After the funeral of the pharaoh, Egypt returned to its usual life, and
Ramses XIII to affairs of state. The new ruler in the month Epifi
visited the cities of the Nile above Thebes. Hence he went to Sni, a
city greatly devoted to trade and commerce. In Sni was the temple of
Keph, or the "Soul of the World." He visited Edfu, whose temple had
pylons a hundred and fifty feet high, and which possessed an immense
library of papyruses, and on the walls of which were written and
depicted, as it were, an encyclopedia of the geography, astronomy, and
theology of that period. He visited the quarries in Chennu, in Nubia,
or Kom-Ombo; he made offerings to Horus, the god of light, and to
Sebek, the spirit of darkness. He was on the island Ab, which among
dark cliffs seemed an emerald, produced the best dates, and was called
the Capital of Elephants, Elephantina, for on that island the ivory
trade was concentrated. He visited finally the city of Sunnu, situated
at the first cataract of the Nile, and visited the immense quarries,
granite and sienite, where rocks were split off with wooden wedges on
which the quarrymen poured water which swelled them, and thus obelisks
one hundred and thirty feet high were detached from the face of the
quarry.
Wherever the new lord of Egypt appeared his subjects greeted him
wildly. Even criminals, toiling in the quarries men whose bodies were
covered with never-healing wounds experienced happiness since the
pharaoh commanded to release them for the space of three days from
their labor.
Ramses XIII might feel proud and well satisfied, for no pharaoh in time
of triumph was received as he on his peaceful journey. So, nomarchs,
scribes, and high priests, seeing this boundless attachment of the
people, bent before the pharaoh and whispered,
"The people are like a herd of bulls, and we like prudent ants. Hence
we will honor our new lord so that he may enjoy health and protect us
from ruin."
In this way the opposition of dignitaries, very strong some mouths
earlier, had grown silent and yielded to boundless obedience. The whole
aristocracy, all the priests, fell on their faces before Ramses XIII;
Mefres and Herhor alone were unshaken.
Hence when the pharaoh returned from Sunnu to Thebes the chief
treasurer brought unfavorable news the first day to him.
"All the temples," said he, "refuse credit, and beg most obediently
that thou, holiness, command to pay in the course of two years all sums
which they have lent the treasury."
"I understand," said the pharaoh; "this is the work of holy Mefres. How
much do we owe them?"
"About fifty thousand talents."
"We have to pay fifty thousand talents in two years," repeated the
pharaoh. "Well, what more?"
"The taxes come in very slowly. During three months we have received
barely one-fourth of what is due us."
"What has happened?"
The treasurer was anxious.
"I have heard," said he, "that some people have explained to earth-
tillers that during thy reign they are not to pay taxes."
"Oh! ho!" cried Ramses, laughing. "Those 'some people' seem to me very
like the worthy Herhor. Well, what is this; does he want to kill me
with hunger? How can we meet current expenses?"
"At Hiram's command the Phoenicians lend us," answered the treasurer.
"We have received from them eight thousand talents already."
"But do ye give them notes?"
"Notes and mortgages," sighed the treasurer. "They say that this is a
simple formality. Still they settle on thy lands, and take what they
can from the people."
Delighted with the reception given him by the people and the obedience
of magnates, the pharaoh was not even angry at Herhor and Mefres. The
time of auger had passed, the moment of action had come, and Ramses
formed his plan that very day. He summoned for the morrow those in whom
he had most reliance: the high priest Sem, the prophet Pentuer, his
favorite Tutmosis, and the Phoenician Hiram. When they had assembled he
said,
"Ye know, of course, the temples request me to return to them the funds
borrowed by my father. Every debt is sacred, that which belongs to the
gods I should like to pay first of all. But my treasury is empty, since
even the taxes come in only fitfully.
"For this reason I look on the state as in danger, and I am forced to
turn for funds to treasures preserved in the labyrinth."
The two priests moved uneasily.
"I know," continued the pharaoh, "that according to our sacred laws my
decree is not sufficient to open to us the vaults of the labyrinth. But
the priests there have explained what is needful. I must summon
representatives of all orders in Egypt, thirteen men from each order,
and obtain a confirmation of my will from them."
