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The regiments of the eastern army opened slowly, like heavy folding- doors, and the Greek division passed between them. Then a gray-haired warrior in golden helmet and armor approached Prince Ramses and said with a low obeisance, Only a great warrior could free himself from difficulty in that way." "Thou art Nitager, the bravest of the brave!" cried the prince. At that moment Herhor approached.
But now ask him what he thinks of the military ability of my son and heir, whom he had the honor of meeting near Pi-Bailos yesterday." "Our lord, the master of nine nations, asks thee, Nitager" began the scribe. But the leader interrupted quickly, to the great dissatisfaction of the courtiers, "I hear myself what my lord says.
"Then the enemy is there, near the highway?" "Yes, the invincible Nitager himself." It seemed in that moment that the heir to the throne had gone mad. His lips were contorted, his eyes were starting out of their sockets. He drew his sword, rushed to the Greeks, and cried, "Follow me against those who bar the road to us." "O heir, live forever!" cried Patrokles, who drew his sword also.
When, after the brief halt, the retinue of the heir to the throne moved on its farther journey, Herhor mounted his horse and riding at the side of Nitager, spoke in an undertone about Asiatic nations and, above all, about the awakening of Assyria. Then two servants of the minister, the adjutant carrying his fan and the secretary Pentuer, began a conversation also.
"I have heard," said the nomarch of Sebes, "that an order has been sent to Nitager to hurry at the earliest with new troops, as if those here were insufficient." "Communication between Upper and Lower Egypt is interrupted since yesterday," added the nomarch of Aa. "On the roads are posted troops, and the galleys of his holiness examine every barge sailing on the river."
"What dost Thou say to that?" inquired the pharaoh of Herhor. "As to the Assyrians, I think that the worthy Nitager is concerned about them too early. We must strengthen ourselves well before we begin a new war. As to the heir, Nitager says justly that the young man has the qualities of a leader: he is as keen as a fox, and has the energy of a lion. Still he made many blunders yesterday.
"Depart with my favor and in peace. I will do what is indicated by wisdom and justice." The dignitaries bowed low, and Ramses XII, without waiting for his suite, passed to remoter chambers. When the two leaders found themselves alone in the entrance hall, Nitager said to Patrokles, "Here priests rule as in their own house. I see that. But what a leader that Herhor is!
The prince is too young for that office, too passionate and inexperienced. Can we recognize him as the equal of Patrokles, who has trampled the Ethiopians and the Libyans in twenty battles? Or can we place him at the side of Nitager, whose name alone brings pallor to our northern and eastern enemies?" The pharaoh rested his head on his hand, meditated, and said,
But say thyself would he have won the battle at the Soda Lakes were it not for aid from thee and others of the priestly order? I know that ye informed him of every movement of the Libyan band. And now think, could Ramses, even with help from you, win a battle against Nitager, for example? Nitager is a master, Ramses is a mere apprentice."
Now the judge announced to all present to the priests, the officials, and the guards that they might go to the palace courtyard; and he himself, bowing to the throne, was the first to go thither. In the hall remained only the pharaoh, Herhor, and the two leaders. "Incline thy ears, O sovereign, and listen to complaints," began Nitager.
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