Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 21, 2025
The maiden is beautiful I saw her most divinely beautiful. She is wise, for I saw that also. She is good, for I felt it, unreasoning, and when a man hath a woman intuition, a god hath spoken the truth to his heart. But she is a slave an Israelite." "An Israelite!" Hotep bowed his head. "By the gods of my fathers, I ought not to marvel! Nay, now, is that not like the boy? An Israelite!
Hotep waited in the house of his aunt, neighbor to the murket, and about the middle of the first watch asked again for Kenkenes. Nay, the young master had not returned. But would not the noble Hotep enter and await him? The scribe, however, returned to the palace, and put off his visit until the next day. The following noon a page brought him a message from his aunt, the Lady Senci.
"Does it not appear to thee," Hotep asked, after a little silence, "that the same hand which so forcibly persuaded the Egyptians to abandon the pursuit may have led the maiden to a place of safety? My surmises have been right in general, O noble Mentu, but not in detail," he continued, turning to the murket.
Going to the king, he put aside Hotep, who was striving to raise the monarch, and lifted Meneptah in his arms. "Masanath is better now, good Hotep, and I would take my place beside my king." Without summoning further aid, he half carried the limp monarch up the hall and into the royal bed-chamber.
But Hotep was a penetrative man, and more hidden things than his friend's ailment had been an open secret to his keen eye. He did not care to know which one of the butterflies was the fluttering object of Kenkenes' bounteous love, for Hotep knew that those high-born Memphian women, who were openly partial to the handsome young sculptor, loved him for his comeliness and his silken tongue alone.
The pair had spoken of all Memphis and its gossip; had given account of themselves and had caught up with the present time in the succession of events. "Hotep, at thy lofty notch of favor, one must have the wisdom of Toth," Kenkenes observed, adding with a laugh, "mark thou, I have compared thee with no mortal." Hotep shook his head.
"So thou wilt avoid the name of Hotep in the presence of Rameses and wilt shield him as if his safety were to bring thee gain," she replied, thrusting skilfully, "I will wed the prince in one year. Furthermore, in that time I shall be free to go where and when I please, to dwell where I please and to be vexed with the sight of thee or that royal monster no more than is my desire.
His zest in his convictions did not flag, but it seemed that the whole world and the heavens had receded and left him alone with them. Again Hotep spoke. "There is more court gossip," he began cheerily, as if no word had been said that could depress the tone of the conversation. Kenkenes accepted the new subject gladly. "Out with it," he said.
Hotep does not thank thee. His marble spirit hath set its loves upon ink-pots and papyri and such pulseless things. How I should reproach myself if I must undo him " "Nay, bring no disaster on the head of the noble Hotep," she begged. "He I there is naught between us." "It is even as I had thought. I shall tell Rameses and send him to thee," he said, moving away.
"Hotep will obey as I command; that thou knowest," he said with dignity. "Thou wilt not reach the point of command with him," she vehemently insisted. "He would catch thine intent ere thou hadst stated it and would make thee aghast at thyself in a twinkling by his smooth reasoning and vivid auguries. Nay, if thou art to have thy way in this, I wash my hands of it. We are as good as undone."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking