Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 4, 2025
He seemed unconscious; the eyes were turned in his head, and there was foam on his lips. In him Ramses recognized the chief. He approached him, drew the chain from his neck, and unfastened his sword. Some old Libyan who seemed less wearied than others, seeing this, called out, "Though Thou art victor, Egyptian, respect the prince's son, who is chief." "Is he the son of Musawasa?" asked Ramses.
Yesterday, worthy prince, I made bold to offer a judgment that for such a wretched captive as Tehenna, a chief should not leave his army. Today I see that I was mistaken, for if Thou hadst not seized Tehenna we should not have this early peace with Musawasa. Thy wisdom, chief, has proved higher than military regulations." The prince was arrested by this compunction on the part of Mentezufis.
He sent confidential men to meet the Libyans; he commanded them to feign that they were fugitives, to enter the enemies' camp and draw from Musawasa his best forces, the disbanded Libyan soldiers. "Tell them," said Ramses to his agents, "that I have axes for the insolent, and compassion for obedience.
The blood rushed to Ramses' head. Then Musawasa was here and escaped? "Hei! whoso has the best horse, follow me!" "Well," said Patrokles, laughing, "that sheep-stealer himself will bleat now!" Pentuer stopped the way to the prince. "It is not for thee to hunt fugitives, worthiness." "What?" cried the heir.
"A great throng of people are approaching our ravine, not troops, however, but unarmed men, with children and women; at the head of them is Musawasa, and the foremost of the Libyans." "What does this mean?" "Evidently they wish to beg peace of thee." "After one battle?" asked the prince, with wonder. "But what a battle! Besides, fear increases our army in their eyes. They fear invasion and death."
Next the commander sent spies to meet the approaching Libyans and discover their number and disposition. These spies returned soon, bringing accurate indications as to where the Libyans were and very exaggerated accounts as to their numbers. They asserted, too, mistakenly, though in great confidence, that at the head of the Libyan columns marched Musawasa with his son Tehenna.
So Musawasa gave two thousand men, ex-warriors of the pharaoh, and four thousand of the Libyan rabble to Tehenna, commanding him to fall on Egypt at the earliest, seize whatever he could find, and collect provisions for the real army. Assembling for himself the most important forces, he sent swift runners through the oases and summoned to his standard all who had no property.
At last the penitent Libyans stood before the face of the prince, who looked at them as a fierce hippopotamus at ducklings which have no place to hide before his mightiness. "Art Thou he?" asked Ramses, suddenly. "Art Thou that Musawasa, the wise Libyan leader?" "I am thy servant," answered Musawasa, and he threw himself on the ground again. When they ordered him to rise, the prince said,
The princely leader was flushed with delight that in his first war he would have such an experienced enemy as Musawasa. He overestimated, therefore, the danger of the struggle and redoubled every caution. To have all chances on his side he had recourse to stratagem.
If in the coming battle they will throw their weapons down and leave Musawasa, I will receive them back to the army of his holiness, and command to pay all arrears, as if they had never left the service." Patrokles and the other generals saw in this a very prudent measure; the priests were silent, Mentezufis sent a dispatch to Herhor and next day received an answer.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking