CHAPTER LVII
When he left Fayum the pharaoh and his retinue advanced southward anumber of days up the Nile, surrounded by a throng of boats, greetedby shouts, and covered with flowers.
On both banks of the river, on a background of green fields, extendedan unbroken series of huts of the people, groves of fig trees, groupsof palms. Every hour appeared the white houses of some village, or alarger place with colored buildings, and the immense pylons oftemples.
On the west the wall of the Libyan hills was outlined not verydistinctly; but on the east the Arabian line approached ever nearer tothe river. It was possible to see clearly the steep, jagged cliffs,dark, yellow or rose colored, recalling by their forms the ruins offortresses or of temples built by giants.
In the middle of the Nile they met islands which had risen from thewater as it were yesterday, but were covered with rich vegetationto-day and were occupied by birds in countless numbers. When the noisyretinue of the pharaoh sailed near, the frightened birds flew up and,circling above the boats, joined their cries with the mighty sound ofpeople. Above this all hung a transparent sky and light so full oflife that in the flood of it the black earth assumed a brightness, andthe stones rainbow colors.
Time passed, therefore, pleasantly for the pharaoh. At first theincessant cries irritated him somewhat, but later he grew soaccustomed that he turned no attention to them. He was able to readdocuments, take counsel, and even sleep.
From a hundred and fifty to two hundred miles above Fayum on the leftbank of the Nile is Siut, where Rameses XIII. took a rest of two days.He was even obliged to halt there, for the mummy of the late pharaohwas still in Abydos, where they were making solemn prayers at thegrave of Osiris.
Siut was one of the richest parts of Upper Egypt. At that place weremade the famous vessels of white and black clay, and there they wovelinen. It was also the chief market-place to which people broughtgoods from the oases scattered throughout the desert. There besideswas the famous temple of the jackal-headed god, Anubis.
On the second day of his stay in that place the priest Pentuerappeared before Rameses. He was the chief of that commission sent toinvestigate the condition of the people.
"Hast thou news?" inquired the sovereign.
"I have this, O holiness, that all the country blesses thee. All withwhom I speak are full of hope, and say, 'His reign will be a new lifefor Egypt.'"
"I wish," replied Rameses, "my subjects to be happy; I wish thetoiling man to rest; I wish that Egypt might have eight millions ofpeople as aforetime and win back that land seized from it by thedesert; I wish the laborer to rest one day in seven and each man whodigs the earth to have some little part of it."
Pentuer fell on his face before the kindly sovereign.
"Rise," said Rameses. "But I have had hours of grievous sadness: I seethe suffering of my people; I wish to raise them, but the treasury isempty. Thou thyself knowest best that without some tens of thousandsof talents I cannot venture on such changes. But now I am at rest; Ican get the needed treasure from the labyrinth."
Pentuer looked at his sovereign with amazement.
"The overseer of the treasure explained to me what I am to do," saidthe pharaoh. "I must call a general council of all orders, thirteen ofeach order. And if they declare that Egypt is in need the labyrinthwill furnish me with treasure."
"O gods!" added he, "for a couple--for one of the jewels which liethere it would be possible to give the people fifty rest days in ayear! Never will they be used to better purpose." Pentuer shook hishead.
"Lord," said he, "the six million Egyptians, with me and my friendsbefore others, will agree that thou take from that treasure. But, Oholiness, be not deceived; one hundred of the highest dignitaries ofthe state will oppose, and then the labyrinth will give nothing."
"They wish me, then, to beg before some temple!" burst out thepharaoh.
"No," replied the priest. "They fear lest that treasure house beemptied once thou touch it. They will suspect thy most faithfulservants, holiness, of sharing in the profits flowing from thelabyrinth. And then envy will whisper to each of them: 'Why shouldstthou not profit also?' Not hatred of thee, holiness, but mutualdistrust, greed, will urge them to resistance."
When he heard this the pharaoh was calm, he smiled even.
