n the form of
a golden boat, bearing a small arbor with flowers in it; the pillars of
the arbor were entwined with garlands of roses, the top of it covered
with lotuses and violets.

On ropes, entwined with green, the golden boat descended to the chamber
in silence. It stopped on the pavement, and from beneath the flowers
came forth a naked maiden of unparalleled beauty. Her body had the
smoothness of marble; from her amber-like waves of hair came an
intoxicating odor.

The maiden stepped from the litter and knelt before Ramses.

"Art Thou the daughter of Sofra?" asked he.

"Thou speakest truth, Lord Ramses."

"And still Thou hast come to me!"

"To implore thee to pardon my father. He is unhappy; since midday he
has been shedding tears and covering his head with ashes."

"And if I would not forgive him, wouldst Thou leave me?"

"No," whispered she.

Ramses drew her toward him and kissed her with passion. His eyes
flashed.

"For this I forgive him."

"Oh, how good Thou art!" cried she, nestling up to Ramses; then she
added with sweetness,

"Wilt Thou command a reward for the damages done by that mad laborer?"

"I will command."

"And wilt Thou take me to thy household?"

Ramses looked at her.

"I will take thee, for Thou art a beauty."

"Really?" asked she, putting her arm around his neck. "Look at me
better. Among the beauties of Egypt I hold only the fourth place."

"What does that mean?"

"In Memphis, or near there, dwells thy first; happily she is only a
Jewess! In Sochem is the second."

"I know nothing of that one," interrupted Ramses.

"Oh, Thou dove! Then surely Thou knowest nothing of the third one in
Ami."

"Does she too belong to my household?"

"Ungrateful!" cried the girl, striking him with a lotus flower. "Thou
wouldst be ready to say the same of me a month hence. But I will not
let myself be injured."

"Like thy father."

"Hast Thou not forgotten him yet? Remember that I will go-"

"Stay, stay!"

Next day the viceroy was pleased to receive homage and a feast from
Sofra. He praised in public the nomarch's government of the province,
and to reward him for the damages caused by the drunken laborer, Ramses
presented him with one-half of the furniture and vessels presented in
Anu.

The second half of those gifts was taken by the beautiful Abeb,
daughter of the nomarch, as lady of the court. Besides, she commanded
that five talents be given her from the treasury of the vic