登陆注册
5145000000046

第46章

"Pharaoh, having your leave, I tell you that I think you have done a very evil work this day, one that is unpleasing to those Powers which rule the world, whoever and whatsoever they may be, one too that will bring upon Egypt sorrows countless as the sand. I believe that these Hebrews whom you unjustly seek to slay worship a god as great or greater than our own, and that they and he will triumph over Egypt. Ibelieve also that the mighty heritage which you have taken from me will bring neither joy nor honour to him by whom it has been received."Here Amenmeses started forward, but Meneptah held up his hand, and he was silent.

"I believe, Pharaoh--alas! that I must say it--that your days on earth are few and that for the last time we look on each other living.

Farewell, Pharaoh my father, whom still I love mayhap more in this hour of parting than ever I did before. Farewell, Amenmeses, Prince of Egypt. Take from me this ornament which henceforth should be worn by you only," and lifting from his headdress that royal circlet which marks the heir to the throne, he held it to Amenmeses, who took it and, with a smile of triumph, set it on his brow.

"Farewell, Lords and Councillors; it is my hope that in yonder prince you will find a master more to your liking that ever I could have been. Come, Ana, my friend, if it still pleases you to cling to me for a little while, now that I have nothing left to give."For a few moments he stood still looking very earnestly at his father, who looked back at him with tears in his deep-set, faded eyes.

Then, though whether this was by chance I cannot say, taking no note of the Princess Userti, who gazed at him perplexed and wrathful, Seti drew himself up and cried in the ancient form:

"Life! Blood! Strength! Pharaoh! Pharaoh! Pharaoh!" and bowed almost to the ground.

Meneptah heard. Muttering beneath his breath, "Oh! Seti, my son, my most beloved son!" he stretched out his arms as though to call him back or perhaps to clasp him. As he did so I saw his face change. Next instant he fell forward to the ground and lay there still. All the company stood struck with horror, only the royal physician ran to him, while Roi and others who were priests began to mutter prayers.

"Has the good god been gathered to Osiris?" asked Amenmeses presently in a hoarse voice, "because if it be so, I am Pharaoh.""Nay, Amenmeses," exclaimed Userti, "the decrees have not yet been sealed or promulgated. They have neither strength nor weight."Before he could answer the physician cried:

"Peace! Pharaoh still lives, his heart beats. This is but a fit which may pass. Begone, every one, he must have quiet."So we went, but first Seti knelt down and kissed his father on the brow.

An hour later the Princess Userti broke into the room of his palace where the Prince and I were talking.

"Seti," she said, "Pharaoh still lives, but the physicians say he will be dead by dawn. There is yet time. Here I have a writing, sealed with his signet and witnessed, wherein he recalls all that he decreed in the Court to-day, and declares you, his son, to be the true and only heir of the throne of Egypt.""Is it so, wife? Tell me now how did a dying man in a swoon command and seal this writing?" and he touched the scroll she held in her hand.

"He recovered for a little while; Nehesi will tell you how," she replied, looking him in the face with cold eyes. Then before he could speak, she added, "Waste no more breath in questions, but act and at once. The General of the guards waits below; he is your faithful servant. Through him I have promised a gift to every soldier on the day that you are crowned. Nehesi and most of the officers are on our side. Only the priests are against us because of that Hebrew witch whom you shelter, and of her tribe whom you befriend; but they have not had time to stir up the people nor will they attempt revolt. Act, Seti, act, for none will move without your express command. Moreover, no question will be raised afterwards, since from Thebes to the sea and throughout the world you are known to be the heir of Egypt.""What would you have me do, wife?" asked Seti, when she paused for lack of breath.

"Cannot you guess? Must I put statecraft into your head as well as a sword into your hand? Why that scribe of yours, who follows your heels like a favoured dog, would be more apt a pupil. Hearken then.

Amenmeses has sent out to gather strength, but as yet there are not fifty men about him whom he can trust." She leant forward and whispered fiercely, "Kill the traitor, Amenmeses--all will hold it a righteous act, and the General waits your word. Shall I summon him?""I think not," answered Seti. "Because Pharaoh, as he has a right to do, is pleased to name a certain man of royal blood to succeed him, how does this make that man a traitor to Pharaoh who still lives? But, traitor or none, I will not murder my cousin Amenmeses.""Then he will murder you."

"Maybe. That is a matter between him and the gods which I leave them to settle. The oath he swore to-day is not one to be lightly broken.

