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At the same time he ordered Nitager to leave the eastern boundary to his assistant, and come himself with five chosen regiments to Memphis. This he did not so much to protect aristocrats from common people as to have at hand strong forces in case the high priests incited to rebellion Upper Egypt and the troops attached to temples. On Paofi 10 there was a great movement in the palace and about it.
"Indeed, if I were not a son of the gods, who are magnanimous and merciful, my enemies would pass through grievous hours to-morrow. How many humiliations have they put on me! How often have my eyes grown dark from weeping!" ON the 20th of Paofi Memphis looked as it might during a great solemn festival. All occupations had ceased; even carriers were not bearing burdens.
We must also examine the interior of the edifice and discover how Samentu got into it, though I am sure that he will have no followers in the near future." A couple of hours later six men had set out for Memphis. ON the eighteenth day of Paofi chaos had begun.
"Was ordered by the pharaoh. I was present at the confidential council, during which the pharaoh gave command to take possession of the temples today instead of the 23d." "Well, I declare to thee, commander of the guard, that ye are lost, for I know to a certainty that the attack of today was decided on at a council of high priests and nomarchs in the temple of Ptah, which was held on Paofi 13."
Scenes of the same kind with certain changes took place throughout all Lower Egypt. In each city on the 20th of Paofi people had collected from early morning. In each city about midday some band was storming a sacred gate. About one the high priest of the temple, with a retinue, cursed the faithless attackers and produced darkness.
And what was more important, the priests who sided with the pharaoh were to assist the troops only on Paofi 23d. By what means then could he forewarn them in temples which were so numerous and so distant from one another? And did not caution itself command him to avoid relations which might betray them? For these reasons Ramses did not wish an earlier attack on the temples.
On the 19th of Paofi a police official informed Ramses that the night before people had begun to break the walls inclosing the temple of Horus. "Did ye command them to do that?" inquired the pharaoh. "No. They began of their own accord." "Restrain them mildly restrain them," said Ramses. "In a few days they may do what they like. But now let them not act with great violence."
That priest considers that he is the most peaceful man in Egypt, though it was he who overturned the dynasty and smoothed the road to power for me. Were it not for his letter about the eclipse of the sun on the 20th of Paofi, perhaps I and the late Mefres would be splitting stones now in the quarries. "Well, go; go and greet Menes for me.
"It is true that grapes should be gathered in the month Paofi; but is there a gardener, who if his fruit were ripe a month earlier, would leave it on the vines to wither? "I repeat this: I wished to delay the movement of the people till we had finished preparations. But if it is impossible to delay, let us raise our sails and use the wind which is blowing.
"But what shall we do?" asked the judge after a while. "The pharaoh," said Herhor, "wishes the people to attack the temple on the 23d. We must make them attack us on the 20th of Paofi." "The gods live through eternity!" cried the nomarch of Aa, raising his hands. "But why should we bring misfortune on our heads, and besides two days earlier?"
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