The pharaoh bit his lips, but agreed to that project; so he sent Tutmosis with the banker to conduct Hiram to the palace by secret passages.



CHAPTER LV

ABOUT ten in the evening Hiram stood before his lord. He was dressed in the dark robe of a Memphis huckster.

"Why dost Thou steal in thus, worthiness?" inquired Ramses. "Is my palace a prison, or a house of lepers?"

"Ah, our sovereign!" sighed the old Phoenician. "Since Thou hast become lord of Egypt the criminals are those who dare to see thee and not give account of what Thou art pleased to tell them."

"To whom must ye repeat my words?" inquired the pharaoh.

Hiram raised his eyes and hands to heaven.

"Holiness, thou knowest thy enemies," said he.

"Thou knowest, worthiness, why I have summoned thee. I wish to borrow a few thousand talents."

Hiram made a hissing noise through his teeth, so that the pharaoh permitted him to sit in his presence, which was the highest honor. When he had disposed himself comfortably and rested, Hiram said,

"Why shouldst Thou borrow, holiness, when Thou mayst have a rich treasury?"

"I know, when I shall get Nineveh," interrupted Ramses. "That time is distant and I need money this day."

"I speak not of war," answered Hiram; "I speak of an affair which would bring large sums to the treasury immediately, and a permanent yearly income."

"How?"

"Permit us, holiness, and assist us to dig a canal which would join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean."

"Art Thou jesting, old man?" cried the pharaoh, springing up from his seat. "Who could do such a work, and who could wish to endanger Egypt? The sea would inundate the country."

"What sea? Neither the Mediterranean nor the Red Sea would," answered Hiram calmly. "I know that Egyptian priests who are engineers have examined this work and have calculated that it would give immense profit, it is the best work on earth. But they wish to do it themselves, or rather they do not wish that the pharaoh should do it."

"Where are thy proofs?" asked Ramses.

"I have not the proofs, but I will send a priest, holiness, who will explain the whole affair to thee, with plans and estimates."

"Who is this priest?"

Hiram thought a moment and then asked,

"Have I thy promise, holiness, that no one will know of him except us? He, lord, will render more service than I. He knows many secrets and many iniquities of the priesthood."

"I promise," answered the pharaoh.

"This priest is Samentu. He is a great sage, but needs money, and he is very ambitious. And since the high priests degrade him he will overturn the order of priests; for he knows many secrets oh, many!"

Ramses meditated. He understood that that priest was a great traitor, but he estimated the magnitude of the service which the man might render.

"Well," said the pharaoh, "I will think of this Samentu. But now let us suppose for the moment that it is possible to make such a canal; what profit shall I have from it?"

Hiram raised his left hand, and counted on his fingers.

"First, holiness, Phoenicia will give thee five thousand talents of unpaid tribute; second, Phoenicia will pay for the right of doing this work; third, when the work begins we will pay one thousand talents of yearly rent, and besides as many talents as Egypt furnishes us tens of laborers; fourth, for every Egyptian engineer we will give to thee, holiness, a talent a year; fifth, when the work is finished Thou wilt give us the canal for one hundred years, and we will pay for that one thousand talents yearly. Are those small gains?" inquired Hiram.

"But now, today," asked Ramses, "would ye give me those five thousand talents tribute?"

"If the treaty is made today we will give ten thousand, and we will add three thousand as an advance of rent for a three years' period."

Ramses meditated. More than once Phoenicians had proposed the cutting of this canal to the rulers of Egypt, but they had always met the unbending resistance of the priesthood. The Egyptian sages explained to the pharaoh that that canal would expose the country to inundations from the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. But Hiram asserted that such a thing would not happen; the priests knew that it would not.

"Ye Phoenicians," said the pharaoh, after a long time, "promise to pay one thousand talents yearly for one hundred years. Ye say that that canal dug in the sand is the best affair in the world. I do not understand this, and I confess, Hiram, that I am suspicious."

Hiram's eyes flashed.

"Lord," replied he, "I mil tell thee everything, but I abjure thee by thy crown, by the shade of thy father, not to discover the secret to any one. This is the greatest secret of the Chaldean and Egyptian priests, and even of Phoenicia. On it depends the future of the world."

"Well, well, Hiram," answered the pharaoh with a smile.

"To thee, O pharaoh," continued the Phoenician, "the gods have given wisdom, nobility, and energy, therefore, Thou art on our side. Thou, alone, of earthly rulers mayst be initiated, for Thou art the only one who will be able to accomplish great objects. For this reason Thou wilt have power such as no man has ever reached before thee."

Ramses felt the sweetness of pride in his heart, but he mastered his feelings.

"Praise me not for what I have not done; but explain to me what profit will come from this canal to Phoenicia and to Egypt?"

Hiram straightened himself in the chair, and began in a lowered voice,

"Know, lord, that east, north, and south of Assyria and Babylon are not morasses inhabited by strange monsters, but immense states and countries. Those countries are so great that thy foot warriors, O holiness, renowned for marching, would have to move eastward two years without halt before they could reach the end of them."

Ramses raised his brows like one who permits some man to lie, but knows that he is lying.

"Southeast of Babylon, ac the great sea, dwell one hundred millions of people who have mighty kings, who have priests wiser than those of Egypt, who have ancient books, and skilled artisans. Those people know how to make woven stuffs, implements and vessels as beautiful as those of the Egyptians, and from time immemorial they have temples above ground and underground, which are grander, richer, and larger than the temples of Egypt."

"Speak on, speak on!" said the pharaoh. But it was impossible to learn from his face whether his curiosity was roused by the description, or he was indignant at the untruth of the Phoenician.

"In those countries," continued Hiram, "are pearls, precious stones, gold, copper; in those countries grow the most curious grains, flowers, and fruits; finally they have forests where a man might wander whole months among trees thicker than the columns in the temples of Egypt and taller than palms. The inhabitants of those countries are mild and simple. And, holiness, if Thou wouldst send thither two regiments on ships, Thou wouldst be able to win an area of land larger than Egypt, richer than the treasures of the labyrinth. If Thou permit, I will send thee to-morrow specimens of the woven stuffs of those regions, with bronzes and woods from them. I will send also two grains of a wondrous balsam from those countries; if a man swallows this balsam, it opens the gates of eternity before him, and he experiences the happiness which falls to divinities only."

"I beg thee to send specimens of the stuffs, and the utensils. As to the balsam, never mind! We shall enjoy eternity and the gods without it sufficiently after death."

"But far, very far east of Assyria," added Hiram, "lie still greater countries, countries which have two hundred millions of inhabitants."

"How easy millions come to you Phoenicians," laughed Ramses.

Hiram placed his baud on his heart.

"I swear," said he, "by the souls of my ancestors, and by my honor that I am telling truth."

The pharaoh was moved; such a great oath arrested his attention.

"Speak on speak!" said he.

"These last lands," continued the Phoenician, "are very wonderful. They are inhabited by people with yellow skin and sloping eyes. Those people have a sovereign who is called the Son of Heaven, and he governs through sages, who are not priests, however, and have not such power as priests have in Egypt. Still those people are like the Egyptians. They honor dead ancestors and take great care of their remains. They use writing which calls to mind the writing of Egyptian priests. But they wear long robes of such stuffs as are unknown in this country; they have sandals which are like little benches, and they cover their heads with pointed boxes. The roofs of their houses are pointed too at the top, and are turned up at the edges.

"Those uncommon people have a grain which is more plentiful than Egyptian wheat, and they make of it a drink which is stronger than wine. They have a plant the leaves of which give strength to the members, gladness to the mind, and which enables them even to dispense with sleep. They have paper which they adorn with many colored images, and they have clay which after it is burned shines like glass, and is as resonant as metal.

"Tomorrow, if Thou permit, holiness, I will send specimens of the works of these people."

"Thou art narrating wonders, Hiram. But I do not see the connection between those things and the canal which Thou wishest to dig."

"I will tell in brief," replied the Phoenician. "When there is a canal all the Phoenician and Egyptian fleets will sail on the Red Sea and beyond it; in the course of a couple of months they will reach those rich countries which by land are almost inaccessible.

"But dost Thou not see, holiness," continued he, with gleaming eyes, "the treasures which we shall find there? Gold, precious stones, grain, woods? I swear to thee, lord," added he with enthusiasm, "that gold will be cheaper than copper is now, wood will be cheaper than straw, and a slave cheaper than a cow. Only let us, lord, dig the canal, and hire fifty thousand of thy warriors."

Ramses, too, was excited.

"Fifty thousand warriors," repeated he. "But what will ye give me for this?"

"I have said already, holiness. One thousand talents yearly for the right to work, and five thousand for the workmen, to whom we will give food and wages."

"But ye will kill them with work?"

"May the gods forbid! There is no profit when workmen perish. Thy warriors, holiness, will not work more at the canal than today on roads and at fortresses but what glory for thee, lord! what income for the treasury, what profit for Egypt! The poorest earth-tiller will have a wooden cottage, some cattle, tools, and furniture, and as I live, a slave. No pharaoh has ever raised the state to such a height or carried out such a work.

