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If Thou thyself hadst not confessed the error, I should command to count out fifty blows of a stick to thee, so that Thou shouldst remember that persons like me do not attack one man with a crowd, or in the night-time." Before the serene Istubar could finish the interpretation of this speech, Sargon had crawled up to the prince and embraced his legs earnestly.
"But I tell thee," counseled Istubar, "to cast anger from thy heart, and not to complain even; for if those rioters are arraigned before a court, the whole world will learn that the ambassador of the most worthy King Assar goes about among Phoenicians, and, what is worse, visits them alone during night hours.
Mentezufis rose suddenly from his seat, and said, in solemn though lowered accents, "O viceroy of our lord, and giver of life, in the name of his holiness I forbid thee to speak with anyone of tribute, but, above all, with Sargon, Istubar, or any man of their suite." The prince grew pale. "Priest," said he, standing up also, "on what basis dost Thou speak to me as a superior?"
He pushed the gigantic watch aside, and approached the felts quickly, while the confused ambassador, with widely opened eyes, knew not what to do, to flee naked to another chamber, or hide beneath the covers. On the threshold stood a number of Assyrian officers, astonished at the invasion of the heir in opposition to every etiquette. But Istubar made a sign to them, and they vanished.
"Because the Chaldean priest Istubar has just come to Egypt with letters, in which King Assar appoints Sargon his ambassador to conclude a treaty with you about the taking of Phoenicia." "But I" interrupted the prince. He wished to say, "know nothing," but he restrained himself, laughed, and answered,
But the common people would call the vengeance of the gods on my head, and thou, lord, knowest that the gods have long hands." "May they not lose these hands in thrusting them under my roof," said Ramses. But he did not insist greatly, as his attention was much occupied at that juncture. The Assyrian ambassadors, Sargon and Istubar, had gone to Memphis to put their names to the treaty.
He lay thus rather frequently, however, that is, after each drinking- feast. Near him, on a low divan, sat the devout Istubar, with eyes fixed on the ceiling, while muttering a prayer. "Istubar," sighed the dignitary, "art Thou sure that no man of our court knows of my misfortune?" "Who could know, if Thou hast seen no one?" "But the Egyptians!" groaned Sargon.
Sargon did not even once burst into loud laughter, though that was his custom; he cast down his eyes and thought deeply. But the two priests Istubar, the Chaldean, and Mentezufis, the Egyptian were calm, like men to whom the future is known, and who command it. AFTER his reception by the viceroy, Sargon delayed at Pi-Bast, waiting for letters from the pharaoh at Memphis.
"He has told truth, and spoken wisely," whispered Sargon to Istubar.
What would the result be, indeed, if the heir had divined their plans and wished to cross them? But Istubar, silent thus far, rescued them from momentary trouble. "Sargon," said he, "Thou art interfering in affairs not thy own. Thy duty is to conclude with Egypt a treaty of the kind that our lord wishes.
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