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

by Bolesław Prus

  CHAPTER LIX

  After the funeral of the pharaoh, Egypt returned to its usual life,and Rameses XIII. to affairs of state.

  The new ruler in the month Epifi visited the cities of the Nileabove Thebes. Hence he went to Sni, a city greatly devoted to tradeand commerce. In Sni was the temple of Keph, or the "Soul of theWorld." He visited Edfu, whose temple had pylons a hundred and fiftyfeet high, and which possessed an immense library of papyruses, and onthe walls of which were written and depicted, as it were, anencyclopedia of the geography, astronomy, and theology of that period.He visited the quarries in Chennu, in Nubia, or Kom-Ombo; he madeofferings to Horus, the god of light, and to Sebak, the spirit ofdarkness. He was on the island Ab, which among dark cliffs seemed anemerald, produced the best dates, and was called the Capital ofElephants, Elephantina, for on that island the ivory trade wasconcentrated. He visited finally the city of Sunnu, situated at thefirst cataract of the Nile, and visited the immense quarries, graniteand sienite, where rocks were split off with wooden wedges on whichthe quarrymen poured water which swelled them, and thus obelisks onehundred and thirty feet high were detached from the face of thequarry.

  Tomb of a Pharaoh in the Libyan Hills]

  Wherever the new lord of Egypt appeared his subjects greeted himwildly. Even criminals, toiling in the quarries--men whose bodies werecovered with never-healing wounds--experienced happiness since thepharaoh commanded to release them for the space of three days fromtheir labor.

  Rameses XIII. might feel proud and well satisfied, for no pharaoh intime of triumph was received as he on his peaceful journey. So,nomarchs, scribes, and high priests, seeing this boundless attachmentof the people, bent before the pharaoh and whispered,--

  "The people are like a herd of bulls, and we like prudent ants. Hencewe will honor our new lord so that he may enjoy health and protect usfrom ruin."

  In this way the opposition of dignitaries, very strong some monthsearlier, had grown silent and yielded to boundless obedience. Thewhole aristocracy, all the priests, fell on their faces before RamesesXIII.; Mefres and Herhor alone were unshaken.

  Hence when the pharaoh returned from Sunnu to Thebes the chieftreasurer brought unfavorable news the first day to him.

  "All the temples," said he, "refuse credit, and beg most obedientlythat thou, holiness, command to pay in the course of two years allsums which they have lent the treasury."

  "I understand," said the pharaoh; "this is the work of holy Mefres.How much do we owe them?"

  "About fifty thousand talents."

  "We have to pay fifty thousand talents in two years," repeated thepharaoh. "Well, what more?"

  "The taxes come in very slowly. During three months we have receivedbarely one-fourth of what is due us."

  "What has happened?"

  The treasurer was anxious.

  "I have heard," said he, "that some people have explained toearth-tillers that during thy reign they are not to pay taxes."

  "Oh! ho!" cried Rameses, laughing. "Those 'some people' seem to mevery like the worthy Herhor. Well, what is this; does he want to killme with hunger? How can we meet current expenses?"

  "At Hiram's command the Phoenicians lend us," answered the treasurer."We have received from them eight thousand talents already."

  "But do ye give them notes?"

  "Notes and mortgages," sighed the treasurer. "They say that this is asimple formality. Still they settle on thy lands, and take what theycan from the people."

  Delighted with the reception given him by the people and the obedienceof magnates, the pharaoh was not even angry at Herhor and Mefres. Thetime of anger had passed, the moment of action had come, and Ramesesformed his plan that very day. He summoned for the morrow those inwhom he had most reliance: the high priest Sem, the prophet Pentuer,his favorite Tutmosis, and the Phoenician Hiram. When they hadassembled he said,--

  "Ye know, of course, the temples request me to return to them thefunds borrowed by my father. Every debt is sacred, that which belongsto the gods I should like to pay first of all. But my treasury isempty, since even the taxes come in only fitfully.

  "For this reason I look on the state as in danger, and I am forced toturn for funds to treasures preserved in the labyrinth."

  The two priests moved uneasily.

  "I know," continued the pharaoh, "that according to our sacred laws mydecree is not sufficient to open to us the vaults of the labyrinth.But the priests there have explained what is needful. I must summonrepresentatives of all orders in Egypt, thirteen men from each order,and obtain a confirmation of my will from them."