"What will dead and useless pyramids be in comparison with a canal to facilitate the passage of treasures to the whole world?"

"Yes," added the pharaoh, "and fifty thousand warriors on the eastern boundary."

"Of course!" exclaimed Hiram. "In view of that force, which will cost thee nothing, holiness, Assyria will not dare to stretch a hand toward Phoenicia."

The project was so brilliant and promised such profit that Ramses XIII felt dazed by it. But he mastered himself.

"Hiram," said he, "Thou art making splendid promises. So splendid that I fear lest Thou art concealing behind them some less favorable outcome. Therefore I must think over this matter deeply and take counsel with the priests."

"They will never consent of themselves!" exclaimed the Phoenician. "Though may the gods forgive me the blasphemy I am certain that if today the highest power were in the hands of the priests they would summon us in a couple of months to make the canal for them."

Ramses looked with cold contempt at Hiram.

"Old man," said he, "leave me to care for the obedience of the priests, and do Thou present proofs that what Thou hast said is true. I should be a very poor sovereign were I unable to remove obstacles springing up between my will and the interests of Egypt."

"Thou art indeed a great sovereign, our lord," whispered Hiram, bending to the floor.

It was then late at night. The Phoenician took farewell of the pharaoh and left the palace with Tutmosis. The following day he sent through Dagon a box with specimens of wealth from the unknown countries.

The pharaoh found in it statues of gods, woven stuffs, rings from India, small morsels of opium, and in a second division handfuls of rice, leaves of tea, two porcelain cups ornamented with pictures, and a number of drawings made on paper with China ink and colors. He examined them with the greatest attention and confessed that those articles were new to him: the rice, the paper, the pictures of people with pointed hats and sloping eyes.

He had no doubt now that a new region existed which differed in every way from Egypt: in mountains, trees, houses, bridges, ships.

"And that country has existed for ages undoubtedly," thought he; "our priests know of it, they know of its wealth, but say nothing. Evidently they are traitors who wish to limit the power of the pharaoh and impoverish him so as to push him down from the height of the throne afterward.

"But O ye my ancestors and my heirs," said he in spirit, "I call you to witness that I will put a limit to these iniquities; I will elevate wisdom, but I will stamp out deceit, and I will give Egypt hours of rest from labor."

Thinking thus, he raised his eyes and beheld Dagon waiting for an answer.

"Thy box is very curious," said he to the banker, "but this is not what I asked of thee."

The Phoenician approached him on tiptoe and, kneeling before him, whispered,

"Deign holiness, to sign a treaty with the worthy Hiram, then Tyre and Sidon will place all their treasures at thy feet."

Ramses frowned. He was displeased by the insolence of the Phoenicians who dared to lay down conditions to him; so he answered coldly,

"I will reflect and give Hiram my answer. Thou mayst withdraw, Dagon."

After the Phoenician had gone, Ramses meditated again; a reaction began in him,

"Those hucksters," said he in his heart, "consider me as one of themselves, nay more, they dare to hold up to me a bag of gold from afar so as to extort a treaty! I know not that any of the pharaohs admitted them to such confidence! I must change. The men who fall on their faces before the envoys of Assar may not say to me, 'Sign and Thou wilt get!' Stupid Phoenician rats, who steal into the pharaoh's palace and look on it as their own den a moment later!"

The longer he thought over it the more precisely he recalled the bearing of Hiram and Dagon, the greater the auger that seized him,

"How dare they how dare they lay conditions down to me? Hei, Tutmosis!" cried he.

His favorite stood before him immediately.

"What dost Thou command, my lord?"

"Send some one of the younger officers to Dagon to inform him that he has ceased to be my banker. He is too stupid for such a lofty position."

"But to whom dost Thou predestine the honor, holiness?"

"I know not at the moment. It will be necessary to find some one among Egyptian or Greek merchants. In the last resort we will turn to the priests."

Information of this resolve went through all the palaces, and before an hour it had reached Memphis. Throughout the whole city people said that the Phoenicians were in disfavor with the pharaoh. Towards evening the Egyptians had begun to break into the shops of the hated foreigners.

The priests drew a breath of relief. Herhor even made a visit to holy Mefres and said to him,

"My heart felt that our lord would turn from those unbelievers who are drinking the blood of the people. I think that it is proper for us to show him gratitude."

"And perhaps open the doors to our treasures?" asked Mefres, rudely. "Hasten not, worthiness, I have divined this young man woe to us if ever we let him get the upper hand."

"But if he has broken with the Phoenicians?"

"He will gain by that; for he will not pay his debts to them."

"In my opinion," said Herhor, after some thought, "now is the moment in which we can regain the favor of this youthful pharaoh. He is hasty in anger, but he knows how to be grateful. I have experienced that.

"Every word is an error," interrupted the stubborn Mefres. "First of all, this prince is not the pharaoh yet, for he has not been crowned in a temple. Second, he will never be a real pharaoh, since through contempt he will never be ordained a high priest. And finally, we do not need his favor, while he needs the favor of the gods, whom he insults at every step he makes."

Mefres, who had been panting from anger, stopped and began anew,

"He spent a month in the temple of Hator, he listened to the highest wisdom, and immediately afterward betook himself to the Phoenicians. What do I say? He visited the idol house of Astarte and took thence a priestess an offence against all religions. After that he reviled my piety, in public; conspired with such frivolous minds as his own, and with the aid of Phoenicians stole state secrets. And when he ascended the throne I speak incorrectly, when he had barely stood on the first step of the throne, he tried to make the priests odious; he disturbed the earth-tillers and the warriors, and renewed vows with his friends the Phoenicians.

"Dost thou, worthy Herhor, forget all this? And if Thou remember, dost Thou not understand the dangers which threaten us from this milksop? Still he has under his hand the rudder of the ship of state, which he pushes in among rocks and eddies. Who will assure me that this madman, who yesterday summoned to his presence the Phoenicians, but quarreled with them today, will not do something to-morrow which will expose Egypt to destruction?"

"And therefore, what?" inquired Herhor, looking into his eyes quickly.

"This we have no reason to show him gratitude, which would really be weakness. But since he wants money at once, we will not give him money."

"But but then what?" inquired Herhor.

"Afterward he will govern the state and increase the army without money," answered the irritated Mefres.

"But if his famished army wants to rob temples?"

"Ha! ha! ha!" burst out Mefres, but suddenly he grew serious and bowing said in an ironical tone,

"That pertains to thee, worthiness. A man who for so many years has directed the state should prepare for such dangers."

"Let us suppose," said Herhor, slowly, "that I can find means against dangers to the state. But canst thou, worthiness, who art the senior high priest, provide against insults to the priestly order and the temples?"

They looked each other in the eyes for a moment.

"Dost Thou inquire whether I can? Whether I can? I need make no effort. The gods have placed in my hands a thunderbolt which will destroy every author of sacrilege."

"Pst!" whispered Herhor. "Let that take place."

"With the consent or without the consent of the supreme council of priests," added Mefres. "When a boat is overturned there is no time to discuss with the oarsmen."

They parted in a gloomy state of mind. That same day in the evening the Pharaoh summoned them.

They came at the appointed time, each high priest separately. Each made a profound obeisance to his lord, and each stood in a separate corner without looking at the other.

"Have they quarreled?" thought Ramses? "No harm in that!"

A moment later the holy Sem and the prophet Pentuer came in. Then Ramses sat on an elevation, indicated to the priests stools in front of him, and said,

"Holy fathers! I have not summoned you thus far to counsel because all my orders related to military questions exclusively."

"Thou hadst the right, holiness, not to call us," put in Herhor.

"I have done what I was able in such a short time to strengthen the defensive power of the state. I have formed two new schools for officers and I have restored five regiments."

"Thou hadst the right, lord," answered Mefres.

"Of other military reforms I do not speak, since those questions do not concern you, holy people."

"Thou art right," said Mefres and Herhor together.

"But there is another question," continued the pharaoh, satisfied with the assent of the two dignitaries from whom he had expected opposition. "The funeral day of my divine father is approaching, but the treasury does not possess sufficient funds."

Mefres rose from his stool.

"Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses," said he, "was a just lord who for many years assured peace to his people, and praise to the gods. Permit, holiness, that the funeral of this pious pharaoh be performed at the expense of the temples."

Ramses XIII was astonished and was moved by the homage rendered his father. He was silent for a while as if unable to find an answer; at last he replied,

"I am very thankful to you for the honor shown my father, who is equal to the gods. I permit the funeral, and once more I thank you greatly."

He stopped, rested his head on his hand and meditated, as if struggling with himself. Suddenly he raised his head; his face was animated, his eyes were gleaming.

"I am moved," said he, "by this proof of your good-will. If the memory of my father is so dear to you ye cannot have ill-will toward me."

"Thou hast no doubt, I think, holiness, touching our goodwill?" said the high priest Sem.

"Thou art speaking truth," continued the pharaoh. "I suspected you unjustly of prejudice toward me. I wish to correct my suspicion; I will be sincere with you."

"May the gods bless thee, holiness," said Herhor.

