登陆注册
5145000000051

第51章

After the days of embalmment were accomplished the body of Pharaoh Meneptah was carried up the Nile to be laid in his eternal house, the splendid tomb that he had made ready for himself in the Valley of Dead Kings at Thebes. To this great ceremony the Prince Seti was not bidden, lest, as Bakenkhonsu told me afterwards, his presence should cause some rising in his favour, with or without his will. For this reason also the dead god, as he was named, was not suffered to rest at Memphis on his last journey up the Nile. Disguised as a man of the people the Prince watched his father's body pass in the funeral barge guarded by shaven, white-robed priests, the centre of a splendid procession. In front went other barges filled with soldiers and officers of state, behind came the new Pharaoh and all the great ones of Egypt, while the sounds of lamentation floated far over the face of the waters. They appeared, they passed, they disappeared, and when they had vanished Seti wept a little, for in his own fashion he loved his father.

"Of what use is it to be a king and named half-divine, Ana," he said to me, "seeing that the end of such gods as these is the same as that of the beggar at the gate?""This, Prince," I answered, "that a king can do more good than a beggar while the breath is in his nostrils, and leave behind him a great example to others.""Or more harm, Ana. Also the beggar can leave a great example, that of patience in affliction. Still, if I were sure that I should do nothing but good, then perhaps I would be a king. But I have noted that those who desire to do the most good often work the greatest harm.""Which, if followed out, would be an argument for wishing to do evil, Prince.""Not so," he answered, "because good triumphs at the last. For good is truth and truth rules earth and heaven.""Then it is clear, Prince, that you should seek to be a king.""I will remember the argument, Ana, if ever time brings me an opportunity unstained by blood," he answered.

When the obsequies of Pharaoh were finished, Amenmeses returned to Tanis, and there was crowned as Pharaoh. I attended this great ceremony, bearing coronation gifts of certain royal ornaments which the Prince sent to Pharaoh, saying it was not fit that he, as a private person, should wear them any longer. These I presented to Pharaoh, who took them doubtfully, declaring that he did not understand the Prince Seti's mind and actions.

"They hide no snare, O Pharaoh," I said. "As you rejoice in the glory that the gods have sent you, so the Prince my master rejoices in the rest and peace which the gods have given him, asking no more.""It may be so, Scribe, but I find this so strange a thing, that sometimes I fear lest the rich flowers of this glory of mine should hide some deadly snake, whereof the Prince knows, if he did not set it there.""I cannot say, O Pharaoh, but without doubt, although he could work no guile, the Prince is not as are other men. His mind is both wide and deep.""Too deep for me," muttered Amenmeses. "Nevertheless, say to my royal cousin that I thank him for his gifts, especially as some of them were worn, when he was heir to Egypt, by my father Khaemuas, who I would had left me his wisdom as well as his blood. Say to him also that while he refrains from working me harm upon the throne, as I know he has done up to the present, he may be sure that I will work him none in the station which he has chosen."Also I saw the Princess Userti who questioned me closely concerning her lord. I told her everything, keeping naught back. She listened and asked:

"What of that Hebrew woman, Moon of Israel? Without doubt she fills my place.""Not so, Princess," I answered. "The Prince lives alone. Neither she nor any other woman fills your place. She is a friend to him, no more.""A friend! Well, at least we know the end of such friendships. Oh!

surely the Prince must be stricken with madness from the gods!""It may be so, your Highness, but I think that if the gods smote more men with such madness, the world would be better than it is.""The world is the world, and the business of those who are born to greatness is to rule it as it is, not to hide away amongst books and flowers, and to talk folly with a beautiful outland woman, and a scribe however learned," she answered bitterly, adding, "Oh! if the Prince is not mad, certainly he drives others to madness, and me, his spouse, among them. That throne is his, his; yet he suffers a cross-grained dolt to take his place, and sends him gifts and blessings.""I think your Highness should wait till the end of the story before you judge of it."She looked at me sharply, and asked:

"Why do you say that? Is the Prince no fool after all? Do he and you, who both seem to be so simple, perchance play a great and hidden game, as I have known men feign folly in order to do with safety? Or has that witch of an Israelite some secret knowledge in which she instructs you, such as a woman who can shatter the statue of Amon to fine dust might well possess? You make believe not to know, which means that you will not answer. Oh! Scribe Ana, if only it were safe, I think I could find a way to wring the truth out of you, although you do pretend to be but a babe for innocence.""It pleases your Highness to threaten and without cause.""No," she answered, changing her voice and manner, "I do not threaten;it is only the madness that I have caught from Seti. Would you not be mad if you knew that another woman was to be crowned to-morrow in your place, because--because----" and she began to weep, which frightened me more than all her rough words.

Presently she dried her tears, and said:

同类推荐
  • 还丹复命篇

    还丹复命篇

    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。
  • 云安公主下降奉诏作

    云安公主下降奉诏作

    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。
  • 句曲外史集

    句曲外史集

    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。
  • Childhood

    Childhood

    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。
  • 鱼藻之什

    鱼藻之什

    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
  • 凰易凤

    凰易凤

    她本是凰却因宫廷争斗被易为凤,成了傀儡皇帝。于是后宫佳丽、满苑娈童,为讨她欢心使出浑身解数,她成了人人骂之的荒淫无度昏君。帝王,权位,儿女情长。她朱字御批杀死儿时青梅竹马,她怒持宝剑手刃一心为她叛乱的娈童。他问,权势对你真的如此重要么?她笑,朕是大魏国国君,一个杀字便可要了千万人的性命。铁骑铮铮、尘土飞扬笼罩了帝都城门,他心死离去。他说,我要夺了你的王位,让你做我的宠妃。她怒,你不过是朕的娈童而已!血染枫叶,他死在她的宝剑之下。高娥宫墙内桃花凋尽,杏花铺路,只留那身至尊龙袍与至高权势陪着她。与她争权夺位的人死了,助她取得权位的人走了。已然关关鸣,奈何雎鸠离。
  • 你的爱,我的痛,没有那么简单

    你的爱,我的痛,没有那么简单

    我们是一群为了生存而不在乎别人眼光的人,这里有别人眼中的白领,有别人唾弃的坐台小姐,有为爱而伤的的爱恨情仇,有横刀夺爱的千夫所指,无论是哪一种,都脱不开三个因素,男人、女人、爱情,在这个浮华的世界里,我们要生活,要尊严,要我们所要的享受
  • 灵山画师就要胡来

    灵山画师就要胡来

    景幽和这六合四海的所有生灵都是格格不入的,因为她是个人,一个普通人。
  • 大观茶论

    大观茶论

    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。
  • 豪门囚妻

    豪门囚妻

    谁说豪门就幸福?自从步入豪门后,她的生活就被彻底搅乱。虽说是美男,可为什么都企图囚她在身边?囚来恨去,最后丢的是谁的心?
  • 神秘总裁之腹黑宠妻成瘾

    神秘总裁之腹黑宠妻成瘾

    一场车祸害得她失去父母,她只好寄人篱下,失恋醉酒后和四大世家之一之首帝洛琛一夜情后逃跑,帝洛琛下令全城找到她!!!
  • 城市·大演奏厅(下)

    城市·大演奏厅(下)

    我亲耳听到一件十分传奇的事情:但昭义夫妇曾经去了一趟西藏。他们很虔诚地在寺庙出入,到了布达拉宫时,在一个大殿里,有一尊菩萨圣像前围了好多人。高红霞跟一位学生家长见这么多人围着,便好奇地过去看个究竟。这时候,有人劝她们也试试运气。所谓运气,就是人们不断地往菩萨身上抛哈达。如果将哈达抛起来能挂到菩萨的肩头或手臂上,就是预示着会有好运降临的。可是,哈达太轻了,往上抛的人都抛不高,离佛像手臂还差一大截呢!轮到高红霞时,只见她一仰头,将手中的哈达往上一抛,那哈达就像被一股气浪顶着直往上空飞飘而去,一直飘升到了菩萨的头上方,竟然挂在了菩萨面部的那颗痣上。这一下子令在场所有人惊呆了!随后,人们为高红霞欢呼起来:肯定要有鸿运降临了!
  • 妃常作恶:毒妃不受宠

    妃常作恶:毒妃不受宠

    她,为爱所惑,层层挣扎中,竟将孪生姐妹推下万丈深渊,终于如愿成为她钟爱之人的王妃;她,为爱所伤,浮光幻影中,被钟爱之人在新婚之夜抛弃,终于深陷迷离之境;她,由爱生恨,勾心斗角中,她一步步陷入为她而准备的精心迷局,步步紧逼,步步成殇……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 秀才家的种田小娘子

    秀才家的种田小娘子

    家有秀才郎,日日种田忙。不就是上课的时候偷偷打瞌睡,居然就一不小心穿越了?穿越也就罢了,为什么还被八两银子给买了?不过,这个买家长的还挺不错嘛,那就勉为其难的将就一下吧。什么穷酸书生没钱买粮,那就自己种。不知道吃什么,漫山遍野的蘑菇竹笋,等我去采摘。从此以后,书生不读书,只陪小农妇。
  • 金刚峰楼阁一切瑜伽瑜只经

    金刚峰楼阁一切瑜伽瑜只经

    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。