CHAPTER IV
THE COURT OF BETROTHAL
"Life! Blood! Strength!" echoed everyone in the great hall, falling totheir knees and bending their foreheads to the ground. Even the Princeand the aged Bakenkhonsu prostrated themselves thus as though before thepresence of a god. And, indeed, Pharaoh Meneptah, passing through thepatch of sunlight at the head of the hall, wearing the double crown uponhis head and arrayed in royal robes and ornaments, looked like a god, noless, as the multitude of the people of Egypt held him to be. He was anold man with the face of one worn by years and care, but from his personmajesty seemed to flow.
With him, walking a step or two behind, went Nehesi his Vizier, ashrivelled, parchment-faced officer whose cunning eyes rolled about theplace, and Roy the High-priest, and Hora the Chamberlain of the Table,and Meranu the Washer of the King's Hands, and Yuy the private scribe,and many others whom Bakenkhonsu named to me as they appeared. Thenthere were fan-bearers and a gorgeous band of lords who were calledKing's Companions and Head Butlers and I know not who besides, andafter these guards with spears and helms that shone like god, and blackswordsmen from the southern land of Kesh.
But one woman accompanied his Majesty, walking alone immediately behindhim in front of the Vizier and the High-priest. She was the RoyalDaughter, the Princess Userti, who looked, I thought, prouder and moresplendid than any there, though somewhat pale and anxious.
Pharaoh came to the steps of the throne. The Vizier and the High-priestadvanced to help him up the steps, for he was feeble with age. He wavedthem aside, and beckoning to his daughter, rested his hand upon hershoulder and by her aid mounted the throne. I thought that there wasmeaning in this; it was as though he would show to all the assembly thatthis princess was the prop of Egypt.
For a little while he stood still and Userti sat herself down on thetopmost step, resting her chin upon her jewelled hand. There he stoodsearching the place with his eyes. He lifted his sceptre and all rose,hundreds and hundreds of them throughout the hall, their garmentsrustling as they rose like leaves in a sudden wind. He seated himselfand once more from every throat went up the regal salutation that wasthe king's alone, of--
"Life! Blood! Strength! Pharaoh! Pharaoh! Pharaoh!"
In the silence that followed I heard him say, to the Princess, I think:
"Amenmeses I see, and others of our kin, but where is my son Seti, thePrince of Egypt?"
"Watching us no doubt from some vestibule. My brother loves notceremonials," answered Userti.
Then, with a little sigh, Seti stepped forward, followed by Bakenkhonsuand myself, and at a distance by other members of his household. As hemarched up the long hall all drew to this side or that, saluting himwith low bows. Arriving in front of the throne he bent till his kneetouched the ground, saying:
"I give greeting, O King and Father."
"I give greeting, O Prince and Son. Be seated," answered Meneptah.
Seti seated himself in a chair that had been made ready for him at thefoot of the throne, and on its right, and in another chair to the left,but set farther from the steps, Amenmeses seated himself also. At amotion from the Prince I took my stand behind his chair.
The formal business of the Court began. At the beckoning of an usherpeople of all sorts appeared singly and handed in petitions written onrolled-up papyri, which the Vizier Nehesi took and threw into a leathernsack that was held open by a black slave. In some cases an answer to hispetition, whereof this was only the formal delivery, was handed backto the suppliant, who touched his brow with the roll that perhapsmeant everything to him, and bowed himself away to learn his fate. Thenappeared sheiks of the desert tribes, and captains from fortresses inSyria, and traders who had been harmed by enemies, and even peasants whohad suffered violence from officers, each to make his prayer. Of all ofthese supplications the scribes took notes, while to some the Vizier andcouncillors made answer. But as yet Pharaoh said nothing. There he satsilent on his splendid throne of ivory and gold, like a god of stoneabove the altar, staring down the long hall and through the open doorsas though he would read the secrets of the skies beyond.
"I told you that courts were wearisome, friend Ana," whispered thePrince to me without turning his head. "Do you not already begin to wishthat you were back writing tales at Memphis?"