The pharaoh smiled at this point, and finished,
"Today I have called you to help me to summon that assembly of the
orders, and this is my command to you:
"Thou, worthy Sem, wilt select for me thirteen priests and thirteen
nomarchs. Thou, pious Pentuer, will bring to me from various provinces
thirteen land-tillers and thirteen artisans. Tutmosis will bring
thirteen officers and thirteen nobles; and Prince Hiram will occupy
himself in bringing thirteen merchants. I wish that this assembly
should meet at the very earliest in my palace in Memphis and, without
losing time in vain talk, recognize that the labyrinth is to furnish
means to my treasury."
"I make bold to remind thee, holiness," said Sem, "that at that
assembly the worthy Herhor and the worthy Mefres must be present, and
that, according to law, and even duty, they are to oppose touching the
treasure in the labyrinth."
"Of course I agree to that," replied the pharaoh promptly. "They will
give their reasons, I mine; the assembly will judge whether a state can
exist without money, and whether it is wise to waste treasure in
darkness while the state is threatened with indigence."
"A few sapphires of those which are in the labyrinth would suffice to
pay all debts to Phoenicians," said Hiram. "I will go at once among the
merchants and find not thirteen but thirteen thousand who will vote at
thy command, O holiness."
Then the prince fell on his face and took farewell of the sovereign.
When Hiram went out, the high priest said,
"I know not whether it was well to have a foreigner at this
consultation."
"I needed him here; for not only has he great influence over our
merchants, but, what is more important, he is obtaining money for us at
present. I wish to convince the man that I remember what is due to him,
and have means to pay it."
Silence followed, which Pentuer made use of, and said,
"If Thou permit, O holiness, I will go at once to occupy myself with
assembling land-tillers and artisans. They will all vote with our lord,
but from the multitude we must select the wisest."
He took leave of the pharaoh and went out.
"But thou, Tutmosis," inquired Ramses.
"My lord," said the favorite, "I am so certain of thy nobility and army
that I make bold to turn to thee with a request for myself."
"Thou wishest money?"
"Not at all. I wish to marry."
"Thou!" exclaimed the pharaoh. "What woman has earned from the gods
such a happiness?"
"She is the beautiful Hebron, the daughter of Antefa, the most worthy
nomarch of Thebes," replied Tutmosis, laughing. "If Thou wilt be
pleased to speak on my behalf to that revered family I had thought to
say that my love for thee would be increased, but I will not say so,
for I should tell untruth."
"Well, well," said the pharaoh, slapping him on the shoulder, "do not
persuade me of that which I know. I will go to Antefa to-morrow and it
seems to me that in the course of a few days I shall arrange a wedding.
But now Thou mayst go to thy Hebron."
Left with Sem alone, his holiness said,
"Thy face is gloomy. Dost Thou doubt that we may find thirteen priests
to carry out my orders?"
"I am certain," replied Sem, "that almost all the priests and nomarchs
will do what may be needed for the happiness of Egypt and thy
satisfaction, holiness. But be pleased not to forgot that when it is a
question of the treasure of the labyrinth the final decision will be
given to Amon."
"Is that the statue of Amon in Thebes?"
"It is."
The pharaoh waved his hand contemptuously,
"Amon is Herhor and Mefres. That they will not agree I know; but I have
no intention of sacrificing Egypt to the stubbornness of two persons."
"Thou art mistaken, holiness," answered Sem with dignity. "It is true
that very often statues of gods do what high priests wish, but not
always. In our temples mysterious and uncommon things happen sometimes.
At moments the statues of the gods say and do what they themselves
wish."
"In that case I am at rest," interrupted the pharaoh. "The gods know
the condition of the state, and they read my heart. I wish Egypt to be
happy. And as I am striving to that end alone no wise and good god can
hinder me."
"May thy words, holiness, be verified," whispered the high priest.
"Dost Thou wish to tell me anything more?" asked Ramses, noticing that
his substitute in religion was delaying his departure.
"Yes, lord. It is my duty to remind thee that every pharaoh after
reaching power and burying his predecessor must think of two buildings:
a tomb for himself and a temple for the gods."
"Just so! I have thought more than once of this, but not having money I
do not issue orders. For Thou must understand," added he with
animation, "that if I build it will be something great, something which
will command Egypt not to forget me quickly."
"Then dost Thou wish to have a pyramid?"
"No. I could not, of course, build a greater pyramid than that of
Cheops, nor a greater temple than that of Amon in Thebes. My kingdom is
too weak to accomplish great works. I must make something entirely new,
therefore, for I tell thee that our buildings weary me. They are all
alike, just as men are, and differ from one another only in
proportions, as a man is bigger than a child."
