ON the 20th of Paofi Memphis looked as it might during a great solemn
festival. All occupations had ceased; even carriers were not bearing
burdens. The whole population had come out on the streets, or had
collected around the temples, mainly around the temple of Ptah, which
was the best defended, and where the spiritual dignitaries had come
together, also those lay officials who were under the direction of
Herhor and Mefres.
Near the temples troops were posted in loose rank, so that the warriors
might come to an understanding with the populace.
Among the common people and the army circulated many hucksters, 'with
baskets of bread and with pitchers and skin bags in which there was
wine. They entertained free of charge. When any one asked them why they
took no pay, some answered that his holiness was entertaining his
subjects, while others said,
"Eat and drink, right-believing Egyptians, for it is unknown whether we
shall see to-morrow!"
These were hucksters in the service of the priesthood.
A multitude of agents were circling about. Some proved to listeners
that the priests were rebelling against their lord, and even wanted to
poison him, because he had promised the seventh day for rest. Others
whispered that the pharaoh had gone mad, and had conspired with
foreigners to destroy the temples and Egypt. The first encouraged the
people to attack the temples where the priests and nomarchs were
arranging to oppress laborers and artisans; the others expressed fear
that if the people attacked the temples some great misfortune might
fall on them.
Under the walls of Ptah were a number of strong beams, and piles of
stones brought, it was unknown from what quarter.
The serious merchants of Memphis, passing among the crowds, had no
doubt that the popular disturbance was called forth artificially.
Inferior scribes, policemen, overseers of laborers, and disguised
decurions denied neither their official positions, nor this, that they
were urging the people to occupy the temples. On the other side
dissectors, beggars, temple servants and inferior priests, though they
wished to conceal their identity, were unable to do so, and each one
who was endowed with perception saw that they were urging the people to
violence. The thinking citizens of Memphis were astonished at this
action of partisans of the priesthood, and the people began to fall
away from their zeal of yesterday. Genuine Egyptians could not
understand what the question was, or who was really calling forth
disturbance. The chaos was increased by half-frenzied zealots, who,
running about the streets naked, wounded themselves till the blood
flowed, and cried,
"Woe to Egypt! Impiety has passed its measure and the hour of judgment
is coming! O gods show your power over the insolence of injustice."
The troops bore themselves calmly, waiting till the people should break
into the temples. For an order to that effect had come from the palace;
and on the other the officers foresaw ambushes in the temples, and
preferred that men of the crowd should perish rather than warriors, 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 and
all were waiting for something.
Suddenly, about one in the afternoon, from side streets a drunken band
poured forth toward the temple of Ptah; it was armed with poles and
axes and was made up of fishermen, Greek sailors, shepherds, and Libyan
vagrants, even convicts from the quarries in Turra. At the head of this
band went a laborer of gigantic stature, with a torch in his hand. He
stood before the gate of the temple and cried with an immense voice to
the people,
"Do ye know, right believers, what the high priests and the nomarchs
are preparing here? They wish to force his holiness, Ramses XIII, to
deprive laborers of a barley cake a day, and to impose new taxes on the
people, a drachma each man. I say, then, that ye are committing a low
and stupid deed by standing here with your arms crossed. We must catch
these temple rats at last and give them into the hands of our lord, the
pharaoh, against whom these godless wretches are conspiring. If our
lord yields to priests, who will take the part of honest people?"
"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 freed
those who, two years ago, were under judgment for attacking the house
of the Jewess."
"I myself saw him beat a scribe, when the man was dragging an unjust
tax from laborers."
"May he live through eternity, our lord, Ramses XIII, the guardian of
oppressed laborers!"
"But look!" called out some voice from afar, "the cattle are coming
from 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 own
will, so that we may know what the high priests and the nomarchs are
counseling!"
"Open, or we will break the gate!"
"A wonderful thing," said people from afar; "the birds are going to
sleep. But it is only midday."
"Something evil has happened in the air!"
"O gods, night is coming, and I have not pulled salad for dinner," said
some girl.
But these remarks were drowned by the uproar of the drunken band, and
the noise of beams striking the bronze gate of the temple. If the crowd
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 the
brightness of the day had begun to decrease and there was a breath of
coolness.
