e priesthood."

"Who speak by thy mouth?"

"Thou hast said it."

"Repeat then thy requests."

"Entreat Cambyses to punish Gyges, and grant me free powers to pursue
the escaped Phanes as it shall seem good in mine eyes."

"Is that all?"

"Bind thyself by a solemn oath to the priests, that the Greeks shall be
prevented from erecting any more temples to their false gods in Egypt,
and that the building of the temple to Apollo, in Memphis, shall be
discontinued."

"I expected these demands. The priests have discovered a sharp weapon
to wield against me. Well, I am prepared to yield to the wishes of
my enemies, with whom thou hast leagued thyself, but only on two
conditions. First, I insist that the letter, which I confess to have
written to the father of Nebenchari in a moment of inconsideration, be
restored to me. If left in the hands of thy party, it could reduce me
from a king to the contemptible slave of priestly intrigue."

"That wish is reasonable. The letter shall be returned to thee, if.... "

"Not another if! on the contrary, know that I consider thy petition for
the punishment of Gyges so imprudent, that I refuse to grant it. Now
leave me and appear not again before mine eyes until I summon thee!
Yesterday I gained a son, only to lose him to-day. Rise! I demand no
tokens of a love and humility, which thou hast never felt. Go to the
priests when thou needest comfort and counsel, and see if they can
supply a father's place. Tell Neithotep, in whose hands thou art as wax,
that he has found the best means of forcing me to grant demands, which
otherwise I should have refused. Hitherto I have been willing to make
every sacrifice for the sake of upholding Egypt's greatness; but now,
when I see that, to attain their own ends, the priests can strive to
move me by the threat of treachery to their own country, I feel inclined
to regard this privileged caste as a more dangerous enemy to Egypt, than
even the Persians. Beware, beware! This once, having brought danger upon
Egypt through my own fatherly weakness, I give way to the intrigues of
my enemies; but, for the future, I swear by the great goddess Neith,
that men shall see and feel I am king; the entire priesthood shall
be sacrificed rather than the smallest fraction of my royal will!
Silence--depart!"

The prince left, but this time a longer interval was necessary, before
the king could regain even outward cheerfulness sufficient to enable him
to appear before