"I will be sincere. My divine father, because of age, illness, and perhaps priestly occupations, could not devote so much time to affairs of state as I can. I am young, in health, free, hence I wish to rule, myself, and will rule. As a leader must direct his army on his own responsibility and according to his own plan, so shall I direct the state. This is my express will and I shall not draw back from it.

"But I understand that even were I the most experienced I could not succeed without faithful servants and wise counselors. Therefore I shall ask your advice sometimes on various questions."

"To this end we constitute the supreme council near thy throne," remarked Herhor.

"I shall use," continued Ramses with animation, "your services immediately, even from this moment."

"Command, lord," said Herhor.

"I wish to improve the condition of the Egyptian people. But since in such affairs over-hasty action may only bring injury, I give them at first a small thing: After six days' labor the seventh for rest."

"Such was it during the reigns of the eighteenth dynasty. That law is as old as Egypt itself," said Pentuer.

"Rest every seventh day will give fifty days to each laborer during a year, or it will take from his lord fifty drachma. On a million of laborers the state will lose ten thousand talents yearly," said Mefres. "We have calculated that in the temples."

"That is true," answered Pentuer, quickly, "but the losses will be during the first year only, for when the people increase in strength by rest they will recover all and more in the following years."

"That is true," answered Mefres, "but in every case it is necessary to have ten thousand talents for that first year. I think even that twenty thousand talents would not be amiss."

"Thou art right, worthy Mefres," said the pharaoh. "In view of the changes which I wish to introduce in my state twenty thousand, and even thirty thousand talents would not be too great a sum; therefore," added he quickly, "I shall ask assistance of you holy men."

"We are ready to support every measure of thy holiness with prayers and processions," said Mefres.

"Very good; pray and encourage the people to pray. But besides that give the state thirty thousand talents," answered the pharaoh.

The high priests were silent; Ramses waited a while, then turned to Herhor,

"Thou art silent, worthiness."

"Thou hast said thyself, O sovereign, that the treasury has no means, even to bury Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses. I cannot even divine, therefore, where we could get thirty thousand talents."

"But the treasury of the labyrinth."

"That is a treasury of the gods, to be touched only at a moment when the state is in supreme need," replied Mefres.

Ramses XIII boiled up with anger.

"If earth-tillers do not need this sum, I do," said he, striking his fist on the arm of the chair.

"Holiness," replied Mefres, "Thou canst in the course of a year receive more than thirty thousand talents, and Egypt twice as much."

"How?"

"Very simply. Give command, sovereign, to expel the Phoenicians from Egypt."

It seemed that the pharaoh would rush at the insolent high priest; he grew pale, his lips quivered, his eyes stared. But he restrained himself in one moment, and said, in a tone of wonderful calmness,

"Well, sufficient. If ye are able to give only such counsels I shall get on without them. The Phoenicians have our signatures that we will pay them our debts faithfully. Has this occurred to thee, Mefres?"

"Pardon, holiness, but at that moment other thoughts occupied me. Thy ancestors, not on papyrus, but on bronze and stone carved out the statement that the gifts made by them to the gods and the temples belonged and would belong forever to the gods and the temples."

"And to you priests," added the pharaoh, sneeringly.

"As much to us," replied the haughty high priest, "as the state belongs to thee, sovereign. We guard and increase those treasures; but we have not the right to spend them."

The pharaoh left the hall panting with anger, and went to his own cabinet. His position was presented to him with terrible distinctness. Of the hatred of the priests toward him he had no doubt any longer. Those were the same dignitaries who, giddy with pride, had the past year refused him the corps of Memphis, and who had made him viceroy only when it seemed to them that he had performed an act of penitence by withdrawing from the palace the very same who watched every movement of his, made reports regarding him, but did not tell him, the heir to the throne, even of the treaty with Assar, the very same dignitaries who had employed deceit against him in the temple of Hator, and who at the Soda Lakes slaughtered prisoners to whom he had promised freedom.

The pharaoh recalled the obeisances of Herhor, the looks of Mefres, and the tones of voice which both used. Beneath the show of good-will, their pride and their contempt for him appeared each moment. He asks for money, they promise prayers. Nay! they dare to tell him that he is not sole ruler in the land of Egypt.

The young sovereign laughed in spite of himself, for he called to mind the hired herdsmen who told the owner of the flock that he had no right to do what he liked with it. Besides the ridiculous aspect there was in the case a point which was terrible. The treasury contained perhaps a thousand talents which, according to the recent rate of outlay would last from seven to ten days. And then what? How would the officials, the servants, and above all how would the army, exist, not only without pay, but without sustenance?

The high priests knew this position of the pharaoh if they did not hasten to assist him they wished to ruin him, and to ruin him in the course of a few days, even before the funeral of his father.

Ramses recalled a certain event of his childhood.

He was at a school of the priests when, on the festival of the goddess Mut, after various amusements they introduced the most famous buffoon in Egypt. This artist represented an unfortunate hero: when he commanded he was not obeyed, his anger was answered with laughter, and when, to punish those who made sport of him, he seized an axe, the axe broke in his hands. At last they let out a lion at him and when the defenseless hero began to flee it turned out that not a lion was chasing him, but a pig in a lion's skin.

The pupils and the teachers laughed at those adventures till the tears came; but the little prince sat gloomily; he was sorry for the man who was eager for great things but fell covered with ridicule.

That scene and the feelings which he experienced then were revived in the memory of the pharaoh. "They want to make me like that buffoon," thought he. Despair seized him, for he felt that his power would end when the last talent was issued, and with his power his life also.

But here came a certain revulsion. He halted in the middle of the room and thought,

"What can happen to me? Nothing save death. I will go to my glorious ancestors, to Ramses the Great But then, I could not tell them that I died without defending myself. After the misfortunes of this earthly life eternal shame would meet me. How was it to end? He, the conqueror at the Soda Lakes, to yield before a handful of deceivers against whom one Asiatic regiment would not have much trouble? For the reason, then, that Mefres and Herhor wish to rule Egypt and the pharaoh, his troops must suffer hunger, and a million men are not to receive rest from labor? But did not his ancestors rear these temples. Did they not fill them with spoils? And who won the battles? The priests, or the warriors? Who, then, had a right to the treasures, the priests, or the pharaoh and his army?"

Ramses shrugged his shoulders and summoned Tutmosis. Though it was late at night the favorite came to him straightway.

"Dost Thou know," asked the pharaoh, "that the priests have refused me a loan, though the treasury is empty?"

Tutmosis straightened himself, and asked,

"Wilt Thou command to take them to prison?"

"Wouldst thou?"

"There is not an officer in Egypt who would hesitate to carry out an order from our lord and leader."

"In that case," said the pharaoh, deliberately, "there is no need to imprison any one. I have too much power on my side and too much contempt for the priesthood. A man does not put into a box bound with iron the carrion which he meets on the highway; he merely passes around it."

"But a hyena is confined in a cage," whispered Tutmosis.

"It is too early yet. I must be gracious to those men, at least till my father is buried or they might commit some indignity on his revered mummy, and destroy his spirit. But go tomorrow to Hiram and tell him to send me that priest of whom we have spoken."

"That will be done. But I must remind thee, holiness, that today people attacked Phoenician houses in Memphis."

"Oho! That was not needed."

"It seems to me, too," continued Tutmosis, "that since Thou hast commanded Pentuer to investigate the condition of earth-tillers and laborers the priests are exciting the nomarchs and nobles. They say that it is thy wish to ruin the nobility for the sake of the people."

"But do the nobles believe that?"

"There are some who believe, but there are others who say directly that it is an intrigue of the priests against the pharaoh."

"But if I wish indeed to improve the condition of earth-tillers?"

"Thou wilt do, lord, that which pleases thee," answered Tutmosis.

"Oh, I understand my position!" exclaimed Ramses. "Be at rest, and tell the nobility that not only will they lose nothing in carrying out my orders, but their own condition will be improved notably. The wealth of Egypt must be taken at last from the hands of the unworthy and given to faithful servants."

The pharaoh dismissed his adjutant and went to rest satisfied. His temporary despair seemed to him laughable.

About noon of the following day it was announced that a deputation of Phoenician merchants had come to his holiness.

"Do they wish to complain of the attack on their houses?" inquired the pharaoh.

"No," replied the adjutant, "they wish to offer thee homage."

In fact a number of Phoenicians, under the leadership of Rabsun, declared that, according to ancient custom they had made bold to lay an insignificant gift at the feet of the sovereign who gave life to them and security to their property.

Then they placed on the tables gold plates, chains, and goblets filled with jewels.

After that, Rabsun placed on the steps of the throne a tray with the papyrus by which the Phoenicians bound themselves to give all things necessary for the army to the amount of two thousand talents.

That was a considerable gift, since all that the Phoenicians had brought represented a sum of three thousand talents.

The pharaoh answered the faithful merchants very graciously, and promised protection. He dismissed them in happiness.

Ramses XIII drew a breath of relief: bankruptcy of the treasury, and therefore the need of using violent measures against the priests was deferred ten days longer.

In the evening, again, under the guardianship of Tutmosis, the worthy Hiram stood in the cabinet of his holiness. This time he did not complain of weariness, but he fell on his face and cursed the stupid Dagon.

