The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt

by Bolesław Prus

  CHAPTER XVII

  Since the evening when Sarah sang in the boat, the royal barge had notappeared on the Nile, and Prince Rameses was annoyed in real earnest.

  The month Mechir (December) was approaching. The waters decreased, theland extended more widely each day, the grass became higher andthicker, and in the grass flashed up flowers of the most varied huesand of incomparable odor. Like islands in a green sea appeared, in thecourse of a single day, flowery places, as it were white, azure,yellow, rosy, or many-colored carpets from which rose an intoxicatingodor. Still the prince was wearied, and even feared something. Fromthe day of his father's departure he had not been in the palace, andno one from the palace had come to him, save Tutmosis, who since thelast conversation had vanished like a snake in the grass. Whetherthey respected the prince's seclusion, or desired to annoy him, orsimply feared to pay him a visit because he had been touched bydisfavor, Rameses had no means of knowing.

  "My father may exclude me from the throne, as he has my elderbrothers," thought the heir sometimes; and sweat came out on hisforehead, while his feet became cold.

  "What would he do in that case?"

  Moreover Sarah was ill, thin, pale, her great eyes sank; at times shecomplained of faintness which attacked her in the morning.

  "Surely some one has bewitched the poor thing," groaned the cunningTafet, whom the prince could not endure for her chattering and verybad management.

  A couple of times, for instance, the heir noticed that in the eveningTafet sent off to Memphis immense baskets with food, linen, evenvessels. Next day she complained in heaven-piercing accents thatflour, wine, and even vessels were lacking. Since the heir had come tothe villa ten times more of various products had been used there thanformerly.

  "I am certain," thought Rameses, "that that chattering termagant robsme for her Jews, who vanish in the daytime but are prowling around inthe night, like rats in the nastiest corners!"

  The prince's only amusement in these days was to look at the dateharvest. A naked man took his place at the foot of a high palm withoutside branches, surrounded the trunk and himself with a circular ropewhich resembled the hoop of a barrel. Then he raised himself on thetree by his heels, his whole body bent backward, but the hoop-likerope held him by squeezing his body to the tree. Next he shoved theflexible hoop up the trunk some inches, raised himself by his heelsagain, then shoved the rope up. In this way he climbed, exposedmeanwhile to the peril of breaking his neck, till he reached the top,where grew a crown of great leaves and dates.

  The prince was not alone when he saw these gymnastics; Jewish childrenalso were spectators. At first there was no trace of them. Then amongbushes and from beyond the wall curly heads and black gleaming eyesappeared. Afterward, when they saw that the prince did not drive themaway, these children came out each from a hiding-place and approachedthe tree gradually. The most daring among the girls picked up abeautiful date which she brought to Rameses. One of the boys ate thesmallest date, and then the children began to eat and to give theprince fruit. At first they brought him the best, then inferior dates,finally some that were spoilt altogether.

  The future ruler of the world fell to thinking, and said to himself,--

  "They crawl in at all points, and will treat me always in this way:they will give the good as a bait, and what is spoiled out ofgratitude."

  He rose and walked away gloomily; but the children of Israel rushed,like a flock of birds, at the labor of the Egyptian, who high abovetheir heads was singing unmindful of his bones and of this, that hewas harvesting not for his own use.

  Sarah's undiscovered disease, her frequent tears, her vanishingcharms, and above all the Jews, who, ceasing to hide, managed theplace with increasing tumult, disgusted Rameses to the utmost degreewith that beautiful corner. He sailed no more in a boat, he neitherhunted nor watched the date harvest, but wandered gloomily through thegarden, or looked from his roof at the palace. He would never go backto that palace unless summoned, and now he thought of a trip to hislands near the sea, in Lower Egypt.

  In such a state of mind was he found by Tutmosis, who on a certain daycame in a ceremonial barge to the heir with a summons from thepharaoh.

  "His holiness is returning from Thebes, and wishes the heir to goforth and meet him."

  The prince trembled, he grew pale and crimson, when he read thegracious letter of his lord and ruler. He was so moved that he did notnotice his adjutant's new immense wig, which gave out fifteendifferent perfumes, he did not see his tunic and mantle, more delicatethan mist, nor his sandals with gold rings as ornaments.

  After some time Rameses recovered, and inquired without looking atTutmosis,--

  "Why hast thou not been here for such a period? Did the disfavor intowhich I have fallen alarm thee?"

  "Gods!" cried the exquisite. "When wert thou in disfavor, and inwhose? Every courier of his holiness inquired for thy health; theworthy lady, Nikotris, and his worthiness Herhor have sailed towardthis villa repeatedly, thinking that thou wouldst make a hundred stepstoward them after they had made a couple of thousand toward thee. Isay nothing of the troops. In time of review the warriors of thyregiments are as silent as palm-trees, and do not go from thebarracks. As to the worthy Patrokles, he drinks and curses all dayfrom vexation."

