Uarda: a Romance of Ancient Egypt

he city of Thebes, but they blazed with scorching heat on the broad dyke-road wh

oot-passengers and chariots,

of this, it shrouded the streets and the passengers in a dry cloud, which extended not only over the

ift breath of rumor had spread some news which excited both alarm an

d arrived from the king's camp with heavy letter

eat letter-writers, an

they also had establis

in their langu

kindling lightning-flash or the destroying hail-storm-so the hopes and the fears of the citizens were centred on the news which came but rarely and at irregular intervals fro

written rolls which they brought told more often of death and wounds than of promotion, royal favor

distributed the letters and read the news which was intended for public communication,

, when in suspense, looks forward to bad rather than to good new

e court, and consisted of a great number of rooms opening on to this court, in which numerous scribes worked with t

comers, on a costly throne in this hall, surrounded by his numerous followers, and overlooking the crowd of people whom the guardians

unding a scribe arose a cry of woe. Few and far between were those

wailing and tears seemed

men were rending their clothes, shrieking loudly, and crying as the

ed out their grey hair and beard; young women beat their forehead and breast, or implored the scribes who re

t of joy or of sorrow, among us moderns covers its feature

ttle being might be seen hurrying from group to

r class, dissolved in tears because he

of Rameses, with all his titles. Dispenser of life,' he is called. A

ellows than your son have never been seen in Thebes. Let your youngest starve, or beat him to a cripple, el

aid: "If he there wielded the sceptre, there would be fewer orphans and beggars by the Nile. To-day its sacred waters

these words, for he rose from his seat and l

guish filled the wide courtyard, which was soon cleared by soldie

ni sat with quiet dignity on the throne, surrounded

f his fortieth year and the

royal family, and usurped the sceptre of the Pharaohs. He descended from a Sem

rn race who migrated

ile-valley, and ruled

e driven out by the

whose dominion had

yp

one by marrying Tuaa, the grand-daughter of Amenophis III. She presented him with an only son, whom he named after his father Rameses. This prince might lay claim to perfect l

s wife Tuaa, the Regent Ani, who was a few years younger than Rameses, he caused to be brought up in the House of Seti, and treated

by the warlike and magnanimous Rameses, who however never disguised from himself the fact

d be descended from the Sun-god Ra, and the Pharaoh could boast of

h a strong hand, and thirteen young sons promised t

ests in the north, he appointed Ani, who had proved himself worthy

whose nature he cannot throw himself, and whose excellences he is unable to imitate; so it happene

e dignity that was laid upon him with apparent reluctance, and seemed a particular

clear blue eyes and thin lips gave no evidence of the emotions that filled his heart; on the contrary, his countenance wore a soft smile that

should be enquired into. The plundered man was leaving full of hope; but when the scribe who sat at the feet of the Regent enquired to whom the investigation of this e

resentation with benevolence, nay with expressions of sympathy; but assured him that the war absorbed all the funds of the state, that the chests were empty; still he felt in

ed that a considerable sum should be taken out

e a gesture of lamentation, to show to the assembled mourners in t

, accompanied by loud cries, took possession of the masses

t, and even the most impassive of the Thebans present turn

on of Lybian police led a prisoner towards a side gate of the court. Before they could reach it,

was waiting for him, that a tiny man, the dwarf of the Lady Katuti, had for several hours been goi

n; but so soon as the chief officer had left him, he commanded his

an excitement of another kind

the crowd of people of their own free will, but as if in reverent submission to some high command, parted and formed a broad way, through

to the back of the hall with him alone. "It is nevertheless inc

oldiers-to conquer,

o live," exclai

ed-time, to levy the temple-serfs. I regret the orde

uester ancient rights, and to open a wa

ent," said the firs

desert, with bad m

s upon th

for. Rameses will win new victories with t

! whom he

rly end to the war, and writes to me that after the next battle he wins he intends to offer terms to the Cheta

ast down. Now he raised them, smiling, as if he

hou say to t

ment, "I say that Rameses seems to think that the blood of thy cousin and of h

blood of th

ure in his veins, but

ure, and said softly, with a smile

e not

"who can hear us; and what I

the king's ears-" w

e the purity of blood of the sovereign of this land. However, Rameses sits on the throne; may life bloom for him

bowed, and

ey the demand of the

et in a few days, can only determine how, a

s, and Rameses requires them at once. The

who understands how to employ the sons of the lan

st in bronze, and remained silent; but Ameni lowered his staff befor

d as usual upon his countenance, and full

thy communications?" he

bled dignitaries, "that the princess Bent-Anat yesterday morning committed a heavy sin, and that in al

the Regent's countenance. He looked me

e of Seti; till then I beg that

he hall to withdraw to a wing of t

tant news for him; but he loved to do violence to his curiosity, to test

he papyrus rolls which his master gave him in a brazier. A secretary made notes of the short facts

hen slowly opened a letter from the king, whose address: "To my brothe

new, hung his future life, a

imself his deep inward agitation, he broke the wax

d the last words of your letter, a vehement 'No' rushed to my lips. I caused the stars to be consulted, and the entrails of the victims to be examined, and they were adverse to your request; and yet I could not refuse you, for you are dear to me, and your blood is royal as my own. Even more royal, an old friend said, and warned me against your ambition and your exaltation. Then my heart changed, for I were not Seti's son if I allow myself to injure a friend through idle apprehensions; and he who stan

with a shrug of his shoulders, stood up, clasped his hand behind him, and, with his eyes cast me

s amiable his expression becam

are found in the papy

one witho

granting, and at the same time not to forget to give it a brilliant show of magnanimity. Rameses knows his daughter. She is a girl like any other, and will take good care no

er so vehemently on to the table,

carefully on the table again, while his

against the king, who in his remote camp-tent could fancy he had made him happy by a proof of his highest favor. When we are plotting against a m

fore the Regent and threw him

ants to leave him, and

son. Stand up!" The dwarf rose and

"I feared for my life, but thou hast not only not shortened it, but hast prolonged it

not know that you meant well, and acted in accordance with

game of draughts; but my tongue is like the water, which mak

now how to

e complaining citizens who it is that slaughters their flesh and blood, and from whom to l

for a future time. But overbusy friends are more damaging than intelligent enemies. When I need your services I will ca

he dwarf kissing the Regent's foot. "Have

t her after the next meal. The king's charioteer has not written,

s laid out, consisting of many dishes prepared with special care. His appetite was gone, b

Bent-Anat, and whether it would be advisable

ant, who carefully shaved, painted, dressed, and d

d himself in his litter to be borne to the house of his friend Katuti, h

Bent-Anat-if she listene

say a decisive word when he, entangled in a hundre

f his reach. It vexed him that he had followed Katuti's advice, and he began to wish his suit had been repulsed. Marriage with Bent-Anat seemed to him beset with difficulties. His mood was that of a man who craves some brilliant position, though he knows that its requirements are beyond his powers-that of an ambitious soul to whom kingly honors are offered on conditio