"I have learned," said he, "that that mangy fellow dared to remind thee, holiness, of our talk concerning the canal to the Red Sea. May he perish! May the leprosy devour him! May his children become swineherds and his grandchildren Hebrews. But do thou, sovereign, only command, and whatever wealth Phoenicia has she will lay at thy feet without bond or treaty. Are we Assyrians or priests," added he in a whisper, "that one word of such a mighty potentate should not suffice us?"

"But if I should require a really large sum?"

"Such as?"

"For example, thirty thousand talents."

"Immediately?"

"No, in the course of a year."

"Thou wilt have it, holiness," answered Hiram, without hesitation.

The pharaoh was astonished at this liberality.

"But must I give you a pledge?"

"Only for form's sake," replied the Phoenician. "Give us, holiness, the quarries in pledge, so as not to rouse the suspicions of priests. Were it not for them, Thou wouldst have all Phoenicia without pledge or paper."

"But the canal? Am I to sign a treaty at once?" asked Ramses.

"Not at all. Thou wilt make, O holiness, a treaty when it pleases thee."

It seemed to the pharaoh that he was uplifted in the air. At that moment it seemed to him that he had tasted for the first time the sweetness of regal power, and tasted it, thanks to the Phoenicians.

"Hiram," said he, controlling himself no longer, "I give thee permission this day to dig a canal which shall join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean."

The old man fell at the feet of the pharaoh.

"Thou art the greatest sovereign ever seen on earth," said he.

"For the time Thou art not permitted to speak of this to any one, because the enemies of my glory are watching. But that Thou shouldst feel certain, I give thee this from my own finger."

He took from his finger a ring adorned with a magic stone on which was engraved the name Horns, and put it on the finger of the Phoenician.

"The property of all Phoenicia is at thy command," said Hiram, moved profoundly. "Thou wilt accomplish a work which will herald thy name till the sun quenches."

The pharaoh pressed Hiram's iron-gray head and commanded him to sit down before him.

"And so we are allies," said he, after a while, "and I hope that from this will rise prosperity for Egypt and Phoenicia."

"For the whole world," added Hiram.

"But tell me, prince, whence hast Thou such confidence in me?"

"I know thy noble character, holiness. If thou, sovereign, wert not a pharaoh, in a few years Thou wouldst become the most renowned of Phoenician merchants and the chief of our council."

"Let us suppose that," replied Ramses. "But I, to keep my promises, must first bend the priests. That is a struggle the issue of which is uncertain."

Hiram smiled.

"Lord," said he, "if we were so insignificant as to abandon thee today when thy treasury is empty, and thy enemies are insolent, Thou wouldst lose the battle. For a man deprived of means loses daring easily; from an impoverished king his armies turn away as well as his dignitaries and his subjects. But if thou, sovereign, have our gold and our agents, with thy army and thy generals Thou wilt have as much trouble with the priests as an elephant with a scorpion. Thou wilt barely set thy foot on them and they will be crushed beneath it. But this is not my affair. The high priest Samentu is waiting in the garden, he whom Thou hast summoned. I withdraw; it is his hour. But I refuse not the money. Command me to the extent of thirty thousand talents."

He fell on his face again and then withdrew, promising that Samentu would present himself straightway.

In half an hour the high priest appeared. As became one who honored Set he did not shave his red beard and shaggy hair; he had a severe face, but eyes full of intellect. He bowed without excessive humility and met the soul-piercing gaze of the pharaoh with calmness.

"Be seated," said the pharaoh.

The high priest sat on the floor.

"Thou pleasest me," said Ramses. "Thou hast the bearing and the face of a Hyksos, and they are the most valiant troops in my army." Then he inquired, on a sudden,

"Art Thou the man who informed Hiram of the treaty of our priests with Assyria?"

"I am," replied Samentu, without dropping his eyes.

"Didst Thou share in that iniquity?"

"I did not. I overheard the conditions. In the temples, as in thy palaces, holiness, the walls are honeycombed with passages through which it is possible to hear on the summit of pylons what is said in the cellars."

"And from subterranean places it is possible to converse with persons in upper chambers?" asked the pharaoh.

"And imitate voices from the gods," added the priest seriously.

The pharaoh smiled. Then the supposition was correct that it was not the spirit of his father, but priests who spoke to him and to his mother.

"Why didst Thou confide to Phoenicians a great secret of the state?" inquired Ramses.

"Because I wished to prevent a shameful treaty which was as harmful to us as to Phoenicia."

"Thou mightst have forewarned some Egyptian dignitary."

"Whom?" inquired the priest. "Men who were powerless before Herhor; or who would complain of me to him and expose me to death and tortures? I confided it to Hiram, for he meets dignitaries of ours whom I never see."

"But why did Herhor and Mefres conclude such a treaty?" inquired Ramses.

"In my opinion, they are men of weak heads whom Beroes, the great Chaldean priest, frightened. He told them that for ten years evil fates would threaten Egypt; that if we began war with Assyria during that time we should be defeated."

"And did they believe him?"

"Beroes, it seems, showed them wonders. He was even borne above the earth. Beyond doubt that is wonderful; but I cannot understand why we should lose Phoenicia because Beroes can fly above the earth."

"Then Thou dost not believe in miracles?"

"It depends upon what they are," replied Samentu. "It seems that Beroes does perform unusual things; but our priests merely deceive people as well as rulers."

"Thou hast a hatred for the priestly order?"

"Well, they cannot endure me, and what is worse they insult me under pretext that I am a minister of Set. Meanwhile, what do I care for gods whose hands and feet must be moved by strings. Or priests who pretend to be abstemious and devout, but have ten wives, spend some tens of talents yearly, steal the offerings placed on altars, and are little wiser than pupils of a higher school."

"But dost Thou take presents from Phoenicians?"'

"From whom should I take them? The Phoenicians are the only men who really honor Set; they fear lest he might wreck their ships. With us the poor alone revere him. Were I restricted to their offerings I should die of hunger, and my children also."

The pharaoh thought that this priest was not a bad man, though he had betrayed a temple secret. And moreover, he seemed wise and he spoke truth.

"Hast Thou heard anything," inquired Ramses again, "of a canal which is to join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean?"

"I know of that affair. Our engineers have been developing the project for some centuries."

"But why has it not been carried out ere this time?"

"Because the priests are afraid that strangers would come who might undermine our religion, and with it the priestly income."

"Is there truth in what Hiram says of people living in the distant East?"

"Perfect truth. We know of them for a long time, and no ten years pass that we do not receive from those countries products, precious stones, or pictures."

The pharaoh meditated again, and asked suddenly,

"Wilt Thou serve me faithfully if I make thee my counselor?"

"I will serve thee, holiness, with life and death. But were I to become thy counselor, the priests, who hate me, would be indignant."

"Dost Thou not think it possible to overthrow them?"

"It is possible and very easy."

"What would thy plan be, if I had to free myself of them?"

"To obtain possession of the treasures in the labyrinth."

"Couldst Thou go to it?"

"I have many indications; the rest I can discover, for I know where to search for them."

"What further?" inquired the pharaoh.

"It would be necessary to bring an action against Herhor and Mefres for treason, and for secret relations with Assyria."

"But the proofs?"

"We should find them with the help of the Phoenicians."

"Would no danger come of that to Egypt?"

"None. Four hundred years ago the pharaoh, Amenhotep IV. overturned the power of priests by establishing the faith in one god, Re Harmachis. It is understandable that in those conditions he took treasures from the temples of the other gods. And at that time neither the people, nor the army, nor the nobility took part with the priesthood. What would the case be today when the old faith is greatly weakened?"

"Who assisted Amenhotep?" inquired Ramses.

"A simple priest, Ey."

"But who, on the death of Amenhotep, became his heir?" asked Ramses, looking quickly into the eyes of the priest.

Samentu answered, calmly,

"Events show that Amenhotep was incompetent, more occupied in honoring Re than in governing Egypt."

"Indeed, Thou art a real sage!" said Ramses.

"At thy service, holiness."

"I appoint thee my counselor," said the pharaoh. "In that case Thou mayst visit me in secret, and Thou wilt dwell with me."

"Pardon, lord, but until the members of the supreme council are in prison for negotiating with enemies of Egypt, my presence in the palace would bring more harm than profit. So I will serve thee, holiness, and advise, but in secret."

"And wilt Thou find the way to the treasure in the labyrinth?"

"I hope, lord, that before Thou returnest from Thebes, I shall succeed in this matter. But when we transfer the treasure to thy palace, when the court condemns Herhor and Mefres whom Thou mayst pardon afterward, with permission, I will appear openly and cease to be the priest of Set, who only frightens people and turns them from me."

"And dost Thou think that everything will go well?"

"I pledge my life on it!" cried the priest. "The people thee, holiness, so it is easy to influence them against traitorous dignitaries. The army obeys thee as no army has obeyed a pharaoh since Ramses the Great. Who will oppose, then? In addition, holiness, Thou hast the Phoenicians behind thee, and money, the greatest power on earth."

