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Updated: May 24, 2025
During this interval Pentuer, standing at the prince's chariot, whispered to his lord, "Let thy countenance show neither harshness nor delight. Be calm, like the god Amon, who despises his enemies and delights in no common triumphs."
"That serpent which is sucking at the blood of the people, the property of the nomarchs, and the power of the pharaoh is the Phoenician!" "Away with the Phoenicians!" cried the priests. "Blot out all debts to them. Admit not their ships and merchants." Silence was enforced by the high priest Mefres, who with tears in his eyes turned to Pentuer.
"That is true," answered Pentuer, quickly, "but the losses will be during the first year only, for when the people increase in strength by rest they will recover all and more in the following years." "That is true," answered Mefres, "but in every case it is necessary to have ten thousand talents for that first year. I think even that twenty thousand talents would not be amiss."
Then he commanded Pentuer to come; meanwhile he received the chief treasurer. "I wish to know," said he, "what the condition of the treasury is." "We have," replied the dignitary, "at this moment twenty thousand talents of value in the granaries, stables, storehouses, and chests, while taxes are coming in daily." "But insurrections are breaking out daily," added the pharaoh.
"Well, but how will that stone improve the condition of people in Egypt?" "The stone in no way. But," said the sage, now impatient, "I will say this to thee, and do Thou remember it: the time will come when horses and oxen will take the place of people in labor, and also when boiling water will take the place of horses and oxen." "But what good will that do the people?" insisted Pentuer.
They plunder us in that way." "That is it, holy fathers," said Pentuer. "Those are the hands of Phoenicians concealed in the midst of us; they plunder the pharaoh and the scribes, and lead away laborers captive when there is nothing to drag from them." "Yes! They are jackals! A curse on Phoenicians! Expel them, the wretches!" cried the priests.
"It was in this way," said Pentuer, "during the nineteenth dynasty. Look at the earth-tillers. At their ploughs ye see sometimes oxen, sometimes asses; their picks, spades, and shovels are bronze, and hence are lasting. See what stalwart men they are! Today one could find such only in the guard of his holiness. Their hands and feet are strong, their breasts full, their faces smiling.
Thou rememberest thy words to my adjutant during those maneuvers in Pi-Bailos? I will remind thee: Thou didst tell him that it was necessary to limit the abuses and license of the pharaohs. But today Thou art supporting the childish pretensions of the greatest profligate ever known to Egypt." "Ramses XIII," said Pentuer, interrupting, "wishes to improve the lot of common people.
He sprang up and ran to the priest, whose face was full of anxiety. "Dost Thou see the oasis?" "That is no oasis," said Pentuer; "that is the ghost of some region which is wandering about through the desert a region no longer in existence. But over there over there is reality!" added he, pointing southward. "Are they mountains?" "Look more sharply." The prince looked, and saw something suddenly.
He gazed at the desert and cried out with delight: on the horizon a green country was visible, water, many palms, and somewhat higher, a town and a temple. Around him all were sleeping, both Asiatics and Libyans. But Pentuer, standing on a rock, had shaded his eyes with his hand and was looking in some direction. "Pentuer! Pentuer!" cried Ramses. "Dost Thou see that oasis?"
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