CHAPTER LV
About ten in the evening Hiram stood before his lord. He was dressedin the dark robe of a Memphis huckster.
"Why dost thou steal in thus, worthiness?" inquired Rameses. "Is mypalace a prison, or a house of lepers?"
"Ah, our sovereign!" sighed the old Phoenician. "Since thou hastbecome lord of Egypt the criminals are those who dare to see thee andnot give account of what thou art pleased to tell them."
"To whom must ye repeat my words?" inquired the pharaoh.
Hiram raised his eyes and hands to heaven.
"Holiness, thou knowest thy enemies," said he.
"Thou knowest, worthiness, why I have summoned thee. I wish to borrowa few thousand talents."
Hiram made a hissing noise through his teeth, so that the pharaohpermitted him to sit in his presence, which was the highest honor.When he had disposed himself comfortably and rested, Hiram said,--
"Why shouldst thou borrow, holiness, when thou mayst have a richtreasury?"
"I know, when I shall get Nineveh," interrupted Rameses. "That time isdistant and I need money this day."
"I speak not of war," answered Hiram; "I speak of an affair whichwould bring large sums to the treasury immediately, and a permanentyearly income."
"How?"
"Permit us, holiness, and assist us to dig a canal which would jointhe Red Sea with the Mediterranean."
"Art thou jesting, old man?" cried the pharaoh, springing up from hisseat. "Who could do such a work, and who could wish to endanger Egypt?The sea would inundate the country."
"What sea? Neither the Mediterranean nor the Red Sea would," answeredHiram calmly. "I know that Egyptian priests who are engineers haveexamined this work and have calculated that it would give immenseprofit, it is the best work on earth. But they wish to do itthemselves, or rather they do not wish that the pharaoh should do it."
"Where are thy proofs?" asked Rameses.
"I have not the proofs, but I will send a priest, holiness, who willexplain the whole affair to thee, with plans and estimates."
"Who is this priest?"
Hiram thought a moment and then asked,--
"Have I thy promise, holiness, that no one will know of him except us?He, lord, will render more service than I. He knows many secrets andmany iniquities of the priesthood."
"I promise," answered the pharaoh.
"This priest is Samentu. He is a great sage, but needs money, and heis very ambitious. And since the high priests degrade him he--he--willoverturn the order of priests; for he knows many secrets--oh, many!"
Rameses meditated. He understood that that priest was a great traitor,but he estimated the magnitude of the service which the man mightrender.
"Well," said the pharaoh, "I will think of this Samentu. But now letus suppose for the moment that it is possible to make such a canal;what profit shall I have from it?"
Hiram raised his left hand, and counted on his fingers.
"First, holiness, Phoenicia will give thee five thousand talents ofunpaid tribute; second, Phoenicia will pay for the right of doing thiswork; third, when the work begins we will pay one thousand talents ofyearly rent, and besides as many talents as Egypt furnishes us tens oflaborers; fourth, for every Egyptian engineer we will give to thee,holiness, a talent a year; fifth, when the work is finished thou wiltgive us the canal for one hundred years, and we will pay for that onethousand talents yearly. Are those small gains?" inquired Hiram.
"But now, to-day," asked Rameses, "would ye give me those fivethousand talents tribute?"
"If the treaty is made to-day we will give ten thousand, and we willadd three thousand as an advance of rent for a three years' period."
Rameses meditated. More than once Phoenicians had proposed the cuttingof this canal to the rulers of Egypt, but they had always met theunbending resistance of the priesthood. The Egyptian sages explainedto the pharaoh that that canal would expose the country to inundationsfrom the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. But Hiram asserted that such athing would not happen; the priests knew that it would not.
"Ye Phoenicians," said the pharaoh, after a long time, "promise to payone thousand talents yearly for one hundred years. Ye say that thatcanal dug in the sand is the best affair in the world. I do notunderstand this, and I confess, Hiram, that I am suspicious."
Hiram's eyes flashed.
"Lord," replied he, "I will tell thee everything, but I abjure thee bythy crown, by the shade of thy father, not to discover the secret toany one. This is the greatest secret of the Chaldean and Egyptianpriests, and even of Phoenicia. On it depends the future of theworld."
"Well, well, Hiram," answered the pharaoh with a smile.
"To thee, O pharaoh," continued the Phoenician, "the gods have givenwisdom, nobility, and energy, therefore, thou art on our side. Thou,alone, of earthly rulers mayst be initiated, for thou art the only onewho will be able to accomplish great objects. For this reason thouwilt have power such as no man has ever reached before thee."
Rameses felt the sweetness of pride in his heart, but he mastered hisfeelings.
"Praise me not for what I have not done; but explain to me what profitwill come from this canal to Phoenicia and to Egypt?"
