Moon of Israel: A Tale of the Exodus
Page 18
On the following day at the appointed hour I went to the great hall ofthe palace, that in which I had first seen Meneptah, and took my standin the place allotted to me. It was somewhat far back, perhaps becauseit was not wished that I, who was known to be the private scribe ofSeti, should remind Egypt of him by appearing where all could see me.
Great as was the hall the crowd filled it to its furthest corners.Moreover no common man was present there, but rather every noble andhead-priest in Egypt, and with them their wives and daughters, so thatall the dim courts shone with gold and precious gems set upon festalgarments. While I was waiting old Bakenkhonsu hobbled towards me, thecrowd making way for him, and I could see that there was laughter in hissunken eyes.
"We are ill-placed, Ana," he said. "Still if any of the many gods thereare in Egypt should chance to rain fires on Pharaoh, we shall be thesafer. Talking of gods," he went on in a whisper, "have you heard whathappened an hour ago in the temple of Ptah of Tanis whence I have justcome? Pharaoh and all the Blood-royal--save one--walked according tocustom before the statue of the god which, as you know, should bow itshead to show that he chooses and accepts the king. In front of Amenmeseswent the Princess Userti, and as she passed the head of the god bowed,for I saw it, though all pretended that they did not see. Then camePharaoh and stood waiting, but it would not bow, though the priestscalled in the old formula, 'The god greets the king.'
"At length he went on, looking as black as night, and others of theblood of Rameses followed in their order. Last of all limped Saptah and,behold! the god bowed again."
"How and why does it do these things?" I asked, "and at the wrong time?"
"Ask the priests, Ana, or Userti, or Saptah. Perhaps the divine neckhas not been oiled of late, or too much oiled, or too little oiled,or prayers--or strings--may have gone wrong. Or Pharaoh may have beenniggard in his gifts to that college of the great god of his House. Whoam I that I should know the ways of gods? That in the temple where Iserved at Thebes fifty years ago did not pretend to bow or to troublehimself as to which of the royal race sat upon the throne. Hush! Herecomes Pharaoh."
Then in a splendid procession, surrounded by princes, councillors,ladies, priests, and guards, Amenmeses and the Royal Wife, Urnure, alarge woman who walked awkwardly, entered the hall, a glittering band.The high-priest, Roi, and the chancellor, Nehesi, received Pharaoh andled him to his throne. The multitude prostrated itself, trumpets blewand thrice the old salute of "Life! Blood! Strength! Pharaoh! Pharaoh!Pharaoh!" was cried aloud.
Amenmeses rose and bowed, and I saw that his heavy face was troubled andlooked older. Then he swore some oath to gods and men which Roi dictatedto him, and before all the company put on the double crown and theother emblems, and took in his hands the scourge and golden sickle. Nexthomage was paid. The Princess Userti came first and kissed Pharaoh'shand, but bent no knee. Indeed first she spoke with him a while. Wecould not hear what was said, but afterwards learned that she demandedthat he should publicly repeat all the promises which her fatherMeneptah had made to her before him, confirming her in her place andrights. This in the end he did, though it seemed to me unwillinglyenough.
So with many forms and ancient celebrations the ceremony went on, tillall grew weary waiting for that time when Pharaoh should make his speechto the people. That speech, however, was never made, for presently,thrusting past us, I saw those two prophets of the Israelites who hadvisited Meneptah in this same hall. Men shrank from them, so that theywalked straight up to the throne, nor did even the guards strive to bartheir way. What they said there I could not hear, but I believe thatthey demanded that their people should be allowed to go to worship theirgod in their own fashion, and that Amenmeses refused as Meneptah haddone.
Then one of them cast down a rod and it turned to a snake which hissedat Pharaoh, whereon the Kherheb Ki and his company also cast down rodsthat turned to snakes, though I could only hear the hissing. After thisa great gloom fell upon the hall, so that men could not see each other'sfaces and everyone began to call aloud till the company broke up inconfusion. Bakenkhonsu and I were borne together to the doorway by thepressure of the people, whence we were glad enough to see the sky again.
Thus ended the crowning of Amenmeses.