CHAPTER XVI
JABEZ SELLS HORSES
Bakenkhonsu was right. Save the son of Seti alone, none died who dweltin or about his house, though elsewhere all the first-born of Egypt laydead, and the first-born of the beasts also. When this came to be knownthroughout the land a rage seized the Egyptians against Merapi who, theyremembered, had called down woe on Egypt after she had been forced topray in the temple and, as they believed, to lift the darkness fromMemphis.
Bakenkhonsu and I and others who loved her pointed out that her ownchild had died with the rest. To this it was answered, and here Ithought I saw the fingers of Userti and of Ki, that it was nothing,since witches did not love children. Moreover, they said she couldhave as many as she liked and when she liked, making them to look likechildren out of clay figures and to grow up into evil spirits to tormentthe land. Lastly, people swore that she had been heard to say that,although to do it she must kill her own lord's son, she would not onthat account forego her vengeance on the Egyptians, who once hadtreated her as a slave and murdered her father. Further, the Israelitesthemselves, or some of them, mayhap Laban among them, were reportedto have told the Egyptians that it was the sorceress who had bewitchedPrince Seti who brought such great troubles on them.
So it happened that the Egyptians came to hate Merapi, who of all womenwas the sweetest and the most to be loved, and to her other supposedcrimes, added this also, that by her witcheries she had stolen the heartof Seti away from his lawful wife and made him to turn that lady, theRoyal Princess of Egypt, even from his gates, so that she was forced todwell alone at Tanis. For in all these matters none blamed Seti, whomeveryone in Egypt loved, because it was known that he would have dealtwith the Israelites in a very different fashion, and thus averted allthe woes that had desolated the ancient land of Khem. As for this matterof the Hebrew girl with the big eyes who chanced to have thrown a spellupon him, that was his ill-fortune, nothing more. Amongst the many womenwith whom they believed he filled his house, as was the way of princes,it was not strange that one favourite should be a witch. Indeed, I amcertain that only because he was known to love her, was Merapi savedfrom death by poison or in some other secret fashion, at any rate for awhile.
Now came the glad tidings that the pride of Pharaoh was broken at last(for his first-born child had died with the others), or that the cloudof madness had lifted from his brain, whichever it might be, and that hehad decreed that the Children of Israel might depart from Egypt whenand whither they would. Then the people breathed again, seeing hope thattheir miseries might end.
It was at this time that Jabez appeared once more at Memphis, driving anumber of chariot horses, which he said he wished to sell to the Prince,as he did not desire them to pass into any other hands. He was admittedand stated the price of his horses, according to which they must havebeen beasts of great value.
"Why do you wish to sell your horses?" asked Seti.
"Because I go with my people into lands where there is little water andthere they might die, O Prince."
"I will buy the horses. See to it, Ana," said Seti, although I knew wellthat already he had more than he needed.
The Prince rose to show that the interview was ended, whereon Jabez, whowas bowing his thanks, said hurriedly:
"I rejoice to learn, O Royal One, that things have befallen as Iforetold, or rather was bidden to foretell, and that the troubles whichhave afflicted Egypt have passed by your dwelling."
"Then you rejoice to learn a falsehood, Hebrew, since the worst of thosetroubles has made its home here. My son is dead," and he turned away.
Jabez lifted his shifty eyes from the floor and glanced at him.
"Prince," he said, "I know and grieve because this loss has cut you tothe heart. Yet it was no fault of mine or of my people. If you think,you will remember that both when I built a wall of protection aboutthis place because of your good deeds to Israel, O Prince, and before,I warned, and caused you to be warned, that if you and my niece, Moon ofIsrael, came together a great trouble might fall on you through her who,having become the woman of an Egyptian in defiance of command, must bearthe fate of Egyptian women."
"It may be so," said the Prince. "The matter is not one of which I careto talk. If this death were wrought by the magic of your wizards I haveonly this to say--that it is an ill payment to me in return for all thatI have striven to do on behalf of the Hebrews. Yet, what else could Iexpect from such a people in such a world? Farewell."
"One prayer, O Prince. I would ask your leave to speak with my niece,Merapi."
"She is veiled. Since the murder of her child by wizardry, she sees noman."
"Still I think she will see her uncle, O Prince."
"What then do you wish to say to her?"
"O Prince, through the clemency of Pharaoh we poor slaves are about toleave the land of Egypt never to return. Therefore, if my niece remainsbehind, it is natural that I should wish to bid her farewell, and toconfide to her certain matters connected with our race and family, whichshe might desire to pass on to her children."
Now when he heard this word "children" Seti softened.
"I do not trust you," he said. "You may be charged with more of yourHebrew curses against Merapi, or you may say words to her that will makeher even unhappier than she is. Yet if you would wish to see her in mypresence----"
"My lord Prince, I will not trouble you so far. Farewell. Be pleased toconvey----"
"Or if that does not suit you," interrupted Seti, "in the presence ofAna here you can do so, unless she refuses to receive you."
Jabez reflected for a moment, and answered:
"Then in the presence of Ana let it be, since he is a man who knows whento be silent."
Jabez made obeisance and departed, and at a sign from the Prince Ifollowed him. Presently we were ushered into the chamber of the ladyMerapi, where she sat looking most sad and lonely, with a veil of blackupon her head.
"Greeting, my uncle," she said, after glancing at me, whose presenceI think she understood. "Are you the bearer of more prophecies? I praynot, since your last were overtrue," and she touched the black veil withher finger.
"I am the bearer of tidings, and of a prayer, Niece. The tidings arethat the people of Israel are about to leave Egypt. The prayer, which isalso a command, is--that you make ready to accompany them----"
"To Laban?" she asked, looking up.
"No, my niece. Laban would not wish as a wife one who has been themistress of an Egyptian, but to play your part, however humble, in thefortunes of our people."
"I am glad that Laban does not wish what he never could obtain, myuncle. Tell me, I pray you, why should I hearken to this prayer, or thiscommand?"
"For a good reason, Niece--that your life hangs on it. Heretofore youhave been suffered to take your heart's desire. But if you bide in Egyptwhere you have no longer a mission to fulfil, having done all that wassought of you in keeping with the mind of your lover, the Prince Seti,true to the cause of Israel, you will surely die."
"You mean that our people will kill me?"
"No, not our people. Still you will die."
She took a step towards him, and looked him in the eyes.
"You are certain that I shall die, my uncle?"
"I am, or at least others are certain."
Now she laughed; it was the first time I had seen her laugh for severalmoons.
"Then I will stay here," she said.
Jabez stared at her.
"I thought that you loved this Egyptian, who indeed is worthy of anywoman's love," he muttered into his beard.
"Perhaps it is because I love him that I wish to die. I have given himall I have to give; there is nothing left of my poor treasure exceptwhat will bring trouble and misfortune on his head. Therefore thegreater the love--and it is more great than all those pyramids massed toone--the greater the need that it should be buried for a while. Do youunderstand?"
He shook his head.
"I understand only that you are a very strange woman, diffe
rent from anyother that I have known."
"My child, who was slain with the rest, was all the world to me, and Iwould be where he is. Do you understand now?"
"You would leave your life, in which, being young, you may have morechildren, to lie in a tomb with your dead son?" he asked slowly, likeone astonished.
"I only care for life while it can serve him whom I love, and if a daycomes when he sits upon the throne how will a daughter of the hatedIsraelites serve him then? Also I do not wish for more children. Livingor dead, he that is gone owns all my heart; there is no room in it forothers. That love at least is pure and perfect, and having been embalmedby death, can never change. Moreover, it is not in a tomb that I shalllie with him, or so I believe. The faith of these Egyptians which wedespise tells of a life eternal in the heavens, and thither I wouldgo to seek that which is lost, and to wait that which is left behindawhile."
"Ah!" said Jabez. "For my part I do not trouble myself with theseproblems, who find in a life temporal on the earth enough to fill mythoughts and hands. Yet, Merapi, you are a rebel, and whether in heavenor on earth, how are rebels received by the king against whom they haverebelled?"
"You say I am rebel," she said, turning on him with flashing eyes. "Why?Because I would not dishonour myself by marrying a man I hate, one alsowho is a murderer, and because while I live I will not desert a man whomI love to return to those who have done me naught but evil. Did God thenmake women to be sold like cattle of the field for the pleasure and theprofit of him who can pay the highest?"
"It seems so," said Jabez, spreading out his hands.
"It seems that you think so, who fashion God as you would wish him tobe, but for my part I do not believe it, and if I did, I should seekanother king. My uncle, I appeal from the priest and the elder to Thatwhich made both them and me, and by Its judgment I will stand or fall."
"Always a very dangerous thing to do," reflected Jabez aloud, "since thepriest is apt to take the law into his own hands before the cause canbe pleaded elsewhere. Still, who am I that I should set up my reasoningsagainst one who can grind Amon to powder in his own sanctuary, and whotherefore may have warrant for all she thinks and does?"
Merapi stamped her foot.
"You know well it was you who brought me the command to dare the godAmon in his temple. It was not I----" she began.
"I do know," replied Jabez waving his hand. "I know also that is whatevery wizard says, whatever his nation or his gods, and what no one everbelieves. Thus because, having faith, you obeyed the command and throughyou Amon was smitten, among both the Israelites and the Egyptians youare held to be the greatest sorceress that has looked upon the Nile, andthat is a dangerous repute, my niece."
"One to which I lay no claim, and never sought."
"Just so, but which all the same has come to you. Well, knowing aswithout doubt you do all that will soon befall in Egypt, and having beenwarned, if you needed warning, of the danger with which you yourself arethreatened, you still refuse to obey this second command which it is myduty to deliver to you?"
"I refuse."
"Then on your own head be it, and farewell. Oh! I would add that thereis a certain property in cattle, and the fruit of lands which descendsto you from your father. In the event of your death----"
"Take it all, uncle, and may it prosper you. Farewell."
"A great woman, friend Ana, and a beautiful," said the old Hebrew, afterhe had watched her go. "I grieve that I shall never see her again, and,indeed, that no one will see her for very long; for, remember, she ismy niece of whom I am fond. Now I too must be going, having completed myerrand. All good fortune to you, Ana. You are no longer a soldier, areyou? No? Believe me, it is as well, as you will learn. My homage tothe Prince. Think of me at times, when you grow old, and not unkindly,seeing that I have served you as best I could, and your master also, whoI hope will soon find again that which he lost awhile ago."
"Her Highness, Princess Userti," I suggested.
"The Princess Userti among other things, Ana. Tell the Prince, if heshould deem them costly, that those horses which I sold him are reallyof the finest Syrian blood, and of a strain that my family has owned forgenerations. If you should chance to have any friend whose welfare youdesire, let him not go into the desert soldiering during the next fewmoons, especially if Pharaoh be in command. Nay, I know nothing, but itis a season of great storm. Farewell, friend Ana, and again farewell."
"Now what did he mean by that?" thought I to myself, as I departed tomake my report to Seti. But no answer to the question rose in my mind.
Very soon I began to understand. It appeared that at length theIsraelites were leaving Egypt, a vast horde of them, and with them tensof thousands of Arabs of various tribes who worshipped their godand were, some of them, descended from the people of the Hyksos, theshepherds who once ruled in Egypt. That this was true was proved to usby the tidings which reached us that all the Hebrew women who dwelt inMemphis, even those of them who were married to Egyptians, had departedfrom the city, leaving behind them their men and sometimes theirchildren. Indeed, before these went, certain of them who had beenfriends visited Merapi, and asked her if she were not coming also. Sheshook her head as she replied:
"Why do you go? Are you so fond of journeyings in the desert that forthe sake of them you are ready never again to look upon the men you loveand the children of your bodies?"
"No, Lady," they answered, weeping. "We are happy here in white-walledMemphis and here, listening to the murmur of the Nile, we would growold and die, rather than strive to keep house in some desert tent with astranger or alone. Yet fear drives us hence."
"Fear of what?"
"Of the Egyptians who, when they come to understand all that they havesuffered at our hands in return for the wealth and shelter which theyhave given us for many generations, whereby we have grown from a handfulinto a great people, will certainly kill any Israelite whom they findleft among them. Also we fear the curses of our priests who bid us todepart."
"Then _I_ should fear these things also," said Merapi.
"Not so, Lady, seeing that being the only beloved of the Prince of Egyptwho, rumour tells us, will soon be Pharaoh of Egypt, by him you willbe protected from the anger of the Egyptians. And being, as we all knowwell, the greatest sorceress in the world, the overthrower of Amon-Rathe mighty, and one who by sacrificing her child was able to ward awayevery plague from the household where she dwelt, you have naught to fearfrom priests and their magic."
Then Merapi sprang up, bidding them to leave her to her fate and tobe gone to their own, which they did hastily enough, fearing lest sheshould cast some spell upon them. So it came about that presently thefair Moon of Israel and certain children of mixed blood were all of theHebrew race that were left in Egypt. Then, notwithstanding the miseriesand misfortunes that during the past few years by terror, death, andfamine had reduced them to perhaps one half of their number, the peopleof Egypt rejoiced with a great joy.
In every temple of every god processions were held and offerings made bythose who had anything left to offer, while the statues of the gods weredressed in fine new garments and hung about with garlandings of flowers.Moreover, on the Nile and on the sacred lakes boats floated to andfro, adorned with lanterns as at the feast of the Rising of Osiris. Astitular high-priest of Amon, an office of which he could not be deprivedwhile he lived, Prince Seti attended these demonstrations, which indeedhe must do, in the great temple of Memphis, whither I accompanied him.When the ceremonies were over he led the procession through the massesof the worshippers, clad in his splendid sacerdotal robes, whereon everythroat of the thousands present there greeted him in a shout of thunderas "Pharaoh!" or at least as Pharaoh's heir.