  So the prince had not been in disfavor, or if he had been the disfavorwas ended. This thought acted on Rameses like a goblet of good wine.He took a bath quickly, anointed his body, put on fresh linen, a newkaftan, a helmet with plumes, and then went to Sarah.

  Sarah screamed when she saw the prince arrayed thus. She rose up, andseizing him around the neck, whispered,--

  "Thou art going, my lord! Thou wilt not come back to me."

  "Why not?" wondered the heir. "Have I not gone away often and returnedafterward?"

  "I remember thee dressed in just this way--over there in our valley,"said Sarah. "Oh, where are those hours! So quickly have they passed,and so long is it since they vanished."

  "But I will return and bring the most famous physician."

  "What for?" inquired Tafet. "She is well, my dear chick--she needsonly rest. But Egyptian physicians would bring real sickness."

  The prince did not look at the talkative woman.

  "This was my pleasantest month with thee," said Sarah, nestling up toRameses, "but it has not brought happiness."

  The trumpets sounded on the royal barge, repeating a signal givenhigher up on the river.

  Sarah started.

  "Dost thou hear, lord, that terrible outburst? Thou hearest andsmilest, and, woe to me, thou art tearing away from my embraces. Whentrumpets call nothing can hold thee, least of all thy slave, Sarah."

  "Wouldst thou have me listen forever to the cackling of hens in thecountry?" interrupted the prince, now impatient. "Be well, and waitfor me joyously."

  Sarah let him go from her grasp, but she had such a mournfulexpression that Rameses grew mild and stroked her.

  "Only be calm. Thou fearest the sound of our trumpets. But were theyill-omened the first day?"

  "My lord," answered Sarah, "I know that over there they will keepthee, so grant me this one, this last favor. I will give thee,"continued she, sobbing, "a cage of pigeons. They were hatched out andreared here; hence, as often as thou rememberest thy servant, open thecage and set one of them free; it will bring me tidings of thee, and Iwill kiss and fondle it as--as-- But go now!"

  The prince embraced her and went to the barge, telling his blackattendant to wait for the pigeons.

  At sight of the heir, drums and fifes sounded, and the garrison raiseda loud shout of welcome. When he found himself among warriors, theprince drew a deep breath, and stretched out his arms, like a manliberated from bondage.

  "Well," said he to Tutmosis, "women have tormented me, and thoseJews-- O Cyrus! command to roast me on a slow fire at once, but put menot in the country a second time."

  "So it is," confirmed Tutmosis; "love is like honey. It must be takenby sips, a man must not swim in it. Brr! shudders pa
ss over me when Ithink that thou hast passed nearly two months fed on kisses in theevening, dates in the morning, and asses' milk at midday."

  "Sarah is a very good girl," said Rameses.

  "I do not speak of her, but of those Jews who have settled down atthat villa like papyrus in swamp land. Dost thou see, they are lookingout at thee yet, and perhaps are sending greetings," said theflatterer.

  The prince turned to another side with displeasure, and Tutmosiswinked joyfully at the officers, as if to tell them that Rameses wouldnot leave their society very soon this time.

  The higher they ascended the Nile the denser on both banks werespectators, the more numerous were boats on the river, and the moredid flowers, garlands, and bouquets float down; these had been thrownat the barge of the pharaoh.

  About five miles above Memphis there were multitudes of people withbanners, with statues of gods, and with music; an immense roar washeard, like the sound of a tempest.

  "There is his holiness!" cried Tutmosis, delighted.

  One spectacle was presented to the eyes of the onlookers: in themiddle of a broad bend in the river sailed the great barge of thepharaoh, rising in front like the breast of a swan. At the right andleft sides of it, like two giant wings, pushed forward the countlessboats of his subjects, and in the rear, like a rich fan, stretched theretinue of the ruler of Egypt.

  Every one living shouted, sang, clapped hands, and threw flowers atthe feet of the lord whom no one even saw. It was enough that underthat gilded canopy and those ostrich plumes waved a ruddy blue flag,denoting that the pharaoh was present.

  The people in the boats were as if drunk, the people on the shore asif mad. Every moment some boat struck or overturned a boat and someman fell into the water, out of which luckily the crocodiles had fled,frightened by the unparalleled uproar. On the banks men ran into oneanother, for no one paid heed to his neighbor, his father, or hischild, but fixed his wild eyes on the gilded beak of the barge and thetent of the pharaoh. Even people who were trampled, whose ribs thewild crowd broke stupidly, and whose joints they put out, had no crysave this,--

  "May he live through eternity, O our ruler!--Shine on, thou the sun ofEgypt!"

  The madness of greeting spread to the barge of Rameses: officers,soldiers, and oarsmen pressed into one throng and strove to outshoutone another. Tutmosis, forgetting the heir to the throne, clambered upon the prow, and almost flew into the water.

  Meanwhile a trumpet sounded from the pharaoh's barge, and soon afterone answered from the barge of Rameses. A second signal, and the bargeof the heir touched the great barge of the pharaoh.

