rince, with thy own eyes and before witnesses, that
in the epoch when people were well nourished, stalwart, and satisfied,
the treasury of the pharaoh was full. But when people began to look
wretched, when they were forced to plough with their wives and
children, when lotus seed took the place of wheat and flesh, the
treasury grew needy. If Thou wish therefore to bring the state to that
power which it had before the wars of the nineteenth dynasty, if Thou
desire that the pharaoh, his scribes, and his army should live in
plenty, assure long peace to the land and prosperity to the people. Let
grown persona eat flesh again and dress in embroidered garments, and
let children, instead of groaning and dying under blows, play, or go to
school.

"Remember, finally, that Egypt bears within its bosom a deadly
serpent."

Those present listened with fear and curiosity.

"That serpent which is sucking at the blood of the people, the property
of the nomarchs, and the power of the pharaoh is the Phoenician!"

"Away with the Phoenicians!" cried the priests. "Blot out all debts to
them. Admit not their ships and merchants."

Silence was enforced by the high priest Mefres, who with tears in his
eyes turned to Pentuer.

"I doubt not," said he, "that the holy Hator is speaking through thy
lips to us. Not only because no man could be so wise and all-knowing as
Thou art, but besides I have seen two flames, as horns, above thy
forehead. I thank thee for the great words with which Thou hast
dispelled our ignorance. I bless thee, and I pray the gods when I am
summoned before them to make thee my advocate."

An unbroken shout from the rest of the assembly supported the blessing
of the highest dignitary. The priests were the better satisfied, since
alarm had hung over them lest Pentuer might refer to the scribes a
second time. But the sage knew how to restrain himself: he indicated
the internal wound of the state, but he did not inflame it, and
therefore his triumph was perfect.

Prince Ramses did not thank Pentuer, he only dropped his head to his
own bosom. No one doubted, however, that the discourse of the prophet
had shaken the soul of the heir, and that it was a seed from which
prosperity and glory might spring up for Egypt.

Next morning Pentuer, without taking farewell of any, left the temple
at sunrise and journeyed away in the direction of Memphis.

For a number of days Prince Ramses held converse with no man, he
meditated; h