"If it be as thou sayst, be at rest, beloved Pentuer. At this moment Iunderstand exactly why Amon established the authority of the pharaohand gave him superhuman power. For the purpose, seest thou, that ahundred, even of the most distinguished rascals, should not wreck thestate."
Rameses rose from his armchair and added,--
"Say to my people: Work and be patient. Say to the priests who areloyal: Serve the gods and cultivate wisdom, which is the sun of theuniverse. But those stubborn and suspicious dignitaries leave to mymanagement. Woe to them if they anger me."
"Lord," said the priest, "I am thy faithful servant."
But when he had taken farewell and gone out care was evident on hisface.
About seventy-five miles from Siut, higher up the Nile, the wildArabian rocks almost touch the river, but the Libyan hills have pushedaway so far from it that the valley at that point is perhaps thewidest part of Egypt. Just there, side by side, stood Tanis andAbydos, two holy cities. There was born the first Egyptian pharaoh,Menes, there, a hundred thousand years before, were laid in the gravethe holy relics of the god Osiris slain by Set (his brother Typhon)treacherously.
There, finally, in memory of those great events, the famous pharaohSeti built a temple to which pilgrims came from every part of Egypt.Each believer was bound even once during life to bring his forehead tothe blessed earth of Abydos. Truly happy was he whose mummy could makea journey to that place and halt even at a distance from the temple.
The mummy of Rameses XII. spent two days there; for he had been aruler noted for devotion. There is nothing wonderful in this,therefore, that Rameses XIII. began his reign by rendering homage tothe grave of Osiris.
Seti's temple was not among the oldest or most splendid in Egypt, butit was distinguished for pure Egyptian style. His holiness RamesesXIII., accompanied by Sem the high priest, visited the temple and madeofferings in it.
The ground belonging to the edifice occupied a space of seventy-fivehectares, on which were fish ponds, flower beds, orchards andvegetable gardens, besides the houses or rather villas of the templepriesthood. Everywhere grew poplars and acacias, as well as palm, fig,and orange trees which formed alleys directed toward the cardinalpoints of the world, or groups of trees of almost the same height andset out in order.
Under the watchful eyes of priests even the plant world did notdevelop according to its own impulses into irregular but picturesquegroups; it was arranged in straight lines according to direction, orstraight lines according to height, or in geometrical figures.
Palms, tamarinds, cypresses, and myrtles were arranged like warriorsin ranks or columns. The grass was a divan shorn and ornamented withpictures made of flowers, not of any chance color, but of that colorwhich was demanded. People looking from above saw pictures of gods orsacred beasts blooming on the turf near the temple; a sage found thereaphorisms written out in hieroglyphs.
The central part of the gardens occupied a rectangular space ninehundred yards long and three hundred wide. This space was enclosed bya wall of no great height which had one visible gate and a number ofsecret entrances. Through the gate pious people entered the spacewhich surrounded the dwelling of Osiris; this space was covered with astone pavement. In the middle of the space stood the temple, arectangular pile four hundred and fifty yards long and in width onehundred and fifty.
From the public gate to the temple was an avenue of sphinxes withhuman heads and lion bodies. They were in two lines, ten in each, andwere gazing into each others' eyes. Only the highest dignitaries mightpass between these sphinxes.
At the head of this avenue, and opposite the public gate, rose twoobelisks or slender and lofty granite columns of four sides, on whichwas inscribed the his
tory of the pharaoh Seti.
Beyond the obelisks rose the gate of the temple having at both sidesof it gigantic piles in the form of truncated pyramids called pylons.These were like two strong towers, on the walls of which werepaintings representing the visits of Seti, or the offerings which hemade to divinities.
Earth-tillers were not permitted to pass this gate which was free onlyto wealthy citizens and the privileged classes. Through it was theentrance to the peristyle or court, surrounded by a corridor which hada multitude of columns. From this court, where there was room for tenthousand people, persons of the noble order might go still farther tothe first hall, the hypostyle; this had a ceiling which rested on tworows of lofty columns, and there was space in it for two thousandworshippers. This hall was the last to which lay people were admitted.The highest dignitaries who had not received ordination had the rightto pray there, and look thence at the veiled image of the god whichrose in the hall of "divine apparition."
