eyes grown
dark from weeping!"