第25章

Hiseyeswerealmostclosed，andtomehelookedlikeamanwhoisveryill。ThePrincessUsertienteredafterusandtoherhespokesomewordsofwelcome，givingherhishandtokiss。Thenheorderedthedoorstobeclosed。Ashedidso，anofficerofthehouseholdenteredandsaidthatamessengerhadcomefromtheHebrewswhodesiredspeechwithPharaoh。 “Lethimenter，“saidMeneptah，andpresentlyheappeared。 Hewasawild-eyedmanofmiddleage，withlonghairthatfelloverhissheepskinrobe。Tomehelookedlikeasoothsayer。HestoodbeforePharaoh，makingnosalutation。 “Deliveryourmessageandbegone，“saidNehesitheVizier。 “ThesearethewordsoftheFathersofIsrael，spokenbymylips，“ criedthemaninavoicethatrangallroundthevaultedchamber。“Ithascometoourears，OPharaoh，thatthewomanMerapi，daughterofNathan，whohasrefugedinyourcity，shewhoisnamedMoonofIsrael，hasshownherselftobeaprophetessofpower，onetowhomourGodhasgivenstrength，inthat，standingaloneamidstthepriestsandmagiciansofAmonoftheEgyptians，shetooknoharmfromtheirsorceriesandwasablewiththeswordofprayertosmitetheidolofAmontothedust。Wedemandthatthisprophetessberestoredtous，makingoathonourpartthatsheshallbegivenoversafelytoherbetrothedhusbandandthatnoharmshallcometoherforanycrimesortreasonsshemayhavecommittedagainstherpeople。“ “Astothismatter，“repliedPharaohquietly，“makeyourprayertothePrinceofEgypt，inwhosehouseholdIunderstandthewomandwells。Ifitpleaseshimtosurrenderherwho，Itakeit，isawitchoracunningworkeroftricks，toherbetrothedandherkindred，lethimdoso。ItisnotforPharaohtojudgeofthefateofprivateslaves。“ ThemanwheeledroundandaddressedSeti，saying： “Youhaveheard，SonoftheKing。Willyoudeliverupthiswoman？“ “NeitherdoIpromisetodeliverherupnornottodeliverherup，“ answeredSeti，“sincetheladyMerapiisnomemberofmyhousehold，norhaveIanyauthorityoverher。Shewhosavedmylifedwellswithinmywallsforsafety’ssake。Ifitpleaseshertogo，shecango；ifitpleaseshertoremain，shecanremain。WhenthisCourtisfinishedI giveyousafe-conducttoappearandinmypresencelearnherpleasurefromherlips。“ “Youhaveyouranswer；nowbegone，“saidNehesi。 “Nay，“criedtheman，“Ihavemorewordstospeak。ThussaytheFathersofIsrael：Weknowtheblackcounselofyourheart，OPharaoh。 IthasbeenrevealedtousthatitisinyourmindtoputtheHebrewstothesword，asitisinthemindofthePrinceofEgypttosavethemfromthesword。Changethatmindofyours，OPharaoh，andswiftly，lestdeathfalluponyoufromheavenabove。“ “Cease!“thunderedMeneptahinavoicethatstilledthemurmursofthecourt。“DogofaHebrew，doyoudaretothreatenPharaohonhisownthrone？Itellyouthatwereyounotamessenger，andthereforeaccordingtoourancientlawsafetillthesunsets，youshouldbehewnlimbfromlimb。Awaywithhim，andifheisfoundinthiscityafternightfalllethimbeslain!“ Thencertainofthecouncillorsspranguponthemanandthrusthimforthroughly。Atthedoorhewrenchedhimselffreeandshouted： “Thinkuponmywords，Pharaoh，beforethissunhasset。Andyou，greatonesofEgypt，thinkonthemalsobeforeitappearsagain。“ Theydrovehimoutwithblowsandthedoorswereshut。OncemoreMeneptahbegantospeak，saying： “Nowthatthisbrawlerisgone，whathaveyoutosaytome，PrinceofEgypt？Doyoustillgivemethecounselthatyouwroteintheroll？Doyoustillrefuse，asheiroftheThrone，toassenttomydecreethattheseaccursedHebrewsbedestroyedwiththeswordofmyjustice？“ NowallturnedtheireyesonSeti，whothoughtawhile，andanswered： “LetPharaohpardonme，butthecounselthatIgaveIstillgive；theassentthatIrefusedIstillrefuse，becausemyhearttellsmethatsoitisrighttodo，andsoIthinkwillEgyptbesavedfrommanytroubles。“ WhenthescribeshadfinishedwritingdownthesewordsPharaohaskedagain： “PrinceofEgypt，ifinadaytocomeyoushouldfillmyplace，isitstillyourintenttoletthispeopleoftheHebrewsgounharmed，takingwiththemthewealththattheyhavegatheredhere？“ “LetPharaohpardonme，thatisstillmyintent。“ Nowatthesefatefulwordstherearoseasighofastonishmentfromallthatheardthem。BeforeithaddiedawayPharaohhadturnedtoUsertiandwasasking： “Aretheseyourcounsel，yourwill，andyourintentalso，OPrincessofEgypt？