When Samentu took farewell, the pharaoh permitted him to kiss his feet, and gave him a heavy gold chain and a bracelet ornamented with sapphires. Not every dignitary received such favor after long years of service. The visit and Samentu's promises filled the pharaoh's heart with new hope.

What if he should succeed in getting the treasure of the labyrinth! For a small part of it he might free the nobles from Phoenician debts, improve the lot of the laborers and redeem the mortgaged property of the court.

And with what edifices might the state be enriched!

Hence the treasure of this labyrinth might remove all the pharaoh's troubles. For what was the result of a great loan from the Phoenicians? It would be necessary to pay a loan some time, and, sooner or later, mortgage the rest of the pharaoh's property. That was merely to defer ruin, not avoid it.



CHAPTER LVI

In the middle of the month Famenut (January) spring began. All Egypt was green with growing wheat. On black patches of land crowds of men were sowing lupines, beans, and barley. In the air was the odor of orange blossoms. The water had fallen greatly and new bits of land were laid bare day by day.

Preparations for the funeral of Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses were ended.

The revered mummy of the pharaoh was enclosed in a white box, the upper part of which repeated perfectly the features of the departed. The pharaoh seemed to see with enameled eyes, while the god-like face expressed a mild regret, not for the world which the ruler had left, but for the people condemned to the sufferings of temporal existence. On its head the image of the pharaoh had an Egyptian cap with white and sapphire stripes; on its neck, a string of jewels; on its breast, the picture of a man kneeling with crossed hands; on its legs, images of the gods, sacred birds, and eyes, not set into any face, but, as it were, gazing out of infinity.

Thus arrayed, the remains of the pharaoh rested on a costly couch in a small cedar chapel, the walls of which were covered with inscriptions celebrating the life and deeds of the departed sovereign. Above hovered a miraculous falcon with a human head, and near the couch night and day watched a priest clothed as Anubis, the god of burial, with a jackal's head on his body.

A heavy basalt sarcophagus had been prepared which was to be the outer coffin of the mummy. This sarcophagus had also the form and features of the dead pharaoh. It was covered with inscriptions, and pictures of people praying, of sacred birds and also scarabs.

On the 17th of Famenut, the mummy, together with its chapel and sarcophagus, was taken from the quarter of the dead to the palace and placed in the largest hall there.

This hall was soon filled with priests, who chanted funeral hymns, with attendants and servants of the departed, and above all with his women, who screamed so vehemently that their cries were heard across the river.

"O lord! Thou our lord!" cried they, "why art Thou leaving us? Thou so kind, so beautiful. Thou art silent now, Thou who didst speak to us so willingly. Thou didst incline to our society, but today Thou art far from us."

During this time the priests sang,

Chorus I. "I am Turn, who alone exists."

Chorus II. "I am Re, in his earliest splendor."

Chorus I. "I am the god who creates himself."

Chorus II. "Who gives his own name to himself, and no one among the gods can restrain him."

Chorus I. "I know the name of the great god who is there."

Chorus II. "For I am the great bird Benut which tests the existent." ["Book of the Dead."]

After two days of groans and devotions a great car in the form of a boat was drawn to the front of the palace. The ends of this car were adorned with ostrich plumes and rams' heads, while above a costly baldachin towered an eagle, and there also was the ureus serpent, symbol of the pharaoh's dominion. On this car was placed the sacred mummy, in spite of the wild resistance of court women. Some of them held to the coffin, others implored the priests not to take their good lord from them, still others scratched their own faces, tore their hair, and even beat the men who carried the remains of the pharaoh.

The outcry was terrible.

At last the car, when it had received the divine body, moved on amid a multitude of people who occupied the immense space from the palace to the river. There were people smeared with mud, torn, covered with mourning rags, people who cried in heaven-piercing voices. At the side of these, according to mourning ritual, were disposed, along the whole road, choruses.

Chorus I. "To the West, to the mansion of Osiris, to the West art Thou going, Thou who wert the best among men, who didst hate the untrue."

Chorus II. "Going West! There will not be another who will so love the truth, and who will so hate a lie."

Chorus of charioteers. "To the West, oxen, ye are drawing the funeral car, to the West! Our lord is going after you."

Chorus III. "To the West, to the West, to the land of the just! The cities which Thou didst love are groaning and weeping behind thee."

The throng of people. "Go in peace to Abydos! Go in peace to Abydos! Go Thou in peace to the Theban West!"

Chorus of female wailers. "O our lord, O our lord, Thou art going to the West, the gods themselves are weeping."

Chorus of priests. "He is happy, the most revered among men, for fate has permitted him to rest in the tomb which he himself has constructed."

Chorus of drivers. "To the West, oxen, ye are drawing the car, to the West! Our lord is going behind thee."

The throng of people. "Go in peace to Abydos! Go in peace to Abydos, to the western sea." [Authentic expression.]

Every couple of hundred yards a division of troops was stationed which greeted the lord with muffled drums, and took farewell with a shrill sound of trumpets.

That was not a funeral, but a triumphal march to the land of divinities.

At a certain distance behind the car went Ramses XIII, surrounded by a great suite of generals, and behind him Queen Niort's leaning on two court ladies. Neither the son nor the mother wept, for it was known to them then (the common people were not aware of this), that the late pharaoh was at the side of Osiris and was so satisfied with his stay in the land of delight that he had no wish to return to an earthly existence.

After a procession of two hours which was attended by unbroken cries, the car with the remains halted on the bank of the Nile. There the remains were removed from the boat-shaped car and borne to a real barge gilded, carved, covered with pictures, and furnished with white and purple sails.

The court ladies made one more attempt to take the mummy from the priests; again were heard all the choruses and the military music. After that the lady Niort's and some priests entered the barge which bore the royal mummy, the people hurled bouquets and garlands and the oars began to plash.

Ramses XII had left his palace for the last time and was moving on the Nile toward his tomb in Theban mountains. But on the way it was his duty, like a thoughtful ruler, to enter all the famed places and take farewell of them.

The journey lasted long. Thebes was five hundred miles distant higher up the river, along which the mummy had to visit between ten and twenty temples and take part in religious ceremonies.

Some days after the departure of Ramses XII to his eternal rest, Ramses XIII moved after him to rouse from sorrow by his presence the torpid hearts of his subjects, receive their homage and give offerings to divinities.

Behind the dead pharaoh, each on his own barge, went all the high priests, many of the senior priests, the richest landholders, and the greater part of the nomarchs. So the new pharaoh thought, not without sorrow, that his retinue would be very slender,

But it happened otherwise. At the side of Ramses XIII were all the generals, very many officials, many of the smaller nobility and all the minor priests, which more astonished than comforted the pharaoh.

This was merely the beginning. For when the barge of the youthful sovereign sailed out on the Nile there came to meet him such a mass of boats, great and small, rich and poor, that they almost hid the water. Sitting in those barges were naked families of earth-tillers and artisans, well-dressed merchants, Phoenicians in bright garments, adroit Greek sailors, and even Assyrians and Hittites.

The people of this throng did not shout, they howled; they were not delighted, they were frantic. Every moment some deputation broke its way to the pharaoh's barge to kiss the deck which his feet had touched, and to lay gifts before him: a handful of wheat, a bit of cloth, a simple earthen pitcher, a pair of birds, but, above all, a bunch of flowers. So that before the pharaoh had passed Memphis, his attendants were forced repeatedly to clear the barge of gifts and thus save it from sinking.

The younger priests said to one another that except Ramses the Great no pharaoh had ever been greeted with such boundless enthusiasm.

The whole journey from Memphis to Thebes was conducted in a similar manner and the enthusiasm of people rose instead of decreasing. Earth- tillers left the fields and artisans the shops to delight themselves with looking at the new sovereign of whose intentions legends were already created. They expected great changes, though no one knew what these changes might be. This alone was undoubted, that the severity of officials had decreased, that Phoenicians collected rent in a less absolute manner, and the Egyptian people, always so submissive, had begun to raise their heads when priests met them.

"Only let the pharaoh permit," said people in inns, fields and markets, "and we will introduce order among the holy fathers. Because of them we pay immense taxes, and the wounds on our backs are always open."

Among the Libyan hills, about thirty-five miles south of

Memphis, lay the country of Piom or Fayum, wonderful through this, that human hands had made it.

There was formerly in this province a sunken desert surrounded by naked hills. The pharaoh Amenhemat first conceived the daring plan of changing this place into a fruitful region, three thousand five hundred years before the Christian era.

With this object he divided the eastern part of the depression from the rest and put a mighty dam around it. This dam was about eight meters high, one hundred yards thick at the base, and its length more than four hundred kilometers.

In this way was created a reservoir which held three milliards of cubic meters of water, the surface of which occupied about three hundred square kilometers. This reservoir served to irrigate two hundred thousand hectares of land, and besides, in time of overflow, it took in the excess of water and guaranteed a considerable part of Egypt from sudden inundation.

This immense collection of water was called Lake Moeris, and was considered one of the wonders of the world. Thanks to it a desert valley was changed into the fertile land of Piom, where about two hundred thousand people lived in comfort. In this province, besides palms and wheat, were produced the most beautiful roses; oil made from these went to all Egypt, and beyond its boundaries.

