nd to point out the right way to the
sovereign--I mean the priesthood, whom it is my duty to lead, and for
whose rights I will fight with every weapon of the spirit. In this
contest, as you know, all that otherwise would be falsehood, treachery,
and cunning, puts on the bright aspect of light and truth. As the
physician needs the knife and fire to heal the sick, we must do fearful
things to save the community when it is in danger. Now you will see me
fight with every weapon, for if we remain idle, we shall soon cease to be
the leaders of the state, and become the slaves of the king."

Gagabu nodded assent, but Ameni went on with increasing warmth, and in
that rhythmical accent in which, when he came out of the holy of holies,
he was accustomed to declare the will of the Divinity, "You were my
teacher, and I value you, and so you now shall be told everything that
stirred my soul, and made me first resolve upon this fearful struggle. I
was, as you know, brought up in this temple with Rameses--and it was very
wise of Seti to let his son grow up here with other boys. At work and at
play the heir to the throne and I won every prize. He was quite my
superior in swift apprehension--in keen perception--but I had greater
caution, and deeper purpose. Often he laughed at my laborious efforts,
but his brilliant powers appeared to me a vain delusion. I became one of
the initiated, he ruled the state in partnership with his father, and,
when Seti died, by himself. We both grew older, but the foundation of our
characters remained the same. He rushed to splendid victories, overthrew
nations, and raised the glory of the Egyptian name to a giddy height,
though stained with the blood of his people; I passed my life in industry
and labor, in teaching the young, and in guarding the laws which regulate
the intercourse of men and bind the people to the Divinity. I compared
the present with the past: What were the priests? How had they come to be
what they are? What would Egypt be without them? There is not an art, not
a science, not a faculty that is not thought out, constructed, and
practised by us. We crown the kings, we named the Gods, and taught the
people to honor them as divine--for the crowd needs a hand to lead it,
and under which it shall tremble as under the mighty hand of Fate. We are
the willing ministers of the divine representative of Ra on the throne,
so long as he rules in accordance with our institutions--as the One God
reigns