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Updated: June 5, 2025
"Since Thou hast left Pi-Bast wondrous changes have taken place there. Thy Phoenician woman, Kama, has fled with Lykon." "With Lykon?" repeated the prince. "Move not, Erpatr, and show not to thousands that Thou feelest sorrow in the day of thy triumph."
Know, then, that I am the collector of his worthiness Dagon, the first banker in Memphis. And if Thou hast not grown pale yet, know that the worthy Dagon is the agent and the friend of the erpatr, may he live through eternity! and that Thou hast committed violence on the lands of Prince Ramses; to this my people will testify." "Then know this," interrupted the prince; but he stopped suddenly.
When the pharaoh appeared, one of the priests burnt incense before him, and one of the officials announced Prince Ramses, who soon entered and bowed low before his father. On the expressive face of the prince feverish disquiet was evident. "Erpatr, I rejoice," said the pharaoh, "that Thou hast returned in good health from a difficult journey."
But still he commanded to summon the officer, and inquired with ill- humor, "Is it not possible to wait a few hours? The Nile will not run away, as it seems to me." "A terrible misfortune has happened," replied the officer. "The son of the erpatr is killed." "What? Who?" cried the nomarch. "The son of the Jewess Sarah." "Who killed him? When?" "Last night." "But who could do this?"
"Do the Phoenicians pray also?" thought the prince. "Unable to render any service," continued Dagon, "I will give good counsel at least. There is here in Pi-Bast a renowned Syrian, Prince Hiram, an old man, wise and tremendously wealthy. Summon him, Erpatr, ask of him a hundred talents; perhaps he will be able to gratify thee."
"Holy fathers, if ye would lend me money, and if ye had beautiful maidens in your temples, I should see you oftener. But as things are, I must be friendly with Phoenicians." "Men say, Erpatr, that Thou dost visit that Phoenician woman during night hours." "I must till the girl gains wit and moves to my house. But have no fear, I go with a sword; and if any man should bar the way to me."
"Are these of the most guilty?" "Thou hast said it, lord," answered the official. "In that case all must be liberated today. We should not imprison people because they wished to convince themselves that the holy Nile was rising or for listening to music." "The highest wisdom is speaking through thy lips, erpatr," said the official.
"If our youth would not make himself ridiculous by night pilgrimages to the Phoenician priestess; if he should be seen in the garden of Astaroth, or if people should think that the erpatr was inclining his ear to the faith of Phoenicia. Not much is needed in Lower Egypt to reject the ancient gods. What a mixture there is of nations here!"
"My hands are too weak to rear this edifice," thought the prince, with anguish of spirit. For the first time he felt that there was a power infinitely greater than his will, the interest of the state, which even the all-powerful pharaoh acknowledges and before which he the erpatr must bend himself. Night had fallen.
A couple of days later the holy Mentezufis, assistant of the worthy Herhor, came to the erpatr. Ramses, looking at the pale face and downcast eyes of the prophet, divined that he too knew of the Phoenician woman, and perhaps wished, as a priest, to reprimand the viceroy. But this time Mentezufis did not mention affairs touching the heart of the heir.
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