When at length the shouting died, he turned upon them and said:
"Friends, if you would send me to be of the company that sits at thetable of Osiris and not at Pharaoh's feasts, you will repeat thisfoolish greeting, whereof our Lord Amenmeses will hear with little joy."
In the
silence that followed a voice called out:
"Have no fear, O Prince, while the Hebrew witch sleeps night by nightupon your bosom. She who could smite Egypt with so many plagues cancertainly shelter you from harm;" whereon the roars of acclamation wentup again.
It was on the following day that Bakenkhonsu the aged returned with moretidings from Tanis, where he had been upon a visit. It seemed that agreat council had been held there in the largest hall of one of thelargest temples. At this council, which was open to all the people,Amenmeses had given report on the matter of the Israelites who, hestated, were departing in their thousands. Also offerings were made toappease the angry gods of Egypt. When the ceremony was finished, butbefore the company broke up in a heavy mood, her Highness the PrincessUserti rose in her place, and addressed Pharaoh:
"By the spirits of our fathers," she cried, "and more especially by thatof the good god Meneptah, my begetter, I ask of you, Pharaoh, and I askof you, O people, whether the affront that has been put upon us by theseHebrew slaves and their magicians is one that the proud land of Egyptshould be called upon to bear? Our gods have been smitten and defied;woes great and terrible, such as history tells not of, have fallenupon us through magic; tens of thousands, from the first-born child ofPharaoh down, have perished in a single night. And now these Hebrews,who have murdered them by sorcery, for they are sorcerers all, men andwomen together, especially one of them who sits at Memphis, of whom Iwill not speak because she has wrought me private harm, by the decreeof Pharaoh are to be suffered to leave the land. More, they are to takewith them all their cattle, all their threshed corn, all the treasurethey have hoarded for generations, and all the ornaments of price andwealth that they have wrung by terror from our own people, borrowingthat which they never purpose to return. Therefore I, the Royal Princessof Egypt, would ask of Pharaoh, is this the decree of Pharaoh?"
"Now," said Bakenkhonsu, "Pharaoh sat with hanging head upon his throneand made no answer."
"Pharaoh does not speak," went on Userti. "Then I ask, is this thedecree of the Council of Pharaoh and of the people of Egypt? Thereis still a great army in Egypt, hundreds of chariots and thousands offootmen. Is this army to sit still while these slaves depart into thedesert there to rouse our enemies of Syria against us and return withthem to butcher us?"
"At these words," continued Bakenkhonsu, "from all that multitude therewent up a shout of 'No.'"
"The people say No. What saith Pharaoh?" cried Userti.
There followed a silence, till suddenly Amenmeses rose and spoke:
"Have it as you will, Princess, and on your head and the heads of allthese whom you have stirred up let the evil fall if evil comes, thoughI think it is your husband, the Prince Seti, who should stand where youstand and put up this prayer in your place."
"My husband, the Prince Seti, is tied to Memphis by a rope of witch'shair, or so they tell me," she sneered, while the people murmured inassent.
"I know not," went on Amenmeses, "but this I know that always the Princewould have let these Hebrews go from among us, and at times, as sorrowfollowed sorrow, I have thought that he was right. Truly more than onceI also would have let them go, but ever some Strength, I know not what,descended on my heart, turning it to stone, and wrung from me words thatI did not desire to utter. Even now I would let them go, but all of youare against me, and, perchance, if I withstand you, I shall pay for itwith my life and throne. Captains, command that my armies be made ready,and let them assemble here at Tanis that I myself may lead them afterthe people of Israel and share their dangers."
Then with a mighty shouting the company broke up, so that at the lastall were gone and only Pharaoh remained seated upon his throne, staringat the ground with the air, said Bakenkhonsu, rather of one who is deadthan of a living king about to wage war upon his foes.
To all these words the Prince listened in silence, but when they werefinished he looked up and asked:
"What think you, Bakenkhonsu?"
"I think, O Prince," answered the wise old man, "that her Highness didill to stir up this matter, though doubtless she spoke with the voicesof the priests and of the army, against which Pharaoh was not strongenough to stand."
"What you think, I think," said Seti.
At this moment the lady Merapi entered.
"I hear, my lord," she said, "that Pharaoh purposes to pursue the peopleof Israel with his host. I come to pray my lord that he will not joinhimself to the host of Pharaoh."
"It is but natural, Lady, that you should not wish me to make war uponyour kin, and to speak truth I have no mind that way," replied Seti,and, turning, left the chamber with her.
"She is not thinking of her king but of her lover's life," saidBakenkhonsu. "She is not a witch as they declare, but it is true thatshe knows what we do not."
"Yes," I answered, "it is true."