Moon of Israel: A Tale of the Exodus

  CHAPTER XI

  THE CROWNING OF AMENMESES

  Now, notwithstanding all the woes that fell on Egypt and a certainsecret sorrow of my own, began the happiest of the days which the godshave given me. We went to Mennefer or Memphis, the white-walled citywhere I was born, the city that I loved. Now no longer did I dwell ina little house near to the enclosure of the temple of Ptah, which isvaster and more splendid than all those of Thebes or Tanis. My home wasin the beautiful palace of Seti, which he had inherited from his mother,the Great Royal Wife. It stood, and indeed still stands, on a piled-upmound without the walls near to the temple of the goddess Neit, whoalways has her habitation to the north of the wall, why I do not know,because even her priests cannot tell me. In front of this palace,facing to the north, is a great portico, whereof the roof is borne uponpalm-headed, painted columns whence may be seen the most lovely prospectin Egypt. First the gardens, then the palm-groves, then the cultivatedland, then the broad and gentle Nile and, far away, the desert.

  Here, then, we dwelt, keeping small state and almost unguarded, but inwealth and comfort, spending our time in the library of the palace,or in those of the temples, and when we wearied of work, in the lovelygardens or, perchance, sailing upon the bosom of the Nile. The ladyMerapi dwelt there also, but in a separate wing of the palace, withcertain slaves and servants whom Seti had given to her. Sometimes we mether in the gardens, where it pleased her to walk at the same hours thatwe did, namely before the sun grew hot, or in the cool of the evening,and now and again when the moon shone at night. Then the three of uswould talk together, for Seti never sought her company alone or withinwalls.

  Those talks were very pleasant. Moreover they grew more frequent as timewent on, since Merapi had a thirst for learning, and the Prince wouldbring her rolls to read in a little summer-house there was. Here wewould sit, or if the heat was great, outside beneath the shadow oftwo spreading trees that stretched above the roof of the littlepleasure-house, while Seti discoursed of the contents of the rolls andinstructed her in the secrets of our writing. Sometimes, too, I readthem stories of my making, to which it pleased them both to listen, orso they said, and I, in my vanity, believed. Also we would talk of themystery and the wonder of the world and of the Hebrews and their fate,or of what passed in Egypt and the neighbouring lands.

  Nor was Merapi altogether lonesome, seeing that there dwelt in Memphiscertain ladies who had Hebrew blood in their veins, or were born of theIsraelites and had married Egyptians against their law. Among these shemade friends, and together they worshipped in their own fashion withnone to say them nay, since here no priests were allowed to troublethem.

  For our part we held intercourse with as many as we pleased, since fewforgot that Seti was by blood the Prince of Egypt, that is, a man almosthalf divine, and all were eager to visit him. Also he was much belovedfor his own sake and more particularly by the poor, whose wants it washis delight to relieve to the full limit of his wealth. Thus it cameabout that whenever he went abroad, although against his will, he wasreceived with honours and homage that were almost royal, for thoughPharaoh could rob him of the Crown he could not empty his veins of theblood of kings.

  It was on this account that I feared for his safety, since I was surethat through his spies Amenmeses knew all and would grow jealous ofa dethroned prince who was still so much adored by those over whom ofright he should have ruled. I told Seti of my doubts and that when hetravelled the streets he should be guarded by armed men. But he onlylaughed and answered that, as the Hebrews had failed to kill him, he didnot think that any others would succeed. Moreover he believed therewere no Egyptians in the land who would lift a sword against him, or putpoison in his drink, whoever bade them. Also he added these words:

  "The best way to escape death is to have no fear of death, for thenOsiris shuns us."