Hiram straightened himself in the chair, and began in a loweredvoice,--
"Know, lord, that east, north, and south of Assyria and Babylon arenot morasses inhabited by strange monsters, but immense--immensestates and countries. Those countries are so great that thy footwarriors, O holiness, renowned for marching, would have to moveeastward two years without halt before they could reach the end ofthem."
Rameses raised his brows like one who permits some man to lie, butknows that he is lying.
"Southeast of Babylon, at the great sea, dwell one hundred millions ofpeople who have mighty kings, who have priests wiser than those ofEgypt, who have ancient books, and skilled artisans. Those people knowhow to make woven stuffs, implements and vessels as beautiful as thoseof the Egyptians, and from time immemorial they have temples aboveground and underground, which are grander, richer, and larger than thetemples of Egypt."
"Speak on, speak on!" said the pharaoh. But it was impossible to learnfrom his face whether his curiosity was roused by the description, orhe was indignant at the untruth of the Phoenician.
"In those countries," continued Hiram, "are pearls, precious stones,gold, copper; in those countries grow the most curious grains,flowers, and fruits; finally they have forests where a man mightwander whole months among trees thicker than the columns in thetemples of Egypt and taller than palms. The inhabitants of thosecountries are mild and simple. And, holiness, if thou wouldst sendthither two regiments on ships, thou wouldst be able to win an area ofland larger than Egypt, richer than the treasures of the labyrinth. Ifthou permit, I will send thee to-morrow specimens of the woven stuffsof those regions, with bronzes and woods from them. I will send alsotwo grains of a wondrous balsam from those countries; if a manswallows this balsam, it opens the gates of eternity before him, andhe experiences the happiness which falls to divinities only."
"I beg thee to send specimens of the stuffs, and the utensils. As tothe balsam, never mind! We shall enjoy eternity and the gods withoutit sufficiently after death."
"But far, very far east of Assyria," added Hiram, "lie still greatercountries--countries which have two hundred millions of inhabitants."
"How easy millions come to you Phoenicians," laughed Rameses.
Hiram placed his hand on his heart.
"I swear," said he, "by the souls of my ancestors, and by my honorthat I am telling truth."
The pharaoh was moved; such a great oath arrested his attention.
"Speak on--speak!" said he.
"These last lands," continued the Phoenician, "are very wonderful.They are inhabited by people with yellow skin and sloping eyes. Thosepeople have a sovereign who is called the Son of Heaven, and hegoverns through sages, who are not priests, however, and have not suchpower as priests have in Egypt. Still those people are like t
heEgyptians. They honor dead ancestors and take great care of theirremains. They use writing which calls to mind the writing of Egyptianpriests. But they wear long robes of such stuffs as are unknown inthis country; they have sandals which are like little benches, andthey cover their heads with pointed boxes. The roofs of their housesare pointed too at the top, and are turned up at the edges.
"Those uncommon people have a grain which is more plentiful thanEgyptian wheat, and they make of it a drink which is stronger thanwine. They have a plant the leaves of which give strength to themembers, gladness to the mind, and which enables them even to dispensewith sleep. They have paper which they adorn with many colored images,and they have clay which after it is burned shines like glass, and isas resonant as metal.
"To-morrow, if thou permit, holiness, I will send specimens of theworks of these people."
"Thou art narrating wonders, Hiram. But I do not see the connectionbetween those things and the canal which thou wishest to dig."
"I will tell in brief," replied the Phoenician. "When there is a canalall the Phoenician and Egyptian fleets will sail on the Red Sea andbeyond it; in the course of a couple of months they will reach thoserich countries which by land are almost inaccessible.
"But dost thou not see, holiness," continued he, with gleaming eyes,"the treasures which we shall find there? Gold, precious stones,grain, woods? I swear to thee, lord," added he with enthusiasm, "thatgold will be cheaper than copper is now, wood will be cheaper thanstraw, and a slave cheaper than a cow. Only let us, lord, dig thecanal, and hire fifty thousand of thy warriors."
Rameses, too, was excited.
"Fifty thousand warriors," repeated he. "But what will ye give me forthis?"
"I have said already, holiness. One thousand talents yearly for theright to work, and five thousand for the workmen, to whom we will givefood and wages."
"But ye will kill them with work?"
"May the gods forbid! There is no profit when workmen perish. Thywarriors, holiness, will not work more at the canal than to-day onroads and at fortresses--but what glory for thee, lord! what incomefor the treasury, what profit for Egypt! The poorest earth-tiller willhave a wooden cottage, some cattle, tools, and furniture, and as Ilive, a slave. No pharaoh has ever raised the state to such a heightor carried out such a work.
"What will dead and useless pyramids be in comparison with a canal tofacilitate the passage of treasures to the whole world?"
"Yes," added the pharaoh, "and fifty thousand warriors on the easternboundary."
"Of course!" exclaimed Hiram. "In view of that force, which will costthee nothing, holiness, Assyria will not dare to stretch a hand towardPhoenicia."
The project was so brilliant and promised such profit that RamesesXIII. felt dazed by it. But he mastered himself.
"Hiram," said he, "thou art making splendid promises. So splendid thatI fear lest thou art concealing behind them some less favorableoutcome. Therefore I must think over this matter deeply and takecounsel with the priests."
"They will never consent of themselves!" exclaimed the Phoenician."Though--may the gods forgive me the blasphemy--I am certain that ifto-day the highest power were in the hands of the priests they wouldsummon us in a couple of months to make the canal for them."
Rameses looked with cold contempt at Hiram.
"Old man," said he, "leave me to care for the obedience of thepriests, and do thou present proofs that what thou hast said is true.I should be a very poor sovereign were I unable to remove obstaclesspringing up between my will and the interests of Egypt."
"Thou art indeed a great sovereign, our lord," whispered Hiram,bending to the floor.
It was then late at night. The Phoenician took farewell of the pharaohand left the palace with Tutmosis. The following day he sent throughDagon a box with specimens of wealth from the unknown countries.
The pharaoh found in it statues of gods, woven stuffs, rings fromIndia, small morsels of opium, and in a second division handfuls ofrice, leaves of tea, two porcelain cups ornamented with pictures, anda number of drawings made on paper with China ink and colors. Heexamined them with the greatest attention and confessed that thosearticles were new to him: the rice, the paper, the pictures of peoplewith pointed hats and sloping eyes.
He had no doubt now that a new region existed which differed in everyway from Egypt: in mountains, trees, houses, bridges, ships.
"And that country has existed for ages undoubtedly," thought he; "ourpriests know of it, they know of its wealth, but say nothing.Evidently they are traitors who wish to limit the power of the pharaohand impoverish him so as to push him down from the height of thethrone afterward.
"But O ye my ancestors and my heirs," said he in spirit, "I call youto witness that I will put a limit to these iniquities; I will elevatewisdom, but I will stamp out deceit, and I will give Egypt hours ofrest from labor."
Thinking thus, he raised his eyes and beheld Dagon waiting for ananswer.
"Thy box is very curious," said he to the banker, "but--this is notwhat I asked of thee."
The Phoenician approached him on tiptoe and, kneeling before him,whispered,--
"Deign holiness, to sign a treaty with the worthy Hiram, then Tyreand Sidon will place all their treasures at thy feet."
Rameses frowned. He was displeased by the insolence of the Phoenicianswho dared to lay down conditions to him; so he answered coldly,--
"I will reflect and give Hiram my answer. Thou mayst withdraw, Dagon."
After the Phoenician had gone, Rameses meditated again; a reactionbegan in him,--
"Those hucksters," said he in his heart, "consider me as one ofthemselves,--nay more, they dare to hold up to me a bag of gold fromafar so as to extort a treaty! I know not that any of the pharaohsadmitted them to such confidence! I must change. The men who fall ontheir faces before the envoys of Assar may not say to me, 'Sign andthou wilt get!' Stupid Phoenician rats, who steal into the pharaoh'spalace and look on it as their own den a moment later!"
The longer he thought over it the more precisely he recalled thebearing of Hiram and Dagon, the greater the anger that seized him,--
"How dare they--how dare they lay conditions down to me? Hei,Tutmosis!" cried he.
His favorite stood before him immediately.
"What dost thou command, my lord?"
"Send some one of the younger officers to Dagon to inform him that hehas ceased to be my banker. He is too stupid for such a loftyposition."
"But to whom dost thou predestine the honor, holiness?"
"I know not at the moment. It will be necessary to find some one amongEgyptian or Greek merchants. In the last resort we will turn to thepriests."
Information of this resolve went through all the palaces, and beforean hour it had reached Memphis. Throughout the whole city people saidthat the Phoenicians were in disfavor with the pharaoh. Towardsevening the Egyptians had begun to break into the shops of the hatedforeigners.
The priests drew a breath of relief. Herhor even made a visit to holyMefres and said to him,--
"My heart felt that our lord would turn from those unbelievers whoare drinking the blood of the people. I think that it is proper for usto show him gratitude."
"And perhaps open the doors to our treasures?" asked Mefres, rudely."Hasten not, worthiness, I have divined this young man--woe to us ifever we let him get the upper hand."
"But if he has broken with the Phoenicians?"
"He will gain by that; for he will not pay his debts to them."
"In my opinion," said Herhor, after some thought, "now is the momentin which we can regain the favor of this youthful pharaoh. He is hastyin anger, but he knows how to be grateful. I have experienced that--"
"Every word is an error," interrupted the stubborn Mefres. "First ofall, this prince is not the pharaoh yet, for he has not been crownedin a temple. Second, he will never be a real pharaoh, since throughcontempt he will never be ordained a high priest. And finally, we donot need his favor, while he needs the favor of
the gods, whom heinsults at every step he makes."
Mefres, who had been panting from anger, stopped and began anew,--
"He spent a month in the temple of Hator, he listened to the highestwisdom, and immediately afterward betook himself to the Phoenicians.What do I say? He visited the idol house of Astarte and took thence apriestess--an offence against all religions. After that he reviled mypiety, in public; conspired with such frivolous minds as his own, andwith the aid of Phoenicians stole state secrets. And when he ascendedthe throne--I speak incorrectly, when he had barely stood on the firststep of the throne, he tried to make the priests odious; he disturbedthe earth-tillers and the warriors, and renewed vows with his friendsthe Phoenicians.
"Dost thou, worthy Herhor, forget all this? And if thou remember, dostthou not understand the dangers which threaten us from this milksop?Still he has under his hand the rudder of the ship of state, which hepushes in among rocks and eddies. Who will assure me that this madman,who yesterday summoned to his presence the Phoenicians, but quarrelledwith them to-day, will not do something to-morrow which will exposeEgypt to destruction?"
"And therefore, what?" inquired Herhor, looking into his eyes quickly.
"This--we have no reason to show him gratitude, which would really beweakness. But since he wants money at once, we will not give himmoney."
"But--but then what?" inquired Herhor.
"Afterward he will govern the state and increase the army withoutmoney," answered the irritated Mefres.
"But if his famished army wants to rob temples?"
"Ha! ha! ha!" burst out Mefres, but suddenly he grew serious andbowing said in an ironical tone,--
"That pertains to thee, worthiness. A man who for so many years hasdirected the state should prepare for such dangers."
"Let us suppose," said Herhor, slowly, "that I can find means againstdangers to the state. But canst thou, worthiness, who art the seniorhigh priest, provide against insults to the priestly order and thetemples?"
They looked each other in the eyes for a moment.
"Dost thou inquire whether I can? Whether I can? I need make noeffort. The gods have placed in my hands a thunderbolt which willdestroy every author of sacrilege."
"Pst!" whispered Herhor. "Let that take place."
"With the consent or without the consent of the supreme council ofpriests," added Mefres. "When a boat is overturned there is no time todiscuss with the oarsmen."
They parted in a gloomy state of mind. That same day in the eveningthe Pharaoh summoned them.
They came at the appointed time, each high priest separately. Eachmade a profound obeisance to his lord, and each stood in a separatecorner without looking at the other.
"Have they quarrelled?" thought Rameses? "No harm in that!"
A moment later the holy Sem and the prophet Pentuer came in. ThenRameses sat on an elevation, indicated to the priests stools in frontof him, and said,--
"Holy fathers! I have not summoned you thus far to counsel becauseall my orders related to military questions exclusively."
"Thou hadst the right, holiness, not to call us," put in Herhor.
"I have done what I was able in such a short time to strengthen thedefensive power of the state. I have formed two new schools forofficers and I have restored five regiments."
"Thou hadst the right, lord," answered Mefres.
"Of other military reforms I do not speak, since those questions donot concern you, holy people."
"Thou art right," said Mefres and Herhor together.
"But there is another question," continued the pharaoh, satisfied withthe assent of the two dignitaries from whom he had expectedopposition. "The funeral day of my divine father is approaching, butthe treasury does not possess sufficient funds."
Mefres rose from his stool.
"Osiris-Mer-Amen-Rameses," said he, "was a just lord who for manyyears assured peace to his people, and praise to the gods. Permit,holiness, that the funeral of this pious pharaoh be performed at theexpense of the temples."
Rameses XIII. was astonished and was moved by the homage rendered hisfather. He was silent for a while as if unable to find an answer; atlast he replied,--
"I am very thankful to you for the honor shown my father, who is equalto the gods. I permit the funeral, and once more I thank you greatly."
He stopped, rested his head on his hand and meditated, as ifstruggling with himself. Suddenly he raised his head; his face wasanimated, his eyes were gleaming.
"I am moved," said he, "by this proof of your good-will. If the memoryof my father is so dear to you ye cannot have ill-will toward me."
"Thou hast no doubt, I think, holiness, touching our good-will?" saidthe high priest Sem.
"Thou art speaking truth," continued the pharaoh. "I suspected youunjustly of prejudice toward me. I wish to correct my suspicion; Iwill be sincere with you."
"May the gods bless thee, holiness," said Herhor.
"I will be sincere. My divine father, because of age, illness, andperhaps priestly occupations, could not devote so much time to affairsof state as I can. I am young, in health, free, hence I wish to rule,myself, and will rule. As a leader must direct his army on his ownresponsibility and according to his own plan, so shall I direct thestate. This is my express will and I shall not draw back from it.
"But I understand that even were I the most experienced I could notsucceed without faithful servants and wise counsellors. Therefore Ishall ask your advice sometimes on various questions."
"To this end we constitute the supreme council near thy throne,"remarked Herhor.
"I shall use," continued Rameses with animation, "your servicesimmediately, even from this moment."
"Command, lord," said Herhor.
"I wish to improve the condition of the Egyptian people. But since insuch affairs over-hasty action may only bring injury, I give them atfirst a small thing: After six days' labor the seventh for rest."
"Such was it during the reigns of the eighteenth dynasty. That law isas old as Egypt itself," said Pentuer.
"Rest every seventh day will give fifty days to each laborer during ayear, or it will take from his lord fifty drachma. On a million oflaborers the state will lose ten thousand talents yearly," saidMefres. "We have calculated that in the temples."
"That is true," answered Pentuer, quickly, "but the losses will beduring the first year only, for when the people increase in strengthby rest they will recover all and more in the following years."
"That is true," answered Mefres, "but in every case it is necessary tohave ten thousand talents for that first year. I think even thattwenty thousand talents would not be amiss."
"Thou art right, worthy Mefres," said the pharaoh. "In view of thechanges which I wish to introduce in my state twenty thousand, andeven, thirty thousand talents would not be too great a sum;therefore," added he quickly, "I shall ask assistance of you holymen."
"We are ready to support every measure of thy holiness with prayersand processions," said Mefres.
"Very good; pray and encourage the people to pray. But besides thatgive the state thirty thousand talents," answered the pharaoh.
The high priests were silent; Rameses waited a while, then turned toHerhor,--
"Thou art silent, worthiness."
"Thou hast said thyself, O sovereign, that the treasury has no means,even to bury Osiris-Mer-Amen-Rameses. I cannot even divine, therefore,where we could get thirty thousand talents."
"But the treasury of the labyrinth."
"That is a treasury of the gods, to be touched only at a moment whenthe state is in supreme need," replied Mefres.
Rameses XIII. boiled up with anger.
"If earth-tillers do not need this sum, I do," said he, striking hisfist on the arm of the chair.
"Holiness," replied Mefres, "thou canst in the course of a yearreceive more than thirty thousand talents, and Egypt twice as much."
"How?"
"Very simply. Give command, sovereign, to expel the Phoenicians from
Egypt."
It seemed that the pharaoh would rush at the insolent high priest; hegrew pale, his lips quivered, his eyes stared. But he restrainedhimself in one moment, and said, in a tone of wonderful calmness,--
"Well, sufficient. If ye are able to give only such counsels I shallget on without them. The Phoenicians have our signatures that we willpay them our debts faithfully. Has this occurred to thee, Mefres?"
"Pardon, holiness, but at that moment other thoughts occupied me. Thyancestors, not on papyrus, but on bronze and stone carved out thestatement that the gifts made by them to the gods and the templesbelonged and would belong forever to the gods and the temples."
"And to you priests," added the pharaoh, sneeringly.
"As much to us," replied the haughty high priest, "as the statebelongs to thee, sovereign. We guard and increase those treasures; butwe have not the right to spend them."
The pharaoh left the hall panting with anger, and went to his owncabinet. His position was presented to him with terrible distinctness.Of the hatred of the priests toward him he had no doubt any longer.Those were the same dignitaries who, giddy with pride, had the pastyear refused him the corps of Memphis, and who had made him viceroyonly when it seemed to them that he had performed an act of penitenceby withdrawing from the palace--the very same who watched everymovement of his, made reports regarding him, but did not tell him, theheir to the throne, even of the treaty with Assar,--the very samedignitaries who had employed deceit against him in the temple ofHator, and who at the Soda Lakes slaughtered prisoners to whom he hadpromised freedom.
The pharaoh recalled the obeisances of Herhor, the looks of Mefres,and the tones of voice which both used. Beneath the show of good-will,their pride and their contempt for him appeared each moment. He asksfor money, they promise prayers. Nay! they dare to tell him that he isnot sole ruler in the land of Egypt.
The young sovereign laughed in spite of himself, for he called to mindthe hired herdsmen who told the owner of the flock that he had noright to do what he liked with it. Besides the ridiculous aspect therewas in the case a point which was terrible. The treasury containedperhaps a thousand talents which, according to the recent rate ofoutlay would last from seven to ten days. And then what? How would theofficials, the servants, and above all how would the army, exist, notonly without pay, but without sustenance?
The high priests knew this position of the pharaoh--if they did nothasten to assist him they wished to ruin him, and to ruin him in thecourse of a few days, even before the funeral of his father.
Rameses recalled a certain event of his childhood.
He was at a school of the priests when, on the festival of the goddessMut, after various amusements they introduced the most famous buffoonin Egypt. This artist represented an unfortunate hero: when hecommanded he was not obeyed, his anger was answered with laughter, andwhen, to punish those who made sport of him, he seized an axe, the axebroke in his hands. At last they let out a lion at him and when thedefenceless hero began to flee it turned out that not a lion waschasing him, but a pig in a lion's skin.
The pupils and the teachers laughed at those adventures till the tearscame; but the little prince sat gloomily; he was sorry for the man whowas eager for great things but fell covered with ridicule.
That scene and the feelings which he experienced then were revived inthe memory of the pharaoh. "They want to make me like that buffoon,"thought he. Despair seized him, for he felt that his power would endwhen the last talent was issued, and with his power his life also.
But here came a certain revulsion. He halted in the middle of the roomand thought,--
"What can happen to me? Nothing save death. I will go to my gloriousancestors, to Rameses the Great-- But then, I could not tell them thatI died without defending myself. After the misfortunes of this earthlylife eternal shame would meet me. How was it to end? He, the conquerorat the Soda Lakes, to yield before a handful of deceivers against whomone Asiatic regiment would not have much trouble? For the reason,then, that Mefres and Herhor wish to rule Egypt and the pharaoh, histroops must suffer hunger, and a million men are not to receive restfrom labor? But did not his ancestors rear these temples. Did they notfill them with spoils? And who won the battles? The priests, or thewarriors? Who, then, had a right to the treasures,--the priests, orthe pharaoh and his army?"
Rameses shrugged his shoulders and summoned Tutmosis. Though it waslate at night the favorite came to him straightway.
"Dost thou know," asked the pharaoh, "that the priests have refused mea loan, though the treasury is empty?"
Tutmosis straightened himself, and asked,--
"Wilt thou command to take them to prison?"
"Wouldst thou?"
"There is not an officer in Egypt who would hesitate to carry out anorder from our lord and leader."
"In that case," said the pharaoh, deliberately, "there is no need toimprison any one. I have too much power on my side and too muchcontempt for the priesthood. A man does not put into a box bound withiron the carrion which he meets on the highway; he merely passesaround it."
"But a hyena is confined in a cage," whispered Tutmosis.
"It is too early yet. I must be gracious to those men, at least tillmy father is buried or they might commit some indignity on his reveredmummy, and destroy his spirit. But go to-morrow to Hiram and tell himto send me that priest of whom we have spoken."
"That will be done. But I must remind thee, holiness, that to-daypeople attacked Phoenician houses in Memphis."
"Oho! That was not needed."
"It seems to me, too," continued Tutmosis, "that since thou hastcommanded Pentuer to investigate the condition of earth-tillers andlaborers the priests are exciting the nomarchs and nobles. They saythat it is thy wish to ruin the nobility for the sake of the people."
"But do the nobles believe that?"
"There are some who believe, but there are others who say directlythat it is an intrigue of the priests against the pharaoh."
"But if I wish indeed to improve the condition of earth-tillers?"
"Thou wilt do, lord, that which pleases thee," answered Tutmosis.
"Oh, I understand my position!" exclaimed Rameses. "Be at rest, andtell the nobility that not only will they lose nothing in carrying outmy orders, but their own condition will be improved notably. Thewealth of Egypt must be taken at last from the hands of the unworthyand given to faithful servants."
The pharaoh dismissed his adjutant and went to rest satisfied. Histemporary despair seemed to him laughable.
About noon of the following day it was announced that a deputation ofPhoenician merchants had come to his holiness.
"Do they wish to complain of the attack on their houses?" inquiredthe pharaoh.
"No," replied the adjutant, "they wish to offer thee homage."
In fact a number of Phoenicians, under the leadership of Rabsun,declared that, according to ancient custom they had made bold to layan insignificant gift at the feet of the sovereign who gave life tothem and security to their property.
Then they placed on the tables gold plates, chains, and goblets filledwith jewels.
After that, Rabsun placed on the steps of the throne a tray with thepapyrus by which the Phoenicians bound themselves to give all thingsnecessary for the army to the amount of two thousand talents.
That was a considerable gift, since all that the Phoenicians hadbrought represented a sum of three thousand talents.
The pharaoh answered the faithful merchants very graciously, andpromised protection. He dismissed them in happiness.
Rameses XIII. drew a breath of relief: bankruptcy of the treasury, andtherefore the need of using violent measures against the priests wasdeferred ten days longer.
In the evening, again, under the guardianship of Tutmosis, the worthyHiram stood in the cabinet of his holiness. This time he did notcomplain of weariness, but he fell on his face and cursed the stupidDagon.
"I have learned," said he, "that that mangy fellow dared to remindthee, h
oliness, of our talk concerning the canal to the Red Sea. Mayhe perish! May the leprosy devour him! May his children becomeswineherds and his grandchildren Hebrews. But do thou, sovereign, onlycommand, and whatever wealth Phoenicia has she will lay at thy feetwithout bond or treaty. Are we Assyrians--or priests," added he in awhisper, "that one word of such a mighty potentate should not sufficeus?"