"Give us another beam!" cried the attackers of the temple. "The gate is
giving way!"
"Powerfully! Once more!"
The crowd looking on roared like a tempest. Here and there men began to
separate from the throng and join the attackers. At last a whole mass
of people pushed slowly toward the temple.
Though but just past midday, gloom increased. In the gardens of the
temple the cocks began to crow. But the rage of the throng was so great
now that few noticed the change.
"Look ye!" cried some beggar. "Behold the day of judgment is coming O
gods."
He wished to speak on, but struck on the head by a club he fell
prostrate.
On the walls of the temple naked but armed figures began to climb up.
Officers called the warriors to arms, certain that soon they would have
to support the attack of the multitude.
"What does this mean?" whispered warriors, looking at the sky. "There
is not a cloud, still the world looks as it does in the time of a
tempest."
"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 was
surrounded by a retinue of priests and civil dignitaries. The most
worthy high priest was in a golden robe, and wore the cap of Amenhotep
with its regal serpent.
Herhor looked at the enormous masses of people who surrounded the
temple, and bending toward the band of stormers, he said to them,
"Whoever ye are, right believers or unbelievers, leave this temple in
peace, in the name of the gods I summon you."
The uproar of the people ceased suddenly, and only the pounding of the
beams 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 are
forging treason against the pharaoh."
"My son," replied Herhor, "fall on thy face and implore the gods to
forgive thee thy sacrilege."
"Ask Thou the gods to shield thee!" cried the leader of the band, and
taking a stone he threw it toward the high priest.
At the same time, from a window of the pylon shot out a small stream
which seemed to be water, and which struck the giant's face. The bandit
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 a
volley of stones flew in the direction of Herhor and his retinue.
Herhor raised both hands, and when the crowd had grown silent again the
high priest shouted,
"O gods! into your protection I give these sacred retreats, against
which blasphemers and traitors are advancing!"
A moment later, somewhere above the temple, an unearthly voice was
heard,
"I turn my face from the accursed people and may darkness fall on the
earth."
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 to
shine in the heavens; instead of the sun was a black disk surrounded
with a thin hoop of flame.
An immense cry was rent from a hundred thousand breasts. Those who were
storming the gate threw down their beams; common people fell to the
earth.
"Oh, the day of punishment and death has come!" cried a shrill voice at
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 in the
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 in the
darkness; others fell to the ground and were trampled to death by their
comrades. In the course of a few minutes, instead of close columns of
warriors, on the square, spears and axes lay scattered about, and at
the entrance of the streets were piles of dead and wounded.
"O gods! O gods!" groaned and cried the people, "take pity on the
innocent."
"Osiris!" cried Herhor from the terrace, "have compassion and show thy
face 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 regain
its 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 from the
dead. Men unknown to one another embraced, some persons died, and all
crawled on their knees to kiss the sacred walls of the temple.
Above the gate stood the most worthy Herhor, his eyes fixed on the sky,
and two priests supporting his holy hands with which he had dissipated
darkness, and saved his people from destruction.
Scenes of the same kind with certain changes took place throughout all
Lower Egypt. In each city on the 20th of Paofi people had collected
from early morning. In each city about midday some band was storming a
sacred gate. About one the high priest of the temple, with a retinue,
cursed the faithless attackers and produced darkness. But when the
throng fled in panic, or fell on the ground, the high priest prayed to
Osiris to show his face, and then the light of day returned to the
earth again.
In this way, thanks to the eclipse of the sun, the party of the
priests, full of wisdom, had shaken the importance of Ramses XIII in
Lower 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 great wisdom
could save it, and an accurate knowledge of the situation. But that was
lacking in the pharaoh's palace, where the all-powerful reign of chance
had set in at that critical moment.
On the 20th of Paofi his holiness rose exactly at sunrise, and, to be
nearer the scene of action, he transferred himself from the main palace
to a villa which was hardly an hour's distance from Memphis. On one
side of this villa were the barracks of the Asiatic troops, on the
other the villa of Tutmosis and his wife, the beautiful Hebron. With
their lord came the dignitaries faithful to Ramses, and the first
regiment of the guard in which the pharaoh felt unbounded reliance.
Ramses was in perfect humor. He bathed, ate with appetite, and began to
hear the reports of couriers who flew in from Memphis every fifteen
minutes.
