t?

"In the days of the Theban dynasty, far away toward the north, was the
little town of Troy. We have in Egypt twenty thousand as large as it.
Various Greek vagrants laid siege to that hamlet, and so annoyed its
few inhabitants that after ten years of trouble they burned their
little fortress and moved to other places. An every-day robber
narrative! Meanwhile just see what songs the Greeks sing of the Trojan
combats. We laugh at those wonders and heroisms, for our government had
accurate information of events there. We see the lies which strike any
one, but still we listen to those songs, as a child does to tales which
its nurse tells, and we cannot tear ourselves free from them.

"Such are the Greeks: born liars, but fascinating; yes, and valiant.
Every man of them would rather die than tell truth. They do not lie for
profit, as do the Phoenicians, but because their mind constrains them."

"Well, what am I to think of the Phoenicians?"

"They are wise people of mighty industry and daring, but hucksters: for
them life means profit, be it great or the greatest. The Phoenicians
are like water: they bring much with them, but bear away much, and push
in at all points. One must give them the least possible, and above all
watch that they enter not through hidden crannies into Egypt. If Thou
pay them well and offer hope of still greater profit, they will be
excellent assistants. What we know today of secret movements in Assyria
we know through Phoenicians."

"And the Jews?" asked the prince, dropping his eyes.

"A quick people, but gloomy fanatics and born enemies of Egypt. Only
when they feel on their necks the iron-shod sandal of the Assyrian,
will they turn to us. May that time not come too late to them! It is
possible to use their services, not here, of course, but in Nineveh and
Babylon."

The pharaoh was wearied now. Hence the prince fell on his face before
him, and when he had received the paternal embrace he went to his
mother.

The lady, sitting in her study, was weaving delicate linen to make
garments for the gods, and her ladies in waiting were sewing and
embroidering robes or making bouquets. A young priest was burning
incense before the statue of Isis.

"I come," said the prince, "to thank thee, my mother, and take
farewell."

The queen rose and putting her arms around her son's neck, said to him
tearfully,

"Hast Thou changed so much? Thou art a man now! I meet thee so rarely
that I might forget