"But if I should require a really large sum?"
"Such as--?"
"For example, thirty thousand talents."
"Immediately?"
"No, in the course of a year."
"Thou wilt have it, holiness," answered Hiram, without hesitation.
The pharaoh was astonished at this liberality.
"But must I give you a pledge?"
"Only for form's sake," replied the Phoenician. "Give us, holiness,the quarries in pledge, so as not to rouse the suspicions of priests.Were it not for them, thou wouldst have all Phoenicia without pledgeor paper."
"But the canal? Am I to sign a treaty at once?" asked Rameses.
"Not at all. Thou wilt make, O holiness, a treaty when it pleasesthee."
It seemed to the pharaoh that he was uplifted in the air. At thatmoment it seemed to him that he had tasted for the first time thesweetness of regal power, and tasted it, thanks to the Phoenicians.
"Hiram," said he, controlling himself no longer, "I give theepermission this day to dig a canal which shall join the Red Sea withthe Mediterranean."
The old man fell at the feet of the pharaoh.
"Thou art the greatest sovereign ever seen on earth," said he.
"For the time thou art not permitted to speak of this to any one,because the enemies of my glory are watching. But that thou shouldstfeel certain, I give thee this from my own finger."
He took from his finger a ring adorned with a magic stone on which wasengraved the name Horus, and put it on the finger of the Phoenician.
"The property of all Phoenicia is at thy command," said Hiram, movedprofoundly. "Thou wilt accomplish a work which will herald thy nametill the sun quenches."
The pharaoh pressed Hiram's iron-gray head and commanded him to sitdown before him.
"And so we are allies," said he, after a while, "and I hope that fromthis will rise prosperity for Egypt and Phoenicia."
"For the whole world," added Hiram.
"But tell me, prince, whence hast thou such confidence in me?"
"I know thy noble character, holiness. If thou, sovereign, wert not apharaoh, in a few years thou wouldst become the most renowned ofPhoenician merchants and the chief of our council."
"Let us suppose that," replied Rameses. "But I, to keep my promises,must first bend the priests. That is a struggle the issue of which isuncertain."
Hiram smiled.
"Lord," said he, "if we were so insignificant as to abandon theeto-day when thy treasury is empty, and thy enemies are insolent, thouwouldst lose the battle. For a man deprived of means loses daringeasily; from an impoverished king his armies turn away as well as hisdignitaries and his subjects. But if thou, sovereign, have our goldand our agents, with thy army and thy generals thou wilt have as muchtrouble with the priests as an elephant with a scorpion. Thou wiltbarely set thy foot on them and they will be crushed beneath it. Butthis is not my affair. The high priest Samentu is waiting in thegarden, he whom thou hast summoned. I withdraw; it is his hour. But Irefuse not the money. Command me to the extent of thirty thousandtalents."
He fell on his face again and then withdrew, promising that Samentuwould present himself straightway.
In half an hour the high priest appeared. As became one who honoredSet he did not shave his red beard and shaggy hair; he had a severeface, but eyes full of intellect. He bowed without excessive humilityand met the soul-piercing gaze of the pharaoh with calmness.
"Be seated," said the pharaoh.
The high priest sat on the floor.
"Thou pleasest me," said Rameses. "Thou hast the bearing and the faceof a Hyksos, and they are the most valiant troops in my army." Then heinquired, on a sudden--
"Art thou the man who informed Hiram of the treaty of our priests withAssyria?"
"I am," replied Samentu, without dropping his eyes.
"Didst thou share in that iniquity?"
"I did not. I overheard the conditions. In the temples, as in thypalaces, holiness, the walls are honeycombed with passages throughwhich it is possible to hear on the summit of pylons what is said inthe cellars."
"And from subterranean places it is possible to converse with personsin upper chambers?" asked the pharaoh.
"And imitate voices from the gods," added the priest seriously.
The pharaoh smiled. Then the supposition was correct that it was notthe spirit of his father, but priests who spoke to him and to hismother.
"Why didst thou confide to Phoenicians a great secret of the state?"inquired Rameses.
"Because I wished to prevent a shameful treaty which was as harmful tous as to Phoenicia."
"Thou mightst have forewarned some Egyptian dignitary."
"Whom?" inquired the priest. "Men who were powerless before Herhor; orwho would complain of me to him and expose me to death and tortures? Iconfided it to Hiram, for he meets dignitaries of ours whom I neversee."
"But why did Herhor and Mefres conclude such a treaty?" inquiredRameses.
"In my opinion, they are men of weak heads whom Beroes, the greatChaldean priest, frightened. He told them that for ten years evilfates would threaten Egypt; that if we began war with Assyria duringthat time we should be defeated."
"And did they believe him?"
"Beroes, it seems, showed them wonders. He was even borne above theearth. Beyond doubt that is wonderful; but I cannot understand why weshould lose Phoenicia because Beroes can fly above the earth."