Before I could answer some movement in the throng at the end of thehall drew the eyes of the Prince and of all of us. I looked, and sawadvancing towards the throne a tall, bearded man already old, althoughhis black hair was but grizzled with grey. He was arrayed in a whitelinen robe, over which hung a woollen cloak such as shepherds wear, andhe carried in his hand a long thornwood staff. His face was splendid andvery handsome, and his black eyes flashed like fire. He walked forwardslowly, looking neither to the left nor the right, and the throng madeway for him as though he were a prince. Indeed, I thought that theyshowed more fear of him than of any prince, since they shrank from himas he came. Nor was he alone, for after him walked another man who wasvery like to him, but as I judged, still older, for his beard, whichhung down to his middle, was snow-white as was the hair on his head. Healso was dressed in a sheepskin cloak and carried a staff in his hand.Now a whisper rose among the people and the whisper said:
"The prophets of the men of Israel! The prophets of the men of Israel!"
The two stood before the throne and looked at Pharaoh, making noobeisance. Pharaoh looked at them and was silent. For a long space theystood thus in the midst of a great quiet, but Pharaoh would not speak,and none of his officers seemed to dare to open their mouths. At lengththe first of the prophets spoke in a clear, cold voice as some conquerormight do.
"You know me, Pharaoh, and my errand."
"I know you," answered Pharaoh slowly, "as well I may, seeing that weplayed together when we were little. You are that Hebrew whom my sister,she who sleeps in Osiris, took to be as a son to her, giving to you aname that means 'drawn forth' because she drew you forth as an infantfrom among the reeds of Nile. Aye, I know you and your brother also, butyour errand I know not."
"This is my errand, Pharaoh, or rather the errand of Jahveh, God ofIsrael, for whom I speak. Have you not heard it before? It is that youshould let his people go to do sacrifice to him in the wilderness."
"Who is Jahveh? I know not Jahveh who serve Amon and the gods of Egypt,and why should I let your people go?"
"Jahveh is the God of Israel, the great God of all gods whose power youshall learn if you will not hearken, Pharaoh. As for why you should letthe people go, ask it of the Prince your son who sits yonder. Ask him ofwhat he saw in the streets of this city but last night, and of a certainjudgment that he passed upon one of the officers of Pharaoh. Or if hewill not tell you, learn it from the lips of the maiden who is namedMerapi, Moon of Israel, the daughter of Nathan the Levite. Standforward, Merapi, daughter of Nathan."
Then from the throng at the back of the hall came forward Merapi, cladin a white robe and with a black veil thrown about her head in tokenof mourning, but not so as to hide her face. Up the hall she glided andmade obeisance to Pharaoh, as she did so, casting one swift look at Setiwhere he sat. Then she stood still, looking, as I thought, wonderfullybeautiful in that simple robe of white and the evil of black.
"Speak, woman," said Pharaoh.
She obeyed, telling all the tale in her low and honeyed voice, nor didany seem to think it long or wearisome. At length she ended, and Pharaohsaid:
"Say, Seti my son, is this truth?"
"It is truth, O my Father. By virtue of my powers as Governor of thiscity I caused the captain Khuaka to be put to death for the crime ofmurder done by him before my eyes in the streets of the city."
"Perchance you did right and perchance you did wrong, Son Seti. At leastyou are the best judge, and because he struck your royal person, thisKhuaka deserved to die."
Again he was silent for a while staring through the open doors at thesky beyond. Then he said:
"What would ye more, Prophets of Jahveh? Justice has been done upon myof
ficer who slew the man of your people. A life has been taken for alife according to the strict letter of the law. The matter is finished.Unless you have aught to say, get you gone."
"By the command of the Lord our God," answered the prophet, "we havethis to say to you, O Pharaoh. Lift the heavy yoke from off the neck ofthe people of Israel. Bid that they cease from the labour of the makingof bricks to build your walls and cities."
"And if I refuse, what then?"
"Then the curse of Jahveh shall be on you, Pharaoh, and with plague uponplague shall he smite this land of Egypt."
Now a sudden rage seized Meneptah.
"What!" he cried. "Do you dare to threaten me in my own palace, andwould ye cause all the multitude of the people of Israel who have grownfat in the land to cease from their labours? Hearken, my servants, and,scribes, write down my decree. Go ye to the country of Goshen and sayto the Israelites that the bricks they made they shall make as aforetimeand more work shall they do than aforetime in the days of my father,Rameses. Only no more straw shall be given to them for the making of thebricks. Because they are idle, let them go forth and gather the strawthemselves; let them gather it from the face of the fields."