  The pharaoh smiled at this point, and finished,--

  "To-day I have called you to help me to summon that assembly of theorders, and this is my command to you:

  "Thou, worthy Sem, wilt select for me thirteen priests and thirteennomarchs. Thou, pious Pentuer, will bring to me from various provincesthirteen land-tillers and thirteen artisans. Tutmosis will bringthirteen officers and thirteen nobles; and Prince Hiram will occupyhimself in bringing thirteen merchants. I wish that this assemblyshould meet at the very earliest in my palace in Memphis and, withoutlosing time in vain talk, recognize that the labyrinth is to furnishmeans to my treasury."

  "I make bold to remind thee, holiness," said Sem, "that at thatassembly the worthy Herhor and the worthy Mefres must be present, andthat, according to law, and even duty, they are to oppose touching thetreasure in the labyrinth."

  "Of course I agree to that," replied the pharaoh promptly. "They willgive their reasons, I mine; the assembly will judge whether a statecan exist without money, and whether it is wise to waste treasure indarkness while the state is threatened with indigence."

  "A few sapphires of those which are in the labyrinth would suffice topay all debts to Phoenicians," said Hiram. "I will go at once amongthe merchants and find not thirteen but thirteen thousand who willvote at thy command, O holiness."

  Then the prince fell on his face and took farewell of the sovereign.

  When Hiram went out, the high priest said,--

  "I know not whether it was well to have a foreigner at thisconsultation."

  "I needed him here; for not only has he great influence over ourmerchants, but, what is more important, he is obtaining money for usat present. I wish to convince the man that I remember what is due tohim, and have means to pay it."

  Silence followed, which Pentuer made use of, and said,--

  "If thou permit, O holiness, I will go at once to occupy myself withassembling land-tillers and artisans. They will all vote with ourlord, but from the multitude we must select the wisest."

  He took leave of the pharaoh and went out.

  "But thou, Tutmosis," inquired Rameses.

  "My lord," said the favorite, "I am so certain of thy nobility andarmy that I make bold to turn to thee with a request for myself."

  "Thou wishest money?"

  "Not at all. I wish to marry."

  "Thou!" exclaimed the pharaoh. "What woman has earned from the godssuch a happiness?"

  "She is the beautiful Hebron, the daughter of Antefa, the most worthynomarch of Thebes," replied Tutmosis, laughing. "If thou wilt bepleased to speak on my behalf to that revered family--I had thought tosay that my love for thee would be increased, but I will not say so,for I should tell untruth."

  "Well, well," said the pharaoh, slapping him on the shoulder, "do notpersuade me of that which I know. I will go to Antefa to-morrow and itseems to me that in the course of a few days I shall arrange awedding. But now thou mayst go to thy Hebron."

  Left with Sem alone, his holiness said,--

  "Thy face is gloomy. Dost thou doubt that we may find thirteen prieststo carry out my orders?"

  "I am certain," replied Sem, "that almost all the priests and nomarchswill do what may be needed for the happiness of Egypt and thysatisfaction, holiness. But be pleased not to forget that when it is aquestion of the treasure of the labyrinth the final decision will begiven to Amon."

  "Is that the s
tatue of Amon in Thebes?"

  "It is."

  The pharaoh waved his hand contemptuously,--

  "Amon is Herhor and Mefres. That they will not agree I know; but Ihave no intention of sacrificing Egypt to the stubbornness of twopersons."

  "Thou art mistaken, holiness," answered Sem with dignity. "It is truethat very often statues of gods do what high priests wish, but notalways. In our temples mysterious and uncommon things happensometimes. At moments the statues of the gods say and do what theythemselves wish."

  "In that case I am at rest," interrupted the pharaoh. "The gods knowthe condition of the state, and they read my heart. I wish Egypt to behappy. And as I am striving to that end alone no wise and good god canhinder me."

  "May thy words, holiness, be verified," whispered the high priest.

  "Dost thou wish to tell me anything more?" asked Rameses, noticingthat his substitute in religion was delaying his departure.

  "Yes, lord. It is my duty to remind thee that every pharaoh afterreaching power and burying his predecessor must think of twobuildings: a tomb for himself and a temple for the gods."

  "Just so! I have thought more than once of this, but not having moneyI do not issue orders. For thou must understand," added he withanimation, "that if I build it will be something great, somethingwhich will command Egypt not to forget me quickly."

  "Then dost thou wish to have a pyramid?"

  "No. I could not, of course, build a greater pyramid than that ofCheops, nor a greater temple than that of Amon in Thebes. My kingdomis too weak to accomplish great works. I must make something entirelynew, therefore, for I tell thee that our buildings weary me. They areall alike, just as men are, and differ from one another only inproportions, as a man is bigger than a child."