"Then thou dost not believe in miracles?"
"It depends upon what they are," replied Samentu. "It seems thatBeroes does perform unusual things; but our priests merely deceivepeople as well as rulers."
"Thou hast a hatred for the priestly order?"
"Well, they cannot endure me, and what is worse they insult me underpretext that I am a minister of Set. Meanwhile, what do I care forgods whose hands and feet must be moved by strings. Or priests whopretend to be abstemious and devout, but have ten wives, spend sometens of talents yearly, steal the offerings placed on altars, and arelittle wiser than pupils of a higher school."
"But dost thou take presents from Phoenicians?"
"From whom should I take them? The Phoenicians are the only men whoreally honor Set; they fear lest he might wreck their ships. With usthe poor alone revere him. Were I restricted to their offerings Ishould die of hunger, and my children also."
The pharaoh thought that this priest was not a bad man, though he hadbetrayed a temple secret. And moreover, he seemed wise and he spoketruth.
"Hast thou heard anything," inquired Rameses again, "of a canal whichis to join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean?"
"I know of that affair. Our engineers have been developing the projectfor some centuries."
"But why has it not been carried out ere this time?"
"Because the priests are afraid that strangers would come who mightundermine our religion, and with it the priestly income."
"Is there truth in what Hiram says of people living in the distantEast?"
"Perfect truth. We know of them for a long time, and no ten years passthat we do not receive from those countries products, precious stones,or pictures."
The pharaoh meditated again, and asked suddenly,--
"Wilt thou serve me faithfully if I make thee my counsellor?"
"I will serve thee, holiness, with life and death. But were I tobecome thy counsellor, the priests, who hate me, would be indignant."
"Dost thou not think it possible to overthrow them?"
"It is possible and very easy."
"What would thy plan be, if I had to free myself of them?"
"To obtain possession of the treasu
res in the labyrinth."
"Couldst thou go to it?"
"I have many indications; the rest I can discover, for I know where tosearch for them."
"What further?" inquired the pharaoh.
Statue of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen]
"It would be necessary to bring an action against Herhor and Mefresfor treason, and for secret relations with Assyria."
"But the proofs?"
"We should find them with the help of the Phoenicians."
"Would no danger come of that to Egypt?"
"None. Four hundred years ago the pharaoh, Amenhotep IV. overturnedthe power of priests by establishing the faith in one god, ReHarmachis. It is understandable that in those conditions he tooktreasures from the temples of the other gods. And at that time neitherthe people, nor the army, nor the nobility took part with thepriesthood. What would the case be to-day when the old faith isgreatly weakened?"
"Who assisted Amenhotep?" inquired Rameses.
"A simple priest, Ey."
"But who, on the death of Amenhotep, became his heir?" asked Rameses,looking quickly into the eyes of the priest.
Samentu answered, calmly,--
"Events show that Amenhotep was incompetent, more occupied in honoringRe than in governing Egypt."
"Indeed, thou art a real sage!" said Rameses.
"At thy service, holiness."
"I appoint thee my counsellor," said the pharaoh. "In that case thoumayst visit me in secret, and thou wilt dwell with me."
"Pardon, lord, but until the members of the supreme council are inprison for negotiating with enemies of Egypt, my presence in thepalace would bring more harm than profit. So I will serve thee,holiness, and advise, but in secret."
"And wilt thou find the way to the treasure in the labyrinth?"
"I hope, lord, that before thou returnest from Thebes, I shall succeedin this matter. But when we transfer the treasure to thy palace, whenthe court condemns Herhor and Mefres whom thou mayst pardon afterward,with permission, I will appear openly and cease to be the priest ofSet, who only frightens people and turns them from me."
"And dost thou think that everything will go well?"
"I pledge my life on it!" cried the priest. "The people love thee,holiness, so it is easy to influence them against traitorousdignitaries. The army obeys thee as no army has obeyed a pharaoh sinceRameses the Great. Who will oppose, then? In addition, holiness, thouhast the Phoenicians behind thee, and money, the greatest power onearth."
When Samentu took farewell, the pharaoh permitted him to kiss hisfeet, and gave him a heavy gold chain and a bracelet ornamented withsapphires. Not every dignitary received such favor after long years ofservice. The visit and Samentu's promises filled the pharaoh's heartwith new hope.
What if he should succeed in getting the treasure of the labyrinth!For a small part of it he might free the nobles from Phoenician debts,improve the lot of the laborers and redeem the mortgaged property ofthe court.
And with what edifices might the state be enriched!
Hence the treasure of this labyrinth might remove all the pharaoh'stroubles. For what was the result of a great loan from thePhoenicians? It would be necessary to pay a loan some time, and,sooner or later, mortgage the rest of the pharaoh's property. That wasmerely to defer ruin, not avoid it.