and nobles and officers to receive
the worthy Sargon with the respect due a great king's ambassador!"

The heir frowned, and strode impatiently along the raised platform
where his viceregal chair was standing. But the disciplined officers
and the nobles grew silent, knowing that they could not trifle with the
assistant of the war minister.

Meanwhile, in the court the immense and heavily armed Assyrian warriors
stood in three ranks, opposite the half naked and slender warriors of
Egypt. The two sides looked at each other like a band of tigers at a
herd of rhinoceroses. In the hearts of each ancient hatred was
smoldering. But command towered above hatred.

At that moment the elephants entered, the Egyptian and Assyrian
trumpets roared, the troops of both armies raised their weapons, the
people fell on their faces, while the Assyrian dignitaries, Sargon and
Istubar, were descending from their litters.

In the hall Prince Ramses sat on an elevated chair beneath a baldachin,
while at the entrance door appeared the herald.

"Most worthy lord," said he, turning to the heir, "the ambassador of
the great King Assar, the renowned Sargon, and his associate, the pious
prophet Istubar, desire to salute thee and render thee honor as viceroy
and heir to the pharaoh, may he live through eternity!"

"Ask those dignitaries to enter and comfort my heart by the sight of
their persons," answered the viceroy.

Sargon entered the hall with a clattering and clinking. He was dressed
in a long green robe, thickly embroidered with gold. At his side, in a
snow-white mantle, walked the devout Istubar, and behind them stately
Assyrian lords carried gifts for the viceroy.

Sargon approached the elevation, and said in the Assyrian language,
which an interpreter repeated in Egyptian immediately,

"I, Sargon, a leader, a satrap, and a relative of the most mighty King
Assar, come to salute thee, O viceroy of the most mighty pharaoh, and
in sign of eternal friendship I offer gifts to thee."

The heir rested his palms on his knees, and sat as motionless as the
statues of his ancestors.

"Interpreter," said Sargon, "hast Thou repeated badly to the prince my
kindly greeting?"

Mentezufis, standing near the elevation, turned toward Ramses.

"Prince," whispered he, "the Lord Sargon is waiting for a gracious
answer."

"Then answer him that I do not understand by what right he speaks to me
as if he were my equal in dignity."

Mentezufis was c