Their reports were monotonous to weariness: The high priests and some
of the nomarchs, under the leadership of Herhor and Mefres, had shut
themselves up in the temple of Ptah. The army was full of hope, and the
people excited. All were blessing the pharaoh, and waiting the order 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 and batter
down the bronze gate had not arrived yet.
This explanation displeased the pharaoh. He shook his head, and sent an
officer to Memphis to hasten the attack.
"What does this delay mean?" asked he. "I thought that my army would
waken me with news of the capture of the temple. In such cases prompt
action 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 in
its place yet. Some other will seemed to delay the execution of the
order.
About ten the litter of Queen Niort's came to the villa occupied by the
pharaoh. The revered lady broke into her son's chamber almost with
violence, and fell at his feet, weeping.
"What dost Thou wish of me, mother?" asked Ramses, hardly hiding his
impatience. "Hast Thou forgotten that the camp is no place for women?"
"I will not leave thee today, I will not leave thee for an instant!"
exclaimed the queen. "Thou art the son of Isis, it is true, and she
surrounds 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 hundred years if
this day favors thee."
"Ah! Where is that man who is skilled in my fate?"
"He fled to Memphis," replied the lady.
Ramses thought a while, then he said, smiling,
"As the Libyans at the Soda Lakes hurled missiles at us, the priests
hurl threats today. Be calm, mother! Talk is less dangerous than stones
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 to
calm the sovereign, Tutmosis said to him,
"The people are not an army. They know not how to assemble at a given
hour; while marching they stretch out like a swamp, and obey no
commands. If the occupation of the temples were committed to regiments
they would be in possession at present."
"What art Thou saying, Tutmosis?" cried the queen. "Where has any one
heard of Egyptian troops."
"Thou hast forgotten," interrupted Ramses, "that according to my
commands the troops were not to attack, but defend the temples from
attacks of the people."
"Action is delayed through this also," answered Tutmosis, impatiently.
"O counselors of the pharaoh!" burst out the queen. "Your lord acts
wisely, appearing as a defender of the gods, and ye, instead of making
him milder, urge him to violence."
The blood rushed to Tutmosis' head. Fortunately an adjutant called him
from the chamber with information that at the gate was an old man who
wished to speak with his holiness.
"Today each man is struggling to get at the pharaoh, as he might at the
keeper of a dramshop," muttered the adjutant.
Tutmosis thought that in the time of Ramses XII no one would have dared
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 a
soldier's mantle covered with dust; he was irritated and wearied.
Tutmosis commanded to admit him, and when both were in the garden, he
said to him,
"I judge that Thou wilt bathe, worthiness, and change thy dress before
I obtain an audience with his holiness?"
Hiram raised his iron-gray brows, and his bloodshot eyes became
bloodier.
"From what I have seen," said he firmly, "I may even not ask for an
audience."
"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 of thousands
of talents from the Phoenicians, as it were for the liberation of Egypt
from the power of the priesthood, and today in return for that ye are
robbing and slaying us. See what is happening from the sea to the First
Cataract: your common people are hunting the Phoenicians like dogs, for
such is the command of the priesthood."
"Thou art mad, Phoenician! Our people are taking the temple of Ptah in
Memphis."
Hiram waved his hand.
"They will not take it! Ye are deceiving us, or ye are deceiving
yourselves. Ye were to seize, first of all, the labyrinth and its
treasure, and that only on the 23d. Meanwhile ye are wasting power on
the temple of Ptah, and the labyrinth is lost. What is happening here?
Where is mind to be found in this place?" continued the indignant
Phoenician. "Why storm an empty building? Ye are attacking it so that
the 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 the labyrinth,
and he will be stopped by today'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 no
longer a government, but a group of officers and officials whom the
priests send whithersoever they wish and whensoever it pleases them.
For three days there is such terrible confusion in Lower Egypt that the
people are killing us, your only friends, the Phoenicians. And why is
this? Because government has dropped from jour hands, and the priests
have seized it."
"Thou speakest thus for Thou knowest not the position," replied
Tutmosis. "It is true that the priests thwart us and organize attacks
on Phoenicians. But power is in the hands of the pharaoh; events move
in 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 confidential council,
during which the pharaoh gave command to take possession of the temples
today 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 today was decided on at a
council of high priests and nomarchs in the temple of Ptah, which was
held on Paofi 13."