Beyond the hall of "divine apparition" was the chamber of "tables ofoffering," where priests placed before the gods gifts brought by thefaithful. Next was the chamber of "repose," where the god rested whenreturning from or going to a procession, and last was the chapel orsanctuary where the god had his residence.
Usually the chapel was very small, dark, sometimes cut out of oneblock of stone. It was surrounded on all sides by chapels equallysmall, filled with garments, furniture, vessels and jewels of the godwhich in its inaccessible seclusion slept, bathed, was anointed withperfumes, ate, drank, and as it seems even received visits from youngand beautiful women.
This sanctuary was entered only by the high priest, and the rulingpharaoh if he had received ordination. If an ordinary mortal enteredhe might lose his life there.
The walls and columns of each hall were covered with inscriptions andexplanatory paintings. In the corridor surrounding the peristyle werethe names and portraits of all the pharaohs from Menes the first rulerof Egypt to Rameses XII. In the hypostyle, or hall for nobles, thegeography and statistics of Egypt were presented pictorially, also thesubject nations. In the hall of "apparition" were the calendar and theresults of astronomical observation; in the chamber of "tables ofoffering," and in that of "repose" figured pictures relating toreligious ceremonial, and in the sanctuary rules for summoning beingsbeyond the earth and controlling the phenomena of nature.
This last kind of knowledge was contained in statements so involvedthat even priests in the time of Rameses XII. did not understand them.The Chaldean Beroes was to revive this expiring wisdom.
Rameses XIII., after he had rested two days in the official palace atAbydos, betook himself to the temple. He wore a white tunic, a goldbreastplate, an apron with orange and blue stripes, a steel sword athis side and on his head a golden helmet. The pharaoh sat in a chariotdrawn by horses adorned with ostrich plumes, and was conducted bynomarchs as he moved slowly toward the house of Osiris, surrounded byhis officers.
Whithersoever he looked: toward the field, the river, the roofs ofhouses, or even the limbs of tamarind and fig-trees there was a throngof people, and an unceasing shout which was like the roar of atempest.
When he arrived at the temple the pharaoh stopped his horses anddescended before the public gate. This act pleased the common peopleand delighted the priesthood. He passed on foot along the avenue ofsphinxes and, greeted by the holy men, burned incense before thestatues of Seti which occupied both sides of the main entrance.
In the peristyle the high priest turned the attention of his holinessto the splendid portraits of the pharaohs, and pointed out the placeselected for that of Rameses. In the hypostyle he indicated to him themeaning of the geographical maps and statistical tables.
In the chamber of "divine apparition" Rameses offered incense to thegigantic statue of Osiris, and the high priest showed him the columnsdedicated to the separate planets: Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars,Jupiter, and Saturn. The planets stood around statues of the sun godto the number of seven.
"Thou hast told me," said Rameses, "that there are six planets;meanwhile I see seven columns."
"The seventh represents the earth, which is also a planet."
The astonished pharaoh asked for explanation, but the sage was silent,indicating by signs that his lips were sealed on that subject.
In the chamber of the "tables of offering" was heard low but beautifulmusic, during which a solemn dance was given by a chorus ofpriestesses.
The pharaoh removed his golden helmet; next, his breastplate of greatvalue, and gave both to Osiris, desiring that these gifts shouldremain in the treasury of the god, and not be transferred to thelabyrinth.
In return for his bounty the high priest bestowed on the sovereign amost beautiful dancer fifteen years of age, who seemed greatlydelighted with her fortune.
When the pharaoh found himself in the hall of "repose" he sat on thethrone, and his substitute in religion, Sem, to the sound of music andamid the smoke of censers, entered the sanctuary to bring forth thedivinity.
Half an hour later, to the deafening sound of bells, appeared in thegloom of the chamber a golden boat hidden by curtains which moved attimes as if some living being were sitting behind them.