The existence of Lake Moeris was connected with another wonder among works of Egyptian engineers, Joseph's canal. This canal, two hundred yards wide, extended about three hundred and fifty kilometers along the western side of the Nile. It was situated fifteen kilometers from the river, served to irrigate lands near the Libyan mountains, and conveyed water to Lake Moeris.

Around the country of Piom rose a number of ancient pyramids and a multitude of smaller tombs. On its eastern boundary was the celebrated Labyrinth (Lope-rohunt). This was built also by Amenhemat and had the form of an immense horseshoe. It occupied an area one thousand yards long and six hundred wide.

This edifice was the great treasure-house of Egypt. In it reposed the mummies of several famous pharaohs, renowned priests, generals, and architects. Here lay the remains of revered animals, above all, those of crocodiles. And here was kept the property of the Egyptian state, brought together in the course of ages. Of this structure it is difficult to gain an idea at present.

The labyrinth was neither inaccessible from the outside, nor watched over-carefully; it was guarded by a small division of troops attached to the priests, and some priests of tried honesty. The safety of the treasury lay specially in this that with the exception of those few persons, no one knew where to look for it in the labyrinth, which was divided into two stories, one above ground, the other subterranean, and in each of these there were fifteen hundred chambers.

Each pharaoh, each high priest, finally each treasurer and supreme judge was bound to examine with his own eyes the property of the state immediately after entering on his office. Still, no one of the dignitaries could find it, or even learn where the treasure lay, whether in the main body of the building or in some of its wings, above the earth or beneath it.

There were some to whom it seemed that the treasure was really underground, far away from the labyrinth proper. There were even some who thought that the treasure was beneath the lake, so that it might be submerged should the need come. Finally no dignitary of the state cared to occupy himself with the question, knowing that an attack on the property of the gods drew after it ruin to the sacrilegious. The uninitiated might have discovered the road, perhaps, if fear had not paralyzed intruders. Death in this world and the next threatened him and his family who should dare with godless plans to discover such secrets.

Arriving in those parts Ramses XIII visited first of all the province of Fayum. In his eyes it seemed like the interior of some immense bowl, the bottom of which was a lake and hills the edges. Whithersoever he turned he found green juicy grass varied with flowers, groups of palms, groves of fig trees and tamarinds, amid which from sunrise to sunset were heard the singing of birds and the voices of gladsome people.

That was perhaps the happiest corner of Egypt.

The people received the pharaoh with boundless delight.

They covered him and his retinue with flowers, they presented him with a number of vessels of the costliest perfumes as well as gold and precious stones to the amount of ten talents.

Ramses spent two days in that pleasant region where joy seemed to blossom on the trees, flow in the air, and look over the waters of Lake Moeris. But men reminded him that he should see the labyrinth also.

He left Fayum with a sigh and gazed around as he traveled. Soon his attention was fixed by a majestic pile of gray buildings which stood on an eminence.

At the gate of the famous labyrinth Ramses was greeted by a company of priests of ascetic exterior, and a small division of troops, every man in which was completely shaven.

"These men look like priests," said Ramses.

"They do, because every one in the ranks has received the inferior ordination, and centurions the superior," answered the high priest of the edifice.

When he looked more carefully at the faces of those strange warriors, who ate no meat and were celibates, the pharaoh noted in them calm energy and quickness, he noted also that his sacred person made no impression whatever in that place.

"I am very curious to learn how Samentu's secret plan will succeed," thought he. The pharaoh understood that it was impossible either to frighten those men or to bribe them. They were as self-confident in looks as if each one commanded countless regiments of spirits.

"We shall see," thought Ramses, "if they can frighten my Greeks and Asiatics, who, fortunately, are so wild that they do not know pompous faces."

At the request of the priests, the pharaoh's suite remained at the gate, as if under guard of the shaven soldiers.

"Must I leave my sword too?" asked Ramses.

"It will not harm us," answered the chief overseer.

The young pharaoh had the wish at least to slap the pious man with the side of his sword for such an answer, but he restrained himself.

Ramses and the priests entered the main building by an immense court and passed between two rows of sphinxes. Here in a very spacious, but somewhat dark, antechamber were eight doors, and the overseer inquired,

"Through which door dost Thou wish to go to the treasure, holiness?"

"Through that by which we can go the most quickly."

Each of five priests took two bundles of torches, but only one ignited a torch.

At his side stood the chief overseer holding in his hands a large string of beads on which were written certain characters. Behind them walked Ramses surrounded by three priests.

The high priest who held the beads turned to the right and entered a great hall, the walls and columns of which were covered with inscriptions and figures. From that they entered a narrow corridor, which led upward, and found themselves in a hall distinguished by a great number of doors. Here a tablet was pushed aside in the floor, discovering an opening through which they descended, and again advanced through a narrow corridor to a chamber which had no doors. But the guide touched one hieroglyph of many, and the wall moved aside before them.

Ramses tried to remember the direction in which they were going, but soon his attention was bewildered. He noted, however, that they passed hurriedly through great halls, small chambers, narrow corridors, that they climbed up or descended, that some halls had a multitude of doors and others none whatever. He observed at once that the guide at each new entrance dropped one bead from his long rosary, and sometimes, by the light of the torch, he compared the indications on the beads with those on the walls.

"Where are we now?" asked the pharaoh on a sudden, "beneath the earth, or above it?"

"We are in the power of the gods!" replied his neighbor.

After a number of turns and passages the pharaoh again said,

"But I think that we are here for the second time."

The priests were silent, but he who carried the torch held his light to the walls in one and another place, and Ramses, while looking, confessed in spirit that they had not been there before.

In a small chamber without doors they lowered the light, and the pharaoh saw on the pavement dried, black remains, covered with decayed clothing.

"That," said the overseer of the building, "is the body of a Phoenician who, during the sixteenth dynasty, tried to break into the labyrinth; he got thus far."

"Did they kill him?" inquired Ramses.

"He died of hunger."

The party had advanced again about half an hour, when the priest who bore the torch lighted a niche in the corridor where also dried remains were lying.

"This," said the overseer, "is the body of a Nubian priest, who in the time of thy grandfather, holiness, tried to enter the labyrinth."

The pharaoh made no inquiry as to what happened to this man. He had the impression of being in some depth and the feeling that the edifice would crush him. Of taking bearings amid those hundreds of corridors, halls, and chambers, he had no thought any longer. He did not even wish to explain to himself by what miracle those stone walls opened, or why pavements sank before him.

"Samentu will do nothing," said he in spirit. "He will perish like these two, whom I must even mention to him."

Such a crushing, such a feeling of helplessness and nothingness he had never experienced. At moments it seemed to him that the priests would leave him in one of those narrow doorless chambers. Then despair seized the young pharaoh; he touched his sword and was ready to cut them down. But he remembered directly that without their assistance he could not go hence, and he dropped his head.

"Oh to see the light of day, even for a moment! How terrible must death be among three thousand rooms filled with gloom or utter darkness!"

Heroic souls have moments of deep depression which the common man cannot even imagine.

The advance had lasted an hour almost when at last they entered a low hall resting on octagonal pillars. The three priests surrounding the pharaoh, separated then Ramses noticed that one of them nestled up to a column and vanished, as it were, in the interior of it.

After a while a narrow opening appeared in one of the walls, the priests returned to their places, and the guide commanded to light four torches. All turned toward that opening and pushed through it cautiously.

"Here are the chambers," said the overseer.

The priests lighted quickly torches which were fixed to the walls and columns. Ramses saw a series of immense chambers filled with most varied products of priceless value. In this collection every dynasty, if not every pharaoh, had placed from what he or it possessed, that which was most peculiar, or which had the most value.

There were chariots, boats, beds, tables, caskets, and thrones gold or covered with gold plate, also inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl and colored wood so ornamentally that artists must have worked tens of years at them. There were weapons, shields and quivers glittering with jewels. There were pitchers, plates, and spoons of pure gold, costly robes, and baldachins.

All this treasure, thanks to dry and pure air, was preserved without change during ages.

Among rare objects the pharaoh saw the silver model of the Assyrian palace brought to Ramses XII by Sargon. The high priest, while explaining to the pharaoh whence each gift came, looked at his face diligently. But in place of admiration for the treasures, he noticed dissatisfaction. "Tell me, worthiness," inquired Ramses on a sudden, "what good comes of these treasures shut up in darkness?"

"Should Egypt be in danger there would be great power in them," replied the overseer. "For a few of these helmets, chariots and swords we might buy the good-will of all the Assyrian satraps. And maybe even King Assar himself would not resist if we gave him furniture for his throne hall, or his arsenal."

"I think that they would rather take all from us by the sword than a few through good-will," said the pharaoh.

"Let them try!" replied the priest.

"I understand. Ye have then means of destroying the treasures. But in that case no one could make use of them."

"That is not a question for my mind," replied the overseer. "We guard what is given to us, and do what is ordered."

"Would it not be better to use a portion of these treasures to fill the coffers of the state and raise Egypt from the misery in which it is at present?" asked the pharaoh.

