第39章

Itwasaftertheplagueoflocusts，whichatealltherewaslefttoeatinEgypt，sothatthepoorfolkwhohaddonenowrongandhadnaughttosaytothedealingsofPharaohwiththeIsraelitesstarvedbythethousand，andduringthatofthegreatdarkness，thatLabancame。Nowthisdarknesslayuponthelandlikeathickcloudforthreewholedaysandnights。Nevertheless，thoughtheshadowsweredeep，therewasnotruedarknessoverthehouseofSetiatMemphis，whichstoodinafunnelofgreylightstretchingfromearthtosky。 Nowtheterrorwasincreasedtenfold，anditseemedtomethatallthehundredsofthousandsofMemphisweregatheredoutsideourwalls，sothattheymightlookuponthelight，suchasitwas，iftheycoulddonomore。Setiwouldhaveadmittedasmanyastheplacewouldhold，butKibadehimnot，saying，thatifhedidsothedarknesswouldflowinwiththem。OnlyMerapididadmitsomeoftheIsraelitishwomenwhoweremarriedtoEgyptiansinthecity，thoughforherpainstheyonlycursedherasawitch。FornowmostoftheinhabitantsofMemphiswerecertainthatitwasMerapiwho，keepingherselfsafe，hadbroughtthesewoesuponthembecauseshewasaworshipperofanaliengod。 “IfshewhoistheloveofEgypt’sheirwouldbutsacrificetoEgypt’sgods，thesehorrorswouldpassfromus，“saidthey，having，asI think，learnedtheirlessonfromthelipsofKi。OrperhapstheemissariesofUsertihadtaughtthem。 Oncemorewestoodbythegatewatchingthepeopleflittingtoandfrointhegloomwithout，forthissightfascinatedMerapi，asasnakefascinatesabird。ThenitwasthatLabanappeared。Iknewhishookednoseandhawk-likeeyesatonce，andsheknewhimalso。 “Comeawaywithme，MoonofIsrael，“hecried，“andallshallyetbeforgivenyou。Butifyouwillnotcome，thenfearfulthingsshallovertakeyou。“ Shestoodstaringathim，answeringneveraword，andjustthenthePrinceSetireachedusandsawhim。 “Takethatman，“hecommanded，flushingwithanger，andguardssprangintothedarknesstodohisbidding。ButLabanwasgone。 Ontheseconddayofthedarknessthetumultwasgreat，onthethirditwasterrible。Acrowdthrusttheguardaside，brokedownthegatesandburstintothepalace，humblydemandingthattheladyMerapiwouldcometoprayforthem，yetshowingbytheirmienthatifshewouldnotcometheymeanttotakeher。 “Whatistobedone？“askedSetiofKiandBakenkhonsu。 “ThatisforthePrincetojudge，“saidKi，“thoughIdonotseehowitcanharmtheladyMerapitoprayforusintheopensquareofMemphis。“ “Lethergo，“saidBakenkhonsu，“lestpresentlyweshouldallgofurtherthanwewould。“ “Idonotwishtogo，“criedMerapi，“notknowingforwhomIamtoprayorhow。“ “Beitasyouwill，Lady，“saidSetiinhisgraveandgentlevoice。 “Only，hearkentotheroarofthemob。Ifyourefuse，Ithinkthatverysooneveryoneofuswillhavereachedalandwhereperhapsitisnotneedfultoprayatall，“andhelookedattheinfantinherarms。 “Iwillgo，“shesaid。 ShewentforthcarryingthechildandIwalkedbehindher。SodidthePrince，butinthatdarknesshewascutoffbyarushofthousandsoffolkandIsawhimnomoretillallwasover。Bakenkhonsuwaswithmeleaningonmyarm，butKihadgoneonbeforeus，forhisownendsasI think。Ahugemobmovedthroughthedensedarkness，inwhichhereandtherelightsfloatedlikelampsuponaquietsea。IdidnotknowwhereweweregoinguntilthelightofoneoftheselampsshoneuponthekneesofthecolossalstatueofthegreatRameses，revealinghiscartouche。ThenIknewthatwewerenearthegatewayofthevasttempleofMemphis，thelargestperhapsinthewholeworld。 Wewentonthroughcourtafterpillaredcourt，priestsleadingusbythehand，tillwecametoashrinecommandingthebiggestcourtofall，whichwaspackedwithmenandwomen。ItwasthatofIsis，whoheldatherbreasttheinfantHorus。 “OfriendAna，“criedMerapi，“givehelp。Theyaredressingmeinstrangegarments。“ Itriedtogetneartoherbutwasthrustback，avoice，whichI thoughttobethatofKi，saying： “Onyourlife，fool!“ Presentlyalampwasheldup，andbythelightofitIsawMerapiseatedinachairdressedlikeagoddess，inthesacerdotalrobesofIsisandwearingthevulturecapheaddress——beautifulexceedingly。InherarmswasthechilddressedastheinfantHorus。 “Prayforus，MotherIsis，“criedthousandsofvoices，“thatthecurseofblacknessmayberemoved。