The priests prostrated themselves, and Rameses looked intently at thetransparent curtains. One of these was turned aside and the pharaohsaw a child of rare beauty which looked at him with such wise eyesthat the ruler of Egypt was almost afraid of it.
"This is Horus," whispered the priest. "Horus the rising sun. He isthe son of Osiris and also his father, and the husband of his ownmother, who is his sister."
The procession began, but only through the interior of the temple. Inadvance went harpers and female dancers, next a white bull with agolden shield between his horns,--then two choruses of priests andhigh priests bearing the god, then choruses, and finally the pharaohin a litter borne by eight priests of the temple.
When the procession had passed through all the corridors and halls ofthe temple, and the god and Rameses had returned to the chamber ofrepose, the curtain concealing the sacred boat slipped apart and thebeautiful child smiled at the pharaoh.
After that Sem bore away the boat and the god to the chapel.
"One might become a high priest," said the pharaoh, who was so pleasedwith the child that he would have been glad to see it as often aspossible.
But when he had gone forth from the temple and seen the sun and thethrong of delighted people, he confessed in his soul that heunderstood nothing. He knew not whence they had brought that child,unlike any other child in Egypt, whence that superhuman wisdom in itseyes, nor what the meaning was of all that he himself had seen.
Suddenly he remembered his murdered son, who might have been asbeautiful, and the ruler of Egypt wept in presence of a hundredthousand subjects.
"Converted! The pharaoh is converted!" said the priests. "Barely hashe entered the dwelling of Osiris, and his heart is touched."
That same day one blind man and two paralytics, who were prayingoutside the walls of the temple, recovered health. The council ofpriests decided, therefore, to reckon that day in the list of thosewhich were miraculous, and to paint a picture on the external wall ofthe edifice representing the weeping pharaoh and the cured people.
Rameses returned rather late in the afternoon to his palace to hearreports. When all the dignitaries had left the cabinet Tutmosis camein and said,--
"Holiness, the priest Samentu wishes to pay thee homage."
"Well, let him come."
"He implores thee, lord, to receive him in a tent in the militarycamp; he asserts that the walls of the palace are fond of listening."
Before sunset, the pharaoh went with Tutmosis to his faithful troopsand found among them the royal tent, at which Asiatics were on guardby command of Tutmosis.
In the evening came Samentu dressed in the garb of a pilgrim, and whenhe had greeted his holiness with honor, he whispered,--
"It seems to me that I was followed the whole way by some man who hasstopped not f
ar from this tent, O holiness. Perhaps he was sent by thehigh priests."
At the pharaoh's command Tutmosis ran out, and found, in fact, astrange officer.
"Who art thou?" asked he.
"I am Eunana, a centurion in the regiment of Isis. The unfortunateEunana. Dost thou not remember me, worthiness? More than a year ago atthe manoeuvres near Pi-Bailos I discovered the sacred scarabs--"
"Ah, that is thou!" interrupted Tutmosis. "But thy regiment is not inAbydos?"
"The water of truth flows from thy lips. We are quartered at awretched place near Mena where the priests have commanded us to cleara canal, as if we were Hebrews or earth-diggers."
"How hast thou appeared here?"
"I implored my superiors for a rest of some days, and like a deerthirsting for a spring I, thanks to the swiftness of my feet, havehurried hither--"
"What dost thou wish, then?"
"I wish to beg favor of his holiness against the shaven heads who giveme no promotion because I am sensitive to the sufferings of warriors."
Tutmosis returned to the tent, ill-humored, and repeated theconversation to the pharaoh.
"Eunana?" repeated the sovereign. "Yes, I remember him. He caused ustrouble with his beetles, but got fifty blows of a stick throughHerhor. And thou sayst that he complains of the priests? Bring himhither."
The pharaoh told Samentu to go into the second division of the tent.
The unfortunate officer soon showed himself. He fell with his face tothe earth, and then kneeling, and sighing, continued,--
"I pray every day at his rising and setting to Re Harmachis, and toAmon, and Re, and Ptah, and to other gods and goddesses, for thyhealth, O sovereign of Egypt! That thou live! That thou have success,and that I might see even the splendor of thy heel."[39]
[39] Authentic.
