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"Then what will be the end of this hatred between him and you?" inquired Pentuer. "Hatred!" repeated Herhor. "Could I hate a frivolous fellow, who, moreover, is surrounded, like a deer in a ravine by hunters! But I must confess that his rule is so full of danger that if Ramses had a brother, or if Nitager were younger, we should set aside the present pharaoh."
The priest was not discovered, but among Egyptian earth-tillers legends began to circulate which concerned Ramses. Some mysterious man sailed about from village to village and told the people that the heir to the throne freed the men who were in danger of condemnation to the quarries for attacking his dwelling. Besides, he had beaten down an official who was extorting unjust rent from tenants.
When the military council had heard this speech the Libyans were sent from the tent, and Prince Ramses asked the holy Mentezufis directly for his opinions; this astonished even the generals. "Only yesterday," said the worthy prophet, "I should have been glad to refuse the prayer of Musawasa, transfer the war to Libya, and destroy that nest of robbers.
Ramses drank a couple of drops and felt a marvelous change: the pain and heat ceased to torment him; his thought regained freedom. "And this may last a couple of days?" asked he. "It may last four," replied Pentuer. "But ye sages, favorites of the gods, have ye no means of saving people from such a tempest?" The priest thought awhile, and answered,
The nights were dark, the effects of light were gone; but in spite of this Ramses continued to see that brightness of the first night, and he heard the passionate strophes of the Greek singer. More than once he rose from his bench to go directly to Kama's dwelling, but shame seized him.
"O lord," said he, turning to Ramses, "wilt Thou never free thyself from those traitors?" The pharaoh summoned a confidential council again. He called in Hiram, also the priest who had brought the ring from Samentu. Pentuer did not wish to take part in the council, but the worthy queen went herself to it.
He dropped from his horse and ran so quickly that on his breast the images of the gods or the tablets with their names rattled loudly. This was Eunana in great excitement. All turned to him, and this gave him pleasure apparently. "Erpatr, the loftiest lips," cried Eunana, bending before Ramses.
He wore a muslin tunic, a richly embroidered apron, and a golden scarf across his shoulder. But he was distinguished above all by an immense wig with a multitude of tresses, and an artificial beard like cats' tails. That was Tutmosis, the first exquisite in Memphis, who dressed and perfumed himself even during marches. "Be greeted, Ramses!" exclaimed the exquisite, pushing aside officers quickly.
"Thus spoke our lord," answered Tutmosis, crossing his arms on his breast: "For four and thirty years have I directed the weighty car of Egypt, and I am so wearied that I yearn to join my mighty forefathers who dwell now in the western kingdom. Soon I shall leave this earth, and then my son, Ramses, will sit on the throne, and do with the state what wisdom points out to him."
The mummies of the old kings who had been dead for thirty centuries urged us to remain. "We will tell you the story of remote ages," they seemed to say. There Ramses II, with gray hair, thin beard, and pierced ears, the great conqueror, builder of temples, erector of statues, and maker of history, lay peacefully at rest. His lips were firmly closed, his hands folded across his breast.
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