"Why should they arrange an attack on themselves?" asked Tutmosis in a
jeering voice.
"They must have had some reason for it. And I have convinced myself
that they manage their affairs better than ye manage yours."
Further conversation was interrupted by an adjutant summoning Tutmosis
to his holiness.
"But but," added Hiram, "your soldiers have stopped on the path the
priest Pentuer, who has something important to convey to the pharaoh."
Tutmosis seized his own head, and sent officers immediately to find
Pentuer. Then he ran to the pharaoh, and after a while returned and
commanded the Phoenician to follow him.
When Hiram entered the chamber of Ramses he saw Queen Niort's, the
chief treasurer, the chief scribe, and a number of generals. Ramses
XIII was irritated, and walked up and down quickly through the chamber.
"Here we have the misfortune of the pharaoh, and of Egypt!" exclaimed
the queen, pointing to the Phoenician.
"Worthy lady," answered Hiram, without confusion, bowing to her, "time
will show who was the faithful and who the evil servant of his
holiness."
Ramses 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 silence
handed it to the pharaoh.
"This is what I needed!" exclaimed the pharaoh in triumph. "We must
declare at once to the people that the high priests are guilty of
treason."
"My son," interrupted the queen in an imploring voice, "by the shade of
thy father I adjure thee; delay this announcement a couple of days.
There is need of great caution with gifts from Phoenicia."
"Holiness," put in Hiram, "Thou mayst even burn these letters. I am in
no 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. "Our
houses are wrecked, our effects stolen, and a number of tens of
Phoenicians 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 extortion of
Phoenicians," interrupted Queen Niort's.
"For three days the chief of police from Pi-Bast is in Memphis with two
assistants, and they are on the trail of the murderer and deceiver
Lykon."
"Who was hidden in Phoenician temples!" cried Niort's.
"Lykon," continued Hiram, "whom the high priest Mefres stole from the
police and the courts Lykon, who in Thebes ran naked through the garden
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.
Ramses looked in confusion at his mother.
"Yes," said she. "I saw that wretch, but I said nothing so as to spare
thee pain. I must explain, however, that no one has proof that Lykon
was put there by the priests, for the Phoenicians might have done that
as well."
Hiram laughed sneeringly.
"O mother, mother!" cried Ramses, with sorrow. "Is it possible that the
priests are dearer to thy heart than I am?"
"Thou art my son and most precious sovereign," said the queen with
enthusiasm, "but I cannot suffer a stranger, an infidel, to cast
calumny on the holy order of the priests from which we are both
descended. O Ramses," exclaimed she, falling on her knees, "expel these
wicked counselors who urge thee to insult temples, and raise thy hand
against the successor of thy grandsire, Amenhotep. There is still 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, with wonderful
calmness.
"Today, 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 this moment?"
"Lord," said Pentuer, "I thought the same till I read in old chronicles
of eclipses. An eclipse is such a terrifying spectacle that it 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 the people
now, but at least inform the troops at the palace, so that they, too,
should not give way to panic."
Ramses 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 at
midday, so Menes told me."
"Menes," repeated the pharaoh, "I know that name."
"He wrote thee a letter concerning it, holiness. But let the army
know."
Straightway they sounded the trumpets; the guard and the Asiatics were
drawn 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 pharaoh
walked through the court thoughtfully, the civilians whispered with
Hiram; Queen Niort's, left alone in the chamber, fell on her face
before 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 the
pharaoh to himself.
The darkness increased quickly. The horses of the Asiatics grew
restive, flocks of birds flew into the garden, and occupied all the
trees, with noisy twitter.
"Rouse up!" cried Kalippos to the Greeks.
The drums beat, the flutes sounded, and to this accompaniment the Greek
soldiers sang a dancing song of the priest's daughter who was so timid
that she could sleep only in the barracks.
Meanwhile an ominous shade fell on the tawny Libyan hills, and covered
Memphis, the Nile, and the palace gardens with lightning swiftness.
Night embraced the earth, and in the heavens appeared a ball as black
as coal surrounded by a rim of brightness.