There was silence for a while. Then with one voice both the prophetsspoke, pointing with their wands to Pharaoh:
"In the Name of the Lord God we curse you, Pharaoh, who soon shall dieand make answer for this sin. The people of Egypt we curse also. Ruinshall be their portion; death shall be their bread and blood shall theydrink in a great darkness. Moreover, at the last Pharaoh shall let thepeople go."
Then, waiting no answer, they turned and strode away side by side, nordid any man hinder them in their goings. Again there was silence in thehall, the silence of fear, for these were awful words that the prophetshad spoken. Pharaoh knew it, for his chin sank upon his breast and hisface that had been red with rage turned white. Userti hid her eyes withher hand as though to shut out some evil vision, and even Seti seemedill at ease as though that awful curse had found a home within hisheart.
At a motion of Pharaoh's hand the Vizier Nehesi struck the groundthrice with his wand of office and pointed to the door, thus givingthe accustomed sign that the Court was finished, whereon all the peopleturned and went away with bent heads speaking no words one to another.Presently the great hall was emptied save for the officers and guardsand those who attended upon Pharaoh. When everyone had gone Seti thePrince rose and bowed before the throne.
"O Pharaoh," he said, "be pleased to hearken. We have heard very evilwords spoken by these Hebrew men, words that threaten your divine life,O Pharaoh, and call down a curse upon the Upper and the Lower Land.Pharaoh, these people of Israel hold that they suffer wrong and areoppressed. Now give me, your son, a writing under your hand and seal, byvirtue of which I shall have power to go down to the Land of Goshen andinquire of this matter, and afterwards make report of the truth to you.Then, if it seems to you that the People of Israel are unjustly dealtby, you may lighten their burden and bring the curse of their prophetsto nothing. But if it seems to you that the tales they tell are idlethen your words shall stand."
Now, listening, I, Ana, thought that Pharaoh would once more be angry.But it was not so, for when he spoke again it was in the voice of onewho is crushed by grief or weariness.
"Have your will, Son," he said. "Only take with you a great guard ofsoldiers lest these hook-nosed dogs should do you mischief. I trust themnot, who, like the Hyksos whose blood runs in many of them, were everthe foes of Egypt. Did they not conspire with the Ninebow Barbarianswhom I crushed in the great battle, and do they not now threaten us inthe name of their outland god? Still, let the writing be prepared andI will seal it. And stay. I think, Seti, that you, who were evergentle-natured, have somewhat too soft a heart towards these shepherdslaves. Therefore I will not send you alone. Amenmeses your cousin shallgo with you, but under your command. It is spoken."
"Life! Blood! Strength!" said both Seti and Amenmeses, thusacknowledging the king's command.
Now I thought that all was finished. But it was not so, for presentlyPharaoh said:
"Let the guards withdraw to the end of the hall and with them theservants. Let the King's councillors and the officers of the householdremain."
Instantly all saluted and withdrew out of hearing. I, too, made ready togo, but the Prince said to me:
"Stay, that you may take note of what passes."
Pharaoh, watching, saw if he did not hear.
"Who is that man, Son?" he asked.
"He is Ana my private scribe and librarian, O Pharaoh, whom I trust. Itwas he who saved me from harm but last night."
"You say it, Son. Let him remain in attendance on you, knowing that ifhe betrays our council he dies."
Userti looked up frowning as though she were about to speak. If so, shechanged her mind and was silent, perhaps because Pharaoh's word oncespoken could not be altered. Bakenkhonsu remained also as a Councillorof the King according to his right.
When all had gone Pharaoh, who had been brooding, lifted his head andspoke slowly but in the voice of one who gives a judgment that may notbe questioned, saying:
"Prince Seti, you are my only son born of Queen Ast-Nefert, royalSister, royal Mother, who sleeps in the bosom of Osiris. It is true thatyou are not my first-born son, since the Count Ramessu"--here he pointedto a stout mild-faced man of pleasing, rather foolish appearance--"isyour elder by two years. But, as he knows well, his mother, who is stillwith us, is a Syrian by birth and of no royal blood, and therefore hecan never sit upon the throne of Egypt. Is it not so, my son Ramessu?"
"It is so, O Pharaoh," answered the Count in a pleasant voice, "not do Iseek ever to sit upon that throne, who am well content with theoffices and wealth that Pharaoh has been pleased to confer upon me, hisfirst-born."
"Let the words of the Count Ramessu be written down," said Pharaoh, "andplaced in the temple of Ptah of this city, and in the temples of Ptahat Memphis and of Amon at Thebes, that hereafter they may never bequestioned."