"Then what?" asked the high priest, opening his eyes widely.
"I have spoken with the Greek Dion, who is the most famous architect
among us, and he praised my plan. For my own tomb I wish to build a
round tower with internal stairs, like that in Babylon. I shall build a
temple, not to Osiris or Isis, but to the One God in whom all believe:
the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians, and the Jews. I wish
that temple to be like the palace of King Assar, the model of which
Sargon brought to my father."
"Those are great plans," said the high priest, shaking his head, "but
it is impossible to execute them. The Babylonian towers are not lasting
because of their form, they overturn easily, while our edifices must
endure for ages. A temple to the One God we may not raise, for he needs
no food, drink, or raiment. The whole world is his dwelling-place.
Where, then, is the temple which could hold him? Where is the priest
who would dare to make offerings before him?"
"Well, let us build a residence for Amon-Ra," said the pharaoh.
"Yes, if it is not like the palace of King Assar, for that is an
Assyrian building, and it is not proper for us Egyptians to imitate
barbarians."
"I do not understand thee," interrupted Ramses, with irritation.
"Listen to me, lord," answered Sem. "Look at snails, each one of them
has a different shell: one is winding, but blunt; another is winding,
but pointed; a third is like a box. In the same way precisely each'
people build edifices according to their blood and disposition. Be
pleased also to remember that Egyptian edifices differ as much from
those of Assyria as the Egyptian people differ from Assyrians. Among us
the fundamental form of every building is a pointless pyramid, the most
enduring form, as Egypt is the most enduring among kingdoms. With
Assyrians the fundamental form is a cube, which is injured easily and
is subject to destruction.
"The proud and frivolous Assyrian puts his cubes one upon another, and
rears a many-storied structure under which foundations yield. The
obedient and prudent Egyptian puts his truncated pyramids one behind
the other. In that way nothing hangs in the air, but every part of the
structure is resting on the ground. From this it comes that our
buildings are broad and endure forever, while those of the Assyrians
are tall and weak, like their state, which at first rises quickly, but
in a couple of generations there is nothing left of it but ruins.
"The Assyrian is a noisy self-praiser, so in his buildings everything
is put on the outside: columns, sculpture, pictures. While the modest
Egyptian hides the most beautiful columns and carving inside the
temples like a sage who conceals in his heart lofty thoughts, desires,
and feelings he does not ornament his shoulders and breast with them.
Among us everything beautiful is hidden; among them, everything is made
to show. The Assyrian, if he could, would cut open his stomach to
exhibit to the world what peculiar foods he is digesting."
"Speak speak on!" said Ramses.
"Not much remains for me to say," continued Sem. "I only wish, lord, to
turn thy attention to the general form of our edifices, and those of
the Assyrians. When I was in Nineveh a few years ago, I observed the
Assyrian buildings towering above the earth haughtily; it seemed to me
that they were raging horses which had broken from the bit and reared
on their haunches, but would soon fall and perhaps break their legs in
addition.
"Now try, holiness, to look from a lofty point on some Egyptian temple.
What does it recall to thee? This a man prostrate on the earth and
praying. The two pylons are his arms. The hall 'of columns,' or 'the
heavenly chamber,' is his head, the chamber of 'divine apparition' and
'the tables of offering' are his breasts, and the secret retreat of the
god is the heart of the pious Egyptian. Our temple teaches us what we
should be. 'Have a hand as strong as a pylon,' it says to us, 'and arms
as powerful as walls. Have in thy head reason as broad and rich as the
forecourt of the temple, a soul as pure as the chamber of "apparition"
and of "offering," and in thy heart have God, O Egyptian!' But the
Assyrian buildings say to that people: 'Tower above nations, O
Assyrian; rear thy head beyond every other! Thou wilt do nothing great
here on earth, but at least Thou wilt leave many ruins.'
"Wouldst thou, then, O sovereign, venture to rear in our land Assyrian
edifices and imitate a people which Egypt contemns and despises?"
In spite of Sem's explanation, even now Ramses judged that the Assyrian
palaces surpassed those of Egypt in beauty. But he so hated the
Assyrians that his heart began to hesitate.
"In that case," said he, "I will defer the building of my tomb and the
temple. But do ye sages who are kindly disposed toward me, think over
plans of edifices which would give my name to the remotest
generations."
"A superhuman pride fills the soul of this young man!" thought the high
priest, and he took farewell of the pharaoh in sadness.