An immense uproar drowned the song of the Greek regiment. This was
caused by the Asiatics, who raised a military shout as they sent a
cloud of arrows toward the sky to frighten the evil spirit which was
gulping the sun down.
"Dost say that that black ball is the moon?" inquired the pharaoh of
Pentuer.
"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 Ramses XIII.
The pharaoh embraced Pentuer. "Indeed," said he, "we have seen a most
wonderful event. But I should not like to see it a second time. I feel
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 that the
high priests have done something evil."
"Dost Thou think so?"
Hiram nodded.
"They would not have managed the kingdom so long," said he, "they would
not have buried eighteen dynasties if they had not known how to use
events like the present."
When Ramses had thanked the troops for good bearing in presence of the
strange phenomenon, he returned to his villa. He continued thoughtful,
he spoke calmly, even mildly, but on his shapely face doubt was
evident.
In the pharaoh's soul there was indeed a grievous struggle. He had
begun to understand that the priests possessed powers which he not only
had not weighed, but had not noted; he had not even wished to hear of
them. In a few moments the priests who followed the movements of stars
rose in his eyes immensely, and he said to himself that in every case
he should learn this wonderful wisdom which confuses people's plans so
terribly.
Courier after courier flew from the palace to Memphis to learn what had
happened during the eclipse. But the couriers did not return, and
uncertainty 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 as
though the pharaoh and his intimate counselors were glad when a minute
passed without tidings. Meanwhile Queen Niort's sat down at the
pharaoh's side, and whispered,
"Let me act, Ramses. Women have served this state more than once. Only
remember Queen Niort's in the sixth dynasty, or Makara who created a
fleet on the Red Sea. In our sex there is no lack of mind or of energy,
so let me act. If the temple of Ptah is not taken, and the priests are
not wronged I will reconcile thee with Herhor. Thou wilt take his
daughter as wife, and thy reign will be full of glory. Remember that
thy grandfather, the holy Amenhotep, was also a high priest and a
viceroy of the pharaoh, and Thou thyself, who knows if Thou wouldst be
reigning today, had the holy order of the priests not desired to have
its own blood on the throne. Art thou, too, not obliged to them for
dominion?"
The pharaoh as he listened to her, thought all the time that the wisdom
of the priests was an immense power, and the struggle with them
difficult.
Only about three in the afternoon did the first courier arrive from
Memphis, an adjutant of the regiment which had been stationed at the
temple. He informed the sovereign that the temple had not been taken
because of the anger of the gods; that the people had fled, that the
priests were triumphant, and that even in the army disorder had arisen
during that brief but terrible darkness.
Then, taking Tutmosis aside, the adjutant declared to him directly that
the troops were demoralized; that, because they had fled in a panic, as
many were wounded and killed as in a battle.
"What is happening now with the troops?" inquired Tutmosis in
consternation.
"Of course," replied the adjutant, "we were able to rally the men and
bring them to order. But we cannot even speak of using them against the
temples, especially now when they are occupied with caring for the
wounded. At present a warrior is ready to fall to the earth before a
shaven head and a panther skin; a long time will pass before any one
will dare to cross a sacred gateway."
"But what are the priests doing?"
"Blessing the warriors, giving food and drink to them, and pretending
that the troops are not guilty of attacking the temple; that that was
the work of Phoenicians."
"But do ye permit this demoralization of troops?" exclaimed Tutmosis.
"Well, his holiness commanded us to defend the priests against the
multitude. Had we been permitted to occupy the temple we should have
done so at ten in the morning, and the high priests now would be
sitting in a dungeon."
At this moment the officer in attendance informed Tutmosis that again
some priest had arrived from Memphis, and desired to speak with his
holiness.
Tutmosis looked at the guest. He was a man rather young, with a face as
if carved out of wood. He said that he had come to the pharaoh from
Samentu.
Ramses received the priest, who prostrated himself and gave the pharaoh
a ring, at sight of which his holiness grew pallid.
"What does this mean?" asked he.
"Samentu is no longer alive," replied the priest.
Ramses 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 one
of the halls of the labyrinth, and that he poisoned himself to escape
torture. It seems that Mefres discovered him through the aid of a
certain Greek, who, as they tell us, resembles thee, holiness."