  Some official called to Rameses. From barge to barge they extended agangway of cedar with carved railings, and the prince found himselfnext in the embrace of his father.

  The presence of the pharaoh, or the storm of shouts roaring about him,so stunned Prince Rameses that he could not utter a syllable. He fellat his father's feet, and the lord of the world pressed the heir tohis sacred bosom.

  A moment later the side walls of the tent rose, and all the people onboth banks of the Nile saw their ruler on a throne, and on the highstep of it Rameses kneeling, with his head on the breast of hisfather.

  Such silence followed that the rustling of banners on the barges wasaudible. Then on a sudden burst forth one immense roar, greater thanall which had preceded. With this the Egyptian people honored thereconciliation of son and father; they greeted their present, andsaluted their future ruler.

  If any man had reckoned on dissensions in the sacred family of thepharaoh, he might convince himself then that the new royal branch heldto its parent trunk firmly.

  His holiness looked very ill. After the tender greeting of his son, hecommanded him to sit at the side of the throne.

  "My soul was rushing forth toward thee, Rameses," said he, "and allthe more ardently the better were the tidings which I had of thee.To-day I see not only that thou hast the heart of a lion, but thatthou art a man full of prudence, who knows how to estimate his ownacts, who is able to restrain himself, and who feels for the interestsof Egypt."

  When the prince, filled with emotion, was silent and kissed hisfather's feet, the pharaoh continued,--

  "Thou hast done well to renounce command of the Greek regiments,because from this day the corps in Memphis is thine, thou art itscommander."

  "My father!" whispered the heir, trembling.

  "Besides, in Lower Egypt, which is open on three sides to attacks ofhostile nations, I need a wise, active man, who will watch all thingsround him, weigh them well in his heart, and act promptly. For thisreason I appoint thee my lieutenant in that half of the kingdom."

  Abundant tears flowed from the prince's eyes. With those tears hebade farewell to his youth; he greeted power, to which his soul hadturned for years with uncertainty and longing.

  "I am now weak and wearied," said the ruler, "and were it not foranxiety touching thy youth and the future of Egypt, I would this daybeg my deathless ancestors to call me to their glory. Each day is forme more difficult, and therefore, Rameses, thou wilt begin to sharethe burden of rule with me. As a hen teaches her chicks to search outgrains of corn and hide before the hawk, so I will teach thee thattoilsome art of ruling a state and watching the devices of enemies.May thou fall on them in time, like an eagle on timid partridges."

  The pharaoh's barge and its well-ordered retinue had descended to apoint opposite the palace. The wearied ruler took a seat in hislitter, and at that moment Herhor approached Rameses.

  "Permit me, worthy prince," said he, "to be the earliest among thosewho are delighted with thy elevation. May thou lead the army with asmuch success as thou shalt govern the most important part of the stateto the glory of Egypt."

  Rameses pressed his hand firmly.

  "Didst thou do this, O Herhor?" asked he.

  "It belonged to thee," replied the minister.

  "Thou hast my gratitude, and wilt see that it is of value."

  "Thou hast rewarded me already in speaking thus," replied Herhor.

  The prince wished to depart; Herhor detained him.

  "A brief word. Be careful, O heir, that one of thy women, Sarah, doesnot sing religious hymns."

  When Rameses looked at him with astonishment, he added,--

  "During our sail on the Nile that maiden sang our most sacred hymn, ahymn to which only the pharaoh and high priests have the right tolisten. Poor child! she might have suffered for her skill and for herignorance of what she was singing."

  "Then has she committed sacrilege?" inquired Rameses, in confusion.

  "Yes, unconsciously," answered Herhor. "It is lucky that I was theonly man who understood it, and my decision is that between that songand our hymn the resemblance is remote. In every case let her neverrepeat it."

  "Well, and should she purify herself?" asked the prince. "Will itsuffice her, as a foreign woman, if she gives thirty cows to thetemple of Isis?"

  "Yes, let her give them," replied Herhor, with a slight grimace. "Thegods are not offended by gifts."

  "Do thou, noble lord," said Rameses, "be pleased to accept thismiraculous shield, which I received from my sacred grandfather."

  "I?--the shield of Amenhotep?" exclaimed the minister, with emotion."Am I worthy of it?"

  "By thy wisdom thou art equal to my grandfather, and thou wilt equalhim in position."

  Herhor made a low bow in silence. That golden shield set with preciousstones, besides its great value in money, had moreover the virtue ofan amulet; hence it was a regal present.

  But the prince's words might have the loftier meaning that Herhorwould equal Amenhotep in position. Amenhotep had been thefather-in-law of a pharaoh. Had the heir decided already to marryHerhor's daughter?

  That was the fond dream of Queen Nikotris and the minister. But itmust be acknowledged that Rameses in speaking of the future dignitiesof Herhor had not thought in the least of marrying his daughter, butof giving him new offices, of which there was a multitude at the courtand in the temples.

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