The scribes in attendance wrote down the words and, at a sign from thePrince Seti, I also wrote them down, setting the papyrus I had with meon my knee. When this was finished Pharaoh went on.
"Therefore, O Prince Seti, you are the heir of Egypt and perhaps, asthose Hebrew prophets said, will ere long be called upon to sit in myplace on its throne."
"May the King live for ever!" exclaimed Seti, "for well he knows that Ido not seek his crown and dignities."
"I do know it well, my son; so well that I wish you thought more of thatcrown and those dignities which, if the gods will, must come to you. Ifthey will it not, next in the order of succession stands your cousin,the Count Amenmeses, who is also of royal blood both on his father'sand his mother's side, and after him I know not who, unless it bemy daughter and your half-sister, the royal Princess Userti, Lady ofEgypt."
Now Userti spoke, very earnestly, saying:
"O Pharaoh, surely my right in the succession, according to ancientprecedent, precedes that of my cousin, the Count Amenmeses."
Amenmeses was about to answer, but Pharaoh lifted his hand and he wassilent.
"It is matter for those learned in such lore to discuss," Meneptahreplied in a somewhat hesitating voice. "I pray the gods that it maynever be needful that this high question should be considered in theCouncil. Nevertheless, let the words of the royal Princess be writtendown. Now, Prince Seti," he went on when this had been done, "you arestill unmarried, and if you have children they are not royal."
"I have none, O Pharaoh," said Seti.
"Is it so?" answered Meneptah indifferently. "The Count Amenmeses haschildren I know, for I have seen them, but by his wife Unuri, who alsois of the royal line, he has none."
Here I heard Amenmeses mutter, "Being my aunt that is not strange," asaying at which Seti smiled.
"My daughter, the Princess, is also unmarried. So it seems that thefountain of the royal blood is running dry----"
"Now it is coming," whispered Seti bel
ow his breath so that only I couldhear.
"Therefore," continued Pharaoh, "as you know, Prince Seti, for the royalPrincess of Egypt by my command went to speak to you of this matter lastnight, I make a decree----"
"Pardon, O Pharaoh," interrupted the Prince, "my sister spoke to meof no decree last night, save that I should attend at the court hereto-day."
"Because I could not, Seti, seeing that another was present with youwhom you refused to dismiss," and she let her eyes rest on me.
"It matters not," said Pharaoh, "since now I will utter it with my ownlips which perhaps is better. It is my will, Prince, that you forthwithwed the royal Princess Userti, that children of the true blood of theRamessides may be born. Hear and obey."
Now Userti shifted her eyes from me to Seti, watching him very closely.Seated at his side upon the ground with my writing roll spread across myknee, I, too, watched him closely, and noted that his lips turned whiteand his face grew fixed and strange.
"I hear the command of Pharaoh," he said in a low voice makingobeisance, and hesitated.
"Have you aught to add?" asked Meneptah sharply.
"Only, O Pharaoh, that though this would be a marriage decreed forreasons of the State, still there is a lady who must be given inmarriage, and she my half-sister who heretofore has only loved me asa relative. Therefore, I would know from her lips if it is her will totake me as a husband."
Now all looked at Userti who replied in a cold voice:
"In this matter, Prince, as in all others I have no will but that ofPharaoh."
"You have heard," interrupted Meneptah impatiently, "and as in our Houseit has always been the custom for kin to marry kin, why should it notbe her will? Also, who else should she marry? Amenmeses is already wed.There remains only Saptah his brother who is younger than herself----"
"So am I," murmured Seti, "by two long years," but happily Userti didnot hear him.
"Nay, my father," she said with decision, "never will I take a deformedman to husband."
Now from the shadow on the further side of the throne, where I couldnot see him, there hobbled forward a young noble, short in stature,light-haired like Seti, and with a sharp, clever face which put me inmind of that of a jackal (indeed for this reason he was named Thoth bythe common people, after the jackal-headed god). He was very angry, forhis cheeks were flushed and his small eyes flashed.
"Must I listen, Pharaoh," he said in a little voice, "while my cousinthe Royal Princess reproaches me in public for my lame foot, which Ihave because my nurse let me fall when I was still in arms?"
"Then his nurse let his grandfather fall also, for he too wasclub-footed, as I who have seen him naked in his cradle can bearwitness," whispered old Bakenkhonsu.
"It seems so, Count Saptah, unless you stop your ears," replied Pharaoh.