“ “LetPharaohhearme，“answeredUsertiinacold，clearvoice，“theyarenot。InthisgreatmattermylordthePrincewalksoneroadandI walkanother。Mycounsel，will，andintentarethoseofPharaoh。“ “Setimyson，“saidMeneptah，morekindlythanIhadeverheardhimspeakbefore，“forthelasttime，notasyourkingbutasyourfather，Iprayyoutoconsider。Rememberingthatasitliesinyourpower，beingoffullageandhavingbeenjoinedwithmeinmanymattersofgovernment，torefuseyourassenttoagreatactofstate，soitliesinmypowerwiththeassentofthehigh-priestsandofmyministerstoremoveyoufrommypath。Seti，Icandisinherityouandsetanotherinyourplace，andifyoupersist，thatandnolessIshalldo。Consider，therefore，myson。“ InthemidstofanintensesilenceSetianswered： “Ihaveconsidered，OmyFather，andwhateverbethecosttomeI cannotgobackuponmywords。“ ThenPharaohroseandcried： “Takenoteallyouassembledhere，andletitbeproclaimedtothepeopleofEgyptwithoutthegates，thattheytakenotealso，thatI deposeSetimysonfromhisplaceasPrinceofEgyptanddeclarethatheisremovedfromthesuccessiontothedoubleCrown。TakenotethatmydaughterUserti，PrincessofEgypt，wifeofthePrinceSeti，Idonotdepose。WhateverrightsandheritagesarehersasheiressofEgyptletthoserightsandheritagesremaintoher，andifachildbebornofherandPrinceSeti，wholives，letthatchildbeheirtotheThroneofEgypt。Takenotethat，ifnosuchchildisbornoruntilitisborn，Inamemynephew，thecountAmenmeses，sonofbybrotherKhaemuas，nowgatheredtoOsiris，tofilltheThroneofEgyptwhenI amnomore。Comehither，CountAmenmeses。“ Headvancedandstoodbeforehim。ThenPharaohliftedfromhisheadthedoublecrownheworeandforamomentsetitonthebrowofAmenmeses，sayingashereplaceditonhisownhead： “BythisactandtokendoInameandconstituteyou，Amenmeses，tobeRoyalPrinceofEgyptinplaceofmyson，PrinceSeti，deposed。 Withdraw，RoyalPrinceofEgypt。Ihavespoken。“ “Life!Blood!Strength!“criedallthecompanybowingbeforePharaoh，allsavethePrinceSetiwhoneitherbowednorstirred。Onlyhecried： “AndIhaveheard。WillPharaohbepleasedtodeclarewhetherwithmyroyalheritagehetakesmylife？Ifso，letitbehereandnow。MycousinAmenmeseswearsasword。“ “Nay，Son，“answeredMeneptahsadly，“yourlifeislefttoyouandwithitallyourprivaterankandyourpossessionswhatsoeverandwherevertheymaybe。“ “LetPharaoh’swillbedone，“repliedSetiindifferently，“inthisasinallthings。PharaohsparesmylifeuntilsuchtimeasAmenmeseshissuccessorshallfillhisplace，whenitshallbetaken。“ Meneptahstarted；thisthoughtwasnewtohim。 “Standforth，Amenmeses，“hecried，“andswearnowthethreefoldoaththatmaynotbebroken。SwearbyAmon，byPtah，andbyOsiris，godofdeath，thatneverwillyouattempttoharmthePrinceSeti，yourcousin，eitherinbodyorinsuchstateandprerogativeasremaintohim。LetRoi，thehead-priestofAmon，administertheoathnowbeforeusall。“ SoRoispoketheoathintheancientform，whichwasterribleeventohear，andAmenmeses，unwillinglyenoughasIthought，repeateditafterhim，addinghoweverthesewordsattheend，“AllthesethingsI swearandallthesepenaltiesinthisworldandtheworldtobeI invokeuponmyhead，providedonlythatwhenthetimecomesthePrinceSetileavesmeinpeaceuponthethronetowhichithaspleasedPharaohtodecreetome。“ Nowsometheremurmuredthatthiswasnotenough，sinceintheirheartstherewerefewwhodidnotloveSetiandgrievetoseehimthusstrippedofhisroyalheritagebecausehisjudgmentdifferedfromthatofPharaohoveramatterofStatepolicy。ButSetionlylaughedandsaidscornfully： “Letbe，forofwhatvaluearesuchoaths？Pharaohonthethroneisabovealloathswhomustmakeanswertothegodsonlyandfromtheheartsofsomethegodsarefaraway。LetAmenmesesnotfearthatI shallquarrelwithhimoverthismatterofacrown，Iwhointruthhaveneverlongedforthepompandcaresofroyaltyandwho，deprivedofthese，stillpossessallthatIcandesire。Igomywayhenceforwardasoneofmany，anobleofEgypt——nomore，andifinadaytocomeitpleasesthePharaohtobetoshortenmywanderings，I amnotsurethateventhenIshallgrievesoverymuch，whoamcontenttoacceptthejudgmentofthegods，asintheendhemustdoalso。 Yet，Pharaohmyfather，beforewepartIaskleavetospeakthethoughtsthatriseinme。“