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"One of these days a great lord will come to Pi-Bast from Assyria, Sargon, the friend of King Assar. Ye will in fact put seals to that which the priests have determined to the ruin of Phoenicia, and perhaps to your own great misfortune." "Never! What return could Assyria give Egypt?" "That speech is worthy of a pharaoh. What return would Egypt get?
"Well, let us build a residence for Amon-Ra," said the pharaoh. "Yes, if it is not like the palace of King Assar, for that is an Assyrian building, and it is not proper for us Egyptians to imitate barbarians." "I do not understand thee," interrupted Ramses, with irritation. "Listen to me, lord," answered Sem.
I suppose that more than one bone was broken in that struggle." "But to attack an ambassador! Consider, worthy lord, an ambassador protected by the majesty of Assyria and Egypt," said the priest. "Ho! ho!" laughed the prince. "Then King Assar sends ambassadors even to Phoenician dancers?" Mentezufis was confused. All at once he tapped his forehead, and cried out also, with laughter,
Thou shalt have a palace; I will give thee also horses, a litter, slaves, and servants. In one month Thou wilt pour out on thy person more perfume than Thou offerest here in one year to thy goddess. And who knows," concluded he, "Thou mayst please King Assar; if so, he would take thee to his palace. Thou wouldst be the happiest of women, and I should get back what I had spent on thee."
"But what would ye do if Assar attacked you really?" Hiram shook his head with anger. "What? We should go on board of ships with our families and treasures and leave to those dogs the ruins of cities and the rotting corpses of slaves. Do we not know greater and more beautiful countries than Phoenicia, where we can begin a new and richer fatherland?"
"Why should I lie on my belly before that stripling?" muttered Sargon, indignantly. "Because he is viceroy," answered Istubar. "Have I not been viceroy of my lord?" "But he will be king, and Thou wilt not." "What are the ambassadors of the most mighty King Assar discussing?" inquired the prince, now satisfied, of the interpreter.
"I, Sargon, a leader, a satrap, and a relative of the most mighty King Assar, come to salute thee, O viceroy of the most mighty pharaoh, and in sign of eternal friendship I offer gifts to thee." The heir rested his palms on his knees, and sat as motionless as the statues of his ancestors. "Interpreter," said Sargon, "hast Thou repeated badly to the prince my kindly greeting?"
"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.
Only give the sign and we will break these brick treaties on the head of Sargon, even on the head of King Assar." "But that would be rebellion against his holiness," replied the prince, also in a whisper. Tutmosis put on a sad face. "I should not like," said he, "to make thy heart bleed, but thy father, who is equal to the highest god, has a grievous illness."
The heir was gladsome, knowing that the Assyrians were bringing gifts which, in the eyes of Egyptians, might pass as tribute. But when he heard the immense voice of a herald in the court praising the might of Sargon, he frowned. "When the expression flew to his ears, that King Assar was the friend of the pharaoh, he grew angry.
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