"She says she will not marry me," went on Saptah, "me who from childhoodhave been a slave to her and to no other woman."
"Not by my wish, Saptah. Indeed, I pray you to go and be a slave to anywoman whom you will," exclaimed Userti.
"But I say," continued Saptah, "that one day she shall marry me, for thePrince Seti will not live for ever."
"How do you know that, Cousin?" asked Seti. "The High-priest here willtell you a different story."
Now certain of those present turned their heads away to hide the smileupon their faces. Yet on this day some god spoke with Saptah's voicemaking him a prophet, since in a year to come she did marry him, inorder that she might stay upon the throne at a time of trouble whenEgypt would not suffer that a woman should have sole rule over the land.
But Pharaoh did not smile like the courtiers; indeed he grew angry.
"Peace, Saptah!" he said. "Who are you that wrangle before me, talkingof the death of kings and saying that you will wed the Royal princess?One more such word and you shall be driven into banishment. Hearkennow. Almost am I minded to declare my daughter, the Royal Princess, soleheiress to the throne, seeing that in her there is more strength andwisdom than in any other of our House."
"If such be Pharaoh's will, let Pharaoh's will be done," said Seti mosthumbly. "Well I know my own unworthiness to fill so high a station,and by all the gods I swear that my beloved sister will find no morefaithful subject than myself."
"You mean, Seti," interrupted Userti, "that rather than marry me youwould abandon your right to the double crown. Truly I am honoured. Seti,whether you reign or I, I will not marry you."
"What words are these I hear?" cried Meneptah. "Is there indeed onein this land of Egypt who dares to say that Pharaoh's decree shallbe disobeyed? Write it down, Scribes, and you, O Officers, let it beproclaimed from Thebes to the sea, that on the third day from now at thehour of noon in the temple of Hathor in this city, the Prince, theRoyal Heir, Seti Meneptah, Beloved of Ra, will wed the Royal Princessof Egypt, Lily of Love, Beloved of Hathor, Userti, Daughter of me, thegod."
"Life! Blood! Strength!" called all the Court.
Then, guided by some high officer, the Prince Seti was led before thethrone and the Princess Userti was set beside him, or rather facing him.According to the ancient custom a great gold cup was brought and filledwith red wine, to me it looked like blood. Userti took the cup and,kneeling, gave it to the Prince, who drank and gave it back to her thatshe might also drink in solemn token of their betrothal. Is not thescene graven on the broad bracelets of gold which in after days Setiwore when he sat upon the throne, those same bracelets that at a futuretime I with my own hands clasped about the wrists of dead Userti?
Then he stretched out his hand which she touched with her lips, andbending down he kissed her on the brow. Lastly, Pharaoh, descending tothe lowest step of the throne, laid his sceptre, first upon the head ofthe Prince, and next upon that of the Princess, blessing them both inthe name of himself, of his Ka or Double, and of the spirits and Kas ofall their forefathers, kings and queens of Egypt, thus appointing themto come after him when he had been gathered to the bosom of the gods.
These things done, he departed in state, surrounded by his court,preceded and followed by his guards and leaning on the arm of thePrincess Userti, whom he loved better than anyone in the world.
A while later I stood alone with the Prince in his private chamber,where I had first seen him.
"That is finished," he said in a cheerful voice, "and I tell you, Ana,that I feel quite, quite happy. Have you ever shivered upon the bankof a river of a winter morning, fearing to enter, and yet, when you didenter, have you not been pleased to find that the icy water refreshedyou and made you not cold but hot?"
"Yes, Prince. It is when one comes out of the water, if the wind blowsand no sun shines, that one feels colder than before."
"True, Ana, and therefore one must not come out. One should stop theretill one--drowns or is eaten by a crocodile. But, say, did I do itwell?"
"Old Bakenkhonsu told me, Prince, that he had been present at many royalbetrothals, I think he said eleven, and had never seen one conductedwith more grace. He added that the way in which you kissed the browof her Highness was perfect, as was all your demeanour after the firstargument."
"And so it would remain, Ana, if I were never called upon to do morethan kiss her brow, to which I have been accustomed from boyhood.Oh! Ana, Ana," he added in a kind of cry, "already you are becoming acourtier like the rest of them, a courtier who cannot speak the truth.Well, nor can I, so why should I blame you? Tell me again all about yourmarriage, Ana, of how it began and how it ended."