“ Thensheprayed，saying： “OmyGod，takeawaythiscurseofblacknessfromtheseinnocentpeople，“andallofthosepresent，repeatedherprayer。 Atthatmomenttheskybegantolightenandinlessthanhalfanhourthesunshoneout。WhenMerapisawhowsheandthechildwerearrayedshescreamedaloudandtoreoffherjewelledtrappings，crying： “Woe!Woe!Woe!GreatwoeuponthepeopleofEgypt!“ Butintheirjoyatthenewfoundlightfewhearkenedtoherwhotheyweresurehadbroughtbackthesun。AgainLabanappearedforamoment。 “Witch!Traitress!“hecried。“YouhaveworntherobesofIsisandworshippedinthetempleofthegodsoftheEgyptians。ThecurseoftheGodofIsraelbeonyouandthatwhichisbornofyou。“ Isprangathimbuthewasgone。ThenweboreMerapihomeswooning。 Sothistroublepassedby，butfromthattimeforwardMerapiwouldnotsufferhersontobetakenoutofhersight。 “Whydoyoumakesomuchofhim，Lady？“Iaskedoneday。 “BecauseIwouldlovehimwellwhileheishere，Friend，“sheanswered，“butofthissaynothingtohisfather。“ AwhilewentbyandweheardthatstillPharaohwouldnotlettheIsraelitesgo。ThenthePrinceSetisentBakenkhonsuandmyselftoTanistoseePharaohandtosaytohim： “IseeknothingformyselfandIforgetthoseevilswhichyouwouldhaveworkedonmethroughjealousy。ButIsayuntoyouthatifyouwillnotletthesestrangersgogreatandterriblethingsshallbefallyouandallEgypt。Therefore，hearmyprayerandletthemgo。“ NowBakenkhonsuandIcamebeforePharaohandwesawthathewasgreatlyaged，forhishairhadgonegreyabouthistemplesandthefleshhunginbagsbeneathhiseyes。Alsonotforoneminutecouldhestaystill。 “Isyourlord，andareyoualsooftheservantsofthisHebrewprophetwhomtheEgyptiansworshipasagodbecausehehasdonethemsomuchill？“heasked。“Itmaywellbeso，sinceIhearthatmycousinSetikeepsanIsraelitishwitchinhishouse，whowardsofffromhimalltheplaguesthathavesmittentherestofEgypt，andthattohimhasfledalsoKitheKherheb，mymagician。Moreover，IhearthatinpaymentforthesewizardrieshehasbeenpromisedthethroneofEgyptbymanyfickleandfearfulonesamongmypeople。LethimbecarefullestIlifthimuphigherthanhehopes，whoalreadyhaveenoughtraitorsinthisland；andyoutwowithhim。“ NowIsaidnothing，whosawthatthemanwasmad，butBakenkhonsulaughedoutloudandanswered： “OPharaoh，Iknowlittle，butIknowthisalthoughIbeold，namely，thataftermenhaveceasedtospeakyournameIshallstillholdconversewiththeweareroftheDoubleCrowninEgypt。NowwillyoulettheseHebrewsgo，orwillyoubringdeathuponEgypt？“ Pharaohglaredathimandanswered，“Iwillnotletthemgo。“ “Whynot，Pharaoh？Tellme，forIamcurious。“ “BecauseIcannot，“heansweredwithagroan。“Becausesomethingstrongerthanmyselfforcesmetodenytheirprayer。Begone!“ Sowewent，andthiswasthelasttimethatIlookeduponAmenmesesatTanis。 AsweleftthechamberIsawtheHebrewprophetenteringthepresence。 AfterwardsarumourreachedusthathehadthreatenedtokillallthepeopleinEgypt，butthatstillPharaohwouldnotlettheIsraelitesdepart。Indeed，itwassaidthathehadtoldtheprophetthatifheappearedbeforehimanymoreheshouldbeputtodeath。 NowwejourneyedbacktoMemphiswithallthesetidingsandmadereporttoSeti。WhenMerapiheardthemshewenthalfmad，weepingandwringingherhands。Iaskedherwhatshefeared。Sheanswereddeath，whichwasneartoallofus。Isaid： “Ifso，thereareworsethings，Lady。“ “Foryoumayhapyouarefaithfulandgoodinyourownfashion，butnotforme。Doyounotunderstand，friendAna，thatIamonewhohasbrokenthelawoftheGodIwastaughttoworship？“ “Andwhichofusistherewhohasnotbrokenthelawofthegodweweretaughttoworship，Lady？Ifintruthyouhavedoneanythingofthesortbyflyingfromamurderousvillaintoonewholovesyouwell，whichIdonotbelieve，surelythereisforgivenessforsuchsinsasthis。“ “Aye，perhaps，but，alas!thethingisblackerfar。HaveyouforgottenwhatIdid？DressedintherobesofIsisIworshippedinthetempleofIsiswithmyboyplayingthepartofHorusonmybosom。ItisacrimethatcanneverbeforgiventoaHebrewwoman，Ana，formyGodisajealousGod。YetitistruethatKitrickedme。“