"That does not depend on us."

Ramses frowned. He examined things for some time without very great interest; at last he inquired,

"Yes, these products of art might be useful in gaining the good-will of Assyrian dignitaries; but if war were to break out with Assyria how could we get wheat, men, and arms from nations which have no knowledge of rare objects?"

"Open the treasury," said the high priest.

At this time the priests hurried in different directions: two vanished as if in the interior of columns, while a third went up along the wall on steps and did something near a carved figure.

Again a hidden door slipped aside and Ramses entered the real hall of treasure.

That was a spacious room filled with priceless objects. In it were earthen jars containing gold dust, lumps of gold piled up like bricks, and ingots of gold in packages. Blocks of silver stored at one side formed, as it were, a wall two ells thick and as high as the ceiling. In niches and on stone tables lay precious stones of every color: rubies, topazes, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, pearls as large as nuts and even as birds' eggs. There were single jewels which equaled a town in value.

"This is our property in case of misfortune," said the overseer.

"For what misfortune are ye waiting?" inquired the pharaoh. "The people are poor, the nobility and the court are in debt, the army decreased one half, the pharaoh without money. Has Egypt ever been in a worse position?"

"It was in a worse position when the Hyksos conquered it."

"In a few years," replied Ramses, "even the Israelites will conquer this country unless the Libyans and Ethiopians precede them. And then these beautiful stones, broken into pieces, will go to ornament the sandals of black men and Hebrews."

"Be at rest, holiness. In case of need not only the treasure itself, but the labyrinth would vanish without a trace, together with its guardians."

Ramses understood thoroughly that he had before him fanatics who thought only of this: not to let any one possess that treasure. He sat down on a pile of gold bricks, and continued,

"Then ye are preserving this property for evil days in Egypt?"

"Thou speakest truth, holiness."

"But who will convince you, its guardians, that those days have come when they are really present?"

"To do that it would be necessary to call an extraordinary assembly of Egyptians, an assembly made up of the pharaoh, thirteen priests of the highest degree, thirteen nomarchs, thirteen nobles, thirteen officers, and thirteen of each of the following: merchants, artisans, and earth- tillers."

"Then ye would give to such an assembly the treasures?" asked the pharaoh.

"We would give the necessary sum if the whole assembly, as one man, decided that Egypt was in danger, and."

"And what?"

"If the statue of Amon in Thebes confirmed that decision."

Ramses dropped his head as if to hide his great satisfaction.

He had a plan ready.

"I shall be able to collect such an assembly and incline it to unanimity," thought the pharaoh. "Also it seems to me the divine statue of Amon will confirm the decision if I put my Asiatics around it."

"I thank you, pious men," said he aloud, "for showing me these precious things, the great value of which does not prevent me from being one among the poorest of sovereigns. And now I beg you to lead me hence by the shortest way possible and the most convenient."

"We wish thee, holiness, to double the wealth of the labyrinth. As to the road, there is only one, we must return as we came."

One of the priests gave Ramses dates, another a flask of wine mixed with some invigorating substance. Then the pharaoh recovered strength and went forward cheerfully.

"I would give much," said he, laughing, "to know all the turns of this wonderful passage."

The guiding priest stopped,

"I assure thee, holiness, that we ourselves do not understand or remember this road, though each one of us has entered a number of times by it."

"Then how do ye manage?"

"We have certain indications, but if one of these were to fail us, even at this moment we should die here of hunger."

They reached the antechamber at last and through it the courtyard. Ramses looked around and drew one breath of relief after another.

"For all the treasures of the labyrinth I would not guard them!" cried he. "Terror falls on my breast when I think that it is possible to die in those stone prisons."

"But it is possible to grow attached to them," replied the priest smiling.

The pharaoh thanked each of his guides, and concluded,

"I should be glad o show you some favor; ask for one."

The priests listened with indifference, and their chief answered,

"Pardon me, holiness, but what could we wish for? Our figs and dates are as sweet as those in thy garden, our water is as good as that from thy well. If wealth attracted us have we not more of it than all the kings put together?"

"I cannot win these men by anything," thought the pharaoh, "but I will give them a decision of the assembly, and a decision of Amon."



CHAPTER LVII

WHEN he left Fayum the pharaoh and his retinue advanced southward a number of days up the Nile, surrounded by a throng of boats, greeted by shouts, and covered with flowers.

On both banks of the river, on a background of green fields, extended an unbroken series of huts of the people, groves of fig trees, groups of palms. Every hour appeared the white houses of some village, or a larger place with colored buildings, and the immense pylons of temples.

On the west the wall of the Libyan hills was outlined not very distinctly; but on the east the Arabian line approached ever nearer to the river. It was possible to see clearly the steep, jagged cliffs, dark, yellow or rose colored, recalling by their forms the ruins of fortresses or of temples built by giants.

In the middle of the Nile they met islands which had risen from the water as it were yesterday, but were covered with rich vegetation today and were occupied by birds in countless numbers. When the noisy retinue of the pharaoh sailed near, the frightened birds flew up and, circling above the boats, joined their cries with the mighty sound of people. Above this all hung a transparent sky and light so full of life that in the flood of it the black earth assumed a brightness, and the stones rainbow colors.

Time passed, therefore, pleasantly for the pharaoh. At first the incessant cries irritated him somewhat, but later he grew so, accustomed that he turned no attention to them. He was able to read documents, take counsel, and even sleep.

From a hundred and fifty to two hundred miles above Fayum on the left bank of the Nile is Siut, where Ramses XIII took a rest of two days. He was even obliged to halt there, for the mummy of the late pharaoh was still in Abydos, where they were making solemn prayers at the grave of Osiris.

Siut was one of the richest parts of Upper Egypt. At that place were made the famous vessels of white and black clay, and there they wove linen. It was also the chief market-place to which people brought goods from the oases scattered throughout the desert. There besides was the famous temple of the jackal-headed god, Anubis.

On the second day of his stay in that place the priest Pentuer appeared before Ramses. He was the chief of that commission sent to investigate the condition of the people.

"Hast Thou news?" inquired the sovereign.

"I have this, O holiness, that all the country blesses thee. All with whom I speak are full of hope, and say, 'His reign will be a new life for Egypt.'."

"I wish," replied Ramses, "my subjects to be happy; I wish the toiling man to rest; I wish that Egypt might have eight millions of people as aforetime and win back that land seized from it by the desert; I wish the laborer to rest one day in seven and each man who digs the earth to have some little part of it."

Pentuer fell on his face before the kindly sovereign.

"Rise," said Ramses. "But I have had hours of grievous sadness: I see the suffering of my people; I wish to raise them, but the treasury is empty. Thou thyself knowest best that without some tens of thousands of talents I cannot venture on such changes. But now I am at rest; I can 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," said the pharaoh. "I must call a general council of all orders, thirteen of each order. And if they declare that Egypt is in need the labyrinth will furnish me with treasure."

"O gods!" added he, "for a couple for one of the jewels which lie there it would be possible to give the people fifty rest days in a year! Never will they be used to better purpose."

Pentuer shook his head.

"Lord," said he, "the six million Egyptians, with me and my friends before others, will agree that Thou take from that treasure. But, O holiness, be not deceived; one hundred of the highest dignitaries of the state will oppose, and then the labyrinth will give nothing."

"They wish me, then, to beg before some temple!" burst out the pharaoh.

"No," replied the priest. "They fear lest that treasure house be emptied once Thou touch it. They will suspect thy most faithful servants, holiness, of sharing in the profits flowing from the labyrinth. And then envy will whisper to each of them: 'Why shouldst Thou not profit also?' Not hatred of thee, holiness, but mutual distrust, 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 I understand exactly why Amon established the authority of the pharaoh and gave him superhuman power. For the purpose, seest thou, that a hundred, even of the most distinguished rascals, should not wreck the state."

Ramses rose from his armchair and added,

"Say to 'my people: Work and be patient. Say to the priests who are loyal: Serve the gods and cultivate wisdom, which is the sun of the universe. But those stubborn and suspicious dignitaries leave to my management. 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 his face.

About seventy-five miles from Siut, higher up the Nile, the wild Arabian rocks almost touch the river, but the Libyan hills have pushed away so far from it that the valley at that point is perhaps the widest part of Egypt. Just there, side by side, stood Tibis and Abydos, two holy cities. There was born the first Egyptian pharaoh, Menes, there, a hundred thousand years before, were laid in the grave the holy relics of the god Osiris slain by Set (his brother Typhon) treacherously.

There, finally, in memory of those great events, the famous pharaoh Seti built a temple to which pilgrims came from every part of Egypt. Each believer was bound even once during life to bring his forehead to the blessed earth of Abydos. Truly happy was he whose mummy could make a journey to that place and halt even at a distance from the temple.

The mummy of Ramses XII spent two days there; for he had been a ruler noted for devotion. There is nothing wonderful in this, therefore, that Ramses XIII began his reign by rendering homage to the grave of Osiris.

Seti's temple was not among the oldest or most splendid in Egypt, but it was distinguished for pure Egyptian style. His holiness Ramses XIII, accompanied by Sem the high priest, visited the temple and made offerings in it.