"What does he wish?" asked the pharaoh of Tutmosis, observingetiquette for the first time.
"His holiness is pleased to inquire what thy wish is?" repeatedTutmosis.
The deceitful Eunana, remaining on his knees, turned toward thefavorite, and said,--
"Thou art the ear and eye of the land; thou givest delight and life,hence I will answer thee as at the judgment of Osiris: I have servedin the priests' regiment of the divine Isis ten years; I have foughtsix years on the eastern boundary. Men of my age are commanders ofthousands, but I am only a centurion. I receive blows of sticks atcommand of the god-fearing priests. And why is such injustice done me?In the daytime I think of books, and at night I read them, since thefool who leaves books as quickly as a gazelle takes to flight is oflow mind; he is like the ass which receives lashes, like the deaf manwho does not hear, and with whom one must speak with his fingers. Inspite of my love for science I am not puffed up with my own knowledge,but I take counsel with all, for from each man it is possible to learnsomething, and I surround with my esteem worthy sages--"
The pharaoh moved impatiently, but listened on, knowing that anEgyptian considered garrulousness as his duty and the highest honor tosuperiors.
"This is what I am," said Eunana. "In a strange house I look not atwomen. I give my attendants to eat what is proper, but when my turncomes I dispute not about the division. I have a face which issatisfied at all times, and in presence of superiors I actrespectfully. I never sit in the presence of an older man standing; Iam not forward, and without invitation I go not into other men'shouses. I am silent touching that which my eyes see, for I know thatwe are deaf to men who use many words.
"Wisdom teaches that the body of a man is like a granary full ofvarious objects. Therefore, I choose at all times the good that is inme and express it. I keep the bad shut up in my person. The deceits ofother men I repeat not, and as to that which is committed to me Ialways accomplish it in the best manner possible.
"And what is my reward?" finished Eunana, raising his voice; "I suffercold, I go in rags, I am not able to lie on my back, it is so beaten.I read in books that the priestly order rewards valor and prudence.Indeed! that must have been at some other time, and very long ago. Forthe priests of to-day turn from men of ability and drive strength andvalor out of the bones of officers."
"I shall fall asleep in presence of this man," said the pharaoh.
"Eunana," said Tutmosis, "his holiness is convinced that thou artexpert in books, but tell now in as few words as possible what thywish is."
"An arrow does not go so quickly to its mark as my request will fly tothe divine feet of his holiness," replied Eunana. "The service of theshaven heads has so disgusted me, the priests have filled my heartwith such bitterness, that if I am not transferred to the army of thepharaoh, I shall pierce myself with my own sword, before which theenemies of Egypt have trembled more than one time and more than ahundred times. I would rather be a decurion, nay a simple warrior ofhis holiness than a centurion in priestly regiments; a pig or a dogmay serve them, but not a believing Egyptian!"
Eunana uttered the last words with such mad anger that the pharaohsaid in Greek to Tutmosis,--
"Take him to the guard. An officer who does not like the priests maybe of use to us."
"His holiness, the lord of both worlds has given command to receivethee into his guard," repeated Tutmosis.
"My health and life belong to our lord. May he live through eternity!"exclaimed Eunana, and he kissed the footstool beneath the feet of thepharaoh.
Eunana, now made happy, moved backward, falling on his face afterevery couple of steps, and left the tent, blessing his sovereign.
"His garrulousness irritated me," said Rameses. "I must teach Egyptiansoldiers and officers to speak briefly, not like learned scribes."
"May the gods grant that to be his only failing," whispered Tutmosis,on whom Eunana had made a bad impression.
Rameses summoned Samentu.
"Be at rest," said he to the priest. "That officer who came after theewas not following. He is too stupid for commissions of that sort. Buta heavy hand may be used in case of necessity. Well, now, tell me whatinclined thee to such cautiousness?"
"I know, almost, the road to the treasure chambers in the labyrinth,"said Samentu.
The pharaoh shook his head.
"That is a difficult task," said he in a low voice. "I ran an hourthrough various halls and corridors, like a mouse chased by a cat. AndI confess that, not merely did I not understand that road, but I couldnot have even escaped from the place unattended. Death in the sunlightmay be pleasant, but death in those dens, where a mole would lose itsway! Brr!"
"Still we must find that road and master it," said Samentu.
"But if the overseers themselves give the necessary part of thetreasure," inquired the pharaoh.
"They will not do that while Mefres, Herhor, and their confederatesare living. Believe me, sovereign, the question for those dignitariesis to roll thee in swaddling clothes, like an infant."
Rameses grew pale from anger.
"Unless I wind them in chains! How wilt thou discover the way?"
"Here in Abydos, in the grave of Osiris, I found the whole plan of theroad to the treasure," said Samentu.
"But how didst thou learn that it was here?"
"Inscriptions in my temple of Set explained that to me."
"When didst thou find the plan?"
"When the mummy of thy eternally living father, O holiness, was in thetemple of Osiris. I accompanied the revered relics and while on nightservice in the hall of 'repose' I entered the sanctuary."
"Thou shouldst be a general, not a high priest!" cried Rameses,laughing. "And now thou understandest the way of the labyrinth?"
"I have understood it this long time, now I have taken indications forguidance."
"Canst thou explain it to me?"
"Of course, at the right time, I will even show thee a plan, holiness.That way," continued Samentu, "passes in zigzags four times throughthe whole labyrinth; it begins on the upper story and ends in thelowest place underground, and has a number of other twists. That iswhy it is so long."
"And how couldst t
hou go from one hall to another when there is such amultitude of doors in them?"
"On every door leading to the object there is a portion of thissentence: 'Woe to the traitor who tries to penetrate the supremesecret of the state and to stretch forth a sacrilegious hand towardthe treasure of the gods. His remains will be like offal, and hissoul, torn by its sins, will wander without rest, through darkplaces.'"
"And that inscription does not terrify thee?"
"But, holiness, does the sight of a Libyan spear terrify thee? Threatsare good against common people, but not against me, who am able myselfto write curses still more dreadful."
The pharaoh fell to thinking.
"Thou art right," said he. "A spear will not harm him who knows how toward it off, and a deceitful road will not lead astray the sage whoknows the word of truth. But how wilt thou manage to make stones inthe wall move apart before thee, and columns change into doors ofentrance?"
Samentu shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
"In my temple," replied he, "there are imperceptible entrances evenmore difficult to open than those in the labyrinth. Whoso knows thekey to a mystery can go everywhere, as thou hast said justly, Oholiness."
Rameses rested his head on his hand and continued thinking.
"I should be sorry," said he, "if misfortune were to meet thee on theway."
"In the worst event I shall meet death, and does not death threateneven a pharaoh. Besides, didst thou not march to the Soda Lakesboldly, though thou wert not sure of returning? And, lord, think not,"continued the priest, "that I must pass over the same distance asother men who visit the labyrinth. I shall find nearer points, and inthe course of one prayer to Osiris I can reach a place which thouwouldst only reach after thirty prayers."
"But are there other entrances?"
"There are, most assuredly, and I must find them. I shall not enter asthou didst, by the main gate or in the daytime."
"How then?"
"There are external doors which I know and which the wise overseers ofthe labyrinth leave unguarded. In the court the watches are notnumerous and they trust so much to the care of the gods, or to thefear of the people that they sleep in the night time most frequently.Besides, the priests go to pray in the temple three times betweensunset and sunrise, but the guards perform their devotions in the openair. Before one prayer is finished I shall be in the edifice."
"And if thou go astray?"
"I have a plan."
"But if the plan is imperfect?" asked the pharaoh, unable to hide hisanxiety.
"But, holiness, if thou obtain not the treasures of the labyrinth? Ifthe Phoenicians change their minds and refuse the promised loan? Ifthe army be hungry, and the hopes of the common people be deceived? Bepleased to believe me, lord," continued the priest, "that I amid thecorridors of the labyrinth shall be safer than thou in thy kingdom ofEgypt."
"But the darkness--the darkness! And the walls which one cannot breakthrough, and the depth, and those hundreds of ways in which he whoenters must lose himself. Believe me, Samentu, a battle with men isamusement, but a conflict with darkness and doubt--that is dreadful."
"Holiness," answered Samentu, smiling, "thou dost not know my life. Atthe age of twenty-five I was a priest of Osiris."
"Thou?" asked Rameses, with astonishment.
"I, and I will tell at once why I passed to the service of Set. Theysent me to the peninsula of Sinai to build a small chapel for miners.The labor of building continued six years. I had much free time andwandered among mountains, examining the caves in them.
"What have I not seen in those places! Corridors so long that it tookhours to pass through them, narrow entrances through which if a manpasses he must crawl on his stomach; chambers so immense that in eacha whole temple might find room sufficient. I saw underground rivers,lakes, crystal chambers, dens totally dark in which no man could seehis own hand, again others in which there was as much light as if asecond sun had been shining there.
"How often have I been lost in countless passages, how often has mytorch gone out, how often was I approaching an unseen precipice? Ihave passed many days in subterranean places, living on parchedbarley, licking the moisture from wet rocks, not knowing whether Ishould ever see this upper world again.
"But I gained experience. My vision grew sharp and I even came to lovethose underground regions. And to-day when I think of the childishrecesses of the labyrinth I am ready for laughter. Edifices built bymen are like mole-hills when compared with the immense structuresreared by those silent and invisible earth spirits.
"But once I met a dreadful thing which brought me to change myposition. West from the quarries of Sinai is a group of ravines andmountains among which subterranean thunders are heard frequently, theearth trembles, and flames are seen sometimes. I was made curious, soI went there for a longer visit. I sought, and, thanks to aninconsiderable opening, I discovered a whole chain of immense cavesunder the arches of which it would be possible to place the largestpyramid.
"When I wandered into those places I was met by a smell ofputrefaction, a smell so strong that I wished to flee from it. But,conquering myself, I entered the cave whence it came, andbeheld-- Imagine, lord, a man with legs and arms shorter by one halfthan ours, but thick, awkward, and with claws at their extremities.Add to this figure a broad tail, flattened at the side, indented likethe comb of a cock, a very long neck, and on it a dog's head. Finally,dress this monster in armor covered on the back with carved spikes.Now imagine that figure standing on its feet with arms and breastresting against a cliff--"
"That was something very ugly," put in Rameses; "I should have killedit immediately."
"It was not ugly," answered Samentu, shaking himself. "For think,lord, that monster was as tall as an obelisk."
Rameses made a movement of displeasure.
"Samentu," said he, "it seems to me that thou didst visit thy caves ina dream."
"I swear to thee, holiness, by the life of my children!" exclaimed thepriest, "that I speak truth. Yes; that monster in the skin of areptile covered with a scaly armor, if lying on the ground, would withits tail be fifty paces long. In spite of fear and repulsion Ireturned a number of times to that cave and examined the creature mostcarefully."
"Then it was alive?"
"No, it was dead. Dead a very long time, but preserved like ourmummies. The great dryness of the air preserved it, and perhaps somesalt of the earth unknown to me.
"That was my last discovery," continued Samentu. "I went no more intocaves, for I meditated greatly. 'Osiris,' said I, 'creates lions,elephants, horses, and Set gives birth to serpents, bats, crocodiles;the monster which I met is surely a creation of Set, and since itexceeds everything known by us under the sun, Set is a mightier godthan Osiris.'
"So I turned to Set, and on returning to Egypt fixed myself in histemple. When I told the priests of my discovery they explained to methat they knew a great many monsters of that sort."
Samentu drew breath, then continued,--
"Shouldst thou desire to visit our temple at any time, holiness, Iwill show thee wondrous and terrible beings in coffins: geese withlizards' heads and bats' wings. Lizards like swans, but larger thanostriches, crocodiles three times as long as those which live now inthe Nile, frogs as bulky as mastiffs. Those are mummies, or skeletonsfound in caves and preserved in our coffins. People think that weadore them, but we merely save them from decay and examine theirstructure."
"I shall believe thee when I see them myself," replied the pharaoh."But tell me, whence could such creatures come?"
"The world in which we live, holiness, has suffered great changes. InEgypt itself we find ruins of cities and temples hidden in the earthdeeply. There was a time when that which is now Lower Egypt was an armof the sea, and the Nile flowed through the whole width of our valley.Still earlier the sea was here, where this kingdom is now. Ourancestors inhabited the region which the western desert has taken.Still earlier tens of thousands of years ago the people were not as weare, they rather resembled
monkeys, but they knew how to build huts,they had fire, and they used stones and clubs in fighting. There wereno horses in those days, nor bulls; while elephants, rhinoceroses andlions were three or even four times as large as those beasts are inour time.
"But enormous elephants were not the first creatures. Before themlived immense reptiles: flying, swimming, and walking. Earlier thanthe reptiles in this world there were only snails and fish, and beforethem only plants, but plants such as exist not at present."
"And still earlier?" inquired Rameses.
"Still earlier the earth was empty and void, and the spirit of Godmoved over the waters."
"I have heard something of this," said Rameses, "but I shall notbelieve it till thou show me mummies of monsters which, as thou sayst,are in thy temple."
"With permission, holiness, I will finish what I have begun," saidSamentu. "When I saw that immense body in the cave at Sinai fearseized me, and for two years or more I entered no cave of any kind.But when priests of Set explained to me the origin of such wonderfulcreatures my alarm vanished and curiosity rose up in place of it. Ihave no pleasanter amusement to-day than to wander in subterraneanplaces and search for ways amid darkness. For this reason thelabyrinth will not cause me more trouble than a walk through thepharaoh's garden."
"Samentu," said the sovereign, "I esteem thy marvellous daring and thywisdom; thou hast told me so many curious things that indeed I myselfhave conceived a wish to examine caves, and some time I will even gowith thee to Sinai. Still I have fears as to thy conquest of thelabyrinth, and in every event I will summon an assembly of Egyptiansto empower me to use its treasures."
"That will do no harm," replied the priest. "But none the less will mylabor be needed, since Mefres and Herhor will never consent to yieldthe treasure."
"And art thou sure of success?" inquired Rameses persistently.
"Since Egypt is Egypt," said Samentu, "there has not been a man whohad such means to win victory as I have. This encounter is for me noteven a struggle, but an amusement. Darkness terrifies some men; I lovedarkness and can even see in the midst of it. Others are unable toguide themselves among the numerous chambers and corridors; I shall dothat very easily. Besides, the secrets of opening hidden doors areunknown to other men, while I know them thoroughly.
"Had I nothing beyond what I have recounted I should discover the waysof the labyrinth in one month or in two, but I have besides a detailedplan of those passages and I know the expressions which will lead mefrom hall to hall. What then can hinder me?"
"Still doubt is concealed at the bottom of thy heart; thou didst fearthat officer who seemed to pursue thee."
The priest shrugged his shoulders.
"I fear nothing and no man," replied he with calmness, "but I amcautious. I provide against everything, and I am prepared even forthis, that they may seize me."
"Dreadful tortures would await thee in that case!" whispered Rameses.
"No tortures. I shall open a door directly from the subterraneanchamber of the labyrinth to the land of endless light."
"And wilt thou not be sorry for me?"
"Why should I? I aim at a great object; I wish to occupy Herhor'splace."
"I swear that thou shalt have it."
"Unless I perish," added Samentu. "But if I go along precipices tomountain summits, and in that wandering my foot slips and I fall, whatdoes it signify? Thou, lord, wilt care for the future of my children?"
"Go forward," said Rameses. "Thou art worthy to be my foremostassistant."
The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt Page 61