"Again Mefres and Lykon!" exclaimed Tutmosis in anger. "O lord," said
he, turning to Ramses, "wilt Thou never free thyself from those
traitors?"
The pharaoh summoned a confidential council again. He called in Hiram,
also the priest who had brought the ring from Samentu. Pentuer did not
wish to take part in the council, but the worthy queen went herself to
it.
"I see," whispered Hiram to Tutmosis, "that after the expulsion of
priests women are to govern Egypt."
When the dignitaries had assembled, the pharaoh let Samentu's messenger
speak.
The young priest would not talk of the labyrinth, but he explained
sufficiently that the temple of Ptah was undefended, and that a few
tens of men would suffice to arrest all who were hiding there.
"This man is a traitor!" screamed the queen. "A priest himself, he
persuades 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, I should 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. Generals
straightened themselves; civilians looked at the priest with curiosity;
even the pharaoh's face became livelier.
"Listen not to him, my son," implored Queen Niort's.
"What dost Thou think," asked the pharaoh on a sudden; "what would the
holy Samentu do now were he living?"
"I am sure," answered the priest, energetically, "that Samentu would go
to the temple of Ptah and burn incense to the gods; but he would punish
murderers and traitors."
"And I repeat that Thou art the worst of traitors!" cried the queen.
"I only fulfill my duty," said the priest, unmoved by her language.
"This man is a pupil of Samentu indeed," said Hiram. "He alone sees
what is left us to do, and sees clearly."
The military and civil dignitaries recognized the correctness of
Hiram's opinion.
"Since we have begun a struggle with the priests," said the chief
scribe, "we should finish it, and finish it today when we have letters
proving that Herhor was negotiating with the Assyrians, an act which is
high treason against Egypt."
"He is carrying out the policy of Ramses XII," said the queen.
"But I am Ramses XIII," said the pharaoh impatiently.
Tutmosis rose from his chair.
"My lord," said he, "let me act. It is very dangerous to continue
uncertainty in the government, and it would be folly and crime not to
use this occasion. Since this priest says that the temple is not
defended, 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 enemy
while triumphant is the weakest. If we attack the temple of Ptah
immediately."
"Ye do not need to attack, but go in there as executives of the pharaoh
who commands you to imprison traitors," said the chief scribe. "Even
force is not needed. How often does one policeman rush at a crowd 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 tell
his holiness one other thing." He breathed a couple of times deeply,
but still he finished in a stifled voice and with effort. "On the
streets 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 of
high priest, that Thou art not even made pharaoh, and that 'it is
possible to exclude thee from the throne."
"That is just what I feared," whispered Niort's.
The pharaoh sprang up from his seat.
"Tutmosis!" cried he, in a voice in which his recovered energy was
heard. "Take as many troops as Thou wishest; go to the temple of Ptah
and bring me Herhor and Mefres, accused of high treason. If they are
justified 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 officials
cried,
"Death to traitors! When has it begun that in Egypt a pharaoh must
sacrifice faithful servants to beg for himself the favor of
scoundrels?"
Ramses XIII confided to Tutmosis the package of letters of Herhor to
Assyria, and said in a solemn voice,
"Till the rebellion of the priests is suppressed, I place my power in
the person of Tutmosis, commander of the guards. And do ye listen to
him, and do thou, worthy mother, go with thy judgments to him?"
"Wisely and justly has the sovereign acted!" exclaimed the chief
scribe. "It does not become a pharaoh to struggle with sedition, and a
lack of firm rule might destroy us."
All the dignitaries inclined before Tutmosis. Queen Niort's fell at her
son's feet.
Tutmosis, in company with the generals, went out to the court. He
commanded 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 our
lord."
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," replied
Tutmosis. "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 the
heavy cavalry, and ordered the volunteers to enter. Then he with
Kalippos mounted their horses, and soon the whole retinue turned toward
Memphis and vanished in a dust cloud.
When Hiram saw this from the window of a villa, he bowed before the
pharaoh and whispered,
"Now for the first time I believe that Thou art not in conspiracy with
the high priests."
"Wert Thou mad?" burst out the pharaoh.
"Pardon, sovereign, but the attack on the temple today was planned by
the priests. How they drew thee into it, holiness, I do not understand
to this moment."
It was five in the afternoon.