But neither in his voice nor his eyes was there submission when, straightening himself, he continued,--

"I have words from the supreme council of high priests."

"Utter them," said the pharaoh.

"It is known to thee, holiness, that a pharaoh who has not received ordination as high priest cannot perform the highest sacrifices; that is, dress and undress the miraculous Osiris--"

"I understand," interrupted Rameses, "I am a pharaoh who has not received the ordination of high priest."

"For that reason," continued Mefres, "the supreme council begs thee submissively, holiness, to appoint a high priest to take thy place in religious functions."

When they heard these decided words, the high priests and civil dignitaries trembled and squirmed as if standing on hot stones, and the generals touched their swords as if involuntarily. The holy Mefres looked at them with unconcealed contempt, and fixed his cold glance again on the face of the pharaoh.

But the lord of the world showed no trouble even this time.

"It is well," said he, "that thou hast reminded me, worthiness, of this important duty. The military profession and affairs of state do not permit me to occupy myself with the ceremonies of our holy religion, so I must appoint a subst.i.tute."

While speaking he looked around at the men a.s.sembled.

On the left of Herhor stood the holy Sem. Rameses glanced into his mild and honest face and inquired suddenly,--

"Who and what art thou, worthiness?"

"My name is Sem; I am high priest of the temple of Ptah in Pi-Bast."

"Thou wilt be my subst.i.tute in religious ceremonies," said the pharaoh, pointing toward him with his finger.

A murmur of astonishment ran through the a.s.sembly.

After long meditation and counsels it would have been difficult to select a more worthy priest for that high office.

Herhor grew much paler than before; Mefres pressed his blue lips together tightly and dropped his eyelids.

A moment later the new pharaoh sat on his throne, which instead of feet had the carved figures of princes and the kings of nine nations.

Soon Herhor gave to the lord, on a golden plate, a white and also a red crown.

The sovereign placed the crowns on his own head in silence, while those present fell prostrate.

That was not the solemn coronation; it was merely taking possession of power.

When the priests had incensed the pharaoh and had sung a hymn to Osiris, imploring that G.o.d to pour all blessings on the sovereign, dignitaries of the civil power and of the army were permitted to kiss the lowest step of the throne. Then Rameses took a gold spoon, and, repeating a prayer which the holy Sem p.r.o.nounced aloud, he incensed the statues of the G.o.ds arranged in line on both sides of the pharaoh's chapel.

"What am I to do now?" inquired he.

"Show thyself to the people," replied Herhor.

Through a gilded, widely opened door his holiness ascended marble steps to a terrace, and, raising his hands, faced in turn toward the four sides of the universe. The sound of trumpets was heard, and from the summits of pylons banners were hung out. Whoso was in a field, in a yard, on the street, fell prostrate; the stick, raised above the back of a beast or a slave, was lowered without giving the blow, and all criminals against the state who had been sentenced that day received grace.

Descending from the terrace the pharaoh inquired,--

"Have I something more to do?"

"Refreshments and affairs of state are awaiting thee, holiness,"

replied Herhor.

"After that I may rest," said the pharaoh. "Where are the remains of his holiness, my father?"

"Given to the embalmers," whispered Herhor.

Tears filled the pharaoh's eyes, and his mouth quivered, but he restrained himself and looked down in silence. It was not proper that servants should see emotion in such a mighty ruler.

Wishing to turn the pharaoh's attention to another subject, Herhor asked,--

"Wilt thou be pleased, holiness, to receive the homage due from the queen, thy mother?"

"I? Am I to receive homage from my mother?" asked Rameses, with repressed voice.

"Hast thou forgotten what the sage Eney said? Perhaps holy Sem will repeat those beautiful words to us."

"Remember," quoted Sem, "that she gave birth to thee and nourished thee in every manner--"

"Speak further; speak!" insisted the pharaoh, striving always to command himself.

"Shouldst thou forget that she would raise her hands to the G.o.d, and he would hear her complaint. She bore thee long beneath her heart, like a great burden, and gave thee birth when thy months had expired.

She carried thee in her arms afterward, and during three years she put her breast into thy mouth. She reared thee, was not disgusted with thy uncleanness. And when thou wert going to school and wert exercised in writing, she placed before thy teacher daily bread and beer from her own dwelling."[24]

[24] Authentic.

Rameses sighed deeply and said with calmness,--

"So ye see that it is not proper that my mother should salute me.

Rather I will go to her."

And he pa.s.sed through a series of halls lined with marble, alabaster, and wood, painted in bright colors, carved and gilded; behind him went his immense suite. But when he came to the antechamber of his mother's apartments, he made a sign to leave him. When he had pa.s.sed the antechamber, he stopped a while before the door, then knocked and entered quietly.

In a chamber with bare walls, where in place of furniture there stood only a low wooden couch and a broken pitcher holding water, all in sign of mourning, Queen Nikotris, the mother of the pharaoh, was sitting on a stone. She was in a coa.r.s.e shirt, barefoot; her face was smeared with mud from the Nile, and in her tangled hair there were ashes.

When she saw Rameses, the worthy lady inclined so as to fall at his feet. But the son seized her in his arms, and said with weeping,--

"If thou, O mother, incline to the ground before _me_, I shall be forced to go under the ground before _thee_."

The queen drew his head to her bosom, wiped away his tears with the sleeve of her coa.r.s.e shirt, and then, raising her hands, whispered,--

"May all the G.o.ds, may the spirit of thy father and grandfather, surround thee with blessing and solicitude. O Isis, I have never spared offerings to thee, but to-day I make the greatest; I give my beloved son to thee. Let this kingly son become thy son entirely, and may his greatness and his glory increase thy divine inheritance."

The pharaoh embraced and kissed his mother repeatedly, then he seated her on the wooden couch and sat on the stone himself.