  "Then what?" asked the high priest, opening his eyes widely.

  "I have spoken with the Greek Dion, who is the most famous architectamong us, and he praised my plan. For my own tomb I wish to build around tower with internal stairs, like that in Babylon. I shall builda temple, not to Osiris or Isis, but to the One God in whom allbelieve: the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, the Phoenicians, and the Jews.I wish that temple to be like the palace of King Assar, the model ofwhich Sargon brought to my father."

  "Those are great plans," said the high priest, shaking his head, "butit is impossible to execute them. The Babylonian towers are notlasting because of their form, they overturn easily, while ouredifices must endure for ages. A temple to the One God we may notraise, for he needs no food, drink, or raiment. The whole world is hisdwelling-place. Where, then, is the temple which could hold him? Whereis the priest who would dare to make offerings before him?"

  "Well, let us build a residence for Amon-Ra," said the pharaoh.

  "Yes, if it is not like the palace of King Assar, for that is anAssyrian building, and it is not proper for us Egyptians to imitatebarbarians."

  "I do not understand thee," interrupted Rameses, with irritation.

  "Listen to me, lord," answered Sem. "Look at snails, each one of themhas a different shell: one is winding, but blunt; another is winding,but pointed; a third is like a box. In the same way precisely eachpeople build edifices according to their blood and disposition. Bepleased also to remember that Egyptian edifices differ as much fromthose of Assyria as the Egyptian people differ from Assyrians. Amongus the fundamental form of every building is a pointless pyramid,--themost enduring form, as Egypt is the most enduring among kingdoms. WithAssyrians the fundamental form is a cube, which is injured easily andis subject to destruction.

  "The proud and frivolous Assyrian puts his cubes one upon another, andrears a many-storied structure under which foundations yield. Theobedient and prudent Egyptian puts his truncated pyramids one behindthe other. In that way nothing hangs in the air, but every part of thestructure is resting on the ground. From this it comes that ourbuildings are broad and endure forever, while those of the Assyriansare tall and weak, like their state, which at first rises quickly,but in a couple of generations there is nothing left of it but ruins.

  "The Assyrian is a noisy self-praiser, so in his buildings everythingis put on the outside: columns, sculpture, pictures. While the modestEgyptian hides the most beautiful columns and carving inside thetemples--like a sage who conceals in his heart lofty thoughts,desires, and feelings--he does not ornament his shoulders and breastwith them. Among us everything beautiful is hidden; among them,everything is made to show. The Assyrian, if he could, would cut openhis stomach to exhibit to the world what peculiar foods he isdigesting."

  "Speak--speak on!" said Rameses.

  "Not much remains for me to say," continued Sem. "I only wish, lord,to turn thy attention to the general form of our edifices, and thoseof the Assyrians. When I was in Nineveh a few years ago, I observedthe Assyrian buildings towering above the earth haughtily; it seemedto me that they were raging horses which had broken from the bit andreared on their haunches, but would soon fall and perhaps break theirlegs in addition.

  "Now try, holiness, to look from a lofty point on some Egyptiantemple. What does it recall to thee? This--a man prostrate on theearth and praying. The two pylons are his arms. The hall 'of columns,'or 'the heavenly chamber,' is his head, the chamber of 'divineapparition' and 'the tables of offering' are his breasts, and thesecret retreat of the god is the heart of the pious Egyptian. Ourtemple teaches us what we should be. 'Have a hand as strong as apylon,' it says to us, 'and arms as powerful as walls. Have in thyhead reason as broad and rich as the forecourt of the temple, a soulas pure as the chamber of "apparition" and of "offering," and in thyheart have God, O Egyptian!' But the Assyrian buildings say to thatpeople: 'Tower above nations, O Assyrian; rear thy head beyond everyother! Thou wilt do nothing great here on earth, but at least thouwilt leave many ruins.'

  "Wouldst thou, then, O sovereign, venture to rear in our land Assyrianedifices and imitate a people which Egypt contemns and despises?"

  In spite of Sem's explanation, even now Rameses judged that theAssyrian palaces surpassed those of Egypt in beauty. But he so hatedthe Assyrians that his heart began to hesitate.

  "In that case," said he, "I will defer the building of my tomb and thetemple. But do ye sages who are kindly disposed toward me, think overplans of edifices which would give my name to the remotestgenerations."

  "A superhuman pride fills the soul of this young man!" thought thehigh priest, and he took farewell of the pharaoh in sadness.