The ground belonging to the edifice occupied a space of seventy-five hectares, on which were fish ponds, flower beds, orchards and vegetable gardens, besides the houses or rather villas of the temple priesthood. Everywhere grew poplars and acacias, as well as palm, fig, and orange trees which formed alleys directed toward the cardinal points of the world, or groups of trees of almost the same height and set out in order.

Under the watchful eyes of priests even the plant world did not develop according to its own impulses into irregular but picturesque groups; it was arranged in straight lines according to direction, or straight lines according to height, or in geometrical figures.

Palms, tamarinds, cypresses, and myrtles were arranged like warriors in ranks or columns. The grass was a divan shorn and ornamented with pictures made of flowers, not of any chance color, but of that color which was demanded. People looking from above saw pictures of gods or sacred beasts blooming on the turf near the temple; a sage found there aphorisms written out in hieroglyphs.

The central part of the gardens occupied a rectangular space nine hundred yards long and three hundred wide. This space was enclosed by a wall of no great height which had one visible gate and a number of secret entrances. Through the gate pious people entered the space which surrounded the dwelling of Osiris; this space was covered with a stone pavement. In the middle of the space stood the temple, a rectangular pile four hundred and fifty yards long and in width one hundred and fifty.

From the public gate to the temple was an avenue of sphinxes with human heads and lion bodies. They were in two lines, ten in each, and were gazing into each others' eyes. Only the highest dignitaries might pass between these sphinxes.

At the head of this avenue, and opposite the public gate, rose two obelisks or slender and lofty granite columns of four sides, on which was inscribed the history of the pharaoh Seti.

Beyond the obelisks rose the gate of the temple having at both sides of it gigantic piles in the form of truncated pyramids called pylons. These were like two strong towers, on the walls of which were paintings representing the visits of Seti, or the offerings which he made to divinities.

Earth-tillers were not permitted to pass this gate which was free only to wealthy citizens and the privileged classes. Through it was the entrance to the peristyle or court, surrounded by a corridor which had a multitude of columns. From this court, where there was room for ten thousand people, persons of the noble order might go still farther to the first hall, the hypostyle; this had a ceiling which rested on two rows of lofty columns, and there was space in it for two thousand worshippers. This hall was the last to which lay people were admitted. The highest dignitaries who had not received ordination had the right to pray there, and look thence at the veiled image of the god which rose in the hall of "divine apparition."

Beyond the hall of "divine apparition" was the chamber of "tables of offering," where priests placed before the gods gifts brought by the faithful. Next was the chamber of "repose," where the god rested when returning from or going to a procession, and last was the chapel or sanctuary where the god had his residence.

Usually the chapel was very small, dark, sometimes cut out of one block of stone. It was surrounded on all sides by chapels equally small, filled with garments, furniture, vessels and jewels of the god which in its inaccessible seclusion slept, bathed, was anointed with perfumes, ate, drank, and as it seems even received visits from young and beautiful women.

This sanctuary was entered only by the high priest, and the ruling pharaoh if he had received ordination. If an ordinary mortal entered he might lose his life there.

The walls and columns of each hall were covered with inscriptions and explanatory paintings. In the corridor surrounding the peristyle were the names and portraits of all the pharaohs from Menes the first ruler of Egypt to Ramses XII In the hypostyle, or hall for nobles, the geography and statistics of Egypt were presented pictorially, also the subject nations. In the hall of "apparition" were the calendar and the results of astronomical observation; in the chamber of "tables of offering," and in that of "repose" figured pictures relating to religious ceremonial, and in the sanctuary rules for summoning beings beyond the earth and controlling the phenomena of nature.

This last kind of knowledge was contained in statements so involved that even priests in the time of Ramses XII did not understand them. The Chaldean Beroes was to revive this expiring wisdom.

Ramses XIII, after he had rested two days in the official palace at Abydos, betook himself to the temple. He wore a white tunic, a gold breastplate, an apron with orange and blue stripes, a steel sword at his side and on his head a golden helmet. The pharaoh sat in a chariot drawn by horses adorned with ostrich plumes, and was conducted by nomarchs as he moved slowly toward the house of Osiris, surrounded by his officers.

Whithersoever he looked: toward the field, the river, the roofs of houses, or even the limbs of tamarind and fig-trees there was a throng of people, and an unceasing shout which was like the roar of a tempest.

When he arrived at the temple the pharaoh stopped his horses and descended before the public gate. This act pleased the common people and delighted the priesthood. He passed on foot along the avenue of sphinxes and, greeted by the holy men, burned incense before the statues of Seti which occupied both sides of the main entrance.

In the peristyle the high priest turned the attention of his holiness to the splendid portraits of the pharaohs, and pointed out the place selected for that of Ramses. In the hypostyle he indicated to him the meaning of the geographical maps and statistical tables.

In the chamber of "divine apparition" Ramses offered incense to the gigantic statue of Osiris, and the high priest showed him the columns dedicated to the separate planets: Mercury, Venus, the moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The planets stood around statues of the sun god to the number of seven.

"Thou hast told me," said Ramses, "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 beautiful music, during which a solemn dance was given by a chorus of priestesses.

The pharaoh removed his golden helmet; next, his breastplate of great value, and gave both to Osiris, desiring that these gifts should remain in the treasury of the god, and not be transferred to the labyrinth.

In return for his bounty the high priest bestowed on the sovereign a most beautiful dancer fifteen years of age, who seemed greatly delighted with her fortune.

When the pharaoh found himself in the hall of "repose" he sat on the throne, and his substitute in religion, Sem, to the sound of music and amid the smoke of censers, entered the sanctuary to bring forth the divinity.

Half an hour later, to the deafening sound of bells, appeared in the gloom of the chamber a golden boat hidden by curtains which moved at times as if some living being were sitting behind them.

The priests prostrated themselves, and Ramses looked intently at the transparent curtains. One of these was turned aside and the pharaoh saw a child of rare beauty which looked at him with such wise eyes that the ruler of Egypt was almost afraid of it.

"This is Horus," whispered the priest. "Horus the rising sun. He is the son of Osiris and also his father, and the husband of his own mother, who is his sister."

The procession began, but only through the interior of the temple. In advance went harpers and female dancers, next a white bull with a golden shield between his horns, then two choruses of priests and high priests bearing the god, then choruses, and finally the pharaoh in a litter borne by eight priests of the temple.

When the procession had passed through all the corridors and halls of the temple, and the god and Ramses had returned to the chamber of repose, the curtain concealing the sacred boat slipped apart and the beautiful 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 pleased with the child that he would have been glad to see it as often as possible.

But when he had gone forth from the temple and seen the sun and the throng of delighted people, he confessed in his soul that he understood nothing. He knew not whence they had brought that child, unlike any other child in Egypt, whence that superhuman wisdom in its eyes, nor what the meaning was of all that he himself had seen.

Suddenly he remembered his murdered son, who might have been as beautiful, and the ruler of Egypt wept in presence of a hundred thousand subjects.

"Converted! The pharaoh is converted!" said the priests. "Barely has he entered the dwelling of Osiris, and his heart is touched."

That same day one blind man and two paralytics, who were praying outside the walls of the temple, recovered health. The council of priests decided, therefore, to reckon that day in the list of those which were miraculous, and to paint a picture on the external wall of the edifice representing the weeping pharaoh and the cured people.

Ramses returned rather late in the afternoon to his palace to hear reports. When all the dignitaries had left the cabinet Tutmosis came in 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 military camp; he asserts that the walls of the palace are fond of listening."

Before sunset, the pharaoh went with Tutmosis to his faithful troops and found among them the royal tent, at which Asiatics were on guard by command of Tutmosis.

In the evening came Samentu dressed in the garb of a pilgrim, and when he had greeted his holiness with honor, he whispered,

"It seems to me that I was followed the whole way by some man who has stopped not far from this tent, O holiness. Perhaps he was sent by the high priests."

At the pharaoh's command Tutmosis ran out, and found, in fact, a strange officer.

"Who art thou?" asked he.

"I am Eunana, a centurion in the regiment of Isis. The unfortunate Eunana. Dost Thou not remember me, worthiness? More than a year ago at the maneuvers near Pi-Bailos I discovered the sacred scarabs."

"Ah, that is thou!" interrupted Tutmosis. "But thy regiment is not in Abydos?"

"The water of truth flows from thy lips. We are quartered at a wretched place near Mena where the priests have commanded us to clear a canal, as if we were Hebrews or earthdiggers."

"How hast Thou appeared here?"

"I implored my superiors for a rest of some days, and like a deer thirsting for a spring I, thanks to the swiftness of my feet, have hurried hither."

"What dost Thou wish, then?"

"I wish to beg favor of his holiness against the shaven heads who give me no promotion because I am sensitive to the sufferings of warriors."

Tutmosis returned to the tent, ill-humored, and repeated the conversation to the pharaoh.

"Eunana?" repeated the sovereign. "Yes, I remember him. He caused us trouble with his beetles, but got fifty blows of a stick through Herhor. And Thou sayst that he complains of the priests? Bring him hither."