te, and almost transparent,
with a tender bloom on her cheek, which I can only liken to a young
rose-leaf or the first faint blush of sunrise. Her eyes are still
wonderfully clear and bright. It always seems to me as if they looked
beyond the heaven and earth which we see.

"As she continued to suffer more and more from heat in the head and
hands, while her tender limbs often shivered with a slight chill, we
sent to Thebes for Thutmes, the most celebrated physician for inward
complaints.

"The experienced priest shook his head on seeing your sister and
foretold a serious illness. He forbade her to spin or to speak much.
Potions of all kinds were given her to drink, her illness was discussed
and exorcised, the stars and oracles consulted, rich presents and
sacrifices made to the gods. The priest of Hathor from the island of
Philae sent us a consecrated amulet, the priest of Osiris in Abydos
a lock of hair from the god himself set in gold, and Neithotep, the
high-priest of our own guardian goddess, set on foot a great sacrifice,
which was to restore your sister to health.

"But neither physicians nor charms were of any avail, and at last
Neithotep confessed that Tachot's stars gave but little ground for hope.
Just then, too, the sacred bull at Memphis died and the priests
could discover no heart in his entrails, which they interpreted as
prognosticating evil to our country. They have not yet succeeded in
finding a new Apis, and believe that the gods are wroth with your
father's kingdom. Indeed the oracle of Buto has declared that the
Immortals will show no favor to Egypt, until all the temples that have
been built in the black land for the worship of false gods are destroyed
and their worshippers banished.

[Egypt was called by its ancient inhabitants Cham, the black,
or black-earthed.]

"These evil omens have proved, alas, only too true. Tachot fell ill of
a dreadful fever and lay for nine days hovering between life and death;
she is still so weak that she must be carried, and can move neither hand
nor foot.

"During the journey to Bubastis, Amasis' eyes, as so often happens here,
became inflamed. Instead of sparing them, he continued to work as usual
from sunrise until mid-day, and while your sister was so ill he never
left her bed, notwithstanding all our entreaties. But I will not enter
into particulars, my child. His eyes grew worse, and on the very day
which brought us the news of your safe arrival in