e apparition' and
'the tables of offering' are his breasts, and the secret retreat of the
god is the heart of the pious Egyptian. Our temple teaches us what we
should be. 'Have a hand as strong as a pylon,' it says to us, 'and arms
as powerful as walls. Have in thy head reason as broad and rich as the
forecourt of the temple, a soul as pure as the chamber of "apparition"
and of "offering," and in thy heart have God, O Egyptian!' But the
Assyrian buildings say to that people: 'Tower above nations, O
Assyrian; rear thy head beyond every other! Thou wilt do nothing great
here on earth, but at least Thou wilt leave many ruins.'

"Wouldst thou, then, O sovereign, venture to rear in our land Assyrian
edifices and imitate a people which Egypt contemns and despises?"

In spite of Sem's explanation, even now Ramses judged that the Assyrian
palaces surpassed those of Egypt in beauty. But he so hated the
Assyrians that his heart began to hesitate.

"In that case," said he, "I will defer the building of my tomb and the
temple. But do ye sages who are kindly disposed toward me, think over
plans of edifices which would give my name to the remotest
generations."

"A superhuman pride fills the soul of this young man!" thought the high
priest, and he took farewell of the pharaoh in sadness.

CHAPTER LX

MEANWHILE Pentuer made ready to revisit Lower Egypt and find on the one
hand thirteen delegates from among land-tillers and artisans for the
pharaoh, and on the other to encourage the working population to demand
the relief which the new sovereign had promised, for according to his
conviction the greatest question for Egypt was to abolish the injustice
and the abuses to which the toiling people were subject.

Still, Pentuer was a priest, and not only did he not desire the fall of
his order, but he did not even wish to break the bonds which connected
him with it. Hence to emphasize his loyalty he went to take farewell of
Herhor.

The once mighty dignitary received him with a smile.

"A rare guest a rare guest!" exclaimed he. "Since Thou hadst the desire
to become the counselor of his holiness Thou dost not show thyself
before me. True, Thou art not the only one! But whatever happens, I
shall not forget thy services, wert Thou even to avoid me still more
than at present."

"Worthiness, I am not a counselor of our lord, nor do I avoid thee to
whose favor I am indebted for what I am today."

"I know, I know!" answered Herho