同类推荐
  • 脉因证治

    脉因证治

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 霏雪录

    霏雪录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 徐氏珞琭子赋注

    徐氏珞琭子赋注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幼科铁镜

    幼科铁镜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云南志略

    云南志略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 史海回眸李鸿章

    史海回眸李鸿章

    本书从李鸿章早年落拓,写到他参与镇压太平军、甲午中日战争,创办洋务,周旋于世界外交舞台直至去世 ……
  • 偶遇迷情泛滥:废柴也是宝

    偶遇迷情泛滥:废柴也是宝

    帝国四大家族之一的颜氏三小姐颜瑞宝此生最大的目标:1,离家出走。2,与哥哥老死不相往来。经过几番深思,她终是踏出这一步,并偶遇一酷似小白脸的大侠,威逼利诱下方得以自由。可是哥哥啊哥哥,你为啥就不能放妹妹我一条生路咧?更让人泄愤的是你干吗总跟这小白脸唱反调、打对台戏、你来我往多个回合?难道你不知将碍事的我晒在一旁是很容易风中凌乱的吗?
  • 外交官夫人回忆录

    外交官夫人回忆录

    本书是以作者踏上旅途开始,并以回到故乡作结。由于她的旅途主要是穿越广袤的俄国和俄领中亚,全书最初就是在对这一路的描写上展示了独特的风格。书中生动地描写了一个英国外交官家庭20世纪初在喀什生活工作的经历,其中讲到的一些喀什本地居民的生活方式和习俗在今天的喀什仍然能寻觅到踪迹。
  • 哲学宗师:笛卡尔(创造历史的风云人物)

    哲学宗师:笛卡尔(创造历史的风云人物)

    《创造历史的风云人物》遴选了人类历史上最富影响力、最具个性的一百多位中外名人,作者结合青少年的阅读习惯,用生动活泼、严谨细腻的笔触向读者介绍了这些世界知名人士的生平故事、理想追求和光辉业绩,为广大读者描绘了一幅幅极具传奇色彩而又引人入胜的名人人生画卷,是青少年学生最佳的成长伴侣。本书为该系列中的一册,介绍了理性哲学家——笛卡尔的生平事迹。
  • 遨游在海贼世界

    遨游在海贼世界

    一样的海贼,不一样的冒险!这是一个少年闯荡海贼王世界的故事!
  • 穿越僵约之僵游天下

    穿越僵约之僵游天下

    又名《僵逍遥》猪脚逍遥一个技术宅,一个喷嚏瞬移到《我和僵尸有个约会》世界中,还与将臣相遇,成为二代僵尸,看他的僵尸生涯,有猥琐发育,有霸气护妹,有僵生享受,有欢乐有泪点。嘻嘻,新手上路,还请指教(只是为了纪念童年的回忆,借鉴童年回忆中的各种电影,如有雷同,还请包含,因为确实有些是原著,毕竟同人小说,另外,本故事纯属虚构,不要当真!)
  • 四国演义系统

    四国演义系统

    小萝莉说:“苏宁,我是四国演义系统,助你在魏蜀吴之外另立强国!”
  • 甜甜的霸总轮到我了吗

    甜甜的霸总轮到我了吗

    听闻风华总裁不近女色,却在某天上班时下巴上多了个牙印,一时间总裁有了女人的消息不胫而走,众女一口咬定:不可能!后来,女方小号被扒,红艳艳的结婚证闪瞎了众人的眼,众女捶胸顿足:好好的白菜怎么被猪拱了?夜晚,女孩巧笑嫣然:她们说我是猪。男人沉默。后来,大总裁小号被扒,上面赫然写着:能拱到我家丫头这颗小白菜,实属不易。*某次出差,他问:“夫人最近在做什么?”答曰:“夫人最近在琢磨三餐吃什么。”连续半个月,回答依旧。他终于得以回家,和半夜去厨房里翻东西的某女大眼瞪小眼。他盯着她的肚子,“有了?”答曰:“有了。”于是白三少大手一挥,第二天家里多了不同国家的厨子。某女感叹:果然败家。
  • 情劫契丹王

    情劫契丹王

    她——个女儿身却要肩负起整个家族庞大的生意!他——冷酷的契丹王,却不小心陷入一个汉人女子的温柔里!到底是契丹劫了她的货品,还是她劫走了契丹王的情?敬请关注!我的另一篇文:《明天,爱依然》http://m.wkkk.net/a/76223/欢迎大家阅读指导!你们的声音就是我写下去的动力!喜欢的请推荐收藏!不喜欢的请留下你的脚印!好让我改进!在此谢过啦!鞠躬!欢迎亲们加入QQ:1041678607更多的交流沟通!
  • 七根手指

    七根手指

    蓝雪的亲人跟好友相继去世后,身边笼罩着诡异的气息,绑架凶案接踵而至。无名邮件跟手指骨接二连三的送上门,藏匿在身后的黑手将她推向看不见的深渊。夜半的恐怖电话、敲门声,跟踪、被最亲密的人背叛。直到蓝雪的未婚夫苏雨扬突然失踪,真相才渐渐浮出水面…--情节虚构,请勿模仿