The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 168

Now in the a.s.sembly was heard, not a murmur, but a cry, and it lasted a number of minutes. When it ceased Herhor continued calmly and with emphasis:--

"My most worthy consort, Queen Nikotris, inconsolable through sorrow for her son, has abdicated the throne--"

"Permit!" exclaimed the nomarch of Memphis. "The most worthy viceroy has called the queen his consort. This intelligence is entirely new, and, first of all it must be verified."

At a sign from Herhor the judge of Thebes drew out an act concluded two days before between the most worthy high priest of Amon, San-Amen-Herhor, and Queen Nikotris, widow of Rameses XII., and mother of Rameses XIII.

After this explanation came a grave-like silence. Herhor began again,--

"Since my consort, who is the only heir to the throne, has abdicated, the reign of the twentieth dynasty is ended; we must choose a new sovereign.

"This sovereign," continued Herhor, "should be a man of ripe years, energetic, and skilled in government. For this reason I advise you to choose for the highest position--"

"Herhor!" cried some one.

"The most famous Nitager, the leader of the eastern army," finished Herhor.

Nitager sat a long time with closed eyes, smiling. At last he rose, and said,--

"Never will there be a lack of men eager for the t.i.tle of pharaoh. We have more of them perhaps than are needed. Luckily, the G.o.ds themselves, in setting aside useless rivals, have indicated a man most worthy of power, and it seems to me that I shall act wisely if, instead of receiving the crown offered me graciously, I answer,--

"May he live through eternity, his holiness, San-Amen-Herhor, the first pharaoh of a new dynasty!"

Those present, with few exceptions, repeated the shout, and at the same time the supreme judge brought on a golden tray two caps: the white one of Upper, and the red one of Lower Egypt. One of these was taken by the high priest of Osiris, the other by the high priest of Horns, and they delivered them to Herhor, who, when he had kissed the golden serpent, put them both on his head.

Then those present began the ceremony of offering homage, which lasted a couple of hours. After that a proper act was written; those who took part in the election placed their seals on it, and from that moment San-Amen-Herhor was the real pharaoh, the lord of both worlds, also of the life and death of his subjects.

Toward evening his holiness returned wearied to his chambers of a high priest, where he found Pentuer, who had grown thin, and on whose emaciated face weariness and sadness were evident.

When Pentuer prostrated himself the pharaoh raised him and said with a smile,--

"Thou didst not sign my election, thou didst not give me homage, and I fear that I shall have to arrest thee some time in the temple of Ptah.

Well, hast thou been thinking to leave me? Dost prefer Menes?"

"Forgive, holiness," answered the priest, "but court life has so wearied me that my only desire is to learn wisdom."

"Thou canst not forget Rameses?" inquired Herhor. "And yet thou knewest him only a very short time, while thou hast labored with me during years."

"Blame me not, holiness, but--Rameses XIII. was the first pharaoh to commiserate the Egyptian people."

Herhor smiled.

"O ye learned men," said he, shaking his head. "But it was thou who didst turn the attention of Rameses to the people, and now thou bearest mourning for him in thy heart, though he did nothing whatever for the people. It was thou who commiserated, not he. Ye are strange men, in spite of your powerful minds," continued Herhor. "It is the same thing with Menes. That priest considers that he is the most peaceful man in Egypt, though it was he who overturned the dynasty and smoothed the road to power for me. Were it not for his letter about the eclipse of the sun on the 20th of Paofi, perhaps I and the late Mefres would be splitting stones now in the quarries.

"Well, go; go and greet Menes for me. Remember also that I know how to be thankful, which is the great secret of ruling. Tell Menes that I shall carry out every wish of his, unless he asks me, for example, to abdicate. Return to me when thou hast rested, I will keep an important place for thee."

And he touched Pentuer's head, which was inclined submissively.

[Decoration]