From the death of Ramses XIII till the day of his burial the state was
governed by the most worthy San-Amen-Herhor as high priest of the
Theban Amon, and viceroy of the late pharaoh.
The government of the viceroy, lasting some months, was very prosperous
for Egypt. Herhor pacified the outbreaks of the people, and, in
accordance with former times, he gave the seventh day for rest to the
working man. He introduced stern discipline among the priests; he
extended protection to foreigners, especially Phoenicians, and
concluded 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 an
Egyptian laborer, who had the right to appeal to a court if he had time
sufficient and witnesses.
Herhor occupied himself too in paying the debts which weighed on the
lands of the state and the pharaoh. With this object he persuaded the
Phoenicians to resign a certain part of the sums due them from the
treasury, and to cover the rest he drew from the labyrinth the enormous
sum of thirty thousand talents.
Thanks to these measures, in the course of three months peace and
prosperity were established in Egypt.
"May the rule of the viceroy, San-Amen-Herhor be blessed!" said the
people. "Indeed the gods predestined him to power so as to free Egypt
from misfortunes brought on by Ramses XIII, who was a woman-hunter and
frivolous."
A few days sufficed the people to forget that all Herhor's acts were
merely the accomplishment of plans made by the young and lofty-minded
pharaoh.
In the month Tobi, when the mummy of Ramses XIII was placed in its
tomb, a great assembly of the most important personages met in the
temple 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 the
priests had judged Ramses XII, and shown dislike for Ramses XIII, those
dignitaries assembled to settle the most important question of state,
under the presidency of Herhor. On the 25th of Tobi, exactly at noon,
Herhor, in the miter of Amenhotep, sat on the throne; others sat in
armchairs, and the council took place.
It was of wonderfully short duration, just as if the result had been
arranged previously.
"High priests, nomarchs, and leaders," began Herhor. "We have assembled
here on sad and important business. With the death of the eternally
living Ramses XIII, whose short and stormy reign ended in a manner so
unfortunate "Here Herhor sighed.
"With Ramses XIII perished not only a pharaoh, but the twentieth
dynasty, which was full of glory."
Among those present rose a murmur.
"The dynasty has not ended," interrupted the powerful nomarch of
Memphis, almost harshly. "The worthy Queen Niort's is still living,
therefore the throne belongs to her."
After a time Herhor answered: "My most worthy consort, Queen Niort's."
Now in the assembly was heard, not a murmur, but a cry, and it lasted a
number of minutes. When it ceased Herhor continued calmly and with
emphasis:
"My most worthy consort, Queen Niort's, inconsolable through sorrow for
her son, has abdicated the throne."
"Permit!" exclaimed the nomarch of Memphis. "The most worthy viceroy
has 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 concluded two
days before between the most worthy high priest of Amon, San-Amen-
Herhor, and Queen Niort's, widow of Ramses XII, and mother of Ramses
XIII.
After this explanation came a grave-like silence. Herhor began again,
"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 new
sovereign.
"This sovereign," continued Herhor, "should be a man of ripe years,
energetic, and skilled in government. For this reason I advise you to
choose for the highest position."
"Herhor!" cried some one.
"The most famous Nitager, the leader of the eastern army," finished
Herhor.
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. We
have more of them perhaps than are needed. Luckily, the gods
themselves, in setting aside useless rivals, have indicated a man most
worthy 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, the first
pharaoh of a new dynasty!"
Those present, with few exceptions, repeated the shout, and at the same
time the supreme judge brought on a golden tray two caps: the white one
of Upper, and the red one of Lower Egypt. One of these was taken by the
high priest of Osiris, the other by the high priest of Horus, and they
delivered them to Herhor, who, when he had kissed the golden serpent,
put them both on his head.
Then those present began the ceremony of offering homage, which lasted
a couple of hours. After that a proper act was written; those who took
part in the election placed their seals on it, and from that moment
San-Amen-Herhor was the real pharaoh, the lord of both worlds, also of
the life and death of his subjects.
Toward evening his holiness returned wearied to his chambers of a high
priest, where he found Pentuer, who had grown thin, and on whose
emaciated face weariness and sadness were evident.
When Pentuer prostrated himself the pharaoh raised him and said with a
smile,
"Thou didst not sign my election, Thou didst not give me homage, and I
fear 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 so
wearied me that my only desire is to learn wisdom."
"Thou canst not forget Ramses?" inquired Herhor. "And yet Thou knewest
him only a very short time, while Thou hast labored with me during
years."
"Blame me not, holiness, but Ramses XIII was the first pharaoh to
commiserate the Egyptian people."
Herhor smiled.
"O ye learned men," said he, shaking his head. "But it was Thou who
didst turn the attention of Ramses to the people, and now Thou bearest
mourning for him in thy heart, though he did nothing whatever for the
people. It was Thou who commiserated, not he. Ye are strange men, in
spite of your powerful minds," continued Herhor. "It is the same thing
with Menes. That priest considers that he is the most peaceful man in
Egypt, though it was he who overturned the dynasty and smoothed the
road to power for me. Were it not for his letter about the eclipse of
the sun on the 20th of Paofi, perhaps I and the late Mefres would be
splitting stones now in the quarries.
"Well, go; go and greet Menes for me. Remember also that I know how to
be thankful, which is the great secret of ruling. Tell Menes that I
shall carry out every wish of his, unless he asks me, for example, to
abdicate. Return to me when Thou hast rested, I will keep an important
place for thee."
And he touched Pentuer's head, which was inclined submissively.
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End of Project Gutenberg's The Pharaoh and the Priest, by Boleslaw Prus